Over half an hour later, Zuke returned carrying the already unconscious Bartholomew.
"That really took quite a while."
In the One Punch Man world, beneath the ruins of Z-City, the Monster Association headquarters had been further completed.
If when Zuke came before, the Monster Association had only had a framework with many places still not built, then now the Monster Association could be said to be completely finished.
Various rooms and prisons were connected through complex passages forming a maze-like underground city, where every monster could find a suitable living environment.
Compared to before when it was truly like an anthill, purely composed of earth, the current Monster Association's conditions were obviously much superior in every aspect.
The monsters were clearly all very satisfied with the Monster Association's environment, so large numbers of monsters gathered here, waiting for the Monster Association's "leader" Gyoro Gyoro's commands.
In the monsters' view, the Monster Association's name revealed its ambition—this name was clearly meant to overthrow or even replace the Hero Association, and what monsters hated most were heroes.
Precisely because of this, some powerful Dragon-level monsters were also attracted here. Although their loyalty was questionable, at least on the matter of overthrowing the Hero Association, their interests aligned.
Homeless Emperor was one of the Dragon-level monsters attracted by the Monster Association's philosophy. Originally just an unemployed vagrant, he received power bestowed by "God," with terrifyingly destructive capability.
Many monsters at the Monster Association had witnessed Homeless Emperor's power, so toward Homeless Emperor, this Monster Association cadre, they were all filled with awe.
Of course, where there were those filled with awe, there were also those unafraid of death—for instance, the monster called Phoenix Man.
Phoenix Man, a Demon-level monster, appeared externally like a giant long-necked rooster, but this long-necked rooster was actually a mascot costume called "Dullbird."
This guy became a monster because the mascot costume couldn't be removed, so his true body was actually hidden inside this giant "rooster," with the external appearance just being a façade.
Demon-level and Dragon-level were one tier apart, but Phoenix Man facing Homeless Emperor, a Dragon-level monster, still showed no serious respect.
"Yo, Homeless Emperor, Gyoro Gyoro has business with you."
With a "bang" sound, Homeless Emperor's room door was violently pushed open by Phoenix Man, making a harsh noise that caused Homeless Emperor in the room to involuntarily frown.
He turned to look at Phoenix Man's ridiculous rooster mascot costume, his tone cold as if he might attack at any moment:
"Phoenix Man, do you want to die? Didn't anyone teach you to knock before entering a company... no wait, before entering a room?"
Before becoming unemployed, Homeless Emperor was an ordinary company employee, so when speaking he unconsciously revealed habits from his former working days.
However, Phoenix Man clearly didn't care about these details. His mascot rooster head bobbled a few times, then a somewhat strange voice squeezed out from inside:
"I'm just here to relay a message. Gyoro Gyoro wants to see you, that's all... Getting angry at me won't help even if you're in a bad mood."
Homeless Emperor had been in a very bad mood recently—this was something everyone at the Monster Association knew clearly. Recently Homeless Emperor was like a burning oil drum, exploding at the slightest touch.
Several monsters had already been blasted to bits by Homeless Emperor's strange light orbs, leaving not even residue, just because they accidentally disturbed Homeless Emperor.
However, although Phoenix Man was just a Demon-level monster, he was one of the Monster Association's most mobile monsters. Gyoro Gyoro frequently sent him out on missions, making him a very useful monster.
This was probably why Phoenix Man was so fearless—even considering Gyoro Gyoro's sake, Homeless Emperor wouldn't casually kill him.
After all, Phoenix Man wasn't some minor monster. If Homeless Emperor killed a minor monster, Gyoro Gyoro could pretend not to see, but killing Phoenix Man would be a different matter entirely.
Homeless Emperor stared at Phoenix Man for a while, then finally snorted coldly, walked past him out of the room. He was probably heading to Gyoro Gyoro's location.
The reason Homeless Emperor had been in such a bad mood these past few days was simple—because he had inadvertently learned the truth about the Monster Association.
One truth was about Gyoro Gyoro—it actually wasn't a true monster. Its real form was a woman named Psykos hidden beneath the Monster Association!
Of course, this wasn't anything particularly important. For Homeless Emperor, as long as it could counterattack the Hero Association, he didn't care who the leader's true form was.
But Homeless Emperor also learned that above Psykos was a man named Zuke—he had forcibly suppressed Psykos, then turned the Monster Association into his possession!
Not just verbally obtaining leadership, but Zuke had used some unknown method to truly command all members of the Monster Association.
Homeless Emperor had very unfortunately become his test subject. Zuke commanded Homeless Emperor to do many things at that time, and Homeless Emperor was completely unable to resist, could only shamefully complete all of Zuke's requirements.
After leaving Zuke last time, Homeless Emperor had considered leaving the Monster Association, but somehow, this thought simply couldn't be executed.
Once he had this idea, his body became unable to leave the Monster Association, as if his body was resisting this notion—this made Homeless Emperor's whole mood sour.
"These foolish bastards still think they're living freely, not knowing their everything has long been controlled by someone they've never even met."
After leaving his room, Homeless Emperor looked back at Phoenix Man still standing at his room entrance, and somehow felt a sense of superiority rise in his heart.
Although both were controlled by Zuke, at least he knew the truth, had even personally met Zuke, deeply aware that he was under Zuke's control.
While other monsters didn't even know about this, still thinking they could leave the Monster Association anytime.
These past few days Gyoro Gyoro had also sought him out several times. Though they discussed trivial matters, Homeless Emperor could sense Gyoro Gyoro was just probing his intentions.
After all, regarding Zuke's matters, Homeless Emperor was under Zuke's command and thus couldn't speak of them. But regarding Psykos's matters, Homeless Emperor could freely discuss them.
Originally Homeless Emperor thought today would be the same, with Gyoro Gyoro calling him over again to see if he'd said anything he shouldn't.
Arriving at Gyoro Gyoro's room, Homeless Emperor kicked the door open and walked in, then began shouting:
"I've said it many times already, I'm not interested in your true identity, so I haven't told anyone about your real form..."
But his words stopped halfway, his voice choking off like a chicken being strangled, his entire body freezing in place.
Because in the room wasn't Gyoro Gyoro's bloated monster body, but Psykos herself.
And Psykos wasn't sitting on the sofa, but crouching on the ground, wearing a somewhat helpless expression as she massaged a foot.
The foot's owner was sitting on the sofa, looking at Homeless Emperor with a playful expression—it was Zuke.
To be continued…