Reborn with Steve Stand

Chapter 616: Serious Piston: Pensive Pistoning

Given recent developments, it seems there might be new information from the association.

After pondering for a long time, Fang Mo decided to set aside his current tasks and check it out.

Since Ancient One had disappeared, and Fang Mo didn't feel like opening the door, he simply flew over from Z City and soon arrived at the new headquarters of the Hero Association.

The new headquarters of the Hero Association had indeed undergone major changes. Originally, A City seemed to be the capital, but after a series of discussions, the association transformed the area into something resembling a battle fortress. To be honest, Fang Mo found the transformation a bit excessive.

If Fang Mo remembered correctly...

The incident involving the invasion of the Dark Matter Thieves... It seemed to have happened just a few days ago, right?

That means the Hero Association transformed A City into a pure battle fortress in just a few days. Although the construction was entirely carried out by the S-Class hero Metal Knight, it was still quite astonishing.

If it were up to Fang Mo to handle it, he could easily destroy this place in an instant, but rebuilding it... That would be beyond his capabilities alone.

It's just that industrialists are naturally cut out for this kind of work.

As mentioned earlier, the current headquarters of the Hero Association is like a fortress city. With the headquarters at its center, it's connected by a dense network of railways that crisscross like a spider web, functioning as a transportation hub leading to various cities around, probably to facilitate heroes' support for other cities.

But the more Fang Mo looked, the more he felt a sense of déjà vu.

How to put it...

It felt like a base from a children's animated series.

"Damn it, Metal Knight must have watched Hikarian as a kid, right?" Fang Mo muttered as he descended from the sky, unable to help but critique the architectural appearance: "What was that villain called? Oh right... Tomy Lightning Super Express."

With these thoughts in his head, Fang Mo walked through a door into the interior of the fortress.

Perhaps because the association had just been invaded by the Monster Association, everyone was still on alert, or perhaps it was because the new headquarters had more advanced equipment. In any case, the staff's efficiency had noticeably improved. As soon as Fang Mo entered, someone immediately led him to the conference room.

When Fang Mo arrived at the conference room, he found that quite a few people were already there.

However, most of these people were either high-ranking members of the Hero Association or sponsors, and not many S-Class heroes were present.

Currently, the only S-Class heroes present were Tornado, Child Emperor, Pig God, and Darkshine, along with a few others dressed in strange costumes who might also be heroes, though Fang Mo didn't recognize them, probably A or B-Class heroes.

"Hello, Priest," said a man in a suit as he approached Fang Mo: "I am the overall commander of this operation against the Monster Association, you can call me Sekingar."

Saying this, Sekingar politely raised his hand.

"Oh... hello," Fang Mo casually shook his hand and then walked towards the S-Class heroes, sitting between Pig God and Tornado.

Seeing this, Child Emperor slightly pursed his lips in disappointment.

However, Sekingar didn't notice Child Emperor's subtle expression. In fact, after shaking hands with Fang Mo, he seemed to breathe a sigh of relief.

The information below seemed accurate; the Hero Association's major sponsor and S-Class hero, the Priest, was indeed easy to talk to. Thinking this, Sekingar immediately followed up with Fang Mo: "Priest, thank you for coming. With your participation in this operation, we can finally breathe a sigh of relief."

"Hmph."

However, as soon as Sekingar spoke, Tornado seemed displeased, ready to deal with the Monster Association herself, and immediately asked: "Enough, Sekingar, can we act now? Have you found the headquarters of the Monster Association?"

"We've located it approximately, but we are still fine-tuning the coordinates," Sekingar said, turning to look at Child Emperor, who had been responsible for the positioning.

Hearing this, everyone's gaze turned to Child Emperor.

"Oh, I see."

Seeing everyone looking at him, Child Emperor tried to perk up and said, "I've locked onto an area, the uninhabited zone in Z City, but the specific location and entrance... I'm still looking."

"Z City's uninhabited zone?"

Hearing this, Tornado suddenly turned to Fang Mo: "Wait, isn't that where your house is? Speaking of which, Fubuki has been running there lately, you wouldn't have—"

"I'm not, I didn't, don't talk nonsense."

Fang Mo flatly denied: "Didn't I tell you before? I'm a copper refining master; I have no interest in your sister..."

"Then Fubuki..."

"She's probably at Saitama's place," Fang Mo casually said: "But I'm not sure if this is world is Kisoyumi Hurricane or Yusuke Murata... After all, some say Kisoyumi Hurricane is just Murata's alias, so maybe Fubuki has already seriously dealt with him."

"Seriously dealt with? What does that mean?"

Tornado immediately became interested: "You mean that bald guy who often moves with you? What did he do to Fubuki?"

As Tornado pressed for answers, Fang Mo suddenly summoned Steve and laid out a piston on the ground, casually stroking the piston while saying: "Your Excellency certainly has strong psychokinetic powers, but if I bring out a Serious Piston... How would Your Excellency respond?"

"???"

Seeing this, Tornado was also confused: "Where did you pull that thing from? What is it?"

"Uh... sorry."

However, Fang Mo's reply only confused Tornado further: "I forgot to bring an End Rod this time, so make do with this."

"I'm asking about Fubuki!"

Tornado, somewhat impatient, slapped the table: "Just tell me what happened to her!"

"Fubuki is a hotpot group matter... What does it have to do with me, a barbecue party?" Fang Mo said, suddenly turning serious and pounding his hand: "Hmm, decided, let's have barbecue tonight... Pig God, wanna come over to my place for barbecue tonight?"

"…Ah?"

Pig God, who was next to him, was startled: "Me?"

"Hotpot group? What's that?"

Tornado, clearly very concerned about this issue, was about to ask again when Sekingar suddenly coughed: "Ahem, Miss Tornado..."

"Stop talking!"

Tornado, somewhat annoyed, shouted: "Monster Association or whatever, it's not important at all, I'll just go there and level the place!"

"?"

Fang Mo immediately looked at Tornado: "Not personal revenge? You're going to destroy my house?"

"You can move."

Tornado bluntly said: "You're a major sponsor of the association, you're not short of money, are you?"

"Uh... Miss Tornado, please don't do this."

However, before the two could discuss anything further, Sekingar quickly interjected: "The enemy has hostages, Mr. Waganma must not die no matter what."

"That's right! My son absolutely must not be harmed!"

At that moment, a wealthy man in a suit suddenly pushed through the door, looking anxious and immediately shouted loudly towards the conference table: "My son must not be harmed under any circumstances! I've invested a lot of money in you guys!"

This sudden shout drew everyone's attention to him.

"Mr. Narikin."

Seeing this, Sekingar quickly spoke up to reassure him: "Please rest assured, we will rescue your son as quickly as possible."

"Then what are we waiting for, go save him now!"

Narikin was clearly very anxious: "They said they will kill Waganma within three days, how can you sit still... Aren't you heroes? Then go save him now!"

"Ugh... the most troublesome guy shows up."

Tornado, seeing him, immediately turned away in displeasure.

"You also have people you're afraid of, huh?" Fang Mo, seeing this, couldn't help but tease Tornado.

"I'm just simply finding it troublesome."

Tornado explained softly to Fang Mo: "This guy is Narikin, one of the association's largest sponsors, and because he's a sponsor, the association's leadership can't really do anything about him."

"I see."

Fang Mo tilted his head: "Speaking of sponsors... I guess I am one too, huh?"

"Hmm?"

Tornado paused, not understanding why Fang Mo suddenly brought this up, but Fang Mo didn't give her much time to think and immediately called out to Narikin.

"Hey, old Nar, you really want to save your son, right?"

Seeing Fang Mo smiling and saying, "I have a way that only needs thirty minutes, and your son will appear before you, alive and kicking."

"What did you say?"

Narikin immediately looked at Fang Mo: "You can save my son's life? Tell me what it is, whatever it takes, funds or something else... as long as you can bring my son back, I'll arrange it for you right away!"

"I have a divine art that can cleanse all filth from the earth."

Fang Mo said with a smile: "But this move is quite powerful, it's the kind that can permanently erase an entire area from the map... so I can instantly annihilate the Monster Association."

"Wait a second."

Narikin immediately interrupted: "I asked you to save my son, not destroy whatever Monster Association..."

"I know, I know."

Fang Mo waved his hand to calm him: "But I also have another skill, Eternal Life... ah, no, I mean Resurrection Magic. If you're willing to let your son play Genshin Impact for the rest of his life, then I can resurrect him."

"...Ah?"

Narikin was stunned upon hearing this, his eyes wide open, unsure of what to say.

In fact, not just him, but also the other association executives, Sekingar, and some A and B-Class heroes present were equally dumbfounded. Was there such an operation?

"No, wait a minute."

After thinking for a long time, Narikin seemed to also react, directly raising his hand: "You said to resurrect my son... but the premise is to kill my son first, right? So why don't you just go save my son?"

"It's very troublesome, brother."

Fang Mo simply spread his hands: "For example, those monsters are holding a knife to your son's throat, threatening us. Even if we are S-Class heroes... there's no way to save him then. If you move, your son will definitely die. What would you do in my place?"

"I could give them..."

"They are monsters; they only want to see humans extinct, your money means nothing to them." Before Narikin could finish speaking, Fang Mo interrupted him.

"But..."

Narikin couldn't help but say: "Dying once would be so painful..."

"Don't worry, my move is very powerful." Fang Mo reassured him seriously: "Under Original God, all beings are equal. My move might even directly penetrate the mantle, instantly evaporating everything... ensuring your son feels no pain, leaves comfortably, and dies with clarity."

"Moreover, do you know what your son is going through right now?"

Before Narikin could say anything, Fang Mo continued persuasively: "I've already said, they're monsters, they only like hearing humans wail... Have you considered what terrible experiences your son is undergoing at the Monster Association? Is he living a fate worse than death?"

"This..."

Hearing this, Narikin clearly became anxious.

It was obvious that his heart was torn; on one hand, he really couldn't bear to see his child suffer, but to say he couldn't bear the suffering and then kill him... that felt even weirder, didn't it?

After a moment, Narikin finally spoke slowly.

"I..."

His expression clearly grew more haggard, his voice weak: "Can you give me some time? I... might need to think about this."

"You'd better hurry."

Fang Mo smiled: "After all, every minute you delay, your son might be tormented for another sixty seconds."

"I..."

"Alright, stop scaring him."

Before Narikin could say anything, Tornado couldn't watch any longer and interrupted their conversation: "Mr. Narikin, I suggest you go home and get some good sleep. Maybe by the time you wake up, we'll have rescued your son."

"Yes."

Child Emperor also chimed in: "Mr. Narikin, I'm already searching for the specific location of the Monster Association overnight. I believe we will rescue your son very soon."

After saying this, Child Emperor specifically addressed the other S-Class heroes.

"Mr. Darkshine, Mr. Pig God, please also say a word."

"I..." Darkshine had been zoning out and only reacted when he heard this, mumbling with his head lowered: "Um... although I'm not very confident, rest assured, the other S-Class heroes are still very strong."

"Mr. Darkshine... that doesn't sound like something you would say."

Child Emperor found it strange but still turned to Pig God: "Mr. Pig God, please also encourage Mr. Narikin."

"Munch munch..."

Pig God, who was holding a watermelon and munching on it, didn't put down the watermelon at Child Emperor's reminder and said while eating: "We'll do our best..."

"Holy crap, big brother, you eat watermelon with the skin?"

Seeing this, Fang Mo couldn't help but pat Pig God's back: "Not... I heard Darkshine got tan later in life, you don't need to be so guarded against him, right?"

"Ah?"

Pig God looked down at Fang Mo somewhat blankly.

"Here, eat this instead." Fang Mo smiled and handed over a huge slab of hydra meat: "This stuff is powerful."

Pig God seemed a bit confused; he had no prior interactions with Fang Mo, yet here he was being offered food. Although it was a bit inexplicable... he definitely wouldn't pass up food coming his way, so he grabbed the basin-sized meat slab and crammed it into his mouth.

But just one bite, and Pig God was immediately stunned.

He hadn't expected it to be so delicious, and for a moment, even his chewing slowed down.

While Fang Mo and Pig God were interacting, Sekingar finally managed to calm down the visibly worried Narikin. Then, he continued the meeting with everyone.

The strategy settled upon was that the Hero Association would launch a full-scale assault on the monster organization in three days.

The reason for the three-day wait was because the exact location of the Monster Association was still being confirmed, and some heroes were still en route. Organizing a complete team also required time.

Considering Narikin's reaction, Sekingar stated that Fang Mo's plan was also adopted, but as a backup plan. If Narikin became too agitated, or if there were severe issues with the main assault plan, they would consider Fang Mo's suggestion.

As the meeting concluded and everyone prepared to disperse, Tornado suddenly grabbed Fang Mo.

"I've been thinking it over a bit, and something still doesn't sit right with me," Tornado said, staring intently at Fang Mo. "You better explain to me, what exactly is a 'Serious Piston'?"