The sixth specially designated venue for hero certification exams.
Located in a sports stadium resembling a giant egg, it was the closest testing site to the outskirts of Z City.
Only those registered in the Hero Association's Hero Registry could be recognized as true professional heroes.
There are three methods for recruiting personnel into the Hero Association.
The first is through setting up an examination mechanism open to all members of society. Those who pass the physical and moral tests to a certain extent will be registered in the Hero Registry as professional heroes.
The second is through internal recommendations. Generally, only professional heroes of A-rank and above provide endorsements for acceptance into the association.
The third is through scouting. Some individuals who are not professional heroes but engage in heroic activities may be noticed by the Hero Association, which will then dispatch staff for contact and recruitment.
Regardless of the method of becoming a professional hero, one needs to be registered in the Hero Registry.
This is a system of identity, where professionals heroes receive compensation based on their activity level and achievements. Additionally, they naturally ascend to rankings such as strength and popularity after becoming professional heroes. The exposure of professional heroes is akin to idols, making them public figures without question.
The reason for this lies in the operational mechanism of the Hero Association.
Ultimately, the Hero Association is just a private enterprise, so the government does not provide it with financial allocations... unless the Hero Association relinquishes its autonomy and integrates into the national management system. However, this is clearly impossible, as it has been mentioned before due to historical and social reasons.
The establishment of the Hero Association was sponsored by the wealthy philanthropist, Agoni, out of gratitude for his grandson being saved from a monster attack by a passerby. This led him to sponsor the establishment of the Hero Association in gratitude and association with heroes. The subsequent operation relies on social donations and commissions, meaning the Hero Association requires recognition, affirmation, and support from the public, giving rise to this model.
But I digress.
The only professional hero Roy knew was the B-rank Fubuki and her useless companions.
Since Roy's activity was in the scarcely populated outskirts of Z City, he had no part in recommendations or scouting. Although if he needed connections, it would be easy to find them. Roy was a producer who valued materials and had partnerships with many laboratories and enterprises, which were also sponsors of the Hero Association. In other words, Roy was the granddad of the Hero Association's dad.
If he hadn't met Saitama on the way, Roy might have done things his way.
Money talks, the economic foundation determines the superstructure, heroes bend over backwards for a living.
It's just a matter of fact.
Money truly can buy anything.
But Roy didn't care about resources from the Hero Association, he could get better intelligence and funds elsewhere. He just came out for a walk because Yumemi Okazaki told him not to be a shut-in all the time.
After entering the venue, they proceeded with registration.
It was similar to submitting a resume, if you didn't bring one, the association would provide forms for participants to fill out.
There were two tests.
The first was a written test, also known as the Sense of Justice Test. The questions gave Roy a headache. From the perspective of a hero, the answers should reflect hero thinking and actions.
But Roy didn't want to simulate justice's chuunibyou, so he just answered from a legal perspective.
Something like that.
But law also considers human feelings, considering humans as the subject and purpose naturally involves judging based on actual circumstances. This means that justice is upheld where it should be, and no one's gone off the rails.
After the written test, it was time for the physical exam.
Entering the locker room, Roy found Saitama.
"Saitama-san, you're also testing in this room." Roy greeted as he approached.
Saitama, surprised to be addressed, paused. "Oh, it's you, Roy. How was the written test?"
"Nothing special, just filled in the blanks casually."
"Right on!"
"Why do you seem a bit nervous, Saitama-san?"
"To be honest, those weird questions on the written test, I have no idea how to answer them..."
"In the end, it's all about strength, isn't it? If you have enough strength and don't reveal any anti-human or antisocial thoughts during the written test, you'll generally pass with one eye closed." Roy remarked.
Saitama became fired up. "You're right! Then I'll give it my all."
Roy felt a bit embarrassed.
If you really get serious, is there any room left here?
Feeling it necessary to stop Saitama's excessive enthusiasm, Roy said, "I think you don't need to push yourself, Saitama-san. Take it easy and don't mess up the venue, or else compensating for it would be troublesome."
Hearing the possibility of having to pay, Saitama immediately became dejected and agreed, "You're right."
As they chatted, the two entered the testing venue.
The tests included lateral jumping, a 1.5-kilometer run, weightlifting, and so on.
The disparity between the minimum and maximum physical fitness of people in this world was quite high. The weak could be so feeble that they couldn't even lift a finger, while the strong, like Saitama, could defeat any monsters with a single punch.
However, those who had the confidence to participate in the Hero Association's exams were all robust individuals, their muscles bulging and exuding a powerful aura.
In comparison, both Saitama and Roy had only average physique.
They had muscles, even an eight-pack. But compared to those muscular men, they seemed somewhat slender and weak.
As they entered the venue, the muscle-bound men standing by couldn't help but sneer.
However, Saitama's performance, which could be likened to a humanoid Gundam, left the muscle-bound men who were originally ready to laugh dumbfounded. They began to have thoughts like, Are all professional heroes monsters? and Maybe I should go back to my hometown and farm.
Neither Saitama nor Roy cared about the inner thoughts of these minor characters.
Roy had achieved the second stage of the gene lock, which was still in the research phase... perfect control over more than 97% of his body, allowing him to regulate muscle tissue, blood circulation, and other functions according to his will.
Of course, the body, which instinctively controls itself, is already quite suited for life activities.
Achieving perfect control over the body would disrupt the balance of internal circulation, causing some degree of damage to the body.
Roy only controlled the muscles used for movement, at most causing muscle strains.
But because of this, he displayed strength, speed, agility, and flexibility beyond ordinary people. Even martial arts techniques in the fictional series, as long as Roy understood the principles, he could immediately use them. With the deepening of the second stage of the gene lock, he could almost do everything with his body, with almost no resistance at all.
Of course, without martial arts training, there was less spiritual refinement, such as martial intent.
But relying on the combat instinct of the first stage of the gene lock and his innate hyper intuition, his close combat abilities were definitely not inferior to those so-called martial arts masters.
***
If you want to read more than 15 chapters ahead of the update schedule, you can visit my Pat-reon: pat-reon.-com/KangTL (remove "-")