Here it is, the 102nd full chapter of Miraculous Quirks released on the right day as promised. This is another transition chapter in the short transition arc that moves us from the Joint Training arc to the Endeavor Agency arc though this one is one of two that addresses things going on elsewhere in Japan that I won't be covering as they aren't directly affected by Marinette and Adrien but want to at least acknowledge as they are important and happening so this is how I'm doing it. The only other thing to mention here is a clarification for those who may be confused by the Guardians and what they do/know and that is to remind y'all that the Guardians are my own person OCs, a group that I've been working on in some iteration or another since before I started my fanfiction account back in 2009 so basically whatever they say or do is all my own creation and part of their lore. I hope that clears up any confusion some of you might have had regarding them and what they know. Anyway, that is all the administrative stuff I have for now though and as there are no review questions to answer or guest reviews to respond to I will end this note here. Do keep the reviews coming as I enjoy hearing from y'all. Now, though, it is time to sit back, relax, and enjoy the 102nd full chapter of Miraculous Quirks.

Disclaimer: I do not own either of these great works of fiction.

Chapter 102: Off the Books Investigation

Fei let out a sigh as she unlocked the door to her small apartment in Musutafu, a bag of takeout food in one hand as she wasn't in the mood to cook tonight, and ready for a much-needed night in to relax away the last few days. It had been a long fortnight since the joint training exercise what with the reports she had to sort out for that, the evaluations she assisted with, and then the added work regarding Lariat and Blackwhip. She still didn't even know why that Quirk had reappeared and in Izuku Midoriya's hands to boot but she'd done her job in providing her report and expected a full explanation at some point.

On top of all that she still had some stuff to sort out with the bakery that she'd managed to get around to this week and worked on until today so that was at least on track to be finished in time for the Chinese New Year and right now things were basically being sorted without her oversight needed. That had been her goal for today so that she could enjoy a little break and she'd accomplished it only an hour ago. Now she just wanted to enjoy her food, a cold beer, and a good soak in her bath before bed. She'd take tomorrow off and really enjoy a good break as the calendar year came to a close.

She'd earned this after the last 14 days but the moment she entered her apartment she let out a long groan as the door closed behind her and she felt the presence that was waiting for her. It seemed that whichever being controlled destiny, it wasn't too thrilled with her at the moment for some unknown reason but when dealing with stuff like that Fei had long since learned that logic was often a foreign concept to beings of such power.

"You know, some would call this breaking and entering." Fei said as she looked over her apartment to the small 4-seater table in one corner of the main room and glared at the person sitting at it. "I think I can call the cops on you."

"Technically it's only breaking and entering if I forced my way into the place." Mage said as he slurped up some of what Fei was certain was her instant noodles and judging by the size of the bowl it was a large portion of her stock, while a cold beer of hers stood open next to him. "I didn't do that. In fact, everything was still locked when I got into this place."

"No, you don't need to do that." Fei said as she put her keys in a bowl on a table by the door and went to the fridge to get herself a beer because now she definitely needed it. "Give me a moment then, I need to relax before you drop whatever insane ball you have for me right on my head."

"Ye of little faith." Mage said with a smirk before he took a deep draft of the beer to wash down his meal that he'd helped himself to after appearing here. "Gods, why do people drink this stuff cold."

"Most of the civilized world does so, you've spent to much time in Britain to understand that." Fei said as she grabbed a beer herself, it was an imported one from Shanghai so a taste of home for her and turned back from the fridge as it closed. "And as for my little faith, the last time you did this it was in Shanghai when you appeared without word for over a decade to tell me that I'm being considered for a clandestine mission here in Japan that required deep knowledge of French baking because the front would be a bakery I would be running. Then you told me of that colossal blunder you made 230 years ago, and next thing I know I get roped into all. Not that I mind, however, as it was better than that undercover op you yanked me from."

Mage just smirked through the noodles he was eating at that, but Fei ignored him as she went to her sofa to enjoy her food and beer while her unwanted but not unwelcome guest kept eating. Her apartment was simple, a small hallway from the front door where she and Mage had left their shoes led into a large room with a kitchenette in on corner filled with all she needed, a closet, a comfortable sofa with a coffee table in front of it, a large TV and the table to fill the room. Across from the front door was another corridor that led to her bedroom at the end and a bathroom complete with full bath to one side.

It was a small but comfortable place for Fei, and she'd certainly lived in worse in her time, especially after her father's death before she learned of the Prodigious, the Guardians, and found her calling and purpose in life. She'd had better but she didn't need much comfort in life and besides, this place was temporary as she would have one of the floors all to herself in the soon to be complete bakery that was well on its way to completion.

She was sure that she would have to give Mage an accounting of that in time but first she wanted to enjoy her food before she dealt with him and whatever mission he no doubt had for her this time. She was sworn to service to the Guardians and would serve them fully but damned if she wasn't going to enjoy her meal first. It was the least Mage could do for her.

Thankfully, he was willing to do just that, and she was able to enjoy her food, an authentic Chinese takeout from a local place run by people from Fei's homeland that she enjoyed getting when she was done with a long project, in peace. It helped that Mage was still eating, and then helped himself to more and another beer while she ate but she knew he'd replace everything he'd taken, so it was more the annoyance of him doing this than anything else.

Still, despite the casualness of the situation, Mage would never invade her privacy like this unless he had a damned good reason to do so. That meant that whatever he was here to see her about was serious, so she had best listen to him. Besides, his side missions like this were usually pretty fun and interesting that helped out in the long run so Fei was at least curious as to what it would be this time.

"You know that beer ain't cheap, important niche brands never are." Fei said as she finished her food, she'd clear it all later, before sitting back on her sofa and looked to Mage sipping her own beer to wash the meal down. "You'd better replace it."

"It will be there with interest when you get back, Vina will see to it." Mage said which naturally didn't bode well for Fei as she found that Guardian to be rather generous when it came to her element, and she didn't want too much beer around. "Don't worry about it."

"I'll try not to." Fei said before she shifted the topic to exactly what this meeting was about. "But it seems like you have a mission for me."

"I do." Mage said simply.

"Sanctioned or unsanctioned." Fei said as she got down to business. "Gotta know what my boundaries are going to be."

"Unsanctioned." Mage said which didn't surprise Fei, if it was sanctioned he'd have just called her to his office on campus for it, which just added to the intrigue of the mission. "And this is a full stealth mission so only mantis, snake, and hawk are permitted during it unless it's unavoidable but as you are on your own all bar your dragon form are allowed at your discretion should the situation require it. Dragon is under its standard rules restricting its use. This is pure intel and I'm hoping I'm wrong but…"

"In all your millennia of experience your gut is as good as they come so this is probably going to either be fruitful for intel or go to hell in a handbasket before I know what hit me." Fei said. "Alright I understand the scope. Is this Demos's doing?"

"No, he's been quiet in Japan as of late." Mage said shaking his head. "I think he's got some op, or knowing him ops, running within the HPSC, but I never understand that man. If it was his orders he'd be here not me."

"I see so this is above his station, good." Fei said with a grin, this wasn't a request from the leader of the clandestine unit that she was a part of but an actual Guardian which had priority over even Demos's orders. "Very well but before you tell me answer me this. What did you need that Lariat information for? I haven't seen you since I gave it to you last week, so I want to know why you needed it and why did you also need to know about his known contacts."

"I needed the information to track down other people who would be known to Lariat, mainly two men in particular though one was more for confirmation of other information we had." Mage said. "One predeceased him, a man called Hikage Shinomori, the other was a hero around his own time who call En who was with him when he died. The latter was for confirmation, the former because we needed to know who he was and then try to extrapolate from there but as Shinomori predates our time in Japan it's hard and that's not factoring in the chaotic period that was going on back then. I can't say anymore as it is classified and I'm spellbound to secrecy, and I have yet to get the permission to bring you in."

"And why not?" Fei said arching her eyebrow. "I did what you asked for boss, I should be allowed to know why Blackwhip suddenly reappeared where it most certainly shouldn't have. Quirks can be inherited, I know that, but for basically the same Quirk only much stronger to manifest in someone completely unrelated to Lariat is, well, almost impossible. I've learned that short of bringing someone back from the dead nothing is impossible but for mere mortals this is a stretch even in the Age of Quirks."

"And I hope in time that I will be able to tell you." Mage said. "But seeing as I had to reveal the full extent of my nature to Izuku Midoriya and Katsuki Bakugo when I delivered this information to them, the former because of Blackwhip's manifestation and the latter for complex reasons that ties the boys together, they are a little preoccupied at the moment. I will do my best to discuss this with them when they've processed what I am and then I should be able to bring you in providing I cast the usual spells."

"Fine, but I'm going to hold you to it." Fei said knowing when she was beat for the moment, but she wasn't going to let up on this in the long run. "Alright, so what is this mission I'm to be sent on? You know I'm still busy here, right?"

"You won't be needed at the school for a while as we are nearing finals and the winter break, and I know that the bakery is on track." Mage said. "I'm still on medical leave, Sanguina said so when I saw her last week to try and get cleared but I'll be good once the new year rolls around and by then you will be back from your mission. I'll take up any slack you have here while you're away."

"Thank the gods for that woman, she's really helping out though you still shouldn't have gotten run through by a sword, especially not that one." Fei pointed out to which Mage just shrugged. "But alright, a side mission away from here will be fun."

"It might get hot, but I know you can handle it if it does." Mage said opting not to address how he only let himself get stabbed because he had to in order to win. "I hope it won't get to that point, but it just might. Things have been too quiet for my liking which is why this has peaked my interest."

"Just spit it out." Fei said. "Where am I going and what am I to do there?"

In response Mage just waved his hand and the TV in the room suddenly turned on and began playing a commercial for one of the largest and most successful lifestyle support companies in all of Japan, Detnerat. The add was a famous one, it showed the company's CEO, a tall middle-aged man with a long-pointed nose, protruding chin, dark eyes and a very noticeable receding hairline with a few spikes of reddish-brown hair sticking up in the center of it, speaking to the camera about the products Detnerat had to offer.

"I assume you know who that is and the company that he runs." Mage said as the image paused on the man smiling calmly to the camera.

"Yeah that's Rikiya Yotsubashi and he's the CEO of Detnerat." Fei said confused now as she looked back to Mage because this wasn't making sense to her. "That's a company that provides support items for those with unusual bodies caused by mutant Quirks. It's a useful and niche industry that they've really cornered in Japan and set the standard for others around the globe. Why? What does he have to do with all this."

"Everything." Mage said. "Because recently Detnerat has gotten into the hero support item business as well as their main business model."

"That's not a surprise." Fei said. "They specialize in support items for mutant Quirks so jumping into the hero support line isn't a shock or that big of a leap for them really as they have the talent to make Quirk support items already. It might take them a while to get a footing in the market as it is quite saturated at the moment but it's not unusual for companies to be multi-purpose, even you should know that seeing as you saw the emergence of that first hand a few centuries back."

"True but what I didn't say is that they have yet to actually announce their entry into the hero support item market." Mage said with a grin at Fei's surprised look. "I figured you'd get that look."

"And how do you know that?" Fei asked now interested. "Companies like Detnerat would be extremely secretive about their plans and not tip their hands until they are ready. I get that our network is good, but this seems a bit of stretch given how Detnerat's business model isn't really something the Guardians focus on."

"True it's not but recently there's been a flood of illegal support gear on the streets." Mage said. "The kind that services villains that is. That's usually our prerogative as most of it is smuggled into the country from abroad where the oversight on creating such gear is less than it is in Japan, but this new stuff appears to be shoddy shit to put it lightly as it always breaks apart after a few uses, often right before the criminal is captured but after he or she has been defeated. They are really nice, neat, pieces as well and so small that it's impossible for a human to put them back together."

"Sounds very convenient for the manufactures, ensures they won't get caught or even traced because suppling hero support gear to villains is a serious crime." Fei said catching onto what Mage was saying. "I know black market items do fail, that's hardly a surprise given how poorly most are made, but often the heroes can at least salvage enough to track. Given your description these can't be it seems."

"Correct, they are utterly useless to almost anyone, almost as if they were being destroyed remotely after being made in such a way to be destroyed so completely." Mage said. "Which in fact they are being."

"There's no such thing as coincidence, you taught me that." Fei said. "I take it you, or really Sanguina as she's running the show in Tokyo at the moment, was called in given how we usually deal with illegal support gear and asked to get Technus to look at it. He is the Guardian of Technology after all, support items can't escape him."

"So long as he has some pieces and footage of the item in use before it was destroyed he can reconstruct it." Mage said with a nod. "And he's done that though he's not told the HPSC yet because what he's found is that the items are of higher quality than they think, they're being made by a pro at it and then placed on the black market and destroyed remotely the moment they might fall into the hands of criminals. This is the kind of information that could cause panic hence why he's keeping it in house."

"And all professionals have their own weird ways of doing things when it comes down to the support gear that they make." Fei said recalling the many oddball support geniuses she'd worked with in her life to know that this was the case. "So, they have signatures in their whether they intended to leave them or not. I take it you've tracked it down to Detnerat."

"To one of their senior support workers, one personally chosen for the role by the CEO and who works closely with him to the point that he only reports to Yotsubashi." Mage said. "Seems odd, right?"

"Of course it does, very suspicious in fact." Fei said. "So, you want me to go to Detnerat, sneak into their R&D department, and find out what's going on then?"

"Not exactly." Mage said shaking his head. "We believe that there is a location that Yotsubashi will be going to soon and when he's there he will be meeting with other influential individuals who are also converging on that location, but we don't know why. It's the sectors these people come from that makes us nervous because we've seen this before."

"Let me guess." Fei said as she got what Mage was saying. "Yotsubashi is commerce and business so he's likely the financial and resource partner but there's also politician of some station who can work from within the system, a notable journalist to spin the media in the right ways, a communications and tech guy to provide intel and support, and finally probably a hero or military person who can get that side's cooperation who are all converging on this location as well."

"You've been trained well." Mage said with a grin. "All bar the hero or military person are doing just that. We don't doubt there are heroes who are in on this but none that are notable enough for the meeting, or if they are then they are likely working for the HPSC so we're not touching that aspect."

"I've seen it all before, so I know how this stuff works." Fei said simply. "Who are they?"

"First up is Tomoyasu Chikazoku, a member of the board of directors of Feel Good, Inc." Mage said as the image on the TV changed to show the image of a tall, lanky man with long, straight, black hair that fell to his waist and a fringe that covered his eyes wearing a black polo neck and black jacket. "He's the tech guy, absolute wiz with computers and what not. In fact, he's the reason why we need to send you in on the ground because Technus can't break into his system short of using his powers and you know he can't do that. That's how good he is so with him on their side they have intel and communications covered."

"This guy's not done anything we can justify going after him for so it would be a violation of Technus's vows to exercise his powers to get into a human's network." Fei said. "Given that he's good enough to keep Technus at bay it shows that Yotsubashi has some serious tech muscle on hand."

"Exactly and that's not all." Mage said and the image changed to an unassuming man with black hair cut short, a wispy mustache that looked creepy, and purplish sunglasses over his eyes wearing a black western suit, overcoat, white shirt and tie. "Now this is a man you might recognize. Other than Yotsubashi, he's the most visible of the four individuals in question."

"Yeah, from my research of current Japan before coming here." Fei said recalling what she'd read about the current Japanese political system after she'd agreed to undertake this mission for Mage. "That's Koku Hanabata, the leader of the Hearts and Minds party. They're a notable political party here with several seats in the National Diet and lot of local support in the areas they have seats. From what I was able to gleam, he's quite the charismatic public speaker when he's on the campaign trail. So, he's the politician."

"Precisely and in fact the location you're going to is one of his party's strongholds but not his own constituency which only adds to everything." Mage said before the image changed once more to show a blue skinned, attractive woman with pitch black sclera, green irises, and lilac hair wearing a red coat with a black fur collar and a black dress on under it. "Hanabata is a powerful man but by not using his own constituency he's adding both plausible deniability to his actions and a reason to be where he is. Anyway, lastly there is this woman, Chitose Kizuki, the executive director of Shoowaysha Publishing."

"Media." Fei said as the final player was dropped on the board in her mind. "So, it's all there and these four are associates I take it."

"From what we've gathered they are all connected in some way and all 4 will soon be in a place called Deika City." Mage said. "Heard of it?"

"Can't say that I have." Fei admitted. "Where is it?"

"It's a decent sized city in the Aichi Prefecture to the west of here that's not too big to be noticed outside the Prefecture but not too small to be insignificant." Mage said. "It is in the mountains there with few ways in or out and surrounded by nature. Sound familiar?"

"From my study of history that kind of location does." Fei said. "Seems like the kind of place that you'd make a base of operations to me. Easy to defend, hard to reach with a controllable ingress and egress, while also having resources and appears to mundane to be of notice to anyone. Big cities are too big to get things done in while also dealing with the fact that having full sway over the population is next to impossible whereas a small one would just stick out as being too obvious should suspicion in it arise. This is one that would be looked over if you were looking for something. I take it there aren't many heroes there."

"No, the main one is some oddball called Slidin' Go." Mage said dropping the name of a hero that Fei had never heard of. "Strange man but decent hero. Still, I want you to go there before those four get there in a few days and poke around it to see what you can uncover before they arrive. Then you are to stay through their time there, try to get as close to them as possible if you can, and then report back when its done. They may be good but you're better."

"Can do." Fei said with a nod. "And I take it only you, me and Sanguina know of this op."

"And Nezu but you know he's good." Mage said. "I have to keep him abreast of things like this and he's giving his seal of approval on it."

"Alright and anything else in particular I should know." Fei said. "Like what am I to expect there? There has to be more than just these four going there if they are converging on the city."

"There is." Mage said seriously as a book suddenly appeared before Fei and fell into her lap. "This book is currently being published by Shoowaysha Publishing, updated for a modern audience as it has been over a century since it was published, and we have reason to believe that it is extremely popular in Deika City based on the sales records that we've uncovered."

Fei looked down at the book and her eyes went wide at what she saw. It was a red book with darker red edges on the sides and spine and a black, mask-like, smug on it that Fei knew was a replica of the birthmark on the long dead author's face. The title was in Japanese, but she could read it easily; 'Meta Liberation War.'

"You're kidding me." Fei said looking up from the book and at Mage. "This garbage is back on the shelves?"

"It's been popular here for decades and gets republished whenever there is a need to update the content for a modern audience and currently it is in an upswing of sales since All Might's retirement which isn't good." Mage said. "The author was Japanese and the son of the Mother of Quirks if the legends are to be believed so naturally it would be popular here. Things like this only get more tantalizing in time, such is the nature of extremist political literature after all."

"Yeah but Destro was a complete nutcase, a terrorist lunatic who used his twisted philosophy to justify his actions." Fei said. "He caused so many issues in the world, hell a good portion of the Quirk Wars were started by the philosophy that he espoused. I fought some of his nutcase followers in America back in the day when I was stationed there. Course America has always been a little different what with their notions of freedom and individual rights, so it was to be expected there but still, it wasn't a good time."

"They're not the originators of individual right but they are the most ardent supporters of them, baring typical hypocrisy, so it's no surprise that America latched onto this idea at one time." Mage said. "I was there back during the whole independence thing and know all about human rights all the way back to my ancient Greek days, not that the places that extolled the virtues of them were ever great at ensuring them as rights often clash without good balances being found, but America despite its many flaws did come the closest for a while. Then the advent happened and, well, America was the first great nation to fall into war once Quirks began to become more common."

"And the first to end their wars." Fei said. "I know, I fought in some of the battles there and while I wasn't around for the Providence Accords, I know that America was the forefront of the hero world but that Japan, thanks to All Might who himself has American influences from his time in California, became the leader in that regard."

"Yes but even the Americans understood the need to have restrictions on Quirk use." Mage said. "No matter what some people may say, no right is absolute and the right to freely use one's Quirk is one that should have restrictions because left unchecked it's all-out war."

"Yeah we fought in many of those." Fei said. "And our enemies used them to resurface and resume their own conflict against us."

"True though be glad you didn't know them back in the ancient days." Mage said sadly. "The Guardian Civil War, that was a war unlike any other. That damned traitor, she ripped us apart with her actions and almost destroyed our order."

"I know, you've told me of those days before." Fei said. "You were a Sub-Guardian at the time, a senior one but still not a Guardian so you didn't have the same protections that you have now. You were on the frontlines back then if I recall."

"I was there when Technus received his wounds at Scimitar's hands." Mage said with a grimace as he put a hand over his gut. "From the same blade that skewered me recently no less but as a Guardian now it's not the same, but we weren't back then."

"Which is why he has those cybernetics." Fei said. "He's an illegitimate immortal so he couldn't die but he couldn't regrow them because he wasn't a Guardian at the time."

"Precisely and ascension didn't give him that power so he's stuck with them for eternity but that wasn't the worst though." Mage said shaking his head his tone still sad. "No, the worst part was how many of my former brothers and sisters in arms, men and women I'd grown up with and fought alongside as Sub-Guardians, who I trusted with my life and who I thought had my back, that turned on us and sided with the Vengefuls and Spirit herself because she polluted their minds against us. I killed some of my closest friends in that war because of her and those who couldn't die I wounded enough to capture; they are stuck with those wounds as they rot in our prison for all time which is a fate worse than death to me. It was a bad time; I don't want to see it happen again."

"Such is the nature of civil war." Fei said with a sigh. "We've seen it time and time again in history and if the Meta Liberation Army is back then we will see it again. If they are allowed to rise from the ashes, especially now, then Japan could be plunged into civil war once again."

"I know and that is what I fear." Mage said. "Because these people are like cockroaches, where you see one there are a hundred that you don't see. They live in the shadows, such is the nature of such extremists, but now that All Might has retired, that the last of the great 3 villains alongside Destro and the Peerless Thief Oji Harima, All for One, has been defeated and locked up, I fear that they may return. That is why you must go to Deika City and ascertain the truth Fei. We must be prepared in case the worst comes to pass. I don't doubt that the HPSC has a plan as well, but they are currently focused on the League of Villains who may be small fries compared to this."

"I understand boss." Fei said seriously. "And I'll do it, you have my word. I'll go there tomorrow and make sure I find the truth."

"Thank you." Mage said with a small smile. "Things are good here so stay there until you find out what is going on and why those people are converging on Deika City. Hopefully, it is nothing, but my experience tells me that something not quite legal is afoot. Things have been a little too quiet since that whole Hassaikai business and I don't like quiet, not when humans now have Quirks."

"It's never good." Fei agreed. "Like a calm before a storm and things have been too calm since All Might's retirement despite the rise in crime but that was to be expected when the Symbol of Peace stepped down. Very well, you have my word, I'll get the job done. I always do."

"I know you do." Mage said. "Thank you but I should get going to give you time to prepare for this mission. I'll see you when you get back and view your memories of the events after your report to see what I can learn from them that you may have missed but until then best to avoid contact what with a tech genius there."

"Agreed." Fei said. "I'll see you soon boss."

With that Mage just nodded and vanished though at least he had the decency to magically clean the bowl, put it back, and clear the cans of beer as he left, his power was very useful for that at least. Fei for her part just sighed as she got up to sort her own mess and then prepare what she'd need for this mission.

She was good at these undercover missions, so she was more than ready for it, she just had no idea what she was getting into this time. Little did she know that were she was heading was about to become a warzone unlike any Japan had seen since the chaos years, with the exception of the battle in Kamino Ward, for the threat Mage feared was very much real.

Well, there it is, a nice, short, Fei and Mage chapter to help set up what is going on outside of the school. I won't be writing anything to do with the My Villain Academia arc or the battle in Deika City, but I haven't forgotten about it, this is just my way of showing that it is going on and giving an update on the situation while also giving Fei a little more page time. Y'all liked the last Fei and Mage chapter so this is the next in that series and there will be one more in time but I'm sure y'all know what that will be. That is all I have for you however so I will leave this chapter off here. As always, if you like it or have any questions please let me know in reviews or PMs, I will try to answer them as best I could and post any questions asked between uploads at the start of the next chapter and do follow and favorite this, so you are alerted to future uploads. Do keep the reviews coming as I like hearing from y'all as you enjoy my work, it motivates me to keep producing the best work I can for y'all to enjoy. Until next time.

Stringdog