A matter of hygiene

Hero Association, Q City branch.

Every branch of the Hero Association had one obvious feature: it was huge!

Yet the once-spacious reception hall now seemed especially crowded and noisy amid the constant flow of people.

Ever since its establishment, the Hero Association had gradually taken over the government's role in managing cities, along with most police duties.

As a result, many citizens came to the association to post requests even for trivial matters such as thefts and help finding pets. The sharp increase in monsters over the past few years was another reason for this.

"I'm a Professional Hero. The association offers custom weapons, right?"

Baicang found a female employee who was rushed off her feet, showed her his Professional Hero ID, and explained why he had come.

"Oh, yes! Please follow me."

The employee led Baicang to a VIP room reserved for heroes. She thoughtfully brought him a glass of water once he sat on the sofa, then fetched a tablet so he could choose the weapon he wanted.

"Whoa!"

Baicang couldn't help exclaiming at the weapons displayed on the tablet in his hands.

Chainsaw swords, lightsabers, laser cutters, web shooters, blue-flame Gatling guns-all of them looked incredibly powerful.

He excitedly opened the weapon demonstration videos and nearly spat his water onto the tablet.

The chainsaw sword was just a chainsaw with a few watermelon knives attached, while the laser cutter took a full three minutes just to cut through a steel plate.

The web shooter was even more ridiculous. Sure, it could shoot webs, but they snapped with a single tug. It was fucking useless.

Seeing Baicang's gloomy expression, the employee hurriedly explained, "Sorry, Mr. Baicang, but these are the only weapons you can redeem with your points."

"What points?" Baicang looked utterly baffled.

"Oh, here's how it works..."

The Hero Association also provided Professional Heroes with weapons, vehicles, combat suits, and a whole range of other services. Custom orders were available, and quality was guaranteed. These services were trusted by heroes at large and supposedly received quite favorable reviews.

Most of the equipment was expensive, but fortunately, all of it could be redeemed with points.

After becoming a Professional Hero, a hero could earn points for every assigned mission completed or monster defeated.

Even C-Class heroes could save up points to exchange for powerful equipment that would improve their strength.

Of course, different incidents and monsters of different levels awarded different amounts of points. Accumulating points was extremely difficult for lower-ranked heroes.

Baicang hadn't known any of this. Although the email the association had sent him contained a detailed explanation, he had closed the thirty- or forty-page presentation as soon as he saw it. After all, who actually read something that looked like an instruction manual?

"Then how many points do I have now?"

"Let me check... Yes, you've resolved two cases so far: a bank robbery involving a gang and a Wolf-level Frog Monster. You have 500 points."

The employee quickly found Baicang's current record. He had only defeated the Sunflower Monster today, so it probably hadn't been recorded yet.

Sigh, I'll have to spend money again. I'm so broke. If only some rich woman would keep me.

Wait! Didn't I just meet a young rich woman today?

The Fubuki Group might not have money, but they should have points, right? I only just joined, so I won't ask for a suit. Just a few points will do.

"Can I use someone else's points to buy things?"

"Well... As long as they agree, that's fine."

Baicang immediately took out his phone, called Fubuki, and explained his request.

Fubuki was a little surprised that Baicang had come to her for a favor so soon, but she was generous about it. Her answer was simple: buy whatever he wanted!

When it came to a promising newcomer like Baicang, Fubuki had already decided to invest heavily in keeping him. He could borrow points today and something else tomorrow. As long as his ties to the Fubuki Group grew deeper, he would never escape her grasp.

It was just a shame she would have to earn those points all over again. Still, the Fubuki Group had plenty of members, and plenty of people would help her earn them back.

Baicang gave the employee Fubuki's information. She adjusted the tablet's settings and handed it back to him.

Looking at the completely different page and the new selection of weapons, Baicang was very pleased.

So this is what having money feels like. Awesome!

Suddenly, Baicang spotted a familiar red-and-white combat suit. Wasn't that what Red Head had worn when Puri-Puri Prisoner caught him last time?

"Where do these weapons come from?" Baicang asked in confusion.

"Most are recovered from wanted criminals or sold to us by heroes. We also have products developed by the association itself," the employee answered with a smile.

Used by wanted criminals? And sold by heroes?

The thought of buying a weapon that had been used by a hero like Puri-Puri Prisoner sent a chill through Baicang.

"I think I'll go with a custom order. It's more hygienic."

"All our weapons undergo professional inspection and cleaning, so there won't be any hygiene issues. Custom orders also cost more," the employee assured him, checking whether he still wanted one.

Baicang said that wasn't the kind of hygiene issue he meant, and insisted on ordering a custom weapon. As for the price, there was absolutely no need to worry.

As long as Fubuki stayed afloat, so would he.

After giving the employee his requirements for the weapon, Baicang also bought the same motorcycle model as Mizuki's while he was at it.

He rode the flashy heavy motorcycle home, turning heads all along the way.

Who's Pinky? Never heard of it, honestly.

To soothe Runo, whose little lips were still twisted in a pout, Baicang had no choice but to take her out for a ride lasting several hours before she finally stopped asking him about psychic powers.

Night fell.

Diligent as ever, Kenta had been waiting for Baicang at the intersection since shortly after noon.

After he told Baicang about the Yamato Group, news that its boss had turned himself in while all the other members remained at large made the headlines early the next morning.

According to rumors, the hero backing the Yamato Group had even been B-Class, yet he had been beaten into insanity and locked up in a psychiatric hospital.

The Yamato Group's boss had also confessed to numerous crimes, bringing down several corrupt officials and unscrupulous businessmen. His original death sentence had been reduced to life imprisonment, but the price was the complete destruction of everything he had built over the years.

That showed just how ruthless and terrifying the man calling himself Batman could be.

If Kenta kept working for him, he would either get beaten to death by his fellow gangsters or die of fright himself. Fortunately, tonight was the last night. He would finally be free.

"Right on time."

A raspy voice came from behind him, and Kenta hurriedly put out the cigarette in his hand.

"B-boss, good evening."

Kenta hurriedly bent at the waist and greeted Baicang with a smile, pulling the information he had prepared from inside his clothes.

Looking at the barely legible handwriting, Baicang nodded. He flipped through only a few pages before putting it away, his eyes behind the mask staring straight at Kenta.

"Boss, is there anything else you need?"

Kenta's face went pale as he looked nervously at Baicang. His legs trembled uncontrollably, afraid that Baicang was going to kill him to silence him.

"You haven't gone back to your old ways these past few days, have you?"

"No, absolutely not! I've turned over a new leaf! Boss!"

Seeing Baicang raise his right hand, Kenta screamed in terror. He tried to run, only to collapse straight onto the ground.

Bang!