In the same hospital room where Tolya had previously stayed as a fake patient, Nemo had already gotten used to borrowing Tolya’s bed for naps after finishing his workouts at Matthew’s place. Now that he had to be hospitalized due to a gunshot wound in his left lower back, the process felt entirely familiar.

  Taking advantage of her superhero status, Angie had visited Nemo while he was still under observation in the experimental ward. Knowing that he had taken the bullet while shielding a little girl, she mercifully refrained from lecturing him about getting injured and simply reminded him to rest and recover properly.

  Before Nemo left the Grimm Tower, Matthew personally dressed his wound and assigned a security team to escort him to the hospital under his corporation. Upon entering the designated hospital room, all that was left for Nemo to do was change into loose, clean pajamas, swallow his painkillers, send Tolya a text letting him know he could visit the next day, and then settle into the disinfectant-scented, plush bed for sleep.

  The next day, close to noon, Nemo was woken by the relentless ringing of his phone. He realized that Tolya had already called him five times. His Russian housemate had been calling every hour, letting it ring a few times before hanging up. He likely assumed Nemo was still asleep and chose not to disturb him.

  Nemo had always kept a nocturnal schedule since becoming a superhero, and being injured only reinforced his tendency to sleep in. Tolya, clearly a little anxious, had called early to check on him, but knowing Nemo’s habits, he had simply waited for him to wake up.

  This time, Nemo picked up. “Don’t tell me you’ve been waiting in the hospital lobby for four hours?”

  “Do I look like an idiot?” Tolya scoffed over the phone. “I called the first time from home. When you didn’t answer, I waited until the second call went unanswered too, then I left the house. Had breakfast at a fast-food place near the hospital, by the way. The waitress was cute.”

  “So where are you now?” Nemo asked.

  “Still at the fast-food place. It’s a weekday morning, so there aren’t many people. I’m nursing a refillable coffee and killing time online. The place is pretty disability-friendly, by the way. Want me to bring you anything?” Tolya always made sure to grab his cane and fake his limp before heading out.

  “Anything’s fine, as long as it’s not sweet. But I want milk tea.” Nemo had no hesitation in making requests. In his phone contacts, Tolya was still listed as “Delivery Guy, ” a reminder that his original role as a housemate remained unchanged.

  When Tolya stepped into the hospital room with the breakfast he had brought, he exaggeratedly glanced around.

  “You picked my old room on purpose? What, are you attached to it?” The Russian found the gesture oddly touching.

  “I just didn’t want you to get lost.” Already washed up for the day and with nothing else to do, Nemo lay on the bed in his pajamas, scrolling through his phone, mirroring the way Tolya had acted when he had been hospitalized.

  Tolya, now aware of Nemo’s superhero identity, knew full well that his Taiwanese housemate wasn’t just reading gossip. He was still working, sorting through cases and selecting potential targets.

  “Something’s off. Why don’t you have guards stationed outside?” Tolya frowned. If anything, he would have preferred that Nemo didn’t stay in the same hospital as him when actually injured. Even though it was a Grimm Group facility, the headquarters or that fabled Lakeview Villa would have been much safer. Nemo’s gunshot wound this time was the worst he had suffered so far, yet he was in a private hospital with the lowest security. Strangely, Tolya felt that Nemo had been safer when he had gone missing in a high-security fortress.

  “The entire floor is sealed off, and regular visitors can’t enter; only you can. The security team is stationed in other rooms. No need for them to cosplay as doctors or nurses. Some of them have actual medical training, so they can handle my care just fine.”

  In fact, Nemo’s attending physician was Matthew himself. The billionaire had plenty of social engagements that required him to leave his office, but he wasn’t going to pass up the chance to study Nemo as a special case. He planned to check in on Nemo’s condition daily, but Nemo decided not to tell Tolya any of this extra information.

  “Oh!” Tolya exclaimed, pretending to be flattered.

  As Nemo ate his delayed breakfast, Tolya voiced the question that had been on his mind. After all, Nemo had previously recuperated at the Lakeview Villa.

  “Medical care at the villa isn’t convenient. Last time, my wound wasn’t deep, so I could recover alone. Now I need daily wound care under a doctor’s supervision, but I hate the experimental ward at Grimm Group’s headquarters. I didn’t want to stay there,” Nemo admitted.

  “I’ve never been inside the deepest restricted areas of Grimm Group, but I remember the medical assessment area felt... unsettling. No wonder you don’t like it,” Tolya said, completely agreeing. “Mind if I move in and hang out with you?”

  Toward the end of his previous stay, Nemo had spent every night at the hospital with Tolya, not because he wanted to, but because his Russian housemate had forced him to keep him company. Now, alone in their rented place, Tolya was equally bored.

  “Suit yourself.”

  Tolya had just participated in a hostage rescue operation. Teaming up with Salamander, he had shot and injured several Chinese and Kingdom operatives, not to mention blowing up a cargo truck. Even though he had worn a mask, it wasn’t a hundred percent guarantee of safety. Nemo had chosen this hospital room specifically because he knew Tolya would follow him in.

  “You didn’t even ask if I brought study materials or practice tests?” Tolya shouted in exaggerated surprise.

  “You should bring them, or I’ll order a new set online and have it delivered to the hospital. You can never review too much.” Nemo was planning to gather more reference books and past exam questions for his housemate.

  “Admit it! I’ve got you all figured out! I brought my homework! I even packed a change of clothes for both of us!” Tolya had already decided to crash in Nemo’s hospital room and came over with a duffel bag in tow.

  Nemo took a sip of his milk tea, too lazy to argue. The beef and cheese sandwich from this fast-food place was actually pretty good.

  After Nemo finished his meal, the Russian stood by the bedside, looking down at him from above.

  “Why don’t you sit down?”

  “You’ve seen my gunshot wound, now I want to see yours.” Tolya had heard Nemo mention where he got shot. It wasn’t fatal, as evidenced by how Nemo had to lie on his stomach the whole time. This time, he couldn’t change his own bandages.

  “What’s there to see? It’s covered with gauze.” But Nemo didn’t feel like listening to Tolya nag. Besides, he had once forced Tolya to let him check his old injuries. For fairness’ sake, he pushed himself up onto his knees on the hospital bed, lifted the left side of his pajama top, and revealed his lower back and entire abdomen.

  Tolya wasn’t happy when he saw the stark white gauze.

  “How do you sleep like this?”

  “On my side.” Luckily, Nemo had good sleeping posture and didn’t toss around. He also remained in a light sleep state, filtering out harmless phone calls automatically. Matthew’s security team didn’t make him feel completely safe. They were decent enough for dealing with conventional threats, but since they were people Matthew trusted, Nemo didn’t guard against them too much. Still, as a superpowered individual, he deeply understood that, in the end, he could only rely on himself for protection.

  You might be reading a stolen copy. Visit Royal Road for the authentic version.

  “You haven’t changed your bandages since last night, have you? Shouldn’t you?” Tolya asked again.

  “As long as the wound isn’t infected, there’s no need to change it so frequently. Besides, the medication I’m using is a top-tier, unreleased product from Grimm Group. The doctor will come when it’s time. Otherwise, why would I even be hospitalized?” Nemo replied.

  Modern medicine had developed advanced dressings that could cover wounds for extended periods, reducing the risk of infection and minimizing pain during bandage changes. However, wounds inflicted by other superpowered beings needed extra caution. They often required more frequent dressing changes. That’s why Nemo’s wound was covered with traditional gauze. The special anti-inflammatory medication he used also prevented wound exudate from sticking to the gauze.

  Additionally, superpowered individuals in good condition were less prone to infections when injured. However, their abnormal healing speed could raise suspicions among ordinary medical staff. Many superheroes had been exposed this way, suffering the consequences. Nemo had learned from their mistakes. Unless he had no choice but to treat himself, it was best to let trusted acquaintances or knowledgeable experts handle his injuries. Seeking out black-market doctors purely for business transactions was too risky.

  Matthew had promised to come at the right time to change his dressings. If he couldn’t make it, he would at least send Salamander’s medical team leader, an Indian doctor Nemo was familiar with. He had no intention of letting the hospital’s regular medical staff examine Nemo.

  Technically, this hospital stay was just a way for Nemo to recover in a place he didn’t completely despise, away from public attention.

  Tolya leaned in and whispered, “But can a normal doctor even see your wound?”

  On the surface, Nemo’s skin showed an entry wound, but the internal damage was different from an ordinary gunshot injury. With his body’s instinctive superpowered protection, the internal tearing, burn marks from the bullet, and foreign body contamination were significantly reduced. Not to mention, the armor-piercing bullet had been infused with someone else’s superpowers, so the healing process wouldn’t resemble a normal human’s at all. It might be better or worse.

  “Of course not. The Grimm Group will send a specialist. When that happens, you should make yourself scarce. I’ll send you out to grab takeout, or you can go take care of something else. Like I said, at the very least, the medics in the security team can check my blood pressure and temperature.” Nemo gave Tolya a heads-up.

  Tolya understood that he had to pretend he didn’t know Nemo was a superhero. or now, the person living here was just the best friend of the world’s richest person. Whether the specialist sent by the Grimm Group to take care of the superhero knew that Tolya was also a close friend of the KS man, it would be best to avoid running into them as much as possible.

  “I thought I could at least help you change your bandages or give you a bath.” Tolya had already mentally prepared himself to act as a caretaker.

  “It’s just a gunshot wound, not a disability. I can bathe myself. As for the bandages, I’ll leave that to the professionals. The Grimm Group needs to document my injuries and health condition. But if you stay and watch over me, I’ll be able to sleep soundly.” Nemo knew the importance of boosting morale at the right moment. Tolya’s goodwill was more than enough.

  “No problem. Just sleep tight! Put on some weight while you’re at it—you look like you got those abs from being underweight, ha!” Every housemate loves talking trash, and the Russian was no different.

  “Screw you! Mind your own business! I do have abs!” Nemo had been working his ass off in the gym lately. But his superpower traits and combat style made it impossible for him to bulk up like a bodybuilder. Back when Tolya was hospitalized, Nemo had failed to fatten him up, a regret he would carry for life. Every time Nemo came home, Tolya looked like he lived on the couch, yet somehow, his physique hadn’t changed at all. He had to be training in secret!

  A hospital room wasn’t the same as their rented apartment, and part of the security protocol included surveillance. Because of that, neither of them openly discussed the recent mass hostage situation or the battle between the Kingdom superhumans.

  Before long, they both returned to scrolling through their phones, just another slice of modern life.

  A certain low-key superhero, who habitually lurked on the Meteor Shower Watchers Forum, directly chatted with his Russian housemate via text. It was a win-win—he could secretly help Tolya practice spelling and grammar.

  Tolya had no idea that Matthew Gimm controlled the entire forum. As for Nemo, he didn’t care if Matthew saw their conversation; it saved him the trouble of reporting in.

  The CIA might be able to access the country’s entire text message database, but they had definitely suffered a major loss when they tried hacking into Matthew’s forum backend. Maybe Matthew had already reached an understanding with the deep-state government, after all, the Meteor Shower Watchers Forum was crucial to the U.S. national interests. It was best not to mess with a hub where superheroes communicated.

  If the FBI showed up with a judge-signed search warrant, they still wouldn’t be able to see the accounts Matthew deliberately hid. It was even more likely that their investigation request would be rejected by higher-ups before it even started. In short, the Meteor Shower Watchers Forum was like a small-scale dark web for superpowered individuals. No one was foolish enough to use just one account.

  Matthew even tacitly allowed users to register multiple accounts. After all, the backend monitoring would detect such behavior anyway, but it made users more careless when exchanging information.

  When Nemo and Tolya chatted privately, they still used their original main accounts, Kitchenman and Sunrise, carefully shifting the content to a third-person perspective.

  Kitchenman: Can you introduce your hacker friend to KS Man? Contact him through the forum; he needs someone with those skills.

  Sunrise: Doesn’t the Grimm Group have an army of super-hackers? KS might as well go straight to the richest man for intel.

  Kitchenman: Matthew Grimm’s people have their own priorities. KS wants to build his own network.

  Sunrise: I don’t think that hacker is particularly skilled! At least, the Kingdom never sought him out.

  Kitchenman: That’s fine. I heard KS isn’t planning to hack the Pentagon or Microsoft headquarters. But he does want someone with a slight sense of justice, not a devout believer, someone motivated by money, and able to endure long hours of monotonous surveillance work.

  Sunrise: My friend meets all those criteria. I’m starting to suspect KS already knows him!

  “You’re not entirely clueless, then.” Nemo suddenly spoke aloud.

  For topics he didn’t want Matthew to see on the forum, the curly-haired youth simply voiced them out loud. He had previously confirmed with Matthew that the hospital room only had video surveillance, no audio recording, and had memorized the placement of the cameras. Modern AI could generate subtitles just by reading lips, so it was safest to stay silent on crucial matters unless they spoke entirely in Taiwanese or an indigenous language.

  Nemo’s voice was low, eyes still on his phone. After all, many ordinary people had sharp hearing; Tolya was one of them.

  “What do you know?” Tolya, already briefed on the surveillance setup, knew Nemo wouldn’t sleep well in such an environment, but it was a necessary evil for safety.

  Even as a superhero, Nemo was still the same amnesiac housemate who needed a familiar face around when he was injured or sick.

  “The hacker who uploaded the Beelzebub files for you? That’s the same guy who helped you when you were twenty. You’re old friends. He assumes that if he’s ever in life-threatening danger, he’ll come to you for cover. Right now, he’s in the U.S., and if he gets into trouble, he won’t be hard to catch. He should be a reliable ally.”

  Sunrise:囧rz

  Kitchenman: ^_^

  “Are you psychic, or have you been hypnotizing me in my sleep?” Tolya asked in horror.

  “You don’t even own a desktop computer and like watching TV at bars. Where else would you meet another hacker? And that hacker just so happens to know your skills and personality? You two are so broke that you don’t even factor time into your trades. He must have failed to make it in Russia, ran to the U.S. without any connections, and now sticks with you for survival.” Nemo hit the nail on the head.

  His guess was spot-on, and the Russian buried his face in his hands to escape reality.

  Tolya muttered, “My homeland used to let hackers roam freely across international networks, doing whatever they pleased, with no punishments. The only rule was that they had to comply with state orders for cyber warfare if needed. After the Russia-Ukraine war, everything changed. It’s one thing to put their skills to use from the back lines, but those basement dwellers suddenly found themselves drafted to dig trenches at the front. Armed with their late grandfather’s rusty rifles, they were sent straight to die. Of course they ran! My friend fled to the U.S. before me. He bought a real passport, though it wasn’t his, and slipped past customs on a tourist visa. Now he’s just another undocumented immigrant in the shadows.”

  Nemo was surprised. “He was lucky not to get caught?”

  “His hometown is near the Far East. Black hair, black eyes, a flat face—he looks Asian. Throw on a pair of thick black glasses, get a short haircut, and he blends right in. By the way, your Taiwanese passports used to be great, just pricey. Too bad they’re trash now.”

  “Got it, thanks.” Nemo gave him a deadpan look.

  “So, how much are you offering?” Tolya asked.

  “Tell your friend I’ll cover his rent. Just tell him to say ‘yes,’ or I’ll report him to the local authorities. The Grimm Group already knows where he lives—wait, they’ve known for a while. After all, he was the first to post the Beelzebub files on the dark web. But Matthew understands you were just passing the message, so he hasn’t done anything to him, just put him in a related personnel file. As for that original flash drive you gave me, I threw it to Matthew to deal with. Not our problem.” Nemo stated calmly.

  Tolya was speechless. After all the hardships he endured to reach the US-Mexico border, he had once seriously considered meeting up with his hacker friend, who had effortlessly flown into the United States, just to beat him up and balance his inner jealousy. Now, he felt a bit sorry for the computer expert Nemo had his sights on.

  “You’re ruthless! You’re heartless!” As a fellow countryman, Tolya voiced his moral condemnation against his Taiwanese housemate.

  “But I’m paying, so it’s not unreasonable.*”

  *The dialogue between the two deliberately pays tribute to a famous line from Taiwanese romance writer Qiong Yao: “You are cruel, you are heartless, you are unreasonable. ”