"The answer, I cannot give you."
Lin Mo finished the last sip of oolong tea from the can, casually flicking his arm, and the empty can arced a perfect parabola through the air.
With a 'clank,' it landed steadily in the trash can at the end of the distant corridor.
This movement was clean and decisive, as if it also drew a period to their conversation.
"You need to find this answer yourself, with your heart."
He turned around, seemingly ready to leave.
But just as he brushed past Superalloy Darkshine's massive body, he stopped, not turning back, only leaving a sentence that drifted away in the evening breeze.
"Next time, when you feel fear in battle, try not to think about whether you will win, and don't think about whether your muscles are still shining. Just look back, look behind you, and see if there are still those people who need you to protect them with this body."
"Perhaps, there, you will find the answer you are looking for."
As his words fell, Mr. KING's footsteps sounded again, unhurried, and his figure gradually merged into the darkness at the end of the corridor, finally disappearing.
In the courtyard, only Superalloy Darkshine remained, standing rooted to the spot for a long time.
The cold moonlight once again shone on his bronze skin.
"Behind me... people who need protection..."
He murmured, repeating Mr. KING's words over and over again.
His fists, which had been clenched in resentment and fear, slowly relaxed without him noticing.
What he had always pursued was the glory of a victor, the strength to satisfy his own ego.
But Mr. KING told him that the meaning of a hero might not lie in his own brilliance, but in... whether he could become a solid shield to protect others.
That night, Superalloy Darkshine stayed awake.
He didn't immediately regain his lost confidence, but he found something more important than confidence—a brand new goal.
To seek, to understand, his own true meaning as a hero.
— — — — — —
The next morning, the first ray of sunlight pierced through the thin mist, gently falling on the courtyard, plating the ancient wooden buildings with a warm golden hue.
The chill and silence of the previous night were replaced by the crisp chirping of birds, and everything seemed so peaceful and harmonious.
This tranquility, however, was completely shattered by a cry of alarm.
"What... what is going on?!"
Silver Fang Bang Gu, who had woken up earliest, was preparing to do his usual morning exercises in the courtyard, but when he passed a wooden corridor, he was stopped in his tracks by the sight before him.
The immortal hero—Zombieman—lay motionless on the cold floor.
In his chest, a gleaming katana was conspicuously embedded, and Bang Gu recognized the familiar hilt and tsuba at a glance: it was the new cherished sword of S-Class Hero Atomic Samurai.
"Something's happened!"
Bang Gu's shout was full of vigor, immediately alarming the other heroes in the inn.
Almost as soon as his words fell, several figures dashed out of their rooms at superhuman speed.
"What happened, Mr. Bang Gu?"
The first to arrive was the cyborg Genos, his footsteps heavy and urgent.
He was closely followed by Sexy Prisoner, who burst out of his room in an exaggerated manner, his face filled with concern.
Soon after, Metal Bat, Tanktop Master, and others also appeared, and the corridor was quickly filled with the S-Class Heroes who had rushed over upon hearing the commotion.
"Is that... Zombieman?" Metal Bat rubbed his sleepy eyes, somewhat disbelieving, "Isn't he immortal?"
"The sword in his chest... isn't that Atomic Samurai's sword?" Tanktop Master questioned, his voice filled with disbelief.
"Could it be... Atomic Samurai attacked him? Why?" Sexy Prisoner's eyes were also full of confusion.
Everyone discussed animatedly, their faces etched with shock and bewilderment.
Genos immediately activated his eye-scanning function, data rapidly scrolling across his retina:
"Life signs stable... No, rather, his body is regenerating at high speed, but it seems to be suppressed by some kind of power... Is it the residual energy on the sword?"
"Don't get close! Secure the scene!"
A clear and serious child's voice rang out, and Child Emperor, carrying his characteristic large backpack, squeezed through the crowd.
He took out a pair of high-tech framed glasses from his backpack and put them on, quickly entering detective mode.
"Based on the scene, this is a locked-room... No, it's an inside job! The murder weapon is Mr. Atomic Samurai's sword, so the biggest suspect is..."
"Wait!"
Speak of the devil, and he shall appear.
Atomic Samurai, dressed in a kimono, walked over quickly, and when he saw Zombieman lying on the ground and the sword in his chest, he froze, then erupted in anger.
"Who did this?! How dare someone use my cherished sword to commit such a despicable act! It's an insult to a samurai!"
He looked at the suspicious gazes cast upon him by everyone and retorted with a sneer:
"I was wiping my sword in my room all last night, then I fell asleep. I had no idea when it went missing!"
Child Emperor calmly analyzed: "That means someone snuck into your room, stole your sword, and then used it to attack Zombieman. So, we need to confirm everyone's alibis for last night."
He first looked at Bang Gu, who had discovered the scene.
"I am old, and my sleep is very light," Bang Gu replied in a deep voice, his hands clasped behind his back.
"I meditated in my room all night until dawn and did not hear any abnormal sounds during that time."
His answer was calm, strong, and impeccable.
Genos also volunteered: "I've been in the room with Master since ten last night. Master was reading manga, and I was accompanying him the whole time."
"The room's surveillance can prove that we did not leave the room."
At this moment, Superalloy Darkshine also emerged from the crowd.
He looked much better than last night; although still silent, his eyes held less confusion and more depth.
"I... spent most of last night in the courtyard."
He glanced at the vending machine not far away and said, "Later, I met Mr. KING and chatted with him for a while. After that, I returned to my room."
"Mr. KING?"
As soon as this name was uttered, everyone's gaze instantly focused on the man who had been standing at the outermost edge of the crowd—Mr. KING.
Facing the collective gaze of the S-Class Heroes, Lin Mo calmly raised his hand to cover another yawn.
"Hmm," he said, his voice a little hoarse, "I went out to buy a drink last night, and then I went back to sleep."
💎 Power Stone Bonus: Every 100 Power Stones = +1 Extra Chapter
🌟 5-Star Review Bonus: Every 5 (5-Star) Reviews = +2 Extra Chapters
💬 Comment Speed-Up: If any chapter reaches +10 Comments = The Next Chapter Will Be Released Faster!
🔥 Want to Read Ahead? If you want to read advanced chapters, check out my buymeacoffee(.)com/Oyunbozan