"I think I get it!"
"So basically, you're planning to expand the Hero Association, right?"
Even though the Hero Association executives didn't understand what Jovian meant about the multiverse, or there being far more than one Earth, they understood one thing—something tied directly to their own interests: it sounded like Jovian intended to expand the Hero Association.
"More or less. You can understand it that way," Jovian said, looking at the executive who'd spoken. He didn't need the man to truly grasp the concept, and he didn't need him to realize just how enormous what they were discussing really was—something that could reshape humanity's future. As far as Jovian was concerned, as long as the man did his job well, that was enough.
"I understand. So…"
"After you expand the Hero Association and build it into an unbelievably massive superhuman organization…"
"Will I still be able to keep my position?"
"I mean… will we still have the authority to direct all the heroes' work?"
The executive considered his wording extremely careful, but to Jovian, it was still disgusting.
From that man's mouth, Jovian heard only one thing: greed. Greed for money. Greed for power. Greed to squeeze out more profit.
"..."
Jovian didn't answer. He simply lifted the hand resting on the table—then closed his fist in the air toward the executive.
"Ghk—!"
The executive's forced smile vanished instantly. His breathing hit a wall, and an invisible force clamped down around his throat. He clawed at nothing, struggling in agony—an eternity of punishment packed into a single minute.
Nearly a full minute later, when his vision started to darken and his chest felt like it might burst, the invisible grip finally released.
"Hah—! Hah—! Hah—!"
The executive gulped air like a drowning man, face twisted with pain. Some people only learn what "cherish" means after they've tasted what it's like to lose.
"Sir," Jovian said calmly, voice flat and cold, "don't let desire choke your throat."
"Do the work you're supposed to do. You'll receive the reward you're supposed to receive."
"But power and wealth that don't belong to you—keep your ambition under control. Don't display your greed in front of others."
"Otherwise, one day you might stuff your mouth with something too big for you—something that blocks your throat—and you die choking. That's not what we want to see."
As he warned the executive, he was also making an example for everyone else in the room: their job was simple—do what they were hired to do.
"I understand—I would never do something like that…" the executive rasped, still gasping, nodding again and again under Jovian's overwhelming pressure.
"Good." Jovian looked across the table. "Does anyone else have questions?"
"If not, keep your eyes open for the Monster Association's location. If you find it, report to me immediately."
"And if I decide I want to recruit any hero into my organization, I expect you to help contact them. If there's nothing else, this meeting is adjourned."
His words sounded polite on the surface, but the tone was pure command. He wasn't asking the Hero Association for help—he was informing them what they would do.
"We understand…"
One by one, the executives filed out of the room and left headquarters.
"Mm." Jovian nodded, stood up, and prepared to leave as well.
"Jovian, where are you going next?" Tatsumaki asked from her chair, her short legs swinging in the air. When she saw him rise, she spoke up.
"To check on my chosen champion," Jovian answered softly, glancing at her.
"Chosen champion?!" Tatsumaki froze. She understood each word separately, but together it made no sense.
"That's right. My chosen champion," Jovian confirmed—and in the next instant, he vanished from the room.
"Hey! Wait for me!" Tatsumaki shot up, rushing after him, but in the time it took to blink, he was already gone without a trace.
"I'm gonna kill him!" she snapped furiously. For a moment, the entire Hero Association headquarters seemed to tremble.
Z-City, outside Saitama's house.
"Hey! Have you decided yet or not? Are you joining my group?!"
"I'll be blunt—if you're B-Class, you don't have any other option besides joining us."
"Because I've locked down the B-Class #1 spot. If you don't join my group, you will never be promoted to A-Class!"
A tall, curvy woman with breathtaking beauty—who resembled Tatsumaki in more than a few ways—stood at Saitama's doorstep in a mink coat, openly threatening him.
"You're so annoying!" Saitama barked.
"How many times do I have to say it? I'm not interested in your group. And stop coming here to bother me!"
Saitama glared at the stunning woman in front of him, fuming.
"Are you sure you won't reconsider?" she pressed, stepping closer.
"No!" Saitama shouted back—then slammed his front door shut.
Bam.
"Ow!"
The door smacked the woman squarely on her high, straight nose.
She cupped her face, tears instantly welling up from the sharp sting, the kind of pain that made your eyes water no matter how tough you tried to be.
"That damn baldy…" she muttered through clenched teeth, quietly wishing—very sincerely—that Saitama would grow a full head of hair.
"Excuse me," a raspy, commanding voice suddenly said beside her. "Is this Saitama's house?"
"Who are you? I'll have you know the idiot inside is already mine, so you're too lat—"
She turned her head, ready to snap, and then her brain abruptly shut down.
"Uh… you're… the S-Class hero ranked even higher than my sister… the one currently tied with Blast for S-Class Rank #1—Jovian?"
"The strongest hero who defeated a God-level monster?"
Her heart hammered in her chest.
Jovian recognized the woman immediately.
Fubuki—Tatsumaki's younger sister. A psychic with enormous potential. If she were properly developed, there was no telling how far she could go. Her future might not even be worse than Tatsumaki's.
Faced with someone that talented—someone that beautiful—Jovian simply gave a small nod in acknowledgement. Right now, his attention was fixed entirely on the person behind that door…
The man inside, sitting there eating plain boiled cabbage—his very own bald chosen champion.
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