A-City.
A youth wearing goggles parked his bicycle in the designated area, locked it, and walked toward the tower in front of him.
Starting today, this building was officially named the "Hero Association Headquarters."
Entering the Hero Association Headquarters, the goggled youth saw a sea of people. He knew that the vast majority of them had the same goal as he did.
The lobby was bustling. For a moment, the goggled youth didn't know what to do first. Seeing several youthful and attractive female staff members maintaining order, he walked straight toward one of them.
"Hello."
"Hello, how may I help you?"
The girl's sweet voice made the goggled youth feel a bit awkward.
"Ah, well, I want to become a hero, but I don't know where to go?"
"I see. Have you filled out the Hero Registration Form yet?"
The goggled youth shook his head. "Not yet."
"Alright, please follow me this way." The girl led him to an area with many small desks, handing him a form and a pen. "Please fill out the form here, and then you can join the queue over there to submit it and wait for the physical examination. After the physical, there is a written test. Once all steps are complete, please wait about ten minutes, and we'll have an answer for you."
"Okay, thank you."
"You're welcome. Good luck!"
"Mhm!" Holding the registration form and seeing many people writing, he found an empty desk and sat down. He looked at the registration form, which had five questions on the front.
[Item 1: Your Hero Name is ___.]
The goggled youth had already decided. In the blank space, he wrote the neat, square characters: Mumen Rider.
[Item 2: Your Hero Activity Status is ___. A. Full-Time; B. Part-Time.]
The goggled youth—no, Mumen Rider, chose "A" without hesitation.
[Item 3: The Cities Where You Wish to Conduct Hero Activities are ___. (Check all that apply)]
Mumen Rider considered it for a moment and wrote: "Any."
[Item 4: Your Minimum Expected Daily Salary is ___.]
His pen hovered for a moment before he wrote "2000."
After a second thought, he crossed it out and wrote "1500" below.
Still feeling unsure, he crossed it out again and wrote "1200."
Then came the final question: [Item 5: Your Reason for Wanting to Become a Hero is ____.]
Mumen Rider took a deep breath, and his pen flew: "I want to help others better!"
Finished, he relaxed slightly. He flipped the form over. The back had no questions, but a list of important notices.
[1. Being a hero is a high-risk profession where you may face extremely vicious enemies. Please consider carefully;]
[2. Whether full-time or part-time, the Hero Association will issue monthly salary rewards to registered heroes. Specific details will be provided in the orientation meeting and labor contract;]
[3. Unless necessary, do not mention your personal identity information during hero activities to prevent retaliation from Monsters or criminals;]
[4. Upon joining the Association, full-time heroes will have a mandatory one-month orientation training. Part-time heroes will have a mandatory one-week orientation training;]
[5. After becoming a hero, illegal and criminal behavior, as well as immoral conduct such as malicious oppression, verbal abuse, and idleness, are strictly prohibited. Violators will face penalties of varying severity.]
[Please refer to the Hero Handbook, issued upon employment, for full details. The final right of interpretation belongs to the Hero Association.]
Mumen Rider naturally had no objection to these requirements.
"I remember, next I need to submit the form and get the physical exam." He got up from his seat and went to the other side to queue.
After waiting for over 10 minutes, it was finally his turn.
Having submitted the registration form, taken a photo, and received his physical examination slip and number tag, Mumen Rider went to the waiting area to await his call.
"Numbers 956, 957, 958, 959, and 960. The five heroes holding these numbers please report to Zone 2 to prepare for the physical examination."
Mumen Rider's number was 958. Hearing the call, he immediately got up and followed the signs to Zone 2 on the second floor.
The other four were already there; Mumen Rider was the last to arrive.
"Will the five heroes please wait a few minutes? You will be next after the previous group is finished."
"Got it!" a muscular man in a black tank top bellowed, his voice so loud that Mumen Rider uncomfortably rubbed his ears.
Seeing that he had stunned the others, the muscular man was very pleased. He flexed his muscles as he said, "Since fate brought the five of us together for this physical, how about we introduce ourselves? I'm 'Tanktop Black Hole,' an important member of the Tank Topper Army. By the way, my boss, Tanktop Master, will also be becoming a hero. With his strength, he's sure to be given a major position."
"The Tank Topper Army? Never heard of them," said a youth with lightning-bolt patterns painted on his face and dyed blonde hair, shrugging. "I'm Lightning Max. I'm into fitness."
'Hmph, an ignorant kid who likes to show off. Doesn't look like much of a threat,' Tanktop Black Hole scorned internally, but kept a cheerful smile on his face. "Ultimate Thunderstrike? Great name."
Mumen Rider nodded in agreement, secretly wondering if his own name was too simple.
"It's not 'Ultimate Thunderstrike'! It's 'Lightning Max'!"
"It's close enough," Tanktop Black Hole ignored the frustrated Lightning Max and looked toward the next person, a man in a suit with a small mustache like a butler. "How about you?"
"Spring Mustachio. A humble sword apprentice."
"Then I guess I'm just an idle vagrant. My hero name is 'Golden Ball,'" said another man in hip-hop style clothing with a laugh.
Spring Mustachio and Golden Ball exchanged glances, finding the other quite agreeable.
"I'm Mumen Rider. Nice to meet you all." Mumen Rider was happy to meet like-minded people.
'Tch! They don't appreciate the offer. I'll make them feel ashamed later,' Tanktop Black Hole inwardly seethed, cracking his knuckles. "Now that we've met, we're friends. If you run into any trouble, just drop my name, and I'll look out for you."
"Worry about yourself, old man," Lightning Max showed no deference.
Spring Mustachio and Golden Ball also reacted with indifference, but Mumen Rider nodded earnestly and said, "Let's all do our best!"
The few minutes passed in a blink, and it was finally their turn.
Besides standard measurements like height, weight, vision, lung capacity, and blood testing, the physical also included a simple physical fitness test and a personal ability demonstration.
During the physical fitness test, Tanktop Black Hole's intentions were foiled. Not only did he fail to significantly distance himself in strength, but he also lost to several people in speed and agility.
Mumen Rider, as expected, came in last on every measure, but he wasn't discouraged, only marveling, "Everyone is so amazing."
'Hmph. Don't get cocky. I must get first place in the most important event, the personal ability demonstration!' Tanktop Black Hole vowed silently.