In the lounge of the Grimm Group's headquarters experimental zone, a man and a woman sat across the table, their conversation far heavier than their casual postures might suggest.

"I know you have an enviable income and status, and you’d never ask Matthew for anything, but it’s only right for him to spoil you," Nemo said sincerely. "As his girlfriend, how you choose to love him and depend on him is entirely up to you, Angie. But as Salamander, you must separate these identities. This is a matter of life and death—not just for you but for the people around you."

Angie nodded. Though she was a year older than Nemo, his demeanor and words often carried the weight of someone ten years her senior, exuding a resigned yet indulgent air, like that of an older brother. Even though this was only their second meeting, it felt like they were old friends.

Perhaps it was because, as a Taiwanese who had been struggling alone abroad for years, Angie had longed for someone—a compatriot—who could speak her native language and show her simple, genuine care and protection.

"You saved Matthew's life. I'll ask him to provide you with a safe house," Nemo said firmly. "If you’re okay with that, I can take you there today, help you set up some essentials, and then you’ll need to learn to establish a few reliable fallback locations for yourself. Don’t tell anyone—not even Matthew."

Nemo made a small gesture, resting his chin on his hand and lightly pressing his index finger to his lips, as if signaling for silence. Angie immediately understood.

Nemo clearly didn’t like staying in the Grimm Group building, filled with surveillance cameras, and he didn’t think Angie should grow too comfortable here either.

As a superpowered individual, it should have been Angie who was more attuned to such details. Yet it was Nemo who voiced the warning first.

"Alright, I’d like that. Thank you, Nemo," she said softly.

Angie was not blind to the perilous waves of fate surging ahead. She had initially stood on the metaphorical rocks, choosing to face the danger alone. Yet she hadn’t expected someone to pull her back just a step, giving her enough courage to face forward without feeling utterly hopeless.

The two shifted their conversation to news about the Lone Star City insect plague and left out further mentions of the experimental zone. About thirty minutes later, Matthew reappeared. This time, he escorted both Nemo and Angie out of the experimental zone, leading them back to his top-floor president office.

Matthew placed a kiss on Angie’s forehead and handed Nemo a metal key tied with a ribbon, along with a card bearing the address and electronic lock code for the safe house.

"It’s still within Lone Star City. I hope you’ll understand my personal reasons for that. Stay safe," Matthew said.

Angie gave her boyfriend a big hug, then mentioned that she needed to disguise her non-human features. Matthew had his assistant bring the necessary items—clothes, makeup, and accessories—so Angie could busy herself in the office’s dressing room.

"I will personally take her to the safe house using Sunny Jie's car," Nemo assured Matthew. "Focus on your work. No need to come along."

"I feel like you’re stealing her from me," Matthew muttered as he playfully ruffled Nemo’s hair, only to get a sharp kick to the shin, prompting a pained hiss.

" Yeah, sure, keep running that mouth of yours! You're lucky to have such a loyal girlfriend," Nemo snorted.

※※※

The safe house was located in the West District of Lone Star City, in the Protein Quarter, not far from the suburban area where Nemo’s workplace was. The insect plague’s rampant bloodsucking mosquitoes had brought one unexpected benefit: outdoor media had nearly disappeared.

Drone activity was nonexistent near Grimm Group’s headquarters due to the corporate group’s anti-surveillance measures, and the media can now only sporadically track and report on the latest sightings of the bloodsucking giant mosquitoes in the city through online leaks and aerial footage.

Military personnel and police officers patrolled the streets around the clock, rushing to rescue missions or combat zones. Vehicles and pedestrians were frequently stopped for inspections, as authorities sought to intercept people whose minds had been compromised by mosquito-laid eggs or who refused medical treatment for various reasons.

The Westlake Restaurant, where Nemo worked, always kept extra meal boxes in its delivery cars, which became lifesavers for many on-duty officers. It was rumored that the Taiwanese origins of the owner contributed to the satisfying portions and flavors of the boxed meals.

Officers stationed in Lone Star City’s western district had all come to recognize the battered old Honda bearing the restaurant’s English logo.

Whenever the Honda displayed a “Temporarily Sold Out” sign on its window, not only would it avoid being stopped by police, but officers would gesture for the driver to quickly return for a restock. If restocking wasn’t possible, the driver would return the gesture with an apology—an unspoken understanding that had developed on the streets in recent days.

Stolen from its original source, this story is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.

Today, Nemo had borrowed the Honda from the restaurant owner specifically to deliver a special meal box to the billionaire himself. With a rented van now handling bulk deliveries and ingredient purchases, the old Honda was free to be used for personal errands.

This was how Nemo smoothly escorted Angie to the safe house, accompanying her inside her new refuge. He handed her the metal key and reminded her to update the electronic lock code later.

"This is smaller and more low-key than I expected, but it’s cozy and even has a little kitchen. It doesn’t feel like something Matthew would choose," Angie remarked, surprised.

"To me, it’s still too conspicuous," Nemo admitted that Matthew had chosen this safe house well—it was perfect for Angie's needs and also convenient for Nemo to provide nearby support. "A regular citizen wouldn’t be living in a new suite with advanced security systems. Fortunately, your supermodel identity isn’t ordinary either, so it fits your disguise."

Angie wasn’t a native of Lone Star City, but it seemed she’d have to settle here for the foreseeable future. She needed to collaborate with Grimm Group on antidote research and train her combat transformation abilities. Her modeling career would also have to shift accordingly.

"You don’t need to disable the cameras and security systems Matthew installed. That’s what makes this place safe. Besides, you can use your phone to monitor the house remotely and prevent any intrusions. I’m guessing the safe house has features like that. I’ll double-check for you later," Nemo said, recalling the surveillance system at Lakeview Villa.

Matthew Grimm’s judgment and execution were razor-sharp, almost terrifyingly so.He wouldn’t make amateurish mistakes that would undermine trust, like using surveillance to gather personal information without justification. Even when conducting investigations, he would ensure the exchange was fair—often even overcompensating. Nemo had already seen Matthew demonstrate this firsthand.

In the sleek bathroom of the safe house, Nemo gestured for Angie to take a look around before stepping in himself. He didn’t believe Matthew would dare to activate any surveillance at this moment, especially while Angie was under Nemo's direct protection. Such an action would undoubtedly trigger Nemo’s threshold for cutting ties, but just to be cautious, he chose a spot he believed Matthew would be least likely to review footage of later.

"Being a superhero sponsored by Matthew Grimm isn’t a bad thing as long as it’s well-deserved," Nemo said. "But what matters to me is that no random individual in the Grimm Group gets to monitor your every move. At least this way, I can rest easier. You’ve given those researchers unrestricted access to observe you for four days—that’s more than enough. Any longer, and someone might get the idea that you’re an easy target. Before earning respect, I’d rather you be someone people fear."

"I like being feared," Angie said with a smile.

Nemo rummaged in his chest bag and pulled out a small item wrapped in a handkerchief, handing it to her.

"What’s this?" Angie unwrapped it carefully, revealing a black scale about two finger joints wide. Its unique pattern was unmistakably familiar.

"I picked it up on the rooftop when you shifted back into human form. At the time, you weren’t in a position to keep it. Since we were both heading into the Grimm Group, I decided it was safer to hold onto it and give it back when you could think things through."

Angie had transformed back completely naked, covered only by Matthew's suit jacket in the chaos of her impulsive decision to become a hero. Nemo had deemed it best not to complicate matters further.

Even Nemo wasn’t sure why he had noticed that almost invisible black scale in the shadows, but he had instinctively picked it up without hesitation.

"When I change back to human form, the lizard parts usually disappear completely. I didn’t realize I left a scale behind this time," Angie said, intrigued.

"Maybe you never checked closely before. Superpowers are often unstable in their early stages, and strange phenomena are common—at least, that’s what the forums say. Keep it safe, though, so no one with ill intentions can use it against you," Nemo said, his tone serious.

Angie looked at the man before her.

He had guided her into the Grimm Group and then personally led her out. Nemo couldn’t possibly know how profoundly this had impacted Angie, but to her, it was unforgettable.

He had ensured that her first step into the superhero world was a steady one.

Almost unconsciously, Angie brought the scale to her lips, kissed it, and murmured a silent prayer. Nemo observed the scene quietly.

The tall, elegant woman handed the scale back to the comparatively shorter, curly-haired young man, her voice hesitant. "…Can I ask you to keep it? Just as a small token of my gratitude? I’m truly glad you saw the real me. I hope this scale brings you good luck."

"Of course, it’s my honor."

As Nemo took the black scale, a fiery, translucent red hue—Angie’s signature eye color in her transformed state—spread from where his fingers touched it. The color slowly expanded before fading back to its original shade as Nemo placed the scale back into the handkerchief, breaking contact.

"I-I didn’t know it would do that!" Angie stammered in surprise.

"Shh, it’s beautiful. I like it a lot. It must be your blessing taking effect," Nemo said gently. "But until I understand how effective it is, let’s not tell anyone about this, okay?" He carefully rewrapped the scale and tucked it back into his chest bag.

Angie nodded earnestly.

Nemo instinctively knew it was dangerous to reveal that Angie could leave behind scales or that they could change color based on who touched them. Such information could make her a target. If her powers leaned toward something beyond physical abilities and into the realm of the mysterious, Nemo didn’t want to imagine a future where Angie might be disassembled piece by piece for experimentation.

Her abilities were hers alone to master, through effort and opportunity, and she shouldn't let ignorance turn her powers into leverage for others to control her.

"You’re staying here tonight, so start by cleaning up. Don’t leave until your appearance is fully restored. I’ll go out and pick up some essentials for you," Nemo said, deliberately sidestepping the unsettling mystery of the scale’s color change.

That wasn’t something they could solve now, but it was definitely a secret worth keeping—especially from someone like Matthew Grimm, whose boundaries and limits remained unknown.

When Nemo returned with three large bags of supplies and groceries, he noticed that Angie had removed her makeup. Her face bore traces of tears.

"I was thinking about my mom," she said.

They sat side by side on the sofa, each holding a plain yogurt.

"I grew up in a single-parent household. My mom had a chronic illness. I worked abroad as a model to earn money to hire a caregiver to look after her 24/7. We video-chatted every day. She died during the Taiwan Strait War—not because of missiles or artillery, not because the PLA landed and killed people, but because of some local politician who claimed that resistance was futile and that surrendering would end the war sooner. They incited pro-China scum to protest against the war and bribed local gangsters to harass and rob homes. The caregiver fled, and my mom’s condition worsened without her medication. She was bedridden, and when a neighbor’s house was set on fire, the flames spread to ours. She didn’t make it out."

Nemo thought of the many cases of organized crimes targeting civilians during the Taiwan Strait War that he had come across during his research. The methods and scenarios were all disturbingly similar. Learning that Angie’s mother was one of the victims made him clench his fists in anger.

"The day I heard about my mom’s death, I lost it. I turned into a monster and wrecked my place. My entire lizard form got stuck in the living room, but at least I didn’t run out and scare anyone." That was the moment Angie’s powers had awakened.

"You survived."

"Yes, because I wanted revenge. So badly. That’s why I had to stay alive and gain influence." That explained Angie’s acute sensitivity to Nemo’s political inclinations when they first met.

"I don’t think things will work out with Matt… Our relationship was like a dream to begin with."

"Why not? He doesn’t seem to mind your powers. If anything, he might find them intriguingly fantastical. That’s the kind of person Matthew is."

"Because it feels like I don’t even love him. It’s more like I see him as a stick of straw. The better he treats me, the more I feel this can’t go on. And after these past few days, I’ve come to find the Grimm Group quite terrifying."

Angie knew that Matthew might discover this conversation, yet she still chose to speak to Nemo in the safe house about how she ended up with the billionaire and her feelings towards that man with the golden eyes.