(I am an Op-Op Fruit user; please lie down, your scheduled brain removal surgery is about to begin.)
(The protagonist will exploit system bugs to grind the progress bar and is not a righteous person; please take note.)
City A Center, Hero Association Headquarters.
The plaza below the Association building.
Aokiji wore a sleep mask and lay lazily on a bench.
His 1.98-meter frame filled the bench, with a section of his lower legs dangling off the ground.
As time slowly passed.
The noise in the plaza grew louder.
"This is City A News. The long-awaited Hero Association is finally officially established today. The first hero recruitment test is about to begin, and I will be broadcasting live for everyone on-site..."
A beautiful female reporter circled the area with a cameraman, interviewing martial artists and combat athletes who were already quite famous.
And at the very back of the plaza, where Aokiji was currently lying down to rest.
An old man with white hair and a white beard, wearing a black tight-fitting martial arts uniform, slowly approached.
"Young man, could you spare a seat for this old man? At my age, the noise in crowded places gives me a headache."
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Bang's tone was kind and calm, but his sharp eyes as a martial arts master scanned the lazy, stretched-out body on the bench.
Truly... a fine talent for martial arts!
Aokiji lifted his sleep mask and squinted to take a look.
Oh, if it isn't Bang.
The future S-Class Rank 3 hero—does he really need a seat? He could probably fall asleep just by holding a horse stance.
However, Aokiji didn't say those words aloud. He adjusted his posture and pulled his legs back: "Have a seat, old-timer."
Aokiji had only transmigrated to this world a few days ago.
Before transmigrating, he was wearing a sleep mask and catching up on sleep on a plane.
Suddenly, a Dayun brand plane veered off course and collided with the airliner he was on.
After transmigrating, the system activated.
It was quite generous, directly granting him the character template of Admiral Aokiji from One Piece.
No need to unlock it bit by bit; the character template directly gave him Aokiji's full strength!
At the same time, it left a progress bar.
[Lazy Justice: 0% Completion]
[Progress Bar Activation Condition: Become a Hero (Not Met)]
Once this progress bar was completed, he could obtain the next character template.
To have more strength for self-preservation in the constantly dangerous world of One Punch Man, he naturally chose to join the newly established Hero Association.
However, Aokiji didn't expect to be approached by a familiar character from the original work before the test even started.
(This line is a duplicate of the context above.)
Bang sat at the other end of the bench, maintaining a proper social distance:
"Is the young man here to join the Hero Association as well?"
"I'm here to beat everyone present to death, or be beaten to death by everyone present."
A bead of cold sweat appeared on Bang's forehead.
Was it a young person's humor or a serious declaration?
This old man doesn't understand!
"Just kidding, old-timer, don't be nervous." Aokiji smiled as he took off his sleep mask and stuffed it into his pocket.
Before transmigrating, because of the high pressure of life, he always liked to say some provocative words to relieve his tense nerves.
Now it had become a habit.
"Haha, young people have active minds. Good, very good."
Bang breathed a secret sigh of relief.
He didn't want the martial arts talent he had his eye on to be a crazed criminal.
"Actually, I'm here to beg. With so many noble people aspiring to be heroes and the media reporting in real-time, I should be able to make quite a bit of money," Aokiji mused, rubbing his chin.
You can't be a beggar looking for a handout either!!
Bang opened his mouth, wanting to advise the young man not to waste his life, but then he suddenly remembered Aokiji's previous nonsensical words.
"Young man, you're teasing this old man again, aren't you?"
Bang shook his head helplessly.
Even the most mischievous disciple in his dojo had never made his emotions fluctuate so wildly.
"I'm old; my heart can't take the excitement."
"How could that be? The highest mountain and longest river of the martial arts world, the Master of Water Stream Rock Smashing Fist—Master Bang. You're much stronger than that group of people smugly accepting interviews."
Aokiji didn't deny the fact that he was teasing the old man; instead, he praised the other's title.
Bang's old face turned red.
"So the young man recognized me. The highest mountain and longest river of the martial arts world... This, this is too exaggerated. It must have been made up by some unreliable media outlet again."
He waved his hands repeatedly in humility.
However, the upturned corners of his mouth beneath his beard proved that his heart didn't think so.
"It seems registration has started." Aokiji looked toward the end of the plaza. "Master Bang, let's head over together."
"No need for honorifics; I'm very approachable."
The two exchanged a few more brief words.
Bang finally learned Aokiji's name.
He also learned that Aokiji was all alone, without even a single friend.
The protective affection an elder feels for a younger person couldn't help but well up in Bang's heart.
Especially after observing him, he found that although Aokiji's movements were lazy everywhere, they were not superficial.
Instead, they contained a foundation that even he found startling.
Slow but not dragging, relaxed but containing power.
His physical proportions were also superb. Although his loose clothing made it impossible to observe details, the sense of agility and coordination throughout his body couldn't be wrong.
Bang secretly thought about how to take Aokiji as his disciple.
Right, the test!
I'll show off this old man's strength properly. Young people—who doesn't long to become stronger?
Then it will happen naturally; he'll take the initiative to ask to be my disciple.
Just as Bang was satisfied with his plan.
"Hello, where do I register for Esper powers? There's no corresponding spot on the form."
Aokiji asked the Association staff while pointing at the information registration form.
Hearing this, Bang plucked out two hairs from his beard.
The people in the queue behind them poked their heads out one by one to watch.
"Did someone in front just say Esper powers?"
"Yeah, that's all fake, right?"
"I've seen Espers before; being able to float a cup of water is already good enough! Isn't joining the Hero Association just seeking death?"
The reporter lady who was conducting a live broadcast next to the queue had her eyes light up.
A scoop!
She immediately called the cameraman over to Aokiji's side.
"Hello! You just said you have Esper powers, right? Can you demonstrate for the viewers in front of their TVs?"
The focus of everyone's attention instantly converged on Aokiji.
Aokiji pushed away the microphone that was almost touching his mouth with a face full of annoyance.
This female reporter had been reporting for so long; who knows how much of her saliva was on that microphone.
The Association staff finally reacted:
"Please demonstrate the special ability you possess. I need to notify the Association to prepare additional test items for you."
"Fine."
Isn't this just forcing him to show off?
Aokiji raised his hand, and cold white frost dissipated.
He noticed the row of Association staff responsible for registration in their formal suits, drenched in sweat, and his heart stirred.
The power of the Ice Fruit was released with incomparable skill and precision.
The icy-cold air, which made people incredibly envious in this scorching summer, suddenly surged toward the ground.
Accompanied by the 'sizzle, sizzle' sound of condensing water vapor, a whole row of sun umbrellas made of ice covered the heads of the Association staff.
It happened so fast that even the cameraman didn't react in time to capture the shot.
"Wow—!!" The reporter lady still had professional quality; after her exclamation, she immediately held up the microphone.
"Incredible! I always thought Esper powers were just telekinesis. I didn't expect someone could control elements like a mage in a story! It even shows the observation and thoughtfulness a hero should possess, bringing coolness to the hard-working staff..."
Aokiji tapped the desk with a finger covered in a thin layer of frost. "Is this okay? It's not too cold, is it?"
"No... it's very cool..." The staff member's throat was a bit dry.
She could carry heavy materials back and forth.
She could answer every difficult question with a professional smile.
She could wear a meticulous suit under the sun, her whole body dripping with sweat.
Yet, after receiving a little bit of attention and care, these things that were taken for granted felt like an extremely sour plum stuck in her chest.
"I'll report this to—to the higher-ups immediately."
"Pfft—"
A sneer came from the back of the queue.
"What's the use of this Esper power? Go find a supermarket to freeze fish!"