"What do you think, Mr. Bang?" Sitch asked the silver-haired martial arts master standing beside him.
Despite his unassuming appearance, Bang's composure was flawless. His ability to remain calm and controlled was exceptional, a testament to his profound mastery of self-discipline.
"You flatter me, Mr. Sitch," Bang replied with a light chuckle, his voice steady and composed.
If one listened closely, it was clear that Bang, though elderly, did not sound weak. His voice was calm, powerful, and carried the energy of a man in his prime rather than someone nearing the end of his years.
"I haven't met this mysterious individual who defeated both Watchdog Man and Tatsumaki, so I can't make any concrete judgments. However, it's highly unlikely that someone of that caliber would allow themselves to be recruited by the Shinomiya Consortium," Bang continued thoughtfully.
"Most strong individuals have a fierce sense of pride. They won't simply follow those who only have money but lack true strength. So, Mr. Sitch, you should continue trying to recruit this person to the Hero Association."
"As for whether we succeed, that will depend on the association's sincerity and the individual's own desires."
After a brief pause, Bang added, "He's probably the most powerful human we've encountered in decades. Even Tatsumaki fell to him. Maybe only King can stand toe-to-toe with this mysterious figure."
Bang's praise for Yami's strength was unreserved. However, this was only regarding his raw power. Having never met Yami, Bang refrained from passing judgment on his character, though he remained cautiously wary of the man.
Perhaps only a direct encounter would reveal the true nature of this formidable warrior.
"Indeed, even Tatsumaki was defeated," Sitch said with a sigh. "Perhaps, as you said, only King or Blast would be able to face him in a direct fight."
Had King overheard this conversation, no doubt he'd be turning on his 'Emperor Engine' once more.
"Mr. Sitch, what do you plan to do now?" Bang asked. "The target could be anywhere, and if this individual wants to remain hidden, it won't be easy to find someone of that strength."
Sitch let out another sigh of frustration. He had hoped that, even if they didn't fully achieve their mission, they would at least make some progress or establish a positive connection.
But now, the situation had become somewhat embarrassing.
"For now, we'll have to return to the Hero Association's headquarters in City A. We'll keep our eyes on the ground in each city and monitor any sightings of this mysterious powerhouse. As soon as we have a lead, we'll rush to the scene."
"Though we missed them this time, it wasn't a total loss."
Just as Sitch was speaking, one of the Hero Association staff members emerged from the hotel holding a small item that resembled a USB drive.
"Mr. Sitch, we've secured the surveillance footage from the hotel's cameras. I believe we'll be able to gather more information from this."
"Excellent work. Thank you for handling that," Sitch responded with a nod. Then, turning to Bang, he said, "Mr. Bang, let's return together."
"Very well. The old man will shamelessly take advantage of the Hero Association's transportation again," Bang replied with a chuckle.
He wasn't about to refuse the offer, especially since returning to his dojo alone would take a considerable amount of time. If he accompanied Sitch in the association's helicopter, the journey would be much quicker.
Still, there was a tinge of disappointment that he hadn't met the mysterious individual himself.
"Nonsense, Mr. Bang. I'd be more than honored to have you with us!" Sitch replied sincerely.
"Let's skip the pleasantries and get moving. I'm worried about my disciples back at the dojo," Bang said with a wave.
"Of course. Let's go!" Sitch agreed.
After this brief exchange, the group turned and left the hotel, moving quickly.
Their visit had been swift and ultimately fruitless.
But they weren't the only ones leaving empty-handed.
After they departed, a string of other well-dressed individuals arrived at the hotel, all with the same objective in mind.
Unfortunately for them, they would all face disappointment as well. Upon hearing that Yami had already left, nearly all the factions gritted their teeth in frustration. Yet, there was nothing they could do.
By the next day, the commotion had finally settled.
The hotel staff, however, would likely never forget the chaos that had unfolded.
At the same time, the fact that so many powerful figures had visited the hotel was reported to the Shinomiya Consortium by the hotel's manager. The news eventually reached the ears of Gan'an, who couldn't help but smirk with satisfaction.
"Heh, they're like old foxes, going mad at the scent of a good opportunity."
"But this time, I've had the last laugh. After all, it was a monster incident in City D."
"And even if they try to track him down, it won't threaten the position of the Shinomiya Consortium. As long as Kaguya and Hayasaka remain by my side, the Shinomiya family will stay invincible!"
"Still, I need to gather what that man needs as soon as possible."
With that thought, a sense of urgency stirred within Gan'an.
"Steward…" he called out.
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Scene Transition
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Yami was unaware of the events that had unfolded after his departure. At the moment, he was taking Goddess Artemis to Bang's dojo.
Of the S-Class heroes, Bang was the only one whose whereabouts were somewhat predictable, unlike the others, who were more difficult to track down.
Moreover, Yami had far more interest in Bang than in the other heroes.
After all, becoming a martial arts master in the One Punch Man world was no small feat, and Yami was curious about the Water Stream Rock Smashing Fist technique.
He wondered if the martial art truly lived up to its reputation and could maximize the use of one's strength.
At the same time, Yami had another goal in mind.
He intended to wait until Garou had evolved further before facing him in battle.
In the meantime, learning more about Water Stream Rock Smashing Fist could only benefit him.
Though Yami was confident in his own abilities, he wasn't one to fall into blind arrogance. Proper preparation was always necessary.
Yet, had Yami known he had just narrowly missed meeting Bang, he might have felt differently.