Chapter 326: The Bizarre Reunion of the Three Superhero Siblings
"Perhaps it should be me."
Seeing Dr. Bones's speechless expression, Lisa immediately smiled and pulled out a pendant from her chest, drawing everyone's attention.
Yes.
Not only Dr. Bones, but also Chuck and Susan, who had seen it more than once.
There was no way around it!
It was instinct!
"This is cow bone!"
Dr. Bones recognized the pendant's material at a glance.
"Yes, Dr. Bones really is the most professional in this area. This is a pendant I made myself using bones I collected."
Lisa looked at Dr. Bones excitedly. "My family owns a slaughterhouse. I'm an only child, and I've helped out since I was little. I'm very interested in all kinds of bones—cow bones, pig bones, you name it.
Every time I process a bone, I choose one to keep as a memento. Over the years, I've accumulated quite a collection, and I've used some to make pendants.
But I've never told anyone about it because I was worried about being judged. It wasn't until I saw the news about the boss and learned about Dr. Bones that I realized there's nothing wrong with this hobby."
"Indeed, there's nothing wrong with it."
Dr. Bones nodded. "Hobbies are a matter of personal interest and freedom. I simply enjoy working with all kinds of bones and reflecting on life through them."
"I knew it!"
Lisa was even more excited after receiving approval. She leaned in and started chatting with Dr. Bones about bones.
Dr. Bones was naturally generous with her knowledge.
The two women got along quite well.
"They probably know that's not what I meant by 'bones,' right?"
Susan looked at this development and didn't know whether to laugh or cry.
"They know."
Chuck said bluntly. "They're being kind."
"..."
Susan's face darkened. "What do you mean?"
Making fun of her own thinness was one thing, but being called out by Chuck like this was quite another.
"They understand your physical limitations, so they just avoided the topic. Isn't that kind enough?"
Chuck said calmly.
"You don't like my figure?"
Susan gritted her teeth.
"Everyone has their own charm."
Chuck said.
"Then why talk about physical limitations?"
Susan's expression softened slightly, and she retorted sarcastically, "I see you've been taking it easy quite a bit."
"Gentle mode."
Chuck said succinctly. "Of course, those are my physical limitations."
"..."
Susan was speechless.
No longer a research novice, she naturally knew what Chuck meant by "gentle mode."
Before, she wouldn't have been convinced, and like Monica, would've wanted to challenge her own limits.
But after seeing Lisa immediately shift to normal mode, she completely understood why Chuck liked to settle in Peace Town.
She wisely refrained from asking further, otherwise she was certain Chuck could provide her with a mathematical equation proving the difference in structural tolerance between her slender frame and Lisa's, down to the thousandth of a percent.
"Zack's fine."
Dr. Bones said calmly, responding to Lisa's warning after hearing about her lab assistant Zack Addy's involvement in the cult case.
"Perhaps my novel has misled you. The lab assistant in the book doesn't represent the real him—he's just a fictional character.
He explicitly told me he's not some clueless virgin.
So it's unlikely the cult will succeed in recruiting him by offering him a wife."
"That might be difficult, but it's not impossible."
Chuck walked over and looked at Dr. Bones. "However, defeating him and manipulating him through logic and philosophy is very simple.
His thinking is more linear than any other genius I've met, making him more easily misled and manipulated.
So Lisa's warning to you is reasonable.
You should pay close attention to his condition in the future. If anything seems off, call me immediately, or have him call me."
"Okay."
Dr. Bones thought for a moment, agreed, then glanced at Lisa and Susan before looking up at Chuck. "You called me here just for this?"
"No."
Chuck shook his head. "I called you here to test enhanced mode."
"..."
Susan's lip twitched, and she couldn't help but complain, "Well, gentle mode, normal mode, and now there's enhanced mode. Are there any more above that?"
"Yes."
Chuck said bluntly. "There's also full-power mode."
The women: "..."
At the bald chief's house
Late at night.
"Huh, you're back?"
Hailey heard the noise and came out to see Chuck, utterly surprised.
"I've finished my work."
Chuck said calmly. "It's time to talk about the three of us siblings."
"He's here?"
Hailey immediately looked around, her eyes sparkling.
"No."
Chuck shook his head. "He doesn't want to see Mom."
"I see."
Hailey was somewhat disappointed, then frowned. "Seems he's the one who got hurt the most by Mom."
"That's surprising?"
Chuck countered.
"Well, not really."
Hailey shrugged. "If it were me, I'd probably feel the same way."
Then she changed the subject, curiously asking, "Where are we meeting?"
"Miami."
Chuck adjusted his decorative glasses and calmly stated the location.
"Miami?"
Hearing this, Hailey's eyes lit up. "So I can finally meet the creator of Miami's advanced hunting techniques in person?"
That's right!
Hailey's training included not only various combat drills but also reconnaissance and counter-reconnaissance techniques, as well as advanced hunting methods.
Among these were mature techniques compiled by Anna from Miami's Bay Harbor Butcher.
Hailey highly admired this efficient and traceless methodology.
Now that she had the chance to meet him in person, she was naturally thrilled—even though this kind of idol worship might seem a bit twisted.
However, the purpose of idol worship is to use role models to discover one's potential and become a better version of oneself.
Putting aside the bloodshed involved, Hailey's admiration of Miami's Bay Harbor Butcher could be considered high-quality mentorship.
Besides, Chuck, the older brother, wasn't an ordinary person, so he didn't find his sister's reaction strange at all, simply nodding. "You can only observe from a distance."
"Why?"
Hailey was somewhat dissatisfied, but seeing that Chuck didn't intend to change his mind, she immediately thought of something, her eyes becoming even more eager.
"Is this Miami hunter some kind of psychopath who can read people? Are you afraid he'll see right through me and then target me?"
"I said you can only observe from a distance."
Chuck looked at her.
"Let me try."
Hailey pleaded, her eyes full of hope. "I want to see if anyone else besides you can see through me. That would be amazing, wouldn't it?"
Chuck remained silent, just staring at her.
"Fine."
Hailey said reluctantly, seeing there was no room for negotiation. "We can only observe from a distance. When are we leaving?"
"Right now."
Chuck said.
"Okay!"
Hailey jumped up, ran into her room, and came out seconds later carrying a go-bag.
Chuck took her and drove away, disappearing into the night.
In the car
"Are you just going to leave your pretty assistant like that?"
Hailey looked excitedly at the rapidly receding night outside the car window, smiling at Chuck. "Is that appropriate?"
"She'll be able to rest for a few days. Enough time for us to handle this."
Chuck said as he drove.
"Rest, huh? Her and Susan?"
Hailey asked with a playful smile.
"More than that."
Chuck replied bluntly.
"You're really something."
Hailey retorted.
Chuck didn't answer, just kept driving at full speed.
The next morning
Bran and the others woke up and, not finding Hailey, immediately called.
"Mom, don't blame Chuck. I just wanted to come along for fun."
Hailey explained as soon as the call connected.
"Of course it's not Chuck's fault!"
Bran said irritably. "I'm blaming you! Even if you wanted to visit Chuck's place, you should have told us. You shouldn't have just taken off. Do you know how much trouble this causes Chuck?"
"..."
Hailey's lip twitched, forcibly suppressing the thought that 'Chuck took me,' and continued to lie naturally to placate Bran.
"Mom, I know, but I didn't have time. Chuck was leaving last night, and I only told him after I secretly got into his car.
He's my brother, and I haven't been to his place yet. Don't worry—if he didn't agree, would I have come with him? Do you think he wouldn't just drag me out of the car and leave me on the curb?"
"That's true."
Bran on the other end accepted this explanation. "Let me talk to Chuck for a bit."
"She'll stay here for a few days, and I'll take her back."
Chuck said.
"Okay, thank you for putting up with her. If you get tired of her, you can send her back anytime."
Bran said with a smile.
"Okay, Mom, gotta go!"
Hailey hung up the phone impatiently.
If she weren't afraid of hurting Bran's feelings again, she really wanted to tell her real purpose. She believed her mother would definitely support her meeting her second brother, and the three siblings could be officially reunited.
Miami
"We're here. Where is he?"
Hailey looked at the car parked on the side of the road and immediately peered around.
"He's not here yet."
Chuck adjusted his decorative glasses and looked out the car window.
"Then why are we stopping here?"
Hailey asked, puzzled, then followed Chuck's gaze. "Is there something wrong with that ice cream truck?"
"Keep watching."
Chuck didn't answer. "Before your second brother arrives, familiarize yourself with the situation."
"Familiarize myself with the situation?"
Hailey was taken aback, staring at the slowly moving ice cream truck, suppressing her excitement. "You mean the three of us siblings are going to work together?"
"Is there a more suitable time to meet?"
Chuck said expressionlessly.
"No!"
Hailey was overjoyed that Chuck didn't deny it, nodding and smiling repeatedly. "We're not just any family. It would be wonderful if we siblings could have something meaningful in common. I can't wait!"
"Familiarize yourself with the situation first."
Chuck reminded her.
"Right."
Hailey nodded, watching Chuck tail the ice cream truck at a distance, thinking hard while searching online. Soon, her eyes lit up. "I've got it!"
"Speak."
Chuck said succinctly.
"Recently, a serial killer has emerged in Miami. The victims are reduced to skeletons. I checked the Miami PD's system and found more information."
Hailey said, scanning the data on her phone. "According to the forensic examination at the scene, these victims were all drained of blood and then dismembered. The bodies were dumped in various locations throughout the city. Considering all the clues, this serial killer might be using a refrigerated truck."
She couldn't contain her excitement any longer. "So we're working together to take down a serial killer, right?"
"Yes."
Chuck didn't deny it.
"That's awesome!"
Hailey exclaimed, then her expression turned strange. "Wait a minute! This serial killer is so brazen—does he think the Miami Hunter is dead? Why hasn't he made a move? Don't you share your intel with him?"
"This time the situation is special."
Chuck said. "It's not appropriate for him to know."
"Why?"
Hailey was astonished, then after a moment's thought, she seemed to understand. "Could this serial killer be related to him?"
"Yes."
Chuck nodded. "The Ice Truck Killer is his biological brother."
"What?!"
Hailey exclaimed in surprise. "It can't be that dramatic, can it?"
"It's exactly that dramatic."
Chuck said. "The two brothers suffered trauma from a young age, but because of their age difference, their outcomes are completely different. One became a vigilante, specializing in hunting down serial killers.
The other degenerated into a top-tier serial killer, and now he's even targeting his own brother, trying to drag his vigilante brother down with him.
To this end, he's willing to unleash a bloodbath in his brother's territory, forcing this vigilante to remember the painful childhood memories he'd completely buried."
He glanced at Hailey at this point. "Don't you think this case is the perfect opportunity for the three of us siblings to reunite?"
"..."
Hailey was speechless.
Damn, it even has this parallel to the three of them. It really couldn't be more suitable.
"Are you worried about the Miami Hunter going down the wrong path?"
Hailey asked.
"No."
Chuck shook his head. "I just don't want him to face that choice."
"You mean the Miami Hunter would really kill his own brother?"
Hailey asked in surprise.
"He could."
Chuck nodded. "After confirming that his brother really did those things."
"What if it were you?"
Hailey paused for a moment, looking at Chuck. "Could you do it?"
"I wouldn't."
Chuck glanced at her.
Hailey had just smiled, then seemed to realize something and said with a wry smile, "You don't need to, right?"
Of course, someone would handle such a difficult choice for him.
Chuck didn't answer her, but simply adjusted his decorative glasses and continued to follow the ice cream truck from a distance.
The ice cream truck was parked far away opposite a motel.
Inside and outside the motel, a group of scantily clad sex workers were gathered.
"Is he planning to strike?"
Hailey suppressed the various thoughts that had surfaced because of this topic and looked at the group of women.
She used the permissions Chuck had given her to easily log into the Miami PD's system, and saw that the main targets of the Ice Truck Killer were these sex workers.
This wasn't surprising.
It wasn't just this ice cream truck killer—many serial killers preferred to target these kinds of people, making them arguably the most common victim demographic among serial killers.
"No."
Chuck said, looking at one of the tall, thin women, shaking his head. "That's his brother's adoptive parents' sister."
"Shit!"
Hailey immediately cursed.
This case was increasingly paralleling the three siblings.
(End of Chapter)
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