Harem Streamer System: Every Crime I Broadcast Wins Me a Superheroine - Chapter 44

Chapter 44: Game Plan
Abandoned Military Compound, Meteor City…

The abandoned military compound was dead quiet.

Rust streaked the walls, and the air was foul with the smell of damp concrete mixed with something pungent and rotten… blood, maybe.

Trickshot lounged in a busted office chair as his boots propped up on a scorched metal desk.

“♬ There’s no sex in the USSR, but this dashing handsome lad beats his meat on the flag, bahaha.”

He scrolled lazily through an endless stream of Chirper comments on his phone, a satisfied grin playing on his face.

“Man, social media is something else.”

He leaned back, laughing heartily as he tossed the phone between his hands.

“I didn’t think people ate up this open crime shit so fast. They’re out there writing fanfiction about the friggin’ hostage situation! Humanity is so gone, bahaha!”

He took a long swig from a half-empty bottle of whiskey, then exhaled sharply as the burn slid down his throat.

“Hoo! That’s the good stuff.”

Behind him, Dark Elf stood still and alert as her darkwear blended into the poor light of the room.

She held a sword casually against Gwen’s neck, her posture calm and almost lazy. It was as if keeping a hostage was more of an afterthought than something serious she needed to worry about.

Tied to a chair, Gwen shifted uncomfortably.

“Nghk────!!”

The ropes dug into her wrists and ankles, and the cold steel of the blade sent shivers down her spine.

She craned her neck to look at Dark Elf.

“Hey…”

Gwen sounded more uncomfortable than annoyed.

“Do you mind not holding a sword to my fuckin’ neck anymore? You’ve already done the whole ‘threaten my friend’ bit.”

Dark Elf raised an eyebrow.

Her face was calm and unreadable as usual.

“Last time, you called him your boyfriend.”

“Same thing!” Gwen rolled her eyes.

“Not really──”

“SAME. THING!”

Gwen cut her off with a loud, frustrated voice.

Dark Elf blinked slowly, then gave the faintest shrug before returning her scarlet eyes to Trickshot.

“Was it really necessary to broadcast her abduction? The terms for her release?”

Trickshot snickered as he twirled his phone in the air.

“Necessary? Nah. Fun? Abso-fuckin-lutely.”

He whipped his handgun from his holster with ease and fired a single shot that shattered the phone midair.

… TOOOOM────KSSSSHHHH!!

The shards scattered across the ground as he holstered the gun again in one smooth motion.

“But if you must know, Grave insisted on it.”

Trickshot leaned forward, resting his elbows on his knees as he gestured animatedly.

“He said we gotta break Nightwatch’s confidence. Hit him where it hurts, you know? The man’s pride, his followers, reputation… everything.”

Dark Elf sighed and shook her head.

“That doesn’t make sense. Any one of us could eliminate him outright. This… theatricality is unnecessary.”

Trickshot tilted his head and adjusted his eye scope.

“Come on, Elfie. You know how that silent bastard works. The man’s never just killed anyone. He’s all about the build-up. Pain, humiliation, despair… then, and only then, does he go for the kill. Same thing’s gonna happen to Nightwatch. Trust the process.”

Gwen’s eyes widened at his words, and she struggled against her bonds as the chair scraped against the floor.

“Shut up! Shut up! Nothing’s gonna happen to Nightwatch! You hear me? I’ll make sure of…”

Before Gwen could finish shouting, Dark Elf moved like a shadow.

… KPOOOW!

Her boot smashed Gwen’s jaw with pinpoint accuracy and brutal, unrelenting force.

Gwen spat blood and the painful taste spread in her mouth as she collapsed back into the chair, groaning in pain.

Dark Elf knelt beside her and stared at her with eyes so cold Gwen felt her blood freeze.

“Stay quiet if you value your life.”

Gwen’s eyes darted to Trickshot, who already had his handgun in hand as his finger twitched dangerously near the trigger. There was a wild, unhinged look in his eyes—like he was just waiting for the slightest reason to fire.

Eager to pull the trigger for self satisfaction.

A hedonist.

Gwen swallowed hard and quickly lowered her head, doing her best to avoid his stare.

“I can’t even use my powers…” she muttered bitterly.

Dark Elf pulled a small remote from her belt and held it up.

“That’s because of the collar around your neck. It’s an FGIC… a Force-Gene Inhibitor Collar. It neutralizes the physical aspects of metasapien abilities while generating a mental lock that prevents activation altogether.”

Gwen smirked and leaned her head back.

“Too bad it doesn’t come with a feature to make you shut up. Dumb ‘Mission Impossible’ looking ass bitch.”

Trickshot’s grin dropped instantly.

He raised his gun and pointed it at Gwen.

“Say one more word, you little shit. I’ll put a bullet in your skull and fuck the brains out of your corpse. Who the hell do you think you’re talking to?”

Dark Elf’s finger moved faster than Trickshot’s. She pressed a button on the remote, and Gwen’s collar delivered a sharp, electrifying shock. Gwen convulsed once before slumping unconscious as her head lolled to the side.

Trickshot growled then holstered his gun.

“Fuck it all.”

He grabbed a small bottle of baby oil from the desk and stormed toward the exit.

Dark Elf raised an eyebrow. “Where are you going?”

Trickshot didn’t look back. “None of your damn business!”

Dark Elf shook her head slightly and looked back at the unconscious Gwen.

“Idiot…”

━ ━ ━ ━

The taxi rolled to a stop in front of the mini-mansion.

It had a sleek, modern design that caught the warm light of the morning sun.

A well-kept garden surrounded the house, with tall hedges lining a cobblestone path that led up to the front door.

The whole place had a peaceful vibe, which was completely at odds with the tension hanging between the two passengers as they stepped out of the cab.

Scott adjusted his shirt and looked up at the mansion with a neutral expression.

Meanwhile, Emma as already marching toward the house as her sneakers clicked against the cobblestones. She was halfway up the path when the taxi driver leaned out of his window and shouted after them.

“Eyy! Where’s me money?”

Emma froze mid-step as her face turned panicked.

She whipped around, hands slapping her pockets.

“Shit! I forgot!”

She muttered and rummaged frantically.

Scott waited patiently with his hands in his pockets.

With no time to lose, Emma yanked her purse out of her jacket pocket and hurled it at the driver.

“Here! Take it!”

The driver snatched it out of the air with unexpected ease as his brow knitted in confusion.

“Tch, throwing your damn wallet like it—”

He opened the purse to take a look inside and froze.

A thick stack of hundred-dollar bills greeted him, making his eyes go wide.

He shot a glance at Emma, then back at the cash.

His lips split into a wide grin.

“Uh, thanks, ma’am!”

He hurriedly slammed the car into gear and drove off at breakneck speed.

Best leave now before she comes back to her senses.

Scott chuckled softly. “Well, that was effective.”

Emma shot him a glare but couldn’t help a small smile as she walked back toward him.

“You’re welcome, by the way. He probably thinks I’m a millionaire now.”

“You kind of are, aren’t you?”

Scott pointed at the mansion.

Emma groaned then brushed past him to unlock the front door.

“Don’t start, Nightwatch…”

—

Inside…

The mini-mansion had a cozy yet modern vibe, with minimalist furniture and sleek tech seamlessly built into every corner of the space.

Scott settled in the living room as his high-tech wristwatch (TV-TW) cast a faint glow as he swiped through a flood of holographic files.

Emma ducked into the kitchen and came back a few minutes later with a steaming bowl of noodles in hand.

“I’m baaaaack~ ♡”

She had ditched her tracksuit for an oversized T-shirt and a pair of short shorts that showed off her thick, curvy thighs. She also had on a pair of gloves, with an apron casually hung over her front.

“I’ll warn you now…”

She said as she set the bowl down on the center table.

“I’m a shitty cook, so this is the best you’re getting. Don’t expect anything heavier.”

Scott barely looked up.

“It’s fine. Wasn’t really planning on eating anyway.”

Emma frowned slightly at his detached tone but shrugged it off pretty easily.

“Figures. You’re so calm for a guy whose teammate just got kidnapped.”

Scott’s eyes remained glued to the files.

“That’s because I already know where she is.”

“Oh?”

Emma blinked, caught off guard.

『Alright, now’s my chance… just like Jenna taught you…』

She moved closer and “innocently” leaned in until her head was obnoxiously close to his.

“Oh, really? And what makes you so sure?”

Scott grabbed her face gently and pushed her aside without much hesitation.

“You’re in my light…”

Emma pouted like a child and crossed her arms as she watched him open a new set of files with a simple swipe.

“So, are you gonna talk, jerk. Hmph!”

“The grappling hook I attached to their helicopter has a secondary function. It plants a tracker into whatever it latches onto. The helicopter stopped at the center of some barren land. They walked the rest of the way, and after hacking MegaCorp’s satellite I—”

“You what?”

Emma cut in with great shock.

Scott scratched his chin innocently, avoiding her gaze.

“It was for the greater good.”

Emma snorted as a laugh slipped out despite herself.

“Yeah, okay, damn Hackwad. So, what’s next?”

Scott swiped down on his wristwatch and all the holograms faded away.

He folded his arms and leaned back a bit.

“Now we do what they say. We bring Elena Vargas.”

Emma tilted her head, confused. “Who?”

“Night Bitch…” Scott replied, his tone matter-of-fact.

Emma snickered immediately and covered her mouth with one hand.

“Did you just say ‘bitch’?”

Scott raised an eyebrow. “That’s her alias.”

Emma shook her head and grinned as she turned toward the kitchen.

“Still funny.”

—

A little later…

Scott leaned back on a couch nearby and closed his eyes for a brief moment. His fingers tapped lightly against his armrest as Emma flopped onto a nearby chair… her luscious, slender legs were crossed and she still fidgeted with the hem of her oversized T-shirt.

After a brief silence, Scott opened his eyes and spoke.

“The interesting thing about all this is that most of it… feels like a trap.”

Emma raised an eyebrow and adjusted the slacked neck of her T-shirt, revealing just a hint of her smooth and oddly attractive collarbone.

She tilted her head curiously.

“A trap? How so?”

Just one sight of this made Scott’s cheeks hot, but he fought through the innocent temptation.

『If you go to a woman’s house expect to be seduced… tch, such farm tricks won’t work on me.』

He leaned forward and clasped his hands together.

“It didn’t take me much to find Elena Vargas—if we’re being honest, I wasn’t even trying. So, why would these guys, with all their resources, be struggling to capture her? Doesn’t add up.”

Emma hummed softly as she mulled it over.

“Hmm, okay, valid point. So what are you saying?”

Scott folded his arms and stared at the floor as his voice grew more contemplative.

“I’m saying her abduction might be secondary. They’re after more than just her. Maybe… me.”

Emma blinked, her confusion adding. “What?”

Scott straightened up and abruptly spoke.

“System, analyze the chances my theory is correct.”

Emma’s head snapped around with eyes wide.

“Eh? Who the hell are you talking to?”

Scott ignored her and continued.

“Mist’s abductors are affiliated with Black Mechanica. They can find Elena easily. If they haven’t already, it’s because they’re trying to kill two birds with one stone. Their plan is to use her as bait—to lure me out, then send their assassins to take us both down.”

[Processing…]

Emma’s mouth hung open for a moment before she let out a slow exhale and leaned back in her chair, holding her chin between her thumb and forefinger.

“Okay, wait. So, you’re saying they’re also after you? I mean, I wouldn’t put it past them. You’ve screwed up a lot of Black Mechanica’s plans, and we both know the heads don’t exactly forgive and forget.”

Before Scott could reply, the robotic voice returned.

[Analysis complete. There is a 65% chance your theory is correct. However, you are missing three critical elements.]

Scott raised an eyebrow. “Which are?”

Emma looked around in mild panic.

“Uh… huh? Which are what?”

The System’s response was flat and unhelpful.

[Insufficient data to determine.]

Scott groaned and rubbed his temples.

“Well, then just shut up.”

Emma flinched slightly as her tender cheeks suddenly turned bright pink.

As if on reflex, she muttered, “Yes, Daddy ♡…”

“What?”

Scott froze in confusion.

Emma’s hands flew up defensively as she adjusted her T-shirt and turned away, folding her arms tightly across her unambiguously wide chest.

“D-, Don’t judge me! It’s not like I meant to say that…”

“I wasn’t planning to.”

Scott’s lips twitched into a small smirk.

After a moment of awkward silence, Emma glanced back at him with a reignited curiosity.

“So… how do you plan on finding Elena?”

Scott leaned back into the couch and crossed his legs.

“I already know where she is. And where she’ll be.”

Emma’s jaw dropped. “You do?!”

He nodded.

“I kinda injected a nano-tracker into her bloodstream some days back. It’s giving me GPS coordinates and full audio surveillance.”

Emma groaned and rolled her eyes.

“Jeez, is there anything you haven’t put a tracker on?”

“Nope. I even planted one on you.”

Scott grinned mischievously.

Emma’s eyes went wide like flashlights.

“What?! When? Where?!”

Scott gently patted his crotch as his smirk expanded into a devilish grin.

Emma’s face turned beet red as she instinctively yanked up her oversized T-shirt and pulled her shorts down slightly as her eyes darted frantically over her porcelain skin.

Scott let out a soft chuckle.

“Relax. I was joking. But, wow, you’re already stripping in front of me? I thought celebrity women were supposed to be harder to get.”

Emma let out a horrified squeak and immediately swatted his shoulder.

“Not cool, jerk! Not cool!”

Scott chuckled again with a much lighter tone.

“Alright, back to the case. Elena’s going to be attending a big, prestigious tech event in New York tonight. Makes sense—Black Industries is hosting, and they’re unveiling some revolutionary tech that could change the world. Our Latina friend is probably planning to either steal one of these techs or make a deal with one of the millionaires at the event.”

“A tech event? Seriously?”

Emma’s eyes became half-lidded and dreary.

『Fuck…』

It sounded familiar… too familiar.

Scott nodded as though his expression turned slightly sour.

“Yeah. Honestly, I’ve been trying to get tickets for years. Submitted my work to them more times than I can count, but they ignore me every time.”

Emma tilted her head, fairly amused.

“So… what’s the plan? Crash it?”

“Wish I could. The event’s only open to the rich and prestigious. Neither of which, unfortunately, applies to me.”

Scott sighed.

Emma smirked as she leaned back, her voice dripping with sarcasm.

“Aw, poor little Nightwatch. Too broke to join the cool kids’ club? Bahahaha!”

Scott rolled his eyes but couldn’t hide his smile.

“Guess we’ll just have to catch Elena before she gets there. Unless you happen to have two golden tickets lying around?”

Emma grinned. “Who says I don’t?”

Scott’s eyebrows lifted slightly. “Wait… do you?”

Emma winked and left him hanging as she turned toward the kitchen.

“Guess you’ll find out~”

“Uh… huh…”

━ ━ ━ ━

Emma padded into the kitchen as the faint patter of her bare feet sounded very softly. She grabbed her phone from the marble kitchen island as her eyes drifted to the living room where Scott sat, still deep in thought.

Taking a slow, steady breath, she scrolled to Isaac’s number and pressed dial.

The line barely rang before Isaac’s warm, vibrant voice answered.

“Ohhh, Emma! What’s up?”

On the other side of the call, Isaac was stretched out in the plush comfort of a five-star hotel suite in New York.

The polished dining table in front of him was covered with plates of an extravagant meal.

Across from him, his cousin Albrecht sat calmly, cutting into a perfectly cooked filet mignon with a satisfied look on his face.

Isaac kept his bright smile as he leaned back and held his phone to his ear.

But the moment Albrecht caught the mention of Emma’s name, his eyebrows pulled together, and his cheerful attitude quickly turned serious.

“Hey, Isaac…”

Emma spoke with a bright but hesitant smile, shifting her weight from one foot to the other.

“So, uh… I kinda need a favor.”

“Talk away.”

Isaac grinned, oblivious to Albrecht’s growing scowl.

Emma’s words tumbled out in a rush.

“I need you to get me a VVIP invitation for the Black Industries tech event tonight. I’d really, really appreciate it.”

Isaac’s smile widened.

“Oh, that’s wonderful! But you won’t need an invitation…”

He sounded quite nonchalant.

“You’ll just be my plus one. That should be enough since you’re coming with me, right? I’m so glad!”

Emma’s heart sank.

She hesitated for a moment after looking at Scott through the kitchen door.

He sat so quietly, planning ways they could catch Elena.

“Um, Isaac… about that…”

Isaac raised an eyebrow, a subtle shift in his tone.

“What’s wrong? Is the plus one for Jenna or Nadia? I can get them invitations too if that’s what you need. It’s no problem.”

Emma exhaled sharply and gathered her courage.

“No… it’s not Jenna or Nadia. The invitation is for… me and…”

She swallowed hard and glanced at Scott, who was still seated on the couch, idly tapping his armrest.

“It’s for me and my boyfriend…”

She winced as the words came out.

“I’ve decided to come after all.”

For a moment, the line went silent… very silent.

“Oh…”

Isaac finally spoke, albeit sounding very disappointed.

“I didn’t know you had plans to bring someone else. I mean, I asked you about this three months ago…”

Albrecht heard every word and slammed his fork down on his own plate.

… KREEEEEE!

The sharp sound of the plate being broken apart erupted.

His jaw squeezed shut, and his grip on the fork tightened until his knuckles turned white.

Emma quickly interjected with an apologetic voice.

“If it’s too uncomfortable for you, it’s fine. I wouldn’t hold it against you—I mean, I don’t really have the right to ask…”

Isaac’s laugh was light but lacked its usual brightness.

“Don’t worry about it. I’ll get you the VVIP invitation. And hey… I can’t wait to meet your first boyfriend.”

All Emma could manage was a quiet, “Mhm…”

Isaac finished the call with a quiet laugh, got up from his seat, and straightened his blazer. Before he could say a word, Albrecht slammed his fist onto the table and sent the silverware rattling loudly.

“I hate that woman!”

Albrecht snarled.

“How dare she not give you the time of day after everything you’ve done for her?”

Isaac turned to his cousin with a very calm and introspective expression.

“A woman who loves a man because of all the good he does for her is much worse.”

He ruffled Albrecht’s hair in a rare moment of affection.

Without another word, he strode out of the room, his back straight and his demeanor composed.

━ ━ ━ ━

Emma animatedly rushed back into the living room.

“Guess what?!”

She screamed, startling Scott out of his thoughts.

He raised an eyebrow. “What now?”

Emma pointed at him with a triumphant grin.

“We’re going shopping!”

“Shopping?” Scott repeated, confused.

“Yup! I just got us an invitation to the Black Industries tech event in New York City tonight!”

Scott blinked as his surprise shifted to doubt.

“How the hell did you pull that off?”

“I have my ways. Now hurry up! We need to look good.”

Emma smirked as she tossed her phone onto the couch.

Scott sighed and shook his head with a wry smile as he got to his feet.

“You’re something else, you know that?”

Emma beamed.

“You better believe it.”

She placed her hands on her round hips and almost stood like she was doing a latspread.

“Now let’s go to Silver Eagle Mall and give you a much needed makeover fitting of Emma Graves boyfriend!”