Chapter 321: Chapter 22 – Secret Surveillance
The meteor incident in Z-City had stirred up a massive storm.
Especially when news spread that it wasn’t an S-class hero who destroyed the meteor, but a newly promoted B-class hero. Almost no one could believe it.
"So you’re saying... a B-class hero saved Z-City? Are you serious?"
"He must’ve used some kind of trick. Even the S-class heroes couldn’t handle that meteor—how could a B-class possibly do it?"
"And besides, all he did was break the meteor. If someone else hadn’t stepped in, our city would’ve still been smashed to bits by the falling debris."
"Exactly! That B-class hero doesn’t deserve the credit. The one who really saved Z-City was that mysterious esper!"
"But he did shatter the meteor. If that rock had actually hit, Z-City—and probably all of us—would’ve been obliterated."
Online forums were exploding with heated debates.
Some people expressed their gratitude toward Saitama, but there were far more voices filled with doubt and suspicion.
At the same time, public curiosity soared over the identity of the mysterious esper who had somehow suspended all the meteor shards in midair.
Initially, many speculated that it was Terrible Tornado who did it, but when she publicly denied any involvement, the mystery deepened.
...
That day, in the Z-City ghost town.
"This is the so-called ghost city, huh..."
Handsome, sunglass-clad Sweet Mask walked down the ruined streets.
He had come to investigate the identity of the enigmatic "Swordmaster."
"What a vile place. Can anyone actually live here?"
He stepped forward, cautiously observing his surroundings.
Before long, he arrived at the very spot where Spring Mustache and his team had encountered the Kelp Monster.
He stood at the edge of a deep, bottomless crater.
"No mistake... the aura here is exactly the same as what I sensed in J-City..."
"And there, too."
He turned his gaze toward the massive scorched mark left behind by Genos’s Incineration Cannon. Behind his sunglasses, his eyes flickered with sharp light.
There was no doubt.
That was Genos’s work.
He had fought here—and he’d been on the losing end.
But who had he fought?
A monster... or the so-called "Swordmaster"?
That Genos bastard... he’s definitely hiding something.
Sweet Mask’s eyes glinted.
Hm?
He sensed someone approaching.
He whipped his head around.
At the far end of a street, a casually dressed bald man was strolling toward him with a shopping bag in hand.
"So today was the supermarket’s Saturday mega-sale, huh? Lucky I got there early... otherwise I wouldn’t have gotten anything."
"Guess I’ll treat Ron and the others to some drinks tonight."
Saitama muttered as he walked, but when he looked up, he spotted Sweet Mask standing in the distance.
The two locked eyes across the street.
Saitama blinked, then remembered.
"Ah... that’s the guy. The top-ranked A-class hero."
Sweet Mask also recognized the bald man.
Wasn’t this the same guy who always hung around Genos? He was a hero too, right?
B-class? Or maybe C-class?
Doesn’t matter.
Just a nobody.
Doesn’t even deserve my attention.
Clearly, there would be no valuable clues to find today. He might as well go home.
Hands in his pockets, Sweet Mask began walking in Saitama’s direction, heading toward the nearest exit.
As he passed him...
Saitama tilted his head, then asked, "You looking for Genos? He’s not here today—what a coincidence, huh."
Sweet Mask didn’t even glance at him.
He simply walked past in silence.
Just a B-class nobody. Not worth noticing.
"Huh? So you’re not looking for Genos?"
Saitama turned his head, a bit puzzled, but didn’t dwell on it. He headed home.
Sweet Mask walked a little further, then suddenly stopped.
His brow furrowed slightly.
"That bald guy is often seen with Genos... Looks like he lives here too. Maybe he knows something about this ’Swordmaster’..."
He turned to look back—but Saitama’s figure had already vanished.
...
Outskirts of F-City.
"Wind Blade Kick."
"Sonic Relink Fist!"
"Explosive Shuriken!"
"Cross Phantom Slash!"
In the dense mountain forest, Sonic relentlessly honed his combat techniques.
There was only one figure in his mind.
After being defeated in a single punch by Ron, he had been handed over to the Hero Association by Saitama and Genos. But during the Deep Sea King’s assault, he’d escaped prison alongside Puri-Puri Prisoner.
After clashing with the Deep Sea King, he reclaimed his gear and rushed back to J-City.
But the Deep Sea King had already been eliminated.
Then came the descriptions—people talking about the mysterious hero who’d slain the Deep Sea King. The "Swordmaster."
And the moment Sonic heard that description, he was certain.
The one who had crushed the Deep Sea King was the very same man who’d defeated him.
Suddenly, his goal became crystal clear.
"Swordmaster... I, Speed-o’-Sound Sonic, swear—I will defeat you!"
His eyes were bloodshot. "Just wait... I’ll make you taste defeat next!"
Blades in hand, Sonic dashed through the forest, leaving behind streaks of afterimages.
...
Later that evening, at Saitama’s home.
"Cheers!"
Saitama, Ron, and Fubuki raised their glasses filled with ice-cold beer and clinked them together.
"Ahh, that hits the spot. Beer on a night like this really is the best,"
Saitama said with a satisfied smile, sitting cross-legged on the floor after taking a sip.
The three of them were gathered around the table. In the center sat a bubbling hotpot filled with pork, meatballs, tofu, and assorted vegetables.
Ron picked up a meatball with his chopsticks.
Fubuki, dressed in an elegant green dress, sat on the floor with them. After sipping her drink, she turned to Saitama.
"Where’s Genos?"
"He said he needed to replace some parts. Should be back in a few days."
"I see."
The TV was playing footage of the suspended meteor shards over Z-City. The anchor’s voice followed.
"To everyone watching at home—regarding the suspended meteor fragments still looming over Z-City and threatening public safety, the Hero Association has decided to dispatch three S-class heroes to deal with them."
"The three heroes are: the second-ranked S-class, Terrible Tornado..."
The screen showed Tornado floating in the air, arms crossed and draped in a long black coat.
"Oh, it’s my sister!"
Fubuki exclaimed in surprise.
Saitama nearly choked on his drink. "Eh?! That little squirt is your sister?!"
Ron munched on his meatball, eyes still on the screen.
So flat... completely opposite from Fubuki.
Tornado glanced at the camera, brushed her bangs aside, and said haughtily:
"You really only needed me for this."
"Alongside the strongest esper, Terrible Tornado, the Hero Association also dispatched S-class Rank 5: the young genius, Child Emperor, and S-class Rank 6: Metal Knight, with overwhelming firepower. These three heroes will now begin eliminating the meteor fragments above Z-City."
The screen shifted to show Child Emperor with his backpack, and Metal Knight’s drone looming nearby.
"Now, watch carefully—this is the power of the S-class heroes!"
Ron chuckled as he watched the TV. "Smart move—using this opportunity to showcase the S-class heroes and restore public confidence in them."
Saitama nodded. "Yeah, not bad."
Fubuki focused on the screen.
On TV, Tornado and the other two heroes unleashed their respective powers, beginning the operation to destroy the meteor shards.
"Showing off their strength so openly... if anyone planning to go against the Hero Association is watching this broadcast, things are about to get interesting,"
Ron remarked as he picked up a slice of pork and popped it in his mouth.
"No way..."
...
Deep beneath Z-City’s ghost town.
In the subterranean depths.
A man with long wavy hair and black-rimmed glasses lounged lazily on a sofa. Wine glass in hand, he stared at the screen in front of him, where Tornado’s psychic powers were on full display.
His lips curled into a slow, intrigued smile.
"Tornado..."