A Reasonable Price

"I'm withdrawing from the race!"

"So am I..."

"God bless Free Nation, and God bless Free Man!"

"Metahumans are the future of Free Nation, and the future of all humanity! Only metahumans can lead us into the future!"

Once the program began, one candidate after another loudly announced their withdrawal. They also seized the opportunity to flatter Free Man and promote the idea that metahumans were the future.

"Thank you all for your support, and thank you for the people's trust. I will never let down the people's faith and support!"

Jupiter dabbed at the tears he'd faked with eyedrops, repeatedly expressing his gratitude to the world.

And so, once the program aired, Jupiter's campaign was settled in a single stroke. He had officially become Free Nation's President.

After taking office, Jupiter began aggressively promoting Compound V, transforming the world according to plan.

"Mr. Free Man..."

"No, I suppose I should call you Mr. President now."

Starlight stood before Jupiter's desk with a document in hand and a smile on her face. Jupiter had successfully defeated his rivals and become Free Nation's President. That meant Vought had bet on the right horse. The age of metahumans was coming, and Vought would endure forever.

"Just call me Free Man! I'm more used to that name."

Jupiter had no airs about him. Even though he'd become the most powerful man in all of Free Nation, he'd kept his usual attitude. He was just as dismissive and high-handed as ever, never giving anyone the time of day... Ahem. No, that wasn't right. Jupiter was just as approachable as he'd always been.

"All right, Mr. Free Man..."

"On your orders, our first batch of free Compound V—ten thousand doses in all—has been distributed. The results are excellent, much better than expected. Sixty percent of the ten thousand smart cookies who received injections awakened superpowers!"

"As for the remaining forty percent, we've announced that they were abandoned by God. But even if God has abandoned them, the kind and great Mr. Free Man and the Vought Family still intend to give them another chance at life. For just ten thousand dollars, they can buy a dose of high-purity Compound V and seize the chance to change their fate!"

"Only ten thousand dollars! Mr. Free Man, I have to say, you're a great man. You're like a beacon in the world, lighting the way for everyone!"

Starlight gave Jupiter a thumbs-up and praised him loudly.

"Setting aside the free Compound V, what's the current cost of the 'high-purity Compound V'?"

Jupiter asked Starlight.

"Factoring in labor, materials, raw ingredients, research and development, packaging, advertising, and all the other expenses, it comes to about a hundred and three dollars and seven cents."

Starlight read the figures from her document.

"That's a reasonable price."

Jupiter nodded slightly. At least it wasn't being sold for too much. As a President devoted to the people, he couldn't make money off the people of Free Nation.

"By the way, we've prepared even better Compound V for people with plenty of money. We've divided it into the Supreme Prestige Edition, Prestige Edition, Premium Edition, and Value Edition, priced at ten million, five million, one million, and one hundred thousand dollars, respectively!"

Starlight continued reading from the document in her hands.

"Excellent. Very good."

Jupiter nodded slightly when he heard that. The prices were quite appropriate. If there was wool on the sheep, of course they should fleece it for all it was worth. And when the leeks had grown, naturally, it was time to harvest them.

"All right, you can go. Just carry on with our plan."

Jupiter waved his hand, dismissing Starlight. There was nothing more for her to do here.

"Of course, Mr. Free Man."

After receiving Jupiter's instructions, Starlight turned and walked away, leaving him with her back as she exited Jupiter's private presidential office.

"System, settle the results..."

Jupiter pinched the bridge of his nose. He'd had an exhausting day, but at least the results had made it worthwhile.

"System settlement in progress. Master has been included in textbooks and become part of history. The people honor him as the Superpower Progenitor. Mission complete. Grade: B!"

"You really are a disobedient system..."

"What the hell is this B grade?!"

Jupiter sighed. Some systems were impossible to understand. Didn't it know he hated people meddling in his affairs and giving him grades?

"Applying highest-level authorization..."

"System evaluation changing..."

"Evaluation changed to Ancestor-level!"

"Note: Master has completed the mission Master set for himself and has received this world's rewards."

"This world has become Master's second primary world. Master may enter and leave this world freely without consuming energy."

"Master may freely send others into this world without consuming energy."

"Time in this world is fully synchronized with the primary world. The two worlds' time flow is one to one."

"All substances and items unique to this world may be freely taken out by Master. Any substances and items taken out will automatically conform to the physical laws of other worlds."

Jupiter looked at the revised evaluation and the rewards he'd received for completing the mission, and nodded in satisfaction. Ancestor-level was more like it. It was just barely worthy of his status.

"Exit world..."

After completing the mission, Jupiter immediately chose to leave The Boys world.

After a bout of dizziness and a splitting headache...

Jupiter returned to his home in the Invincible Young Hero world.

"Mm..."

Jupiter rubbed his temples. Every time he traveled between worlds, he felt like he was being churned around inside a washing machine.

"Heat Vision acquired, super senses acquired..."

"I've got the adult version of Compound V too, but it's still not perfect. Its side effects are difficult to control. Otherwise, I could consider giving it to Deborah."

Jupiter sat in the house, thinking.

"The worlds I can choose from now are..."

"Warhammer, Star Wars, MCU, and One-Punch Man..."

"Warhammer and Star Wars are both high-level worlds driven by the power of belief, so they aren't suitable for me right now. MCU would be good for guerrilla warfare—strike once and run—but I'm still too weak to be secure. So..."

Jupiter analyzed his options.

Although this Ancestor Person was powerful, he was extremely cautious.

"So, the only world that's suitable for me right now is One-Punch Man. There are things there that I need at my current stage."

"Once I return from the One-Punch Man world, I can consider fighting the Berserk Beast. His beautiful, snowy-white fur would be a real waste if I didn't turn it into a fur coat..."

Jupiter looked over the worlds he had access to and quickly made his choice.

"Travel to the One-Punch Man world..."

Jupiter thought to himself.

In an instant, Jupiter disappeared from the house once again. Time, which had just started moving forward, came to a halt once more.

And Jupiter was hit by another wave of dizziness...