When Wu Xuan had his hand around Toga's throat, he had already sensed the approach of the police officers led by Naomasa Tsukauchi.
Killing Himiko Toga right then would have gained him nothing. In his eyes, letting her go after a single crushing display of dominance would likely yield far more "entertainment" in the future. Furthermore, Wu Xuan harbored a genuine distaste for the police. If it hadn't been for their rigid interference last time, he would have walked away with ten million yen in his pocket.
Under the current "Quirk Management Law," even if he had captured a serial killer like Toga, the police would likely suppress his name and withhold any reward because he lacked a Hero license. Wu Xuan had zero interest in performing unpaid labor for the state.
"Detective Tsukauchi?" Momo looked at the newcomer in surprise.
"Miss Yaoyorozu, I'm terribly sorry I'm late," Tsukauchi said, crouching beside her. "You're injured. Let's get you into a patrol car."
Momo realized then that during the initial struggle, she had managed to trigger the emergency SOS button on her phone. Between the terror of the attack and Wu Xuan's sudden arrival, the fact had completely slipped her mind.
Tsukauchi glanced around the shadowed alley. "Where is the assailant?" His eyes landed on Wu Xuan, and his brow furrowed instinctively.
"The villain was driven off by Wu Xuan. Thank you for coming, Detective." Momo struggled to stand, her body still aching from the assault.
Wu Xuan turned to leave without a word, but Tsukauchi called out, "Wait, Wu Xuan. As a primary witness to this incident, I need you to come down to the station and provide a formal statement."
"And if I say 'no'?" Wu Xuan looked back coldly, his expression darkening.
The atmosphere turned jagged and tense. Before the standoff could escalate, Momo waved a hand to intervene. "I've already called my personal driver. Detective, I will go to the station tomorrow to provide a full report. Wu Xuan is exhausted from protecting me; please, let him rest."
Tsukauchi hesitated for several seconds. "Very well. Miss Yaoyorozu, please go home and recover. We will bother you for the details tomorrow." He waved his officers away, though he couldn't resist shooting one last suspicious look at Wu Xuan. In the dim light, the boy's silhouette felt hauntingly familiar.
"Wu-kun, will you come with me? My father wanted to thank you properly after the bank incident, and now you've saved me again."
Wu Xuan stroked his chin, weighing the potential profit of a "thank you" from the ultra-wealthy Yaoyorozu family. He finally nodded.
The efficiency of a billionaire household was staggering. Less than five minutes after the call, a stretched Bentley pulled up to the curb.
"Young Miss! Are you alright?" An elderly butler in a crisp uniform hurried out of the driver's seat, looking horrified at Momo's disheveled state.
"I'm fine. Please, take us home."
Once inside the plush interior of the Bentley, Wu Xuan unceremoniously helped himself to a bottle of fine red wine from the built-in refrigerator.
"That girl... she was acting like an injured victim in the alley," Momo murmured, her voice trembling. "I didn't suspect a thing. I just went in to help. I didn't expect her to be so fast... if it weren't for you..."
Wu Xuan downed a glass of wine and set it aside, his voice merciless. "Her Quirk isn't even built for combat; she's less of a fighter than you are. You lost because you were naive. Your failure is your own problem."
Surprisingly, Momo didn't snap back. She simply lowered her head further, her bangs shadowing her eyes in frustration. Wu Xuan didn't offer any comfort; he just started sampling a different vintage from the fridge.
The Bentley eventually glided into the Yaoyorozu private estate—which was less of a villa and more of a sprawling resort. Wu Xuan peered out the window, sighing to himself. How many years would it take to earn a fortress like this? Being a Hero is a lot of work for a paycheck. He failed to notice that Momo, sitting beside him, seemed to have reached a resolute decision.
Inside the opulent mansion, the reception was frantic. A woman who looked remarkably like an older version of Momo rushed forward in tears, fussing over her daughter's face. A middle-aged man in an expensive suit quickly ordered the head butler to summon the family physician.
"Thank you, young man," Momo's father said, his voice thick with emotion. "We just received word that the girl was likely the serial killer responsible for the recent fatalities. If it weren't for you, our daughter would have..." He wiped his eyes with his sleeve and looked at Wu Xuan eagerly. "Please, tell me if there is anything you need. Anything at all."
"Yes, please don't be shy," the mother chimed in.
Wu Xuan thought for two seconds. "The place I'm living in now is pathetic. I want something better." Wu Xuan was a man of pleasure; while his apartment wasn't a hovel, it didn't fit his "Standard."
"Oh? Is that all?" Both parents blinked, looking genuinely stunned by the modest request.
Only? Wu Xuan realized he'd aimed too low. He didn't hesitate to raise the stakes. "Then, this room of yours—"
"Wu-kun, if you don't mind, you could stay here with us," Momo interrupted suddenly. "We have plenty of guest rooms."
Wu Xuan froze. The owner of the Stand [The World], moving into the mansion of a powerful family, essentially becoming an adopted fixture of their household...
He suddenly had the urge to pull back the collar of Momo's shirt to see if she had a star-shaped birthmark on her shoulder. The parallels to a certain Joestar lineage were becoming uncomfortably vivid.