The Tank-Top Brothers

Clearly, Mumen Rider was weaker than even an ordinary Wolf-Level Monster, so Bai Ye had earned only 3 points for defeating him.

The system notification caught Bai Ye's attention, but not because he had earned so few points. What interested him was that defeating Mumen Rider had earned him points at all.

He had originally thought he could earn points only by fighting monsters. Only now did he realize that fighting other heroes worked too.

This was undoubtedly great news. It gave him more ways to earn points.

"The match is over. Bai Ye's challenge was successful."

The Review Committee Member promptly announced the result.

"Are you all right?"

Bai Ye immediately stepped forward to check on Mumen Rider.

"I'm fine. I'm not hurt."

Mumen Rider waved a hand and quickly got to his feet, as though nothing had happened.

Actually, that was hardly surprising. Mumen Rider had faced powerful monsters like the Deep Sea King head-on several times and had still been perfectly fine afterward.

"That's good."

Bai Ye relaxed.

"Then, Mr. Bai Ye, please come to our Z Branch tomorrow for an interview. You can make your choice then: either advance directly to B-Class or replace [Mumen Rider] as the top-ranked C-Class hero."

The Review Committee Member explained this to Bai Ye.

"All right."

Bai Ye nodded in agreement.

Just then, however, an extremely unfriendly voice suddenly rang out.

"Wait, hold on! Isn't this just plain cheating? How does someone like him qualify to be a B-Class Hero?"

It was that familiar voice again-Tank-Top Tiger.

This time, another muscular man in a tank top stood beside him.

Dressed in a black tank top and jeans, he was Tank-Top Tiger's older brother, [Tank-Top Black Hole], a B-Class Hero on the Hero Roster.

That was not all. Several more people came in right after them, apparently brought along by the Tank-Top Brothers.

"Tank-Top Tiger, Tank-Top Black Hole, even if you disagree, neither of you has the authority to interfere with the Hero Association's promotion system."

The Review Committee Member addressed the Tank-Top Brothers expressionlessly.

"Of course not. We're only here to expose this guy's cheating. We won't interfere with the Hero Association's promotion process."

Tank-Top Tiger wore a smug, petty look. "But by the time his formal interview takes place, the review committee members will already know he cheated. Then it'll be entirely up to them to make their own judgment."

"..."

The Review Committee Member fell silent, because Tank-Top Tiger's actions did not violate the Hero Association's rules.

Even though she disliked Tank-Top Tiger's character, she could not openly favor Bai Ye.

"How could Mr. Bai Ye possibly have cheated? His strength and contributions absolutely meet the standards for a B-Class Hero!"

Mumen Rider, standing nearby, could not help speaking up for Bai Ye.

"Mumen Rider? You don't get a say here. You're just some slacker who coasted his way to the top of C-Class."

Tank-Top Tiger's voice was full of contempt as he looked disdainfully at Mumen Rider.

Many people knew that Mumen Rider's strength did not place him anywhere near the top among C-Class heroes. He relied on diligently going out every day to help citizens.

But to Tank-Top Tiger, everything Mumen Rider did was a joke. Seeing him reach the top of C-Class through those good deeds alone irritated him immensely.

Meanwhile, he himself was only sixth in C-Class... no, he was seventh now, because Bai Ye's rise to second place in C-Class had pushed him down a rank.

On top of that, Bai Ye had humiliated him in public earlier, so he deeply resented Bai Ye. This time, he had specifically brought his older brother, [Tank-Top Black Hole], along to cause trouble for him.

With the Class B Tank-Top Black Hole backing him up, Tank-Top Tiger grew even more arrogant.

"Bai Ye! You've only been a hero for seven days, and for the first six, you didn't perform a single heroic act. You were stuck in last place in C-Class and nearly got kicked out."

Tank-Top Tiger pointed straight at Bai Ye's nose and began listing his offenses. "So let me ask you this: how did you jump all the way from last place to second in C-Class in just a day or two?"

"What could it be besides cheating? Am I right, everyone?"

As Tank-Top Tiger interrogated Bai Ye, he also stirred up the crowd.

The people who had just entered were probably brought in deliberately by him. Their presence would make it harder for the Review Committee Member to openly favor Bai Ye, while also letting him pay Bai Ye back for his earlier humiliation.

Of course, these people were merely spectators who had received a little something in return for coming. They were either newcomers or low-ranked C-Class heroes, not actual followers of the Tank-Top Brothers.

"When you put it that way, it really is strange. He was nearly kicked out one moment, and the next he's going straight to B-Class Hero?"

"Something feels off to me too. I've never seen anyone advance from C-Class to B-Class this quickly."

"Exactly. Newcomers with real ability skip the lower ranks and get placed directly in B-Class or even A-Class during the initial test."

"He really might have cheated. If the association doesn't investigate thoroughly, it's unfair to everyone!"

"..."

Hearing almost everyone around him take his side, Tank-Top Tiger nodded in satisfaction.

"This is outright slander! How can you accuse someone without any evidence?"

Mumen Rider was not afraid of the Tank-Top Brothers and continued to argue his case.

"Didn't you hear me tell you to shut up? Watch it, or I'll pound you flat!"

Tank-Top Tiger immediately raised his enormous fist to threaten Mumen Rider.

But Mumen Rider had not been afraid even when facing the Demon-level monster [Deep Sea King]. Why would he fear a coward like Tank-Top Tiger, who only bullied the weak and cowered before the strong?

He stared Tank-Top Tiger down with unwavering eyes, disgusted by his despicable behavior.

"Bai Ye! Too scared to answer? Feeling guilty because you cheated, huh?"

At that moment, Tank-Top Black Hole folded his arms across his chest and berated Bai Ye in a booming voice, his face fierce.

Whatever his actual strength, he certainly had an imposing presence. To the onlookers, Bai Ye seemed so thoroughly cowed by Tank-Top Black Hole that he could not even lift his head.

"...In that case, if I trample you underfoot, will that prove my innocence?"

Only then did Bai Ye speak. His expression and tone were both calm, as though this were nothing more than a trivial matter.

"Huh? You think you can trample me, Tank-Top Tiger, underfoot?"

Tank-Top Tiger reacted as though he had heard a joke, then began boasting proudly. "I'm not some slacker like Mumen Rider. I actually have the strength of an A-Class Hero. I'm only still in C-Class because I've had bad luck."

Bai Ye could not be bothered to waste any more time on the Tank-Top Brothers. He said calmly, "Sorry, I meant both of you at once..."

P.S. This was supposed to be last night's third update.