Sol Mirek and Saitama entered the third lecture hall, finding the seats nearly empty. A middle-aged man in a brown suit with gold patterns stood on the podium. He leaned against it, looking bored, though his expression softened slightly when he saw the two new heroes arrive.
They casually picked seats as the man finally spoke. "I am Snake Bite Fist, Snek, A-Class Hero, Rank 38, responsible for guiding new recruits." He paused, scanning the hall. "First, congratulations to both of you for passing the test."
Saitama chewed bubblegum nonchalantly and offered a piece to Sol.
"What flavor?" Sol asked, popping it into his mouth.
"Strawberry," Saitama replied, blowing a pink bubble.
Snek's eyes widened slightly at their relaxed demeanor, black lines appearing on his face. "It seems one of you barely passed. Don't waste your luck—you must work harder."
He straightened and gestured seriously. "From now on, you are Heroes. Cultivate a proper attitude and maintain self-discipline, because your image will appear on the Hero Association's official website."
Sol clicked his tongue, popping his bubblegum. The giant pink bubble had just burst.
"Watch me," Saitama said, blowing an even bigger bubble and winking proudly.
Snek's forehead veins throbbed in frustration. He slammed the podium. "You two! Listen carefully! Your foolish faces will be seen by the entire nation! If you don't want to be embarrassed…"
He jumped onto the podium, striking an exaggerated martial arts pose. "Work hard to become a great Hero like me!"
Saitama's bubble popped, covering his face with sticky pink gum, making Sol laugh. Saitama quickly peeled it off.
"Once you reach A-Class, you'll have influence in the Association. We can deduct points and demote you at any time. Remember that!"
Snek stomped in front of them, furious. "Especially you! The one who failed the written exam!"
Saitama slowly looked up with deadpan eyes. "Huh?"
Sol quickly intervened to defuse the tension. "Your boxing technique has a problem."
Snek's face turned crimson. "What did you say?"
Sol calmly pointed at his wrist. "Your Snake Bite Fist emphasizes wrist explosiveness and agility, but your previous movements relied too much on the shoulder, which reduces flexibility. Your right shoulder is stiffer than the left, likely from improper posture. Using your wrist correctly will significantly increase your power."
Snek froze, trying the adjustment. Shock flashed in his eyes as he repeated the movements. "So that's it… I've always been…" He looked at Sol. "How did you know?"
"I just have slightly better observation skills than most," Sol replied with a shrug.
Nearby, Saitama chewed gum and said casually, "That Pointy-Headed Immortal really seems impressive. I wonder if I could fight him."
"Pointy-Headed Immortal?" Snek blinked.
"Yes," Sol added. "I became stronger after guidance from him in my dreams."
Sol coughed lightly, realizing the diversion. "Uh, Snek, shouldn't we continue with the briefing?"
Snek returned to seriousness. "Ahem. Next, precautions for Hero activities…"
After the briefing, Snek called Sol back. "About your advice on wrist power…"
Sol paused. "Your Snake Bite Fist is already strong; this adjustment just optimizes power generation."
Snek nodded thoughtfully. "Thank you. In return…" He pulled two supermarket vouchers from his pocket. "These are provided by the Hero Association, for you both."
Saitama's eyes lit up immediately. "Supermarket vouchers! This registration was totally worth it!"
"Thank you," Sol said, taking the vouchers and handing one to Saitama.
Outside, the setting sun stretched long shadows across the street as the two walked leisurely. Sol's thoughts drifted. According to Snek, professional Hero training began three years ago, aligning with the timeline in the original story. The appearance of the Dragon-Level Monster, Vaccine Man, was likely imminent. Sol realized he had limited time to enhance his abilities.
Saitama waved his voucher excitedly. "Let's hit the supermarket now!"
Sol emerged from his thoughts, smiling. "Okay, good chance to get ingredients for dinner."
He observed Saitama bouncing ahead and an idea sparked. Once his Hanma Bloodline evolution completed, targeting suitable Monsters for evolution could accelerate his abilities. Following Saitama's Monster-hunting style might even speed his growth.
Meanwhile, in the Hero Association duty room, Snek complained to a blond man with round glasses.
"Did those Rookies really pass? Their attitude was terrible. They barely acknowledged me, a current A-Class Hero, Rank 38. They have no idea how cruel society is. Complete amateurs," Snek grumbled, sipping his coffee.
The blond man adjusted his glasses and glanced out the window. "Both Rookies performed surprisingly well. Sol Mirek achieved perfect scores on both written and physical tests—a remarkable B-Rank evaluation. As for Saitama, he flunked the written exam but aced the physical tests, surpassing all previous records. These two will probably outpace you soon."
Snek's jaw dropped. "That one named Sol… impressive. But Saitama… him?"