Tanktop Master studied the ashes on the ground, then glanced at Tornado's strange reaction. After a moment, he chose to remain silent.
Tornado gently lifted Sol with her psychokinesis, green energy wrapping around his battered body. "I'm taking him to the Hero Association medical center. The rest of you keep searching for that monster."
"Wait, I'll go with you." Silver Fang stepped forward. "Sol is my disciple."
Tornado pressed her lips together, clearly annoyed. After a short pause, she nodded. "Do whatever you want."
The two of them left the alley quickly, leaving Metal Bat and Tanktop Master staring at each other.
"That guy is definitely hiding something," Metal Bat muttered, scratching his head.
Tanktop Master let out a quiet sigh. "Let's just do what she said for now. We'll ask Sol when he wakes up."
---
Inside the Hero Association medical center, Sol was placed in one of the highest-grade treatment pods. Doctors moved around him quickly, checking his condition.
"Strange," the attending doctor said, pushing up his glasses. "His injuries are severe, but his recovery speed is unusually slow. That doesn't match his normal physical condition at all."
Tornado floated nearby with her arms crossed, her green eyes fixed on Sol. "How long until he wakes up?"
The doctor wiped sweat from his forehead. "At this rate, it will take at least seventy-two hours before he regains consciousness."
Tornado's curls trembled slightly. Without realizing it, her fingers tightened around the edge of her skirt. She stared at Sol's pale face inside the pod, the contents of the destroyed note replaying in her mind.
If Sol really had been injected with monster cells, the consequences would be impossible to predict. Even if they argued all the time, she still acknowledged his ability.
"Silver Fang," Tornado suddenly said, her voice quieter than usual. "You're old. Go home and rest. I'll stay here and watch him."
The fewer people who knew about the monster cells, the better. She had to send him away first.
Silver Fang paused while stroking his beard. "Are you sure about that?"
"Hmph. I just don't want the Association losing another S-Class hero, that's all." Tornado turned her face away. "It's not like I'm taking care of him or anything."
Silver Fang looked at her for a long moment, then nodded. "Alright. I'll leave him to you."
The door closed softly behind him. Tornado's shoulders finally relaxed.
She floated closer to the treatment pod. A faint trace of worry passed through her eyes. Pressing her fingers against the cold glass, she whispered quietly, "Stupid rookie. If you turn into a monster, I'll crush you myself."
Her psychokinesis carefully examined every part of Sol's body. Her expression slowly became more serious.
His cellular activity really was abnormally low. Worse still, a small, unfamiliar mass of energy was spreading slowly deep inside his abdomen.
"Were you really injected with monster cells?" Tornado muttered. Her fingers trembled slightly.
She quickly looked around. After confirming that no one was nearby, she used her power to seal the strange energy.
"No one can know," she whispered, biting her lower lip.
She had seen how hard Sol worked for the Association. When it came to investigating the armored monster, he had always been the most serious. It would be a waste for a hero like him to become an outcast just because of something like this.
But at the same time, she could not guarantee that he would not suddenly turn into a monster.
Maybe she should keep him at her own place instead.
---
Outside the treatment room, Silver Fang leaned against the wall, his old face full of concern. Metal Bat and Tanktop Master hurried over.
"How's the rookie?" Metal Bat asked, still holding his bat. Blood was still running from a cut on his face.
Silver Fang shook his head slowly. "Not very good. Tornado is watching him inside."
Tanktop Master frowned. "What exactly was written on that note the monster left? And why did she destroy it?"
Silver Fang's voice was low. "She must have seen something she didn't want anyone else to know."
Metal Bat ran his hand through his hair in frustration. "Tsk. I hate this kind of stuff. What exactly is that guy hiding?"
At that moment, the door suddenly opened. Tornado floated out, her face even paler than before.
"He's fine for now," she said, avoiding everyone's eyes. "I'm taking him back to my place."
"What?" the three of them said at the same time.
Tornado's curls began to flutter violently. "I said I'm taking him home. Are you deaf?"
Her voice wavered slightly. "Anyway, the Association's medical equipment isn't that great. Sol will recover on his own."
Silver Fang stepped forward. "Miss Tornado, Sol is my disciple. I should be the one taking care of him."
"Be quiet, old man!" Tornado snapped, a flash of panic appearing in her eyes. "I'm S-Class Rank Two. What I say goes."
Tanktop Master and Metal Bat exchanged glances. Something about her behavior was clearly strange, but this was not the time to argue with her.
"…Alright," Silver Fang finally said. "But please update me on his condition every day."
Tornado snorted softly, then turned around and floated back into the room. The heavy door closed again behind her.
---
Inside the treatment room, Tornado finally relaxed.
She floated to Sol's side and lifted him gently with her psychokinesis.
"Stupid rookie," she whispered, green energy wrapping around him again. "If you turn into a monster in my house, I'm throwing you straight out of the sky."
Moonlight slipped through the gap in the curtains, lighting her trembling fingers.
"This is such a hassle," she muttered quietly.
The lights in the room suddenly went out. Every machine twisted and broke under her power. Without making a sound, she lifted Sol and left the medical center through the emergency exit.
She did not want anyone to see this. Especially Silver Fang.
The night wind moved through the trees as she flew. Without thinking, she pulled Sol a little closer to her.
The moment she realized what she had done, she frowned.
"It's not like I'm worried about you," she said softly to the unconscious Sol. "I just can't let you suddenly turn into a monster at the Association."
High above the city, the wind made Sol's black combat suit move slightly. Tornado looked down and noticed the blood still on his face.
After hesitating for a moment, she gently wiped it away using her psychokinesis.
"That armored monster has a lot of nerve causing trouble right under my nose," she muttered coldly. "Next time we meet, I'm finishing it properly."
___
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