08/03/2022

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The Emperor's Dragon
Fledgling 53

"Hisashi," Watanabe said fondly. "It's been too long," the lawyer added.

"It has," All For One agreed as he was shown into Watanabe's personal office. Gigantomachia took up a position by the door. Everything was as it used to be and he was sure that the original staff would remember the procedures.

Kurogiri had made an appointment, so he was expected and Gigantomachia had confirmed that there were no heroes near before he had come through Kurogiri's warp gate. While the quirk was great for changing his appearance, he could not use other quirks while he was in his uninjured form. A relatively quick test with Garaki had shown that so long as the oxygen tube was reconnected reasonably quickly, after the quirk faded, then he would be fine, so long as he had not tried to use quirks. The issue last time had been caused most likely because he had tried to use quirks and had tired himself out and had not been ready to change back.

The Doctor had been eager to experiment to dismiss the theory that the change of shape had affected his oxygen levels. The change was absolute. In the changed, healed form, his breathing was unaided and effective. He was getting enough oxygen, which was a relief to know that while the quirk had a weakness, in that he could not use any other quirk, it was a very good change of shape. Illusion quirks, true illusion quirks that impacted the observers brain, rather than the eyes, were incredibly rare. Any quirk which impacted the brain was rare, which was why he was pleased to have a copy of Izuku's friend's quirk. He had been sparing with its use but it was very useful.

There were payoffs with every quirk. This one was rather steep but it was useful.

"Hisashi! What happened?" Watanabe demanded as soon as they were secure. "The Government came round wanting your assets," he added.

All For One shook his head. He already knew that Hawein, Mori and Nishimura had politely told the Commission to shove it where the sun didn't shine. "The rumours of my death have been greatly exaggerated," he said with a grin. "But I was injured in the raid on JBQC," he admitted. "And I have spent the last few years recovering."

"That's terrible," Watanabe murmured.

"That's Heroes," All For One corrected meticulously.

"True, true," the other man agreed.

"Now, I've been gone for a while so tell me everything," he instructed.

Hawein, Mori and Nishimura were estate lawyers. They didn't practice law in other fields but they sure as hell paid attention to them. And they had direct arrangements with other firms when they did need specialists in other fields. Hisashi knew that occasionally someone suggested that the allied firms merge, each company becoming a branch of the new firm, and therefore keeping control over how their specialty was practiced but that would just make them a target for law enforcement.

This way, being smaller, individual but allied firms kept them under the radar as it were. They were just as powerful but not as obvious. Several very large, more commercialised law firms had found that out the hard way. Takeovers were not looked upon favourably

At his instruction Watanabe nodded and then spent a few moments gathering his thoughts. "The first issue that must be dealt with is that the HPSC has declared you and your son missing. I am reasonably sure you do not want to make a public appearance to correct that belief."

"I am a private man," All For One agreed. "But JBQC has still been paying taxes on my behalf," he added.

"Those would be automated deductions, correct?" Watanabe asked for clarification.

"Yes." The company paid his taxes automatically and the bevy of accountants he retained, helped with making sure that he got the correct returns. He was after all a legitimate businessman so tax was simply a fact of life. As was reducing it.

"That would muddy the waters somewhat but the missing status would probably prevail," the lawyer said after thinking for a few moments. "However, if we can provide proof that you have personally submitted your tax forms in the last few years, or reviewed them and signed off, then that would be proof of presence," he said.

Sensei resisted the urge to sigh. "I'll go sign some paperwork," he promised.

"Then we can challenge the missing status."

"Will that be public?" All For One raised one hand to his chin, tapping his finger against his jawbone. It wouldn't matter terribly if it was public so long as he could not be traced. But there would, no doubt come a challenge from the HPSC if all proof of presence was remote.

All Might was injured. He knew that. He'd watched the Hero fight recently. The proof was there if you looked for it but they wouldn't make him fight All Might. There would be others and realistically, while he was certain he could fight, he wasn't certain he could win if they took him seriously. If they didn't… well…

But now was not the time to reveal his presence. He wasn't ready for that. Tomura and Izuku weren't ready either.

"Not initially. The Taxation Department will be the ones who declare you are not missing because they have the signed taxes. Eventually someone will want to see you," Watanabe said, echoing his concerns.

"But it muddies the waters, and stops the HPSC from declaring me dead?"

"It does," the lawyer agreed.

"For the moment, that will suffice," All For One agreed, mentally beginning to draw up plans to divest many of Hisashi Riji's assets. He needed a new identity anyway. He had been a Hisashi for a long time. It was time for a change. Maybe Saidai? He'd have to think of something appropriate. "What of my son?"

"He would have to be physically present to prove his status," Watanabe said immediately, knowing it wasn't an answer Hisashi wanted. "But as he was, ahem, kidnapped as a child, his reappearance, even as an adult, would cause a media stir that was quickly forgotten. He would be able to get whatever paperwork was required."

All For One nodded. Izuku didn't need paperwork, and he had no assets. The HPSC was not interested in him for that. They would be interested because he was his son, and for the quirk that they probably weren't sure he had, but would be brutal in determining.

So crude.

It looked like it was definitely time for Hisashi Riji to legally divest his assets and then die.

"I will consider appropriate solutions," he told the lawyer.

Watanabe smiled at him. He knew what that meant. "Our services are always open," he murmured. It wasn't like Hawein, Mori and Nishimura cared what the identity of their clients were, only that their cheques were not rubber and flat. They and their alliance offered many services.

Hisashi gave Watanabe a nod. "Now, what else?" he asked. There would be other changes he needed to be aware of.

Watanabe took a moment to think. "JBQC has been adapting to most of the law changes," he murmured. Hisashi wasn't surprised about that. The people he had put in charge of his company were good. "I think the one issue of most interest to you would be your wife," the lawyer said.

"My wife?"

"She came to visit but of course we told her nothing, because there was nothing to tell," Watanabe indicated. "However, I hear now that she has launched a Request for Information against the HPSC, the Police and All Might's Agency."

"Oh?" he was actually interested.

"I'm not aware of everything about the case," Watanabe said carefully. "I'm given to understand that during the raid on JBQC there were multiple operations undertaken. One of them was supposedly to collect your son, but for some reason it was delayed until the day after. She is seeking information on why."

The lawyer was not aware of the stab of disquiet that went through his client. It was very possible that if the mission had been run at the same time then Izuku would have been… All For One reminded himself forcefully that it had not happened.

"What has my wife discovered?" he asked instead. He was interested in who had given the order.

"Nothing yet," his lawyer told him. "The case is being taken pro-bono by Beacon, but I suspect they will pull out shortly."

A tilt of his head was enough to convey his question.

"Beacon is operated by Sheeba Yadav, who went to school with Kouki Sozo."

"Ah," All For One understood. He didn't know Sheeba Yadav but he knew of the new Commissioner. "So without Beacon's support, her Request will be dismissed?"

"I think so," Watanabe said.

Hisashi raised his hand, tapping his finger against his chin. The order wouldn't have come from All Might. The buffoon was too idealistic for that. It would have come from Sir Nighteye or someone in the Commission, except… he wasn't sure why. That Detective wanted Izuku, the Commission would want him as well, so why had they delayed that mission? He hadn't been in any position to stop it but maybe they thought one of his servants would be? That was the only explanation he could think of. But he didn't know for sure.

It was one of those things that was simply a passing fancy but… "Will she be able to find another backer?"

Watanabe almost immediately shook his head. "After Beacon withdraws, I doubt anyone else will take up the request."

"And she won't be able to afford it?"

"Not unless she has more assets than I am aware of," the lawyer answered quickly.

All For One thought for a few moments. He didn't need to know why they had delayed the operation. The effects were the same and did not change his plans. However, the Request Inko was running would no doubt distract both the HPSC and All Might's Agency. Which would give him the opportunity to make a public appearance and re-establish Hisashi Riji's identity briefly before moving assets to his new name.

"She will be desperate," he mused, "and will remember that she is my wife," Hisashi added with a smile.

Watanabe said nothing but All For One could see the question in his expression.

"When she comes to you, seeking disbursement from my estate, you will indicate there is provision in my desires for it. Anything to find Izuku," he instructed. "But there will be paperwork you need to prepare. At that point you are to call me, and I will see my wife."

"I can't let you kill her," Watanabe said but he wasn't quite as firm as Hisashi knew he wanted to be.

"No, no, no, my dear friend," he told the lawyer. "I have no desire to kill my wife," he made the assurance. She would be of no use to him dead. "I simply wish to ensure that she uses the money wisely," he explained.

The lawyer looked at him before he nodded. There were unspoken rules for the clients of the alliance of firms and All For One was aware of them. Watanabe was also aware that All For One could rewrite those rules if he desired.

"It will also allow us to confirm custody over Izuku," Hisashi continued.

"Then we really will have documents to create," Watanabe nodded.

All For One nodded before he gestured for Watanabe to continue. There was much he had to learn.

-ted-

Izuku stretched. He'd finished his homework. The assignment was pretty easy and he had completed most of it today. There was nothing else due so he picked up his phone and sent Inasa a game invite. They were currently playing a summoning game and could farm together.

He occasionally played it with Tomura but the older teen much preferred to play console games and was more interested in RPGs. While the summoning game had something of a RPG feel to it, Tomura said he preferred actual quests, now just quick battles.

Can't, sorry. Got an assignment due, Inasa sent back pretty quickly.

It's okay, Izuku replied as he cancelled the request. He tapped the phone frame, wondering if Ochaco or Hitoshi would be ready for a game? Except Ochaco didn't play this one, and Hitoshi… Ugh, Izuku remembered Hitoshi had some formal dinner tonight for something with his parents.

He got up. Maybe he could see dad early or Yakuni?

They were living in Yokohama. They were in a building that was near to the warehouses the Doctor was using for his experiments. It was a quick trip over there, and there was an underground tunnel that connected the two places. In winter it was nice, 'cos it meant he didn't have to go outside. And… well, they weren't in the best area. Dad said it was easier to hide here because even though it was the type of area TV heroes looked for villains in, real heroes didn't often patrol here. There was no glamour to it.

He trotted through the tunnel. It was big enough for Gigantomachia to travel through when the huge man made himself as small as he could but Gigantomachia would be with his dad.

"Yakuni!" Izuku called as he emerged into the big warehouse.

"Over here," came the reply. Yakuni actually lived here. There was a nice little apartment on a mezzanine level but the older teen wasn't there. He was somewhere in the tubes of experiments.

Izuku trotted through them and found Yakuni in front of a tube tapping at the controls.

"Heya," he greeted.

"Hello Dragon."

Izuku looked at him. "You can use my name," he said.

Yakuni grinned at him. "I am," he teased.

He huffed. "What'cha doing?" Izuku asked, looking up at the tube.

"Just adjusting the experiment," Yakuni replied. "You can see from the controls the acidity is a bit high," he explained, gesturing towards the panel of numbers.

Izuku looked over at them. He knew what some of them were, but a few did seem a bit high.

"Could be from the quirk though," Yakuni said, even as he tapped at the controls.

"What do you mean?"

"This one has an acidic quirk," he explained. "I didn't think it was meant to be an acid creation quirk, just defense but it's hard to know."

Izuku knew what that meant. Basically the addition of other quirks sometimes mutated the original one. "Anything I can do to help?"

"Nah, I'm good," Yakuni said. "But I have to check the others," he added, pointing at the line of tubes.

Izuku sighed but then he chuckled. "I'll leave you to it," he said. He knew, sort of, what to do with the experiments but not enough to help. He would have learned how to help but he was mostly too busy and the Doctor told him it was very complicated. His support was enough.

"I think your Dad is due back soon," Yakuni offered.

"He is?"

"I think so. The Doctor went to the treatment room."

"I'll go find him then," Izuku said with a smile. "Catch you later," he added.

"Later," the other teen said with his concentration still on the tube.

Izuku suppressed a chuckle. Yakuni was so dedicated to his job. It was nice but…

Eh… It was good. There was no 'but' about it. And besides, if Dad was back, maybe they could have a chat. He skipped through the tubes with a happy smile.

-ted-

Well, now AFO is aware of what his wife is up to and has already figured out how to make it work to his advantage. That can't be good for the heroes... but it might be good for Inko. If AFO gets his way, she won't get near Izuku but she'll at least be able to put the Heroes in a painful situation. And as far as AFO is concerned, that's a win.

And Izuku is now looking for his dad. What is he going to see?

My discord is on this code: ZX2R5h2cEm FFN will remove links but you should be able to figure that out.

-ted-

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