After the feral dog incident in City Y was resolved, aside from paying KING for the job, the Hero Association seldom contacted him, as if last time they really had no one else free and had to call on the "strongest man on the surface."
Lin Mo was happy to be idle. He ground away for two days and two nights and finally unlocked every CG, hidden scene, and ending in Heartbeat Sisters.
As a true gaming fan, Lin Mo always strove to 100% a game—and he really had the chops to do it.
"What a satisfyingly hard-fought battle!" He smiled at the "HAPPY ENDING" on the screen.
When the final CG ended, Lin Mo stood up. Two days and nights of "intense combat" had taken their toll.
"Looks like I need to go out and buy some food." He pulled the last bottle of drink from the fridge and shook his head.
…
Hero Association Headquarters.
Those who had witnessed, or watched the surveillance footage of, KING handling the matter all fell silent without exception.
They no longer doubted KING's strength; they were firmly convinced of it.
Crushing an enemy's will with presence alone—an unheard-of method far more shocking than blowing an enemy apart with a punch—and far more unfathomable.
They even set up a classified unit dedicated to researching KING's attack methods, but came back empty-handed.
They could only add to KING's file: "Capable of subduing opponents with a certain aura-like method, hereafter referred to as 'Imperial Aura.'"
Lin Mo executed a disguise on par with infiltrating an enemy base.
A dark gray cap pulled low enough to cover his eyebrows, a black mask that hid the lower half of his face, and an utterly ordinary hoodie.
He checked himself in the mirror over and over, certain that even his own mom might not recognize him at first glance.
"Good. Flawless."
He drew a deep breath and opened his apartment door.
Downstairs, a few neighbors were chatting. They eyed the tall, burly, suspicious man bundled head to toe with curiosity as he came out.
Lin Mo pressed his cap down and hurried away.
After a five-minute walk, the supermarket's giant sign finally entered view.
The automatic glass door slid open. A mixed scent of produce, prepared foods, and air-conditioning washed over him.
[From Passerby A: a fleeting glance! Energy Points +1!]
[From Cashier B: puzzlement! Energy Points +1!]
A trickle of Energy kept feeding into the system. Clearly, people found this hulking, fully wrapped-up man odd.
His first destination: the farthest aisle—instant foods and snacks.
His spiritual sustenance, his source of life.
"Mom, Mom! I want that tuna can!"
A boy of about five or six tugged his mother's hem, wailing loudly—right in the middle of the aisle.
Lin Mo stopped three meters away with his cart, waiting silently, hoping the pair would move on their own.
But the mother, flustered over soothing her child, never noticed the silent giant behind her.
One second, two seconds… ten…
Time stretched.
Shoppers began detouring around him. Some glanced between him and the mother and child.
Cold sweat beaded on Lin Mo's back; social pressure pressed down like a mountain.
Thump! Thump! Thump!
The King Engine's rumble suddenly intensified! That drumbeat of a heart felt like it would burst from his chest!
The mother, mid-coo, felt an indescribable pressure sweep her from behind.
She froze and slowly turned.
A masked, capped man was staring at them. Drumlike sounds throbbed from within him; the pressure was suffocating.
"I'm sorry! I'm so sorry! We'll go right now! Please, go ahead!"
She went white, scooped up her crying child, and fled to the other side of the aisle, bowing over and over.
[From the young mother: extreme fear! Energy Points +20!]
[From the brat: confusion! Energy Points +1!]
Lin Mo: "…"
I just wanted to grab a pack of instant noodles!
Expressionless, he rolled through the gap while screaming on the inside.
He finally reached the snack aisle. Faced with the dazzling shelves, he went on a spree.
Original, barbecue, tomato… five bags of each! Cola, soda, orange juice… one case of each!
His cart soon piled into a small mountain.
Passing the fresh-produce section, the sight of green broccoli sparked a thought—
Living on junk and frozen food all the time… not very healthy, is it?
"Vegetables. Very healthy."
He nodded solemnly and set a single head of broccoli on the summit of Snack Mountain, as if completing a sacred rite.
With his "haul"-laden cart, Lin Mo queued at the emptiest register.
Head down, presence minimized.
He placed items on the belt one by one. After that mountain of snacks and drinks, a lone broccoli rolled up. The young cashier blinked, her eyes turning odd.
"That'll be 13,200 yen." She named the price, but her gaze lingered on his massive frame.
Hmm… blond hair, towering build, and—were those three scars around the eyes…
Wait! Isn't this…
"Are you… are you… Mr. KING…?" Her voice trembled, bursting with disbelief, worship, and excitement.
Busted.
Lin Mo's heart skipped. On the surface, he stayed frosty—took out a few bills, set them lightly on the counter, and gave a small nod.
To the cashier, that nod was confirmation!
God—The strongest man on the surface disguised himself to shop at our supermarket! And he bought so many snacks! And… one head of broccoli at the end!
The contrast! It's… it's too cute!
[From the cashier girl: intense worship and shock! Energy Points +30!]
Lin Mo tugged at his mouth. He had the distinct feeling the dazed cashier was thinking rude things.
Just as he finished paying and was about to leave, he spotted a familiar figure in the specials section—Saitama!
-------
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