"Good luck in your assessment ahead! It was nice to meet you," Mitsumi beamed at the small group of recruits.
"Oh! Caped Baldy! You're even more handsome in person!" a fan girl posing as a recruit said with a small blush.
"Oh. Thanks. My wife says the same thing," Saitama nodded.
"What?!" the girl gasped.
"You only joined the recruitment to meet with my husband? How cute!" Mitsumi chuckled and got kissed by him. At how the girl was glaring at her, she asked, "Um…is something wrong? And so you know, he pursued me before I became a hero. He also saved my life in doing so."
"But…no! He's supposed to be with me!" the girl demanded.
"My wife is the only one that can withstand my power. She's immune to me. And she enhances my power with her crane fans," Saitama said with an eye roll. "This is getting old. Please stop it. There are plenty of other heroes out there that are single. I'm not single and don't plan to be. Because I have my wife. And she's gonna be having my kid."
Overgrown Rover growled lightly, but Mitsumi just snuggled it to calm it down. Blue Ripple wasn't even paying attention to the unknown girl. He was busy enjoying the cuddles being given over. Lily was brought over to be with Garou, and she was even a touch appalled at what she was witnessing. Garou simply kept her against his side to show he wasn't single.
"Another one, Saitama?" King asked with dismay.
"Yep. Only after me, too. Before they were after her. Now me. You know what? I'm done. I wanna go home," Saitama said and stood up with Mitsumi in his arms. Blue Ripple and Overgrown Rover easily adjusted themselves with the movement to stay with Mitsumi.
"We still have one more group…" Sweet Mask said. Then he paused when the girl gasped on seeing him. In response, he pulled Tajima to his side. "Sorry. I just recently acquired a girlfriend."
"Ah…you did?" Tajima blinked with surprise to get the others laughing.
"I did," he grinned softly and kissed her cheek to make her blush hard.
"Heh. I did the same thing with Tacki," Kamikaze chuckled.
"That you did," Tacki giggled and let him kiss her fully despite the stick in his mouth. "Saitama, please sit back down. I need you to work on some of these scales for me."
"When we get home," Saitama muttered. Overgrown Rover whined at him and pawed at his cheek. "What, doggy?"
"It is highly suggesting for you to sit down and assess the last group," Inichi said on listening to the monster dog's thoughts. "It has a bad feeling."
"It is correct," Blue Ripple said before looking at the rejected girl. "Young human female, I need to ask you something."
"Um…what's that?" she asked and watched Saitama sit back down. He had Mitsumi and the tiny monsters securely in his lap to show he wasn't budging them.
"How did you hear about Saitama?" Blue Ripple asked.
"Saitama?" the girl frowned.
"Me," Saitama muttered. "My name is Saitama. You'd know this if you were a true fan girl. I really hate the name Caped Baldy. I prefer to be called by my name. Anyways…yeah. How did you learn about me?"
"I always say to let others call you by your hero name. Friends and family should call you by your given name," Mitsumi chuckled.
"Eh…I don't care," Saitama shrugged and gave her a loving squeeze. She pressed into him and got her forehead kissed gently. "Anyways…how did you really learn about me?"
"Oh. There was a fan site online…" the girl started.
"I want to see it. Inichi has been kind enough to inform me of the latest in technology. I know enough," the water monster said. She brought out her phone and pulled up the site before walking over a touch timidly to show him. Now Saitama looked over the information about himself and pointed out at a section that said he was single.
"That's a lie," Saitama said.
"This site was put up only last week," Mitsumi frowned at the site start date. King now pulled up the site on his phone and pointed out that Mitsumi was blurred out from where they sat in Neutral Grounds. Kianna's jaw dropped. Everyone was shocked at this. That only pissed off Saitama.
"No one. Ever. Does that to my wife," Saitama glowered. "That's disrespecting her. That disrespects me. She went through a life of absolute, complete hell just for that to happen?!"
"Darling, I honestly don't care," Mitsumi sighed with a small frown.
"But I do care," he muttered and pulled out his phone to call Genos. Inichi stopped him and thought to Genos directly.
"I relayed the message and gave over the discovery. He shall work with Metal Knight right now to get the information disproved or have the site taken down," Inichi said. The girl gaped with shock on this. Now Inichi looked over at her. "Ah. You were the one that made this site?"
"N-no!" she stammered.
"A lie," Bane muttered.
"Yep," Tanktop Master sighed.
"Ignore her, Tatsi," Rendor muttered to get Tatsumaki to nod.
"Gross…" Zenchu grimaced.
"Then let me ask you something," Saitama said to the flustered girl. "Did your family ever want to abandon you and leave you for dead? Had your own father murdered just for trying to protect you? Feed you pet food like a common household pet? Surrender you over to someone to get dissected twice a day? No? Well, that's the hell my wife was going through before she met me.
"I love her intensely. She's been through a form of hell that no one should have ever gone through. She fought for her life a month after she was born. Her mother was a monster. Literally. She was. A monster living in her own mother's skin! If you haven't gone through even the slightest remote amount of hell my beautiful, innocent wife has been through…you have no right to even think of removing her from my life. From photos with me. From my side. Ever."
"Darling…" Mitsumi frowned and got pulled close to him.
"Your Wind Crane Clan traditions married you to me. Within two weeks of meeting each other, we got married. I know we have a true wedding to do, but I'm done being thought of as single. I'm. Not. Single. So, I want to propose this to the board," Saitama said and cut his glare over at the four board members to see them cringe slightly. Sweet Mask now gave his direct attention, too. "I want a photo of me and Mitsumi. Together. Pressing a kiss on each other. Stating we are MARRIED with a child on the way. Can we do this? Now?"
"But…you only eloped…" the first board member said.
"I don't care," Saitama said with dry boredom.
"I think he means 'I don't 'fucking' care'," Zenchu corrected.
"I can agree with that," Garou grinned.
"I don't really swear, but Zenchu's right. What he said," Saitama nodded.
"May I propose something?" Sweet Mask asked.
"Eh…I guess…" Saitama rolled his eyes.
"Let's check this last group. If there are faults in them, we need to know. After that, we'll go to the other group to test their true strength. Then we have that other group we need to assess to see if we need to do something further. When they are taken care of, you said you wanted to create a special section of heroic monsters. We can do that after. When that's done, we are done here," Sweet Mask said calmly.
"No. After that, we need to speak with our little hacker girl from the mansion. Only after that will we be done," Inichi said.
"Her? Why?" Saitama frowned.
"She was the one that convinced the others to bully Tajima," Inichi said.
"What?" Mitsumi blinked at this news.
"Hmm. Okay. We'll stick with Sugar Face's plan," Saitama nodded and got Inichi bursting out with laughter.
"It's Sweet Mask! What is wrong with you?!" Sweet Mask scowled out.
"Oh, yeah. I forgot," Saitama shrugged casually to get Mitsumi cringing with intense laughter. "Anyways, I guess we'll finish this off."
"As for you, it appears that you have no real interest in being a hero. You may go home," Inichi said to the girl in their midst after they calmed down. "And don't you dare say what you are planning to say. I can easily read thoughts. It will be the end of you."
"What was I gonna say?!" the girl now taunted.
"Let her spill it," Saitama said and leaned over now to show he was giving his direct attention. "Because if it's something nasty and bad about my wife in any way, shape or form, I'm gonna let the others here take her away from me before I get up and slap her."
"Saitamaaa…" Mitsumi said with a form of despair and hung her head. "Just let it go. It's all words and lies. I'm used to this."
"Shut up. No," Saitama muttered.
"Love, I have our puppy and my water dragon. And I have you. I have our friends and family here. One little, tiny gnat is not going to bother me," she chuckled and got her cheek licked by Overgrown Rover. Blue Ripple mused at this and snuggled up under her chin with complete affection. The girl colored up at what she was called, but she only cringed when the others there looked at her.
"I like being your pet. And after learning of your past? Like this? I highly doubt that anything is going to happen to you anymore at any point in time. I can see why everyone is so protective over you," Blue Ripple said. "Hmm. I need to grow larger for a moment. Just enough."
"Okay," Mitsumi said and let Kianna walk over to help put him on the ground. Tatsumaki then moved to help levitate him when he took up more space due to the size that he needed to be at to complete what he wanted. That got the other humans there gaping with shock.
"Saitama, I need you to pull out one of my fin spines. I'll regenerate it back within minutes. Just the one on the very end of my fin tip. It's the smallest one and will work best for what I have planned," Blue Ripple instructed. Saitama kept Mitsumi at his side when he got up to help. He focused on the slender spine, reached up and tugged it free. "That stung! It's fine, though. Ah, Tacki, turn that into a necklace for Mitsumi. It will work with a clasp with no issues at all."
"Okay!" Tacki nodded and took the three-inch long spine. "What's it for?"
"If it's chewed on lightly, I'll feel it. It will alert me quickly," Blue Ripple chuckled. "It's a gift for her to always ensure her safety even more."
"It even has a pretty blue sheen to it!" Mitsumi beamed and watched him shrink back down to get set in his bucket of water for a light soak.
"It has another benefit. If you are in water, it will keep you safe in it," Blue Ripple chuckled and closed his eyes at the feeling of the light massage she gave his neck. "Yes. I'll be your pet. I don't mind in the least."
"Thank you," Mitsumi said softly and let him rest his head on her leg while his body soaked in the tub. She looked at the girl now and said, "Were you really going to wish for my death? A form of harm for me?"
"Ah…" the girl paled.
"I would never wish that on anyone. Such a thing…it makes me sad…" Mitsumi frowned. Saitama narrowed his eyes at this, and Zenchu looked at Garou.
"He's gonna get pissed…" Zenchu muttered.
"So, you wanna make a bet?" Garou said now. Lily looked at him oddly.
"What bet?" Zenchu asked.
"Who will last the longest around the little mutt's stench," Garou said.
"You win," Zenchu said to get the others dying with laughter. "There's no way in hell that I'll stand around in that stink!"
"My puppy is not stinky!" Mitsumi huffed and snuggled Overgrown Rover. "Shame on you for thinking that!"
"But…well…ugh…" Zenchu sighed and yelped at Wind Crane's peck to his tail. "I don't need commentary from you!"
Wind Crane clucked softly and now eyed the girl with her bright, blue eyes. Then a glance was given to Inichi. He nodded and said, "I shall escort you home, young lady. And thank you for the address."
"Wait!" she gasped, but he simply ignored it and sent her off.
"Good. We're too busy to deal with her now," Saitama muttered.
"Saitama…" Mitsumi sighed and let him kiss her gently before pressing a kiss to her forehead.
"I said it before. Like how you always say to me on things when I feel down. Mitsumi…like hell am I ever letting you go," he mumbled and let her rest against him. Zenchu cleared his throat to get the others looking at him.
"You mean, 'Like 'fucking' hell am I ever letting you go.' Right?" Zenchu grinned. Saitama sighed and found himself laughing a bit.
"Yeah, yeah…" Saitama said and got the others chuckling. "Okay. Last group, right?"
"Yes," Sweet Mask nodded and kept Tajima behind him. "It was mentioned something may be wrong with this group."
"Indeed," Blue Ripple said warily.
"What can you sense?" Inichi asked.
"They are like the girl with the pretty man here. But they are using themselves as…bait?" Blue Ripple said with an odd thought.
"Hmm. Ah. Iwasaki, three that wish to be cured like you are being bullied by two that wish to harm them. The three are weaker, so the two stronger feel they have an advantage. It's as that one other said. They wish to gain favor to the possible GOD monster they serve. A rather interesting way to do so," Inichi frowned on the thoughts he gleaned.
"How do we get the three we want to help away from the two that only want to hurt them?" Tanktop Master asked.
"Leave that to me," Inichi said. "Miss Tatsumaki, I may also need your assistance. I can pull the three away that need help. The other two are ones you can play with."
"Oh? Huh. Okay," Tatsumaki said with a small grin. Rendor chuckled and let her lean into him with a form of complete comfort. She looked at him and asked, "Should I turn them into roped pretzels?"
"If we get them out of their skin. Or we could turn them into fleas. Hmm. Genos had the containment jar…" Rendor frowned.
"I am bringing him back. Please wait before summoning the last group," Inichi said calmly. Saitama sighed loudly with irritation, but Mitsumi snuggled into him to calm him down. Zenchu looked over and paused at the red haze that came off his form again.
"That red shit's back…" Zenchu grimaced.
"Oh? Eh. I'm just done with this. I wanna go home," Saitama moped.
"We're almost done," Mitsumi soothed and snuggled into him. "Maybe we can go shopping tomorrow…"
"Oh! Yeah! First thing in the morning!" Saitama grinned.
"Yes! That's usually when they have the best produce out, too. The moment the store opens," Mitsumi beamed. "We can have Blue Ripple and our puppy with us, too."
"I've never been in such a place," Blue Ripple mused.
"Okay. We can do that. I'll need to put doggy on a fake leash, though. I think," Saitama thought aloud.
"I was gonna make one. I can do that later," Tacki nodded.
"True. It would make it seem like a false sense of security to others," Inichi agreed and dropped off Genos to stand next to Wind Crane.
"I have another jar, Master," Genos said. "It may be best to turn the offending ones into fleas."
"No real fight, eh? I suppose that can work," Rendor nodded.
"Why not?" King agreed and let Kianna continue to rest against him.
"If we wish to continue with the day, then we may as well," Bane chuckled.
"It's nice not having to lift a finger," Garou grinned.
"Want to lift something else later?" Lily crooned softly in his ear. Mitsumi looked over and sputtered laughter with Zenchu.
"Let's see if we get that chance," Garou grinned a bit wider and squeezed her to him. At the sight of Blue Ripple nuzzling his muzzle under Mitsumi's chin, he asked, "Can't you purr?"
"Hmm…" Blue Ripple mused at the idea and snuggled Mitsumi again. A low, rumbling purr started up to get Mitsumi beaming with sheer joy from it.
"I have a scaled kitty now!" she gasped.
"What?!" Saitama's jaw dropped. Everyone found themselves laughing at the cute remark, and Blue Ripple simply enjoyed every bit of the snuggling he got.
"Now I have a puppy and a kitty!" she giggled.
"He's not a cat," Saitama said.
"He purrs. He's a scaled kitty," she said and stuck her tongue out at him.
"He's not fluffy."
"Neither are you."
"Eh…!" Saitama gaped with shock at her. Garou and Zenchu were simply dying with laughter at the whole thing.
"I still love to snuggle you," she chuckled and pressed into him. He sighed and pulled her close. "See? It's fine. And you always said I deserve to be happy. This makes me happy."
"I know," he finally chuckled.
"I've never felt so happy," she said with a small blush. He smiled gently and kissed her softly to show he wanted to keep her happy. Then he looked over at the group of five Secret Skins that appeared. Iwasaki looked over from behind Flashy Flash to whisper to him. Saitama caught the whisper.
"I need you three in the middle to stand by me, please," Saitama said.
"We should go as a group," the false man on the right of the three said.
"Like he said," the false man on the far left said.
"Nope. We know you all are Secret Skins. Cut the act. We need the three in the middle," Saitama said again in a calm, bored tone.
"We're not giving them over!" the first fake man said before stammering at Tatsumaki levitating him and the other offending fake man into the air.
"Over here!" Iwasaki said to the three that wanted to be cured. They quickly moved to her side, and Tatsumaki mused to herself.
"I wonder if I can rip the monsters out of their skin…" she grinned wickedly. "Should I try?"
"That has yet to be tried…" Inichi said with intense thought.
"I do have a clean containment jar," Genos said and held it out.
"Would you know anything, Blue Ripple?" Mitsumi asked and stroked along his neck. The water monster thought about it and looked at the two levitating fake men. Wind Crane was even curious on this and paid close attention.
"In truth, I never met one of you. Not until Wind Crane's clan informed me of them. I have been informed through Inichi on what these…fleas…are called. A transmitter is exactly that. Something that gathers and transmits information to a higher source. I am curious on what these little fleas look like, though," Blue Ripple said. At a blink from a thought Inichi gave him, he snickered. "I see they don't like to be referred to as bugs. Interesting…"
"So, eh…yeah. Rip one of them out," Saitama nodded.
"Behind Wind Crane, please," Genos said to the board members. "Whoever may become a target must be protected."
"They are fine," Mitsumi said when her fans came out from their holders to fully spread out and show they were ready to protect. Now Blue Ripple saw how the fans were and mused at an idea.
"I want her to have a fan set made of my scales. I want to see if I can bring the fans to life as Wind Crane has for her. I shall discuss this later in private," Blue Ripple said. Mitsumi gasped with sheer awe and delight before snuggling him with complete appreciation.
"If that works, then you're a GOD monster," Saitama said with a blank look at Blue Ripple. "You can't deny it. You can give life to inanimate things."
"We'll still discuss that theory," Blue Ripple chuckled and got another loving snuggle from Mitsumi. Overgrown Rover huffed and growled with a whine to get snuggled in response.
"It's okay, puppy. I have enough snuggles for everyone," Mitsumi chuckled and watched the first false man scream when Tatsumaki used her power to rip off the skin by force. Iwasaki cringed at the sight of a malformed monster struggling to form itself from its human host.
"That's nasty," Zenchu grimaced.
"Yeah. Lily, please stand by Wind Crane," Garou said and gently moved her into the crane monster's protective circle.
"You want to put the poor thing out of its misery?" Mitsumi asked.
"Actually…hmm. With the monster out, if we take the flea out of the skin now…what would happen?" Saitama asked with a small grin.
"A good question!" Inichi said and located the flea in the skin. "Zenchu, cut here…"
"Yep!" Zenchu nodded. The freed monster screamed with outrage at the forced flea removal. It was set in a jar, and the monster could do nothing about it. The other false man witnessing everything was shaking hard and hyperventilating.
"I can't tell what it's supposed to be," Mitsumi frowned.
"True. Okay. Eh, Blue Ripple, how do you want to kill it?" Saitama asked.
"Hmm…" Blue Ripple tilted his catfish-like muzzle in thought before focusing his liquid-white eyes on the malformed monster. "Tatsumaki, let it go. I have it now."
"Oh?" she blinked and dropped her levitation to find it hovering in the air with a silvery blue glow now.
"You're a GOD monster," Saitama said with a blank look at him.
"I'm not denying the possibility. I only said we would discuss it," Blue Ripple muttered and focused on the floating monster. It screamed and wailed before quickly dehydrating from all the moisture getting sucked out of it. A dried husk was all that was left before it turned into particles of dust on the wind. When he looked at the other hovering false man, he focused to take control.
"You got that one?" Tatsumaki asked.
"I do," Blue Ripple said. "Wind Crane, you were holding back a secret ability. Can you do this now?"
Wind Crane sighed and clucked with irritation before standing tall and stretching out her massive wings. A small whirlwind surrounded the false man that resembled feathered blades. They sliced the skin away and further did an attack that resembled Kamikaze's sword attack.
"That's…insane!" Kamikaze gaped at how the monster simply fell apart into neatly cubed pieces. Wind Crane squawked after that to disintegrate everything.
"Cool!" Fumio grinned and kept Black Sperm calm with a pat to its back.
"I have the flea," Inichi said to place it in Genos's jar.
"I'm so glad…that I want to be cured…" one of the Secret Skins girls said.
"It's some scary shit, eh?" Zenchu nodded. "Anyways, you'll join up with the others that want to be cured. We have to see to the others that need to get killed off. Maybe we should talk to that girl from the mansion before the other group? This way we can just go home after that."
"I like that idea," Saitama nodded and let Inichi levitate Blue Ripple's tub to follow them. He pulled Mitsumi up into his arms to carry her and Overgrown Rover. "So, the bad ones first?"
"Yep," Garou nodded.
"I'll escort Iwasaki to the others to ensure of their need for cures," Flashy Flash said. Sweet Mask looked at Tajima and pulled her close to ensure she stuck to his side. She was still a little bewildered on everything while they walked.
"Are you well?" Sweet Mask asked.
"Just…surprised…" she admitted.
"I am, too," he nodded to get her looking at him. "I never expected to find so much strength in another. Of course, with Fan Dancer, we know her story. But yours…it's just as intense. So, tell me this."
"Yes?" she asked.
"Have you…had another in your life before?" he asked.
"Oh. No," she said softly. "I was…planning to save myself…but…"
"He took that from you?!" Sweet Mask said with a look of shock. She trembled and nodded. "Shit…"
"What am I missing?" Blue Ripple asked. Inichi now gently filled him in to get the water monster blinking with a form of surprise. Then he was informed of what happened with Mitsumi. "That's…I see. I was informed of her hardship and torture. But for that, too?! Outrageous!"
Overgrown Rover huffed and grumbled at him now from Mitsumi's arms. Blue Ripple's back fin twitched with complete irritation now. Saitama looked over and asked, "You can understand my dog?"
"I can. It's hard to explain, but most true monsters have a universal language. Much like humans do. Other than thoughts, we have a way to communicate," Blue Ripple explained.
"Oh. What did it tell you?" Saitama asked.
"That someone kicked it for looking weak. Very intriguing on the change of emotions when it grew to attack the attacker," Blue Ripple snorted. "I may find myself doing the same thing. As for coming to any form of physical harm, well…I wish them luck in trying."
"No one will hurt my scaled kitty!" Mitsumi sniffed and reached over to gently caress Blue Ripple's neck. "That man was vile! Attacking my poor puppy like that! He got his just desserts!"
Overgrown Rover whined and waved a back leg to get snuggled and cuddled. Blue Ripple found himself laughing at the whole thing. The board members had watched Wind Crane fly over to where she could be lowered into the tunnel made before from the lift. Zenchu, King and Kianna were with her to ensure safe passage. Tatsumaki eventually took Rendor over with them to further ensure that nothing would go wrong.
"Think this will be as quick as the last time?" Fubuki asked.
"Likely even faster," Inichi chuckled and rested a small hand on her shoulder. "You did rest well, though?"
"I did. I can't wait to show the others what places we found!" Fubuki chuckled. He laughed softly with her and they found themselves at the elevator.
"About time…" Saitama muttered.
"You going to that restaurant after this?" Tanktop Master asked.
"Most likely. Maybe home first to freshen up. Then there," Saitama nodded. "In truth, I kinda…miss Neutral Grounds. I was there when the place was first starting out. So…I need to go back again."
"We have made adjustments to Neutral Grounds while you were gone. While the restaurant was closed, Metal Knight has been upgrading with his robots," Genos chuckled. "You will be pleased, Master."
"Oh! Okay. I'll want to see what was done," Saitama nodded.
"Me too!" Mitsumi beamed. "We may need a slightly wider area for where we sit, though. To make room for our family and pets."
"I shall discuss with Metal Knight on the possibilities," Genos said.
"No need. I have reached out to Siren. Metal Knight is now aware," Inichi said calmly. "We are approaching the ones that need to be destroyed. Hmm…"
"Inichi?" Mitsumi frowned.
"Lady Mitsumi, it appears we may have a hardship with those that wish to be cured. One of them was false and causing issues," he muttered.
"Just bring that one here," Blue Ripple said. "You already have that one pin-pointed. Because if you don't do it, I will."
"Oh?" Inichi grinned lightly. "Let's get to our destination first."
"We can't. That one is in another room, right?" Blue Ripple said.
"Hmm…true…" Inichi frowned. "Zenchu is with Wind Crane. I'm letting him know that we need him to play fetch."
"Good," Blue Ripple nodded and kept taking in the sights with intrigue. He had never been around human settlements before, and he was studying everything with acute interest. On a separate floor, a thin false woman was glaring at Iwasaki.
"I knew you were no good!" she hissed.
"If you knew, then why did you agree to be cured? Or was it to spy again?" Iwasaki asked calmly. There were twenty others there that wanted to be cured of being a Secret Skins, and they had moved in front of their friend protectively.
"Hey. You. You're coming with me. If you don't, I'll slice the flea from your arm," Zenchu said when he shadow phased and appeared behind the false woman. Now she turned and gaped at the sight of Zenchu standing there. His barbed tail flicked to show he wasn't going to put up with any of her antics. At the serious look on his face with his slanted black eyes, she knew he would make good on his word. She swallowed and shivered with complete fear before turning to glare at Iwasaki and the group before her.
"Mark my words! This isn't over!" she snapped.
"It is for you," Zenchu smirked and quickly escorted her away to where other security personnel were waiting. Iwasaki sighed sadly and found herself pulled into Flashy Flash's arms.
"We have plenty of others here that wish to be cured. That one likely had a change of heart," Flashy Flash said to calm her. She nodded and was only too grateful that Inichi was keeping a mental block on her to keep her thoughts hidden. He had even done the same to the ones that wished to be cured the moment he was shown them. He was hoping it would lure other bad ones out to kill them off faster. He already planned to send out a vibe to investigate the issue the moment they were searched for.
"Stand with them," Zenchu said to the false woman when they got to the evaluation chamber. The training equipment was replaced, but it was all very basic. The board members knew it was all about to get destroyed.
"This is a trap!" she shouted to the other Secret Skins there. They hissed with outrage, but Saitama had already set aside Mitsumi and slapped the offending false woman into the crowd of other Secret Skins gathered. He let the red haze appear, and the fiery light in his pupils flickered dimly to show he was ready to take them all out.
"Oh…" Blue Ripple said with complete surprise. Overgrown Rover was set down by Mitsumi to sit next to Blue Ripple's tub. It whimpered softly, but Saitama just gave a small hand gesture to calm down.
"Easy, doggy. I'm not mad at you. Just stay with Blue Ripple," Saitama said without taking his eyes off the small group of Secret Skins in front of him. Mitsumi's fans came out and began to ready themselves to assist. Wind Crane was soon appearing to hiss and glare at the group before her.
"Ah…shit…!" a false man cringed with sheer terror.
"They can't leave," Tatsumaki smirked. "We blocked up the way in. We figured it would get cleared out with them."
"It would," Sweet Mask nodded. "We have thirteen of them here. There were…how many? Twenty that wanted to be cured? Quite a few of them."
"Some couldn't make the assessment. They may come by Neutral Grounds later. I was informed on who to contact," Inichi said.
"Good. Anyways, yeah, we know you're all Secret Skins. You all get one choice. Quick death or flea removal," Saitama said.
"Just kill us!" another false man spat out.
"I don't want to become a transmitter!" a young girl wailed. "I didn't even ask for this!"
"And you didn't want to become cured," Inichi pointed out.
"But…I just wanted a way to get back at other people that bullied me!" she said. "Is that wrong?!"
"It is. This way to do it is wrong. You get back at them by proving them wrong by bettering yourself! But to become a monster to kill them? To torture them?! That's just vile and disgusting!" Mitsumi said.
"You don't know what vile and disgusting is!" a false man said.
"I am Mitsumi Takashi! My organs were harvested and fed to all of you twice a day for a whole month!" she snapped. Now there was a quiet hush over them all. "You want vile and disgusting?! Match that!"
"Easy…" Saitama mumbled to calm her down.
"And you all tasted her organs…" Inichi fumed.
"Likely enjoyed them, too. So gross!" Zenchu muttered.
"What?!" Tanktop Master gaped.
"Dead. All of them," Kamikaze grunted.
"Ugh…" Fubuki frowned and shook her head. Lily shuddered with horror at the thought, and Garou just kept her behind him.
"Disgusting!" King growled out. Kianna and Tacki were fuming with rage. Kamiko would have been, too, if she was there. Genos was recording everything silently for the Hero Association.
"If they all tasted Mitsumi's vital organs…true. They forfeited their lives," Bane nodded. Sweet Mask was outraged and kept Tajima safely behind him.
"They ate of her flesh?!" Blue Ripple seethed with Overgrown Rover.
"It appears they will not be joining the ranks," the first board member said to get the other three agreeing. Wind Crane hissed out again and flared out her wings. A taloned foot slammed down to crack the ground under her charging attack, and her tufted dragon tail swished around violently. That scattered the Secret Skins to let her move and brace herself behind Saitama and Mitsumi.
"Mom! Dad!" Fumio said from Wind Crane's back.
"Off of Wind Crane now! Stand behind the others!" Mitsumi ordered her son. Black Sperm was the one to help get Fumio to safety with a quick move from its elastic body, and it even stood in front of him to ensure his safety in full.
"WIND CRANE CLAN PUNCH!" Saitama shouted before punching with Mitsumi's fans. Wind Crane squawked to amplify it further and reduced everything before them to vaporized bits. Blue Ripple watched everything calmly before turning to look at Mitsumi.
"I have something to ask," he said.
"Yes?" she smiled softly and moved to kneel down to the tub. He rested his head in her arms to sigh at the gentle caresses.
"When it comes time to view their yearly gathering, you should do the Eye of the Meteor at the peak time. It may be the only attack truly strong enough to bring that group to their knees before the killing blows can be done," Blue Ripple advised. "Inichi showed me how it was performed. It will definitely weaken the strongest ones there and possibly lure out the monster they serve."
"Hmm. Okay. We can think on that. What's next?" Saitama asked.
"We must speak with Sanda. She's the one that was using the mansion cameras," Inichi said. "We should utilize a meeting room."
"We can set up our board room," the second board member said. "We also have the photo booth in there for pictures and setup for a Heroic Monster grouping. I'm sure we can get pictures of the ones that cannot join us."
"I can gather those images for you," Genos said. "Metal Knight can even have them pose in front of cameras at home for snapshots."
"Very good. Let's prepare. After her, we shall see about the Heroic Monster photos. When that is done, we shall assess the group of Secret Skins that wish to be cured. Then we will head home to prepare for Neutral Grounds and a nice karaoke night," Inichi said.
"Sounds good," Fubuki nodded.
"I shall continue to accompany you for recording the events," Genos said and moved to walk behind Saitama. Mitsumi was able to pluck up Overgrown Rover before getting scooped up by Saitama to get carried. Inichi levitated Blue Ripple's tub to follow them again. Inichi was already quite curious as to what would be discovered. It's time for answers. And I'm sure I'll be prying all of them out of our little hacker at last.