TO BE HERO X (凸变英雄X)

Hey, guys. Look. What's that in the lake?

Huh? Looks like there's someone swimming.

No way! It's so cold out! What kind of moron does that?

Right?

Damn! This guy probably went crazy for views!

Hey, how about we post this clip to FOMO and give him a name?

What about... Winter Swimming Hero?

That's a great name!

Look! Winter Swimming Hero's coming back up!

Hey, he's coming towards us.

Hey! What are you doing?!

What's your deal?!

What, you wanna go?!

You think you're some hot shit, huh?

Say something!

Apologize!

Pick up my cell phone for me, you!

Apologize!

Are you deaf, or are you mute? I said, apologize!

Trash.

What? You dare insult me?

You think you can get away with knocking down my phone?

Don't waste your breath on him.

People like him just want to stir up trouble and get famous.

Just kill him and be done with it.

Trash should be cleaned up and dealt with.

You just keep yapping, huh?!

Kill him!

Keep yapping!

You're so tough, huh? Want to take a beating, huh?

Die!

I'm gonna beat you to death!

Insult me! Insult me some more!

Trash should be cleaned up and dealt with.

This crazy guy is stupidly tanky.

Pfft! No wonder he's out here swimming on a freezing winter day.

His body's as tough as a rock.

Why's this guy so weird?

Maybe... we should just drop this.

Getting cockier with the beating, huh?!

I don't believe you won't die!

I'm gonna mess you up!

Die!

Go die already!

I'm searching for a candidate.

Someone that can be nurtured into a god.

How about it? Are you interested?

Once I become Zero...

will I get to clean up all the eyesore trash?

What's your name?

Dragon Boy.

Very well.

I will have everyone remember this name of yours.

Are you ready?

Of course.

But it seems that this time, your plan was derailed.

I should've been the one to replace Ghostblade.

However, despite leaving your control,

his ranking has only gone up since the Ruins Incident, not dropped.

And it just so happens that

those two little pieces of trash entered the top ten due to that failed theater play.

Such irony.

Hmm... Which one should I clean up first?

My reason for calling you here today is just the opposite.

Loli and Little Johnny are very popular right now.

Striking where people are watching will bring trouble.

Besides, if they manage to enter this tournament's ranking matches,

it'll just be good news for you.

Trash is trash.

Passionate emotions can give them popularity,

but will still swallow them in the end.

Assuming I make the top ten before the start of the ranking matches.

The current tenth hero, Firm Man, is merely a Commission figurehead.

Making a move on him will alert the entire Commission.

The white- and green-haired weirdos are peaking in popularity right now.

They have people circling them everywhere they go.

And don't even get me started on X.

We don't even know where he is.

That's why our target will be the top ten hero who's just outside the public's gaze.

Oh, I get it. You mean that old guy.

Now that you mention it,

he's been sitting in the top ten for a good few years—

A good dozen...

Huh? For decades now!

Everyone acknowledges his position.

Nobody discusses it anymore.

If we can shatter everyone's deep-rooted impression of him,

then the waves of trouble stirred up will certainly be more than the Ruins Incident.

Sure, that's true, but it doesn't seem like he's got anything we could exploit.

Maybe you've already grasped some scandal of his?

There really is no information you can't gather.

In terms of credentials,

his position can no longer be threatened by shallow public opinions and criticism.

The only thing that can destroy him is the most lethal of weapons.

Which is?

You only have one chance.

Whether or not you make it into the top ten will be up to you.

Smile, Nice! Smile naturally.

Even more natural.

Stop, stop! What's up with Nice?

His smile looks so awkward.

Like there's no emotion there.

You're being too vague with your demands.

What do you mean, "smile naturally?"

A smile is a smile! What more do you want?

There, there, Miss J! Please don't be angry.

Mr. Wang is the best photographer.

It wasn't easy booking a time slot with him.

Best or not, it doesn't matter!

He's wrong for making nonsensical demands!

A smile... is something that comes from within.

It's a power that radiates outwards, moving your face muscles.

and allows you to display an emotion that can affect others.

That's why a natural smile from within is so difficult to fake.

No, no, no. Put away that stiff, commercialized smile of yours.

Before you smile, think about what is truly worthy of your joy.

Hey, what do you think of my smile?

You look like a lecherous creep.

Screw you!

Where'd you learn that from?

My childhood idol, Hero Smile!

I also hope that one day,

I'll have a smile as contagious as his.

How about it?

Did you think of a reason to smile?

Now that's a good smile.

All right, I've got my own work to do.

Very good, Nice. Keep it that way.

Smile just like that.

Yup, keep it like that.

Great! One more, one more.

Whew. Thank goodness for Hero Smile's professional advice.

Very nice. Just a little more natural.

Think about that feeling you just had.

Nice.

You finally got into the zone.

Let's not interrupt it now! Come on!

Excuse me. I need to chat with Nice for a moment.

Can't you wait 'til after the shoot? My time's very precious!

Calm down, Mr. Wang.

If we tell you to take a break, do it. Stop talking and go!

I had some afternoon snacks prepared for us.

Let's go take a break in the back.

Man, I can't deal with this job anymore!

Why have you come here?

Didn't I tell you to lay low for a bit?

It was Miss J. Miss J told me to come here.

I haven't even finished wiping your ass after last time.