At 8 PM, the parking lot was mostly empty. Some cars still parked in spaces, mostly belonging to employees of the commercial building who planned to stay at the office and battle their deadlines, leaving their cars until morning.
The young man in a suit walked alone across the parking lot toward his car. This scene was uncommon in Lone Star City, where the local consensus was to stay inside at night and never go out alone.
But he was a newcome, having been there for less than two months. It felt like he was fleeing, so much so that he didn’t dare to host events or invite his new neighbors. He just wanted to keep himself locked away in a safe cocoon. All strangers, including newly hired employees, made him feel terrified.
He couldn’t bring himself to tell his family or friends. A grown man, scared and overwhelmed by a crazy woman stalking him, unsure how to handle it. He’d looked up cases of stalkers before, and they could even harass the victim’s friends and family, using fake accounts online to pretend to be friends, secretly kidnapping pets... No! He’d rather deal with this mess alone!
He glanced behind him now and then, scanning the heights with a blend of fear, anxiety, and a faint trace of hope. He was like a lost sheep, being chased by both a wolf and a shepherd dog, hoping his protector would find him soon, desperately wanting to avoid being lost in the darkness of fear.
“Mr. Hancock?”
It was just a brief distraction, and the voice sounded behind him. The man in the suit trembled all over, almost losing his footing and falling, but he managed to steady himself.
The superhero in black and gray tactical gear, with a hood and two long, slender trident-shaped weapons at his waist, spoke Hancock’s last name with perfect pronunciation.
“Is it... you, KS Man?”
Although the superhero rankings had over 800 heroes listed, less than half of them were still operational in the US. Salamander, who had been active during the mosquito plague, stopped appearing after the New Orleans swamp factory case, leading many to speculate that he was affiliated with the military or only appeared for national-level missions.
The only hero regularly active in Lone Star City was a recently added ninja rookie. In an era flooded with imitators, only locals and a few internet fans could easily recognize the true KS Man.
Even though there was no official record of KS Man’s combat activities on the website, rumors about him fighting criminals had already spread through urban legends in Lone Star City. The criminals he defeated were not powerful supervillains, but rather ordinary criminals involved in domestic abuse, child abuse, or sexual assault.
Online discussions suggested that KS Man might be a resident hero in Lone Star City, with his supporter undoubtedly being Matthew Grimm. It made perfect sense—how could the world’s richest man set up his new headquarters in a city without even one superhero? It was no surprise that Matthew Grimm had recruited a newcomer to fill the role.
In fact, Hancock wasn’t just familiar with KS Man; he had gone through all the recent hero records and rumors, hoping to encounter any of them to lend him a hand. Given his limited options for a new business location, he had ended up in Lone Star City, a place where superheroes were scarce, with the only hope being a low-key rookie hero who barely appeared in urban legends and used ninja weapons like a cartoon character.
But the legend of KS Man, who didn’t pick his opponents, stirred more hope in Hancock than any other hero. The person chasing him, tormenting him, wasn’t some giant monster but someone just like him—human.
“KS Man... sir?” Hancock composed himself, confirming the hero’s codename while examining the living urban legend before him. The other person wasn’t even taller or more muscular than him, standing straight, their face mostly hidden beneath the hood and goggles. They were definitely of Asian descent.
The young, slightly delicate and well-proportioned figure, along with a clean jawline, made Hancock suddenly feel guilty. Was he really going to ask for help from someone who might still be a kid, a young hero?
“Have you been stalked by an unknown woman since last year, starting in California, with the police unable to help, and she even came to Lone Star City?” KS Man asked, directly confirming the situation.
“Yes.” Hancock’s muddled hesitation in his mind was immediately shattered by the cold, ruthless voice.
The difference in will and attitude between a superhero and an ordinary person was absolute—regardless of gender or age. The shadowed figure before him had already begun acting, while Hancock was miraculously selected as the one to be saved.
He knew it! God hadn’t abandoned him! Thank God!
“Most of the properties in Lone Star City are old and easy to invade. That woman stalker stole the landlord's key and is currently exploring your rented apartment,” KS Man said, dropping the terrifying information casually.
Hancock’s hair stood on end, and his worst fear had come true!
“Why are you coming to find me? I’m the victim! Shouldn’t you be solving that psycho woman instead?” Hancock asked, panic rising.
KS Man grinned. "Why not deal with her yourself, and then I'll take care of you?"
Hancock was speechless, shaking his head as if trying to avoid the issue.
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“That’s right—there’s always a more legitimate way to challenge things. She hasn’t caused you any real harm yet, but I believe she has the potential to. I’m giving you this early warning. You can install surveillance at home to gather evidence of her illegal entry and stalking, and pursue legal action.”
“I’ve tried! It’s useless! The footage I recorded shows a figure wearing a mask and a hat, making it impossible to identify her. Witnesses say they don’t recognize the woman. The police are understaffed, and they won’t handle my small case. She even followed me to Lone Star City!” The man in the suit’s voice cracked, showing signs of breaking down.
“I suggest you read Ovid’s Metamorphoses, especially the fourth book. But it’s better to read the entire work. Afterward, I’ll give you more practical advice on how to handle this. Goodbye, Mr. Hancock.” KS Man entered the shadows, and the man didn’t even hear any footsteps, only knowing that the superhero was no longer nearby.
Another night of working overtime alone. Thankfully, this commercial building housed many small startups like Hancock’s company, with access controlled by key cards and security guards patrolling at night. It was much safer than the rental house that KS had confirmed was being invaded.
Hancock now kept the blinds and curtains closed at all times, making sure no one could spy on his every move from the outside.
Following KS’s advice, Hancock set up surveillance in his rental, aiming to gather evidence of the stalker’s intrusion—material that could prove invaluable in his future legal proceedings.
At 11 PM, a knock came at the locked office door. Hancock’s heart nearly leaped out of his throat. He quickly opened the drawer and grabbed the handgun he had prepared, cautiously walking toward the door.
“Have you finished reading?”
From the voice alone, calm and cold, Hancock immediately recognized it was the superhero. He quickly hid the gun back in the drawer and opened the door to greet him.
“Are you referring to the story of Salmacis pursuing Hermaphroditus, eventually asking the gods to merge them into an intersex being?” Hancock had been horrified when he read that part and nearly smashed his phone in panic.
“The point isn’t Hermaphroditus, but the character of Salmacis, who in modern terms we might call a ‘shut-in’ or ‘neat freak.’ Unlike others of her kind who followed Diana in hunting and served the goddess, she was completely inept and spent all her time admiring her reflection in her pool, always preening. Pay attention to her personality traits.”
KS Man wasn’t trying to flaunt his literary knowledge, but when dealing with proud white middle-class victims who had higher education, using familiar cultural references helped the victim understand the seriousness of the situation.
“Salmacis may not be the oldest stalker in mythology, but she is definitely one of the most iconic. Your stalker, in the end, also wants to merge with you, just like some stalking victims who are kidnapped, held captive, or even have parts of their bodies eaten. Murder, of course, is the ultimate form of possession.”
“Do you... think she’ll really go that far?” Hancock asked in disbelief.
“I’ve been monitoring over ten stalkers, and all the victims except for you are women, with lower incomes, lower social status, weaker physiques, and none of them have weapons. Why am I warning you specifically? Think about it!” Of course, Nemo had evaluated the stalker’s minor criminal history, online behavior, and mental state, believing that she might have the potential to escalate into a murderer, but Nemo still couldn’t, and wouldn’t, judge her without due process.
“I don’t even know her! I’m sure I’ve never encountered such a crazy woman in my life!” The man in the suit defended his innocence with agitation.
KS Man’s fingertips, wrapped in tactical gloves, lightly tapped the corner of the desk.
In the silent office late at night, the monotonous sound struck Hancock’s nerves, making his scalp tingle.
“In your perception, normal women have only appeared in your normal life. Of course. But you don’t even know her identity or face, so how can you be so sure you don’t know her? Just because you can’t see her doesn’t mean she doesn’t exist.”
“What do you mean?” Hancock felt an overwhelming fear closing in on him, as if the truth was about to shatter the very common sense that he relied on to survive.
“I’m guessing you both attended the same church. In her room, there’s a photo she cut out from your high school graduation picture, and she drew wings on it. Five years ago, she posted a long love story between you and her on her personal social media account. She raised five white parrots named after you, and after the first four died, she cooked and ate them. She also kept journals of her feelings, writing that you were her reincarnated angel lover and that ‘death cannot separate you.’ You’re thirty-two this year, so she’s probably been in love with you for over ten years.” KS Man coldly listed the findings.
It was clear that Hancock was completely stunned.
“Although you’re not the child of the god of love and the god of dreams, Hermaphroditus, in her mind, you are the embodiment of love and dreams. What I mean is, there are always evil gods standing with the female stalker to fulfill her desires. She might find powerful allies, or even awaken supernatural abilities. This is the era of the supernatural, Mr. Hancock. In Metamorphoses, there are so many gods and heroes. Have you decided which one you want to become for your safety? Fight or flee? Or will you just be a narcissus and drown naturally?”
“I... I’m just an ordinary person...”
“No, you graduated from UC Berkeley, worked at a famous company in Silicon Valley, earning $150,000 a year. After the Meteor Shower Event, the company went bankrupt, and you saw the prospects of the Grimm Group establishing its headquarters in Lone Star City, so you came here to start your own business. You now run a small company offering online services, and your investment fund has been doing well. In the social hierarchy of the United States, you could be considered a descendant of the gods. After all, even the god of sleep has a thousand children, and the god of dreams is just one of them,” KS Man mocked.
“Do you think that stalker woman could follow you to India, Japan, or countries where English doesn’t work? Places where women’s legal rights are limited and men have more privileges? Is it too difficult for you? You could try remote areas in the US or Canada where employment is scarce, like Yukon, but she might adapt better to wilderness life than you. Don’t underestimate a woman’s hunting ability. I think it’d be safer for you to stay abroad for at least fifteen years.”Nemo thought back to Sunny Jie’s past, when she had emigrated to the US to escape her ex-husband’s harassment.
On her behalf, Nemo showed more patience and concern for this stalking victim. In the end, Nemo wasn’t against the rich or discriminatory in any way. He believed that, at heart, all humans were the same; gender differences were just a matter of biology. As for inherent flaws, no one was better than anyone else. It mostly came down to the fact that the different characteristics of social culture influence the ease with which certain crimes can occur.
“It’s not fair... I’ve worked hard all my life... I didn’t do anything wrong! I believe in God! I never break the law! All I want is a smooth, comfortable, normal life! My friends, family, and career are in America! Why do I have to give up everything? This isn’t fair!” Hancock roared.
“If you don’t plan to help yourself effectively, then I’m afraid you’ll have to rely on American law and the Lone Star City police. I have more work to do. I sincerely hope you don’t use that gun in your drawer; it’s a deal you’ll regret. If you want to cry, then cry. I won’t hear it.”
KS Man left, and the man in the suit quietly began to sob in his locked office.