Beside Jordan Evans, Miles seemed to talk to himself. Or perhaps to him. "She's pretty great, isn't she?"
"Yeah. Who wouldn't like a slim, beautiful, strong blonde girl?"
"You're right." Miles couldn't help but laugh. "If we went to the same school, I'd definitely compete with you for her attention."
"Wouldn't be much competition. I graduated a long time ago."
"You're pretty smooth, buddy. Nice to meet—wait." Miles manipulated the collider interface, confusion crossing his face. "Why can't I find your universe designation?"
Jordan Evans mimicked Gwen's earlier shrug. "Probably a glitch?"
Miles stared in disbelief. "No way. Then how are you getting back?"
Jordan Evans shrugged. His return ticket materialized in his hand.
The fantasy card flickered erratically, like Ultraman's color timer running low on power. Flashing incessantly.
Stop flashing. We're leaving now.
Jordan Evans gripped the Black Box Fragment and winked at Miles. "It's okay. I'm different from them."
Stand ability activated. The Black Box Fragment dissolved into specks of light, opening a dark portal before them both.
Miles withdrew his fist from their final bump, watching blankly as Jordan stepped into the swirling vortex.
The next second, the portal collapsed. Taking Jordan with it. Vanishing without a trace.
"That guy is really something else." Miles chuckled and shook his head. "Man, that guy..."
One-Punch Man World.
"Director, you have a call."
The Metropolitan Police Department high-level meeting had just concluded. The Superintendent General accepted the cell phone his secretary handed him and pressed it to his ear.
"This is Serizawa. Oh, Mr. Jordan Evans!" The Superintendent General's eyes lit up. He waved for his secretary to leave. She understood immediately, departing the conference room and closing the door behind her.
"Why do you suddenly have time to call? What's that? We've seized a batch of new equipment! Excellent, excellent, Mr. Jordan Evans, you're so thoughtful... No need to send it to A-City headquarters. I'll dispatch someone directly to Z-City to hand it over to your director!"
Z-City. Suburbs. Small lake.
Sunlight sparkled across the water's surface. The air carried rich fragrance from grass and trees. The lake shimmered in the distance.
Everything remained exactly as Jordan Evans had left it. As if he'd never departed at all.
After hanging up with the Metropolitan Police Superintendent General, Jordan Evans shook his head. The sensation of dimensional travel still wasn't entirely comfortable. He attributed this primarily to his physical attributes needing further enhancement.
Telekinesis activated. A watch flew from nearby bushes, landing in his palm.
He'd deliberately left it behind before departing. The watch remained in its original position, exterior intact, hands moving at a steady pace. Only three minutes had passed since his dimensional jump.
Those three minutes were the time spent talking to the Superintendent General.
In other words, time didn't flow in the One-Punch Man world when traveling to other dimensions.
It's you, Za Warudo!
This small lake was quite close to the Flowing Water Dojo. Jordan Evans figured since he hadn't seen the old man in a while, he might as well visit on the way.
When he arrived, he found the trip wasted.
Charanko, the stay-at-home disciple, greeted him at the entrance, leaning on a broom. "Master went down the mountain yesterday. Said he had a hero mission. Don't know when he'll be back."
"Ah, I see. The old man's actually quite diligent."
"Huh?" A unified shout echoed from inside the dojo. Jordan Evans couldn't help asking in surprise, "Charanko, aren't you training?"
"Ah..." Charanko scratched his head sheepishly. "My talent isn't as good as my senior brothers'. I figured I'd help with odd jobs instead."
Jordan Evans patted his shoulder earnestly. "You'll definitely become your master's final disciple."
"Really? Thank you!" Charanko's eyes lit up with excitement. "Mr. Jordan, do you mean my perseverance and willpower will eventually move Master to teach me true martial arts?"
"No. I think the old man will always need someone who can handle housework and clean the dojo."
"Good luck. I'm off now."
Under Charanko's resentful gaze, Jordan gracefully lifted into the air, flying toward Z-City proper.
As Section Chief of Z-City Police Department's Special Affairs Division, Jordan Evans took his responsibilities seriously.
On his first day back from the Metropolitan Police training camp, he'd completed most pending work. He'd thought this interdimensional trip would consume significant time, but he'd returned to the bureau before noon.
"Everyone's busy, I see."
Jordan Evans walked into the office carrying several shopping bags, smiling as he watched his subordinates struggle with paperwork.
"That smells amazing..."
Anzu brushed her bangs aside, looking up. She spotted the unusually lavish lunch in Jordan's hands. Her expression softened slightly. "Treating us to lunch, Section Chief?"
"Of course. You think I'm such a glutton I'd eat all this by myself?"
"What'd you get?"
"Hamburgers, fries, pork cutlet rice bowls, eel rice... Also bought milk tea and drinks. Everyone take a break and help yourselves."
"Thank you, Section Chief!" Multiple voices called out in unison.
After a busy morning, officers stood, selected their favorite items from Jordan's haul, and returned to their desks to enjoy the meal.
"I'll forgive you this time." Anzu held the expensive deluxe eel rice set, cheeks bulging as she ate. She looked like a stingy hamster preparing for winter. "Since even as a capitalist, you still have some conscience."
"You've worked hard, my deputy section chief." Jordan Evans held his pork cutlet rice box, eating while standing before Anzu's desk. "Can't be helped. Special Affairs Section just got established. This kind of administrative work is inevitable."
Anzu rolled her eyes, swallowed her mouthful, and said irritably, "Then send us more people! There's so much to do. How can just a few of us possibly handle it all?"
"Calm down, calm down." Jordan Evans set his empty lunch box on the table, straightening his clothes. "Your section chief had a productive morning. Rewards from headquarters will arrive soon."
"Really? How much could you possibly accomplish in one morning..." Anzu eyed Jordan with suspicion as he turned to leave. "Hey, you jerk!"
"Throw this away for me."
After Jordan Evans departed, the Special Affairs office grew somewhat noisy.
One officer complained, "Is what the Section Chief said actually true? I really don't want to touch this paperwork anymore!"
"Hey, don't you guys think Section Chief Jordan's eating style is really cool? Ow..."
A young policewoman's face lit up, only to be met with a precise chopstick strike from Anzu. "Stop being infatuated. Eating lunch that fast, your section chief is just a total glutton."
"Yes, yes! Even if he's a glutton, he's still the most handsome one!"
How can I save you, you office fool?
As Anzu thought about it, her own face flushed slightly.
Though she didn't want to admit it, the girl had a point.