"Would you like to see the meeting record of my Sea Giant Research Team's online meeting?" Matthew quickly opened his laptop to divert Nemo's attention, hoping to avoid hearing the magical incantation "Open Sesame" from him.
"Sure." Nemo, rarely lowering his status, poured himself a cup of coffee Matthew had made, not forgetting to add sugar and milk. "How’s the disposal of the Sea Giant’s body going?"
Before opening the meeting record, Nemo asked the key question. After half a day had passed, the cleanup work should have made some progress. For the public, this was more tangible than the Grimm Group's monster research secrets, yet the news either didn't report on it or provided only vague details.
"According to your suggestion, we first bled the body on an uninhabited shore and then continuously washed it with seawater while building a containment wall. At the time, Michael and other superheroes were watching over it, and the army's biochemicals and engineering corps had to follow orders to avoid any accidental kaiju resurrection. Michael even severed the Sea Giant's head."
"Originally, after retrieving the East Coast Kaiju corpses, they were supposed to be sent to a designated base for freezing and monitored destruction, but some of the transport vehicles were hijacked on the way. Later, it was found that keeping so many samples was pointless and just increased the risk of them being sold on the black market. So, the Sea Giant is now being studied and dissected on-site. We’ve even set up a mobile incinerator to burn medical waste and body parts, and it’s estimated that the whole operation will take about six months to complete." Matthew efficiently summarized the key points.
As a CEO and CTO who listens to experts blabber every day, Matthew had become adept at handling such matters, even if everyone only gets one A4 page to summarize, it’s still pretty tough.
"The Lone Star Harbor has no set date for reopening. The surrounding pollution is too severe, so we might as well consider it a lost cause. After all, New Orleans and its nearby ports can serve as replacements."
"Isn’t Manhattan still inhabited?" Nemo hadn’t even had a chance to seriously explore the southern district yet. It felt like he had just stepped out of the newbie village, diligently doing his quests when the government suddenly locked off a large portion of the map. It was quite frustrating. Although Nemo could still enter if he tried hard enough, what he wanted to get familiar with was the normal Lone Star City, not the ghost town defined as a kaiju battlefield where residents had evacuated.
That said, there was a chance that villains or other monsters might show up in the restricted areas. After all, the Sea Giant’s body would remain there until it was completely destroyed, which was a major temptation for forces looking to exploit its dropped items and superpowers. Moreover, Nemo still needed to see the Sea Giant’s corpse with his own eyes and inspect the aftermath of the superhero attack on this humanoid kaiju.
Nemo immediately decided that, during this recovery phase, he would gather as much information as possible before checking in on Angie and the others to make sure everything was fine. From then on, he would patrol the southern district regularly.
"That’s Manhattan. Even after a nuclear explosion, people would still live there. Besides, Manhattan was only submerged by a sea tide contaminated with kaiju blood. The U.S. military made their attack, but the Sea Giant’s original blood was spilled on land and buildings, and the impact of this part still needs to be studied." Previously, the Grimm Group's headquarters had been in New York. After the Meteor Shower Event, Matthew quickly evacuated to Lone Star City to rebuild. Protecting the secret of Leviathan was a major consideration, but there was also a very practical reason: if the Meteor Shower Event sparked a world war, New York would definitely take several nuclear hits.
Everyone loves those disaster-themed popular maps. Forget about zombie crises; if aliens ever invaded and decided to slap the UN headquarters around a bit, the conclusion would still be New York.
Nemo raised the volume of his speaker and clicked open the meeting record.
A group of experts was discussing the effect of Salamander's venom on the Sea Giant in different windows. When it was his turn to speak, the window was enlarged, and English subtitles were added to everyone's comments.
"We all agree that the venom acts very quickly in the Sea Giant’s circulatory system, causing hallucinations and sensory disorientation, particularly in smell and touch. Additionally, when 'Silence' arrived and removed all sounds from the battlefield, the superheroes were able to successfully lead the Sea Giant back to the shore. While Leviathan does have toxic fangs, we didn’t detect any venom damage on the Sea Giant's eyes. Salamander played a crucial role in this battle," said a white-haired female professor wearing glasses.
The Sea Giant kept trying to move towards the city center, and even though Leviathan had blinded its eyes, it could still find its way by heading towards the sea in the opposite direction. After all, Lone Star City was close to the harbor, and once the clear goal of "leading the Sea Giant back to the shore" was established, the superheroes each played their part. It finally resulted in the first-ever successful joint battle with effective division of labor.
"But this reveals a strange phenomenon. We know that the Sea Giant bleeds, but why does a Sea Giant with super-regeneration abilities still need a circulatory system? And what’s the mechanism by which venom works on kaiju? It seems like a neurotoxin, but the kaiju’s nervous system doesn’t seem to function normally, and its respiratory organs are also questionable."
"Perhaps it's because the Sea Giant has a circulatory system that it can immediately heal the damaged areas, transporting super healing substances or something similar."
"The biggest problem is, besides not being able to detect any DNA, and the cells appearing as empty shells filled with fluorescent green substances, the structure is exactly the same as humans. This substance is also concentrated. Once it's diluted into bodily fluids, it becomes kaiju blood, but after being separated from the corpse for a while, it disappears. The cells themselves degrade over time, causing the substance to dissipate. Furthermore, kaiju blood only infects living organisms, not human cells that are still active after being separated. This is not a virus, it's more like a curse!"
"Salamander insisted on biting through the carotid artery to inject venom, assuming the Sea Giant was a mutated human and targeting the most obvious fatal spot. When facing a humanoid kaiju, it's understandable why Salamander did this, since we could only proceed from existing knowledge."
"What if the Sea Giant’s internal structure is completely different from humans? Then Salamander’s efforts would have been in vain."
"That's the biggest problem. The three kaiju that have landed so far all have the same-colored blood. Why is the Sea Giant so similar to us?"
"Maybe the kaiju are just mimicking us, like how superheroes transform into stronger beasts."
This metaphor clearly caused severe unease among all the scientists present.
"What would the kaiju look like if they didn’t mimic humans?" someone asked a more bizarre question.
"Of course, they'd look like other kaiju! All sorts of them!"
"What if the kaiju actually want to communicate with us?"
"Who would want to chat with a Typhoid Mary that can tear your entire biochemical suit apart at any moment? And why didn’t it surface in international waters to talk to us? Why did it have to storm into our important cities?"
"Both times, the kaiju chose to land in densely populated areas. We didn’t have the time or space to wait for them to speak—assuming they have intelligence and communication abilities. Every step the kaiju took brought death and pollution."
"Maybe there’s useful information coming from China."
"That’s the government’s job. Let’s focus on analyzing the Sea Giant and the East Coast Kaiju, that’s more practical."
The meeting notes then delved into more detailed disputes over subgroup work and dissection tasks. The complex academic discussions were beyond Nemo’s comprehension, so he turned off the video and looked at Matthew.
"The Sea Giant reminds me of those thirsty and hungry berserk Greens. Her structure isn’t like an aquatic creature, but she also doesn’t adapt to land. Her joints are too fragile, and without buoyancy to support her weight, she feels more like an amphibian that failed evolution on both sides." Having personally ended many berserk Greens up close, Nemo instinctively felt that the Sea Giant had similarities to the most seriously infected patients.
A case of content theft: this narrative is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation.
"Did you just say 'she' instead of 'it'?" Matthew smirked, playfully drawing attention to Nemo's use of pronouns.
"Yes, 'she'—just like 'you' are who you are." Nemo gazed into Matthew’s golden eyes, sensing that within this man resided a terrifying giant beast that could freely roam both the high skies and the deep seas.
"Obviously, as the number of monsters and samples increases, scientists are finally starting to find it strange." Matthew opened a snack pack he had prepared for Nemo and began eating, the crisp sound of chewing filling the room.
"If I didn’t know your true nature, I might not have doubted this far, but now we both know that superpowers aren’t something good. Scientists around the world are still foolishly studying the origins of the monsters, but maybe some countries have already grasped the core secret. So, I’ll ask directly—are the monsters the result of human superpowered individuals losing control of their transformations?"
"We're still investigating."
"The last time you said this was when I asked about the Bohai Bay Kaiju," Nemo said.
Since there are superheroes who can transform into Leviathan, why couldn’t other superpowered individuals transform into similarly sized or even larger monsters? If one believes Leviathan is human, the possibility of the monsters also being human naturally follows. This line of thought had actually appeared online a long time ago.
When Leviathan first appeared, there was a long-running debate about whether this giant beast was a superhero of the human race. This debate continued until Salamander appeared in humanoid form and introduced themself, at which point public opinion began to lean toward recognizing Leviathan as a human hero.
"Although you didn’t ask it so bluntly at the time, it was clear you were already suspicious. But this hypothesis is huge. Until we have definitive evidence, I can’t irresponsibly give any answers."
"Define the evidence."
"The true human identity of the kaiju, along with sufficient evidence to link that person to the kaiju—whether it’s testimonial, physical, or circumstantial evidence, the more the better."
"…I suppose that’s how it should be." Nemo was persuaded by Matthew. "Do you have any suspects?"
Matthew scratched his head and made a 'no comment' gesture.
"Forget it, I can’t be involved in matters of this scale. Let me know when you have an answer." Nemo believed that Matthew’s caution was actually a good thing. After all, his investigation into the monsters not only went against Darwinism and humanity, but the worst part was that it also went against religion, shaking the very spirit of America’s foundation. It would also offend all the Christian, Catholic, and Muslim believers worldwide.
"Besides, there are too many distracting things just within the United States. Compared to the Bohai Bay Kaiju, your matter is more important. It concerns Michael, and also my personal safety, and by extension, the safety of the United States."
Matthew was weaving a web of personal security, and catching Leviathan wouldn't be easy. Even someone as uniquely talented and powerful as Matthew had to expend all his efforts.
"I never intended to become this significant all of a sudden." Nemo has always been content with being a small figure. The greater the ability, the greater the responsibility. Although it's a cliché, the problem is that there will always be fools who truly follow it. What’s even more tragic is that it is only when disaster strikes that they realize they are one of those fools.
"It’s not 'sudden.' You were KS man for many years, which led to the dangerous situation. You could have cut your losses and survived, but you chose to sacrifice yourself. This act of heroism left an impression on Michael’s heart; after all, he’s still just a kid." Matthew was being objective.
"How old was Michael when I went missing?" Nemo asked, covering his face with his hand.
"Twenty, dropped out of college."
"So Michael’s only about twenty-three now, younger than Angie. I guess he doesn’t have any family or friends, right?" Nemo felt a headache coming on.
"When the Meteor Shower Event occurred, I was practicing transformation when he mistook me for a monster and attacked. It took a lot of effort to get him underwater, knock him out, then drag him to the shore and transform back into human form to explain. Luckily, he recognized my face. We're both American citizens, so what else could we do but cooperate?"
"To run into each other like that in the vast ocean?"
"It wasn't entirely a coincidence. After all, we both chose remote islands far from human technology and transportation routes, places that even superpowered people would find hard to reach. He’s one of your students, so when he awakened his powers, he definitely chose the safest place to hide. Plus, after I transformed, I became massive, and his sensing abilities are strong, so both of us posed a huge threat to each other. It was almost inevitable that we’d cross paths." Matthew's explanation was fairly reasonable.
"I still can’t understand what Michael meant by saying that my sacrifice made him decide to become a hero. I never did anything noble in the Nightmare Squad," Nemo said. "At best, I just repaid a favor for saving my life."
"After Michael awakened his powers, he went through a period of confusion. When he fought me, he didn’t have the golden sword or wings of light. He had no combat skills or tactical plans—his grand strategy was 'defeat all evil monsters.'"
"Uh..."
"Don’t 'uh' me. I’m just too nice. While struggling to take care of myself, I had to teach this kid who dropped out of college to join a vigilante group and suffered serious psychological trauma." Matthew wasn’t sure how he got through that period.
Was the pain of transformation training worse, or was teaching Michael to investigate world affairs and not recklessly throw away his life even more painful? The correct answer is, you have to eat both servings of hell's set meals.
The unfortunate luck was that Michael had received Nemo's logistical support training, so his crisis management skills were solid. After some effort in communication, he successfully carried out Matthew’s orders. Matthew had also promised that once his identity and authority were restored, he would help Michael find KS Man and members of the Nightmare Squad.
"Michael always tried to use his powers to sense your whereabouts. Since you had amnesia and had few friends, he didn’t get any clues. Instead, he scanned a lot of monsters and criminals. When the Visioner contacted him again, he learned about how you joined the Nightmare Squad at an even younger age than he was. It seemed to have a great impact on him, and he became determined to change the world. Children can be so stubborn."
Nemo tried to imagine the scene Matthew had described and vaguely began to understand.
Matthew said slowly, "The answer to your question is simple. He wants to be your hero. After you were hurt and taken, any rational person would know it was just a matter of whether they could recover your body. Michael couldn’t accept that the KS was dead, but subconsciously, he was already mourning you, Nemo."
"I know Matthew Grimm, but I’m not familiar with Leviathan. Why would he want to be a hero?" Nemo took a sip of his coffee, savoring the rich taste mixed with milk.
"I just want to find a balance between human civilization's survival and personal safety. Additionally, as a scientist, my curiosity compels me to maintain an advantage for my country until the Meteor Shower Event is fully understood, and to live long enough to witness how this world will change." Matthew’s reasons were straightforward.
Matthew Grimm wasn’t just the world’s richest person; he was also the king of America’s military-industrial complex. The president still had to be elected every four years and was often criticized by congressmen and the public. Matthew no longer needed to play political games to climb higher. At this point, the most practical goals were likely environmental conservation and ensuring the stability of his business activities, to maintain his wealth and influence in the long term.
"That’s acceptable." Aside from his grand goal of participating in Taiwan’s nation-building war, Nemo’s expectations for the future weren’t that different from Matthew's.
"If we don't ignite the hope of 'superheroes,' humanity is left with only one button to push. Do you think those unimaginative heads of state and oligarchs will hesitate to press it? There's already a real-world example. In a dictatorial and backward country where watching films from a neighboring nation can result in a death sentence and watching TV dramas can land you in prison for fifteen years, even basic painkillers like acetaminophen are promoted as 'happiness pills.' In a place where the very concept of dreams, justice, and heroes is discouraged, the answer is two hours and seventeen minutes. The chain reaction that follows is that attacks are ineffective, and the next time a different country faces a monster, they will consider using more powerful and numerous nuclear warheads. In the end, monsters and the concepts of right and wrong won't be the focus." The richest man mentioned the record of the Bohai Bay Kaiju being bombed by small nuclear weapons.
"I don't want China to become like North Korea. The reality is that countries are slowly becoming more monster-like, and the United States is no exception. But there will always be one or two that lose control the fastest." Nemo also expressed his concerns. "My homeland is a piece of meat, currently just resting. I may not have much affection for those in power, but I want to protect the memory and future of that land, so that the next generation of strangers can freely write their new history. Therefore, once a monster tries to swallow that piece of meat, I hope there will be at least a bayonet stuck in it that’s hard to swallow, along with plenty of needles."
"I’ll remember your wish," Matthew promised. "We need globally-focused auxiliary heroes to help watch over blind spots or rescue civilians. You have great talent in this area. Most importantly, you’ve saved us more than once. You’re worthy of trust with our lives. Continue growing in your own way, Nemo. We’ll buy you time, don’t worry."
Nemo nodded. Matthew's greatest strength was that he was indeed responsible and wealthy enough.
"I don't know how many times the U.S. can endure a kaiju siege like this." The term "American Empire" really seems fitting.
"I guess next time it will be Japan’s turn? They’re the experts at dealing with giant monsters." Matthew said optimistically.
"Shut up. What are you trying to do, jinxing our allies?" Nemo quickly dismissed Matthew’s ominous words.
"Now that we’re both superheroes, don’t you think this equal relationship is very romantic?" Matthew, probably single for too long, had stopped distinguishing gender when flirting. He had completely entered a carefree phase where happiness was the only goal.
Nemo decided to train him to let go of race as well. If he could electrocute the fish in the lake, things would be much easier for everyone in the future.
"It won't happen." KS Man is still under Mommy’s care, and Leviathan has already started shorting stocks. Even superpowers are part of the capitalist pyramid. Nemo had given up on this parallel world.
"Anyway, allow me to greet you once again. It's a pleasure to meet you, KS Man."
"Likewise, Rich Man."