The thought that he might starve to death in this room made King's heart pound uncontrollably.
The deep, powerful rumble of the Emperor Engine, on the contrary, made the atmosphere in the room even more somber.
"Teacher, I'm back!"
Just then, the creaking door of the apartment opened, and Genos walked in, carrying large bags of various supplies.
He deftly put away the various drinks and snacks he had bought, categorizing them, then walked to the table and bowed respectfully to Saitama.
"Hero registration is complete. Based on my comprehensive performance in the physical fitness test, the Association's final assessment result for me is -- S-Class."
"I hope I haven't shamed you, Teacher!"
Genos reported quickly with a poker face, yet there was a subtle hint of excitement and pride in his tone.
-- Becoming an S-Class Hero is just the first step in chasing after Teacher's shadow!
-- One day, I will also become like Teacher, so powerful that even the most top-tier combat chip cannot calculate a fraction of his strength!
"Oh, really? That was quick."
Saitama was fully engrossed in a life-and-death struggle with the last piece of Wagyu beef in the pot using his chopsticks. Hearing this, he merely responded casually, his attention never leaving the succulent slice of meat.
"S-Class?"
Terrible Tornado, who had been silent and pretending to be air, finally raised her eyelids at the words and scanned Genos with the corner of her eye.
Her emerald eyes scrutinized the cyborg of justice before her, filled with undisguised judgment and pickiness.
In private, she was the fiery little wildcat gradually conquered by Han Sen's absolute strength and domineering tenderness.
But in public, especially in situations concerning the identity of a hero, she was still the aloof, condescending absolute ace of the Hero Association, Terrible Tornado, looking down on all beings.
By her standards, more than half of the existing S-Class Heroes in the Association were incompetent wastes.
Now, another S-Class?
Are S-Class Heroes becoming a bit too cheap lately?
First, there's this bald guy who appeared out of nowhere, with a simple art style like a casual doodle, looking Dumb-headed.
Now, another cyborg reeking of machinery.
Her arrogant gaze disdainfully moved from Genos and landed on Saitama, who was happily stuffing the last piece of meat into his mouth with a blissful expression, finally letting out a barely audible cold snort.
Not just any random riff-raff can casually be given the title of S-Class!
The Hero Association is becoming more and more outrageous!
Feeling Terrible Tornado's gaze, a stream of data flashed across Genos's golden electronic eyes.
S-Class Rank 2, Terrible Tornado.
-- As rumored, she's a woman who looks difficult to deal with.
-- Judging from her sitting posture and proximity, she seems to have a relationship with Teacher's friend, Mr. Han Sen, that transcends friendship.
-- As for the strongest on Earth… his muscle density is only slightly stronger than that of an ordinary person, but… it's definitely not normal data!
-- The opponent used extraordinary concealment methods; existing scanning technology… cannot see through it at all!
-- Record: Another module needs to be upgraded by Dr. Kuseno! Must develop technology capable of discerning various disguises of powerful individuals!
"Alright, alright, everyone's here, hurry and eat, the meat's going to get tough."
Genos was still secretly evaluating the strength of the S-Class Heroes present, while Han Sen smiled and played peacemaker, as if he didn't notice the undercurrents of powerful auras in the room.
He picked up his chopsticks and, with a seemingly slow but actually swift motion, lightly plucked a piece of curled snowflake beef from the boiling red oil pot, perfectly locking in all its juices, just narrowly escaping Saitama's deadly pursuit.
"Ah, I was first…"
Saitama only had time to complain once before his target had already locked onto other ingredients about to be cooked.
King: "…"
-- Indeed, starving to death is the end.
Han Sen twisted his wrist, rolled the meat slice in the secret sauce, and naturally brought it to Terrible Tornado's mouth.
After being fed repeatedly, the faint anger in Terrible Tornado's heart gradually faded.
With her reason returned, she suddenly remembered that this was the first time the two of them had been so intimately in front of outsiders.
The blush that had just faded from her small face reappeared, spreading from her cheeks to her delicate earlobes.
Hmm, that time at the hot spring inn, there was only the old lady, so it doesn't count!
She subconsciously wanted to turn her head away and refuse, maintaining her dignity as S-Class Rank 2.
But the aroma of meat lingering at her nose and Han Sen's benevolent gaze made her body stiff, completely unable to resist.
"Hmph…"
Whether she was recalling some unspeakable memories or being steamed by the rising heat of the hotpot, Terrible Tornado's flushed little face became even more charming, and she glared at Han Sen peevishly.
Ultimately, she gave up using her Psychokinesis, her small mouth slightly opening to receive the feeding at her lips.
The complex aroma, mixed with spiciness and sauce, exploded on her taste buds, making her narrow her emerald eyes in satisfaction.
"King, don't just stand there, eat."
Han Sen called out to King, who was trying to minimize his presence in the corner, his chopsticks a blur.
Under Saitama's lightning-fast assault, he swiftly and accurately picked pieces of special ingredients, whose origin was unclear and which glowed with a strange luster, into King's bowl.
"Try these, they're all freshly picked recently, very nourishing!"
King looked at the mushroom in his bowl that seemed to be subtly wriggling, a section of an unknown root exuding strong vitality… and other not-so-normal ingredients. The muscles on his usually expressionless face twitched slightly.
He vaguely guessed something.
Thump! Thump! Thump! Thump!
The rumble of the Emperor Engine gradually began, this time not from panic, but King's decision made under immense pressure.
-- To avoid starving to death, he must become stronger.
His heart screamed frantically, but on the surface, King merely nodded calmly.
"…Thank you, Mr. Han Sen."
Beside Han Sen, Terrible Tornado's gaze sharpened.
-- Does he even need to activate the Emperor Engine while eating hotpot?
-- This man has such a strong competitive spirit even at the dinner table!
-- As expected of one of the few existences in the Hero Association whose strength even I cannot see through!
Terrible Tornado's eyes instantly showed a hint of fighting spirit, as if she had met her match, and her emerald Psychokinesis began to uncontrollably leak out.
But before she could make her next move.
"Mmm, mmm, mmm…!"
Her small mouth was again filled with a piece of seared bluefin tuna belly, dipped in sauce, and thoughtfully cooled slightly, forcing her to revert from battle mode to a green-haired hamster diligently chewing.
"What are you thinking about? Just eat."
Han Sen, while intimately but domineeringly feeding her, leaned close to her ear, his warm breath caressing her sensitive earlobe, and said in a voice only they could hear: "Only when you're full will you have the energy to do proper business."
Terrible Tornado: !!!
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