"So that's how it is… No wonder you had All Might drag me halfway across Japan during my vacation."
Best Jeanist raised a brow slightly as realization finally dawned on him.
"So the reason you specifically called me here…"
"…was because my Quirk happens to counter this criminal named Tsuki Sen'gen."
Now he finally understood why, despite already having All Might—the No. 1 Hero—participating in the operation, they still insisted on dragging in a support-oriented hero like himself.
Turns out—
they wanted him to be the one dealing with Tsuki Sen'gen, the dangerous criminal whose Quirk could manipulate the five senses.
Of course, understanding the reason didn't mean he wasn't annoyed.
Very annoyed.
Because in order to save time, All Might had literally grabbed him and sprinted across half the country through the air.
And not on the ground.
In the air.
Even now, just recalling that experience—
the hurricane-force wind blasting against his face hard enough to nearly peel his skin backward—
made his stomach churn violently again.
Best Jeanist was honestly beginning to suspect that after this experience, he might develop a lifelong fear of heights.
What made it even worse was that the moment they arrived—
All Might had immediately thrown him aside and vanished without a trace.
Leaving him alone on the ground, dizzy, nauseous, and barely capable of standing.
How could he not be angry?!
"Sorry! I'm really sorry!"
The moment he sensed the resentment in Best Jeanist's voice, All Might immediately apologized awkwardly while scratching the back of his head with a guilty smile.
Part of it was because he truly felt bad for interrupting Best Jeanist's rare vacation.
After all, professional heroes hardly got any time off to begin with.
And the moment Best Jeanist finally managed to take a break—
All Might had personally flown over and ruined it.
Even if Best Jeanist had ultimately agreed to participate in the mission himself, the fact remained that his vacation had still been destroyed.
So All Might genuinely did feel apologetic.
And the other reason…
was because of the absolutely inhuman way he had transported him.
After all—
grabbing someone and using them as airborne luggage while sprinting through the sky at absurd speeds…
then immediately abandoning them upon arrival…
was honestly a pretty horrible thing to do.
Anyone would be angry.
Even if there were unavoidable circumstances behind it.
But All Might was also helpless!
Carrying another person at full speed across nearly half of Japan had consumed an enormous amount of time.
His transformation limit had already been reaching its end.
And to avoid exposing the secret that he could only maintain hero form for a limited duration each day…
he had no choice but to flee immediately after arriving.
He didn't want to do it either!
But he had literally started deflating!
What else was he supposed to do?
He was desperate too!
"Best Jeanist, please don't blame All Might for this."
At that moment, Tsukauchi finally stepped in to rescue his friend.
"I was the one who specifically requested that he bring you back in that manner."
His tone became serious.
"Because I didn't want anyone to know you had already returned."
"Oh?"
Best Jeanist slowly lowered the hand covering his mouth.
His eyes narrowed slightly.
"You didn't want anyone knowing I was back…"
"You're trying to mislead Tsuki Sen'gen?"
"And the so-called 'trump card' mentioned during the news broadcast…"
"…that was also part of the deception?"
"Correct."
Tsukauchi nodded calmly before turning toward the heroes who still looked somewhat confused.
"Based on prior intelligence, Tsuki Sen'gen is an extremely cautious individual."
"Someone like him would definitely keep tabs on the locations of any heroes capable of countering his Quirk."
"That's why I deliberately had the media release information claiming the police had prepared a 'secret weapon' specifically to deal with him."
"And I intentionally included a three-day deadline."
The room quieted.
Tsukauchi raised three fingers.
"That would produce three possible outcomes."
"First…"
"He notices nothing."
"He continues casually wandering around the shopping mall alongside Muscular."
"Of course, that would be the ideal scenario."
"But considering his personality, the chances of that happening are extremely low."
One finger folded down.
"Second…"
"He hears about the police preparing a trump card and becomes wary."
"He investigates the locations of heroes capable of dealing with him…"
"…and discovers that none of them have moved."
"In that case, he'll likely conclude that the police are bluffing."
A second finger folded.
"Or…"
"He thinks one step further."
"He realizes that among the heroes capable of countering him…"
"…besides All Might…"
"…there's also you, Best Jeanist."
"And your vacation location is at least three days away from the city."
"In that case, he may suspect that the so-called three-day deadline was intentionally chosen to allow enough time for you to arrive."
"Meaning…"
"He'll subconsciously relax."
"He'll believe that before the trump card arrives, the police won't act rashly."
"Or at the very least…"
"He'll assume we're still in the preparation phase."
Tsukauchi adjusted his glasses.
Then a faint smile appeared on his face.
"But unfortunately for him…"
"No matter which conclusion he reaches…"
"…they're all traps."
The moment Tsuki Sen'gen confirms that the heroes capable of countering him aren't nearby—
even if he remains cautious—
he will still lower his guard slightly.
"And the instant that happens…"
Tsukauchi looked directly at Best Jeanist.
"…that will be your opportunity."
Best Jeanist fell silent for a moment.
Then—
the corners of his mouth lifted slightly.
"I see now."
His earlier irritation faded considerably.
Because from a tactical perspective…
this arrangement truly was elegant.
Using misinformation to shape the enemy's expectations.
Then exploiting those expectations to create an opening.
Very clever.
At the same time, several heroes in the room quietly exchanged glances.
One thought appeared in nearly all their minds simultaneously.
Tacticians really were terrifying.
These people genuinely played with human psychology like chess pieces.
Even the timing of the news broadcast had been weaponized.
And perhaps most frightening of all—
if Tsuki Sen'gen truly was as intelligent and cautious as described…
then the more he analyzed the situation…
the deeper he would sink into Tsukauchi's trap.
At that moment, Kamui Woods suddenly raised a hand.
"One question."
Tsukauchi looked over.
"What is it?"
Kamui Woods frowned slightly.
"What if Tsuki Sen'gen notices that Best Jeanist has already arrived in the city?"
The moment those words were spoken, the atmosphere tightened slightly again.
Because it was a valid concern.
No plan was perfect.
And if the enemy realized Best Jeanist had already returned ahead of schedule…
then much of the psychological setup would collapse instantly.
But unexpectedly—
Tsukauchi merely smiled calmly.
"That possibility exists."
"But the probability is low."
He adjusted his glasses again.
"Because from Tsuki Sen'gen's perspective, the cost of confirming that information personally is extremely dangerous."
"If he investigates too deeply…"
"He risks exposing himself instead."
"And based on his previous behavior…"
"He's not the type to take unnecessary risks."
A brief pause.
"Besides…"
His expression turned subtly strange.
"Even if he somehow discovers the truth…"
"…that doesn't actually change much."
Everyone blinked.
Tsukauchi calmly continued:
"Because by the time he realizes Best Jeanist has already arrived…"
"…we'll already be moving."
The room fell silent again.
Then several heroes subconsciously inhaled sharply.
Black-hearted.
Absolutely black-hearted.
At this point, many of them genuinely began feeling a little sympathetic toward Tsuki Sen'gen.
Getting targeted by someone like Tsukauchi…
was honestly unfortunate.
Even All Might couldn't help rubbing his forehead helplessly.
As expected.
When it came to setting traps and cornering people psychologically…
ordinary heroes simply couldn't compete with tacticians.
And Tsukauchi—
was one of the worst among them.
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