It Looks Like You Need a Little Help

"Will he be all right!?"

Mark clenched his fists as he looked at Nolan, who had been beaten so badly he was gravely injured.

"Maybe..."

"But you have to understand, we've done everything we can. There really aren't many Viltrumians at this hospital..."

The man in sunglasses looked helpless. To be precise, Nolan was the only Viltrumian here.

"Who did this to him!?"

The veins bulged on Mark's arms. His gaze sharpened. He wanted to find the person who had done this to his father and beat him to a pulp.

"We don't know! But we're looking..."

"Please believe me: if we find that person, we'll make sure he suffers injuries far worse than your father's!"

Just as Mark's anger was reaching its peak, an old man with graying hair and a black suit walked in through the door.

"My name is Cisellius Daiman. I'm the director of the Global Defense Bureau!"

The old man—Cisellius—walked up to Mark and Jupiter and introduced himself.

"Cough, cough..."

As Jupiter listened to Cisellius, he gave a few light coughs. He didn't mean anything by it; his throat just felt a little uncomfortable.

"Hm!?"

Cisellius looked at Jupiter, puzzled.

"When you find him, let me know. I'll make him regret ever being born into this world!"

Jupiter's expression was serious, and his gaze was razor-sharp, like a volcano about to erupt.

"I will..."

Cisellius watched Jupiter for a few seconds, then gave a slight nod.

"Cisellius, how dare you..."

Deborah had been sitting by the bed, holding Nolan's large hand. The moment she saw Cisellius, she stood up and glared at him furiously, as if she didn't think he was a good person at all.

"The Global Guardians were just wiped out!"

"Everyone's bodies were torn to pieces. Nolan was the only survivor!"

"We don't know why Nolan was at the Guardians' headquarters at the time, but everything I've told you is true!"

"Actually, we're waiting for Nolan to wake up and tell us what happened."

Cisellius looked helpless. He was probably the most anxious person in the world right now. The Global Guardians were all dead, and it was unclear whether Omni-Man would ever wake up. This was the planet's most vulnerable moment. If the supervillains chose to attack now, then, frankly... the planet might soon have a new owner.

"..."

Mark, Jupiter, and Deborah fell silent.

Deborah was silent because she didn't trust Cisellius. Mark was silent because his mind was racing to process information that was far beyond his years. Jupiter was holding back laughter, struggling not to let it show...

"..."

To Cisellius, the three of them looked like people grieving in silence, trying to comfort themselves.

"In fact, we suspect that some supervillain lured Nolan to the Guardians' headquarters, intending to wipe them all out at once..."

Cisellius continued, letting them in on some confidential information.

"Why!?"

Mark clenched his fists. He couldn't understand why anyone could be so evil.

"Why!? That's a good question!"

"All the supervillains in this world would love to see the Global Guardians and Omni-Man dead!"

"Honestly..."

"Anyway, we're doing everything we can to keep this quiet, but the news is bound to get out. We notified you first, Mark, and Jupiter!"

Cisellius sighed. If anyone in the room wanted Omni-Man back on his feet more than anyone else, it was probably him. Mark, Deborah, and Jupiter were connected to Nolan by family ties, but only Cisellius knew what this damn planet would become if its greatest deterrent against evil disappeared!

"Get me ice water, ice, and a folding bed. I'm staying here to look after him."

Deborah faced Cisellius with unwavering resolve.

"..."

"All right!"

Cisellius couldn't resist Deborah's determined gaze. He nodded slightly and agreed.

"Sir, the city is under attack! The enemy has heavy weapons, and they're requesting backup!"

As Cisellius spoke with the others, the sunglasses of his subordinate—the blond man in a suit—suddenly lit up blue. He'd received word that the city was under attack.

"Now!?"

"Damn it, we don't have any superheroes we can send out right now."

Cisellius deliberately raised his voice. He seemed to be discussing the situation with his subordinate, but he was actually speaking so Mark and Jupiter could hear him.

"..."

Mark looked at Nolan and Deborah, then at Jupiter. In the end, he left the hospital room without saying a word.

"Mark..."

Jupiter frowned as he watched Mark leave, but ultimately said nothing.

Jupiter leaned against the wall and quietly stayed with Deborah and Nolan, who lay in the hospital bed as the cells in his body continued healing.

That's right. Nolan didn't actually need treatment at all. It was a good thing they'd brought him to the hospital in time; otherwise, injuries like these would have healed on their own in about a day for a Viltrumian...

"Jupiter, I'm here. Don't worry!"

"Go check on your brother!"

Deborah, who had been holding Nolan's rough, powerful hand the whole time, suddenly spoke to Jupiter.

"Mom, I'm worried a supervillain might attack here..."

Jupiter put on a flawless performance, showing a child's concern for his mother and father.

"Hahaha..."

"Don't worry! This is the safest place in the world. If even this place isn't safe anymore, nowhere will be. Go, Jupiter! Go where you need to be..."

Deborah turned and looked at Jupiter with an encouraging gaze.

If Mark had been going to save people, Deborah would have been a little worried. Neither his temperament nor his abilities were mature enough yet. But she had no worries about Jupiter, because he was an exceptionally capable child!

"All right~"

"I'll be back in a minute."

Jupiter glanced at Deborah, then headed out of the hospital room.

"I'll be waiting."

As Deborah watched Jupiter walk away, the worry in her heart eased a little. She saw Nolan in him.

"Going to harvest some energy wouldn't be bad either."

Thinking this, Jupiter flew toward the city, where lasers were streaking into the sky and things were truly "heating up."

When Jupiter arrived in the city, he saw Mark hiding in a crater, holding an old man and grieving alone, while the Viltrumite Youth Group was being pinned down by a relentless barrage of fire...

And a group of green-skinned aliens. Yes, they looked almost exactly like Namekians from the damn textbooks and Dragon Ball manga. Those aliens sure were stereotypical.

"Looks like you need a little help..."

Just as the Viltrumite Youth Group was about to call for backup, a man with a huge F on his chest descended from the sky, the sunlight at his back!