Chapter 888: Civilization Level and Funding, Visibly Improved!

Learning that he could not increase his Qi, Genos did not insist.

"Thank you for your guidance today."

He bowed to Broly in thanks.

"No need for courtesy, you have paid the fee."

"A fee is a fee; there are people in this world who take the fee but don't do the job wholeheartedly, but Mr. Broly is different. I can feel that you are teaching me real things wholeheartedly."

"I have some attainment in Kendo; if you choose a sword as your weapon, you may come find me again, and I should be able to give you some more guidance."

"Many thanks."

Genos performed a fist salute and bowed once more.

"Right, Mr. Broly, I wonder if you have conducted any hero activities in the past week?"

Before parting, Genos recalled that Saitama-sensei had recently been staying home diligently studying fighting videos and not going out to do hero activities, so he couldn't help but ask.

"Hero activities? What specifically do you mean?"

Hearing this, Broly looked at him with some doubt.

"It means striking down criminals, catching thieves, solving Mysterious Beings — the acts heroes do."

"Recently I've been busy running around cities for beauty pageants; as for criminals and thieves, I haven't paid much attention, and as for Mysterious Beings, I haven't encountered any recently either."

Broly spoke the truth.

"Then Mr. Broly, you had best pay attention. Because there are many C-Class Heroes, the Hero Association does have certain activity level requirements.

If you go a full week without performing any decent hero acts, it is possible you will be deemed unfit and removed from the C-Class Heroes."

"Eh, there's even this kind of thing?"

"The Hero Association gives heroes a monthly Hero Bonus; put bluntly, it's a base salary, so having some requirements for heroes is normal.

Of course, this clause mainly targets C-Class Heroes; as for B-Class and above heroes, there is no such hard activity requirement.

Hmm, all this is written in the Hero Manual previously issued to us; Mr. Broly, you wouldn't be like Saitama-sensei and not have looked at it, using the manual directly to prop up a table leg, would you?"

Broly:

He recalled that the Hero Association had indeed issued such a thing to him, but it looked a bit like some kind of publicity booklet; after receiving it he flipped through it slightly, then casually tossed it into the trash can.

"Genos, are there any other requirements for C-Class Heroes?"

"No more."

"How to promote to B-Class Hero?"

"Become C-Class Rank 1, then you can choose to promote."

"Thanks for the reminder; when free later, I'll treat you to a meal."

"Okay."

Genos did not refuse, agreed, and left.

"Mosquito Girl, when we go shopping this afternoon, let's conveniently see if there are any heroic deeds to do on the road."

"Okay, then I'll manipulate some mosquitoes as eyes and ears, and have those little guys help find bad guys."

Although she couldn't stir up a Mosquito Disaster, a certain degree of Mosquito Swarm manipulation was still possible.

With Mosquito Girl's help, in one afternoon Broly caught three thieves and two robbers.

Very simply, he completed the Hero Association's weekly KPI assessment for C-Class Heroes.

At the same time, Genos also returned to Dr. Kuseno's Research Institute and explained his needs to the Justice Scientist who had once saved his life and modified his body — an old man with a Mushroom Hair hairstyle.

"Dr. Kuseno, I want to ask you to forge a sufficiently sharp sword."

"Eh, Genos, what do you want a sword for?"

The old man was somewhat doubtful.

"I went to consult a teacher today; the other party believed my attack method is too single, and suggested I enrich my own attack means —"

Genos relayed Broly's words to Dr. Kuseno in his own words.

"Previously you only researched improving the mecha's strength, yet forgot that external equipment can also significantly improve your own combat capability. It seems the teacher you consulted has rich practical experience — is it Saitama, whom you mentioned before?"

"No, it is another person."

"You have quite a few excellent teachers around you. Fine, I'll help you forge a sword-type weapon from alloy. However, besides that, I think protective gear can also be forged. Genos, what do you think?"

"Good, then I'll listen to you, Dr. Kuseno."

Genos nodded.

"Forging these things takes some time; come back in a week to pick them up."

After bidding farewell to Dr. Kuseno, Genos returned to the house Saitama rents in Z-City. Upon entering, he saw a delighted Saitama: "Genos, today I was really lucky. I thought I wouldn't find any criminals, but unexpectedly that ninja from before came looking for trouble again, rampaging in the city, and just happened to be beaten down and caught by me."

Saitama had the look of someone who found money on the street.

"That is truly congratulations, Saitama-sensei."

Genos congratulated him sincerely.

"By the way, where did you go? How come you're back so late? Could it be you went to the supermarket to snatch discounted goods?"

Saitama said jokingly.

"I went to find Mr. Broly today and asked him for guidance; I benefited greatly, then went to find Dr. Kuseno —"

Genos did not conceal his day's experiences, then apologized to Saitama: "Sorry, Saitama-sensei. This morning you told me to train my will, saying I shouldn't spend time on technique training. I didn't listen —"

"Uh, it's fine. As long as your strength has improved, it's a good thing."

Saitama's expression was somewhat stiff; he fundamentally didn't dare say that his morning teachings were just random nonsense because he didn't know how to teach him.

"As long as you're not seeking quick success, keep a good mindset. You can do whatever you want to do."

Saitama coughed twice, then patched up and supplemented his morning talk about training the will.

"Right, Genos, how much did it cost to hire Broly as a sparring partner?"

"Ten million."

"Ah?!"

"What's wrong, Saitama-sensei?"

"Cough cough, since you feel you've made great progress today, how about we go to the wilds tomorrow to spar? What do you think?"

When facing that troublesome Sound Speed Ninja brat today, Saitama had originally wanted to try out the combat techniques he'd learned from watching videos these past few days, but the guy collapsed from a single hand knife strike, so he really couldn't tell if his own technique had gotten stronger.

He couldn't afford to hire Broly as a sparring partner, but he could spar with his own disciple who had hired Broly as a sparring partner, letting the disciple serve as his sparring partner.

Broly spars with Genos, and he also spars with Genos; round it off, and that means he's remotely sparring with Broly!

"Ah, would that be too much trouble for Saitama-sensei?"

"What trouble or not trouble, since you're my disciple, it's only right and proper for me as your teacher to be your sparring partner."

Saitama spoke with righteous conviction.

"Saitama-sensei!"

Genos was deeply moved.

"Tonight, please let me make a big meal to thank you."

"Ah, no need for that, just cook normally."

Saitama was embarrassed, but couldn't stop Genos's enthusiasm.

"Please wait a moment, Saitama-sensei, I'll be right back."

Genos carried a vegetable basket out from the balcony and flew toward the supermarket, preparing to purchase some ingredients.

Saitama watched his disciple fly far away, only feeling immense pressure.

"No good, Broly teaches so well, I as the real teacher must also produce something."

Saitama hurriedly opened his computer and searched the internet for what a normal person could teach a cyborg.

"Cleaning and maintenance of cyborg metal parts?"

"Selection of machine oils for various mechanical structures?"

The search results, however, left Saitama scratching his head a bit.

Still, he managed to download these things into a USB drive before Genos returned.

In the evening, Broly held Mosquito Girl in a deep connection state, discussing the Dual Cultivation Qi-Enhancing Dao with her; Mosquito Girl moaned continuously during the discussion, never expecting that getting stronger through qi enhancement could be so simple — no bitter cultivation, no death training needed, just enjoying pleasure with Broly.

The next day, Saitama acted as Genos's sparring partner in his capacity as teacher; exchanging blows again, Saitama could sense the change in Genos's strength.

Although he could still easily handle it, Genos had indeed become much stronger; Saitama suppressed his power and speed, using some combat techniques in a measured way to spar with his disciple for a while, and only after being attacked by Genos dozens of times did he knock Genos down.

"Hmm, Genos, you've improved greatly, but you must not be arrogant; the road ahead of you is still very long——"

Saitama, with some alloy iron filings on his head, spoke post-battle reflections with a straight face; after saying some words of elder encouragement to a junior, he took out the USB drive from his pocket and handed it to Genos: "Take this, carefully consider and humbly study the contents inside."

"Yes."

Genos took the USB drive, raised his hand to reveal an interface, seemingly preparing to examine the contents on the spot.

Seeing this, Saitama froze a bit.

"Ah, Genos, I just remembered I have something to do, so I'll take my leave first."

Worried Genos would ask what the USB drive contents meant, Saitama, after saying this, fled the scene as if escaping.

"Eh, cleaning and maintenance of metal parts, selection of various machine oils——"

Genos looked at the USB drive contents with some confusion, but there was no one left at the scene to ask.

"What use are these things Saitama-sensei gave me? My body maintenance is basically all handled by Dr. Kuseno; did he give me the wrong thing?

No, absolutely impossible; Saitama-sensei giving me these things must have deep meaning——"

Genos stood in place, pondering deeply.

In the evening, Saitama, who had hid outside all day, carefully returned home, and saw Genos maintaining a mechanical arm at the low table.

"Genos, what are you doing?"

"Saitama-sensei, you're back; hmm, I'm maintaining the mechanical parts on my body according to what you instructed, Teacher."

"Uh, Genos, don't you have any doubts about what I gave you?"

Saitama had already prepared to do dogeza and apologize; think about it and you'd know — he clearly had no ability to teach the other, but for the sake of face he faked it, downloaded useless things, and still insisted they were useful.

"At first I had some doubts, but now I understand Saitama-sensei's deep meaning; you had me maintain my body's parts, which is actually to let me understand my current state — as the saying goes, know yourself and know your enemy and you'll win a hundred battles; this is you letting me understand myself more clearly."

Genos answered with a serious face.

"Ah——"

Saitama's mouth gaped open; so he actually had this kind of deep meaning?

"What's wrong, Saitama-sensei?"

Genos looked over in confusion.

"Nothing, I'm just a bit relieved that you understood my deep meaning so quickly."

Saitama returned to normal.

【Maintaining parts, understanding oneself — this isn't a bad thing after all.】

Saitama thought to himself.

Time quickly arrived at the day to collect equipment.

"Mr. Broly, I'd like to book swordsmanship instruction; wonder when you're free?"

After getting new equipment from Dr. Kuseno, Genos immediately called Broly.

"Afternoon, I can spare some time."

"Alright, then I'll book the afternoon; by the way, is something happening on your end? I seem to hear some heavy breathing."

"Hiss, nothing much, just helping Mosquito Girl cultivate qi."

"I see."

Genos felt a pang of envy, but he also knew he couldn't cultivate that Qi.

"Then where will you be? What time this afternoon should I come find you?"

"No need for you to come find me; I'll go find you. As for the time, an hour and a half from now. You just directly find a convenient open space for instruction and wait for me there."

Broly calculated the time the Mosquito Girl's remaining physical strength could support, and gave Genos an answer with a high error tolerance.

An hour and a half later, Broly arrived with the Mosquito Girl as promised, and besides Genos, Saitama was also waiting at the scene.

"Broly, while you're instructing Genos, can I watch from the side? Of course, I won't interfere with your instruction?"

Saitama made the request; he was training combat skills blindly on his own, and due to lacking opponents with sufficient numerical value for practical experience, he always felt he wasn't making progress, yet he wanted to judge his own degree of mastery over the skills by observing Genos's situation.

"Sure."

Broly glanced at Saitama, nodded, and agreed. Strictly speaking, this actually had the suspicion of stealing lessons, but since Genos was paying the sparring partner fee, he felt one more observer didn't matter.

"Thanks, I'll treat you to dinner tonight. Huh, not going to the noodle shop to eat noodles; I just received the prize money, I can afford a big meal."

Broly didn't refuse Saitama's invitation to a big meal, and directly started on the proper business: "Genos, I need to see your sword first."

Genos nodded, beckoned, and a bright silver alloy sword flew out from the metal box at the side, its blade loaded with some propulsion units, and it landed in Genos's palm.

"This is the sword Dr. Kuseno forged for me, and besides it, he also forged a shield."

The metal box deformed, and an equally mechanical-feeling alloy composite shield also flew onto Genos's other hand.

Visibly, this funding warrior's funding had gone up another notch.

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