"Are you not afraid that the unknown liquid the enemy splashed on you could be mustard gas or other pathogens?" Matthew ordered Nemo to take the special vehicle back to headquarters, heading directly to the decontamination room.
Nemo was to strip off his uniform, along with any accessories, place them in the biohazard-labeled sample box, seal it, and then undergo a thorough rinse and disinfection.
Meanwhile, Matthew continually criticized Nemo through the microphone for being so careless, questioning how he could still claim the mission was successful.
After the decontamination, Nemo changed into the workout clothes that were waiting by the door, and in front of him stood the billionaire with his arms crossed, glaring at him in dissatisfaction.
"The old man already has cheating abilities, yet he targets ordinary people and children—someone so scared of death wouldn’t keep dangerous items close to his body. If I had kicked the bottle and broken it, that would have been laughable. Besides, tomorrow is the main battleground. Why waste energy on a failed attack? To avoid getting hit by the liquid at such a close range, I would’ve had to sprint out the door with everything I had. That energy would have been enough to take down someone like Steel Fist," Nemo replied, not just foolishly showing off but carefully calculating the situation from the moment he understood Bookstore Owner's powers and personality, including how he controlled those gangs.
"I followed through with your decontamination procedures. Now, tell me about the investigation progress on Red Plume," the Taiwan-born youth, still with wet hair, said.
"Even better, I cross-referenced clues from the little girl to uncover key intelligence about Bookstore Owner's hostage network. Let’s discuss it in the office." Matthew tossed him a dry towel.
After they took the CEO’s private elevator to the top-floor office, Nemo's short hair was nearly dry. Matthew pointed at the blow dryer on the desk, signaling Nemo to do things properly.
In addition, there was an oversized mug filled with hot milk. Nemo now understood why his special mug was marked with an "K" instead of "C." It turned out that the golden-eyed man had long been planning to turn Nemo into a superhero.
"You almost went from a feint to a real K.O., still expending energy. Drink up! After we’re done discussing, get some rest tonight," Matthew said.
"Can’t I at least have some hot milk tea? You used to have the assistant make milk tea for me," Nemo protested.
"Because you’ll be back at it tomorrow. You need the nutrients. I’m also cutting out stimulants, no tea either," Matthew flatly refused.
Nemo reluctantly drank the milk after blowing his hair dry.
"Now we have a record-breaking elderly superpower user, and I’ve pretty much drained his energy. At least you can research how the Polish old man replenishes his energy—don’t tell me you’re not curious."
"Indeed, but I have a feeling the answer won’t be comfortable," Matthew replied.
"I agree." Nemo took another sip of his hot milk.
"Unlike the semi-euthanasia nature of the Greens incident, this time you caused real harm to a living criminal—an elderly one. Will it affect your mood?" Despite the urgency of the hostage situation, Matthew still prioritized assessing Nemo’s mental state. Since his memory loss, Nemo’s kill count had to be recalculated from scratch. He was no longer the ruthless killing machine from the Nightmare Squad.
Nemo Captain’s surprising purity and innocence were noticeable. Matthew felt that Nemo rarely got into conflicts, was a loner who had suppressed himself for years, and that his memory loss had stripped away old shells, freeing his true character in a way he couldn’t return from. There was also a strong possibility, as Nemo himself had guessed, that he had suffered childhood trauma.
However, Nemo and that KS man shared striking similarities—the soul that burned fiercely once angered, the ability to remain silent and patient until their goals were achieved, and a multifaceted, strategic way of thinking. He showed compassion for the weak and non-human beings, walked the gray areas without hesitation, and displayed no unrealistic mercy when attacking. He lacked enthusiasm for life and was socially oblivious. Was the last point a lingering numbness, a side effect of having devoted all his time and energy to Nightmare Squad missions since the age of fifteen.
After his memory loss, however, Nemo had developed a strong interest in his homeland and even a noble ideal of participating in Taiwan’s independence. As an American who grew up with the values of independence from the Revolutionary War, Matthew naturally admired this approach, as long as both sides supported the same cause.
"My worry for the little girl’s safety outweighs any disgust at hurting a living person. After all, I just took out part of a humanoid monster’s health bar. I’m still not satisfied," Nemo said.
"I’m glad you’re adapting well to the superhero life," Matthew responded.
"It’s not good at all. I still feel suffocated in this uniform, though it’s certainly practical," Nemo always had complaints about the superhero suit.
"Well, the weather is cooling down, so you’ll feel more comfortable. In December, I’ll be introducing new winter gear! Look forward to it," Matthew had no intention of compromising on the superhero uniform.
Nemo responded with an internationally recognized gesture.
"Since you want Salamander to take charge of the other line to rescue most of the hostages and still work with the Kingdom's superpowered individuals, the risks are considerable. Let's first talk about this part. The rule of 'companions first' cannot be neglected." Matthew activated a 3D projection, showing a picture captured by a drone of two cars meeting on a remote road.
"Of course." Nemo's task was to rescue Red Plume, but that didn't mean Angie's importance was being pushed aside.
"First, let’s sort out what happened. After Red Plume was kidnapped, according to the tracking points, surveillance footage, and eavesdropping audio analysis, the criminals changed vehicles twice. The third vehicle took her to a highway motel, where she was thoroughly examined and had all traceable devices taken from her. They changed her clothes, cut and dyed her hair, and used makeup to alter her skin tone and facial features to avoid attracting attention. To put it bluntly, she was disguised as an inconspicuous brown-haired American boy." Matthew calmly presented the results of his team's investigation.
"But before getting out of the car, Red Plume hid another tracker under the last seat she was in. The driver of that gray Chevrolet pickup swapped it for a used Toyota sedan this afternoon and secretly contacted a team of Hyenas. It seems that someone meeting with the families of the missing people made the kidnapping group uneasy, and they want to split the spoils early."
"Aren't hostages valuable merchandise? What do they need the Hyenas for if the Chinese want a complete live one?" Nemo had a hard time following Matthew’s explanation.
"Of course, it's to collect as many materials as possible from the hostages, like hair, nails—taking eggs would be a breach of the goods, so that's out; men lose out this time, their seeds are less valuable. They might draw blood and possibly even extract spinal fluid. Hyenas can very professionally record all of a person’s physiological characteristics—blood type, fingerprints, iris, voiceprints, ear shape, foot size, dental work, old injuries, special diseases or genetic traits, even gait and the proportions of facial features are cataloged. Even if Bookstore Owner sells the hostages to the Chinese, those Chinese might not be able to get the hostages out of the United States alive. Meanwhile, Bookstore Owner and his collaborators have this information, which remains extremely valuable for self-preservation or blackmail." Matthew listed the many advantages without blinking.
"I should probably open a green channel specifically for the Hyenas' criminal files," Nemo scratched his head, his tone frustrated.
"Only with enemies like the Hyenas, I insist you cannot go it alone. Please form a permanent team before you proceed," Matthew insisted, not allowing any rebuttal.
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"Alright, I lack knowledge in that area, and I don't fight battles without confidence. Let's return to the main topic—once we've locked onto a group of Hyenas, then what?" Nemo continued drinking his hot milk, even though he didn’t like drinking it plain.
"This is a big deal. There are so many people involved, and we need to get it done in a short amount of time. Instead of moving the team and equipment to the place where the hostages are being held—which might be cramped, dirty, and inconvenient for operation—it's better to bring them to a temporary sampling base set up by the Hyena team. This way, both sides can work simultaneously, doubling the efficiency. Afterward, the Hyena team packs up and leaves, and Bookstore Owner can meet with the Chinese to conduct the transaction." Matthew changed the projection, and an old warehouse appeared on screen.
"Please tell me this isn’t in New Orleans again." Nemo thought the grimy, vine-covered environment looked all too familiar.
"You know, the further the hostage transport routes are, the more dispersed they become, and the higher the risk of discovery. The problem now is that we don’t know how many hostages will be brought in. The Kingdom's superpowered individuals’ intelligence on kidnapped family members is inaccurate, and there are definitely still some victims whose identities are being concealed," Matthew explained.
"So you're saying the Hyenas are exploiting victims up front and then gradually bringing in hostages to line up at the back?" Nemo widened his eyes, angrily confirming.
"Time is money!"
"...If you didn’t play WoW, just stop showing off! We’re discussing serious matters here!"
"But you need to stay calm, my friend, because Salamander’s mission isn’t to deal with the Hyenas. Your job is to trigger an all-out brawl so that Salamander and the driver can take advantage of the chaos to rescue the hostages and slip away. Let those superpowered individuals and criminals tear each other apart—only then do we call the police to clean up the mess." Matthew patted Nemo on the shoulder.
"Think about it carefully. What would you do? Maybe we have an unexpected tacit understanding." The man with golden eyes animated the scene, this time showing a group of real hyenas running in packs across the plains, hunting.
"Notify Hako. Have him contact the Victim's Family Alliance to form a team and eliminate them before the Hyenas arrive at the base. Force the Hyenas' temporary base to become the location for the transaction with the Chinese, and then spread the word. The Chinese aren’t fools. They’ve always planned to double-cross, and once all the hostages are brought in, they might start their own kidnapping. But there will definitely be Kingdom traitors guarding the place."
"Great! Our hearts are still in sync."
"Shut up, pervert. It's simply a matter of not having enough time; the simplest and most direct solution is the best," Nemo said.
"I received new information just ten seconds ago, and you can’t stop me from talking."
Nemo no longer wanted to waste energy arguing with Matthew and just stared coldly at him.
"Don’t pull this trick again. I won’t joke about important matters. What you need to know, I’ll tell you immediately, and I will do the same in the future. So, how come you get so easily upset?"
If one could reply using the sign language invented by Nemo to say "only for you," it would be three consecutive straight punches to the face.
"There’s a member of the Hyena team who specializes in surgery. They were urgently called to Bookstore Owner’s mistress’s house—your achievement. By the way, I know that woman."
"…"
"It’s not what you think."
"I didn’t think anything, just a blank moment."
"Please keep that blank moment! I swear it was only a business acquaintance, no formal collaboration! Even though the woman, who is a few years older than me, is very charming, I wasn’t single back then, and she was not my type."
"Skip the nonsense. I’ve emphasized several times that I’m not interested in your romance." Nemo was trying to resist the urge to pour the remaining milk on Matthew’s head.
"Ms. Jennifer is 41 years old, divorced for five years, and owns a publicly listed biotech company. Objectively speaking, she's a very capable woman, a strong leader, and has followed the Grimm Group's footsteps to develop new business in Lone Star City. She built a luxurious detached villa in the suburbs. Given that she once warmly invited me to her villa, I don’t think Bookstore Owner is her type," Matthew skillfully retrieved a concise file from his vast and far-reaching network of female connections.
"So this lady could have unwillingly become the bookstore owner's mistress?" Nemo speculated.
"Or she might have been attracted by special interests and willingly conspired," Matthew added another possibility.
"We'll know the answer soon enough. Biotech company? Sounds like the kind of nest that Hyenas like," Nemo said.
"Mm, what’s curious is that half a year ago, Ms. Jennifer found a miraculous funding source for her struggling company," Matthew said.
"I’ll have Hako organize the team. I'll tell them the exact timing and location are still under investigation with the Hyena movements, and that they should stay on standby." Nemo sent a message to Crazy Doctor Asian via the Meteor Shower Watchers Forum.
Hako, being smart, didn’t need much explanation. They immediately agreed to form a five-person team specifically to eliminate the Hyenas and promised the mission would be completed. Then, they sent an 18+ bloody image, naturally presents a mosaic effect—fragmented just like a mosaic.
Crazy Doctor Asian: "I’ve also taken care of Bookstore Owner’s deputy. He was in charge of liaising with the Chinese. Should I pose as him and send some fake messages?"
This wasn’t part of Nemo’s plan, but it didn’t affect his intentions. Nemo couldn’t exactly expect a father whose daughter was kidnapped to sit idly by. Moreover, Hako targeting the correct one weakened Bookstore Owner's backup, which was important, as Nemo didn’t want to be caught in a two-on-one situation tonight — that’s what he called mutual understanding.
KS Man: "No need. Let the death news leak naturally to make the traitors more nervous and put pressure on the buyers. They’ll definitely contact Bookstore Owner directly to get clarification. Send me all the info on those Chinese people. I could use it. Focus on tomorrow’s mission, don’t stir up trouble before our meeting."
Crazy Doctor Asian: "Do you know Red Plume's whereabouts?"
KS Man: "Can’t be 100% sure, but I’m confident. Before the operation tomorrow, my assistant will find more evidence. In any case, we’re not waiting any longer."
Crazy Doctor Asian: "Very good. I’ll keep an eye on Steel Fist, making sure he gets up early and stays on track. I might even handcuff him to prevent him from sneaking off to waste energy on women."
KS Man: "I don’t need the details, thanks."
Nemo sent the meeting time to Hako, with the location being a park next to Grimm Tower. He deliberately didn’t mention the target location to avoid them sneaking off and disrupting the operation’s tempo.
They had to give Bookstore Owner enough time to react, exposing more flaws. The confirmed location of Hako’s daughter and a more detailed hostage list would be revealed within hours.
Matthew observed how Nemo effortlessly conspired with the villain in just a few words, and couldn’t help but admire Nemo’s natural talent for this.
"Seriously, Bookstore Owner’s superpower isn’t the so-called 'mental manipulation' type that only exists in legends. Aren’t you disappointed? One less research opportunity?" Nemo looked up and asked the tycoon.
"Not really. In the future, more types of superpowered people will emerge, or they’ll have to ask for my help. Rather than researching criminals, I prefer developing long-term collaborations with superpowered individuals who share similar philosophies," Matthew said. He wasn’t one to compromise. He valued the personality and potential of superpowered individuals — that’s the key to survival and growth.
As an investor, Matthew didn’t like to see his stocks crashing.
"The Bookstore Owner assumed I was a close-combat superpowered individual. If he couldn’t defeat me, he would definitely conserve his last bit of strength to escape. Since I deliberately underestimated his age and physical ability, he wouldn’t miss the escape window I gave him—and in the end, he really did jump out of the second-floor window."
From the start, Nemo saw through the Bookstore Owner’s frail movements as an act. As a superpowered individual, even if his ability didn’t enhance his physical attributes, his body should still be in better condition than others of his age. Being just as "ordinary" as any other old man was already suspicious. Besides, senior fitness has become a health trend—older people actually need to maintain their muscle mass even more.
"You don’t think you’re a close-combat type?" Matthew asked, his tone a bit curious.
"I’d rather say I'm more of a strategic and reliant type. Once I improve my shooting skills, I wouldn't mind using a handgun. Otherwise, it’s disadvantageous when enemies have guns aimed at me. A tranquilizer round would work just fine," Nemo explained. Against muscle-bound or suicidal opponents, non-lethal hits wouldn’t stop them, so drugs worked quicker. Nemo wasn’t the type to casually blow someone’s head off.
During the feint attack, Matthew monitored Bookstore Owner’s counterattack through Nemo’s goggles. If Bookstore Owner really was a rare type of superpowered individual, Matthew couldn’t allow the Kingdom delegate to handle him with a private execution. That would greatly affect Nemo’s next plan, and they’d at least have to renegotiate with Hako and other Kingdom superpowered individuals.
Luckily, Matthew spoke into the headset, "It’s just telekinesis, not very impressive. Let him escape!"
That essentially sentenced Bookstore Owner to death.
"I got some drugs and unknown liquids on my uniform today, and endured the opponent’s telekinetic energy attack. I’ll leave it to you for investigation, please provide me with a spare set. The weapon was just disinfected, you can return it directly to me." Nemo thought about this practical issue.
"Before you leave the headquarters, I’ll give you a new equipment backpack with a full set of gear. But I’ll still need to check the weapons for degradation. It’s safer to take the new gear," the world’s richest man said, not being stingy.
"Okay," Nemo agreed. After all, someone else was footing the bill, and he never hesitated when it came to life-safety details.
"Also, get me a car that can carry two villains for a fight. Nothing too fancy, just something for transportation. I heard Steel Fist’s car was blown up by a bomb, so your car is safer." Nemo said.
"Being carried by you is an honor for those two," Matthew generously agreed.
"That sounded like it had a double meaning," Nemo narrowed his eyes.
"I was talking about how much your driving has improved. I’ve seen you get better through the connection system, and I gotta say, I’m impressed. Too bad you haven’t asked me out for a joyride lately," Matthew said with a grin.
"Please be careful with your rhetoric. I’ve never invited you for a ride," Nemo replied.
Nemo couldn’t shake the feeling that the rich guy wasn’t being completely honest, but he had too much going on to bother worrying about it.