Lin Mo looked up at the distant sky, where a few wisps of thin clouds hung leisurely.
The look of contemplation in his eyes deepened.
The textbook-level surprise attack just now clearly demonstrated that this world's police system, far from becoming complacent due to the emergence of heroes, possessed extremely high professional competence and tactical execution.
Their existence is an indispensable cornerstone for the normal functioning of this society.
So, why did they gradually fade from public view?
Why did even someone like Saitama, who had been fighting crime in the city for years, subconsciously feel that he "hardly ever saw them"?
Lin Mo's thoughts involuntarily drifted back to the point where it all began—the early days of the Hero Association's establishment.
He remembered very clearly that the founding of the Hero Association stemmed from an accidental event.
A few years ago, the son of a wealthy man, whose chin resembled a buttock, was attacked by a crab Monster.
Just at the critical moment, a man who was not yet bald and was just an ordinary job seeker at the time—Saitama—stepped forward to defeat the Monster and save the child.
The child's father, in gratitude for this life-saving kindness and to cope with the increasing Monster disasters, poured all his family''s wealth into establishing the Hero Association.
This was a private, non-profit organization.
Its original intention was good and commendable.
But in just a few years, the Hero Association, relying on its strong financial resources and efficient operations, rapidly grew like a snowball.
It recruited a large number of extraordinary individuals, established a hero system ranging from C-Class to S-Class, and became the absolute main force against Monsters.
Its influence even surpassed that of many government agencies.
And in this process, an inevitable phenomenon occurred—
Heroes became the new "superstars" of this era.
Their battles were widely reported by the media, their rankings became a popular topic of discussion among the public, and their images were printed on various merchandise.
The public cheered fanatically for the heroes' victories, and children pasted posters of S-Class Heroes by their beds, regarding them as ultimate idols.
The Hero Association's public support rate, in several opinion polls, even subtly surpassed that of the government.
However, behind this spotlight, a large and silent organization was quietly pushed to the edge of the stage.
That was the police.
Before the Hero Association appeared, fighting Monsters, maintaining public order, and protecting citizens were all the responsibilities of the police.
They did not possess world-destroying superpowers or indestructible bodies.
But they would still, for the sake of protecting the public, face those Monsters far beyond common sense, armed with ordinary firearms and driving ordinary patrol cars.
They would sacrifice, they would bleed; they were the first, and also the last, line of defense composed of mortals, guarding social order.
But the Hero Association changed all of this.
When an S-Class Hero could destroy a building with a wave of their hand and defeat a Monster with a single blow, the guns in the police's hands and the bulletproof vests on their bodies seemed so pale and powerless.
The public's attention was naturally drawn to the heroes, and media reports always focused on the heroes' achievements.
Over time, people formed a stereotype:
Call the police for petty theft, rely on heroes when the sky falls.
The police, in this way, gradually "devolved" from guardians to service personnel handling domestic disputes, directing traffic, and finding owners for lost kittens.
Their dangers, their sacrifices, were all overshadowed by the overly brilliant light of the heroes.
Just like today's bank robbery.
If it weren't for the swift response of the police, the headline would probably have been "S-Class Hero KING Scares Off Robbers with a Gaze," or "S-Class Hero Caped Baldy Ends Fight with One Punch."
And the police, at most, would only be mentioned in passing at the end of the report—"The police who arrived later were responsible for handling the scene."
Is this fair?
Lin Mo didn't know.
This question was too big, too complex, involving many aspects.
He only knew that a society completely dependent on a few extraordinary individuals had fragile foundations.
When heroes are stretched thin, or if one day the Hero Association's ideals deviate from its path,
Then, in the end, what they might still rely on are these disciplined forces composed of ordinary people.
"What are you thinking about? You look so serious." Saitama's calm voice sounded beside him, interrupting Lin Mo's contemplation.
Just as Lin Mo was about to speak, a violent explosion came from the direction they had just walked from.
— — — — — —
On the street where the bank robbery had just occurred.
The SWAT team commander, Yamada Kenichi, was methodically directing the cleanup operations.
"Team A, escort the suspects back to the station for immediate interrogation."
"Team B, assist bank staff in inventorying losses and comforting the hostages."
"Team C, cordon off the scene, collect evidence, and withdraw immediately after completion to restore traffic."
Commands were issued from his mouth, transmitted to every team member via radio.
Yamada Kenichi was an old police officer with over twenty years of service.
Years had etched traces of hardship on his face, but his eyes were still as sharp as an eagle's.
He started as the most ordinary patrol officer, progressing step by step, and through hard work, wisdom, and several meritorious injuries, he rose to the position of SWAT team commander.
He had witnessed the darkest corners of this city and personally sent countless heinous criminals to prison.
He had also witnessed the rise of the Hero Association and the dramatic changes in the entire world order.
His feelings towards heroes were complex.
On the one hand, he was genuinely grateful to the heroes with extraordinary powers.
He could never forget how a few years ago, a powerful Monster rampaged through the city, and his squad was pushed to the brink, out of ammunition and supplies, seemingly doomed to be wiped out.
It was the then-unknown S-Class Hero Metal Bat who arrived in time and smashed the Monster to pieces with one swing.
At that moment, all he felt was the relief of survival and sincere gratitude.
But on the other hand, when he saw heroes being interviewed on television, enjoying the cheers of the public,
And his colleagues, who unfortunately died while fighting ordinary criminals, only occupied a small corner of the newspaper, he would feel a deep sense of resentment and loneliness.
Once upon a time, children would excitedly salute police cars and say they wanted to be police officers when they grew up.
Now, their dream was to become an S-Class Hero.
Once upon a time, they were the most reliable guardians in the hearts of citizens.
Now, more often than not, they could only come out to clean up the mess after the heroes' world-shattering battles, set up police lines, and maintain order.
"However..." Yamada Kenichi looked at his well-trained team members, a hint of pride flashing in his eyes.
"Even if the world changes, our duty will never change."
To protect this city, to protect everyone here, whether the enemy is an ordinary criminal, or... Just as his thoughts were flowing, a heart-pounding aura shot up from the other end of the street!
"Boom—!!!"
With a loud bang, a coffee shop at the end of the street exploded as if hit by a cannonball!
Bricks and glass shards flew everywhere, and terrified screams once again echoed through the block!
"What's going on!?"
Yamada Kenichi's face changed drastically, and he immediately shouted into the walkie-talkie, "All units, be on alert! There's an emergency!"