Chapter 360

The two said nothing more and walked a bit further.

Genos stopped under a streetlamp.

"Teacher, I've made my decision."

Gokuu looked at him.

Genos stared at him with firm resolve: "I want to go back for another overhaul."

"Oh, I see. Then we'll meet again later."

"Yes, then excuse me."

After speaking, Genos bowed deeply to Gokuu, then turned and left.

Inside the phone he held, he had already saved the phone numbers of Luo En and Fubuki.

Gokuu waved at him, then turned away as well.

…………

On the other side.

Luo En and Fubuki passed over a bridge crowded with vehicles.

Fubuki, wrapped in a white fur-lined coat, glanced at Luo En beside her and said: "Including tonight, you now owe me over two hundred thousand yen—don't forget."

Luo En yawned and replied: "Only two hundred thousand? That shouldn't be much for you."

"What do you mean 'not much'? My money has to cover all expenses for the Fubuki Group—it's a real struggle, and lately I've been tight on cash."

"Then just cut back a little on your own food, clothes, and travel—eat ramen and beef rice sometimes."

"I can't do that!"

"You're really troublesome. I even gave you a huge share of the credit—didn't the Hero Association reward you?"

"As for the credit from that incident… I split it evenly among all members of the Fubuki Group."

"……."

"Anyway, remember to pay me back later."

"Yes, yes."

Luo En replied lazily.

He could have pulled some gold and jewels from his system space right now to repay Fubuki, but he figured explaining it would be a hassle, and it wasn't a big deal anyway—he'd pay her back later after exchanging the money.

The night breeze gently brushed through their hair.

Compared to the air of the Pirate World and the Demon Slayer World, this world's air carried an extra hint of urban life.

Later, the two parted at an intersection and returned to their respective homes.

That night.

Fubuki lay on her bed in her mansion, remembering something that troubled her.

"Come to think of it… why did that S-class cybernetic demon call that C-class bald man 'teacher'?"

……………………

Luo En had expected Genos to come find him for a fight the next day, but he didn't—this surprised him.

After that day off ended, Fubuki led the Fubuki Group in continuing hero activities in City Z and nearby cities.

The city remained peaceful.

Luo En enjoyed four days of leisurely urban life: wandering the streets by day searching for food and desserts, lingering in bars at night sampling fine wines, and waking up the next morning in the beds of women with different styles.

This routine lasted four days.

These five days.

After learning from Genos that a C-class hero would be removed from the hero registry if they didn't perform any hero activities for a week.

A bald, cloak-wearing hero sprinted through the city at terrifying speed, his expression twisted in fury.

"Monster! Where's the monster destroying the city?!"

After Gokuu left, at home.

Genos, having undergone another performance upgrade and mentally prepared, stared at the phone number on his screen, his eyes narrowing, then dialed.

"Moxi moshi, are you free today…?"

A dessert shop.

Wearing a baseball cap, Luo En smiled into the phone while eating the premium dessert before him: "Nothing urgent—what time and place?"

"Three this afternoon. I'll wait for you in the abandoned zone of City Z."

"Alright."

The call ended.

Luo En checked the time—it was only 1:30 p. m.

No rush.

He continued eating his dessert slowly and calmly.

"By the way."

Luo En remembered something.

He pulled out his phone, typed with one hand, and sent a text message to someone.

…………

At this moment.

Fubuki was leading the Fubuki Group on patrol in City F near City Z.

Lily, a C-class hero ranked 74th and a trusted member of the Fubuki Group, stood nearby with her coat in hand—her single ponytail swinging, dressed in a black suit—her eyes filled with admiration as she watched Fubuki issue orders like a queen.

Suddenly.

The phone in her arms vibrated.

Lily pulled out her phone, glanced at it, and called to Hui Xue beside her:

"Leader."

"Thank you."

Hui Xue walked over upon hearing the voice, took the phone from her hand, opened it, and her expression grew slightly tense.

"Three in the afternoon… It's now one forty."

"Lily, how long does it take to get from here to Z City's no-man's-land?"

Lily paused, thought carefully, and replied: "If we take the train, it'll take about two hours; by car, at least an hour and a half."

"Let's go!"

Hui Xue grabbed her hand and ran toward the black car parked nearby.

"L-Leader?"

Hu Zi and Shan Yuan, the B-Class second and third-ranked heroes, hurriedly asked: "What are you going to do? What about the situation here?"

"I have something to attend to. Hu Zi, Shan Yuan, I'm leaving this place in your hands."

With that, Hui Xue pulled Lily along and walked away without looking back.

Left behind was the bewildered Hui Xue Team.

…………

The time was now 2:30 p. m.

Z City's no-man's-land.

"So this is Z City's so-called 'Ghost Town'… Truly desolate and abandoned."

A-Class hero #33, Spring Hu Zi, stroked his beard and said: "Well, given how frequently weirdos appear here, it'd be strange if anyone still lived here."

A-Class hero #29, Golden Ball, wearing a white hood, chewed on a lollipop with his hands in his pockets: "Let's start the investigation right away."

The two walked down the streets of the no-man's-land, talking as they went.

"In Z City, the frequency of weirdo appearances has overwhelmingly surpassed all other regions. Several years ago, the appearance of high-rank weirdos surged, and most residents relocated to the central zone."

"I know. That's why only essential utilities like water and electricity remain here—now it's a ghost town."

"The land prices here must be dirt cheap now."

"Hah, don't joke. Rumor has it there's a super-terrifying weirdo lurking here—you've heard that, right?"

"Of course. That's why the Association sent us here to investigate… We're about to enter the heart of the no-man's-land. Stay alert."

"I know."

The two entered the heart of the no-man's-land. The surroundings grew even more dilapidated, littered with traces of battles and destruction.

"If weirdos have taken root here, this place must conceal some secret."