Starting as a pirate, he rose to become the strongest Shinigami in Soul Society.

Chapter 538 Hot Pot Group, Let's Eat!

Former imperial capital.

The top floor of a certain administrative building.

Sengoku, Zephyr, Garp, and other high-ranking naval officers sat in the office with serious expressions, discussing some matters.

"It's extremely strange. It's probably an unprecedented invasion from another world. Only those with extremely strong abilities can avoid this power that alters our perception, like us," Sengoku said, looking at the crowd.

"Five days have passed so far, and we haven't even found the interdimensional portal that was opened this time," Zefa said in a deep voice.

"I vaguely remember that the last time the interdimensional portal opened was almost ten years ago. Since then, no interdimensional portal has opened in the whole world. I thought that such a thing would never happen again. I didn't expect it was all for a big surprise." Garp clicked his tongue and then said, "By the way, Dragon and the others will be arriving on the mainland soon. I really didn't expect that we would become people of the same world now."

"Yeah, the only portal that had been maintained for so many years suddenly disappeared, which really startled me. I thought we would never be able to go back. But it turns out that our world suddenly appeared on the other side of the sea," Kuzan said with emotion.

A few days ago, the world changed dramatically.

The upper echelons of the navy, the military institution that now rules the empire, were the first to notice the changes.

What's even more chilling is that, apart from these powerful naval leaders, everyone else was completely unaware of the changes in the world.

This alarmed many naval leaders.

It wasn't just that the people on their side of the empire didn't notice any changes in the world. According to their communication with Dragon, after the people from the pirate world were integrated into this world, apart from a small number of people with cognitive biases, the general public didn't notice anything wrong at all. It was as if the world had always been like this.

"This is very bad. We probably can't handle this situation. Just from this tip of the iceberg, we can imagine how terrifying the enemy is. Let's try to contact Bane and the others. We need their help. I heard they're very strong now, the kind who can cultivate for hundreds of years at a time," Sengoku said after thinking for a while.

They were all big shots, so they didn't initially want to ask for help. But after several days of discussion and investigation, they found that they had absolutely no clue what to do. The power displayed by this terrifying change was completely beyond their ability to cope with.

So in the end, they still chose to ask Ben for help.

"None of us are practicing the Spirit Transformation Technique anymore. Tsk, let this old man die for me. Speaking of which, I've been quite curious about the world that Bane and the others live in lately," Zephyr said, looking at everyone.

Although he knew that death was not the final destination, because Bane held the Pure Land in his hands, he could be said to be in control of death.

Moreover, it is said that the world Bane and his companions are currently in is a spirit world with death as its theme.

Without practicing the secret art of spiritual transformation, even living people can't get in.

But how to put it, if Zephyr really died and went over there, it would probably be difficult for him to come back. Just like back then, Orochimaru went ahead and never came back. The same thing happened after Sasuke and the others went there.

Although we may occasionally receive "contact" from the Pure Land, it is indeed a separation.

However, although it was hard to part with them, there was no other good way at this moment.

Zefa calmly lit a cigar, and everyone watched him in silence.

After he had satisfied his craving for cigarettes, a determined glint flashed in Zefa's eyes, and then he smiled and said, "Why are you looking at me so seriously? In a few years, when you're all dead, we'll meet again, won't we?"

As he said this, Zefa picked up a dagger from the table and prepared to commit suicide.

Just then, the locked office door suddenly opened, startling everyone. They all looked towards the doorway, whereupon Bane, dressed in a haori and holding a jade-carved pipe, strode in and said with an air of nonchalance, "I think I heard you all talking about me just now?"

When everyone saw him, they were first stunned, and then they were overjoyed.

"Bane!"

"You're finally back!"

"It's been almost ten years since I last saw you, and you haven't changed at all!"

"Did you also sense the anomaly in this world? Is that why you rushed back? Where are Zoro and the others?"

"The portal has closed, and Dr. Genus has suddenly disappeared. It's very strange."

When Kuzan mentioned Dr. Genus, Bane was stunned.

Ah, he said he felt like he'd forgotten something, like he hadn't really integrated into the world of One-Punch Man.

It's okay, we can just reopen it when we have time later.

I wonder who is stronger between Fubuki and Tatsumaki now?

The gift for Genos still hasn't been delivered.

He's already become a god, so can Saitama still knock him out with one punch?

Thinking about it now, Saitama should also be a being with a 'personality', right? He's the only true god in that world, isn't he?

"I'm here to explain the situation to you. Actually, I've already ascended to godhood," Bane quickly snapped out of his thoughts and looked at everyone with a smile.

"Huh?" Sengoku and the others looked at Bane with disbelief, as if they couldn't understand his words for a moment.

"This world's integration and change were all shaped by my own hands. The reason why your perceptions haven't changed is because I've singled you all out individually. Otherwise, I would feel like I'm letting you all down. Also, I've wanted to say this for a long time." Bane smiled as he looked at Professor Zephyr, Vice Admiral Garp, Sengoku, Kuzan, and others.

After a brief pause, he continued, "It's been a long time. I really missed everyone."

Bane has no emotional attachment to the Empire world, and now, due to hundreds of years of living and habit, he has truly taken root in Soul Society's Seireitei, and he is not too willing to leave again.

The world of pirates, however, felt like Bane's hometown, something he deeply missed.

Soon, Bane sent Garp and the others some "astral projection" items, just like the Death Agent's token, which allowed people in the mortal world to have their souls leave their bodies and visit the Soul Society.

He planned to take everyone to see it, and anyone who was interested could stay there.

Sengoku and the others were very tense before, thinking that some kind of enemy was coming. Now that the misunderstanding was cleared up, they all relaxed immediately. They had been curious about Soul Society for a long time, and they couldn't wait. Soon, their souls left their bodies and were drawn to Soul Society.

Meanwhile, Zoro and the others also received Bane's signal and began to receive him.

A few days later, in the courtyard of the 9th Division of Seireitei.

Bane, Zoro, and Fubuki were standing under the big apple tree.

"You're going home soon, how do you feel? Nervous?" Bane asked with a smile, looking at Fubuki.

A nostalgic look appeared on Fubuki's face, then she smiled and said, "I'm not nervous at all. On the contrary, I can't wait to show my proud older sister how strong I am now."

"I still owe the Sword Saints a favor. When I get back this time, I'll have to have a good get-together with them," Zoro said with an expectant smile.

Bane nodded without saying much. He raised his hand and waved it gently, and a magnificent portal opened on the trunk of the apple tree. He, Zoro, and Fubuki then walked in together.

In the blink of an eye, they had arrived in the world of One-Punch Man.

In the courtyard, Hana and Shutara Senjumaru sat together, each holding a teacup, looking at the now-closed interdimensional gate.

"Could he have some female confidante over there?" Shutara Senjumaru suddenly asked.

Sister Hua glanced at her but didn't say anything.

Meanwhile, Robin, who was reading a book not far away, chuckled and said, "As far as I know, there shouldn't be any."

One-Punch World.

Having just arrived, Zoro left on his own to find his friends in the Sword Saint Guild. He even kept his cell phone here and had already called Atomic Samurai, and the two arranged to meet.

Fubuki did the same, directly calling her older sister, Tornado. After agreeing on a meeting place, Fubuki left.

Only Bane, after contacting Saitama, quickly arrived at the no-man's land in Z City.

It's the same apartment, the same familiar style.

"It's really strange. When he left, we clearly sent him to work as a security guard at the House of Evolution, which meant he was living in a mansion. Why is he moving back now?" Bane muttered to himself as he looked at the dilapidated neighborhood and climbed the stairs.

A short while later, he knocked on Saitama's door.

As if they were waiting for him, Saitama quickly opened the door, his gleaming bald head even reflecting light.

"Oh, it's been a long time, Bane! You've come back from across the sea? It's been almost five years in the blink of an eye," Saitama said with a smile, patting Bane on the shoulder.

After a slight pause, he said with some surprise, "You seem to have become incredibly strong."

"You're not bad either," Bane said with some emotion after looking Saitama up and down.

Sure enough, this guy is the only true god in this world!

However, his rank should be lower than Saitama's. Hmm, my strength should be above Saitama's!

"Come in quickly, everyone has been waiting for you for a long time. Dr. Genus suddenly came back a few days ago and has been in a state of shock ever since. He wouldn't say what happened when we asked him. He only relaxed after I received your call just now," Saitama said, stepping aside to open the door.

Bane walked in with a smile and said, "As soon as you opened the door, I smelled that familiar hot pot aroma."

The house wasn't big. As soon as Bane entered, he saw Genos cooking hot pot, Dr. Genos looking relieved, King chopping vegetables in the kitchen, and Bang and Bomb making tea.

Genos was the most excited, and he eagerly stepped forward to greet him, saying, "Professor Bane, it's been a long time!"

"Genos, you seem to be in a good mood these past few days. Have you gotten your revenge? By the way, this is a gift for you. After you eat this fruit, you will have superpowers." Bane patted Genos on the shoulder and said.

On the other side, Bomb and Bangu were also joking and teasing each other.

"Oh, isn't this our S-class hero, Black Ghost Killer?"

"You must be mistaken. It was later called Darth Vader?"

"Isn't he a racially neutral knight?"

"Why say so much? The Hero Association is practically bankrupt."

After teasing Bane for a while, Bomb and Bangu said with a smile, "Long time no see, Bane. Have you been practicing your boxing skills properly these past few years?"

"Of course, I'm incredibly strong right now!" Bane said without hesitation.

After chatting for a while, the awkwardness of not seeing each other for many years quickly melted away, and the atmosphere became lively.

After King brought out the last of the chopped hot pot ingredients from the kitchen, everyone quickly sat down around the hot pot.

"I heard you called to say you were coming over, so I gritted my teeth and went to the supermarket to buy fresh beef. Damn it, if you dare say it's not good, I'll never buy you beef again!" Saitama said with a pained expression.

"Well, you've really gone through a lot of trouble," Bane laughed.

This guy is dirt poor, but they still buy him beef.

This warmed the heart of Bane, who had originally intended to jokingly say, "I don't eat beef."

"Well then, let's dig in, the long-awaited hot pot set!" King said happily.

Bane raised his beer can with great enthusiasm and said, "Let's eat, hot pot team!"

(End of this chapter)