Sitch's fingers tapped faster on the table, and he cautiously observed Mr. Muzan: "You mean you are willing to fill the power vacuum left by Allen's departure?" He deliberately avoided using more negative terms.
"You could say that." Mr. Muzan nodded elegantly, his crimson eyes showing no emotion. "We possess sufficient power and are willing to act under the association's supervision. After all, maintaining order benefits us as well."
Child Emperor pushed up his glasses, his young face wearing a seriousness unbefitting his age: "Supervision? To what extent are you willing to be supervised? Regular reports? Restrictions on actions? Energy monitoring?"
Kokushibou's six eyes rotated slightly, and his deep voice rumbled: "Reasonable supervision is acceptable, but we are not prisoners."
Akaza stood behind Mr. Muzan with his arms crossed, adding: "As long as it doesn't interfere with us carrying out our missions."
Tatsumaki floated in the corner of the room, her green eyes scrutinizing Muzan and his demons.
She knew Allen's plan and would naturally assist. She feigned impatience and said, "Easy to say, but who knows what you're plotting behind our backs."
Sitch felt much relieved seeing Tatsumaki playing the contrarian.
It's stable.
Muzan and his demons are fine!
Mr. Muzan looked at Tatsumaki and bowed slightly: "Miss Tatsumaki's caution is reasonable. Time will prove our sincerity." His attitude was impeccable.
Bang stroked his beard, a thoughtful glint in his aged eyes: "Since you have come forward voluntarily, you must have made preparations. The association indeed needs to strengthen its forces, but the specific form of cooperation still requires detailed discussion."
Seeing that the S-Class Heroes seemed not to object, Sitch felt a little relieved. He cleared his throat: "How about this, Mr. Muzan, please have your group rest at the headquarters' assigned lodging. We will draft a cooperation proposal as soon as possible, including scope of authority, responsibilities, and supervisory measures."
Mr. Muzan rose elegantly: "Of course, we look forward to the association's proposal." He turned to his demons, "Let's go."
After Muzan and his demons left, the conference hall once again fell into discussion.
"I think they're fine!" Metal Bat was the first to state his position. "During the last disaster in City W, that guy named Akaza saved an entire building full of people."
Tanktop Master nodded steadily: "I agree to give them a chance. The current situation requires uniting all available forces."
Atomic Samurai remained skeptical: "They are not of our kind; their hearts must be different. Their power is too strange; I don't trust them."
"And wanted criminals are trustworthy?" Tatsumaki pointed, intentionally or not, at Garou and Sonic, who hadn't made a sound in the conference room.
This remark was like a piece of ice thrown into boiling oil, instantly solidifying the atmosphere in the conference room again.
Garou's eyes under his silver hair suddenly lifted, a fierce glint flashing, and his mouth curved into a dangerous smirk: "Shorty, looking for trouble?"
Although Sonic still had his arms crossed, his gaze had become sharp as a blade, and his body leaned slightly forward, entering a stance ready to attack at any moment.
Sitch's cold sweat instantly broke out. Looking at the increasingly difficult-to-manage crowd, his intention to cooperate with Muzan and his demons grew stronger.
Obedient and capable subordinates, if they could be used by the association's high command, could also suppress the arrogant attitudes of these S-Class Heroes.
But the immediate priority was to prevent conflict. Sitch hurriedly stood up, pressing his hands down in the air: "Everyone! Please calm down! We are currently discussing cooperation with Muzan and his demons, do not change the subject!"
Sitch's voice echoed in the conference room, carrying a hint of imperceptible fatigue and urgency.
He scanned the S-Class Heroes, whose expressions varied, his gaze lingering especially on Garou and Sonic for a moment, fearing these two unstable elements would ignite the situation again.
"Regarding cooperation with Muzan and his demons, we need a more cautious evaluation." Sitch tried to keep his tone calm. "Their voluntary surrender was indeed unexpected, but as Child Emperor said, necessary supervision and restrictive clauses are indispensable."
Tanktop Master nodded in agreement, "Their performance in multiple disasters is evident to all. With Allen's departure, the association is facing pressure, and an extra force is always good."
At the mention of Allen, the atmosphere in the conference room subtly grew heavier.
Genos stepped forward, his golden mechanical eyes sweeping across the room, his voice firm: "Senior Allen's choice had his reasons, and Muzan and his demons' actions so far have shown no malice. I believe that giving them a chance under strict supervision is reasonable."
Saitama nodded in agreement from the side: "Yeah, they don't look like bad guys." He scratched his bald head, seemingly finding the meeting too long, and yawned a little boredly.
Tatsumaki floated in the air, her green curly hair moving without a breeze. She listened to the arguments, but in her mind, she was thinking about that idiot Allen's plan.
She knew that Mr. Muzan and his demons were pawns Allen had arranged to gather information on the association's movements from within and to support his actions when necessary.
This feeling of everyone else being kept in the dark, with only her and a few others knowing the truth, made her somewhat annoyed, but more so, it was a sense of helplessness at having to cooperate in secret.
She pouted, deliberately saying in an impatient tone, "What's all the fuss about! If you're going to cooperate, set the rules quickly; if not, tell them to scram! Wasting time!"
Her words seemingly opposed, but in reality, were pushing the process forward, consistent with her usual irritable persona, and wouldn't arouse Sitch's suspicion.
Sitch indeed breathed a sigh of relief. Tatsumaki's opposition was within his expectations and made him feel it was normal.
He cleared his throat: "In that case, I will have the General Staff draft a detailed cooperation and supervision agreement as soon as possible. Before the agreement is reached, Mr. Muzan and his subordinates will be temporarily housed in a specific area of the headquarters. Their activities will be subject to certain restrictions, and I also hope that all heroes will remain observant."
He said the last sentence looking at all the S-Class Heroes, especially Atomic Samurai and Flash.
Atomic Samurai stood with his arms crossed, saying nothing, while Flash nodded slightly, tacitly agreeing.
"Then that's settled." Bang slowly stood up, stroking his beard. "I'm getting old, and my back aches from sitting too long. Since we have a preliminary decision, I'll head back first." As he passed Sitch, his aged gaze seemed to glance at him inadvertently, carrying a hint of deeper meaning.
Sitch quickly nodded: "Thank you for your hard work, Mr. Bang."
The meeting was temporarily adjourned, and the heroes left the conference room one after another, with various expressions.
Garou scoffed, hands in his pockets, and swaggered out first, completely disregarding Sitch and the association. Sonic's figure flickered and instantly vanished.
Tatsumaki snorted coldly, a green light flashed, and she also left directly.
Metal Bat, carrying his bat, walked over to Genos and Saitama: "Hey, Saitama, next time, call that kid Allen to play games together! See what he's been up to lately, so mysterious!"
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