"I really started out diligently delivering food to make money, until yesterday when Veronika urgently came to find me. She said her idiot boyfriend somehow heard about a lab offering big money for volunteers to join a superpower activation program. He went there with some of his team and has been out of contact for two days. Veronika is absolutely furious!"

Nemo tilted his head back silently. It was already at the point where even cursing felt like a waste of energy. Tolya gave Nemo’s hand a reassuring pat, feeling for him.

"The last time they communicated, Veronika ordered them to abandon the experiment and return to Lone Star City immediately. They agreed, but then there was no further news. Luckily, Veronika, who was always wary of her boyfriend cheating or secretly dealing with rival gangs, had planted trackers on his phone and car. Even with her pride, two days was her limit, so she had no choice but to ask me to investigate. The last signal from the tracker showed it was in an abandoned food factory in New Orleans."

"Your delivery range is pretty broad, huh?" Nemo sneered, kicking the Russian lightly in the shin.

"Nemo, the Swamp Factory incident hasn’t even gone viral online yet. How did you know to ask Grimm Group about it?" Tolya realized he couldn’t hide it from Nemo but didn’t expect to be exposed so quickly, even revealing his own involvement.

"Do you think I asked Matthew for the intel? No, this time he voluntarily told me that your whereabouts were spotted near the crime scene. He even suggested that the best solution for you was to take this chance to leave the gang during your recovery. He thinks I don’t have many friends and doesn’t want me to lose another one. You don’t need to thank him—this is all on my account. Since I’ve been able to help Matthew Grimm with all sorts of minor issues, you can repay him yourself in the future with your own abilities."

Could Nemo tell Tolya that the superhero rookie who detected the second-generation bloodsucking mosquito breeding site was none other than his fellow Formosan and supermodel friend, Salamander? But the creatures inside were clearly not edible even for Salamander. To be safe, after other superheroes and the military arrived on the scene, Matthew had Salamander, who was ordered to stay on standby outside, transported back to headquarters in a large cargo truck—a seamless service.

Before Tolya returned home, Angie was venting to Nemo on a secure phone about how she had missed a major achievement by just one step. Nemo, however, felt that Matthew’s decision was highly professional. Otherwise, he might’ve been the one chopping off the head of the richest man alive.

After coaxing Angie into taking a bath to thoroughly cleanse away her negative energy, Nemo was soon joined online by the billionaire, who came to brag about how well he had protected his ex-girlfriend. He also casually suggested that Nemo keep an eye on his overreaching Russian roommate.

The new crises—the New Orleans Swamp Factory case—could erupt at any moment, and even Matthew Grimm’s sanity couldn’t withstand the constant strain. Lately, Matthew had found a break and dragged Nemo to hide out at Lakeview Villa for some rest. Fortunately, the little chef and his movie marathons proved to be therapeutic.

Matthew might extend Nemo’s safety net out of affection, but there were still matters that only Nemo could handle himself. Nemo was well aware of this, knowing that the favors he owed Matthew were snowballing into an insurmountable debt.

"Tell me, has Miss Gromova asked you to join their gang to make up for the personnel losses and prevent the organization from being dismantled by rivals?" Nemo asked.

Miss Gromova wasn’t just the boss of the Russian gang in Lone Star City’s west side; she was also Tolya’s childhood friend from Moscow. Her name was Veronika—a fierce Russian beauty backed by resources from her father, a former Wagner mercenary group official. She came with the goal of establishing a foothold.

Given Tolya’s capabilities, if he joined, he’d at least be a deputy. Nemo was convinced that this idea had likely been brewing in Veronika’s mind for a long time, only lacking the right opportunity for a strong invitation. After witnessing the disparity between gang members and Tolya firsthand, Nemo was even more certain.

Tolya slumped on the couch, lowering his head in silence.

"Speak, Anatoly!" Nemo said angrily.

"Did Matthew Grimm tell you that the first one to take down that abominable experimental breeding facility wasn’t a sponsored hero but an unknown vigilante? Have you seen the swamp factory footage yet? I doubt it, since I set my hacker friend to post it on the dark web only five minutes ago. You can’t imagine how disgusting and horrifying those scenes are—utterly devoid of humanity. Even my friend, who’s used to lurking on the dark web, emailed me back, cursing me for sending it without a content warning. Not that I’ve watched it yet, either..."

The laboratory wasn’t actually in a swamp. A massive hurricane ten years ago had turned New Orleans into a flooded landscape, driving its population and economic activity to Lone Star City. Many areas of New Orleans had since fallen into decline, earning the nickname "the swamp" among real estate developers. Properties were either deserted or sold off cheaply, then secretly used for all kinds of illegal stuff.

A large food processing plant was equipped with about thirty container-sized reinforced plastic compartments. These modular units, movable by cranes, were fitted with cameras and basic ventilation and sewage systems. Ten units were used for different experiments, while the remaining compartments held densely packed infected individuals.

The experimental footage was neatly categorized by number: initial-generation bloodsucking mosquitoes placed with various healthy subjects to observe how the creatures selected prey and fed amidst abundant food sources… Victims implanted with eggs, documented from the first second to the final emergence of second-generation mosquitoes… Two second-generation mosquitoes hatching in the same chamber and their interactions… Larvae extracted from a human host for secondary parasitism… A single test subject facing twenty larvae competing for food…

Stolen from its rightful author, this tale is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.

Though named for their appearance, the bloodsucking mosquitoes weren’t true mosquitoes, and their larvae resembled maggots. This series of experimental videos later earned the codename "Beelzebub Files."

Along with the release of the Beelzebub Files came an attached document containing a warning from the anonymous vigilante to the mastermind behind the horrors.

The video footage showed guards being taken down with precise shots, burly assistants who restrained victims being shoved into the feeding chambers of hungry second-generation bloodsucking mosquitoes, and an older man in a suit, likely the lead researcher, strapped to an operating table under sedation and an IV drip.

The man's bloated abdomen had been sliced open, the layers of fat peeled back to reveal larger, greedier larvae devouring him from within. His abdominal cavity was half-eaten, yet he remained alive, the larvae prolonging their host's freshness with secretions of toxins that prevented blood loss and induced a hallucinogenic state.

Three laboratory staff, their hands skinned down to bare bone, were nailed to wooden crates like specimens. Their skulls had been sawed open, exposing their brains as wriggling larvae crawled inside. Their screams, though muffled within the remote, surveillance-packed facility, were chillingly vivid in the execution footage.

As the larvae began to feast, the screams subsided, but the contorted expressions and convulsions of the victims made it clear that the pain had not lessened. Instead, the toxins were merely numbing their nervous system and disorienting their awareness.

During their incoherent screams, the lab workers revealed names and cryptic codes, sparking widespread speculation online.

When the first responders breached the mosquito breeding facility, they found that every experimental chamber had been flooded with carbon monoxide through the air circulation system. There was no countdown or declaration—only a swift, decisive explosion.

The superheroes and special forces narrowly had time to evacuate. Carbon monoxide painlessly killed the hosts but had no effect on the mosquitoes or their larvae. These abominations had to be starved or burned to death. The latter proved incredibly efficient, and many viewers of the Beelzebub Files sensed a faint touch of the vigilante's mercy for the victims.

It was a meticulously planned operation. Despite the single pronoun "he" used to refer to the anonymous vigilante, this was far from the handiwork of a lone amateur.

Tolya had no knowledge of what occurred inside the abandoned food processing plant. He was intercepted en route, where a refrigerated truck was parked by the roadside. The low temperature was designed to inhibit the larvae's growth, and the truck contained victims who were barely holding on to life.

Tolya had no choice but to drive the truck loaded with survivors, as per the vigilante's instructions, to the nearest hospital. Despite his efforts, some died on the way, including children. Tolya felt utterly devastated.

Following the instructions of the anonymous messenger, Tolya entrusted a professional hacker with uploading the evidence video to the dark web.

The U.S. government likely covered up many such incidents, but this time they were too late. The anonymous vigilante intended this as a warning to underground organizations and masterminds perpetrating similar atrocities.

The message was clear: there was a bloodthirsty lunatic who did not care to play the hero, one who preferred prolonged, brutal vengeance over coffee dates at police stations.

“I drove the truck to the nearest hospital, reported to the police that an unknown person had flagged me down and asked me to switch vehicles to save lives. I did my best, Nemo. But the messenger told me that those infected were beyond saving. The victims I transported were either infested with giant larvae or already in the pupal stage. The vigilante merely left samples for the Grimm Group’s research.”

The local medical staff were hesitant to remove the victims from the truck at first, even though the Grimm Group had already announced that larvae and eggs buried deep in the human body posed no risk of contagious transmission. They only acted after donning full protective suits. Tolya had to assist in placing the victims into inflatable isolation chambers.

“I haven’t watched the contents of the flash drive yet. I was too busy saving people at the time, and maybe I was just avoiding reality. Anyway, I kept the original drive and uploaded a copy from a cybercafé, asking my hacker friend to schedule its release. Afterward, I just wanted to go home and catch my breath.” Tolya said he had no interest in reviewing the flash drive’s contents. He believed that anyone with a shred of humanity who saw those victims in the truck would have done the same—helping the vigilante with a small favor.

Besides, even if Tolya hadn’t uploaded the Beelzebub Files, someone else surely would have. Even if Tolya doesn't spread these messages, there will definitely be others who will expose the Beelzebub Files, as there are many people everywhere who could be tasked with delivering intercepted messages

Tolya asked Nemo if he could watch the Beelzebub Files with him. Nemo agreed, on the condition that the vigilante's flash drive be sealed in a ziplock bag and handed over to him for safe handling. They would only view the experiment and execution footage online, avoiding connecting the suspicious device to their home computer.

Tolya assured him that he was aware of such precautions. He had no desire to keep something as cursed as the vigilante's flash drive in his possession anyway.

The Beelzebub Files, due to their horrific and highly provocative content, spread from the dark web to public U.S. networks in less than half an hour, with signs of further global dissemination.

"Just reading the reposted titles and quick comments from netizens makes it clear this thing is terrible for mental health," Tolya remarked. "But since you're not going to avoid watching it either, we might as well figure out together just how dangerous America has become. Can I watch it with some vodka?"

"No," Nemo replied. " I don't drink hard liquor and you have surgery in three days, skip the alcohol. Face this like a man."

Thus, the Russian soldier endured the entire ordeal, occasionally retching and muttering progressively weaker curses. On the other hand, Nemo stayed silent throughout. Afterward, both of them took long, hot showers, using up an entire bar of soap each before they finally felt clean.

"Return the van today," Nemo instructed. "Explain to Ms. Gromova that you didn’t have time to find her boyfriend and associates because you were intercepted and forced to drive victims to safety. They’ll probably understand after watching the videos online. The van's GPS logs will prove you’re telling the truth. Double the rental fee, let your homeland friends know you won’t rent their vehicles anymore, and pause your delivery jobs to prepare for surgery. Whether or not you join their gang can wait until after you’ve recovered. By the way, your surgery will have a slight ‘complication’ that leaves you unable to move properly, forcing you to focus on your studies." Nemo sipped his hot tea, munching on the chips Tolya had brought back.

"I'll think about it... Veronika’s an old friend, and her people have always treated me well," Tolya replied.

"If you’re truly overflowing with idealism, go back to Russia when the Federation collapses and help rebuild a free and safe homeland for your people. Don’t waste your green card here trying to make life a bit easier for ‘your own.’ If you genuinely enjoy hanging out with your homeland friends, I won’t stop you. But if you don’t, who else but me will knock some sense into you? You know their caliber better than I do. They can’t even protect themselves, let alone anyone else!" Nemo snatched the chips from Tolya’s hand and dumped them into his own bag in a petty act of revenge.

"I get what you mean. If that vigilante hadn’t acted first and I walked into that abandoned food factory on my own, we wouldn’t have even had a chance to say goodbye," Tolya said with a bitter smile, opening another bag of chips—he’d bought plenty.

"Promise me this: even if we stop working together one day, find a safe place to stay—at least somewhere with someone who can watch your back," Nemo said seriously.

"You know me," Tolya replied. "I’ve already found that place."

"Then don’t leave before I do," Nemo said, unusually taking the initiative to hold the Russian’s hand. "Go get that surgery done! Play it up as much as you can. Give me some time, and I’ll get stronger. You’ll regret not asking for my autograph sooner."

"You’re talking like you’re joining the superheroes!"

"Why does it have to rely on superpowers? The hero industry needs cogs in the machine too! With my connections at Grimm Group, I could make more than a middle-class salary just being a part-time driver, courier, bodyguard, and full-time chef. I’d just need to brush up on my escape skills to avoid getting caught in AOE attacks." Nemo’s tone was half-joking. If Tolya couldn’t stay away from danger, Nemo at least wanted to nudge him toward a safer path.

"Veronika won’t be easy to deal with, especially since I couldn’t complete her request," Tolya said gloomily.

"Use all your charm to help her identify her boyfriend in the Beelzebub Files. If that doesn’t work, pick someone with a similar build whose face is too disfigured to recognize and shift her focus. I’m not interested in your excuses. Three days from now, I’ll personally drag you to the operating table, so you’d better start prepping today." Nemo snapped a chip in half for emphasis.

"Nemo, your love is heavy..."

"If you nearly ended up as larvae poop, you need someone with heavy love to balance things out."