"I... can... do it!!"
Saitama, submerged beneath the crowd, spoke with unusually firm conviction through gaps in the mass of bodies.
What kind of incredible perseverance is this?
No wonder supermarket sale battles are so terrifying!
After glancing around, Jordan spotted a shop with tables and chairs set up in front. He lifted into the air, his voice radiating outward with psychic amplification.
"It's a pleasure to meet everyone in M-City! To thank you all for your enthusiasm, I'll be holding a fan meeting in front of Holy Cow Restaurant. You don't need to crowd here. If you want an autograph, just line up and find me there!"
With a resounding cheer, a massive number of fans followed Jordan through the sky. Order was restored at the scene.
After the crowd departed, a dusty, disheveled figure suddenly sat up from the ground.
"Finally... saved..."
Saitama picked up his shopping basket that had been knocked over and sprang to his feet with a practiced motion. His eyes burned with fierce determination.
"Now is not the time to rest! I must show the courage I have during training. Supermarket sale, here I come!"
A dark blur flashed past. Saitama, as if he'd mastered the Body Flicker Technique, disappeared without leaving even a scattered afterimage.
One minute later.
"Hahaha! I got his autograph!"
"I got my signature on my T-shirt with a snap of his fingers! That's so cool!"
"Is this how superheroes sign their names? I love it!"
"Eh? Has Lord Jordan already left?"
"When did that happen?! What a shame, I haven't gotten a photo yet!"
In a corner of the now sparsely populated pedestrian street, blue light flickered. Jordan's figure materialized out of thin air.
"Phew. Thank goodness I reacted quickly enough. Otherwise I wouldn't be able to escape today."
Just moments ago, he'd controlled his biomagnetic field to generate laser beams. With a technique he mentally dubbed "Ninja Art: Magnet Release—Laser Lithography Mass Signature Jutsu," he'd rapidly satisfied the fans' autograph requests. Then, while everyone was momentarily blinded by the laser light show, he'd teleported away.
If someone with a penchant for overly long technique names had been present, they'd probably have called it something like "Thunderous Roar Gale Sky Dance Flash Style One" before departing.
By the time everyone's vision cleared, the fan meeting had already ended.
They'd seen him, yet it felt like they hadn't.
The person was nowhere to be found. But being able to obtain an S-Class hero autograph—extremely rare on the market—was already cause for celebration.
This incident made Jordan realize his lack of anonymity in public spaces. Going out would be a problem from now on.
Although using superpowers to optically simulate another person's appearance would perfectly solve the issue, Jordan was a hero, not a wanted criminal.
It felt uncomfortable having to sneak around and hide his true appearance whenever he went out.
If only I could change my appearance instantly with a pair of black-rimmed glasses, just like Superman...
Looking up, a shop called "Murata Trendy Hat Specialty Store" came into view.
Upon entering, rows of wooden display shelves filled with hats of various styles greeted him. Some novel, some exaggerated—they seemed to suit Jordan's taste quite well.
"Yusuke, a customer has arrived! Come out and greet them!" An elderly woman wearing a monocle sat behind the counter beside a sewing machine, calling toward the back room.
She then greeted Jordan with a beaming smile, wrinkles crinkling together. "Young man, there's a sofa over there. Please sit down for a bit. My grandson will be out shortly. You can tell him if you need anything."
"Thank you." Jordan nodded, then a thought struck him. "Ma'am, do you accept custom orders for your hats?"
"Of course!" The old lady waved the fabric she was working on. "I sewed all the hats in the shop myself, one by one."
Jordan sat down on the customer sofa. After a while, a young voice emerged from the inner room.
A slender young man approached Jordan. "What would you like to drink, sir? We have coffee, black tea, green tea, chrysanthemum tea, and red wine."
"Mineral water is fine. Thank you."
The young man handed a bottle of mineral water to Jordan while holding a drawing board in his left hand. "Alright, tell me what kind of hat you want. My grandma is very skilled—she can turn any kind of idea into reality."
Jordan thought for a moment. "I want a baseball cap I can use every day. One that can cover my face a little."
"A baseball cap? Okay..."
As he spoke, the young man twirled his charcoal pencil. With a few fluid strokes, a three-dimensional baseball cap appeared on the drawing board.
"Does this general design work for you?"
"Yes, it looks excellent." Seeing the sketch materialize on paper, Jordan looked at the young man in surprise. "What amazing drawing skills! Are you a professional fashion designer?"
"No, my main profession is a manga artist." The young man smiled with modest pride, continuing to draw with his charcoal pencil. "Let's add some details next. Tell me what materials and features you want."
"Is that so?" Jordan considered his requirements. "The overall color scheme should be black, with some gold trim on the brim and edge. Add some gold-toned metal accessories as decoration on the front, plus a capital letter 'J'. It would be best if some hair could be exposed at the back of the hat—I have a lot of hair, and this design would feel much more comfortable. That's about it."
As Jordan described his vision, the young man's pen flew across the paper. In no time, a God of War-style baseball cap, customized exactly according to specifications, appeared on the sheet.
Additionally, the young man casually drew three-view projections showing the front, back, and side angles of the hat. The exquisite technique left Jordan in awe.
The young man smiled and turned the drawing board to hand it over. "Take a look. See if this baseball cap suits your taste. If there's anything you're not satisfied with, you can tell me."
Jordan examined it carefully. "Perfect. Let's make it exactly like this."
"Alright! Grandma, here's some work!"
The young man tore off the drawing paper and handed it to the old lady behind the counter. Jordan asked, "Approximately how many days until I can pick it up?"
"A few days? Not at all." The young man laughed. "You can get your hat just by sitting in the shop for a while. Call me anytime if you need anything."
Jordan was somewhat surprised.
About half an hour passed.
A tall, muscular figure stepped out of the store. The brim of his hat cast a shadow that obscured his face. A tuft of black hair peeked out from behind, seemingly blending seamlessly with the hat at first glance.
It has that feel.
Jordan was extremely satisfied with the baseball cap he'd unexpectedly acquired.
Wearing it completely changed a person's aura. He looked cold and aloof, with an air that said "strangers should not approach."
Most importantly, his face—now obscured from direct view—seemed filled with mystery and invincibility.
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