Inside the control room, the atmosphere was as heavy as a physical entity.
The damp air was filled with the unique stench and violent aura of the Monster.
But at this moment, these usually lawless executives had all reined themselves in, their eyes of various shapes and sizes focused on the giant eyeball in the center, Gyoro Gyoro.
Heavy footsteps, sliding sounds, and even the buzzing of wings flapping echoed from the passage.
The Monster executives arrived one after another, silently finding their positions.
Ugly President, patting his corpulent belly, his small eyes darting around, was the first to break the silence: "Gyoro Gyoro, you called us here in such a hurry just for that newcomer? Didn't he steal the show at the stadium today?" His tone carried a hint of barely perceptible jealousy and provocation.
Gums said nothing, only opening and closing his huge, slimy mouth, emitting a grating sound that made one's teeth ache, green saliva dripping to the ground, corroding small pits.
Black Sperm, on the other hand, looked lazy, its body like flowing black mercury, constantly changing shape. It split into a dozen small heads, simultaneously surveying its surroundings, and spoke teasingly: "Well, well, it seems someone is very interested in that Mr. Ashura~ Did seeing his performance make you feel pressured, President?"
"What did you say?!" Ugly President glared.
"Everyone, quiet," Gyoro Gyoro's deep voice rang out, its giant eyeball sweeping over every executive present, operating the control panel.
It brought up the combat footage from Z-City Stadium today, as well as several other screens showing the chaotic final images sent back by the Monster assault teams, which had suffered heavy losses from precise ambushes by the Hero Association.
"I didn't call you all here because of Mr. Allen's show today," Gyoro Gyoro's tone was more serious than ever, "but because some coincidences occurred when we were acting according to plan, coincidences so striking that one can't help but be suspicious."
Its giant eyeball turned to the executives: "Our sub-teams' routes and times of action were top secret, yet they were almost simultaneously ambushed precisely by the Hero Association's elite forces, suffering heavy losses, almost total annihilation."
"And at the same time..."
The screen switched to the stadium, where Allen was engaging ten powerful heroes with absolute strength, even guiding and honing their skills.
"Mr. Allen was alone in the stadium, attracting all eyes and the highest-tier combat power. His performance was impeccable, even far exceeding our estimated strength. But..."
Gyoro Gyoro paused, letting the oppressive silence linger for a moment.
"But, when all of this is put together, it looks too much like a carefully planned performance and cover-up. How could the Hero Association know in advance? Why did our operations suffer devastating blows precisely when he was attracting all attention? Is this really a coincidence?"
Black Sperm's many small heads stopped their playful expressions, converging into a slightly more serious one: "Oh my, oh my, that does sound very interesting."
"You mean, our powerful new companion might be an undercover agent sent by the Hero Association? Or, he has his own agenda, and both we and the Association have been manipulated by him?"
"Impossible!" Gouketsu's deep voice rang out. He had just arrived, his massive body blocking a passage entrance, his sole remaining eye sweeping the room. "Allen's power is terrifying. If he wanted to harm the Association, why would he need such trouble?" His tone carried an unquestionable firmness, even a subtle hint of protectiveness.
"Allen also stayed behind to cover my retreat just now."
Psykos, through Gyoro Gyoro, keenly caught the unusual respect and protectiveness in Gouketsu's tone, deepening her suspicions, but she didn't immediately expose it, merely attributing it to Gouketsu's admiration for Allen's power.
"Gouketsu, you were just with him," Gyoro Gyoro turned to him, "What did you find?"
Gouketsu was silent for a moment, seemingly recalling: "Allen is very strong, unfathomable."
"But he seemed dissatisfied with my support, considering it unnecessary. Other than that, there was nothing unusual." He concealed the true details of drinking the blood and being forced to pledge allegiance, feeling it was a betrayal to Lord Allen, instinctively choosing to simplify.
"Oh? Is that all?" Gyoro Gyoro's eyeball rotated slightly. "Before you arrived, he fought against many heroes alone. It seemed intense, but he wasn't truly trying to kill them, even offering guidance on many occasions."
"After you arrived, the plan was exposed, yet he was able to escape easily. This makes me wonder if he had already anticipated the plan would fail, or even, if the plan's failure was part of his objective?"
"Are you questioning Allen's loyalty?" Gouketsu's voice deepened, carrying a hint of threat. His newly acquired power surged within him, making him more aggressive than before.
"I am merely posing a possibility, Gouketsu," Gyoro Gyoro responded without backing down. "The Association's ambush is a fact, our losses are a fact, and Allen, this powerful new addition, is the biggest variable. We must figure out whether he is an ally or a blade that will first stab us."
Ugly President snorted coldly: "If you ask me, why not just test him? Find an opportunity, everyone go at him together, and see whose side he's really on!"
Black Sperm sneered: "What a clever idea, President. You go test the kind of power he displayed at the stadium today? We don't want to collect your corpse, if there even is one."
Gums made a muffled gurgling sound, seemingly also expressing disagreement.
"Woof woof!" A black-furred, fanged dog, Rover, barked twice.
Gyoro Gyoro interrupted the potential argument: "Direct confrontation is the most foolish choice. What we need is probing and observation."
Its giant eyeball shimmered with a cold light.
Allen's figure moved like a phantom through the intricate underground passages of Z-City.
He did not deliberately conceal his aura; the blue and red interwoven patterns beneath his skin flickered in the dim light, emitting a heart-pounding energy fluctuation.
The low-level Monster along the way, sensing this pressure, cowered and retreated to the sides of the passage, not daring to look directly.
Several Wolf-level Monster who were previously brawling even collapsed directly to the ground, only daring to breathe after Allen had passed.
Soon, he arrived at the entrance to the Monster Association's main control room.
An archway naturally formed by giant rocks.
Muffled discussions and a mixed, powerful aura emanated from within the door.
Allen did not hesitate for a moment and walked straight in.
Inside the control room, the atmosphere was at its most tense.
Gyoro Gyoro's giant eyeball rotated on the central screen, its short limbs uneasily crossed.
Ugly President patted his belly, his small eyes darting around, Gums silently opened and closed his enormous mouth, Black Sperm split into dozens of small heads, teasingly surveying the newly arrived Gouketsu, and Rover lay in the corner, emitting a low whimper.
The moment Allen stepped in, all sounds ceased abruptly.
Eyes of various shapes and forms focused on him in unison, with wariness, suspicion, reverence, and undisguised hostility.
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