### Chapter 21: The House of Evolution's Monsters Attack
"Yes, Sensei." Genos reacted extremely fast from the side, rushing to explain. "Joining the Hero Association, every registered hero has a fixed allowance. More importantly, successfully subduing Monsters can earn extra bonuses."
Saitama was stunned, as if struck by an invisible lightning bolt.
The monsters he had defeated piled up like a mountain, yet he had never thought there was such a "legal way to get rich."
Joining the Association... didn't that mean... Hot Pot Freedom?!
He would no longer have to watch the time and squeeze his head to rush to the supermarket for those wilted special-offer vegetables!
"Decided!" Saitama clenched his fist abruptly, raging fighting spirit burning in his eyes, moving so fast it created a gust of wind. "I'm joining the Hero Association!"
While his voice was still drifting in the air, his iconic mustard-yellow hero suit was already on his body.
The bright red gloves shone, and his whole person instantly switched from salted fish mode to "Motivation MAX" state.
Kouki watched this scene, finding it somewhat amusing.
Indeed, dealing with Saitama only required deploying a hot pot.
Then he turned his gaze to the cyborg youth beside him: "Genos, what about you? Want to consider it too?"
Genos nodded respectfully without almost any hesitation: "Since Sensei is joining, I will naturally follow."
"Good!" Kouki clapped his hands, appearing in high spirits. "No time to lose, target A-City, Hero Association Headquarters—Let's go!"
However, just as his last syllable fell—
*Rumble!*
The floor beneath their feet shook violently, dust falling from the ceiling, the whole house groaning.
"What's happening?" Fubuki frowned slightly, looking around vigilantly.
"Sensei," red light flashed in Genos's eyes, his built-in radar completing a scan instantly. "There are Monsters attacking the house."
"Monsters?" Saitama twisted his neck, making a light cracking sound, his bright red cape moving without wind. "Just in time, consider it a warm-up before joining!"
He clenched his fists, lifted the cape behind him, and strode towards the door.
His back exuded an aura of "Hot pot is right in front of me, no one stop me."
The four quickly went outside.
*Whoosh—!*
A green afterimage tore through the air, pouncing straight at them with a piercing sound.
It was a mantis-form Monster, its sickle-like forelimbs flashing with cold metallic light, moving so fast it left only a blurred trail on the retina.
Saitama just wanted to raise his hand—
*Smack!*
A slap sound, overly crisp, rang out.
Kouki's figure had blocked in front at some point, waving his hand lightly, like swatting a fly.
That menacing Mantis Monster didn't even have time to scream before turning into a green meteor, smashing fiercely into a distant wall with a *bang*.
Rubble flew, leaving it only able to twitch.
"Fubuki," Kouki withdrew his hand, his tone as relaxed as assigning a task. "I'll leave the clean-up to you."
He deliberately held back to give Fubuki a chance to become stronger.
Kouki even began to calculate: Maybe he should teach her the use of "Ki."
Although Fubuki's talent might be slightly inferior to her monster sister Tatsumaki, it was definitely not bad.
It was just that the development of her psychokinesis seemed to have hit a bottleneck...
If she could master the cultivation method of "Ki," the situation would be completely different.
The energy circulation and application of Ki might become the catalyst for the secondary awakening of her superpowers?
Given time, promoting to S-Class would be absolutely no difficulty.
***
Meanwhile.
Saitama's dead-fish eyes locked onto the Beast King emitting a ferocious aura not far away, and the unpleasant rustling sound faintly coming from underground—it was the Ground Dragon Monster skilled in burrowing.
Genos's mechanical eyes accurately captured the Armored Gorilla Monster on the other side.
The battle ended quickly without suspense.
However, Genos didn't kill the Armored Gorilla.
After a brief "interrogation," he obtained key intelligence: "It's the House of Evolution manipulating behind the scenes."
"House of Evolution? Daring to conduct such taboo research on creating Monsters in secret?" Fubuki's pretty face was frosty, her tone decisive. "Knowing this, we can't sit back and watch!"
She displayed the decisiveness of the B-Class Rank 1 hero.
"Mm, Fubuki is right." Kouki crossed his arms over his chest, looking at Saitama and Genos, his eyes flashing with the light of "stirring things up." "How about it? Why don't we go all out and wipe out that House of Evolution's nest?"
"Sure!"
Saitama's answer was as flat as always, as if just agreeing to go to the convenience store downstairs to buy a drink.
"I follow Sensei."
Genos stated his position immediately.
So, the group set off towards the uninhabited area deep in the mountains under the guidance of the bruised and swollen Armored Gorilla.
The base of the House of Evolution was hidden in that seemingly ordinary mountain range.
But soon, that mountain lost the form of a "mountain."
"Incineration Cannon—Maximum Power!"
Genos's cold mechanical voice sounded, and a torrent of blazing white beams roared out.
Instantly leveling the entire mountaintop.
Leaving only a huge, charred deep pit emitting blue smoke, revealing the hidden metal structure below.
"Kouki," Fubuki finished contacting with the communicator at Kouki's signal. "The Association's clean-up unit is already on the way."
Handling a "scientist" like Dr. Genus was obviously more suitable for the Association's professionals.
"Entrance is here!"
Genos cleared the ruins neatly and found the alloy gate leading underground.
Kouki and Fubuki followed closely behind.
The four stepped into the cold, technology-filled passage leading deep underground.
***
Meanwhile, the core control room of the underground base.
The light of countless surveillance screens illuminated Dr. Genus's young but solemn and crazy face.
"S-Class Rank 13, 'Super Saiyan' Kouki... B-Class Rank 1, 'Hellish Blizzard'... and that cyborg, as well as Saitama who broke his limiter..."
He whispered the names of the intruders, his fingers tapping rapidly on the console, a trace of resolution flashing in his eyes.
"Activate final defense protocol! Release... Carnage Kabuto!"
At the end of the passage, the heavy alloy gate slid open silently.
A huge, hideous figure emitting suffocating oppression appeared in front of the four—it was the ultimate weapon of the House of Evolution, Carnage Kabuto!
Its shell covered knotted muscles, and the single horn on its head flashed with ominous red light.
Just standing there, the violent aura almost condensed into substance.
Carnage Kabuto blocked in front of the four of them.
Saitama's dead-fish eyes showed no fluctuation. He just wanted to take a step—
"Sensei!" Genos stepped out first, blocking in front of Saitama, the engines of his cyborg body emitting a low hum. "Please let me handle this!"
"Oh."
Saitama responded indifferently and stopped.
"Genos," Kouki leaned against the wall with the posture of watching a good show, reminding him leisurely. "This guy isn't simple, don't be careless."
"Very strong oppression..."
Fubuki's face was slightly pale. As an esper, her perception of this pure violent energy was sharper.
...