Dead silence on the ruined lot.
Only the King Engine's war-drum rumble remained.
Saitama blinked at the prone Genos, then at impassive King, baffled.
"Uh… what happened to him?" Saitama scratched his head. "What did you do? I didn't see anything."
"I don't know either! Is Genos that weak to mental shock?" Lin Mo screamed internally.
Panic nibbled him. Did he scare Genos to death? Are cyborgs' hearts this fragile?
To Saitama, he kept the mask. He needed something that sounded profound.
He slid his gaze off Genos, stared into the distance at Saitama's fresh canyon, and prayed Genos would wake.
"The heart," he said, voice low and magnetic.
Saitama frowned harder. "The… heart?"
"True strength isn't only physical," Lin Mo intoned. "Mind and will are the steps to the summit. His heart isn't firm enough."
He'd cribbed that from a motivational manga, but it landed.
Saitama nodded like he half-got it—even though it was more sophisticated than "100 push-ups, 100 sit-ups, 100 squats, and a 10 km run."
He stopped asking. King was, as expected, deep and unfathomable.
On cue, Genos's finger twitched. His golden eyes flickered blue and rebooted.
[System self-check complete… No physical damage… Core stable… Emotional module overload.]
[Cause: Encountered incomprehensible, super-spec mental shock. Triggered protective hibernation.]
[Conclusion: King's attack is 'will-crushing'—a mode that acts directly on the core.]
[Countermeasure: None.]
He pushed himself up and fixed King with a stunned stare.
He'd lost. More completely than against Saitama.
"So this is S-Class Rank 6… the Strongest—King?" he thought. "The gap is… despair."
"K… King," he said aloud, forcing himself to his feet. He bowed deeply. "Thank you for your instruction! You've shown me a sliver of true power. Your realm is beyond me. I apologize for my ignorance."
Lin Mo's mouth twitched, but his face held steady. He nodded once and wafted a hand like it was nothing.
Saitama yawned and clapped his hands. "All right. If we're done, let's go. The Registry closes soon."
He casually brushed dust off Genos's shoulders.
"Yes, Sensei!" Genos said quickly.
And so the trio set off—an odd sight.
Bald-Cape Saitama in front, strolling like to the supermarket.
Cyborg Genos half a step behind, solemn and glued to his teacher.
King at the back, hands in pockets, gaze deep—like pondering the fate of nations.
In reality, Lin Mo was deciding on lunch and how to juice Saitama's rank.
—
Hero Association HQ, City A.
A spear of steel and glass, the giant H blazing in the noon sun.
The entrance teemed with rough-looking types—pros registering or picking up jobs.
When Saitama, Genos, and King appeared, no one paid much mind.
Saitama's red-and-yellow suit and white cape stood out, but outfits here were wild—full plate armor, old-school ninja, a fuzzy animal mascot calling himself Beastman.
By comparison, Saitama was merely "distinct."
Genos drew glances for the cybernetics. That was it.
Then eyes fell on the man behind them—
"K… King!"
"Why is S-Class Rank 6 here? Is there a disaster!?"
"Who are the bald guy and the cyborg? Walking in front of Lord King?"
"New disciples? To be chosen by the Strongest—how strong must they be?"
Whispers surged. Lin Mo's scalp prickled.
The Engine grumbled at a low idle. To the crowd, it sounded like a strong man's aura leaking.
A staffer in a suit rushed over, bowed to Lin Mo first, then asked carefully, "Mr. King, to what do we owe the honor today?"
Lin Mo pointed at Saitama and Genos. "They're here for the hero exam. I came to observe."
Cogs spun behind the man's eyes.
King personally escorting examinees?
He beamed. "Of course! This way. I'll handle registration."
With VIP shepherding, both had their forms processed fast and were issued exam numbers.
Saitama: 71. Genos: 72.
The man bowed again. "Everything is set. Testing begins this afternoon. Mr. King, please enjoy our VIP lounge with your companions."
-------
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