"Found you, House of Evolution! You're the ones pulling the Monster Association's strings!"
A man vaulted down from a rooftop, eyes like knives as he fixed on the takoyaki shop bearing the House of Evolution's sign.
"Huh? A customer? Sorry—still setting up, please wait a bit~~"
A simple, apologetic voice drifted out from the stall.
Hands in the pockets of his trench coat, the man's face was all ice. "Hmph. Abandoning the old base and disguising yourselves as a takoyaki stand now? Don't insult me. Your scheme's already laid bare—I won't be fooled. I'm hero Zombie Man now, the man with the undying body. Test Subject No. 66—ring any bells?"
He drew a handgun and aimed at the shadow inside.
S-Class hero Zombie Man—one of the top ten.
Ever since the Monster Association disaster, he'd been tracking the mastermind alone. At last—paydirt.
House of Evolution.
The very place that had remodeled him, nearly killing him. He'd escaped and risen to the Association's upper ranks. Now he'd found them—and…
"Ah, you came to take down the House of Evolution? Sorry… it's already been destroyed."
The one manning the grill—Armored Gorilla—blinked his big eyes, sounding a bit dopey as he spoke.
"What…? Already destroyed?"
The words hit Zombie Man like lightning. Cold sweat broke out down his back.
All those years after escaping, he'd longed to crush this place. He'd searched and searched, and now that he'd found it…
"Yeah, got wrecked quite a while ago. Have some tea—I'll call Dr. Genus."
Armored Gorilla scratched his head and poured him a cup.
Zombie Man: "…"
Why… did this feel like he'd walked into an ordinary corner shop? Since when were the House of Evolution's "monsters" this… civil?
"You gave me a scare. I didn't expect the famous pro hero Zombie Man to be one of ours. No. 66—I remember you well. The only successful subject in our 'immortal body' line… who then wrecked the lab and escaped."
A calm voice came from the back as Dr. Genus walked out, not looking surprised to see him.
"That was more than a decade ago. I wondered when you'd come for revenge. I didn't expect you to return as a hero—you've changed."
"Then die!"
Zombie Man whipped out his axe and stepped in to cleave Genus's head from his shoulders.
He'd dreamed of this moment for years. Face to face, hatred boiled over.
"Hey now—isn't that Zombie Man? Genus, done for the day already?"
A bulky green figure emerged from within, arms full of folders and figures.
"Banner… S-Class hero Banner? Why are you here?"
Zombie Man froze.
"I've always been here. Dr. Genus is my friend. You aren't planning to attack him… are you?"
Banner pushed up his glasses and strolled forward. The pressure rolling off him made it hard to breathe.
"House of Evolution… with pro heroes?"
Zombie Man's worldview creaked.
"Dr. Genus, can we clock in?"
"Evening, everyone!"
"Good evening, big bro Mumen Rider!"
The tiny shop suddenly filled with life as a bunch of C- and D-class heroes filed in, smiling from ear to ear.
"Mumen Rider… you?"
Zombie Man stared. He'd heard of the C-class stalwart—Mumen Rider had once upset the A-class hero Snek and made waves. But… here? And all these C- and D-class heroes too?
"Oh wow, S-Class Zombie Man! Amazing to meet you!"
"So cool—S-Class!"
"But this is the new House of Evolution. If you've come to cause trouble, we'll stop you!"
The C- and D-class heroes spoke up one after another. They were here as security and would block any threat.
"What trick did you use to sway them? Mumen Rider, have you abandoned your justice?"
Zombie Man scowled. C and D might be weak, but they were still heroes. He refused to believe they'd willingly become bodyguards for "monsters."
"Me? I'm Dr. Genus's head of security. I protect the House of Evolution. Even if you're S-Class, if you attack this place, I'll stop you."
Mumen Rider's voice was steady, his eyes unwavering.
"…What?"
Even Zombie Man was thrown. Few in the Association had a will as iron as Mumen Rider's. And he'd chosen this?
"For the record, we've perfected the X-type gene serum and cultivated a number of strong pro heroes. If the Association needs our help, just say the word."
Dr. Genus smiled.
If Saitama hadn't recruited him, he'd be out on the street right now—no lab, no breakthroughs. With Banner's help, their biological research had skyrocketed, and the X-type gene agent was born: stronger, better, and—critically—without nasty side effects. Mumen Rider had already taken a dose; the results were excellent.
"You 'cultivated' strong heroes? Them?"
Zombie Man lowered his axe a fraction. Doubt gnawed at him, but he wasn't buying it. C and D were basically civilians with licenses. Even A and S were separated by a chasm. Sure, Mumen Rider had beaten Snek once, but at the end of the day Snek was just A-class.
Zombie Man was S-Class. Different league.
"They're stronger than you think. The X-agent blends serum efficacy with the Do-or-Die Virus, while pushing side effects to near zero."
"In simple terms… you might not beat Mumen Rider head-on very quickly."
Banner spoke mildly.
"Can't beat a C-class head-on?"
Zombie Man almost laughed.
"Let's test that."
He stepped—and exploded forward. Tables and chairs shattered as he launched straight at Mumen Rider.
(End of Chapter)
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