29/07/2023

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The Emperor's Dragon
Emergence 91 - Hostage Negotiation

"We found him," Mirai told Toshinori.

"Where?"

"He's at a bar called Misuborashi," Sir Nighteye said without any irony. "The owner phoned it in. I assume you want to go?"

Yagi nodded. The man they were looking for was the vigilante Edge Dart and usually All Might wouldn't worry about a vigilante. This one was special. He had led the attack on Ochaco Uraraka and Dragon, Izuku Midoriya was looking for him. The teen had taken the others, raiding the Police holding cells the first night they had been arrested and he was, no doubt, looking for Edge Dart.

He was sure the vigilante could run for a while but… Eventually… Dragon would catch up to him and then… He might have assaulted Ochaco Uraraka but that didn't justify his murder.

For his own protection, they had to get to him first.

-ted-

Izuku yawned. His day and night were all turned around but the ring of his phone had woken him.

"I got him," Giran said even before he said hello.

"Where?" Izuku demanded.

"Not so fast," the broker said and Izuku felt a surge of rage. "I have someone who knows where he is but he wants the favour."

"The favour was for the entire group," Izuku reminded Giran.

"I know but-" There was something in the way Giran said the words. Izuku felt his eyes narrow. His dad had taught him to listen with more than his ears. It wasn't Giran holding back the information and the one who was… Izuku didn't know anything about them but they were probably trying to make a name for themselves.

"Fine," he agreed. This is what the underworld was going to be like. People would try to take advantage of him until he established a strong enough reputation. Dad had begun establishing Dragon, which was a great help but people would always try to test the boundaries. Since time was of the essence, he'd have to appear to accept this and then-

He got the impression Giran was talking to someone. "For fuc-" the broker cut off the exclamation.

"Would it help if I came myself?" Izuku offered.

"Do you have time?" Giran seemed surprised.

"For this, I'll make time," Izuku told him. "Your office?"

"Tell Kurogiri the Izakyaden down the road. He'll know which one," the broker instructed.

Izuku nodded as he hung up. That made more sense. If the confrontation was in Giran's office, there would be no witnesses. To confirm Dragon's reputation he'd need witnesses. He was starting to do that for the Heroes. They'd find his scales but the underworld would need some object lessons. There could be only one leader of the underworld. Him.

At least, until he got his dad out of Tartarus, then his Dad would resume his mantle.

Izuku looked around the warehouse. Kurogiri was doing something on his phone. Probably looking into accommodation. Well, if he could get a one way gate, that would be fine. He could make his own way back here. "Some moron has found the vigilante I want," he announced.

"Moron?" Dabi asked.

"He wants extra payment," Izuku explained.

That brought a chuckle from those gathered. "Does anyone want to come?" Izuku asked.

For a moment he thought no one would then Compress stood. "It would not be right for the Dragon to be unaccompanied."

Izuku laughed but accepted his offer as he made his way to Kurogiri. He needed to speak to him at some point in the future. The man might be a Nomu but… Izuku didn't want to take advantage of him. "Just one way," he said. "Giran said the Izakyaden near his office," he gave the destination.

The misty man nodded and gestured, making a warp gate. "This will be to the alley behind it," he said. "And I have a suggestion for accommodation," he added. "For when you return."

"Thank you," Izuku said as he walked through the gate.

Mr Compress followed him and the gate closed behind them. Izuku made no move to approach the bar. "Did you want to ask anything?" he asked, looking up at the masked man.

He got the impression that Mr Compress smiled at him. "You are perceptive, but not now. I agreed to stay, and I will, but I wish to see how you handle this," he explained.

Izuku nodded and looked up to the sky. "I think this might be best if I pretend to have a mutant quirk," he indicated, letting scales form over all his exposed skin.

"Yes, it would be best not to have your identity well known, just yet," Mr Compress agreed. "Wait," he said. "Your identity must be known," he corrected. "But your exact person must not," he explained.

"Yeah, I'll have to get a mask," Izuku muttered before he pushed at the back door of the bar. It looked to be a larger bar, so it would be like others he'd lived in. The door opened on to a small kitchen with one person working. Izuku made a gesture to indicate they were just passing through and the cook huffed but then ignored them.

"You know your way!" Mr Compress sounded impressed.

"I grew up in bars," Izuku shrugged as he moved towards the public area. He slipped through the door and quickly moved to the side, letting his eyes adjust to the gloom. The main bar was relatively well lit though the place was small. Two booths were built into the far wall and there was a collection of loose tables with broods of rickety stools around them. Giran was in a booth with a man he didn't recognise. There were a couple of drunks at the tables. With the cook being present, Izuku imagined the place was usually busier than this.

Izuku threaded his way between the tables and slipped into the seat next to Giran. The other man looked slightly taken aback. Giran seemed amused. Mr Compress moved to stand near the table.

"You have information?" Izuku said, letting his aura flare slightly. He hadn't needed to do it for a while but it was satisfying to see the man stiffen.

He recovered quickly. "I want payment," he demanded.

"The bounty is solid," Izuku replied.

"The favour."

Izuku rapped his fingers on the table, letting his claws dig into the wood slightly before he flicked his hand over and held up a single scale. "This was for the entire group. Why should it be given for one?" The link between his scales and the ones Dragon gave out was obvious.

"You're Dragon?" the man gasped.

Izuku grinned, letting his fangs show and then he gave the man a challenging look, intensifying the pressure of his aura. The man gulped and Izuku could hear him breathe harder. "What is it you want? What is it you really want?" he asked.

Beside him, Izuku could feel Giran suppressing a laugh.

"I want that," the man said.

"No, you don't," Izuku countered. "Not really. You want what this represents."

The man's eyes were fixed on the scale.

"But do you really?" He flicked his fingers, making the scale disappear as he pulled his hand back. "The favour was for the entire group, so I'm not giving it to you."

"Then I'm leaving," the guy said and made to get up.

"Sit down!" Izuku growled the order, slamming his presence into the man. It was somewhat satisfying to see him collapse back into the bench seat. For a moment he looked shocked at his own actions. And then he looked scared. "Now, it is true that I want this guy. And it is also true you know where he is, don't you?"

He released his presence just a little bit so that the man could answer. He nodded fervently. "So, why don't you tell me where he is, and I'll forget to tell anyone what you've tried?" Izuku offered an agreement. He wouldn't need to tell anyone. He hadn't missed the fact that at least one of the drunks was not as inebriated as he appeared to be.

The man seemed to deflate and almost collapsed into the table. It was not the reaction Izuku was expecting. He actually sniffed. "I need the favour," he whispered, and Izuku could tell how hard he was labouring to speak under the weight of his presence.

A moment ago, he'd have said the man was just some tough who wanted the prestige of saying Dragon owed him a favour. The guy would no doubt trade upon that to get himself into debt - social probably - and Izuku would be obligated to get him out. Now… he wasn't sure, unless this was an act. He glanced at Giran. The broker was no longer amused and seemed a bit surprised. Izuku mouthed the word 'Real?' at the broker and was shocked at the small nod he got in return.

He knew that Giran's quirk didn't let him tell that but Giran's experience did.

"Why?" Izuku asked, far more gently this time. He could tell Mr Compress was surprised at the turn around.

The guy lifted his head. "Because I could use it to get work. Not with anyone legit, but with one of the gangs or something. They pay but…" He sighed. It sounded defeated. "At my age, I need something to get them to take me."

"Your quirk isn't sui-" Giran began asking.

"What quirk?" the guy sneered.

Izuku flicked his eyes over the man, using Dragon's Hoard. He was quirkless. It was his turn to swallow. Suddenly him wanting the favour made far more sense. He thought quickly. The Doctor always needed assistants but without his Father, he didn't know how to keep them loyal. With his eyes opened, he knew it couldn't simply be the regular pay check, not with what the Doctor was doing. Oh for some that would be enough but once they got comfortable… But he could find something. And he'd probably need more assistance in the coming weeks.

"The bounty is yours," Izuku said. "That will help for a bit, yes?" he asked. It was about 3million yen. For someone quirkless, that would be a fortune.

He nodded.

"And I should have something in the future for you," Izuku made the further offer.

"What?" there was disbelief in the tone. Obviously that was something people had said to get this guy to do something.

"I'm not quirkless," Izuku told him. "But I'm not blind," he added.

"You are lying."

Izuku didn't need help to know that the accusation was only half meant. "Even if I am, you will still have the bounty," he pointed out, rather than denying it. "And isn't that better than my ire?"

He didn't really want to make the threat, but he wanted the information. Izuku withdrew the feel of his presence.

The guy sighed. "And you may not be lying," he muttered, before closing his eyes and thinking.

Izuku was thinking as well. The guy looked to be about mid forties and if he was that old, and quirkless then he'd probably gotten his full education. That was important. He was also old enough… Izuku pushed that thought aside. He didn't want to get ahead of himself with plans when they may not work. But at the very least, this man could act as a focus, and that would potentially get the ball rolling, or would be another action that piled onto others that triggered the avalanche for change.

"He's at a bar named Misuborashi," the guy said. "It's in Kita," he added.

"Misuborashi," Izuku repeated the name, before he turned to Giran. "Pay him the bounty," he instructed as Giran nodded. "And find out his history."

At that the broker looked surprised. "I can't find suitable work if I don't know that," Izuku explained as he rose. "Thank you, Sir," he said as he walked to the door. "Time to go to Kita," he told Mr Compress unnecessarily as the magician followed him.

"Kurogiri?"

Izuku shook his head. "The train," he replied ironically. Kurogiri would be quicker but… Sometimes he was going to have to do things the old fashioned way. "Or I could probably fly us there but-" He didn't need to say that would attract unwanted attention.

"The train," Mr Compress agreed.

-ted-

The thing most people forgot was that those society called villains were just people. When they weren't actively engaged in something people found objectionable, and when they weren't advertising their presence, then they were just people. So sitting on the train, heading towards Kita, Izuku and Mr Compress simply looked like another father and son, or brothers. Izuku had shifted his hair colour to match Atsuhiro's.

"Why?" Atsuhiro asked softly.

"Why what?" Izuku questioned.

"Why did you offer to help him?"

Izuku thought about how best to explain it. "Twenty percent of the population is quirkless," he said, quoting the well known stat. "But where are they?" Izuku challenged.

Atsuhiro blinked at him as he thought. "Aren't they all old?" he asked.

Izuku gave him a look. It was the type of look that said the answer was too easy. "That's what people want to believe, because it's easier than considering anything else. But as to where they are, they are out there, everywhere," Izuku answered, gesturing towards the window to encompass the world. "I'll introduce you guys to the Doctor at some point, but he has research that says those who are called quirkless aren't really," he added.

"Aren't really what?" Atsuhiro asked, confused.

"Aren't really quirkless," Izuku explained with a grin. "They have a measurable quirk factor after all. So if they have a quirk factor, then they have a quirk. The Doctor thinks it's because they have a stablising effect on quirks."

"That's just one man's research," Atsuhiro said carefully.

Izuku nodded. "It's beginning to get picked up by the mainstream," he told Mr Compress. "But that wasn't the real reason I helped him," he said, sighing. "When I was younger, I couldn't really use my quirk," he explained with a wry grin. "So for one year, my dad had me go to school and say I was quirkless. I was registered as quirkless, and to everyone I was quirkless. It's not nice," he summarised the experience.

Atsuhiro was silent for a few moments, obviously thinking about it. He was smart enough to extrapolate what being quirkless was like from what he'd seen. "So it was charity?"

"Partially but I have another plan. I don't know if he's going to be suited for it, but he might. Have you looked into how systems change?"

Mr Compress shook his head. "Not really," he admitted.

"There's a couple of ways," Izuku told him. "Historically you will see military force as the way democracy has fallen. But in those cases, the force had to stay to keep the new system." Izuku chuckled. "That goes both ways. To keep democracy, you needed the force. To keep democracy out, you needed the force. But there's a problem with military force," he said.

"A problem?"

"It's work," Izuku shrugged. "A lot of work. If you take over purely by force, then the opposition has no reason to stick to the rules. I'm not saying it can't be done, but… wouldn't it be easier to change the system, if you have someone in the system?"

It took Atsuhiro a few minutes to work out what he meant. "You want him to be your inside man?"

"Maybe," Izuku said. "Even if he's unsuitable for that, his story will be a point of evidence for destroying today's system." He took a deep breath. "The system won't change easily. We can apply force, and I have no doubt we can eventually get enough force to change the system but it won't want to stay that way. The trick, the real goal, is to change the system in such a way that it stays changed."

Izuku looked out the train window and in the reflection he could see the way Mr Compress was looking at him. He'd given the man a lot of think about.

"There is more to you than meets the eye," the magician said.

"If you pay attention to history, you can learn alot," Izuku said. "We're up," he added, nodding at the text that indicated they were coming into Kita Station. The bar wasn't that far.

Atsuhiro nodded. "We go through the front this time?" he asked.

"We'll see," Izuku said. "I just hope we are here before the heroes," he muttered.

"Yes," the magician agreed.

As they disembarked, Izuku looked around. "Well, if they are here, this will just be one more lesson. And maybe they'll learn."

"But you doubt it?" Mr Compress chuckled.

Izuku gave him a grin. "I'll live in hope," he said.

"Just so long as you don't die in despair," Atsuhiro returned.

"Of course not. That's for those who would stand in my way."

-ted-

At his heart, Izuku is still a compassionate person so he wants to help. Of course, if that help builds him a criminal empire then all the better. It's not the usual way, or at least compassionate favours aren't the usual way but if it works then... Izuku will just have to figure out how to run his empire his own way. And his dad will watch and learn, most likely and then congratulate his son on a job well done. Since, let's face it, Izuku is doing the important things - protecting his friends, bringing vengeance down on those who go against him and eventually, fighting heroes. Izuku is learning so fast.

My discord is on this code: TcBnRN7aDn FFN will remove links but you should be able to figure that out. There's a heap of other authors there, so come along and chat to us all!

-ted-

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