Chapter 24: A history lesson

In the dimly lit warehouse filled with an array of weaponry, Izuku found himself seated across from Gimei. Crates surrounding them contained a myriad of weapons, each holding its own tale of history and conflict.

Gimei began, "So, are you familiar with the NCC?" Izuku shook his head in response. "Expected that. So, for basics. The NCC was an emergency unit in the Japanese government that evolved into a military force of its own. However, after the quirk collapse, the Hero Public Safety Commission was formed. Now, this isn't very special on its own, but in 2154, a member of the NCC found out that the then-president of the HPSC had made a deal with a villain – a very dangerous villain, which is basically treason. However, the HPSC made it look like it was the NCC who had committed these crimes, and so the National Crisis Committee was disbanded. That's where it ends... or where they think it ends."

Gimei reached for a map and unfolded it, revealing a giant representation of a territory labeled NCC. It covered the entirety of Siberia and Korea, parts of China and Mongolia. Russia and China were split into multiple borders, each outlined in grey, while the NCC territory was marked in an ominous ink black.

"Puppet states. Those things are puppet states, balkanized. While the whole of Earth doesn't know it, this place has been in the making for more than 200 years, with yours truly at its head. You see, while I was trapped in that forest for 1500 years, I didn't sit around in silence. I made my soul, which could go through the barrier and take over someone else's body. I met some exiled members of the National Crisis Committee and took them in. They're all dead, of course, having passed away somewhere between 2170 to 2180. But when they died, I took control. I've been holding them there for now." The weight of Gimei's revelation hung in the air, unveiling a history that stretched beyond centuries, with the entity at the center of a clandestine plan that defied time itself.

"But I'm not too sure about my first plan, though," Gimei admitted, prompting Izuku to inquire further, "And that was?"

"To just bomb Japan to rubble and ash. But I don't think I would like that. Hmmm..." Gimei contemplated, pondering alternative courses of action.

"Well, I'll tell you this. I'll hold off on invading Japan for now and will just go deal with Belarus. Having some more puppets never does any harm. But there's been a rise in criminal activity in Japan; someone is preparing something," Gimei divulged, shifting the focus to the growing unrest in Japan.

Meanwhile, a tall man sat in a metallic chair surrounded by a life support system, feeling the urge to sneeze. Back in the warehouse, Gimei continued, "So what I think is that once criminal activity spikes, I'll send in some troops in the confusion. And fight both sides... How about that? And if you still don't like it, do you think the HPSC are a good influence on hero society?"

The proposal hung in the air, leaving Izuku to grapple with the weight of Gimei's intentions and the implications of his own choices. The conversation delved into the complexities of power, morality, and the blurred lines between heroism and villainy, as Izuku found himself navigating a path fraught with uncertainty and moral ambiguity.

"But... what about the casualties?" Izuku questioned, expressing concern for the potential loss of innocent lives.

"In war, there will always be death, people caught in the crossfire," Gimei responded coldly. "I'll tell you this, the HPSC has killed more people than 16 years of civil war in Japan. So seeing that the 'protectors' have killed more than a civil war, I believe they should be gotten rid off... Oh, excuse me, the National Crisis Committee wants them gone. I could care less; it's the chaos I'm after. But that doesn't matter. See them as a helping hand in the future. There is a war coming, maybe it will take a few years, but something is coming. And better to have a fighting force ready in case."

The ominous declaration hung in the air, emphasizing the impending conflict and the ruthlessness of those vying for power. Izuku grappled with the weight of the decision ahead, torn between his desire for a heroically just world and the grim reality of the choices presented to him. The path ahead seemed clouded with uncertainty, and the echoes of war loomed on the horizon.

The black Daimler Regency smoothly pulled up to Izuku's destination, the apartment complex standing tall against the cityscape. The rhythmic hum of the engine ceased as Gimei brought the car to a stop, and silence enveloped them. The radio, playing some random song, provided a distant backdrop to the moment.

Izuku stepped out of the car, the military-like uniform still clinging to him, and closed the door with a solid thud. The night air carried a cool breeze, a stark contrast to the weighty conversation that lingered between them during the drive. As he faced Gimei, uncertainty clouded his expression.

"Welp, here is your destination," Gimei remarked, breaking the silence. "Also, I suggest raising the ranks of your animal army to 900 now. The more, the merrier, they say. Don't worry about food; they don't need it. The only thing the animals we summon with Animal Summoner can do is follow the orders of its master."

Izuku nodded in acknowledgment, his mind processing the new information. "I'll keep that in mind," he replied, a hint of determination in his voice.

As Gimei prepared to leave, the apartment complex's entrance loomed in the background. The cityscape behind Izuku held a mix of artificial and natural lights, creating an atmosphere that mirrored the conflicting emotions within him. The journey home had taken an unexpected turn, unveiling a clandestine world and a role Izuku never envisioned.

The car door closed with a soft thud, and the Daimler Regency gracefully departed into the night, leaving Izuku standing at the threshold of his complex. The weight of responsibility settled on his shoulders, and as he ascended the steps, the path ahead seemed both challenging and uncertain. The echoes of Gimei's plans for chaos and war lingered, and Izuku couldn't escape the realization that he was now entangled in a destiny far more complex than he had ever imagined.