Genos's greatness stirred a long-dormant fighting spirit deep within Kai.
Over ten years in the One Piece world, he hadn't spent every single day lounging around as a salted fish. But as his strength gradually grew, the number of people who could match him had dwindled.
By the end, aside from a handful of unkillable old veterans, Kai couldn't find a single worthy opponent.
It had been lonely.
"You must be Genos — S-Class 17th, known as the 'Demon Cyborg.'"
Sweet Mask walked smoothly over to Genos and said quietly.
The contemptuous expression he'd worn while tearing into Kai was completely gone — replaced by a virtuously fake, glittering smile.
This was Sweet Mask — a man who judged everything entirely by outward appearances.
"Step aside. My teacher and I are here to eat."
But Genos was no polished gentleman.
Before meeting Genos, aside from revenge and fighting every evil in the world, Genos showed no interest in anyone.
Even now, he reserved his respect for his master alone.
Sweet Mask forced down the rage boiling inside him and kept up his stiff fake smile.
"Genos, the person beside you must be the newly registered C-Class hero. Frankly speaking, with your status, you should be dining on red wine and steak at a high-end restaurant — not squeezing into a cheap noodle shop with C-Class riffraff."
As he spoke, Sweet Mask shot a pointed, disgusted glance at Kai, making no effort to hide the contempt in his eyes.
Genos's expression shifted instantly.
"Apologize to my teacher. Now."
His mechanical arms began heating up, and the red infrared scanners in his eyes locked rigidly onto Sweet Mask's position.
Genos snapped straight into battle mode.
"Easy, Genos. If he wants steak he can go eat steak — someone like him doesn't belong here anyway. Just ignore it."
Genos's master placed a hand lightly on his shoulder and said calmly.
"But Sensei——"
"How charming — a commoner and a lowlife walk into a restaurant. I imagine you two get yourselves into trouble quite often."
Just as things were escalating, Kai glanced at Sweet Mask the way someone glances at a fly buzzing around their food — mildly annoyed, nothing more.
There was no question who that was aimed at.
"What's with that look? You're eyeing me like I'm some kind of pest." Sweet Mask's smile didn't waver, but his tone dropped dangerously low. "I'm the Number One A-Class hero. No one in this world has ever looked down on me and lived to feel good about it."
Sweet Mask let out a cold, contemptuous laugh, his tone absolutely dripping with provocation.
He had come to this restaurant with exactly two goals.
First — he had heard "Demon Cyborg" Genos would come here and came to assess him. If he proved worthy, Sweet Mask would approve his promotion to S-Class.
Second — to completely destroy this "Thunder God" Kai who had leapfrogged his way into S-Class, and beat him straight into the ground.
This was Sweet Mask's confidence — confidence born entirely from absolute strength.
"Big talk. Want to step outside and fight?"
Kai curled a finger toward him with a face full of amusement.
Honestly, he had no real interest in fighting.
He'd had more than enough fights in the One Piece world — why come to this comfortable new world just to look for trouble?
But that lingering trace of power radiating off Genos had ignited Kai's long-dormant fighting spirit.
This fight served three purposes: one, to give Sweet Mask a reality check. Two, to let off steam and sharpen his edge; three, to put on a show — and make friends with Genos.
For fighters at their level, nothing communicated more clearly than a good fight.
Hero to hero.
As long as Kai displayed strength far beyond anyone else in this world, Genos would naturally take notice.
He'd also gone a long time without a real opponent.
"Are you provoking me?"
Sweet Mask spoke from his superior perch, his face going dark.
"Think of it however you like. When you see something wrong, you speak up. When the time calls for action, you act."
Kai grinned and, humming casually to himself, strolled out the door.
The whole restaurant burst out laughing.
"You...you..."
The dark veins on Sweet Mask's face multiplied rapidly. His boundless fury had completely consumed whatever reason he had left.
This utterly shameless commoner actually dared to laugh at him?
"I'll show you what true terror looks like."
Sweet Mask squeezed the words out from between clenched teeth, then strode out of the restaurant.
Kai walked out with his hands behind his back, whistling a little tune, strolling along without a care.
"Sensei, should we go watch?"
Genos watched the two figures disappear into the distance, his eyes flickering.
"Watch what — the event's barely started and we're already broke and starving. Genos!"
Genos's master stared at the giant Sea King challenge menu, drooling.
"The two gentlemen who just left said all your expenses are on them. You're welcome to go watch — nothing bad will happen here."
The shop owner, having witnessed Genos's impressive display of power, hurried over to explain.
Those two looked ready to fight to the death — that terrifying mechanical young man with the fiery eyes should be able to hold them back.
"Free tab? What a good person!"
Genos's master, Saitama, was deeply moved.
"Sensei, let's not waste any time — we should go watch quickly."