"Don't worry about it... it's more fun together." Saitama, who wasn't the target of the complaint, was the one smiling the brightest.
"Then we'll go to your place next time."
"Actually, I think having some private space is quite important." Saitama's smile vanished instantly, replaced by an unusually serious expression.
"You... honestly..." Lexon shot him a look before turning his gaze to Mumen and Genos. "So, what's the deal with you two?"
He was referring to why Mumen and Genos's heads were now as bald and shiny as Saitama's.
"Uh..." Mumen scratched his bald head sheepishly.
"To get stronger, Mr. Lexon!" Genos's response was quite frank.
"So... did you?" Lexon asked with half-closed eyes.
"It seems... no," Mumen replied weakly.
Genos rested his chin in his hand, murmuring in a low voice, "Strange... where did it go wrong? Is there some factor other than being bald?"
Then, unable to think of an answer, he leaned toward Lexon and asked sincerely, "Is there anything else I need to do besides being bald, Mr. Lexon?"
"Stop thinking about it. You won't get any stronger." Lexon rapped Genos on the head, producing a loud metallic clank.
"Really? Being bald doesn't make you stronger?" Genos seemed genuinely surprised.
This question actually stumped Lexon. He had indeed gotten stronger when he went bald, after all.
"It doesn't work if you do it on purpose."
That was the answer Lexon settled on.
"It doesn't work if I do it on purpose? Does that mean... it has to be involuntary?" Leave it to Genos to find a loophole immediately.
He even pulled out a small notebook and recorded Lexon's words verbatim, writing every stroke carefully.
"You're really something..." Lexon didn't know what to say to him, so he just stated flatly, "Being bald doesn't make you stronger. It's that simple."
Those words instantly shattered the group's hopes.
Fubuki, listening nearby, felt immensely relieved.
Because she had actually considered shaving her head too.
She had only put the idea on hold because she thought she'd look too ugly and there was no definitive proof it would work.
It was just a pause... not a total abandonment of the idea.
Only after hearing the Mist Swordsman's words did she give up entirely.
'Thank goodness I didn't do it,' Fubuki thought, feeling lucky.
"How's your training with the Eight Inner Gates coming along?" Lexon then asked.
"Gate of Opening. I'm almost at the Gate of Healing," Fubuki answered.
"Just entered the Gate of Healing," Genos replied.
"I've already entered the Gate of Life, Teacher Lexon," Mumen answered.
His answer surprised both Fubuki and Genos. While they were still oscillating between the first and second gates, Mumen, who was originally the weakest, had suddenly surpassed them.
"Oh? Not bad." Lexon gave him a small word of praise.
It had only been four days. For Mumen, who was originally barely stronger than a normal person, to reach this level in the Eight Inner Gates was indeed worthy of praise.
However, Lexon knew this wasn't due to Mumen being a prodigy.
Aside from Lexon's own help, Mumen had been working himself to the absolute limit every single day.
Based on reports from the Wood Clone who assisted in their training and used Yang Power to restore their exhausted bodies, Mumen was the most hardworking of the three.
He was diligent to an unimaginable degree.
Having been weak and powerless for so long, the knowledge that he could actually become strong allowed him to push himself to the brink of collapse through sheer willpower.
If the Wood Clone hadn't been there watching over him and providing Yang Power in time...
It wasn't an exaggeration to say that in just these four days, Mumen would have died hundreds or even thousands of times over.
If this continued, Lexon was truly curious...
'Would this guy Mumen... become the next human to break his limiter?'
Tossing the unnecessary thought aside, Lexon looked at Genos and asked, "Are you used to your current body yet?"
"No problems at all," Genos answered, clenching his fist.
"Good," Lexon noted.
"By the way, Mr. Lexon, Dr. Kuseno was very surprised that part of my body has reverted to flesh and blood. He's very eager to meet you and discuss this matter," Genos said.
"Yeah, I'll have you take me there in a few days," Lexon replied.
From their conversation, it was clear that Genos was no longer a complete cyborg.
He was now in a half-flesh, half-cyborg state.
This was only natural, as only a body of flesh and blood could practice the Eight Inner Gates.
When Genos, whose body was entirely mechanical, had gone back and tried to train after Lexon's initial instruction, he discovered he lacked the necessary meridians to cultivate.
He had no choice but to ask Lexon for a solution.
Lexon, having used Genos as a guinea pig to confirm that cyborgs couldn't train in the Eight Inner Gates, had simply asked Genos if he wanted a flesh-and-blood body.
Genos didn't refuse.
However, wanting to maintain his current combat power, he requested that Lexon only restore enough of his body to allow for the Eight Inner Gates.
So, Lexon had simply remodeled Genos's body.
For someone who could resurrect an entire village in the Naruto world, this kind of task was second nature to Lexon.
Of course, he also had help from his recently acquired subordinate, the genius scientist Dr. Genus of the House of Evolution.
"Keep up the hard work. Once you can open the seventh gate and become an S-Class hero, it won't be a problem," Lexon encouraged them casually.
"Understood!" the three replied excitedly.
"Beep... beep... beep..."
Suddenly, the phones in Lexon's and Genos's pockets rang simultaneously.
All eyes in the room were immediately drawn to the devices.
"The Association must have run into something again," Lexon said, picking up the call along with Genos.
[IS THIS THE "MIST SWORDSMAN" ("DEMON CYBORG")? I... I'M A STAFF MEMBER FROM THE HERO ASSOCIATION! PLEASE COME TO THE HEADQUARTERS IN CITY A IMMEDIATELY FOR AN EMERGENCY HERO MEETING! SOMETHING BIG IS HAPPENING!]
An incredibly anxious, even slightly panicked voice came through both phones at the same time.
Genos looked at Lexon, and Lexon gave a slight nod.
Then, both of them replied "Understood" to the Association staff on the other end.
The call ended.
"What is it? Sounds like something major," Saitama asked curiously, having overheard the loud voices from the phones.
"Is a Dragon-level disaster about to occur?" Genos wondered.
From his perspective, the Association notifying himself—an S-Class hero—and Mr. Lexon, who clearly had S-Class power in their eyes...
It meant that a Dragon-level disaster capable of destroying several cities was about to strike!
'It's more than just a Dragon-level threat...' Lexon thought to himself.
Based on the plot's progression, a certain great seer must have suddenly died, leaving behind a message about a coming catastrophe. That's why the S-Class hero meeting was being convened.
In other words... the one coming should be that galactic conqueror with the spaceship.
The character Lexon was thinking of was, of course, the overlord of the universe who came to Earth only to find an opponent capable of rivaling him...
Boros.
[Reviews - Power St0nes - Comments are highly appreciated to keep me going.....(+50 chapters) patre0n.c0m/talecrafter]