The first-floor atrium, the 'showpiece' area of the Hero Association's Headquarters, was currently in chaos, yet strangely maintained a certain order.
The crowd was packed several layers deep, but an empty space was left in the center.
On the ground, Tanktop Vegetarian, Tanktop Tiger, and Tanktop Black Hole lay battered, bruised, and tattered, groaning miserably.
Standing before them was Setsuna.
He showed no intimidating presence at all, instead seemingly gently trying to calm the agitated crowd around him.
Just then, a voice laden with suppressed anger came from behind the crowd: "Move!"
Like Moses parting the sea, the crowd parted as if by an invisible force. Tanktop Master, his face dark, strode into the center.
His first glance fell upon his three battered underlings, and Hades standing 'over them' in a 'dominant' position.
Rage instantly overwhelmed his reason.
"Hades!" Tanktop Master's voice boomed like thunder, echoing through the atrium. "How dare you bully my men! Who gave you the courage?"
He clenched his fists, knuckles cracking. The terrifying power of his muscles gathered, as if he was about to blast this insolent newcomer into oblivion.
Setsuna smiled slightly. "I think you misunderstand. The ones who defeated your subordinates weren't me, but these ordinary people upholding justice."
"As an S-Class Hero, are you going to attack these ordinary citizens?"
Tanktop Master froze.
He looked at his underlings, whose injuries indeed seemed less like the result of a powerful energy attack and more like they had been beaten by a mob.
Then he looked at the crowd around him, who glared back at him fearlessly.
A wave of absurdity washed over him.
'Ordinary people? Defeating three of my elite subordinates?'
'Preposterous! Even a low-level C-Class Hero had physical capabilities far beyond an ordinary person, let alone my Tanktop men.'
But the scene before him, along with Setsuna's calm demeanor, forced him to consider the possibility.
'Could it be... that these three idiots had actually done something so outrageous it provoked public outrage?'
"Master, that's not how it happened!" Tanktop Vegetarian struggled to explain. "It's him! This Hades is behind it! He—"
"Shut up! You still dare to lie?" An onlooker interrupted harshly. "We all heard it! You three provoked Hades-sama first and tried to slander him with rumors!"
"Yes! We all saw it! You struck first! Hades-sama was just evading!"
"Tanktop Master! How do you discipline your men? Letting them run wild, tarnishing the reputation of Heroes?"
"Exactly! Just because you're S-Class, you can let your underlings bully newcomers and oppress the people?"
The accusations came like a tide, wave after wave, growing louder and sharper.
Countless gazes, like arrows, pierced Tanktop Master.
He opened his mouth to defend his subordinates but found himself at a loss against the overwhelming chorus of condemnation.
For the first time, he truly understood the power of public opinion, how rumors could destroy a person.
Tanktop Master looked around, seeing faces filled with anger, disappointment, even hatred.
Those ordinary people who once looked at him with reverence and admiration now seemed to see him as an accomplice to evil.
He was confused but not afraid. However, he knew his underlings didn't have such strong hearts.
After a long silence, Tanktop Master suddenly knelt down. "I failed to discipline them properly. I apologize on behalf of Tanktop Vegetarian and the others. Please forgive their transgressions!"
"Boss!"
"No, Boss! It's our fault! Please don't!"
Seeing this, Tanktop Vegetarian and the others broke down instantly.
They might have questionable character, but they genuinely revered Tanktop Master, the boss who led them, trusted them, and gave them dignity.
Seeing their boss kneel for them was more painful than being killed themselves.
Setsuna quietly watched this 'heartfelt' scene.
"Tanktop Master, please rise." Setsuna's voice remained gentle. "Why would I blame them? Aren't we all working hard for humanity, for this world?"
He looked at the three weeping Tanktop underlings, his tone 'sincere' and 'earnest': "They were just momentarily confused, using the wrong approach. I believe their intentions weren't malicious."
"The ones they truly need to apologize to are not me, but the people whose trust they betrayed with their actions."
Setsuna's words seemed to carry a strange magic.
Not only did they move the surrounding crowd even more, but they also stunned Tanktop Vegetarian and the others.
They stared blankly at Setsuna, an indescribable, complex emotion overwhelming them.
Tanktop Vegetarian felt deep shame: 'We treated him like that, yet he speaks for us, understands us. We are truly despicable!'
He suddenly slammed his head on the ground with a dull thud. "We were wrong! We truly know we were wrong!"
Tanktop Tiger also teared up. "We'll prove our change through our actions!"
Witnessing this 'heartwarming' scene of 'a prodigal's return is worth more than gold', many onlookers couldn't help but applaud.
"How moving. Hades-sama is truly a Hero."
"Yes, Hades-sama is not only powerful but also has such a generous heart."
Fubuki and Genos watched this harmonious, touching scene with cold hands and feet.
The greatest enemy of humanity, the mastermind behind Earth's potential destruction, was being hailed as a Hero. The irony was overwhelming!
Genos was especially incensed, his fury boiling over. 'Sensei silently sacrificed so much, saved so many, yet was mocked and doubted.'
'Meanwhile, this architect of destruction can easily win praise and adoration. This world is so unfair!'
Just then, as if to bring this absurd drama to a climax.
Tanktop Vegetarian suddenly looked up, his eyes burning with a fanatical, almost martyr-like flame, and screamed hoarsely:
"To atone, I will immediately go and capture that most arrogant self-proclaimed [Human Monster] and [Hero Hunter], Garou!"
"I'll wash away our shame with his blood! Prove our repentance!"
'Garou?'
At the name, Setsuna's eyebrows rose slightly.
He was also somewhat interested in this nominal protagonist of One-Punch Man, though Garou felt more like the actual main character.
Setsuna pondered: 'I wonder what stage Garou's growth is at now. Has he caught the attention of that 'God'?'
'Perhaps I can leave a small mark on him. Might yield a decent harvest.'