"Tanktop Master," Genos mused. "He's a decent person himself, but his subordinates are another matter."
"We must stop them!" Fubuki urged urgently. "Genos, you're an S-Class Hero. Go talk to Tanktop Master, make him keep his men in check."
Genos nodded, but then asked, "Why not go to your sister? With Tatsumaki-san's status as S-Class Rank 2 and her strength, Tanktop Master would be more likely to listen, wouldn't he?"
Fubuki shook her head bitterly. "My sister is too competitive. If she found out that Hades is the one behind No.17, the mastermind behind the moon's disappearance and the threat to Earth..."
"With her personality, she'd likely attack Hades recklessly. Then it would truly be over!"
Genos fell silent. Here they were, with the mastermind behind all this standing before them, and they had to carefully pave the way for him, preventing any reckless fools from spoiling his mood.
This feeling... was utterly terrible.
…
However, their efforts clearly proved futile.
Five days later.
Hero Association's Headquarters, Rest Lounge outside the Training Area.
Setsuna sat on a sofa, engrossed in a book borrowed from the association's library titled [The Geological Evolution History of Earth].
In just five days, he had rocketed from the bottom of B-Class to B-Class Rank 1.
He had returned once again to await his promotion assessment.
"Hey, are you that Hades?"
A gruff voice interrupted Setsuna's reading.
He slowly looked up.
Three men stood before him, all wearing tight white tank tops, revealing exaggerated muscle lines, their expressions haughty.
"Something wrong?" Setsuna closed his book, his tone flat.
"Our boss, the S-Class Hero, Tanktop Master, appreciates your strength." Tanktop Vegetarian crossed his arms, gesturing with his chin towards Setsuna.
"Join our [Tank Topper Army]. Following Master, you can learn the true [Way of Muscle]. Your future prospects will be limitless."
"Not interested." Setsuna's answer was crisp and clean.
The three men's expressions darkened.
"Kid, don't be ungrateful!" Tanktop Tiger stepped forward, threatening. "Our boss is an S-Class Hero!"
"Do you know what S-Class means? It's the pinnacle of Heroes! Being noticed by Master is an honor!"
Setsuna smiled faintly, asking with interest, "If I still refuse to join, what are you planning to do?"
Tanktop Black Hole sneered, a malicious glint in his eyes. "Then we'll have to teach you a lesson."
He looked Setsuna up and down, sneering. "That woman Blizzard of Hell has held B-Class Rank 1 for so long, yet you managed to climb up. Did she take a fancy to you?"
"A pretty boy riding a woman's coattails. We hardcore men of the Tanktop style despise your kind the most!"
Tanktop Vegetarian added sinisterly, "Newbie, don't underestimate the power of a 'group'."
"Tongues are sharp. If we all say you're a credit-stealing fraud... then a fraud you shall be!"
Setsuna fell silent. Having traversed many worlds, he had encountered numerous villains, but one this low-grade was indeed rare.
Setsuna asked calmly, "Is this how you define the power of a group?"
Tanktop Black Hole felt uncomfortable under his gaze, then grew flustered and angry, waving his hand to shout at the surrounding people:
"Look everyone! This newbie Hades has been stealing credit for his achievements! He's got no real strength, he's just relying on that woman Fubuki..."
He stopped mid-sentence.
Because he noticed that a considerable crowd had gathered around them.
There were association staff, low-ranking Heroes, and ordinary citizens there on business.
But everyone's eyes... were not right.
They weren't curious. They were cold, the kind of gaze one gives to trash.
"You... why are you looking at me like that?" Tanktop Black Hole sensed the anomaly, shouting with forced bravado.
Just then, the crowd began to stir.
"What are they saying?"
"How dare they slander Hades-sama!"
"Hades-sama single-handedly defeated the Tiger-level monster [Earth-Splitting Rhino] in G-City last week! He saved an entire street! My niece was on that street!"
"I saw Hades-sama stop a riot in J-City with my own eyes! He comforted frightened children so gently. How could he be what they're saying?"
The murmurs grew louder, gradually turning into angry denunciations.
"Shut up! You fools!" Tanktop Tiger roared. "We are subordinates of Tanktop Master-sama! What we say is the truth!"
"Pah! What truth! You're just jealous that Hades-sama is stronger and more popular than you!"
"I'll always support Hades-sama!"
"Everyone, let's go! Beat these despicable scoundrels!"
Whether it was someone shouting or not, the crowd was instantly ignited.
Dozens, hundreds... They surged forward in a dark mass, their eyes blazing with fury.
The faces of the three Tank Topper Army's members finally changed.
They couldn't believe that these ordinary citizens, who usually treated Heroes with such respect, would dare to lay hands on them?
"What... what are you doing? We're Heroes! We're the ones who protect you!" Tanktop Vegetarian yelled in panic.
"Heroes? You call yourselves Heroes?"
"Hades-sama is a true Hero!"
"Get them!"
The crowd surged like a tidal wave. Tanktop Tiger roared, instinctively swinging his fist to fight back.
But the next moment, his face changed drastically.
"What's happening? I can't use my strength?"
He felt his body impossibly heavy, his muscles like lead. The strength that could easily lift several tons on a normal day was now unable to even throw a punch.
It wasn't just Tanktop Tiger. Tanktop Vegetarian and Tanktop Black Hole were the same.
They were like three lambs awaiting slaughter, watching in terror as the enraged crowd engulfed them...
Fists and feet rained down like hail.
Screams, curses, pleas mixed together.
At the edge of the crowd, Fubuki and Genos, who had just arrived, witnessed this unbelievable scene.
Cold sweat instantly broke out on both their backs.
Fubuki's voice trembled as she asked, "How did he do it? In less than two weeks, he built up this kind of influence?"
But she quickly shook her head. "This definitely isn't just personal charisma. He must have used some method to manipulate everyone's hearts!"
Genos nodded gravely. "With his strength, he could have easily killed Tanktop Tiger and the others. But instead, he made them experience the terror of being overwhelmed by the crowd. This is crushing their spirit!"