"Nothing for you two to do here anymore!"
The white-clad brute smiled at Golden Ball and Spring Mustachio as they shakily helped each other back to their feet.
"Uh…"
"Are you that S-Class Rank Two—" Spring Mustachio's eyes widened in realization. He'd heard the broadcast today: a newly promoted S-Class hero, unstoppable, who'd shattered a meteor with one punch and saved Z-City—jumping straight from the bottom of S-Class to Rank Two.
"The strongest hero," the white-clad brute corrected, emphasizing his title.
"Uh… yes, of course. Mr. Strongest Hero," Spring Mustachio replied, lips parting awkwardly. His social awareness was top-tier—he could tell the guy really didn't like being called "second."
"Mm." The white-clad brute gave a satisfied nod.
"We'll be going now," Spring Mustachio said, supporting Golden Ball as they hurried away from the trouble.
"Now let's talk about your problem."
The white-clad brute—Jovian—had already hung the kelp monster upside down from a streetlight.
"What's your name?" Jovian asked, hands behind his back as he floated up slightly, studying the dangling monster.
"I-I'm Kombu Infinity…" The monster's pitch-black face flashed with fear as it blurted out its name.
"Good. Mr. Kombu Infinity, have you heard of the Monster Association?"
"N-no, I haven't…" Kombu Infinity shook his head. He genuinely didn't know.
"You're not being honest."
Jovian shook his head. That wasn't the answer he wanted.
"Huh?" Kombu Infinity froze, completely confused. He didn't understand why Jovian said that—he was being honest!
"Aaah!!"
Before Kombu Infinity could explain, Jovian yanked a strip of kombu right off his head. The sharp pain twisted Kombu Infinity's face.
"I seriously don't know!"
Tears pooled in his eyes. He really didn't know anything about the Monster Association.
Pop.
Jovian shook his head again and ripped off another strip of kombu.
"AAAH!!"
Kombu Infinity's scream tore out of his throat.
Cough, cough…
Farther away, well outside Z-City's main area, Golden Ball slowly opened his eyes.
"Oh—look who's awake," Spring Mustachio said warmly, still supporting him.
"Cough… what's going on?" Golden Ball grimaced. "Where's the monster? The one that beat us?"
"AAAH!!!"
Right as Spring Mustachio was about to answer, a horrific scream echoed from behind them.
"That was the monster's voice?!" Golden Ball's eyes widened. "What happened?!"
He couldn't understand what could possibly make a monster strong enough to crush both of them scream like that.
"Shh…" Spring Mustachio raised a finger, instantly shutting it down. "This isn't something to spread around."
"Don't ask. Some things are better not known. You'll have nightmares."
Beads of sweat rolled down Spring Mustachio's forehead as his heart hammered. He'd only glanced back out of curiosity—and what he saw was so miserable that all he could do now was silently write a giant word in his head:
Tragic.
"What?" Golden Ball still didn't get it.
"Just know we're safe," Spring Mustachio cut in quickly. "Another hero's handling that monster."
"Uh… fine." Golden Ball had a dozen questions, but the look on his partner's face told him everything he needed to know.
Back at Z-City's entrance, Kombu Infinity wailed through tears, crying like a kid after another burst of pain.
"Ah…"
"You're actually completely plucked," Jovian said, rubbing the monster's now perfectly smooth scalp. He could confirm it: the monster Kombu Infinity was basically neutralized.
There was monster left… but no kombu left.
"I really don't know!" Kombu Infinity sobbed, tears slipping down his cheeks. He regretted ever crawling out of the ocean onto land. He wanted to go home. He was never coming to land again for the rest of his life.
"If you don't know anything, then you're useless."
Jovian's eyes glowed red as he prepared to send the monster to heaven.
"Hey."
A voice called out from below, stopping him.
"Hm?" Jovian turned toward the ground, toward the source of the sound.
There was a glowing lightbulb down there—
No. A bald head.
"It really is you! You're insane!" the bald man called up. "You seriously blew up a meteor that big with one punch!"
"That's amazing! I've never seen anyone as strong as you!"
"Saitama…" Jovian recognized him instantly. He drifted down from the air and landed in front of him.
"You know me?" Saitama blinked. "Man, I didn't think I was that famous."
Then he looked at the huge bundle of kombu in Jovian's hand.
"Whoa—look at all that seaweed! It's so fresh! Is that all yours?"
"Yeah… basically." Jovian glanced at the kombu, then at the bald man, and made a decision. "Want it? You can have all of it."
"Huh?!" Saitama looked embarrassed. "For real? You're giving me all of this?"
"It's fine. There's too much anyway," Jovian said. "I can't eat it all."
He piled the entire bundle into Saitama's arms, then rose into the air again.
"I've got things to do. Maybe we'll work together sometime."
Jovian waved once, and the next second he became a streak of white light, blasting off into the distance.
"Flying really would be nice…" Saitama watched him go, a hint of envy in his eyes.
But that envy vanished almost immediately, and Saitama's face returned to its usual calm emptiness.
"He gave me this much seaweed for free…"
"That guy's actually a really good person."
"Yeah. He's S-Class. No way he's a bad guy."
Hugging the seaweed, Saitama trotted home, already convinced Jovian was a genuinely good guy.
"I feel like I forgot something…"
"Eh. Probably not important."
High in the air, Jovian hesitated for a split second, realizing he'd left something unfinished—then decided it wasn't a big deal and kept flying.
"Hey?! Is anyone there?! Somebody save me?!"
All that remained was the combed-bald Kombu Infinity, still hanging upside down from the streetlight, swaying in the wind.
//Check out my P@tre0n for 10 extra free chapters //[email protected]/Razeil0810.