C11 A Perfect Plan for Revenge

At the crack of dawn the next day, Cello Everett stood on the villa's front lawn, his expression grave.

"Are you certain you won't have any regrets?"

"I won't regret it, not one bit!"

Saitama declared earnestly, "To become a hero like you, I'm ready to pay any price."

Cello Everett paused to consider. Any price would likely include his hair. And with that...

The intense training kicked off!

It started with a set of 100 push-ups, followed by 100 sit-ups, and 100 squats.

The finale was a grueling 10-kilometer run.

But that was merely Saitama's routine.

Cello Everett's regimen was a staggering tenfold of Saitama's!

"Nine hundred ninety-six, nine hundred ninety-seven, nine hundred ninety-eight..."

Cello Everett could feel every muscle searing and remolding under the strain, growing ever stronger.

It wasn't until the sun dipped below the horizon that their training session came to an end.

Saitama was completely spent.

Cello Everett, while not entirely drained, acknowledged the tenfold increase in training was far from a breeze.

Yet, it was all worth it.

Host: Cello Everett.

Physique: 10.

Rating: Tiger Level (Intermediate).

In a mere day, Cello Everett's strength had quadrupled, earning him a system rating of Tiger Level. By hero standards, he'd be considered a C-class hero—a rank many heroes never achieve in their lifetimes. And this was just Cello Everett's progress in a single day!

Saitama's gains weren't as substantial, but he managed to scrape into the threshold of a C-class hero.

With a taste of success, the following days saw Cello Everett and Saitama's training escalate to frenzied levels, their power surging with each session.

Unbeknownst to them, however, a drone hovered in the sky, keeping a vigilant watch...

In a manor nearly identical to Cello Everett's, Melinde looked worn and weary. She had spent the past days covertly observing Cello Everett through the lens of her drone. Yet, for an entire week, he hadn't so much as hinted at seeking her out, let alone mentioned her name.

The painful truth dawned on her—she had been nursing a one-sided affection all along.

Cello Everett didn't have any feelings for her, and Melinde was both mortified and infuriated when she realized it. Mortified by her own wishful thinking, and infuriated because... what was wrong with her, Melinde, anyway? Why couldn't Cello Everett see her worth? Biting back her frustration, Melinde refused to accept this blow to her pride. She had never faced such a setback in her life, and she was determined to change that.

She concocted a plan: she would make Cello Everett fall hopelessly in love with her, and then, without a hint of mercy, she would break his heart. That would be her perfect revenge. But given the current circumstances, even getting Cello Everett to notice her seemed impossible—they might not even meet enough times to count on one hand! Unless she could find a legitimate reason to get close to him.

Then it struck her—Cello Everett's identity as a space-type Superpowered. She recalled her father mentioning a gathering for Superpowered individuals and the Hero Association. That would definitely pique Cello's interest. With this in mind, Melinde reached for the phone.

"Hello, Dad?"

"Ah, my dear daughter, what brings you to call today?" came the rich, masculine voice from the other end.

"Why? Is it so strange for me to call if there's nothing wrong?" Melinde retorted with a pout.

"Okay, okay, my mistake," her father conceded, chuckling. "So, what's on your mind?"

"It's nothing major," Melinde said, her cheeks warming. "Remember that Superpowered Banquet you mentioned? Could you spare a few invitations for me?"

"Superpowered Banquet?" Her father sounded puzzled. "I thought you always hated those kinds of events."

Melinde's face grew hotter, and she stammered, "Just... don't worry about it, okay?"

She couldn't bring herself to admit that her true motive was to get closer to Cello Everett. But who was she talking to? None other than the owner of Melinde Property, the world's most elite businessman, seasoned by decades in the cutthroat world of commerce. Her father was no stranger to reading between the lines.

He didn't press the issue, though. After ending the call, he simply turned to his secretary, likely already piecing together his daughter's intentions.

"Go investigate."

"Find out who's accompanying the young lady to the Superpowered Banquet!"

"Thinking you can become a son-in-law of the Azure Mystic River family is no easy feat!"