Two figures dropped from the rooftop, landing without disturbing a single speck of dust.
"Hey, it's Jordan!"
Saitama's tension evaporated. He didn't recognize the elderly man studying him with obvious interest, but if the guy was with Officer Jordan, he couldn't be bad news.
"I saw this frog stealing from a music store when I passed by, so I chased him here." Saitama scratched the back of his head, embarrassment coloring his voice. "Sorry you had to see... you know. That."
"See what?" Jordan shook his head firmly. "All I see is someone with the courage to act. You're exactly the kind of friend I hoped you'd be."
As he spoke, he quietly pocketed another Limiter Fragment card.
Bang smiled warmly. "Having the courage to face monsters is rare. Are you a hero as well, young man?"
"Haha, you think that highly of me?" Saitama's face reddened slightly at the praise. "To be honest, I'm still a long way from becoming a real hero."
"How modest!" Bang's impression of Saitama improved even further. The boy had genuine humility.
Though it seemed this youngster, like Jordan, had little interest in martial arts training.
The realization deflated Bang's good mood instantly. He sank into melancholy silence.
Unlike the old master, Jordan was feeling excellent. Another Limiter Fragment materialized in his deck as he stood near Saitama. His internal count climbed.
"By the way, Saitama, have you had lunch yet? If not, come to my place. We'll drink."
Jordan raised his hand in a mock toast.
A strange sound echoed from the alley.
All three pairs of eyes immediately locked onto the source.
Saitama's stomach.
Jordan waved off whatever explanation Saitama was about to offer. "Say no more. I understand completely."
"Uh, I actually need to hit a clothing store first." Saitama tugged at his shredded sweatpants. He'd grown accustomed to Jordan's spontaneous invitations. "I know a really nice owner who sometimes doesn't even charge me."
Jordan almost offered to lend Saitama some clothes, then reconsidered. Friendship required reciprocity. Constantly giving without allowing the other person to contribute turned generosity into charity.
"Alright, we'll head to my place and wait. Don't take too long."
As Saitama sprinted off, Jordan glanced at the unconscious frog-man sprawled on the pavement. "Mr. Bang, we should probably contact Lanny about this. Can't just leave a monster lying around."
"Indeed."
Jordan dialed Lanny's number and explained the situation, making sure to mention that Saitama had taken down the creature.
When Lanny learned the other party wasn't a registered professional hero, her enthusiasm cooled noticeably. Still, she assured them repeatedly that staff would arrive immediately to handle cleanup.
Jordan had no intention of claiming credit on Saitama's behalf. After all, the man himself didn't care about empty titles.
Though he might care about the bounty money. That was different.
The sharp scent of cooking oil filled the kitchen before the powerful range hood whisked it away.
Ingredients floated around Jordan in an orderly procession. Vegetables cleaned themselves, landed on the cutting board to be diced by the knife moving on its own accord, then hopped into the wok one by one. Seasonings and sauces added themselves in precise proportions. The entire process flowed with mechanical efficiency.
Jordan mostly just stirred. He could have automated even that with telekinesis if he'd wanted to be truly lazy.
In the living room, Saitama and Bang each held teacups, their attention split between the TV's singing idols and the organized chaos in the kitchen. The TV lost that battle decisively.
"Superpowers are such bullshit," Saitama muttered.
His eyes met Bang's. They shared a moment of commiseration.
"Alright, chicken soup's ready!"
Jordan emerged wearing an apron, carrying a massive pot of soup. Several plates of stir-fried dishes floated beside him like obedient satellites. "Three people means hot pot weather. I also made some side dishes for drinking. Tonight, we feast until we collapse!"
He clapped his hands. Fresh ingredients from the convenience store materialized from fantasy cards, already arranged around the electric hot pot. The broth began to boil.
The aroma of chicken stock simmered over whole birds filled the apartment. It seized the taste buds of all three men and refused to let go.
The coffee table gradually disappeared under plates and ingredients. When Jordan produced several cases of beer, some chilled and others room temperature, Bang and Saitama's expressions turned serious.
Their male instincts screamed a warning at the same moment.
This would be war.
Jordan stretched as he saw off the thoroughly drunk Bang and Saitama, then used telekinesis to clean the battlefield of empty bottles and scattered plates.
One was a powerful martial artist. The other was a soon-to-be demon king who'd stand at the world's apex. Jordan felt confident in their safety.
The monsters of Z-City, on the other hand, should burn incense and pray they didn't encounter either man on the streets tonight.
Jordan reflected on his gains. Despite last month's four ten-pulls from various defeated monsters yielding nothing special, today's Flowing Water Breathing Technique from Bang marked his third SR card since transmigrating. Combined with the increasingly solid foundation from attribute card absorption, his physical capabilities had reached new heights.
His mental strength in particular had grown substantially, making telekinesis almost effortless. For a brief moment, he'd considered abandoning close combat entirely to become a pure psychic artillery platform.
Unfortunately, without an illumination spell to complete the turret mage aesthetic, the idea remained shelved.
Today marked another completed ten-pull accumulation. With his Stand evolution finished, someone's gacha addiction kicked in hard.
My turn.
Draw!
[Speed (N): Attribute card]
[Constitution (N): Attribute card]
[Strength (N): Attribute card]
[Constitution (N): Attribute card]
[Speed (N): Attribute card]
[Strength (N): Attribute card]
[Constitution (N): Attribute card]
[Strength (N): Attribute card]
[Strength (N): Attribute card]
[Spirit (SR): Attribute card, 100 units of Spirit]
[AT Field (SR): Ability Card]
A unique spiritual substance of life in the Evangelion universe. The "wall of the heart" that separates oneself from the objective world. Also known as "Absolute Territory."
Purple light flared twice in succession, nearly blinding him.
Jordan rubbed his eyes hard, confirming he wasn't dreaming.
Wait. Nothing for an entire month, and now everything drops at once?
Three SR cards in a single day!
Not that he was complaining. You could never have too many of these.
His grin could have split his face.