Become Overpowered CEO of Hero Clan

Become Overpowered CEO of Hero Clan – 146

The large blue aircraft soared across the vast sky with a resounding hum. As it passed through the thick layer of cumulus clouds, the miniature-like cityscape unfolded far below.
Meanwhile, at Washington Dulles International Airport, heroes in uniform black suits stood guard on the runway, while inside the airport, reporters and journalists waited eagerly with microphones and cameras in hand.
The aircraft, bearing the flags of South Korea and the United States fluttering in the wind, slowly descended onto the runway of Washington Dulles International Airport, carrying the heroes representing South Korea, along with the President, cabinet members, and members of the National Assembly.
As the boarding gate opened, a red carpet was swiftly laid out on the air stair. The first to appear were the current President, Kim Seok-ho, the head of the Korean Hero Association, God Hand, and the S-class hero, Sword Emperor.
In a grand display, the American heroes lined up on both sides, while the President of the United States, Thomas Harrison, and the head of the American Hero Association, Robert Stonewell, extended their hands in a solemn greeting. Their eyes conveyed a clear sense of respect and a warm welcome.
As the two Presidents shook hands, camera flashes went off incessantly. With the help of translators, they exchanged the usual pleasantries, smiling broadly.
However, the focus of the dozens of camera lenses quickly shifted from the two Presidents to the meeting between the representatives of the hero industries of both countries, Sword Emperor and The One.
The flashes continued to go off rapidly.
Power stemmed from strength. In today’s world, political and military power could only be established on the strong foundation of heroes. The meeting of the awakened individuals from both countries was not only a significant diplomatic event but also one that garnered immense interest from the public, even those not well-versed in politics and diplomacy.
Thus, the articles written by the journalists naturally emphasized the “meeting of the strongest heroes” rather than the gathering of political giants.
“Sword Emperor! It’s been a while.”
“How have you been? No injuries, I hope?”
“Never Yield, Never Break. I am The One. I never get hurt.”
“Hahaha! You’re incorrigible.”
Sword Emperor and The One displayed their camaraderie without any formalities. Their relationship alone was significant enough to influence the alliance between South Korea and the United States. The status of the awakened individuals representing their countries was that high.
Even Vanguard and Queen, known for their eccentric and cold demeanor, showed bright eyes when interacting with Sword Emperor.
Soon, dozens of politicians and administrative officials followed the highest authorities down the steps.
‘Gulp.’
‘Three awakened ones.’
Despite being under the protection of the absolute Sword Emperor, the political figures felt intimidated by the presence of the American heroes. None of the heroes released their magical energy, but The One, Vanguard, and Queen were all heroes who had recently announced their ascension to new levels of awakening. Ordinary people couldn’t help but feel overwhelmed just by standing in the same space as them.
Vanguard’s fierce eyes and Queen’s cold expression were enough to make onlookers shiver. Robert, the head of the American Hero Association, struggled to suppress a smirk at their hesitant demeanor.
“Hmm?!”
Just as he was about to walk into the airport alongside God Hand, an Asian youth with a familiar face descended from the large aircraft. The blue-eyed youth was none other than the hero Isaac.
Isaac, the rising star of South Korea, who was supposedly unable to attend, had made a surprise visit to the United States. In reality, Sword Emperor and God Hand had intentionally kept Isaac’s visit a secret, planning to use it as a diplomatic surprise and a means of exerting pressure.
As expected, Robert and the three awakened individuals showed signs of surprise. Although their expressions only wavered for a moment, they couldn’t escape Sword Emperor’s keen observation.
‘Five-star?’
‘What’s going on?’
‘Only?’
Contrary to Sword Emperor’s expectation that the American heroes would be overwhelmed by Isaac’s presence, they were actually taken aback by his meager level. Surprisingly, Isaac was merely at the five-star level, possessing relatively abundant magical energy but not having reached the awakening stage.
There was no sense of incongruity that could be felt when someone artificially suppressed their energy. Human magical engineering technology couldn’t create a device capable of perfectly hiding an awakened individual’s presence. This meant that the claim of Isaac being a hero surpassing the awakening stage was a blatant lie fabricated by South Korea.
Thud.
The One grabbed Vanguard’s shoulder. As he moved his lips, a voice resonated in Vanguard’s mind, audible only to him.
“Hold back.”
“Don’t talk nonsense. You expect me to let that slide?”
“There are many reporters. If you act out here, it won’t just end with a simple reprimand.”
“Tsk.”
Despite his disdain for Asians, Vanguard was still a hero, not a villain. In such a setting, adhering to social norms was the right thing to do. However, as Isaac’s delicate face approached, Vanguard instinctively channeled his magical energy. He felt he couldn’t restrain himself unless he broke that slender hand right away.
Isaac, who had been shaking hands with the U.S. cabinet members with a neutral expression, approached Vanguard. Following him were four young heroes, each only at the three-star level, seemingly under Isaac’s tutelage.
A wicked smile spread across Vanguard’s lips. Isaac was about to face a humiliating ordeal in front of his juniors.
“Hey, nice to meet you.”
Vanguard extended his right hand, imbued with magical energy. With a forced smile, he intended to grip Isaac’s hand and break every joint in his fingers.
“……”
Despite extending his hand, Isaac did not reciprocate. Instead, he simply stared at Vanguard, uttering words that twisted his mood.
“You’re excited.”
With that, Isaac walked past him. Vanguard felt as if his innermost thoughts had been exposed. No, it was as if Isaac had seen right through him.
‘I’ll kill him.’
Thunk!
Just as Vanguard’s body began to turn, The One grabbed his shoulder again.
“Don’t.”
“……Ha.”
It was revolting. He must be angry too. Was it because it was an official event? Because the congressmen and the president were watching? Or because the reporters had their cameras out? But none of that mattered anymore.
That guy dared to deceive America. And he ignored the greeting, mocking him. Wasn’t that reason enough to break his arm?
“South Korea is our ally. Their methods may be disappointing, but not here.”
“So, elsewhere? Are you saying I can crush him then?”
“Act after everything is revealed. If you mess up before that, you’ll die by my fist.”
“Kuhuhu, how terrifying.”
The schedule was flexible anyway. Whatever South Korea’s intentions were in presenting Isaac as a figurehead, if they completed their visit without any diplomatic faux pas, there would be no grounds for complaint. Or the situation might unfold in a completely different direction. It was too early to make rash judgments. At least, that was what The One thought.
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Sword Emperor, God Hand, and Isaac left the airport, receiving an enthusiastic welcome from American citizens.
Even though Sword Emperor was an S-class hero from South Korea, he had a history of activities in the United States, which made him well-known there. His handsome appearance only added to his high recognition in America. Moreover, being friends with The One, whom the Americans adored, fostered a sense of internal closeness.
In contrast, only a few people cheered for God Hand and Isaac. Some recognized them, but not many.
After checking in at the embassy and their accommodations, Isaac and his companions took a brief rest. The members of the Harmony Clan excitedly went out for a stroll, and soon, evening approached.
Despite being in America, some people recognized Isaac’s face here and there. Thus, his plan to visit a café failed within ten minutes of stepping out. Disappointed, Isaac returned to the hotel and read a book until evening, when he was guided by a staff member to the banquet hall.
The hall was devoid of politicians, hosting only the S-class heroes from both countries.
“Allow me to introduce you formally. This is Isaac. He is at a much higher level than us awakened ones. So, we must treat him with the respect he deserves. Haha.”
Sword Emperor treated Isaac like a superior. This caused Vanguard and Queen’s faces to harden, but under The One’s lead, who had a deep friendship with Sword Emperor, the awkward dinner continued.
It was early evening, just as the red sunset dipped below the horizon.
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***
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At a café on U Street in Washington.
A couple enjoying a cozy date with bread and coffee began glancing at the group of Asians sitting in the corner.
“Wow. Amazing. Can they be that handsome and pretty?”
“Right? They’re really something.”
“Hmm.”
The woman’s eyes narrowed at the man’s reaction.
The couple themselves were quite attractive, but the Asians, laughing and chatting warmly, reminded them of K-POP idols. They were beyond just being moderately handsome and pretty.
“What are you so impressed about?”
“Their bodies are no joke. Right?”
“Tsk, what? Who? That tall girl over there?”
“No, there’s a warrior sitting at the end. I wonder what his workout routine is.”
It turned out he was talking about muscles. Realizing he wasn’t checking out another woman, a satisfied smile slowly grew on the woman’s lips.
“He can’t be an ordinary person, right? Maybe he’s a hero.”
“Oh! That could be. Let’s find out.”
The woman began tapping away on her smartphone. However, with the sheer number of heroes in America, it was like finding a needle in a haystack. As the hero capital of the world, the United States boasted over 80 S-class heroes alone. Including A-class and B-class heroes, the number approached 100,000, making it nearly impossible to pinpoint attractive Asian heroes among them.
“Why bother? Just wait a moment.”
“No, don’t. Honey, stop!”
The man approached the handsome and pretty Asians and started talking to them, soon engaging in exaggerated gestures. After a few excited exchanges, he returned to his seat, grinning broadly.
“What did they say?”
“They’re heroes from Korea! You know Sword Emperor, right?”
“Of course, I know. He’s an awakened one.”
“There’s a hero who fought and defeated Sword Emperor. That hero is their leader.”
“Is that even possible? How could that be? Did another awakened one emerge in Korea?”
“Yeah. You didn’t know?”
“I’m not one to look into these things in detail.”
Korea’s image in America was quite positive, largely due to the massive success of K-POP idols and series content in North America. However, it was rare for Korean heroes to gain fame in the United States, with Sword Emperor being an exception. His and The One’s combined efforts in neutralizing two massive, top-tier disasters on the American continent were well-known among American citizens.
But hearing that a hero who had defeated Sword Emperor had appeared was hard for the woman to believe right away.
“But there’s a lot of talk about this on the community forums. I watched the video too. It seemed like Sword Emperor was holding back a bit. So…”
Ding-a-ling—
At that moment, a group entered the café. The man, recognizing their faces, quickly lowered his head in fear. The group was none other than the squad led by Vanguard, the second-ranked hero in the U.S., often referred to as villain heroes. They were known for causing trouble whenever they had the chance, influenced by Vanguard’s behavior.
“Let’s get out of here.”
“Uh, okay.”
The couple hurriedly left the café. The part-time worker behind the counter looked like they were about to burst into tears at any moment.
“Haha. Here you are. Nice to see you, yellow monkeys.”
A blond, white youth, who appeared to be the leader of the group, stepped forward and picked a fight with the Asians.