「 "I can't make any guarantees..." Stelle smiled mischievously.
"Just... Ugh, whatever, I got myself into this — let fate decide. Just try and hold back a little, okay!?" Cloud Knight shivered.
The discussion was almost over, so the two called for Green Hibiscus, and under his witness, they began their duel.
Stelle, without a word, pulled out a baseball bat, and an astonishing aura immediately revealed itself!
"Rules are meant to be broken—!"
"Eh, wait!" Cloud Knight was so scared by her stance that he couldn't even hold his formation blade steady.
"You're serious!? Don't... go easy, easy—"
Unfortunately, before he could finish, Stelle had already swung the bat, and the poor Brother Cloud Knight immediately began to enjoy a baby-like sleep.
"Hoh, what excellent skill." Green Hibiscus praised endlessly. He squatted down to check Cloud Knight's breath, and finding no breathing, he was even more satisfied.
"I'm glad you prevailed — that Cloud Knight waltzed straight up to us in uniform and asked if he could join — hardly a convincing spectacle. I doubt I ever could've trusted him."
"Purple Chrysanthemum, Blue Peach, find somewhere to dispose of the body." 」
「 .....」
〜Genshin Impact World〜
"This Green Hibiscus really has eight hundred tricks up his sleeve. Even if Brother Cloud Knight had won against Stelle, he probably wouldn't have let him pass."
Arataki Itto felt indignant for Brother Cloud Knight:
"No wonder the Disciples of Sanctus Medicus are an illegal gang? They put all their effort into dealing with their members. With people like this, even a legitimate gang would become a mess."
"Uh, Boss..."
Kuki Shinobu lowered her voice,
"Actually, our Arataki Gang isn't exactly a legitimate gang in the eyes of the Shogunate..."
"Shinobu, don't mind such details."
Itto stared intently at the light screen, his expression more serious than ever:
"I'm very angry right now. They're treating a new member of the gang like this... I must personally witness how the Disciples of Sanctus Medicus are dealt with by Stelle!"
—
「 "I'll handle it," Stelle volunteered.
"Oh, you've dealt with this kind of thing before?" Green Hibiscus's face was full of suspicion.
Stelle had a perverse smile: "I like collecting these..."
"Uh... collecting?"
Green Hibiscus was stunned, but he quickly expressed understanding: "Ahem, very well— One cannot make friends without a hobby."
Considering Stelle's unusual way of thinking, it was normal for her to have some quirks. In short, Green Hibiscus still entrusted this task to Stelle and stated that he would report the matter truthfully to his superiors.
He also gave Stelle an organizational codename—Gray Peony.
"What a tasteless name, not even as good as 'Galaxy Baseball Bat Hero'..." Stelle muttered to herself, then took Cloud Knight back to a safe place.
"Phew!"
Cloud Knight, who had just lost his pulse and heartbeat, suddenly stood up from the ground, greedily taking large breaths of fresh air: "I did a good job playing dead, didn't I?" 」
「 .....」
〜Baki World〜
"Indeed, it's the victory of martial arts!"
Looking at the resurrected Cloud Knight soldier, Kaku Kaioh showed a relieved expression:
"There is no better self-defense technique in the world than death. Although this Cloud Knight looks weak, he deeply understands the essence of martial arts."
"Is feigning death also considered the essence of martial arts? How cunning..."
Miyamoto Musashi could not hide the sneer on his face,
"I originally thought the essence of martial arts was more exquisite moves?"
"Martial arts and techniques are inherently cunning things. When insects and animals determine they cannot win or encounter danger, they use mimicry to pretend to be dead."
Kaku Kaioh said calmly:
"You can look down on it, or say it's cunning, it doesn't matter... but the result is that they can continue to live."
"That Cloud Knightwas in dire straits and even fought Stelle... he came out alive, this is the victory of martial arts! If it were you, Miyamoto Musashi, could you do it!?"
This sentence was like a tiger's roar and a dragon's cry, shaking everyone present.
And Miyamoto Musashi seemed to be suppressed by an ironclad fact, lowering his head and falling into deep thought.
Indeed, in that situation, besides feigning death, there was only one way: to defeat Stelle head-on... but this method, let alone that Cloud Knightcouldn't do it, even the fighters present might not be able to!
"Alright, Kaku Kaioh, I accept your answer."
Miyamoto Musashi sighed, then asked curiously:
"Then, regarding the essence of martial arts you mentioned... can you teach it to me?"
"You are still too young, Miyamoto Musashi."
Kaku Kaioh let out a "giggle" and said playfully:
"Wait another hundred years, then come back and ask me?"
—
「 "You... how are you still alive?" Stelle looked terrified, as if she had seen a zombie.
"Ah? You really intended to kill me just now!?" Cloud Knight was greatly alarmed.
He stared at Stelle's eyes for a long time, finally realizing that it was just a joke.
This person is so despicable... Cloud Knight smiled bitterly, helplessly.
After confirming that no one was tracking them, Cloud Knight returned to the Seat of Divine Foresight to report.
Soon after, Qingzu sent a text message, expressing gratitude to Stelle while also hoping that she would continue to investigate within the Disciples of Sanctus Medicus, with a focus on a Cloud Knight who had gone missing several months ago—Zhixin.
Putting down her phone, Stelle headed towards the agreed meeting place with Green Hibiscus.
Upon arriving, she found that Green Hibiscus was not there, only a letter addressed to "Gray Peony." Stelle realized it was left for her.
Opening it, the letter stated that a disciple absconded had defected and sent important intelligence to the Seat of Divine Foresight. Stelle's task was to intercept the intelligence. After the matter was done, he could continue to recommend Stelle upwards.
Green Hibiscus stated that as long as his superior nodded, Stelle could ascend to the immortal path with them. 」
「 .....」
〜One Punch Man World〜
Monster Association
"This Green Hibiscus is quite cautious. If the people our association sent to distribute cells could learn from him, then not so few humans would have transformed into monsters."
"Their organizational structure... hmm, is also worth learning. As for the method of ascending to the immortal path they mentioned, it should be something similar to monster cells, right?"
Gyoro Gyoro was looking at the monster cells in his hand, lost in thought.
As long as humans consumed this, they could instantly gain powerful strength and a long lifespan—although their bodies would uncontrollably become monstrous, overall it was a rather cost-effective deal.
Every year, humans succumb to temptation and eat monster cells, becoming members of the association. But the number is small, and the quality varies, with very few becoming "Dragon-level" monsters.
Both being "underground" organizations, Gyoro Gyoro was very curious about how the Disciples of Sanctus Medicus developed. Also wanting to grow bigger and stronger, he had to carefully consider the successful experience of this abundant force...
—