When Nemo stayed behind alone, he managed to rescue some stray VIPs.
Unfortunately, he couldn’t catch the tail of any suspicious individuals, but he himself was already suspicious enough. As the National Guard’s evacuation operation neared its end, the army quickly took control of the Carnation Community, ready to begin clearing out biological contamination and searching for dangerous patients.
The mission also included rescuing civilians who were hiding in scattered locations. Many also noticed the actions of the mysterious vigilante in black. Nemo thought that continuing to monitor the risk was too high. He should go.
After receiving a warning from Matthew about the military’s imminent restoration of the community’s surveillance, Nemo rushed back to the backyard where he had hidden his bodyguard uniform.
Thanks to his experience playing as a ninja in Nobunaga’s Ambition—hiding to open treasure chests and avoid traps every few days, as well as taking on plenty of sneaky missions as a rogue in WoW—Nemo approached the situation like an old pro.
He skillfully entered the house to search for valuables and used leftover gasoline found in the garage to burn his vigilante outfit clean, even incinerating the ice pick and dog leash together before thoroughly sterilizing them and burying them in the ground.
After erasing all evidence, Nemo hid in an empty house, waiting until the special forces conducted a thorough search and discovered one of the missing billionaire’s bodyguards on the rescue list. He was also a notably recognizable Asian chef—Matthew Grimm’s close friend and occasional internet celebrity, Nemo Captain. Even the special forces would browse gossip online during their off-duty time.
Nemo cooperated fully when it was time for a medical examination. He was dressed neatly, showing no signs of having fought, and certainly no suspicious marks on his body.
Journalists outside were shouting and pleading for the little chef to give an interview, so Nemo, under the strong suggestion of federal agents who wanted him to set a positive example, exited the tent and shook hands publicly with the physician. The doctor congratulated him on being in perfect health, and Nemo thanked them, saying that the examination inside the tent had been polite and thorough, and he felt safe and protected.
Of course, the media wouldn’t miss asking about how he had become separated and escaped.
"Mr. Grimm ran out of the restroom window, he might have been planning to play hide and seek with us in the Carnation Community. I was responsible for guarding the door and felt guilty for not doing my job, so I told the other bodyguards I was going to find him. Technically, I’m not an official employee, so Mr. Grimm couldn't give me orders, but since I had agreed to be his bodyguard for the day, I felt obligated to stay close and ensure his safety," Nemo explained, looking at Matthew Grimm’s bodyguards and assistants. They remained silent, but their approving looks were clear under the cameras.
The media was focusing on how Nemo was so blunt with the billionaire, eager to get some juicy details from the chef. It seemed that the world’s richest man never failed to provide entertainment for the public.
"We all thought the Carnation Community was safe since soldiers were patrolling everywhere. Mr. Grimm felt secure enough to act alone. I asked around for his whereabouts until I noticed a severely infected Green wandering in the street. He tried to approach me, but he was still some distance away, so I ran as fast as I could," Nemo continued. The crowd held their breath as they listened to the Chinese chef’s account.
"After all, I’m not really a bodyguard, and I wasn’t carrying any weapons. With my phone not working, I had to hide and wait for rescue. I heard various sounds of chaotic fighting, gunshots, and screaming, but with the National Guard present and rumors of a terrorist attack, I figured it was better not to play hero. Fortunately, a mildly infected Green guided me to a safe empty house to hide. They were more familiar with the community than I was."
A military spokesperson with the rank of colonel stood beside Nemo and patted his shoulder, praising his quick thinking: "Your response was spot-on. We hope that everyone can follow Mr. Captain’s example—stay calm, observe your surroundings, and wait for rescue in a safe place."
"And what about Mr. Grimm? Weren’t you worried about him?" a female reporter, her cheeks flushed, asked with excitement, holding up a microphone.
"Of course I was worried, but since even I was able to hide well, with Mr. Grimm’s escape skills and status, I believe he would have managed to escape safely. I also saw a Grimm Group helicopter fly into the community during my hiding, so it’s not hard to guess the rest," Nemo replied, drawing laughter from the media. They decided to include in their report that the little chef also made jokes about the billionaire.
"Mr. Captain, what is your opinion on the terrorist attack on the Carnation Community and the illegal detention of severely infected Greens, as well as the attacks on civilians?" Another male reporter asked loudly, with all cameras now focused on the curly-haired young man.
Nemo frowned, looking like an ordinary person suddenly overwhelmed by the spotlight. After a brief pause, he took the microphone and, after thinking for a moment, began speaking in clear, accented English: "I can’t comment on what’s right or wrong, nor am I a spokesperson for Matthew Grimm. I can only share my personal experience. First, the invited VIPs did indeed take a risk by entering the military-controlled area, interacting with the Greens up close, and generously offering money and help to improve this facility. Just that alone is commendable. As an ordinary person, not even an American citizen, I am deeply moved."
Ensure your favorite authors get the support they deserve. Read this novel on the original website.
Nemo paused and looked around. The famous figures around him showed expressions of surprise, some even wiping away tears, touched that their goodwill had been understood. Journalists frantically wrote down every word he said, without interrupting him.
"As for the mildly symptomatic patients, I believe the state government of Louisiana, the VIPs who visited, and the National Guard in charge of security are all well aware that these individuals strictly adhered to containment regulations. It was the terrorist attack that disrupted surveillance and disabled electronic trackers first. These patients thought the extremists intended to kill them, so it’s entirely normal for some to flee the restricted area for their lives. After all, their residences are clearly marked—even with guide maps. I was able to evade the chaos on the streets thanks to the protection of a mildly symptomatic patient. I hid in an empty house until rescue arrived. At the very least, these mildly symptomatic patients should not face discrimination or blame—they maintained a willingness to help others despite their suffering."
Nemo’s words earned approving nods from the elite audience. Thinking back carefully, they realized they had not been attacked by anyone other than patients wearing hospital gowns or those whose symptoms were not visibly severe.
"I personally support separating monster-related incidents from the general healthcare system and establishing independent facilities for containment and research into effective treatments. It’s understandable that some patients would be afraid to come forward—regular hospitals currently offer little help and may even delay treatment, causing greater public danger. In summary, I hope the Carnation Community’s containment and treatment program can continue, or even expand."
"A new infectious disease requires new medications and treatments. There’s no denying that this involves human experimentation. However, among the patients I encountered, some expressed willingness to cooperate with the government. Perhaps we should listen to the patients’ opinions. If they’re willing to take the risk and sign consent forms, they should be provided with substantial financial support to settle their families before participating in the trial. If I were infected, I would be very willing to seize any opportunity for treatment," Nemo added, his earlier cooperation with the medical examination serving as evidence of his stance, which earned another round of applause.
"I also hope the judiciary will thoroughly investigate how the rampaging Greens entered the Carnation Community in large numbers. This situation completely contradicts what I heard while serving as Mr. Grimm’s temporary bodyguard. We were under the impression that only a limited number of harmless, mildly symptomatic patients and their families were housed here. Additionally, I urge everyone to show understanding—Greens are victims of the monster disaster. In the future, any of us could face unforeseen tragedies. We need a comprehensive system to solve the problem, not excessive criticism during the early stages that slows containment and treatment operations. Monsters won’t wait for us—another wave of attacks could happen at any moment. That’s all. Thank you."
Nemo’s final warning left everyone present—including the media and the military—with a heavy and tense expression.
After finishing, Nemo returned the microphone to the reporters and boarded a civilian helicopter marked with the Grimm Group’s logo, which had landed in the clearing. As the helicopter flew away, someone sighed, "This treatment is no less than what a girlfriend would get."
All the reporters unanimously agreed that Matthew Grimm’s chef friend was far more interesting and newsworthy than most of his past girlfriends. Nemo Captain’s speech had proven that he wasn’t just an ordinary restaurant chef. Unfortunately, as is common for new immigrants, he had initially worked in low-paying, easily replaceable jobs due to limited career options.
That day, internet news buzzed with coverage of the Carnation Community incident. Clips of the terrifying Green attacks and the National Guard’s countermeasures, filmed by the elite survivors, went viral. However, most of the videos were filtered or censored by social media algorithms for being "harmful to the mental health of teenagers." Only those skillfully edited by top influencers survived. Among them was the channel of a purple-haired heiress, who had personally filmed the first-hand footage of the attacks. Her sharp critique of the New York mayor, paired with close-up shots of rampaging Greens, skyrocketed her to the top of the trending charts.
Meanwhile, Nemo’s interview went viral in Asian political and economic circles, as well as among overseas Chinese communities, especially Taiwanese business groups. Many openly praised Nemo and began inquiring about his background before immigrating. Some even expressed willingness to set up trust funds to support his further education, though they were quickly teased by friends who reminded them that the young chef already had the world’s richest man backing him.
Since meeting Matthew, Nemo had given up on the idea of staying a low-key bystander. Fortunately, his background had already been investigated when he debuted as the savior of the Grimm Group’s leader. At the time, Matthew and Nemo had worked together to craft a story, with the Grimm Group’s PR department releasing a statement explaining Nemo’s simple background. Most people had bought it.
Nemo was said to be the only child of a Taiwanese businessman and his Chinese wife—a backstory inspired by boss Liu and Sunny Jie, who were delighted by the idea.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, Nemo’s mother tragically passed away from severe pulmonary fibrosis. His father’s business was heavily impacted by prolonged lockdowns. Nearly a decade into the US-China trade war, local officials stopped hiding their true colors and frequently exploited and oppressed small and medium-sized Taiwanese businesses. With funds unable to be transferred out of China, a lack of orders, and broken cash flow, his father was forced to declare bankruptcy. A lifetime of hard work came to nothing, and the man ultimately jumped to his death.
The curly-haired young man, disillusioned by the world, participated in various social movements and landed on a blacklist. Unable to find work or even rent a place to live, his relatives and friends dared not take him in. Homeless and desperate, Nemo eventually chose to seek political asylum in the United States with the help of overseas friends. He changed his name and left his past behind, determined not to implicate his loved ones.
Based on this news, many speculate that Matthew Grimm may have taken special care of Nemo because they both lost their parents. Everything seems very reasonable. Who wouldn't like a young man capable of speaking such compassionate, thoughtful words while smartly protecting himself?
Among the Taiwanese businesspeople and overseas Chinese who only came to know Nemo Captain after the Carnation Community incident, many were reminded of their own PTSD by his "background." They expressed strong support for the Green patient containment and treatment plan and planned to use the upcoming presidential election to fight for rights for their own ethnic groups. The ripple effect of these events was temporarily put on hold.
Another eye-catching issue that emerged was the repeated editing in the Green attack video posted by the purple-haired girl. The footage did not show any National Guard or private bodyguards, leading netizens to question how she and her companions managed to escape. The purple-haired girl proudly responded that they had received help from "V," and of course, the mysterious vigilante's identity could not be revealed.
This sensational statement sparked further controversy, with people debating whether the mysterious vigilante was genuine or a copycat follower. Was the vigilante also a terrorist? However, the negative comments about the vigilante were quickly deleted by the purple-haired girl, forcing the doubters to start new discussions elsewhere.
Meanwhile, Matthew Grimm's flashy yet tragically forgotten golden-green flying sports car was stomped on by the enraged Greens during the chaos and was overturned, its wheels facing the sky. Luckily, the sports car appeared to have suffered no other damage, with even the glass remaining bulletproof. The media captured plenty of commemorative photos, marveling at how Grimm Group's industrial standards remained top-notch.