The delicious aroma of grilled meat drifted through the evening air as Vincent made his way along a bustling roadside filled with restaurants, food stalls, and outdoor drinking establishments.
Colorful signs illuminated the sidewalks, while the sounds of sizzling barbecue, animated conversations, and passing vehicles blended into the familiar atmosphere of the city’s nightlife.
Despite the late hour, the street remained crowded with people enjoying their evening after a long day of work.
Groups of office employees occupied plastic tables outside small restaurants, couples shared plates of grilled meat, and several university students argued loudly over a football match playing on a television mounted above a nearby bar.
Vincent adjusted the collar of his jacket as he approached a particularly lively barbecue establishment occupying the corner of the street.
Several rows of wooden tables had been arranged beneath a large canopy, each equipped with a small charcoal grill where customers could cook their meat while drinking.
The restaurant was far from luxurious, but its generous portions, affordable prices, and lively atmosphere had made it a popular gathering place among local workers.
More importantly, it was one of Julian Reyes’s favorite places to drink.
Vincent spotted his friend almost immediately.
Julian occupied a table near the edge of the canopy, enthusiastically waving one hand while using the other to protect a plate of grilled meat from the smoke rising off the charcoal grill.
"Vincent! Over here!" Julian shouted, grinning broadly. "Hurry up before I finish everything!"
Vincent approached the table and glanced at the impressive collection of dishes already arranged across its surface.
Several plates contained marinated beef, chicken skewers, grilled sausages, and assorted vegetables. Two bottles of beer stood beside a metal bucket filled with ice, while a large bowl of spicy dipping sauce occupied the center.
Vincent raised an eyebrow as he pulled out a chair. "Are we celebrating my first successful mission, or are you preparing to feed an entire football team?" This chapter is updated first at g.com.
Julian laughed and pushed a plate toward him. "Don’t complain. You’re officially a professional Hero now. A man who captures dangerous criminals deserves a proper meal."
Vincent settled into his chair with an amused smile. "You make it sound like I defeated some legendary monster. Felix was only a Rank 1 Villain."
"And yet you look like somebody dragged you through a construction site," Julian replied, examining the faint bruising along Vincent’s jaw. "Honestly, I was expecting you to arrive in a wheelchair."
Vincent chuckled as he reached for a skewer. "It’s not that bad. Most of the swelling has already gone down."
Julian gave him a skeptical look. "Right. And I’m secretly the strongest Hero in the country. Seriously, man, that guy really beat you up, didn’t he?"
Vincent hesitated briefly before nodding. "Yeah, he did. More than I expected, actually. His Kinetic Acceleration was a nightmare to deal with. Every time I thought I had an opening, he’d already moved somewhere else."
Julian leaned forward with obvious interest. "So how did you finally catch him?"
Vincent picked up a piece of grilled beef and dipped it into the sauce before answering. "I stopped trying to match his speed. Felix was faster than me, and chasing him around wasn’t accomplishing anything. Eventually, I noticed he had certain habits whenever he attacked. Once I figured out how to predict his movements, I managed to catch him off guard."
Julian listened attentively before nodding in approval. "Not bad. So instead of trying to outrun a speedster, you made him come to you."
"Something like that," Vincent replied, taking another bite.
Julian raised his beer bottle with a satisfied grin. "Well, whatever you did, it worked. And that’s what matters. Now, before we get distracted by another discussion about criminals and superpowers, I believe we have something important to celebrate."
Vincent picked up the second bottle and raised it toward his friend.
Julian’s grin widened. "To Vincent Crowe, the newest F-Rank Hero in the city! May your enemies be stupid, your injuries be minor, and your bank account eventually contain more than three digits!"
Vincent burst into laughter as their bottles clinked together. "That last part sounds suspiciously personal." This chapter was copied from g.com without permission.
"It is personal!" Julian declared, taking a generous drink. "I’ve known you for six years, and I refuse to spend another six watching you survive on instant noodles and questionable financial decisions."
Vincent shook his head before drinking from his own bottle. The cold beer was refreshing after the exhausting day he’d endured, and the lively atmosphere gradually helped him relax.
For the first time since awakening the Villain Assimilation System, he wasn’t thinking about his next opponent, his limited Flux reserves, or the extraordinary possibilities awaiting him.
He was simply enjoying a meal with his oldest friend.
Julian placed his bottle down and reached for another skewer. "You know, I still can’t believe you actually quit that agency. Every time we talked about Derek, you’d complain for twenty minutes and then tell me you couldn’t afford to lose your job."
Vincent smiled ruefully. "Well, I wasn’t exactly wrong. I still have rent to pay, and being an independent Hero doesn’t guarantee a steady income."
"True," Julian acknowledged, turning a piece of beef on the grill. "But at least now you’re working toward something. Besides, you actually managed to defeat Derek. I would’ve loved to see his face afterward."
Vincent laughed. "Trust me, he wasn’t happy."
Julian grinned mischievously. "I bet. Imagine spending years bullying someone, only for that same person to suddenly beat the hell out of you. That’s the kind of humiliation that keeps a man awake at night."
"You’re enjoying his suffering a little too much," Vincent observed.
Julian shrugged without embarrassment. "Of course I am. The bastard treated my friend like garbage. Am I supposed to send him flowers?"
Their laughter drew a brief glance from the neighboring table, where several middle-aged men were loudly discussing a recent Hero Association announcement.
One of them insisted that the current generation of Heroes had become too dependent on expensive equipment, while another argued that modern combat technology was precisely what allowed lower-ranked Heroes to survive dangerous assignments.