Chapter 82: Villains on the Case

Having stumbled into a major plot, the Thunder turns its potential recruits into agents to track down their targets before it can be used, while at the same time, the pros make moves to follow suite, recognising it as the greater threat.

The moon sat high and bright over Yokoyama, the massive megacity's millions of lights, billboards, and giant TVS screens ensuring that, even when it was well past 9PM, the city remained bright and colourful.

But towards its fringes lay the seedier side of town. Places that law enforcement and pros could never fully eliminate. These were the bars, hotels, restaurants, and gambling establishments that not only attracted hundreds of thousands who wished to have a wild night, but also didn't care much for who was doing the partying and thus, could forget to enforce rules and laws here and there.

And such a place was the Iceberg lounge, a place that Dusty had always wished to visit, but never got the chance.

'And I'd better get time to get a drink or two,' She frowned as she, along with every other competitor, walked down its surprisingly expansive basement hallways.

“Hey, any idea what’s up?” Shearwolf asked, as they didn’t get much information on the why, only clear instructions to cease the trials and make their way over.

"Beats me, I thought we were doing pretty damn good during the trials," Hibiki grunted, the man looking annoyed but much like most of them, generally calm.

“You think something's come up?" Gust asked.

“Like what? And why would it need to cancel shit?” Jason countered, their guide, an employee of the lounge, silent as they walked ahead.

“Must have been important.” Kallee mused that it couldn't be related to their trials, since on her end, they had managed to secure the first target and escape without issue, and were in the middle of planning to hit the second site when the message came in.

“Or maybe they don’t trust one of us.” Volcano glared at the group, noticing how Technohead had started to sweat.

‘Shit!’

Lucky for him, Dusty softly batted her leader's side, an amused smirk on her face. “Can it, big guy. Say there was a mole, how did they figure that out? Did any pros show up at your heists?”

Volcano and the others didn't say as such, which, for Technohead, was a blessing in disguise as he passed along the info, but his pro handlers didn't move; maybe they were waiting to ensure they caught the big fish.

Either way, it meant it would be impossible to call him out.

Seeing the lack of responses, Dusty snapped her fingers, shivering a little as the lounge's famous chill even down here permeated. “Exactly, it’s probably just something that needs their attention, so they couldn’t watch our performances.”

At the end of the hallway, the silent guide opened it, stepped aside, and let them walk in. As they all crowded into what looked to be a storage space filled with wine, gin, and whiskey, all of which were imported, Shearwolf returned the topic to what it was. “All right, but…what?”

“So glad you asked,” Nine spoke up, alerting the group to the fact that he was present as the lights turned on. Not just him, but the entire Thunder. Slice sat at a desk, Mummy and Chimera propped up against the wall, Pyre seated on one of the higher crates, his feet kicking about with his snake wrapped around his shoulders as always.

And lastly, Nine standing front and centre, with another person seated on an office chair next to them, covered in a dark sheet. “Shows you have some brains and the backbone to ask questions.”

With their attention on him, he pulled the cloth off the extra person, revealing them to be a young woman, early 30s at best. She didn't look like she had been brought here gently, with visible treated wounds across her arms, and her face still busted up. “Tell me, any of you recognise this lady?”

“Should we?” Kallee, hardly caring for how the apparent hostage wheezed and whimpered, looked at Nine.

"Doesn't look like a pro, or an important government person," Jason noted. However, her face was really messed up by whatever beating she got before she was dragged in and tied up.

“Figured you wouldn’t, but I bet you would recognise this,” Nine snapped his fingers as with a giggle and glowing green eyes, Midoriya picked something which had been at his side and tossing it down, the cloth gently floating in the chilled air, but that went without notice of the group, especially Shearwolf, who saw red.

How could she not, when what was presented was the classic black hooded gown and white skull mask of the Creature Rejection Clan? A moment later, she and the rest realised what its presence meant as Nine nodded towards the woman, who now looked a lot more scared when she saw the hostility in the new villain's faces. “Our guest for the evening is a proud member of the CRC, and by her word, has been for 4 years.”

"You raided a CRC base?" Volcano asked, though he wasn’t pleased that they brought back an…souvenir.

"Of course, allowing such people to continue to exist was always a mockery to our goals, and thus, we're planning on cutting out as many weeds as possible." Nine explained, their prisoner looking like she was terrified, and she should be, as she had no friends among them. Technohead wondered whether this would be the Thunder's first murder.

"She was one of the few who was willing to talk after Pyre, and I busted in and wrecked the house." Chimera chuckled, as some might have, if they hadn't been grievously injured and unable to speak.

“And the rest?” Kallee asked, looking at Chimera and then Pyre.

“They aren’t dead,” Pyre’s blasé response only scared Technohead all the more as the boy pulled out some beef and fed it to his giant snake. “But they didn’t look super last I saw them.”

“This base was one of the largest we’ve found and dismantled, but we didn’t pick it for its size, but because it was on the coast, and it was where they were bringing in weapons from overseas," Slice mentioned, which was something of a course for alarm as while the CRC wasn’t a strong group, nothing like it used to be, it was still an issue, especially in the smaller towns and villages.

The idea that bigots would have access to more tools to hurt and intimidate was not pleasant.

“Like support items?” Shearwolf asked, as she was pretty sure that there the CRC had plenty of members with quirks, even if it was more emitters than transformation, with no heteromorphs.

Pyre, having been more jovial looking when they arrived, frowned as he glanced towards their prisoner, who whimpered harder as she could feel his gaze on the back of her head. “Like explosives and guns, isn’t that right, Ms. Bigot?”

“Yes.” She didn't care that she was being insulted; she wasn't dumb enough to correct them after what she had seen what these…these monsters had done to the rest of them, both in the attack and that barbaric hell they called an interrogation.

Nine didn't care for her discomfort, grabbing her by the hair and making sure she was looking their guest right in the eye, the best she could, while one was still swollen shut. "Explain it further, and don't try to leave out details, or else you'll get more time with Slice and Pyre."

She yelped, and when she shakingly looked towards the two, Pyre's gaze remained passive, inquisitive even, but those glowing eyes…oh God now. Slice was even worse as she shifted some hair into blades as she waved, the woman shivering as she called the feeling of being cut, over and over, then burned from the toes up as she was forced to talk, to give all she had to give.

She…no, she couldn't let them have another go, she didn't care that their little devil could heal, how could they think it normal when someone's legs were horribly burned. “No! N-no, I’ll speak, just…don’t let them near me again, please!” She begged, openly crying as she looked back to the only normal one, but Nine was hardly sympathetic.

“Then talk, we’re all busy people.” Nine ordered as she rapidly nodded and, trying to keep her stutter in check, started to talk.

"T-the CRC isn't one big thing, it hasn't been in over 30 years, at least that's what the older members told me. We're more separate groups under the same banner, we communicate and work together, but our leader is…was pretty committed to being separate; it made it harder for the pros to shut us down." She explained that, though she would have loved to give a more detailed account, she had a feeling none would listen, and she didn't want to see if these new guys could whale on her.

So, she focused on what she figured they'd want to know. "Since we were one of the cells close to the coast, we were part of the black market, shipping stuff in for other groups to use; they paid us good money for it, too."

“Your regular shipments?” Dusty asked, as she didn't think the CRC was in the smuggling game, but hey, when no one in polite society saw them as an issue, that gave you some leeway.

The prisoner quickly shook her head. "N-nothing dangerous, I swear! It was all medicines, drugs, and tech, stuff we can't buy in bulk here, but sometimes...sometimes we handled support items.”

"Yet when we raided your little club, we found enough supplies for a small army. Do you want to explain that?" Chimera asked her, and while she felt disgusted at seeing him act as if he belonged, she was even more terrified after seeing him break people she had seen as strong as if they were toothpicks.

“Our leader met someone!” She blurted out once again, trembling under their collective gazes as Nine's hold on her hair didn't release, a constant reminder of what could happen if she didn't play ball with these animal-loving villains. “H-he said while on a business trip in Europe, he was approached by someone who knew who he was, really was, but didn’t rat him out but offered support.”

Before she could be asked, she continued. "He didn't give names, or if he did, the leader didn't share them. But he told him that they agreed with our ideals and wished to take them a step further. They don't have agents in Japan, but they didn't wish to leave it untouched."

"What was the plan?" Gust asked, the woman needing a moment to gag in disgust at him and the sheep freak.

"They….they made a new type of trigger, it's airborne and spreads fast, it's designed not to boost your quirk but…." She paused as Shearwolf’s gaze narrowed, the typically happy-go-lucky woman looking like she was pondering tearing the prisoner to bits.

She didn't want to say it, not again. Not after what Pyre did to her when she revealed it the first time, but Nine wasn't giving her any mercy. “Say it.” His grip only tightened, and the smell of ozone grew stronger in the room.

Knowing she could end up branded again, she just sobbed as she answered. "It's designed to push your quirk factor so hard that the mutations and release of your quirk would kill you! I saw it, I saw it being used on an animal, he was a disgusting chicken person, and when he was exposed, he turned into a giant chicken and died."

As she finished, Chimera who had been approaching, got close enough that he grabbed onto her arm and with a glare which promised nothing but pain, he clenched his hand, crushing her forearm, the audible crack of bone echoing through the storage space as blood spilled through his fingers, the prisoner screaming in pain as she couldn’t move, not when Nine was holding her down.

Technohead looked away, feeling for her, but not speaking to her when it seemed like he was the only one who cared. Shearwolf looked happy about it, licking her lips at the sight of the racist in serious pain.

As Chimera released her arm, she cried, close to hyperventilating as she looked at her ruined right arm, she swore it was broken in 3 different places. She could see a bone sticking out near the wrist. “You said-!”

Nine didn’t shift or move. "I said that talking means Slice and Pyre won't spend private time with you. I didn't say anything about Chimera."

Chimera didn't pull back; he moved to her other side and grabbed her other arm, which sent her heart rate through the roof. “Keep. Talking. And I might not break every bone in your body.”

Shearwolf looked like she wanted to join in, her woof standing on edge as she reached for the woman, but paused as she took a breath. Still, while she had good restraint, she still voiced her fantasies. “I could make you a nice sweater…sweltering, tight…filled with razor blades…”

"They said they'll ship them in portions. We'll get the first half, then the second half will be shipped along with the bombs designed to release them. The guns were for when they'll be used, so we could secure control over the locations they'll be used in." She continued, though her gaze didn’t dare leave her good arm, as she didn’t want to double the ‘healing’ she’ll need later.

“And where would that be?” Mummy, who had been quiet for the most part, asked her.

“Major cities, places where most people and pros live, that way a single attack could eliminate the an-!” She stopped when Chimera's grip tightened, but not to the extent that it would have done damage.

“You want to repeat that?” The large mutant asked, his gaze almost as piercing as Slice’s hair had been on her body.

As if she had a speed quirk, she nodded her head so fast it was hard to track it as she gulped. "E-eliminate the quirked population, and law enforcement, along with as many pros as possible. We…we didn't know which city yet, our leader hadn't told us yet."

“Pyre?” Volcano asked, his gaze aiming towards the second pyrokinetic.

Blinking, his eyes ceased their glow as he continued to kick his legs about. "We questioned him, but he's one tough nut…or he was telling the truth," Pyre noted as he, along with Slice, had questioned all of them, Chimera having not bothered else he would have broken all of them.

Some played dumb till the flames came into play. Others repeated throughout the questioning that they didn't know, that they just did what they were told, or that they didn't ask questions. Even the so-called leader, a man approaching 50, had tried to play the fool…or perhaps he was one, as most people tended to stop lying when their fingers were cut off and regenerated through fire.

“If he were a fool, he truly was a prime example if he could have been involved in this and not known such information. Bastard didn't even know much about the apparent ally he met in France.” Koharu muttered as Pyre mindlessly scratched her head.

“You said you got half, who got the second half and bombs?” Chimera questioned the woman.

“I don’t know, I swear I don’t know, the CRC is separate units for this reason!” As she kept on pleading for mercy, and that she had said all she knew, Chimera git of snivelling and backhanded her, knocking her out of the seat and knocking her out.

"That'll shut her up; listening to her talk tested my patience," Chimera grunted, looking at the floor and knowing they’ll need to tell the cleaners to be thorough to ensure no evidence of this conversation remained when they left.

“I see, this is what caused you to pause the trials.” Kallee, mildly concerned about casually, they could torture the woman, focused on the bigger issue, which was an apparent imminent mass casualty event.

“Correct, it wouldn’t matter if we swelled our numbers if potentially millions died because of some bigots and idiots.” Nine stated as he walked to the side, where a table sat with some papers and a couple of folders.

"We already questioned her and got a list of people and locations you'll all be assisting in checking out." He continued as he held out the papers, each a printed map of Japan with locations circled.

"Speed is key, we don't know who this new partner was, only that this particular batch of death in a canister came from Otheon and that another could be on its way, if not already be in Japan. Either way, should they realise one facility was already hit, they could trigger them earlier." Mummy added, as they knew too little to make any assumptions, even close to accurate.

“Scared and cornered rats are the worst.” Dusty mused, as this wasn't going to be anything close to easy. While she found it odd that they were doing the hero's job, she wasn't so heartless or foolish as to think they could do nothing and expect things to turn out well.

“Couldn’t have said it better. We’ll split you all into groups, and you’ll each be assigned to one of us as we search.” Slice explained as she kicked off the wall.

“Can’t we like…leak this to the pros? Seems a bit too big for us.” Technohead proposed, trying his best not to come off as weird.

Nine’s glance towards him lingered, the man starting to sweat under the seemingly calm, yet piercing gaze of the leader of Japan’s most feared villain group in decades. Eventually, he broke it off as he addressed the entire group. "No, I trust them as much with this as I trusted the idea of Overhaul having a drug which could erase quirks. The difference between them and us is that we'll destroy every last sample of this Pandora's box."

Line Break

The next morning, the task force was called in for an important meeting. Hawks, despite his speed, was once again the last to arrive. As he entered the office space, he saw that Nighteye was at his desk, with the others close by as All Might's former sidekick handled a call.

He waved to Kaina, but the former heroine only raised an eyebrow before she turned her attention away from him. Okay, a little rude, but he didn't expect much else from her. At least she didn't blow him off like Endeavour did.

“Is this accurate?...No, I doubt you’ll be so foolish to make this up…understood, just keep doing what you have, they have no reasons to suspect you…We’ll ensure nothing traces back to you.” Nighteye finished the call before taking a deep breath and exhaling, as if trying to expel whatever stress the call brought him.

“News from our mole?” Hawks asked as he stood close to Pixie-bob, the older woman nodding in agreement. "Better be good, as I was a little nervous when his team just stopped all those heists and vanished. A little birdie told me they spent some time at the Iceberg."

Nighteye didn’t bother asking just what birdie told Hawks this, as the number 2 made a habit of knowing things he shouldn’t and rarely giving a straight answer on how he knew. "It would seem they did, but we wouldn't be able to prove anything; we don't need to worry about such tiny fish."

“Tiny? A gathering spot of the criminal underworld is hardly a loose trend but could easily be a worn cloth, frayed on all sides.” Once more, Jeanist was present via video call.

"Perhaps in another time, that would be the case, but what our mole learned is much worse." Nighteye, whose gaze was always serious and blunt, seemed even graver than usual, and as he explained what he had just learned, Hawks' own gaze narrowed as he could see why the suit-wearing pro was on edge. Even Nagant was paying close attention to the news.

“Is…is that even possible?” Kido asked, shaking at the idea that there could be a bomb that could strike an entire city and so…so brutally target something just about everyone had and turn it against them to a lethal degree.

What was worse was that unless you're in a hazmat suit, no pro would be immune; they'll die with everyone else, and some mysterious backers from overseas had just…imported that stuff in?!

“I know trigger can mess with you if you take a large enough dose, but near instant death?” Pixie-bob struggled to understand it, as working out in the wild, she and the rest of the WWP had stumbled upon a few trigger deals, but also people who thought to use it while camping. It was rarely pretty as that stuff always messed with your head and could make even a simple disagreement into a violent argument.

Mirko grunted as she crossed her arms. "It's a coward's way of fighting, that's what it is." As far as she was concerned, anyone who needed something like a trigger to do anything was weak in spirit as well as in mind. Using a variant of it to slaughter thousands of innocents was just several levels above such.

Pixie did have another question based on what had been said. “Nighteye, Jeanist, we can’t just be leaving this to the villains to handle, are we? How can we trust they’ll locate the other ideo trigger in time? Or that they would destroy it?”

The Thunder was capable enough as it was, the idea that such a group, seemingly dead set on completely destroying society, having access to what could be called a weapon of mass destruction...it was a situation almost as bad as All for One breaking out of Tartarus.

Jeanist thought the same thing. “We can't and we won't, but we need to move carefully, a wrong move and our mole could be in danger, and based on how they treated the CRC prisoner they captured…”

Kaina thought it wise, as sure as they could, to make full use of their mole, but he was their only source of information on the inside. Trying to handle this quickly would no doubt expose the poor bastard, and considering what she heard happened to the Iida brat, she wouldn't be surprised if the fate of a caught spy wasn't pleasant…or quirk.

Hawks, much like the former Lady Nagant, had a similar thought process as he scratched at his chin. “So, we need to create a plausible way for us to have learned about this first and then act on it.”

“We can work something out, but first, let’s look into this particular CRC’s leader, one Matsumoto Haruto…and also look into Otheon.” Nighteye pulled up files on both, though what they had on the man was little, as he seemed to be just another mid-level corporate officer with a standard life. Balding, a divorce, a second marriage, 3 kids, 2 of whom are in private middle and high schools, and considerable wealth to his name, enough to have 3 homes listed to his name in Japan, and another in California.

Still, considering this could be an international operation, they would need to get eyes on the California properties and any known associates Matsumoto may have stateside.

"I'll reach out to the World Hero Association; they can get eyes on the ground there and search for any clues to a chemical plant," Nighteye concluded.

"Of course, it could be a ploy, or the package was routed through the nation first," Hawks suggested, if only to get the idea out there.

“Regardless, we need to turn every stone we can; a group like this wouldn't have gifted an organisation like the CRC with this stuff if they didn't have move," Jeanist stated.

“It’s a test run, one they don’t want their names on. So what better way to see how it works than by handing some of it to an already existing group, who no one would think twice about when this breaks." Kaina added to the conversation, the pros looking at her in clear suspicion and annoyance, the latter if only at her presence, but they didn't discount her words.

"Should we involve others in this? We were formed to track and hunt down the Thunder, but this could very well be above what we can handle." Eraser, who had largely remained silent, questioned, noting that, as he was well versed in underground operations, Hound Dog was an exceptional scout. But with Japan filled with cities and large towns, and dozens of CRC sects and suspected bases, they simply couldn't handle all of it.

Nighteye wished they could, as this could operate similarly to his plans against the Shie Hassaikai, but "Once we have credible leads, we can bring in others, but like with the initial intel, we can't without tipping the villains off." Unlike Chisaki, the Thunder had proven itself a greater threat, and one that paid more attention to security.

The meeting lasted another 20 minutes before adjournment. Mirko was, as they all suspected, eager to get out, leaving and probably heading towards the nearest window to bolt out of. Hawks was much the same, but he slinked out like he had time to burn. As the rest followed, only Nighteye and Jeanist remained.

“Nighteye, any suspects?” Jeanist questioned the pro, one who had made a name for himself in investigations and operational management.

Nighteye didn't bother being surprised. Jeanist noticed that Nighteye had some things on his mind. "A few, but none who've ever shown the capability to produce something like this." The CRC was the most common quirk hate group. Still, they favoured a more targeted hatred, mainly against heteromorphs and their supporters.

He would need to speak with Centipeder more about this, as he recalled his file on his early life, but he couldn't see them being more than useful bigots. This supposed benefactor met Matsumoto in Europe, but sadly, Technohead didn't learn where. He would just need to dig into it and see what they couldn't find about this trip and Matsumoto’s movements during it to narrow things down.

“Let us hope it’s another outfit akin to the Shie Hassaikai and this being a byproduct of someone’s quirk.” Jeanist proposed the perhaps simplest, if more horrifying, theory. After all, if Eri's quirk could be turned into a quirk erasing or even destroying drug, whose to say there wasn't a quirk that, under some modifications, couldn't rapidly transform and supercharge a quirk till it killed you?

"Without any samples to study, we can't say which way this would fall. Still, the fact that international actors have started to work together…it troubles me." Nighteye sighed.

“As do I, Nighteye…but we're here to ensure that regardless of their efforts, they'll never bear fruit.”

Line Break

Things didn't remain idle on the villain's side of things, as the Thunder, hopeful members, and even the League of Villains all conducted their own investigations. Shigaraki and Nine kept in close contact as they searched high and low.

Giran and his information network also chimed in, working pro-bono for in the words of the sleezy yet dependable broker, 'we can't make any money if most cities end up dead zones.' It was still kept quiet, as they couldn't be sure that the CRC cells didn't have contacts in the underworld, but it was in motion.

Dabi early on proved she was quite the skilled detective, adept at reading evidence and knowing where to look for it, which helped eliminate several CRC cells from the suspect pull, reducing the times the League needed to travel and raid sites, which Shigaraki hated. Still, when Nine agreed to pay them for it, a means to cover expenses, the decay user didn't have reason to refuse.

The thunder hopefuls, coming from all across Japan, returned to regions they were familiar with, and handled on-the-ground work, reporting back what they saw and heard, helping to further eliminate targets and suspects. When one of the promises was located, they would have a visit from one of the Thunder members, but sadly, while they crushed these ancient weeds, they didn't find their target.

Of course, the news reported on all of this, but most didn't know much about it and just chalked it up to the Thunder making moves against one of the groups they had outed for past crimes. They even went along with the idea, as Pyre would, using the group's new online presence to post about it, from clips to full-on videos of them sieging CRC bases and safe houses and showing how much they would tear them apart.

For the public, it meant pressure on the pros to crack down both on the Thunder and its allies in the League, but also to go after the CRC and ‘handle them as would be appropriate’ which while vexing, played into their hands as over a week into this, Nigheye and Bubble Girl would exit their car next to a fancy house in a Kyoto suburb.

Bubble looked on in slight awe as this was the sort of house one saw online and wished they could get. 3 stories tall, it wasn't the biggest, but its Victorian style spoke of wealth, and it had a large, well-groomed garden. It was even in a housing estate, with other similar fancy homes lining the road.

"Should I handle the talking?" Bubble Girl asked, as they had gone over their plans for the meeting.

“If what we believe is true, your presence alone would help us, Bubble Girl. Just be ready to act.” Nighteye explained as they approached the property's gate, as of course, even a gated home in a gated community had walls and gates.

Pressing the button, he waited for a few moments before someone responded. “Yes?”

"Pardon me, but I am Sir Nighteye. I'm here to speak with Ms. Matsumoto about her missing husband.” Nighteye explained.

“Allow me to buzz you in." The lady on the other line, whom he could only assume was not Ms. Matsumoto, confirmed a moment later with a clear, audible buzz that the gate had swung open, allowing the two to enter and approach the front door.

As that door opened, they were met by a middle-aged maid, who blinked in surprise at seeing Bubble Girl.

“Oh, I was not informed you’ll have a plus one.” She noted, looking a little uneasy with Bubble Girl’s presence. However, both hero and sidekick figured it wasn't just that which unnerved the woman.

“She is a sidekick at my agency and is a critical component to the investigation. Is there an issue with her being here?” Nighteye questioned, keeping his tone civil, as he didn’t need to try to be threatening.

“Well…no, none at all, please, come in.” A point proven as the maid quickly folded and led them into the house and towards the parlour, which, much like the rest of the property, was clearly one belonging to a family of exceptional income.

Waiting for them was the madam of the house, a woman who, according to her records, turned 49 last March. She certainly looked her age, though that could be because of the clear signs of stress on her face, outside of that, she was dressed in a traditional, conversative way, even though both pro and sidekick knew she was a trained accountant and sales woman who much like her husband, had a well paying job at one of Japan's more popular advertising firms.

“Madam, the guests are here.” The maid announced as she bowed to the lady of the house.

“Thank you, Natsu, I’ll handle things from here.” The older woman dismissed the maid, who silently left as Nighteye and Bubble Girl took a seat on the opposite sofa to Mrs. Matsumoto, Bubble Girl holding a small briefcase.

“Forgive us for showing up without invitation or warning, but it’s related to your missing husband.” Nighteye started, as no need to ruffle feathers too soon.

"I didn't know that All Might's former sidekick was on the case. Does that mean that this will end soon?" The woman replied, her relief palpable, but Nighteye noticed she actively chose not to look at Bubble Girl, which at least confirmed one suspicion.

“We have some strong leads and are chasing them down as we speak, but I would like to get a better understanding of your husband.” Nighteye continued, fixing his glasses as he spoke.

Matsumoto looked confused, and annoyed they would come to speak about that now of all times, as hr husband had been missing for 4 days now. It had been 6 years since she last heard from him. "Why? He's never done anything to deserve this. He was out with friends, and he just never returned, and when I called them, they didn't respond either!"

"That would be because he and his friends were attacked at the same time by the Thunder," Nighteye explained, seeing shock and also fear bloom in the older woman's eyes. But not the sort of fear civilians felt when news hit of a villain in the area, but of someone carrying meat in a forest known for bears, who just heard one.

“t-Those animals attacked my Haru?!” She gasped, to which Bubble Girl decided to end the games and speak up.

"More accurately, they attacked the Creature Rejection Clan base, one that was smuggling in illegal weapons. Your husband is suspected of having been the leader of that particular branch and was taken prisoner by the Thunder."

Like a switch had been flipped, the new coming from her, of all people, sent the woman into a rage as she snarled at Bubble Girl in outrage and disgust. “How dare you make such accusations, little girl! You think you can just walk into my home and say such baseless-!”

Bubble Girl, used to handling angry people and with even greater experience dealing with people who had just had an issue with her, didn't flinch at Mrs. Matsumoto's ire as she opened the briefcase and presented her with copies of the woman's financial transactions going back 22 years. "We have evidence of your husband and yourself laundering money for the CRC, as well as suspicious payments which were traced to foreign countries which neither of you has ever declared on your banking records, equalling around 32.3 million in undeclared income.”

The older woman's face grew white as she saw it, clear as day, that somehow, somewhere, they had managed to figure it out and located proof of it, despite how much work she and her husband put into covering it up, always being careful, always playing it safe. Yet, it didn't matter, but…but how? Why? Why would anyone even notice?

Not done: she presented pictures of the aftermath of the Thunder's raid on the site, one showing her husband's car, clearly hidden among several others. “Blood at the scene of the attack also confirms your husband’s presence, along with his phone and car.”

Seeing that this was bad, the older woman just took a breath, sat straighter, and declared. “I want my lawyer.”

Nightsye didn’t push her on this, but he still spoke. "You'll be entitled to one, but for your sake, they better get here fast, as every second could be another countdown till the Thunder decides they don't need prisoners anymore."

“They wouldn’t.” She wasn't fooled; she kept track with that horde of idiots and animals, and despite their recent uptick in attacks on her fellow CRC, they've never killed. It was something they even loved to boast about.

Nighteye’s gaze didn’t share that same assurance. “We have reason to believe they’ll make an exception in this case.”

"…Give me a moment to make the call to my lawyer; she'll be here within 15 minutes." Mrs. Matsumoto relented as she pulled out her phone and started going through her contacts, then found the number she needed and dialed it, glaring at the heroes as she wondered just what was happening.

Line Break

And we’re back with the first chapter for this story of the year! One I’m working on before I watch that first episode of MHA Vigilantes season 2, as I want that to be something of a threat. Also, I’m trying to start a thing this year where chapters, even for the early access crowd, are written a week in advance, as I want to give myself more time to work on them, review them as so many chapters had errors last year, and also to help account for just shit happening, it also means I can post these things a little earlier in the day as towards the end of the year in 2025, I was struggling to get stuff posted before midnight, maybe now they can be posted at roughly 5PM local time?

Now, onto the chapter itself, while I didn’t get all the material written and planned for Path of Storms, as I have like 5 stories I needed to plan for, I did get enough to last till around April, with this chapter written to be as beefy as possible, not just pointless word count, as I really wanted a change from the previous chapter, as well as handle the set-up for what’s gonna be an altered movie plot since I am using World’s Heroes for this, but as…all of that happens out of Japan, that meant a real chance to be creative.