Garou's eyes snapped open as a sharp pain flared at the back of his neck. He found himself lying in an unfamiliar alley, the setting sun casting an orange-red glow across the walls.
"Uncle, you're finally awake!" Snot-nosed Brat crouched beside him, his small face full of concern.
Garou pushed himself up, clutching his neck, silver eyes burning with irritation. "That bastard caught me off guard."
He scanned the area. The alley was empty except for a few stray cats digging through trash. Testing his limbs, he found no serious injuries, just a lingering soreness.
"Sol senpai told me to look after you before he left," Snot-nosed Brat said, pulling out a piece of candy. "He said you might feel dizzy when you wake up, and this would help."
Garou slapped the candy away. "Like I'd eat anything from that guy." He stood and brushed the dust off his clothes. "Kid, take me to him."
Snot-nosed Brat shook his head. "Sol senpai said he has something important to do. He told me to take you somewhere safe."
"Somewhere safe?" Garou scoffed. "You think I need protection?"
He stepped out of the alley and onto the street, only to notice how unusually quiet it was. Police sirens echoed in the distance, and several vehicles marked with the Hero Association emblem patrolled the area.
"I heard that rogue hero was seen nearby," a passerby whispered.
Garou narrowed his eyes, his expression sharpening beneath his silver hair. He turned and lifted Snot-nosed Brat effortlessly. "Kid, anything strange happen lately?"
The boy kicked his legs in the air. "Yes, yes, lots of people in black clothes are looking for Sol senpai."
Garou let out a short snort as he set him down. "Looks like he's stirred up something big."
He rubbed his chin, a faint grin forming. "That just makes things more interesting."
"Uncle, are you going to help Sol senpai?" Snot-nosed Brat asked, looking up at him.
"Help him?" Garou ran a hand through his hair, annoyed. "I just want to settle the score with him."
At that moment, Garou sensed it, someone was following them. He acted as if nothing was wrong and led the boy deeper into a quieter alley.
"Come out," Garou said suddenly, turning to face the empty space.
Three men in black uniforms stepped out from the shadows, Hero Association badges pinned neatly to their chests.
Garou studied them, eyes narrowing. Their uniforms were spotless, their presence rigid.
"Hero Association dogs?" he said with a crooked grin. "What do you want?"
The leader calmly pulled out a gilded invitation. "Garou, the Association invites you to headquarters for a discussion."
Garou scoffed, about to tear it apart, when Snot-nosed Brat tugged at his clothes.
"Uncle, don't do anything rash," the boy said quietly.
Garou shook him off and looked back at the men. "I'm not interested in your fake hero business."
"The Association is willing to offer treatment equal to that of a hero," the man continued, unbothered, "in exchange for your help dealing with someone. No, not someone. A demon."
Garou raised an eyebrow. "Who's important enough for you to come begging me?"
The man hesitated slightly before answering. "Sol Mirek."
Even his voice lowered when he said the name.
"He betrayed the Association and is now working with the Monster Association. We need someone strong enough to keep him in check."
Garou burst into laughter, the sound echoing through the alley.
"Interesting. Very interesting." He snatched the invitation. "Fine. I'll go. I want to see what kind of nonsense you people are planning."
The tension in the air eased slightly.
Garou took a few steps forward, then paused and glanced back. "Kid, go home."
Snot-nosed Brat stood his ground, his face tense. "I want to come with you."
"Not happening." Garou ran a hand through his hair again, then looked at the men. "Take him home."
An hour later, Garou stood inside a glass elevator in the Hero Association headquarters, watching the city shrink below him as he rose toward the top floor.
When the doors opened, the scent of coffee drifted through the air, mixed with low murmurs of conversation.
"Garou, this way please." A woman in a business suit greeted him with a professional smile.
He followed her through a wide corridor lined with portraits of past S-Class heroes. His gaze paused briefly on one in particular, Bang. His mouth twitched slightly before he looked away.
The conference room doors opened.
Garou's pupils shrank slightly.
More than a dozen people were already seated inside, each radiating a dangerous presence. He recognized several of them. Damien, known for large-scale destruction. Medusa, infamous for her mastery of poison. Kahn the Butcher, a mercenary wanted across multiple cities.
"Ah, our final guest has arrived," Sitch said, standing at the head of the table with a polite smile. "Welcome."
Garou raised an eyebrow and casually pulled out a chair. "Since when does the Hero Association work with criminals?"
Sitch's smile stiffened for a moment before returning. "Desperate times call for unconventional methods. Sol Mirek's betrayal forced us to reconsider our approach."
"So you gathered villains to clean up your mess?" Damien laughed, showing a set of stained teeth. "You've really fallen far."
"The Association is prepared to offer substantial rewards," Sitch continued, ignoring the remark. He pressed a button on the table.
A holographic projection appeared, displaying Sol Mirek's image alongside detailed combat data.
"And full pardons for your past crimes."
Garou leaned back slightly, eyes fixed on the projection. The numbers were absurd, especially the recorded battle against Boros, far beyond standard evaluation limits.
"Is he really that strong?" Medusa asked, licking her lips, excitement flickering in her eyes.
"Stronger than what you see there," Sitch replied seriously. "We believe he has begun to monsterize. That is why he turned against us."
The room fell into a tense silence.
Sitch's voice carried across the table.
"You have all been brought here for one reason. To help us eliminate this threat before he destroys humanity."
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