Chapter 121: 9-1 Odds
Except for Aokiji who had achieved what he needed, the others formed teams to spar with each other.
Metal Knight also participated a few times; the firepower reserves and energy within the unit were mostly depleted.
Superalloy Darkshine's defense was also broken twice in a single day, and his opponents were Saitama and Bang. (In the remake, Superalloy Darkshine said he wasn't injured during the spar with Bang, but in the original version, it said he didn't suffer major damage.)
Fortunately, after psychological counseling, Superalloy Darkshine was also trying to change his mindset, so it wouldn't collapse.
After the mutual sparring sessions ended.
Aokiji unceremoniously used his dear colleagues to familiarize himself with his abilities.
"Stinky Prison."
"Puff"
Puri-Puri Prisoner disappeared.
"Zenko's school."
"Puff"
Metal Bat disappeared.
Every time Aokiji named a location and confirmed the destination with the other party, he would send them flying instantly with a slap of his hand.
"The Dojo, right?" Aokiji confirmed with Bang.
Bang nodded with a hint of anticipation and curiosity, waiting to experience this miraculous movement technique.
"Puff"
A large bear-paw bubble enveloped Bang and flew at ultra-high speed toward Z City.
"Superalloy Darkshine, where are you going?"
"To City M," Superalloy Darkshine said after thinking. "My muscles need to relax for a while. It just so happens that there's a sports event in City M these next few days that invited me as a guest commentator. I'll go participate and take a break."
Aokiji had already traveled through all twenty-six large lettered cities. Thinking of a suitable landing spot in City M, he slapped Superalloy Darkshine away.
Needless to say for Saitama, his destination was naturally the supermarket for the special sale day.
Finally, only Metal Knight remained.
"Dr. Bofoi, which city should I send this unit to?"
"Can it go directly to my Research Institute?"
Aokiji stared at the red dot on Metal Knight's face.
His gaze seemed to pass through the camera, across the long distance of signal transmission, scrutinizing Dr. Bofoi on the other end.
"Still testing the scope of my abilities? Do you lack trust in others that much?"
"...Trust is a luxury, flashy but impractical," Bofoi's tone was indifferent and rational. "Furthermore, although your mistake just now was rectified, it has already proven one thing."
"For an extremely powerful individual like you, whether you are a hero or a disaster is just a matter of a single thought."
"The possibility that you could be turned or controlled by the enemy cannot be ruled out. Mastering intelligence and having countermeasures are necessary."
"Are you Batman or something?"
"Preparing a specialized suit for every member, right?"
"What about yourself, Dr. Bofoi? The technological weaponry you possess could also easily level a city several times over."
Bofoi didn't answer immediately.
He seemed to be making a judgment.
Finally, his voice came through Metal Knight:
"Regarding my countermeasure, it is [Isamu]."
Child Emperor's real name.
An elementary school student only seven years old.
"Human progress is like this; successors step on the stairs laid by their predecessors. Isamu still has childish innocence due to his age, but I will not deny his talent."
"Sooner or later, he will surpass me."
"He is the countermeasure against 'Bofoi' that I have Trained."
Aokiji was a bit surprised that he would be so honest: "...If that kid heard that, he'd probably be floating in the clouds."
Metal Knight nodded slowly: "That's why I've never mentioned it to him."
"Fine, let's call it an exchange of information," Aokiji said, revealing a bit of intelligence. "For long-distance teleportation without a line of sight, I can only choose places I have been to before."
"So that's how it is. An ability of considerable value."
Bofoi wanted to continue asking about the previous red bubble.
Aokiji didn't intend to reveal all of his intelligence.
Show one generation, hide one generation, develop one generation.
This was the habit he brought from his hometown.
After a few more words of back-and-forth, he slapped Metal Knight away to his chosen city.
On the vast wasteland, he was now the only one left.
"A warrior of liberation who brings laughter and freedom to others..."
Aokiji looked at the newly unlocked progress bar.
He began to wonder if there were any loopholes or bugs he could exploit.
After a while, the Paw-Paw Fruit activated, sending him flying at ultra-high speed.
——————
——————
Inside the villa district base.
Psykos was under immense pressure!
She forced herself to maintain a proper expression and met the intruder's gaze.
A small, youthful green-haired loli floated in mid-air, keeping her height just slightly above Psykos's head, staring dangerously at her with crossed arms and narrowed eyes.
"Are you saying... you were once Fubuki's classmate, managed some hobby club together, and are now Aokiji's secretary?"
"It's the Hero Associations psychic research group," Psykos instinctively adjusted her glasses, using the small gesture to hide her nervousness.
"Lady Tatsumaki, I met you a few times in the past when I was with President Fubuki."
"I never remember small fry."
Tatsumaki slightly tilted her head up to scrutinize Psykos.
To be precise, she was scrutinizing Psykos's voluptuous figure.
An inexplicable irritation rose from within.
The look she gave Psykos became increasingly dangerous.
"Hiring such a bloated sow as a secretary, what is that pervert Aokiji trying to do?!"
"I just came to check the device Fubuki is using, and incidentally see... No! I just came to check the device!"
Psykos felt uneasy under Tatsumaki's silent scrutiny.
She used to be full of confidence in her own Psychic Powers.
Believing that with the enhancement of drugs she developed and the techniques she honed, she could even defeat the "strongest Esper in history".
But Aokiji had warned her like this:
"You and Tatsumaki are at 9-1 odds."
"Make her laugh once every 9 seconds."
A Tatsumaki at full power, especially one who had undergone Aokiji's training, noticed her overlooked weaknesses, and gradually overcame them.
If she really went all out against Psykos, it wouldn't be much harder than dealing with a Wolf-level Monster.
Tatsumaki clicked her tongue in annoyance:
"Do you and Aokiji have any..."
She paused.
"Damn it! I can't ask it!!"
"This woman has only been here for a few days; if I press her on these things, won't it look like I care about that bastard?!"
"Ultimately, it's that bastard Aokiji's fault!"
"I only stayed away for a few days, and now there's a bloated sow who looks like a bad woman!"
Psykos understood the unspoken second half of Tatsumaki's sentence.
But she could only pretend not to understand.
Just then, Psykos received a message.
She checked it immediately, trying to temporarily escape the current tense atmosphere.
Seeing that the message was from Aokiji, her heart fluttered again.
After reading the specific content of the message, she swallowed hard.
"Um... Lady Tatsumaki, Lord Aokiji has assigned me some work to complete now. Why don't you wait here..."
"I'm going too!" Tatsumaki said firmly and beyond question.
She wanted to see what kind of work Aokiji had assigned to this stray cat who appeared while she was away!
Psykos's expression was stiff and troubled.
The work assigned to her was naturally related to the Monster Association; how could she possibly take Tatsumaki along!
She could only report the situation back to Aokiji.
"Please wait a moment, I will ask Lord Aokiji for instructions."
"Humph! No matter what, I'm definitely going!"
"Uh, Lord Aokiji replied... he said for you to check your messages," Psykos said hesitantly.
Could a single message make Tatsumaki settle down? Psykos was unsure.
The irritable and stubborn personality of the "strongest Esper in history" was well known to anyone with even a slight understanding of her.
"A message?" Tatsumaki frowned in annoyance, using her Psychic Power to make the phone float out from a hidden pocket in her form-fitting dress.
It's probably some explanation.
If that bastard Aokiji thinks he can dismiss her ideas like this, he's being too naive... Boom—
Her Psychic Power erupted uncontrollably.
Tatsumaki's face instantly turned bright red. She looked at Psykos in a panic to confirm she couldn't see the content on the phone, then immediately grabbed the phone, turned it off, and hid it.
"Get out—!"
She loudly drove Psykos away.
In her heart, she couldn't stop cursing in shame and annoyance.
"Perverted bastard...! I'll definitely give him a piece of my mind later!!"