The dust of battle had settled, and the physical damage caused by the 'Party A' monster was being swiftly repaired by the Hero Association's efficient Logistics Department. The twisted office area visibly returned to order. However, an invisible, more subtle wound, like a sticky spider web, clung to the hearts of those who had just experienced that mental storm, including the victorious heroes.
Sandman Flint, Master Lin, and Iron Wall, after completing their initial mission reports, did not immediately disperse as usual to train or rest. They were informed by Wesley that they needed to go to the newly established 'Mental and Physical Health Assurance Center' within the building for a routine post-battle assessment.
The 'Mental and Physical Health Assurance Center' was located in a relatively quiet area of the Hero Association headquarters. Its environment was set up in stark contrast to the hardcore style of battle and training. Soft beige walls, comfortable warm lighting, the air filled with a faint, relaxing aroma of plant essential oils, and excellent soundproofing meant almost no external noise could be heard.
Sandman Flint was the first to be invited into the assessment room. He sat somewhat awkwardly on an overly soft-looking sofa, facing a middle-aged woman in a white uniform with a gentle demeanor. Her name tag read 'Psychological Counselor, Dr. Emily.'
"Mr. Marko, relax. This is just a routine conversation, not an interrogation," Dr. Emily's voice, like her appearance, carried a reassuring power. "We can talk about the mission just now, any feelings, good or bad, are welcome."
Flint was silent for a moment. He was used to solving problems with his fists and sandstorms; this experience of sitting down to talk about 'feelings' was very unfamiliar to him, even a bit... awkward.
"The mission... is complete. The target was subdued, the public rescued," he said concisely, as if giving a work report.
Dr. Emily smiled and nodded: "Yes, you all did an excellent job, truly deserving heroes. But, Mr. Marko, when facing an enemy that can directly affect thoughts and emotions, especially one whose core ability is to induce self-doubt and logical confusion, even after victory, do some... discomforts still linger in your heart? For example, do those chaotic thoughts occasionally flash back? Or do you feel a hint of uncertainty about your own judgment?"
Flint was slightly startled. Indeed, after the battle, absurd thoughts about his attacks 'lacking creativity,' which had been forced upon him, occasionally flashed through his mind. Although he quickly dispelled them, traces did remain. He had originally thought it was just insignificant noise.
"...A little," he finally admitted, his voice low.
"This is a completely normal stress response," Dr. Emily explained calmly. "That kind of mental pollution is like a potent poison; even after detoxification, the body and mind need a process of metabolism and recovery. Acknowledging this impact is the first step to recovery." She guided Flint, using simple language, to describe the feeling of being disturbed, and taught him several basic techniques for mental focus and emotional calming.
"Remember, Mr. Marko, a hero's strength lies not only in external abilities but also in inner resilience and clarity. The Hero Association cares about the mental and physical health of every member, because this directly relates to whether you can continue to perform your duties safely and effectively," Dr. Emily concluded. "If you feel any abnormalities afterward, you can always come here to talk."
When Flint left the assessment room, he felt inexplicably lighter. The lingering subtle irritation seemed to have been truly sorted out and soothed by the conversation and guidance. He realized for the first time that post-battle 'care' was not just about healing physical wounds.
Next to enter was Master Lin. His conversation with Dr. Emily was even shorter, mostly conducted in silence. Dr. Emily used precise instruments to monitor his brainwave activity and mental stability.
"Mr. Lin, your mental barrier is very strong, and the nature of your Silent Heart Master field also gives you extremely high resistance to this type of pollution," Dr. Emily said, looking at the data report. "However, actively penetrating and disintegrating a chaotic domain of that intensity still places a considerable load on your mental energy. The data shows a slight tremor in your deep mental sea. I recommend at least six hours of deep meditation, supplemented by the 'Mental Soother' provided by the center for recovery."
The Silent Heart Master nodded slightly, saying nothing more, but clearly accepted the advice. For him, maintaining the purity and stability of his mental energy was the foundation of his power, and the professional support provided by the Hero Association hit the mark.
Finally, it was Iron Wall. The young man was clearly still immersed in the excitement and slight fear of participating in a high-level mission for the first time, and he spoke more.
"Dr., when that monster's voice rushed over, my barrier shook violently! I was really afraid it would shatter!" Iron Wall gestured. "My mind was also a mess, always thinking if I was in the wrong position, if I was holding them back..."
Dr. Emily listened patiently, giving timely affirmations: "But you held on, and at a critical moment, you contracted your barrier to protect The Silent Heart Master, making a very correct judgment. It's natural to feel nervous and self-doubt when facing a ghost-level threat for the first time. The important thing is that you overcame them and fulfilled your duties. This in itself is a testament to growth and courage."
She helped Iron Wall analyze several key points in the mission, reinforcing his positive experiences, and taught him breathing control and positive self-suggestion methods for the anxiety he tended to experience.
"The path of a hero is long; there's no need to demand perfection in one step. Every mission, big or small, is an accumulation," Dr. Emily encouraged gently.
When Iron Wall left, the unease on his face had dissipated, replaced by a more determined expression, as if having weathered a storm.
Not only the participating heroes, but also the ordinary citizens affected by the 'Party A' monster's mental domain, the Hero Association dispatched specialized psychological intervention teams to work with medical institutions to provide counseling and follow-up observations, ensuring no long-term psychological shadows would remain.
This series of professional, thoughtful, and humanized measures formed a stark contrast to the approach of some superheroes (or vigilantes) who often only focus on 'beating down' villains, neglecting subsequent handling, and even frequently causing greater social problems and property damage to the public.
Related reports and revelations from informed sources quickly sparked heated discussions online.
"The Hero Association not only fights but also handles 'after-sales service'? Even psychological counseling is included!"
"Striking Contrast: On the Differences in Social Responsibility Between Professional Organizations and Lone Wolves"
"Sandman, The Silent Heart Master Undergo Post-Battle Psychological Assessment, Hero Association Management System Draws Attention"
"Now this is what you call responsible! What kind of hero fights and then runs away?"
"I heard the Hero Association even sent people to provide psychological counseling to the rescued office workers; that's so heartwarming!"
"Look at a certain someone flying in the sky in an iron shell, how many buildings did he smash, how many people did he scare?"
"And another one swinging between buildings, wasn't his battle damage rate also high? Who provides psychological counseling to the victims?"
The scales of public opinion, in the process of the Hero Association repeatedly demonstrating its professional, systematic, and responsible image, began to subtly tilt.
S.H.I.E.L.D. Headquarters, Director Fury's office.
Agent Coulson was reporting intelligence on the Hero Association's post-battle psychological counseling mechanism. "...Their system is very comprehensive, covering everyone from heroes to affected civilians. And, based on our limited understanding, the psychological assessment and counseling techniques they use also seem to... be remarkably effective."
Fury's single eye stared at the report, silent for a long time. He thought of the Avengers members, each one a problem child, internal conflicts, psychological trauma, post-traumatic stress disorder... Dealing with these messes consumed a lot of his energy, with little effect. Yet Kingpin's Hero Association seemed to manage these issues within the scope of 'standardized processing' using an almost cold, corporate management process.
This made him feel a strange irritation. The path Kingpin was taking, though in his view lacking the warmth and complex human brilliance a 'hero' should possess, was undeniably astonishingly high in 'efficiency' and 'controllability.'
"Continue to observe," Fury finally uttered only four words, but his vigilance deepened.
Hero Association Headquarters, Kingpin looked at the reports on post-battle psychological counseling and the resulting public reaction. His face showed no expression, but deep in his eyes, a glimmer of everything being under control flashed.
Psychological counseling? Employee benefits? Social responsibility?
These were all just means.
The goal was to build a team of 'heroes' with stable mental and physical states, who were loyal, reliable, and capable of sustained high-efficiency combat, and to continuously strengthen the Hero Association's brand image of being 'professional, reliable, and responsible' in the public's mind.
Now, it seemed, this investment had a rather good return rate.
The foundation of the Hero Association was being solidified in these seemingly insignificant details.