Two weeks passed like this.

On the rooftop of a building, two men wearing sunglasses observed the scene below.

"Thirteen, how’s your end?" Xiao Zhan asked through the comms, munching on a pack of Spicy Strips while watching Thirteen’s glasses feed. "Gotta say, this new flavor’s pretty solid."

"You filthy rich brat finally gets the charm of five-cent Spicy Strips, huh?" Lin Jie chimed in beside him. "Next time, I’ll take you to try some weird flavors."

"Gotta admit, this thing called Spicy Strips has survived over a century in Sector C for a reason," Xiao Zhan said. "It’s got its own magic."

"Hey, hey! Stop geeking out over snacks—the suspects just showed up!" Glasses Bro’s voice crackled over the comms. Through their sunglasses’ display, Lin Jie and Xiao Zhan clearly saw two groups meeting at an abandoned factory.

"This is Thirteen. Both groups are here," Thirteen’s voice came through. Everyone was seeing through his eyes now.

"You sure they’re criminals?" Lin Jie double-checked.

"I’ve seen this crew before. They’ve been messing with bioweapons or something," Thirteen replied. "I’ve tailed them a week. Trust me, they’re cracking under pressure."

"Thirteen, what’s the enemy’s strength?" Xiao Zhan asked.

"They used to be a nasty outfit—dozens of C-rank criminals and thousands of mercenaries," Thirteen said. "But now? Only these few left. Their top fighters are all wiped out."

"..." Lin Jie stared speechlessly at the dozen traders below. "Thirteen, maybe tail them two more days? I bet we won’t even need to lift a finger by then."

"Nope. If we don’t act, we get no rating," Xiao Zhan said.

"True, tailing’s easier. But they’re desperate. Rumor says they’ll rush a bioweapon launch and trade it early," Thirteen added. "I’m moving in. Glasses, send weapons. Oh, and grab some Spicy Strips too."

"Don’t call me Glasses! Use my name—Yan Qing—or ‘Teleporter’!"

Glasses Bro’s real name was Yan Qing. He was a rare spatial ability user, but he could only swap positions between himself and glasses he’d worn. Their whole team wore pairs he’d touched.

"Got it, Glasses."

"Understood, Glasses."

"Sure thing, Glasses. Don’t forget the Spicy Strips."

"..." In the next instant, Yan Qing appeared before Lin Jie and Xiao Zhan, holding tactical gear and a huge bag of Spicy Strips.

"Just bring these," Thirteen said, snatching the Spicy Strips.

"How obsessed are you guys with these things? We should rename the team ‘Spicy Strip Squad’!" Yan Qing grumbled. In two weeks, the trio had devoured three whole crates.

Just then, one trading party rolled up in a beat-up truck. They opened its container to reveal something like a nutrient pod inside. But as both sides prepared to deal, the truck suddenly lurched on its own—crashing straight into the factory’s abandoned sewage pool.

"What now?" Yan Qing asked.

"Wait and watch," Thirteen said.

In those few seconds, a massive explosion erupted from the sewage pool. A giant monster made of filth surged into view.

"Time to move," Xiao Zhan told Lin Jie.

"On it." Lin Jie headed for the rooftop door.

"Where you going?" Xiao Zhan asked curiously.

"Down to the ground floor. Then take the elevator."

"What a hassle! I brought you up here for a reason—I planned ahead." Xiao Zhan pulled out metallic shoes. "Remember those recoil gloves from our first meet? I upgraded them to shoes. Call ’em ‘Recoil Flight Shoes.’ Got a pair for you too."

"..." Lin Jie eyed the shoes, then watched Xiao Zhan spiral away like a deflated balloon. He tossed his pair aside. "I’ll stick with the elevator."

Meanwhile, Thirteen and Yan Qing saw the trading boss press something in his hand. The sewage monster instantly calmed.

"Let’s go. Take down that monster first," Thirteen said, grabbing an electro-gun. Yan Qing pulled out a stack of glasses. Thirteen casually tossed his Spicy Strips at the monster, then charged out with Yan Qing.

"Illegal bioweapon trade! Prepare for justice!" Yan Qing yelled, hurling glasses while drawing stun batons. As enemy bullets sprayed toward them, he dodged nimbly by swapping positions with his glasses. Then—the unexpected happened.

The moment Thirteen’s Spicy Strips hit the monster, the boss’s controller died. The sewage beast went berserk. A long, filthy tentacle swept the area—leaving only Yan Qing and Thirteen standing.

"What...?" Yan Qing froze. "Why’d it swallow its own guys?"

"No clue. Only thing I did was throw in those Spicy Strips," Thirteen said.

"How OP are these things?!" Yan Qing yelped. "Run! It’s crawling this way—I am not swimming in sewage!"

"I’ll try." Thirteen fired wildly at the monster, then tossed a grenade. Seeing no effect, he bolted. "Nope! That was my max output."

"Damn it!" Yan Qing fled too. "Where’d your confidence go? Your damage is trash!"

"Wait—I’m a stealth specialist. Frontline brawling’s not my thing," Thirteen panted. "You got any tricks?"

"I’m just a delivery guy! What can I do?"

"You shouted loud enough charging in!"

"Morale boost doesn’t count!"

"Yep. You’re useless beyond those glasses!"

The sewage monster lost interest after chasing them briefly. It turned toward the city.

"Bad news! That’s downtown!" Yan Qing panicked.

"Seen it," Lin Jie’s voice cut in over comms. "Relax. I’ll handle it there."

Watching the monster advance, Lin Jie raised an eyebrow slightly. Even from afar, a foul stench hit his nose.

"Wrap this up quick. Go home," he thought, charging the beast. His Spike Mace swung with crushing force, blasting sewage everywhere. The streets reeked instantly.

Crowds hoping to watch a Super Hero battle scattered. Lin Jie’s strike didn’t stop the monster—it just dirtied the streets. At least it spat out a few swallowed suspects.

"Ugh! I hate liquid monsters!" Lin Jie growled. Air currents swirled visibly around him.

"Hold up! Don’t hit it! Keep this up, our food street’ll only sell stinky tofu!" A voice from the crowd yelled as Lin Jie powered up. Others joined in.

"Tch!" Lin Jie jumped back, eyeing the onlookers. *Times change fast. Back when I was a Hero, people ran screaming from monsters. Now they gawk and critique?*

"Don’t worry, bro! I’m heeeere—!" Xiao Zhan’s voice echoed mid-air.

"Flew back," Lin Jie muttered, watching Xiao Zhan spin wildly.

"See... this... needs work," Xiao Zhan sputtered.

"You got a plan?" Lin Jie asked over comms—but Xiao Zhan plunged into the sewage before he finished.

"...Forget it. I’ll ult." Lin Jie eyed Xiao Zhan, half-submerged.

Miraculously, sewage around Xiao Zhan turned crystal clear. He broke free from the monster’s body.

"What happened?" Lin Jie dodged a tentacle, rejoining him. "How’d you purify it?"

"My new ‘Plasma Stain Remover Rod 2000’," Xiao Zhan said, pulling out two vibrating rods that buzzed "wuuu-wuuu." "Upgraded from past models. It doesn’t just kill dust and grease—now it purifies anything filthy."

"Skip that. Why’s it vibrating?" Lin Jie deadpanned.

"Vibrating? Watch this!" The rods’ tips started swaying. "Leave the monster to me."

"You sure this thing doesn’t need a blur filter when shown?"

"Maybe next time."

...