Two days later, on a clear afternoon.
The sunlight in Z-City, carrying a hint of lazy warmth, streamed through the apartment's French windows and onto the floor.
Bang Gu and Bomb, the two Martial Arts Grandmasters, were not in a hurry to leave.
Although they had not suffered fatal injuries in the battle against Elder Centipede, their aging bodies had been greatly depleted and needed time to rest and recuperate.
At this moment, the two old men were sitting cross-legged on the living room floor, recuperating.
Genos, on the other hand, had returned to the laboratory with Dr. Kuseno early in the morning.
In the doctor's words, Genos had touched upon the 'resonance' realm during this battle.
He had to undergo a comprehensive data analysis and physical examination immediately, so that future upgrades could be targeted.
Blizzard also returned to the Blizzard Group's base with a wealth of insights and motivation, preparing to carry out a thorough transformation of it.
However, the apartment's owner, Saitama, was a completely different sight at this moment.
He had changed into his iconic yellow jumpsuit and white cape early on, and was pacing back and forth in the living room with great energy.
His shiny bald head reflected dazzling light in the morning sun, almost usable as a mirror.
He was also muttering to himself, his expression sometimes serious, sometimes ecstatic, completely immersed in his own world.
"Hmm... 'I am a hero, One-Punch Man'. No, too ordinary."
"'Get out of my way, I am One-Punch Man!'... Feels a bit like a villain."
"'Tremble, evil, before One-Punch Man!'... Hmm, this one seems pretty good."
As he mumbled, he struck various poses he deemed handsome in front of the mirror, his shiny bald head reflecting dazzling light in the morning sun.
The title "One-Punch Man," proposed by Blizzard last night and passed unanimously, clearly satisfied him to the extreme.
Bang Gu slowly opened his eyes and looked at Saitama, who was jumping around like a monkey, a helpless smile appearing on his aged face.
He exchanged glances with his older brother beside him, and Bomb also smiled and shook his head, his eyes filled with admiration for the innocent heart of this young strong man.
"Saitama-kun," Bang Gu sat up straight, his calm aura quietly dissipating, and he asked gently.
"Looking at you like this, are you planning to go to the Hero Association today to change that 'Caped Baldy' name?"
"Of course I am, old man!" Saitama stopped abruptly with a "snap" and clenched his fist forcefully.
"I don't want to hear that rotten name 'Caped Baldy' for another day!"
Just then, there was a gentle knock on the apartment door.
"Come in, it's unlocked," Saitama called out casually.
The door opened, and Lin Mo, wearing a casual jacket and a baseball cap, walked in.
He had gone out early in the morning.
After all, Bang Gu and Bomb were guests, and they had just gone through a major battle; it was a time for them to recover their strength, so he couldn't let them go hungry.
Well, he had originally wanted to ask Saitama to go, but he couldn't wake him up no matter what... like a pig.
"KING, you're here!" Saitama's eyes lit up when he saw him, "Let's go, let's go, we're heading to the Hero Association right now!"
"Good morning, Master Bang Gu, Master Bomb."
Lin Mo ignored the impatient Saitama, and instead politely bowed to the two old men to greet them.
Then, he placed the large and small bags he was carrying on the coffee table in the living room, and the aroma of steamed buns and soy milk instantly filled the air.
"I didn't know your preferences, so I bought a bit of everything: there's light porridge and steamed buns, and also bread and milk."
Only then did he turn his head to Saitama, who was urging him from behind, and said, "Let's eat first, it won't take much time."
Bang Gu looked at the dazzling array of breakfast on the table, and his heart held a few more praises for Lin Mo's thoughtfulness and steadiness.
He smiled and didn't stand on ceremony: "Haha, thank you, KING-san, we just need to replenish some energy."
Saying that, he picked up a steaming meat bun and began to eat it in small bites.
Saitama's gaze was also drawn to the table full of breakfast, and his stomach uncooperatively rumbled.
He scratched his bald head and laughed, "Alright, you're right, I'll have the strength to change my name after I fill my stomach!"
...After a hearty breakfast, Lin Mo skillfully cleaned up the trash.
"Old man, then we'll be going," Saitama said while putting on his shoes at the entrance, not forgetting to instruct them.
"You two rest here in peace. For lunch, there's udon noodles I bought yesterday in the fridge, and lots of ingredients too!"
"Hehe, go, be careful on the way," Bang Gu said with a smile, waving his hand, "And please say hello to Mr. Sitch of the Association for us."
After bidding farewell to the two old men, Saitama and Lin Mo walked out of the apartment building side by side.
Leaving the uninhabited area of Z-City, the streets gradually became bustling with people, full of life.
On both sides of the wide street, green trees provided shade, and sunlight filtered through the gaps in the leaves, casting dappled shadows on the sidewalk.
Children chased and played in the park, while adults leisurely browsed shops; everything seemed so peaceful and tranquil.
"One-Punch Man... One-Punch Man..."
Saitama walked down the road, still immersed in the joy brought by his new name.
He clasped his hands behind his head, his steps light, and even hummed an out-of-tune, self-made "One-Punch Man" theme song.
The lyrics were simple and direct, essentially something like "One punch from me, Monster flies, world peace."
Lin Mo walked beside him, hands in his pockets, appearing calm and composed.
He looked at Saitama's guilelessly happy expression, and the corners of his mouth couldn't help but curl up slightly.
As the two passed through several bustling blocks and were about to head to the subway station, a sharp, piercing alarm and the terrified screams of the crowd instantly shattered the peaceful atmosphere.
"Stop! Don't move! Hand over all the money!"
Several masked men with firearms were rushing out of a bank.
They pointed their guns at several bank employees who had collapsed on the ground, roughly throwing bags of cash into a minivan parked by the roadside.
It was a bank robbery.
Saitama's steps halted, and the excited expression on his face instantly faded, replaced by a slightly bored indifference.
"Sigh... why are there more and more bad guys lately? Can't I just go and change my name in peace?"
He let out a soft sigh and flexed his wrist, seemingly ready to end this farce.
Lin Mo also stopped, his gaze calmly sweeping over the scene.
His heart had already begun to emit a violent "thump-thump-thump" roar—the Emperor Engine had automatically activated.
The surrounding air seemed to become heavy due to this invisible pressure, and the robbers even shivered subconsciously.