Sitch remained silent for a moment, his plump fingers tapping rhythmically on the desktop.
"Everyone, I understand your concerns," he began slowly, his large-nosed face revealing a hint of authoritative gravitas, his tone firm. "Currently, the Monster disaster threat faced by various cities is increasing daily, and the Hero Association's combat power distribution is often stretched thin. Humanity… needs more Heroes."
"We cannot abandon a valuable opportunity to recruit a top-tier combatant just because of potential resistance."
"As for Sweet Mask…"
He paused, his gaze sweeping over everyone. "I will personally communicate with him and seek his opinion."
"I believe that with Mask-kun's dedication to the Hero cause, he will make the correct judgment."
The other executives nodded in agreement.
Although Sweet Mask was strict, he had always been generous with praise for true strong individuals and righteous deeds.
As the head of the Disaster Countermeasures Department, Sitch held significant influence in Hero recruitment and disaster response.
His decision essentially set the tone for this matter.
"Then, the proposal to specially recruit the mysterious strong individual Han Sen as an S-Class Hero has been initially approved. Subsequent contact and evaluation work will commence immediately after the meeting."
"Next agenda item…"
…
…
At the same time, in another part of the Hero Association headquarters, within a combat command hall that felt like a starship bridge, technologically advanced.
A petite figure floated in mid-air, her emerald green hair swaying slightly like living seaweed.
She wore a daringly cut black high-slit long dress, revealing glimpses of her fair, slender legs beneath the hem, creating a stark contrast with her delicate, doll-like face.
Despite her loli-like physique, she exuded the majestic aura of a queen.
"Hmph—"
Yawning idly, Tornado floated around the spacious hall, enveloped in the green glow of her Psychokinesis, her arms crossed.
Her exquisite small face was filled with impatience, and her cherry-like mouth pouted in dissatisfaction.
"Honestly, I came to work, but you tell me there are no disaster incidents that require my presence?"
Tornado complained, her voice clear but with a hint of lazy imperiousness. "I'm so bored I'm practically growing moss!"
"Is it because you guys aren't working hard enough, that you can't even detect Demon-level disasters or above?"
"If this continues, my body will rust!"
All the staff in the hall broke out in cold sweat upon hearing her words.
Everyone knew that this S-Class Hero, the Hero Association's ace, had a fiery temper and could potentially flip the entire hall if displeased.
A young staff member responsible for disaster monitoring plucked up the courage and explained, forcing a smile, "Miss Tornado, it's not that we're not working hard, but… but the frequency of high-level Monster disasters has indeed shown an abnormal year-on-year decrease recently."
"This somewhat contradicts our previous prediction of a concentrated outbreak of Monsters, and our intelligence analysis department is currently investigating the specific reasons as a matter of urgency."
"As for Demon-level disasters or above…" The staff member wiped the sweat from his brow, carefully continuing, "A considerable portion of them were… were already resolved before the Association Heroes arrived."
"According to intelligence, it seems to be related to a new S-Class Hero candidate the Association is preparing to specially recruit."
The plan to specially recruit a new S-Class Hero was not an absolute secret within the Hero Association.
Especially within the Disaster Countermeasures Department, it had already been circulating.
"Huh? A new S-Class Hero?"
Tornado curled her lips in disdain upon hearing this, an undisguised contempt flashing in her beautiful green eyes. "Hmph… If you ask me, one S-Class Hero is enough for me!"
"It's already annoying enough to have to work with a bunch of useless nobodies, and you want to recruit even more cumbersome nobodies?!"
Staff: "…" × N
The green Psychokinesis light flashed and disappeared, and the powerful Psychokinesis, amplified by Tornado's subtle emotional fluctuations, instantly filled the entire combat command hall like a tide.
The staff immediately felt a cold, invisible pressure envelop their bodies, as if an invisible hand was gripping their throats, leaving them all silent and sweating profusely.
Tornado's gaze inadvertently swept over the electronic file open on the young staff member's desk, which contained a summary of Han Sen's intelligence.
One of the images was a photo taken by a citizen in J City's commercial street, showing Han Sen's back after he instantly killed the Frost Cabbage with a single punch.
Tornado's eyes narrowed slightly, her beautiful green pupils blinking, as if remembering something.
"Eh? This person…"
Tornado extended her slender, fair finger, pointing at Han Sen on the screen, her voice carrying a hint of something she herself hadn't noticed. "I seem to have seen him somewhere…?"
The staff member felt the pressure on him suddenly ease, as if granted a great pardon, and quickly said, "Miss Tornado, this is the mysterious strong individual, Han Sen, whom the Association is currently focusing on!"
"A few days ago in J City, it was he who dealt with the Demon-level Monster, 'Frost Cabbage.' You and Miss Fubuki were also present at the time…"
"Oh, I remember now."
Tornado suddenly understood, and the scene from that day immediately appeared in her mind.
The man in the image was tall and handsome, and the process of saving the Fubuki Group was effortless, as if everything was under his control.
Especially when he walked against the blizzard towards the Monster, his unhurried posture formed a stark contrast with her own sister, who was being suppressed by the Monster and looked disheveled!
—He was just some guy who appeared out of nowhere and happened to save Fubuki…
Tornado would never admit, even if it killed her, that her impression of that guy was actually quite good.
She pulled her thoughts back, and her demeanor quickly reverted to a casual, simplified sketch. With a wave of her small hand, she said, "Hmph, he's just a guy with a bit of strength, not worth all this fuss."
Despite her words, her gaze lingered on Han Sen's data for a few extra seconds, uncontrollably.
Then she saw the photo taken by a passerby on the beach, where he appeared simultaneously with King and Sweet Mask.
King, that inscrutable quiet guy… and Sweet Mask, that nauseatingly narcissistic guy…
Hmph…!
This Han Sen, how could he be connected to them?
It could be said that King was the only Hero in the entire Hero Association whom Tornado couldn't see through.
Tornado couldn't help but feel a hint of curiosity about this man who seemed to know King and was about to become her colleague.
Of course, it was just a hint.
In her opinion, apart from that man who was rarely seen and herself, all the other S-Class Heroes in the Hero Association…
Were still far from good enough!
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