A-City, Hero Association Headquarters Lobby
Upon seeing Jordan and his companion arrive, staff immediately approached and guided them to the elevator leading to the upper-level conference room.
The interior of the headquarters building didn't yet show any fancy next-generation technology. For security reasons, all corridors and walls were reinforced with high-strength alloy armor plates. Even if you brought in a tank unit, it would take them at least a full day to breach the building's exterior defenses.
With that much time, S-Class heroes could have arrived from various cities long ago. The security measures were indeed top-notch.
"Finally! Some new people have arrived."
"It's Mr. 'Super Cop' and Mr. 'Silver Fang.'"
The large conference room contained an extended conference table equipped with 3D imaging equipment. At this moment, no one occupied the seats on either side, but two deep voices came from one side of the room.
The two men turned their gazes and saw two muscular figures with contrasting skin tones—one black, one white. They were carrying heavy fitness equipment like toys. "Super Alloy Darkshine" and "Tank Top Master," two muscle giants.
"Hello, everyone."
After exchanging pleasantries, Jordan and Bang learned that Super Alloy Darkshine had been so obsessed with weightlifting he'd hardly ever left the Hero Association headquarters building.
The researchers at headquarters had built a gravity chamber specifically for him to train in, in order to study Darkshine's physical body. He only needed to cooperate in conducting some physical experiments.
Such a favorable environment allowed Super Alloy Darkshine to remain stationed at headquarters since joining the Hero Association. His hero activities and ranking remained largely unchanged until he became an S-Class hero.
It remained stable at the bottom of C-Class.
By that calculation, Tank Top Master was the first S-Class hero to arrive.
Also a fitness enthusiast, he couldn't resist asking the staff to bring him some equipment and started training with Darkshine on the spot.
"Mr. 'Super Cop' has really well-trained muscles! Are you also a fighting hero?"
As a professional, Super Alloy Darkshine had extraordinary sensitivity to musculature. Seeing the golden ratio physique that Jordan's clothes couldn't hide, he couldn't help asking curiously.
Jordan took the special dumbbell—weighing 500 kilograms—from Darkshine and performed a set of standing dumbbell curls. "In public, I should be described as a esper hero, but I know a little about everything."
Darkshine looked surprised. "So that's how it is!"
Tank Top Master's gaze narrowed slightly. A sense of urgency inexplicably arose in his heart. As expected of a top-ranked hero. His strength in all aspects is indeed formidable.
"You flatter me, sir."
"Would Mr. Bang like to give it a try?"
"No, no. This old man's bones aren't as strong as you young people's. You play."
After a round of mutual flattery, the atmosphere in the meeting room was quite harmonious.
As time went on, other S-Class heroes arrived one after another.
Although they were colleagues in the same tier, most heroes were meeting for the first time. Those who didn't like socializing—such as Zombieman and Metal Bat—would simply nod as a greeting, then sit down in their seats.
Of course, there were also those who were the complete opposite, eager to join the makeshift fitness group as soon as they entered.
"Finally! I met the lovely men! Darkshine, I've been a loyal fan of yours ever since I saw your profile. You're even more attractive in person than in photos. Are those muscles, which are beyond imagination, even real?"
Feeling the heavy breath almost hitting his face at close range, Super Alloy Darkshine's powerful body—which surpassed metal—actually trembled.
"Um, Mr. Prisoner, please don't do this..."
"Huh? Was I too enthusiastic? Okay, I'll be more careful!"
You have absolutely no sense of boundaries!
The muscular men present all took a half step back.
Puri-Puri Prisoner immediately became the mood-maker upon arrival. Jordan gave a brief greeting, then teleported to his seat.
Couldn't see it clearly. Was that a spatial movement technique rather than pure speed?
As soon as Jordan sat down, a sharp gaze followed him like a shadow.
Looking up, he saw it belonged to a hero with distinctive bangs and a blue hair accessory, who'd already sat down across the long table.
Their eyes met—but were interrupted by a white shadow that swept through the air.
Upon closer inspection, it was Watchdog Man who'd just arrived. He leaped over the long table from the doorway and gracefully sat down.
Flashy Flash, who'd also noticed this scene, was slightly surprised.
Another capable hero. These guys don't seem so bad.
"Hello, Watchdog Man. It's been a while."
Upon seeing the hero he hadn't seen for several days, Jordan took the initiative to raise his hand in greeting.
Watchdog Man's usual expressionless face shifted. He seemed to recall their meeting in his hometown of Q-City. He immediately nodded and raised his paw. "Hello."
Jordan blinked.
Oh. So Watchdog Man can talk!
"Oh, quite a few people have come." The swordsman with a toothpick in his mouth and the green-haired girl floating in mid-air walked into the meeting one after the other. Their arrogant gazes swept around as if weighing the capacity of everyone present. "I just wonder how many of them are truly strong."
Atomic Samurai didn't lower his voice at all. Almost all the heroes present turned their gazes to him simultaneously.
Despite being surrounded by imposing figures, he remained unfazed, chuckling as he leisurely strolled into the venue.
"Hmph. Jordan, you've finally shown yourself." Tatsumaki's gaze swept around the crowd, quickly locking onto Jordan. She floated over the assembled heroes to hover above his head, crossed her arms, and her face was full of displeasure. "Shouldn't we settle our score?"
Jordan looked up.
I can see—wait, no, that's not the point.
The key question was: What kind of score are you trying to settle?
Just then, Sitch—covered in sweat—burst into the conference room at a speed beyond his physique. "Great! Everyone's here!"
In fact, he'd only rushed over from his office six floors below after learning that Tatsumaki had arrived.
Interrupted from her confrontation, Tatsumaki turned her head with textbook-perfect arrogance. Her petite body shifted sideways as she descended toward the seat next to Jordan.
As she landed, she saw Bang smile kindly at her. Her expression softened as if she were a child suddenly seeing an elder.
However, when she caught a glimpse of someone sitting in the seat that should have been hers, her good mood instantly plummeted again.
Jordan: I swear...
Just as he'd managed to stop Tatsumaki's antics at the last minute, Sitch realized his legs were getting weak from running.
However, he'd also participated in the final vote on the S-Class hero rankings. He could only suffer the consequences of his own actions.
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