Vincent stared at the rectangular case resting on the desk before him, momentarily forgetting about the exhaustion still lingering throughout his body.
The Association employee smiled at his reaction before sliding the case closer.
"Go ahead, Mr. Crowe. It’s yours," she encouraged, gesturing toward the official emblem engraved on its surface. "You’ve successfully completed the licensing examination, so congratulations on becoming a professional Hero."
Vincent carefully opened the case.
Inside lay a sleek identification card with a metallic silver finish. His photograph occupied the upper left corner, while the Hero Association’s emblem was engraved beside his name. Several lines of information were displayed beneath it, accompanied by a small holographic security seal.
He picked up the card and examined it.
[HERO ASSOCIATION]
[OFFICIAL HERO LICENSE]
Name: Vincent Crowe
Age: 22
Superhuman Rank: Rank 1
Hero Rank: F-Rank
Hero Merit: 0
Registered Superpower: Physical Reinforcement
License Status: Active
Vincent stared at the information for several seconds.
F-Rank Hero.
The lowest professional classification within the Hero Association.
Under ordinary circumstances, someone might have considered that unimpressive. After all, countless Heroes had already advanced beyond F-Rank, with the most accomplished individuals enjoying extraordinary wealth, recognition, and influence.
However, Vincent couldn’t stop smiling.
For years, he had worked inside a prestigious Hero Agency, watching licensed Heroes come and go while performing tasks that anyone could have completed.
Now, he finally possessed the same professional qualification.
I’m actually a Hero.
The realization filled him with satisfaction.
"Your license serves as official identification whenever you’re performing authorized Hero duties," the employee explained, noticing his expression. "It also contains your professional records, including your current Hero Rank and accumulated Merit."
Vincent glanced toward the information displayed on the card.
"Speaking of Merit, I noticed mine is zero," he remarked, looking up curiously. "Doesn’t defeating Gareth Morrow during the examination count?"
The employee shook her head.
"Unfortunately, no. Licensing assessments are conducted under controlled conditions, so victories achieved during examinations aren’t eligible for ordinary Hero Merit," she clarified. "You’ll begin accumulating Merit after completing officially recognized Hero activities."
Vincent nodded understandingly.
That seemed reasonable.
After all, the Association couldn’t award professional achievements for repeatedly defeating prisoners specifically assigned to examination facilities.
Still, he was curious about how the system worked.
"How much Merit would I receive for defeating a Rank 1 Villain during an actual mission?" Vincent asked, placing the license carefully back inside its case.
"Under the standard reward guidelines, successfully suppressing a Rank 1 Villain awards one hundred Merit," the employee answered. "However, the contribution must be verified, and certain cases may have additional conditions."
One hundred Merit.
Vincent considered the amount thoughtfully.
He had already defeated two Rank 1 Superhumans within the past two days, although neither victory qualified for ordinary Hero Merit.
If he could maintain that momentum, advancing through the professional rankings might be possible sooner than he had once imagined.
Of course, genuine Villain suppression missions would be considerably less predictable than controlled examinations.
The employee continued speaking.
"Now that your license has been activated, you’ll also have access to the Association’s official Hero App. Have you installed it before?"
Vincent shook his head. "I’ve heard about it, but I couldn’t access the professional features without a Hero License."
"That’s correct," she confirmed, bringing up a holographic display. "The application is available to licensed Heroes and provides access to mission assignments, Villain records, professional notifications, and Merit reporting."
Vincent retrieved his phone and followed her instructions.
Within moments, the application had finished installing.
A blue interface appeared on his screen, displaying the Hero Association’s emblem above two login options.
He selected Hero Registration and entered the credentials provided with his new license.
A brief verification process followed.
[Identity Confirmed.]
[Welcome, Hero Vincent Crowe.]
[Hero Rank: F-Rank]
[Account Status: Active]
Vincent felt another surge of excitement.
Seeing himself officially addressed as a Hero was surprisingly satisfying.
"Your account is now active," the employee announced after checking her terminal. "Before accepting assignments, I recommend familiarizing yourself with the application’s main functions."
Vincent nodded and opened the menu.
Several options appeared, including Mission Board, Villain Database, Merit Records, and Emergency Support.
He selected the Villain Database first.
Almost immediately, hundreds of profiles appeared on his screen.
Vincent blinked in surprise.
"All these people are wanted Villains?" he asked, scrolling through the seemingly endless collection of photographs and criminal records.
"Those are the profiles currently accessible under your authorization," the employee explained. "The database contains information collected through investigations, confirmed sightings, and previous encounters with wanted Superhumans."
Vincent selected one of the profiles.
A photograph appeared alongside the individual’s name, known superpower, Superhuman Rank, danger classification, and criminal history.
Some profiles contained detailed descriptions of their abilities, while others displayed warnings indicating that certain information remained unconfirmed.
Vincent continued scrolling.
There were criminals possessing elemental abilities, physical enhancements, unusual mutations, and supernatural powers he had never encountered before.
His heartbeat gradually quickened.
There are this many?
For ordinary Heroes, these profiles represented dangerous criminals who needed to be apprehended.
For Vincent, however, they represented something else entirely.
Potential superpowers.
Every qualifying Villain he defeated could provide another opportunity for assimilation.
The possibilities were almost overwhelming.
"Mr. Crowe?"
Vincent quickly looked up.
The employee was watching him with a slightly amused expression.
"You seem particularly interested in the database," she observed, smiling politely. "Most newly licensed Heroes usually examine the available missions first."
Vincent chuckled awkwardly.
"I figured it would be useful to understand the people I might eventually encounter," he explained, returning his attention to the application.
"That’s a sensible approach," she agreed. "Just remember that the information isn’t always complete. Villains can conceal their abilities, and some deliberately spread misleading information about their capabilities."
Vincent nodded.
He understood that better than most.
After all, his own official records listed only Physical Reinforcement.
Nobody at the Association knew that he possessed two additional supernatural abilities.
The employee then directed his attention toward the reporting functions.
"When you successfully apprehend a wanted Villain, you can submit a capture report through the application," she explained. "The report includes the target’s identity, relevant evidence, and the circumstances surrounding the confrontation."
Vincent examined the reporting interface as she continued.
"For example, you can upload a photograph of the captured Villain. Our intelligence system will compare the evidence against existing records, although additional verification may be required before your Merit is awarded."
"And what happens to the Villain afterward?" Vincent asked, remembering how Gareth had been escorted by containment officers.
"You can deliver the prisoner directly to an authorized Association facility or request collection by our Villain Containment Division," she answered. "For dangerous targets, containment personnel are equipped to handle transportation and prevent escape."
Vincent nodded thoughtfully.
The process seemed straightforward enough.
Defeat the Villain, secure the target, submit the necessary evidence, and allow the Association to verify the operation.
More importantly, he wouldn’t need to personally transport every criminal he apprehended.
After completing the explanation, the employee handed him a small document containing additional instructions.
"That covers the essentials, Mr. Crowe. You’re now authorized to accept assignments appropriate for your Hero Rank," she informed him. "Please exercise caution during your first missions, and remember that requesting assistance is always preferable to unnecessarily risking your life."
Vincent accepted the document and smiled.
"Thank you for everything. I appreciate your help."
"You’re welcome, Hero Crowe," the employee replied warmly. "I wish you a successful career."
Several minutes later, Vincent found himself sitting on a bench inside the enormous lobby.
The floating holographic globe continued rotating above the central hall, while licensed Heroes and Association employees moved around him.
However, Vincent barely noticed them. New chapters come out on g.com first.
His attention remained fixed on the Hero License resting in his hand.
Only a few days ago, he had been an ordinary agency employee who couldn’t even defend himself against Derek Blackthorne.
Now, he was officially recognized as a professional Hero.
And he possessed an extraordinary secret.
Vincent quietly summoned his Status Window.
[Villain Assimilation System]
Name: Vincent Crowe
Superhuman Rank: Rank 1
Flux Energy: 20/20
Innate Superpower: Physical Reinforcement
Assimilated Superpowers:
1. Impact Amplification
2. Bone Hardening
Vincent smiled faintly.
Three supernatural abilities.
His Flux Energy remained limited, but his combat potential had already improved considerably.
And this was only the beginning.
He dismissed the interface and reopened the Hero App.
This time, he selected the Mission Board.
Dozens of available assignments appeared, ranging from routine security operations to wanted Villain suppression missions.
Vincent filtered the results to display Rank 1 targets.
He had no intention of recklessly challenging someone far beyond his current capabilities.
After all, possessing multiple abilities didn’t make him invincible.
He needed experience, better control over his Flux Energy, and opportunities to improve his combat techniques.
As he examined the available missions, one particular profile caught his attention.
[WANTED VILLAIN]
Name: Felix Granger
Alias: Slipstream
Superhuman Rank: Rank 1
Known Superpower: Kinetic Acceleration
Danger Classification: Low Threat
Criminal Activities: Armed Robbery, Assault, Evading Arrest
Last Known Location: East District
Vincent immediately leaned forward.
Kinetic Acceleration?
According to the available information, Felix could temporarily accelerate his movements, allowing him to close distances rapidly and escape pursuing authorities.
Vincent’s eyes brightened.
Mobility was one of his greatest weaknesses.
Although Physical Reinforcement could improve his movement speed, doing so consumed valuable Flux Energy.
If he acquired a dedicated movement ability, his combat versatility could increase dramatically.
This could be useful.
Vincent examined the mission details carefully.
The target was classified as Rank 1, and his known criminal activities suggested that he relied heavily on speed to escape confrontation.
Capturing him wouldn’t necessarily be easy.
However, Vincent already possessed several abilities that might help him counter the Villain’s advantage.
After considering the risks, he reached a decision.
He pressed the acceptance button.
[Mission Accepted.]
[Target: Felix Granger — Slipstream]
[Objective: Apprehend Wanted Villain.]
Vincent slowly smiled as the confirmation appeared.
His first official mission had begun.