Just as the two were about to enter, a jarring ringtone blared.
King glanced down; it was the Hero Association again.
Damn it, why does the Hero Association always call at the worst possible moment? Is this some kind of cosmic law?
The moment the call connected, Sitch's anxious voice came through.
"Mr. KING, I'm terribly sorry. I know you've only just resolved the Dragon-level Disaster, but do you have a moment? Could you please come to Hero Association HQ?"
King's gaze sharpened; he rarely saw Sitch this rattled. And in the original story, after the Giant was dealt with, there should've been a calm stretch.
Could another major disaster have appeared? A butterfly effect caused by my transmigration?
To be safe, King asked,
"What happened?"
Sounds of smashing came through the receiver; Sitch sounded tormented and guilty.
"Tornado's causing another scene. She heard you took down another Dragon-level Disaster and wants a rematch. She'll keep wrecking the place until you agree."
King: "..."
This legal-loli really is a problem child—absolutely relentless.
When he fought Tornado last time, he'd crushed her; from the start, she couldn't contend with him at all.
Any normal person would sense that gap and give up.
But the supremely arrogant Tornado was no normal person; after being one-shot, she came back for more.
King had no intention of accepting; he didn't have time to indulge her childish games.
"Sorry, I'm tied up preparing to wipe out the Evolution House with Saitama."
"If you're busy, we'll try to calm her—Wait, what?! You're with S-Class Rank 17 Caped Baldy eradicating the Evolution House?"
Sitch's eyes bulged; the name Evolution House was no stranger to him.
A rogue scientist's pet organization—the Hero Association had always found it troublesome, but they were too busy to handle it immediately.
Compared with the man-eating monsters nearby, Evolution House had stayed quiet under constant surveillance.
He didn't know their numbers, but if the Strongest Man on Earth was personally acting, they couldn't be underestimated.
After the call ended, Sitch was filled with emotion.
The Association now had 17 S-Class Heroes, each eccentric and beyond control.
If every S-Class were like Mr. KING, devoted to slaying monsters and evil, how perfect it would be.
The crash of more objects yanked Sitch back to reality.
"Hey, Sitch! Where's that damned Scarface? I slipped up last time—tell him to fight me again!"
Sitch scratched his white hair, looking at the little loli hovering above the control room, suddenly feeling the huge gap.
The difference was just too big.
"Um, Miss Tornado, Mr. KING has urgent business and can't come. Please rest; your injuries haven't healed."
"Hah?!"
An angry shout; Tornado grew even more irritated.
Her delicate face blazed with fury, pale-green Psychokinesis swirling around her.
"That scar-faced jerk refuses my duel over something trivial? Like hell I accept!"
Yet she wasn't stupid; after their last fight, she'd sensed how vast the chasm between her and King truly was.
Self-proclaimed top Psychokinesis user, second only to Blast in the Association—she'd tasted her first crushing defeat.
She'd pushed herself to the brink, draining her mind to force her powers, yet still couldn't budge that man.
After that battle, Tornado had remained unconscious for two full days.
Upon waking, she heard KING had handled a major Dragon-level Disaster and felt the sky collapse.
Such catastrophes had always been her duty, now snatched by that scar-face!
Pride, self-esteem, and fury at her role being usurped drove her back to the Association, demanding a rematch.
"That hateful Scarface! Pesky minnow! Unsorted trash! I'm furious!"
Hearing the tirade, Sitch's eyelid twitched as he tried to placate the volatile little loli.
If Mr. KING heard such insults, the consequences would be unimaginable.
He had to calm Tornado, at least stabilize her mood…
In the dim tunnel, lamps lined the walls, offering faint light.
King and Saitama strolled leisurely, as though sightseeing.
Both possessed strength to crush every creature here; power granted them unhurried confidence.
Staring down the seemingly endless passage, King rubbed his chin and hatched a devilish idea.
"Saitama, if I flood this tunnel with an energy Blast, do you think the whole thing will collapse?"
Saitama blinked, pondered for a second, then gave a thumbs-up.
"Sounds good—want to try?"
"Deal."
King, ever the pragmatist, extended a finger. Mental power surged as ambient energy and his own strength converged at the tip.
A golden orb large enough to fill the tunnel rapidly formed and shot forward with devastating force.
At the same moment, a massive humanoid creature burst through the lab door, clutching the blood-covered Dr. Genus, and charged cackling into the tunnel.
Just dozens of meters in, insect danger-sense screamed across its body.
...
(End of Chapter)
[Throw some stones]