thefictionvixens Page 96
Page 96
“Mr. King, welcome back.” His voice was steady and clear, full of respect for King.
"I have already purchased A5 grade Wagyu beef and a variety of organic vegetables based on your and your teacher's taste preferences and nutritional balance needs, and we can start preparing at any time."
As he spoke, he pointed to the kitchen, where various ingredients had been neatly categorized and packed in food storage containers, with vegetables even cut into perfectly uniform pieces, resembling works of art.
“Okay.” Lin Mo was already used to this. He walked to the refrigerator, took out a bottle of chilled mineral water, unscrewed it, and took a big gulp.
"Comfortable."
The heavy topics concerning the survival of humanity that he had discussed with Child Emperor were completely washed away the moment he stepped into this house by its surreal atmosphere full of life.
It feels... kind of strange.
“By the way, KING,” just then, Saitama suddenly tried to do a somersault… but failed, and lazily rolled over, lying on his side looking at Lin Mo.
He casually tossed the comic book aside, and a rare glimmer of what could be called "interest" appeared in his usually dull, lifeless eyes.
"What are your plans for tomorrow?"
"Nothing special planned, just staying home all day. What's up?"
Lin Mo was somewhat surprised that Saitama had taken the initiative to inquire about the schedule; this was a rare occurrence.
"I want to go out tomorrow to participate in a 'Super Fighting Tournament'." Saitama pulled out the ticket that Chalan had given him from under his butt and handed it to Lin Mo.
"Are you interested in going to check it out tomorrow? I remember you're pretty good at martial arts, right?"
"A super fighting tournament?" Lin Mo raised an eyebrow and took the ticket.
It seems we've reached the martial arts tournament storyline.
"That's right, the prize money is three million!" Saitama's eyes seemed to be sparkling with money, and his tone became much more excited.
"Besides, I'm a little curious, what exactly is 'martial arts'? It sounds really cool, maybe I can learn some interesting moves that I can use when fighting monsters in the future!"
As he spoke, he waved his arms and made several disorganized gestures.
What kind of moves are you learning... Do you even need moves?
Isn't your move just your fist?
A normal punch, a series of normal punches, and a serious punch—aren't these three moves enough for you?
Lin Mo mentally ranted, but looking at Saitama's unusually expectant eyes, he didn't know where to begin.
Ultimately, he steered the discussion to the most practical point.
"But Saitama-kun, aren't you already an S-class hero? The association's salary must be quite high, so why are you always concerned about prize money and such? It was the same with the last game tournament." Lin Mo asked with a puzzled look.
In his view, given Saitama's status, he should have achieved financial freedom long ago.
Upon hearing this question, Saitama paused for a moment, a rare occurrence.
The excitement in his eyes dimmed slightly, his gaze drifting to the inconspicuous stain on the ceiling. Finally, with a hint of helplessness and desolation, he replied:
"Well, people need to have some goals, otherwise it's so boring..."
A short sentence, yet it was like a boulder thrown into Lin Mo's heart lake, stirring up ripples.
Yes, for someone so powerful that they have lost all challenges and even battles can no longer bring them passion, life must be so pale and boring.
Money is perhaps one of the few tangible rewards that Saitama can experience through hard work.
At this moment, Genos, who had been silently taking notes, spoke up. He pushed up his non-existent glasses and said, "Teacher, Mr. King is right. I have analyzed the competition, and the strength of the participants varies greatly."
"His fighting skills were meaningless in front of the teacher, and the prize money was only enough to cover the cost of one routine arm repair."
"Based on our overall assessment, participating in this competition is extremely low in terms of cost-effectiveness, and we do not recommend that teachers waste their precious time."
Lin Mo stared at Saitama's smooth head, somewhat lost in thought.
Bored? ...Yes, boredom is Saitama's greatest enemy.
If he loses even this interest driven by money and curiosity, then he is probably not far from truly losing "emotions".
What a tragedy it will be then.
------
P.S.: One-Punch Man Season 3 premieres today! (*^▽^*) I hope Season 3 can reach the point where "One King shakes four dragons" (*￣3￣)╭?
Chapter 131 The Growing Unlicensed Rider (4k)
Thinking of this, Lin Mo cleared his throat and decided to defend Saitama.
He spoke up for Saitama, saying, "Genos, your analysis is based solely on data, but sometimes, firsthand experience is also a form of spiritual practice."
"Saitama-kun may want to experience the way ordinary people fight, and return to simplicity."
"I see!" Genos exclaimed in sudden realization, his eyes gleaming with admiration. He immediately wrote in his notebook:
"The teacher intends to explore the origin of power by observing low-level battles. His level of understanding is beyond the reach of ordinary people! I was too superficial!"
Saitama looked bewildered: "Huh? I just wanted to go take a look..."
Lin Mo ignored Saitama's explanation and continued:
"It sounds...quite interesting. Since you're so keen to go, I'll go with you. I happen to have nothing else to do."
If he remembered correctly, this "Martial Arts Tournament" would bring out Gouketsu, a member of the Monster Association, and another martial artist, Bakuzan, who had been turned into a monster.
Two Dragon-level monsters appearing at the same time—this is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to boost your emotional value.
"Really? That's great!" Saitama immediately jumped up from the floor.
“Since Mr. KING and the teacher have both decided to go, it is my responsibility to ensure the teacher’s viewing experience. I will go with him and be responsible for eliminating any potential threats,” Genos said with a serious expression.
------
The following day, the arena in Z City was bustling with activity, and colorful flags were waving.
The promotional video for the "Super Fighting" martial arts tournament was playing on a giant electronic screen, creating an incredibly enthusiastic atmosphere.
"Wow! That's amazing! This arena is huge!"
Saitama was wearing an inexpensive tracksuit and a brown wig on his head, the same hairstyle he had recently bought from Charako.
He looked around, his eyes sparkling with curiosity.
"Teacher, please be careful."
Genos was dressed casually, but his tense body and golden eyes constantly scanning his surroundings revealed that he was on high alert.
"You're exaggerating, Genos. This is just a regular martial arts tournament." Lin Mo shook his head helplessly.
After buying drinks, he and Genos sat in the stands waiting for the match to begin, while Saitama went to the players' waiting area to wait for the match to start.
Just as Lin Mo was idly drinking his beverage, the competition officially began.
Deafening music blared, and the host announced the competition rules in a loud voice. Then, the contestants for the first match stepped onto the stage.
The level of excitement in the match... well, to the average person it might seem intense, but to Lin Mo and the others it was like a fight between kindergarten kids.
After several matches, Lin Mo started yawning and becoming drowsy.
"Next up is the third match in Zone C! The two teams facing off are—" the host drawled, whetting the audience's appetite.
"Gatling Machine! And—the rising star from the famous 'Reppukan' martial arts dojo—Kiryu!"
Wow! From the Gale Pavilion?
A commotion arose from the audience; he was clearly somewhat famous within the martial arts community.
"Ghost Dragon, he seems to have gotten quite stronger lately," commented a martial artist who had fought Ghost Dragon.
“Mr. King, the Gale Gym is a well-known gym, and its leader’s strength should not be underestimated.”
Genos dutifully provided the background information.
Lin Mo nodded and turned his gaze toward the contestants' passage.
The first player to step forward was the one named Gatlinger.
He was burly, with bulging muscles, a fierce face, and an air of menace that gave off a strong sense of oppression just by standing there.
Meanwhile, when the "Ghost Dragon" contestant walked out of the passage, Lin Mo's pupils suddenly contracted, and he almost spat out the juice he had just drunk.
The person who stepped onto the stage was wearing a white martial arts uniform that clearly didn't fit him well, with the words "Ghost Dragon" crookedly written on the back in ink, as if he had been rushed onto the stage at the last minute.
He wasn't particularly tall, and was even somewhat thin. His face showed obvious tension and a lack of confidence.
This contrasted sharply with his menacing opponent and his imposing name, "Ghost Dragon."
Even if this face turned to ashes, Lin Mo would still recognize it!
Isn't this the first C-rank hero he recently gave the [KING Style Secret Technique: Martial Arts] to—Mumen Rider?!
"What the hell?" Lin Mo's brain instantly went blank.
------
Let's go back a few days to Y City.
On the outskirts of Y City, abandoned factory areas stand silently in the afterglow of the setting sun.
The Unlicensed Rider, pushing his beloved bicycle "Justice," is heading to this area to handle a monster incident, following instructions from the Hero Association.
"Association report: Disaster level 'Wolf', the monster's characteristics are 'mantis form, relatively fast'."
The unlicensed knight looked at the mission briefing on his phone and felt somewhat relieved.
A wolf-level creature should be able to handle the situation on its own with its strength.
However, as he rounded a rusty giant gas tank, the sight before him made him gasp.
There were several cuts on the ground, each half a meter deep, and a concrete utility pole had been cut in half.
In the center of the ruins, a mantis-like monster, over two meters tall, covered in dark green armor and wielding two enormous scythes on its arms, was coldly staring at him with its compound eyes.
"Another weak bug has appeared. The Hero Association's judgment is getting worse and worse."
The mantis monster emitted a piercing sound like metal scraping; its aura and destructive power were far beyond what a "wolf" level monster could possess!
"Tiger-level... no, it's probably not an ordinary Tiger-level!" Cold sweat beaded on the unlicensed rider's forehead, and his heart pounded uncontrollably.
In the past, his only option at this moment would have been to immediately call for backup, then use his own body to buy time for the civilians to evacuate, and finally be beaten black and blue, waiting for other heroes to rescue him.