Metal Bat burst into laughter, slamming his bat against the ground. "Good. That's what I like to hear. Rookie, I misjudged you."
Tanktop Master's tense expression eased as he studied Sol. "I see now. As expected of you, Sol."
Zombieman quietly extinguished his cigarette, a faint smile forming. "Interesting."
Child Emperor adjusted his glasses, surprise flickering across his youthful face before turning into approval. "You've thought this through well, Sol."
Zenil's expression turned pale, the projection flickering slightly. "This… this…"
He had not expected Sol to twist the situation like this. Not only did it earn the admiration of the S-Class Heroes, it also won over the lower-ranked heroes. The amount meant little to him, but the move itself was humiliating.
Sol crossed his arms, his gaze sharp. "What is it? Didn't you say you would compensate me, Mr. Zenil? Or were those just empty words?"
Metal Bat grinned, resting his bat on his shoulder. "What's wrong, old man? Suddenly feeling stingy?"
Tanktop Master folded his arms, his tone steady. "You pride yourself on generosity. Surely this is not too much to ask."
Zombieman lit another cigarette, his voice calm. "Seems some people are starting to show who they really are."
Tatsumaki hovered beside Sol, her green hair swaying lightly. She tugged at his sleeve, her eyes glinting with satisfaction. She had not expected him to strike back like this, protecting the lower-ranked heroes while cornering Zenil completely.
With no way out, Zenil forced a smile. "Of course. Not a problem. In fact, I will add another five hundred million yen as a gesture of sincerity."
The room stirred at once, but none of the S-Class Heroes showed gratitude. For Zenil, the amount was insignificant. For Sol, who was not known for wealth, the impact was entirely different.
Sol nodded slightly and sat back down. "Then I will thank you on behalf of the lower-ranked heroes, Mr. Zenil."
His gaze swept across the executives, noting their varied expressions.
Remaining in the Association suited him for now. It allowed him to build influence and connect with more heroes.
Zenil, on the other hand, quietly let out a breath of relief. If Sol had continued pushing, his position might have been at risk. Since control was not an option, winning him over would have to do.
Tatsumaki's posture remained tense. She noticed Child Emperor watching Sol thoughtfully and did not lower her guard.
Chairman Sitch wiped the sweat from his forehead. "Let's proceed to the next agenda."
After the mid-meeting break, Tatsumaki quickly pulled Sol out of the conference room. Her grip on his sleeve tightened as they walked down the corridor.
"Hey, Rookie," she said quietly, scanning their surroundings. "That kid's been watching us. He's suspicious."
Sol followed her gaze and spotted Child Emperor standing at the corner, observing them. When their eyes met, the boy adjusted his glasses and walked over.
"Sol, Tatsumaki Senpai," he said calmly, despite his age. "May I speak with you in private?"
Tatsumaki's expression sharpened. "Say what you have to say here."
Child Emperor glanced at Sol. "It's about the Association reforms you mentioned earlier. I have some ideas I would like to discuss."
Tatsumaki's grip tightened.
Sol patted her hand lightly. "Relax. I'll be right back."
"Who said you could agree so easily?" Her ears tinted slightly red, though her voice lowered. "I'm coming too."
Child Emperor studied her reaction for a moment, then led them to a smaller conference room. After closing the door, he spoke directly.
"Sol, what do you think of the current state of the Association?"
Sol noticed Tatsumaki floating close beside him, her psychic energy faintly surrounding them. He considered the question briefly.
"The rot runs deep. If removing a single room of people can fix it, then it's worth it."
Child Emperor froze, clearly caught off guard. He had been preparing arguments to push Sol toward more decisive action, but this was far beyond what he expected.
"You mean eliminating those corrupt executives entirely?"
He hesitated. "Isn't that too extreme?"
Tatsumaki immediately tugged Sol's sleeve, lowering her voice. "Idiot, don't say things like that so casually. And not in front of him."
Sol gave her a reassuring pat. "If he came to us, he already knows something is wrong."
Child Emperor watched the exchange, then nodded slowly. "That's true. I've been investigating the Association in secret, but I lack the power to act."
Tatsumaki narrowed her eyes. "So what do you want?"
"Tatsumaki Senpai," he said seriously, meeting her gaze, "you know how bad things have become. Some executives treat heroes like personal property. Some even cooperate with monsters."
"Enough." Tatsumaki's psychic energy flared, distorting the air. "Don't make claims you can't prove."
Sol placed a hand on her shoulder. "Calm down. He's not wrong."
A flicker of unease crossed her eyes. "Rookie, do you even realize what you're saying? If this gets out, it'll cause chaos. I'm not going to war with the Association for you."
"That's why this stays between us," Child Emperor said, pulling out a tablet. "These are the pieces of evidence I've gathered."
Sol took the tablet and scanned through the data, his expression gradually darkening. Tatsumaki leaned closer, her hair brushing against his shoulder as she read along.
Her voice dropped. "This… is all real?"
Child Emperor nodded firmly. "At least one-third of the executives are involved in corruption. Some of them even keep monsters in secret."