After finishing their lunch meeting, Matthew and Nemo headed to the experimental zone at Nemo’s request to see Angie.

At this stage, Angie was still a rookie hero at Grimm Group, with only basic access privileges. Matthew emphasized that her freedom of movement wasn’t restricted—it was just that certain areas were off-limits to newcomers. Most of the facility wasn't open to entry-level heroes.

Nemo took one look at the experimental zone and saw that it was essentially a gigantic labyrinth. Polished and immaculate corridors concealed every secret behind seamless facades, designed with deliberate optical illusions to mislead one’s sense of direction and distance. Even the seams of the doors were impossible to discern.

“Do you guys navigate this place using IQ alone?” Nemo muttered. He’d never been a fan of escape room games, detesting the feeling of being trapped.

“We use personal biometrics for access and preprogrammed routes with maglev hoverboards or chairs that automatically deliver staff to their designated work areas. I’m the only one who knows the complete and accurate map of the facility, and I regularly alter the routes and optical camouflage. Cool, right? Some people even prefer moving along the walls or ceiling!” Matthew said with obvious pride, believing that a constant sci-fi atmosphere enhanced the development of cutting-edge tech.

Just how deep did the billionaire’s paranoia run? He seemed hellbent on making sure corporate spies would never leave alive. Nemo silently mourned for those unfortunate souls who had fallen into the hands of Matthew Grimm.

“I still think it was dumb for the Mosquito Man to try and kidnap you alone,” Nemo finally voiced a thought he’d been holding onto for days.

“You have to understand—trust among superheroes is paper-thin these days. They lack cooperative experience, and villains are barely better, as long as they’re not stabbing each other in the back. After all, internal infighting to steal others fragments and upgrade their own superpowers is much less risky than causing trouble for me. Besides, monsters don’t discriminate between heroes and villains when attacking. Establishing a friend-or-foe recognition system is our top priority now.” Matthew declared himself to be the embodiment of "iron-fisted capitalism."

“So, the Mosquito Man attacked you and Lone Star City to establish a reputation among superhumans?” A simple, classic motive.

“The Mosquito Man’s actions are tied to internal grudges within the superhuman community. Part of it involves the fact that the heroes’ camp has my resources, which really irks some of the poor misfits hiding in the shadows. The details are classified as national security—I’ve signed NDAs. Knowing more won’t benefit you,” Matthew said.

“Got it. I’m not interested,” Nemo replied flatly.

Matthew took Nemo to a lounge with internet access to the Meteor Shower Watchers' forum, allowing him to browse the forum and pass the time. Matthew mentioned that Angie was busy and would join them shortly.

“Don’t tell me the forum servers are hosted right here,” Nemo said, shooting Matthew a skeptical look.

“Why would you think that?” Matthew replied with a Cheshire-like smile.

“The forum was the first to propose the Five Major Rules of Superheroes. At first glance, it seemed to promote superheroes, but in reality, it used the public’s celebrity-worship tendencies to distance them from superpowered individuals. As the saying goes, ‘Admiration is the emotion furthest from understanding.’ Satisfy people’s curiosity and emotional dependence, and they’re less likely to interact with superpowered individuals in real life, which keeps both sides safer,” Nemo observed.

“I prefer to call it a successful cross-species cultural assimilation experiment and an excellent intelligence-gathering tool,” Matthew said candidly. He didn’t bother to hide the fact that he was the mastermind behind the forum’s rise to prominence. The superhero ranking voting system was designed entirely by Matthew, but he did not manipulate the backend to rig the votes. What he wanted was the most authentic public psychological reaction statistics.

“How do I get out of here later?” Nemo asked, stopping Matthew just as the man was about to vanish like a Cheshire cat.

“I’ll personally come to pick you up. What are you worried about?”

“Oh, nothing. It’s just that I haven’t seen a single soul on the way here. It’s kind of eerie. Shouldn’t there be researchers or maybe a couple of incognito superhumans coming and going?”

“Good observation. Researchers indeed don’t have the authority to bring animals or items out of the experimental zone. Otherwise, it’d cause plenty of disasters. If you need me, just call my name. The AI will capture your voiceprint keywords, or you can contact me through your phone,” Matthew said.

To protect the superheroes’ secret identities, the facility’s corridors were equipped with automated cleaning bots that promptly removed any traces, like scents or microscopic fibers from clothing or hair, left behind by anyone passing through.

Whenever Nemo entered a new environment, his first instinct was to figure out escape routes. But here, the billionaire told him not to bother.

Nemo felt an intense urge to kick Matthew’s expensive rear.

※※※

Nemo sat in the lounge alone for less than ten minutes before the room’s entrance announced a visitor’s name and opened automatically. Angie appeared on a sleek hoverboard, clearly enjoying herself.

Stolen content alert: this content belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences.

“Nemo! You came to see me!” Angie beamed, dressed in sporty attire and brimming with energy.

“Yes, I came to check on my very first superhero friend,” Nemo replied, studying Angie carefully. His expression turned to one of mild confusion—her inhuman features hadn’t faded. In fact, there were now noticeable scales on her face.

“Drop the ‘superhero’ part. I’m not there yet,” Angie said, speaking to Nemo in their familiar and beloved native tongue, Mandarin.

“Didn’t you say your appearance would gradually return to normal human form over time?”

"Well, I underwent another transformation last night for the experiment," Angie said.

“Here? Why?” Nemo wasn’t a superhuman, but he could imagine how dangerous that must have been—especially since Angie’s powers weren’t some holy or elegant type like Michael’s. Her abilities involved transforming into a reptilian beast.

“Matt said that Salamander wasn’t affected by the bloodsucking mosquitoes' toxins because it treated them as food. He believes there’s a unique component in my body that can neutralize the toxins, so I’ve been volunteering as a test subject to help develop an antidote these past few days,” Angie said in a cheerful tone, though she didn’t miss the flicker of anger that crossed Nemo’s face.

“Hey, it’s not some coercive deal! Matt seriously asked for my help, and of course, I agreed. I want to save more people too. Plus, he personally handles all the blood draws and samples, not letting anyone else touch me. He’s quite professional when it comes to superheroes,” Angie reassured him, feeling warmth in her chest as she noticed the concern and faint heartache in Nemo’s expression.

“To be honest, I much prefer contributing through voluntary experiments rather than fighting. I never even dreamed of being a hero before. I just wanted to hide my transformation abilities and not get hunted down like a monster,” Angie said, raising her clawed hand and showing her sharp teeth. “But my powers are all about turning into a giant lizard. If I were to fight as a hero, I’d have to rip and tear with my teeth and claws. That’s too brutal for a girl who doesn’t want to be on the frontlines.”

“You don’t have to keep fighting. There are plenty of superheroes on the rankings with no combat record. The fact that you saved me and Matthew that day already puts you ahead of most heroes,” Nemo said gently.

"How about you, Nemo? That night, when you came to the headquarters to seek refuge, I saw the injuries from your combat training. You carried those wounds and still went outside with Matt, nearly falling off my back to your death—" Angie paused for a few seconds, reluctantly admitting, "I’ve never liked losing to boys. I know you weren’t thinking about winning or losing, but I just didn’t want to be worse than you."

"Uh..." Nemo scratched his head, not expecting this candid confession from the supermodel. "You’re a superpowered individual; of course, you’re stronger than me. What’s there to compete with?"

"I was hiding on the rooftop, watching. No matter what happened later, the truth is, I was far more timid than you. But there’s one thing I’m confident about—I’ve never wasted my body, whether as a model or a superpowered individual," Angie declared, as if coming to a realization.

"After you brought me into Matt’s office, I made up my mind to become ‘Salamander.’ But first, I wanted to prove that I could be useful. After all, major things are happening in Lone Star City," Angie’s beast-like eyes blinked with their third eyelid, a sight that would send chills down most people’s spines.

"Matt also said you’ve been working incredibly hard, surpassing his expectations," Nemo complimented her.

"Besides, I think it’s fascinating to observe experts conducting experiments. That’s why I’ve been eating, sleeping, and staying here. I want to learn more about my alternate body and understand the severity of the insect infestation. Living in the lab gives me access to the kind of explosive information you’d never see on TV news."

"So, you trust them?" Nemo gestured casually at their surroundings, indicating the invisible surveillance and the researchers.

"Reality doesn’t leave me much choice. If you want to gain, you have to give first." Angie offered a bitter smile. "If the medical staff here didn’t trust me or had no practical knowledge of Salamander’s basic traits and physiology, how could they treat me when I’m injured or sick in my transformed state? Surgical tools, medication dosages, allergens—all of it is different from humans. Without preparation, it’d be even scarier to need emergency medical care without prior experience."

Angie’s clarity and courage earned Nemo’s admiration.

"But they might discover weaknesses about you that even you don’t know," Nemo said cautiously.

"They take risks just by being around me, so I’d say that evens things out. Anyway, I obviously can’t withstand missiles—that much is pretty clear without experiments. I think having my weaknesses known isn’t a bad thing. That way, allies know how to cover for me, and if an enemy similar to me shows up, I’ll know exactly how to exploit their vulnerabilities."

"Also, people here were a bit scared of me at first. But after I shared these thoughts with them, they suddenly started liking me—so much so that they couldn’t stop offering me food. But I really can’t gain weight!" Angie explained, referring to the time she lost control and devoured bloodsucking mosquitoes after transforming. It wasn’t just some primal instinct tied to the food chain awakening after her transformation; as a professional model, she hadn’t eaten a full meal in ten years. The surge of beastly hunger was simply too overwhelming.

Suddenly, Nemo understood why Matt had fallen for this supermodel at first sight.

Angie’s charm burned like a flame, spreading to everyone who got to know her true personality—utterly impossible to ignore.

"By the way, covering myself completely as Salamander isn’t about worrying that my combat form would affect my modeling career. Quite the opposite—I want to test what you once said: to make people see my other form as even more beautiful. Though, honestly, being caught on video eating mosquitoes wasn’t exactly ideal…"

Angie’s expression betrayed deep resentment. "When I saw the combat footage of myself on the superhero rankings, I really wanted to bite Matt’s head off. That idiot filmed it from the dumbest angle ever!"

Dashcams—could they ever not be "dumb"? Nemo kept that thought to himself, after all, it was Matthew's fault for not using a fighter jet with advanced reconnaissance pods to capture better footage.

"How’s the antidote coming along?" Nemo asked, holding her lizard-like hands.

" It is said that the computer simulation experiments are progressing well. Of course, the antidote that has been temporarily synthesized doesn't even have emergency authorization yet, and it completely relies on voluntary human trials. Using it on ordinary people might carry the risk of assimilation. Those who have been infected by the bloodsucking mosquitoes, even if they undergo surgery in time, are fortunate not to die but are left paralyzed. What if there are more lizard-like creatures like me? However, they are researching several types of antidotes and plan to try a cocktail therapy. As for my part of the antidote, I’d rather it not be used unless absolutely necessary."

It seemed Angie was still largely self-conscious about her superpower.

After some thought, Nemo said, "Let’s conduct a poll."

"A poll?" Angie blinked her large eyes in curiosity.

Nemo logged into the Meteor Shower Watchers on his phone and created a new topic in the casual chat section.

Title: Limited Choice Poll: Which Kind of Superhero Would You Rather Be?

Author: Nobody

Content:

Dear all,

I’ve been reflecting on the recent disasters in Lone Star City and came up with a thought experiment. Imagine you’re bitten by a monster, and to survive, you have no choice but to mutate. Which would you choose: becoming a mosquito warrior or a lizard warrior?

Please share your opinions in the comments below. No private messages, thank you.

Nemo handed his phone to Angie. "As long as this casual thread doesn’t get deleted, you can keep an eye on the replies. But I think the answer will be pretty obvious."

The first reply popped up almost instantly.

"Salamander is awesome! I’d become a female lizard and lay a whole nest of eggs for him!"

Similar responses flooded in one after another. Some even referenced fan art inspired by Salamander, comparing her to WOW’s black dragon prince Wrathion, reimagining her with the seductive charm of an unmasked, sultry dragon.

Angie: "…"

Nemo: "See? Told you it’d turn out like this."

"The last heir of the black dragon—it has a nice ring to it," Angie admitted with a smile. She loved the idea of being a cool, striking presence. While the busy supermodel didn’t play online games, she had seen animated clips and images of Wrathion. His humanoid form—a stylish, mustached, red-eyed Middle Eastern heartthrob—resonated with Angie’s crimson-eyed transformed self. After all, dragons were the ultimate evolution of lizards.

"I like that character too. Let me show you an image of Deathwing, Wrathion’s father," Nemo offered. He didn’t dare tell Angie the full truth: the Black Dragon Prince is actually just a baby dragon in his true form. Early on, he aspired to be an ambitious schemer but often stumbled along the way. Recently, he finally matured a bit, had his moment of glory, and ascended as a new hero—widely recognized as a candidate for the title of Stormwind’s royal consort. Nemo's impression of the character is simply that he’s an adorable little show-off.