Room of Truth
One of Shadow Killer's subordinate villains, the B-rank villain Invisible, sat across from Eldimo. There was a cup of coffee on the table that Eldimo had ordered for him in advance, but Invisible didn't even glance at it.
"Is that true?" he cut straight to the chase.
"Yes. I proposed selling Steam together with Steel Armor, and he accepted."
"Did you meet Steel Armor in person?"
"No. His proxy came instead, and we agreed to split the profits fifty-fifty."
Invisible's lips twitched upward ever so slightly at Eldimo's words. Steel Armor was known for his generosity among S-rank villains. Other S-rank villains took at least seventy percent tribute from their district-managing underlings. In contrast, Steel Armor only demanded thirty percent of the profits from his subordinates. Knowing that, he hadn't harbored much suspicion toward the incredibly generous offer to split Steam sales revenue down the middle. It was entirely plausible for him.
This is my chance for revenge.
As Steel Armor had anticipated, all of Shadow Killer's subordinates were sharpening their blades for revenge against him. They had too much on their plates right now to act on it or sabotage him, but the moment things eased up, retaliation was inevitable. For the time being, spreading Dr. Krumolla's developed Steam across all of Dark City took priority, so they let him be. But for revenge to come from such an unexpected quarter!
Invisible couldn't possibly let this opportunity slip away.
"Can you pull it off?"
"Yes! Just leave it to me!"
Eldimo nodded with a resolute expression, as if he'd never been tense at all. Even Invisible, who didn't care much about others, was impressed by that passionate glint in his eyes.
"Fine. I'll supply you with double—no, triple the goods."
"And, um..."
"What?"
"Steel Armor seems very interested in Steam."
Invisible flinched. What the hell was this now?
"What do you mean by that?"
"Well... I don't know the details, but it seems like he's taking Steam himself."
"...Is that so?"
He couldn't stop his lips from trembling. If Steel Armor was truly consuming Steam, Invisible was certain of one thing: the bastard wouldn't last two years before meeting a gruesome end.
Ordinary people showed side effects immediately upon taking Steam—no need to monitor progression. But superpowered individuals were different. The higher the superpower level, the longer it took for side effects to manifest. As an S-rank villain, Steel Armor could probably endure it for quite a while even if he was dosing. S-rank heroes and villains weren't to be treated as mere humans. They were monsters in human form. Of course, the outcome wouldn't change. Steel Armor would lose his reason, devolve into a beast driven by instinct, cause massive havoc in Dark City, and force the Hero Association to go all-out to subjugate him. One side his natural enemies, the other his sworn foes. They'd tear each other apart.
If that happens...
Invisible envisioned the best possible future he could imagine. With merit like this, he might even become Shadow Killer's inner circle, grasping immense power and authority.
"I'll give you five times the goods. But you must seize Steel Armor's districts for certain."
"Understood."
Invisible rose from his seat, eyeing Eldimo's beaming face at the promise of five times the supply. Business concluded—it was time to go.
Splash!
"..."
As Invisible headed out, he realized he'd stepped in water. Looking down, he saw a shallow puddle on the floor. He could chalk it up to the part-timer forgetting to mop, but instinct told him something was off about that puddle. He turned to the woman studying quietly at the next table.
"..."
"..."
Invisible vanished in an instant. He thrust the dagger from his sleeve at the woman. It was pure gut feeling—the source of this unease was her, and he had to kill her.
And then—
Crash!
"Why so serious?!"
A man in a skull-masked balaclava burst through the glass window and tackled Invisible.
*****
"That fucker!"
"Hey, stop! Steel Armor!"
Before Invisible could activate his superpower, my eyes caught the glint of sunlight off his sleeve. He'd hidden a knife there. And his target was Yuna.
I didn't know how he'd sniffed her out, but the bastard went straight for her. Seeing that lit a fire in my eyes, and I leaped from the car, hurling myself into the cafe. Rabbit Armor's voice called from behind, but I ignored it.
"Why so serious?!"
Of course— he'd gone after my woman! Even a guy like me, who's always joking around and never serious, turns dead serious when someone touches my girl.
"Huh?"
I swung my fist at where he'd been standing, but it sliced through empty air. Invisible had already vanished from that spot.
"Kyaaah!"
"S-Steel Armor! We gotta run!"
"The infamous rapist murderer! Everyone, run!"
Hey, fuck, I never raped or murdered! And all the women I fucked said they loved it! Don't spread your damn fanfic bullshit, you cunts!
Good job, Yuna!
Yuna had followed my instructions to the letter. Blending in like a normal college girl, she screamed with the crowd and headed for the exit. But she didn't just leave. She'd spread water across the cafe's first-floor ground before stepping out.
Where's that shitty bastard... there!
Scanning around, I spotted him and launched myself. Invisible's second target was Eldimo. The moment I showed up, he'd realized it was a trap.
"Duck your head!"
"Uwaaaah!"
Repulsion.
At my shout, Eldimo dove under the table, huddling tight. Not knowing exactly where he was, I unleashed Repulsion over his former position. Can't hit a point? Hit an area.
Thud!
"Kuh!"
A impact against the wall and the man's groan rang out in sequence. I kicked off toward the sound.
"Missed again! Have you ever seen such a slippery little shit?!"
He'd vanished again. An invisible man couldn't truly disappear, right? I scanned the floor for traces, but no footprints. Where the hell are you hiding, you perv? Bet this fucker's still hitting the women's baths. Invisible Man = women's bath is law.
Hmm!
Crash!
"Huh?"
A Molotov cocktail flew in from outside, smashing into the ceiling. The fire alarm triggered, and water poured from the sprinklers.
"Aha! So that's where you are, you clever shit?"
"..."
He'd instantly realized the puddle was for tracking him, so he'd stayed put on the table. No water pooled up there. But with water cascading from above, his position was crystal clear. His clever trick was neutralized.
Nice one, Rabbit Armor.
Rabbit Armor had lobbed the Molotov. I'd planned to tail him once he exited, see where he went. But his swing at Yuna fucked that up.
"I won't become a traitor, so I have to catch you."
Rabbit Armor, Yuna, even Eldimo—they'd all pulled their weight. Time for me to do my part. No way I'm turning traitor.
"Let's make this easy."
"Steel Armor... guh?!"
To stop him from pulling anything, I hit him with Attraction. The moment Invisible was pulled close, I timed a full-power haymaker.
"Kraaak?!"
Too bad for him—he blacked out before he could react. Catching an invisible man? Piece of cake~
This fucker... I gotta kill—no, ship him to America.
An invisible man, no less. Tattoo him first, then decide.
*****
Having successfully kidnapped Invisible, we bolted from the cafe before any heroes or his buddies showed. Yuna got dropped back at the Hero Association by my main body. After some car sex, of course.
Splash!
"Kuh..."
We tied Invisible to a chair and doused him. Water droplets on his body revealed his form. Bad cop's here.
"How long you gonna stay like that? Let's chat face-to-face."
"I got nothing to say to you. Kill me."
"Kill you...? How can you say something so cruel?! What would your parents think if they saw you? After raising you so well, you'd have them pounding the ground in regret, saying their kid wants to die?! You're a filthy filial ingrate! Bursting your parents' hearts!"
"Kuh! Ugh! Guh...!"
I hammered fists into his gut nonstop. As expected from a Shadow Killer underling—insane endurance. I could instinctively tell he was biting his lip to hide weakness. Tough bastard.
I paused punching, splashed more water, grabbed his shoulders, and squeezed.
"Guhk!"
"Talk! Say you wanna live! Don't say that shit! Say you wanna live!"
"Kruuuh!"
"You fucking dog? Pissing me off?"
I figured this'd break him enough for a word or two, but he just endured the groans, lips sealed.
"I didn't wanna use this, but... Rabbit Armor. Room of Truth."
"..."
Rabbit Armor handed me a bike helmet. I jammed it on Invisible's head, then slammed down with controlled force.
"Guhp! Kuh! Kraaagh!"
Let's see who wins—you or me.
*****
What a tough bastard.
"Won't open his mouth to the end."
Even the ultimate torture ace, the Room of Truth, failed against Invisible, who'd resolved to die. But jamming the helmet and pounding wasn't entirely useless.
"Haa... haa..."
His superpower deactivated. Dizzy, he panted raggedly. Good enough for now? I glanced at Rabbit Armor behind me; he nodded. His turn now.
Time for good cop.
"You fucking Invisible prick!"
"Kuh!"
"...?"
Good cop was supposed to... take... over?
"Die! Die! Die! You have no idea how long I've waited for this! You're not leaving here alive today! I'll kill you with these two hands myself!"
"Kruuugh!"
"..."
Rabbit Armor straight-up kicked Invisible over and pummeled him with kicks and fists. Pure, seething rage.
Whoa. Not bad cop/good cop—just two bad cops.
"Hey, hey, calm down. Rabbit Armor? You gotta chill."
"Let go! I'm killing this fucker today!"
"Okay, okay. But hold off for a sec!"
"Raaaaagh!"
I sat him down to cool off, grabbed the helmet, and approached Invisible.
"Rested up? Round two. Room of Truth!"
"..."
Thud! Thud! Thud!
I bashed the helmet until Invisible passed out.