Higashino Makoto looked at them and remained silent for a moment.
"The dangers of this world far exceed my expectations. So your primary task is to survive, understand?"
"Clear."
"Go."
A large door appeared before the Doppelganger, and they walked in without hesitation.
The door closed immediately after they left.
Momo walked over to Higashino Makoto and poured him a cup of tea.
"Cheng-san, aren't you going in?"
"I'm not going in."
Higashino Makoto picked up his teacup and took a sip.
"It's too dangerous. There are so many things in that world that I don't understand."
So what do you plan to do?
"Wait."
Higashino Makoto put down his teacup and leaned back in his chair.
"Once the Doppelganger gathers enough information, once we understand the power system of that world, and once we find a way to deal with Saitama or even 'God'."
"What if there's no other way?"
Momo asked.
Higashino Makoto remained silent for a long time before finally drawing a conclusion.
"--impossible."
One possesses a small world that connects multiple worlds, meaning one has infinite possibilities.
One Punch Man- Punch Man is indeed very strong, but given time, anyone can definitely surpass him.
He stood up, walked to the window, and looked out at the artificial starry sky.
"This world is vast. There are still two doors that haven't been opened, and there will likely be many more in the future. There's no need to take risks; perhaps what I'm looking for lies behind those other two doors."
Momo walked to his side, her black tail gently wrapping around his wrist.
"Cheng-san."
"Um."
Are you scared?
Higashino Makoto was silent for a moment.
"Yes, I'm scared."
He did not deny it.
"I'm just an ordinary person who's greedy and lustful. I'm afraid of death, and besides, I don't want to die meaninglessly. Being punched to death in a row, without even having time to react, that kind of death is too stupid."
Momo looked at him, her purple eyes flashing with a complex light.
"Cheng-san, I'll wait with you."
Higashino Makoto looked at her for two seconds, then chuckled softly.
"Good."
He reached out and ruffled her hair.
His short, pinkish-white hair brushed against his fingers, and the tuft of hair on his head trembled slightly.
Outside the window, the man-made starry sky twinkles eternally.
And that door leading to the world of One Punch Man floated silently in the strategic conference room.
The light curtain inside the door flowed like mercury, with occasional ripples spreading from the center to the edges.
It's like breathing.
But Higashino Makoto won't go in.
At least not until a way to deal with Saitama is found.
He turned around, walked back behind his desk, and sat down.
"Momo."
"Exist."
"Make a note of this."
"Yes, sir."
Momo picked up the quill pen and opened her notebook.
Higashino Makoto cleared his throat and began to narrate.
"New World Exploration Log - First World"
Codename: One Punch Man- Punch Man.
"World characteristics: Modern urban setting, with eccentric characters and Hero."
Danger level: Unknown. Initial assessment: Extremely high.
"Top combat power: Saitama."
Characteristics: Bald head, yellow bodysuit, white cape.
Ability: Can kill any enemy with One Punch Man. Suspected of breaking biological limits; strength, speed, and reaction time reach or exceed biological limits.
Assessment: Until a method to counter this force is found, it is not recommended that the main body enter.
"Follow-up plan: Infiltrate the Hero Association, obtain Monster Cells, get close to Genos and his cyborgs, and gather intelligence. Open the gates once a week to collect intelligence and replenish supplies."
"Recording complete."
He put down his pen, leaned back in his chair, and stared at the ceiling with his golden eyes.
"It's very important to arrange for guardians to take turns guarding this gate."
"Yes, sir."
Momo closed her notebook and bowed slightly.
Higashino Makoto closed his eyes.
In his mind, there was a picture from his past life of a bald man in a yellow bodysuit punching Earth, who One Punch Man parting in his hair.
And that expressionless face, as if nothing had happened.
"Saitama..."
He murmured the name.
C-City, Hero Association Headquarters, three underground floors, Human Resources Department.
A blond, blue-eyed young man sat at his desk, a pile of documents spread out in front of him.
His name is now "Adam Miller".
Background: A high-achieving student who returned from overseas, fluent in multiple languages, and with extensive experience in intelligence analysis.
These are all Doppelganger using a dead person.
Flawless.
Mr. Miller.
A middle-aged woman wearing glasses walked up to him and placed a document on the table.
"These are the Hero files you requested. C to B tiers. A and S tier files require higher-level access."
"It doesn't matter."
Adam, or rather, the Doppelganger, raised his head and gave a gentle smile.
"That's enough, thank you."
The middle-aged woman nodded and turned to leave.
Adam opened the file and began to read.
Saitama, ranked 388th in Class C.
Age: 25 years old.
Characteristics: Bald head, yellow bodysuit, white cape.
Hero Test Results: Perfect score in physical fitness test, failed written test
Adam's finger paused on the word "Saitama" for a moment.
Then he continued scrolling down.
Rank 39 in Class A, Genos.
Age: 19 years old.
Characteristics: blond hair, red mechanical eyes, cyborg.
Hero Test Results: Perfect score in physical fitness test, excellent score in written test.
Combat record: Killed multiple Demon-level monsters, and fought against a Dragon-level monster.
Modifier: Dr. Kuseno.
Adam pulled out the two pages of the file separately and put them into his pocket.
Then he stood up, walked to the window, and looked out at the bustling city.
Skyscrapers, bustling traffic, and crowds of people.
Everything is normal.
But Adam knew that beneath this calm surface, undercurrents were surging.
Eccentrics breed in the shadows, while Hero fight in the open.
And what is unseen, deeper, and more dangerous awaits.
"One week..."
He said in a low voice.
"The Guardian will open the gate in a week. Until then, we need to gather more information."
He turned around, walked back to his desk, sat down, and continued working.
Deep underground in Z-City, at the headquarters of the Monster Association.
A Hanzo crouched in the ventilation duct, his entire body shrouded in a magic that made him "Perfect Unknowable".
Its eyes peered through the gaps in the pipes, observing the vast underground space below.
Wack.
There are a lot of eccentric people.
Some of them are enormous, some resemble humans, and some are no longer recognizable as they were.
They gathered together; some were arguing, some were fighting, and some were waiting quietly.
Their leader.
Gyoro Gyoro.
Hanzo looked at it, his E finger tightening slightly on the hilt of the sword.
Hanzo a deep breath and continued to observe.
It needs to find the "Monster Cells".
Those black, fleshy things that can turn humans into monsters.
It is said that eating it will grant you great power.
But at the same time, they will lose most of their humanity and become monsters.
Hanzo doesn't need to consume the Monster Cells.
What it needs are samples.
Take it back for the adults to study.
It continues to lie in wait, waiting for its opportunity.