Chapter 138: Golden Robe

"You've got to be kidding me. Forget Japan, what lottery in the world could possibly have stakes this high?"

Kaminari raised his hand with a wry smile, the absurdity of the situation sinking in. He immediately recalled the abrupt announcement about a replacement support company.

"So… it turns out this was the reason behind the sudden change, huh? My new battle suit must've come from this."

"Hahahaha!"

Hearing Kaminari's sharp observation and lack of complaints, Buntais burst into hearty laughter once more. Truth be told, it had been ages since he'd laughed so openly and joyfully.

"Alright, alright. I'm sure you're eager to see the suit by now. But first, let me introduce someone important to you."

Mitsui gestured towards the man standing behind him in a crisp white lab coat.

"This is Dr. Tenma, the lead developer for the Mitsui Group's support equipment division. And the one who personally designed your combat uniform!"

"Thank you so much for your hard work, Dr. Tenma!" Kaminari said sincerely, bowing deeply.

The doctor smirked slightly and replied, "Kid, this battle suit of yours is the most satisfying creation I've worked on in decades. If anything, I should be thanking you for showing up and giving me the opportunity."

There was an unspoken depth to Dr. Tenma's words. He glanced at Kaminari thoughtfully, his expression betraying a mix of admiration and concern. Deep down, he mused to himself: This suit is a double-edged sword for you. Whether it will be your greatest asset or your downfall remains to be seen.

Meanwhile, Kaminari turned toward Dr. Tenma with a hopeful expression. "By the way, could I ask you to make a combat uniform for Tetsutetsu as well?" He gestured to his steel-clad friend beside him. "We'll cover all the costs, of course, and I'll take responsibility for the design."

"This…"

Dr. Tenma hesitated, glancing briefly at Mitsui. It was a matter of policy; they didn't just casually make custom combat uniforms for anyone.

"Haha! You must be Tetsutetsu," Mitsui said kindly, his piercing gaze softening. "I heard about your performance at the Hero Sports Festival. But what impressed me the most wasn't your ranking, it was your roar at the end. A bold declaration of spirit! You seem like a dependable friend."

"So…" Kaminari pressed, looking at Mitsui with anticipation.

"Haha, alright. I'll approve it on Dr. Tenma's behalf," Mitsui declared with a grin. "But we're still running a business here, so I can't waive the fees. However, I'll give you a 10% discount for your friend's sake."

Kaminari exhaled in relief and nudged Tetsutetsu with his shoulder. "Looks like you're getting yourself a top-tier battle suit!"

"Hehehe," Tetsutetsu chuckled awkwardly, scratching his head. "Thanks, Kaminari. And thank you, Mitsui-sama!"

"Alright, let's get to the main event!" Dr. Tenma interrupted, his tone suddenly brimming with confidence. "I'll show you the suit now. I guarantee you'll be blown away."

---

With that, Dr. Tenma led the group into the inner section of the lab.

Shua—

The glass door behind them closed with a faint sound, sealing them off from the rest of the facility.

"What is that?!"

Kaminari and Tetsutetsu's eyes widened in awe as they caught sight of the centerpiece within the room.

Suspended mid-air in a transparent, cylindrical display case was an intricate combat uniform glowing faintly with golden light. The sleek fabric shimmered like molten gold, and dark golden flame patterns adorned the hem.

Tetsutetsu, unable to contain himself, muttered, "This… is beautiful…"

"Yeah," Kaminari agreed, nodding slowly as he stared at the radiant suit.

The suit revolved slowly in its display case, allowing every detail to come into view. On the back of the robe, five bold characters were emblazoned vertically in dark gold: The First Raikage.

"It's like something out of a legend…" Kaminari murmured to himself. But deep down, a small worry nagged at him. "Isn't this… a bit too flashy for a Hero's uniform?"

Dr. Tenma walked up to the display case and began speaking with barely-contained enthusiasm. "This, my friends, is the culmination of cutting-edge materials science. The combat uniform is made of 'SIS memory alloy.'"

"SIS memory alloy is a 'super shape-memory alloy' synthesized by fusing hundreds of metals and non-metal substances with an infusion of unique memory factors collected from off-world sources."

"It may only be as hard as steel structurally, but its plasticity is leagues beyond anything found on Earth!"

Dr. Tenma's eyes sparkled as he continued, "What's more, this alloy can perfectly respond to electrical signals, allowing it to adapt and reshape itself in real-time! We've embedded an artificial intelligence chip and countless nanoscale electronic components within the fabric."

Pausing for breath, he added, "I could spend hours talking about the intricate manufacturing process, but… I'll spare you the lecture."

Mitsui waved dismissively. "Yeah, yeah. Spare us the jargon and skip to the important stuff! Speak plainly so we can all understand, will you?"

Dr. Tenma blinked, clearly flustered by the interruption. It wasn't every day he was cut off so bluntly. "Alright, alright," he said sheepishly. "In simpler terms, this is a smart combat uniform with adaptive functionality. It can currently switch between two primary modes, but if you come up with any new ideas later, we can add more."

"It also comes with a host of auxiliary features designed for Hero work—communication systems, networking capabilities, energy charging functions, emergency first aid, and advanced protective measures."

Dr. Tenma smiled, pointing toward the display case. "The suit is powered by the energy storage crystal you provided, which serves as the core energy source. Unless you do something ridiculous, it should last a long time without needing a recharge."

Kaminari and Tetsutetsu were left speechless. The sheer sophistication of the suit was overwhelming.

"How is this even real…?" Tetsutetsu mumbled in awe.

"I… can I try it on?" Kaminari asked hesitantly, his voice tinged with nervous excitement.

"Of course!" Dr. Tenma replied without hesitation. "We'll need to bind it to your identity and run a few calibration tests anyway. If there are any issues, we can make adjustments immediately."

Turning to the side, he issued a command: "Sadako, lower the isolation chamber."

"Understood, Dr. Tenma."

The display case began to lower slowly, the golden glow of the suit reflecting off the glass as it descended.

"The glow… it's real," Kaminari muttered, taking a deep breath as he stepped forward. The radiance of the suit felt almost surreal up close.

"So… how do I…?" Kaminari hesitated, looking at the suit. It didn't move or respond, leaving him unsure of how to proceed. He turned to Dr. Tenma for guidance.

The doctor raised an eyebrow, his lips twitching into a smirk. "What do you mean 'how'? You put it on. Did you think it was going to jump onto you by itself?"

"Ah… right…"

***

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