[This isn’t just any ordinary rescue operation]
At the Hero Association headquarters, a crowd of professional heroes has come together, drawn not just by their usual duties but also by the huge demonstration taking place outside. To manage the situation, riot police officers have been called in to secure the area around the building, ensuring everyone's safety amidst the unrest.
Every time an S-class hero shows up in front of the building lobby, a lively commotion breaks out. Bright flashes of light burst repeatedly around the professional heroes as a man and woman holding a microphone attempt to conduct an interview.
The Heroes Association expected journalists to be present. They've decided to bring the media crew closer to cover today's meeting.
They want everyone to understand that they're working hard to figure out the best approach to tackle the issues that have come up. They hope the public can see how serious they are about this situation.
So, you'll find not just S-class heroes but also a mix of A, B, and C-class heroes hanging around. Everyone invited to this meeting is seen as having valuable perspectives and insights that could contribute, even in the smallest ways.
When Fubuki's group showed up, the atmosphere shifted dramatically, and a sense of unease filled the air. The reporters were acting strangely, almost like they were under some sort of spell. The cameraman, in particular, was relentless, determined to capture every single moment of the rising star's presence, not wanting to miss even a single hair out of place.
"Fubuki-sama!" A reporter attempted to catch Fubuki's eye as she stood in front, ready to ask her a question. However, she was quickly engulfed by her fellow co-workers, leaving only the microphone she was holding peeking out from the crowd.
"Fubuki-sama, could you please look at the camera for a moment?" Meanwhile, the cameraman, who was supposed to remain silent, attempted to guide Fubuki to focus only on his camera. However, his own situation was just as precarious, as the mounting pressure around him caused the images he captured to turn out blurry.
Not wanting to deal with the reporters, Fubuki offered a quick, casual greeting—just enough to be polite—before she hurried into the elevator. She was rocking a dark green, form-fitting V-neck dress that featured a high collar paired with thigh-high black boots. The way the dress hugged her figure showcased her beautiful curves.
With white pearls gracefully draped around her neck and a luxurious long white fur coat enveloping her, she exuded an effortless elegance. It was as if she were a noblewoman on her way to a lavish soirée rather than simply attending a meeting.
She didn't come alone. On her right and left were Lily and Lin-Lin, both dressed in standard business suits like most members of the Blizzard Group. You could easily see that Lin-Lin was still getting accustomed to the look.
"Why did you all have to pull me into this? I'd much rather sit in the car than go to a dull meeting," Lin-Lin said, shattering the quiet in the elevator. Fubuki then replied, her tone noticeably unfriendly:
"Being part of the Blizzard Group means you need to follow your boss's directions, so whatever I ask you to do, you'll do it."
Lin-Lin appeared utterly astonished by what she was hearing, yet her voice stayed flat as she replied, "I've told you countless times that I never agreed to join your group."
"Hey, no need to stress too much about it. We've all been through a lot recently, but I'm confident you'll feel right at home with us soon enough," Lily was doing her best to soothe her friend, hoping to prevent any unnecessary anger from Fubuki. From the first meeting, she had put much effort into fostering a solid relationship with Lin-Lin. Despite her best attempts, it felt like Lin-Lin just wasn't reciprocating positively.
It made sense. Knowing Lin-Lin's quiet nature, it was clear she liked to keep her feelings under wraps. That's why, more often than not, her face wore a flat expression.
"Just keep this in mind. If it hadn't been for us that day, you might not be here right now. You could have met your end at the hands of monsters or aliens. So, maybe show a little gratitude, yeah?"
Lily and Lin-Lin shifted their focus back to Fubuki, and once more, the elevator fell into a hush. With the three of them present, they felt free to discuss topics like this. However, despite the intimate setting, both sides were still feeling the tension, particularly Lin-Lin, who was more frustrated than the others.
"Then shouldn't I return the favor to Kaiser? If it weren't for him, I might have died in that stadium," Lin-Lin murmured, unaware that others were listening. But she brushed off the thought, her mind drifting back to the memories of The Super Fight.
"Just like Kaiser, I also believe that your talent will go to waste if you limit yourself to just being a martial artist," Fubuki said, not holding back her true feelings.
Just as Lin-Lin was about to say something, the elevator doors slid open, revealing a bustling hallway filled with a crowd of professional heroes waiting outside. It appeared that they were just hanging out, perhaps waiting for a call from someone. In the meantime, they were taking it easy, enjoying each other's company and chatting away. That's the impression you'd get if you were watching from a distance.
It didn't take long for them to spot some familiar faces, particularly the S-class heroes who usually kept a low profile and rarely showed up in public. Out of nowhere, a nagging worry crept into Fubuki's mind as she thought about the possibility of meeting her older sister.
The last meeting between the two sisters was anything but smooth. Fubuki found herself in yet another tight spot, needing her older sister to come to her rescue once again. This left her feeling unready and anxious about seeing her sister again.
Fubuki snapped back to reality as she felt a gentle tug on her clothes, pulling her attention away from her thoughts. She had no idea Lily was trying to get her attention to show her something interesting.
So, there was this tall woman in the hallway, just exuding confidence as she chatted with one of the S-class heroes. It was quite the sight, seeing her among all the professional heroes milling about.
She stood there in her running outfit, which made her seem a bit out of place. But since it was her hero outfit, nobody dared to comment on it. Still, she couldn't help but draw a lot of attention from those around her. With her recent surge in popularity, more and more people began to recognize her, and she was often referred to as Captain Mizuki by everyone around her.
"I'm glad to see you here as well. It's a sign that the Hero Association is getting their act together too," Fubuki said with a soft greeting, though there was a hint of sarcasm in her tone that anyone could pick up on regarding the Hero Association.
As the 11th-ranked S-class hero, Superalloy Darkshine felt uncomfortable about Fubuki's comment. He was the kind of guy who cherished peace and consistently sought to resolve issues without resorting to violence. So, instead of escalating the situation, he simply issued a warning.
"Blizzard of Hell, I can sense that you're feeling just as disappointed and devastated by what went down, so do everyone here. I hope you don't spread anymore negativity here."
Fubuki was caught off guard when the muscular man before her took her lighthearted comment to heart. To her surprise, he even addressed her by her hero name. She decided to keep quiet, not wanting to stir up any trouble with the S-class hero.
At that moment, Mizuki sensed it was the perfect opportunity to step in and ease the tension in the air. With a warm smile, she remarked, "I had a feeling you'd be here as well. it's great to see you!"
Mizuki then waved her hand at Lily with a friendly gesture, but her eyes showed a hint of confusion as she noticed Lin-Lin, who was also with them. She nearly missed the martial artist girl she spotted at the Super Fight event, all because of the business suit that completely transformed her appearance.
She quickly learned about Lin-Lin's situation from Lily, who was bursting with excitement as she shared the story. Lily had already come to see Mizuki as her best friend, which made the moment feel even more special.
As everyone else was busy having a good time, Fubuki had some free time on her hands. With nothing pressing to do, she struck up a conversation with Superalloy Darkshine. They both seemed to have completely brushed aside what had happened before and instead chose to chat about their aspirations and desires.
Fubuki couldn't shake off the discomfort she felt when her conversation partner was wearing nothing but a black Speedo. It was just too much for her. She had to be pretty clever about looking away, all while trying to piece together how he knew Mizuki.
"You know how dedicated she is to her training, right? We're actually both members of the same gym," Superalloy Darkshine's response caught her off guard again.
"I can totally picture that, but it feels like she looks up to you as an idol. Did I misinterpret things?" Fubuki had been mindful of what she said, and luckily, her instincts proved spot on since the person in question confirmed it.
"You're not wrong, Fubuki. I've looked up to Superalloy Darkshine for quite a while now. Since we don't get to see each other often, I couldn't help but feel excited and wanted to pick up some tips and secrets from his training routine."
Mizuki placed her hands on her hips, exuding an air of confidence that suggested she was unfazed by the opinions of others. Despite the chatter around her, her cheerfulness remained as vibrant as ever.
Sadly, their conversation had to end when the call they had all been waiting for finally came through. A staff member from the Hero Association stepped through one of the doors and promptly guided everyone to a spacious hall. Inside, there was a large round table perfectly designed to accommodate dozens of people comfortably.
Once everyone was settled in their seats and accounted for, a significant piece of news—one that only the higher-ups of the Hero Association were privy to—was shared with everyone in attendance. They had nearly identical shocked expressions, even when it came to the S-class heroes who were there.
"Let me repeat this. Everyone here is going to take part in a mission to rescue the child of Narinki, a high-ranking executive and one of the main sponsors of the Hero Association. This isn't just any ordinary rescue operation. We're also going to put an end to the terror caused by the monsters once and for all."