Last 10 days for the 50% Discount, offering up to 60 chapters in advance
****************
One hour before the start of the UA's well-planned Press Conference, Detective Tsukauchi gathered the top Heroes of the country at a secret location.
All Might, Endeavor, Hawks, Best Jeanist, Edgeshot, Tiger, Gran Torino, Mt. Lady, and Kamui Woods were the spearheads, with a massive presence of high-level police officials and agents of the Hero Public Safety Commission at their disposal.
As if that wasn't enough, Christopher Skyline had agreed to be a part of this mission, along with Koichi, as it involved Shigaraki, the Villain who had managed to slip out of their hands after killing a U.S. citizen.
"An anonymous call?!" Captain Celebrity asked.
The Detective nodded. "It happened last night," he informed the Pros. "After the Villain incident during the Training Camp, one of the police officials who works with me reported that, during a routine checkup a few days ago, a Kamino citizen mentioned seeing a burned and patched-faced individual disappearing into an alley toward a bar. That citizen also mentioned seeing many odd people going in and out of that place, despite it remaining closed most of the time."
All Might's eyes narrowed.
The Detective nodded. "I think this individual is none but Dabi," he said, bringing the image of the Villain to the screen. "The same Villain who was at the I-Island. It seems he was also the leader of this Vanguard Action Squad."
All the Heroes stared at the individual.
Endeavor stepped forward, narrowing his eyes.
"… What?" All Might asked. "Have you also seen him before?"
Endeavor kept squinting his eyes. Then, shaking his head, he backed up. "No."
"We believe this is the place from which the Vanguard Action Squad operated," Detective Tsukauchi said. "We also believe that this bar is the Headquarters of the Claws of Conformity, formerly the League of Villains. If Shigaraki has truly become one of the Claws, then he will also be there, along with Kurogiri."
"And what about this anonymous call?" Hawks asked.
"Hear for yourself…" the Detective said, nodding toward another official.
The large monitor blanked out, and a recording of the call that Tsukauchi seemed to have received began playing.
"Hello?"
"Are you interested in test tube babies?"
Just one sentence from the anonymous caller, and Endeavor, Gran Torino, and All Might's eyebrows instantly shot up, other Heroes picking up on the oddity as well.
"… What?!" Tsukauchi's voice echoed, as if he hadn't believed what he had just heard. "Did you say test tube babies? Who is it that you want to talk to?"
It was obvious that the Detective had already taken the anonymous caller as a case of a wrong number.
"It's not a wrong number, Detective," the caller's thick, scratchy voice rang. "So, are you?"
"If this is a prank, then…"
"Sigh… and here I thought that you wanted to find the Nomus…"
"…" Tsukauchi's breathing quickened, enough to be heard even in the recording. The next time he spoke, his voice not only held a chill but also a threat of repercussions. "What do you know? Tell me all of it."
"Haha!" the caller laughed, as if finding Detective's seriousness amusing. "Okay-Okay… Listen. Through some trickery, I have located the Nomus' nursery in Kamino Ward. If you want, I can send the location."
"What do you want?" Tsukauchi asked, his voice lowering as if he had realized who he was talking to.
It wasn't just him, but the Heroes listening to the recording, other than Christopher Skyline, had also all but confirmed who it was on the other side.
"Fifty percent of the Nomus you find at this location…"
"That's absurd!" Tsukauchi scoffed. "We haven't even confirmed if…"
"Confirm all you want, Detective," the caller said, chuckling. "My demand will remain the same. Give me your words, and I will send you the location."
Tsukauchi seemed to contemplate in the recording.
"… Twenty percent," the Detective made a counteroffer. "I cannot guarantee…"
"Deal!" the caller screamed enthusiastically. "I would have accepted even one Nomu, but thanks for the generosity. Haha!"
Hawks' and All Might's lips twitched, Endeavor grinding his teeth next to them.
And if even now there remained a doubt about the caller's identity, then his next words left no doubt.
"Good luck, guys," the caller said. "And All Might. Remember… Fate — is NOT eternal. Praise be to Mr. Fool."
A CLICK resounded as the Monitor shut off, bringing a silence to the room.
All the Heroes' heads turned toward All Might, but the latter kept a stoic expression, not revealing a word on the matter.
He did remember his little talk with Dr. Blessed on the roof of the I-Island's tower.
Fate is not eternal… The words repeated in All Might's mind. What are you hinting at… friend…
Detective Tsukauchi looked away from the No. 1 Hero, taking a deep breath. "We have already confirmed the location," he said. "It's an abandoned factory, and there's indeed something sketchy about this place. Because of the threat involved, we didn't send anyone inside to confirm."
"It can also be nothing but a great prank," Hawks said. "That guy is funky. You cannot trust any of his words."
"No." All Might's voice rang across the room. "It isn't a prank."
"Oi!" Endeavor hissed in anger, the tongues of flames intensifying on his face. "What is going on between you two?!"
All Might lifted his hands. "Calm down, Endeavor," he said. "I just have a feeling…"
"Regardless of whether it is a prank or not," Tsukauchi said, intervening, "we cannot afford to let go of this lead. This is the closest we have come to finding out the true mystery behind these Nomus. As such, we will raid both sites in two teams."
"… I don't know what's going on anymore," Christopher said humorously, "but… in my experience, the Villains will see us coming…"
Tsukauchi grinned.
"There's a reason we aren't involving UA's teachers," he said. "In half an hour, UA will hold a press conference. We are working closely with Principal Nezu on this. The faculty members will stretch the Press Conference and will act as a distraction to the Villains."
"That's a solid plan, Tsukauchi…" All Might began.
However, before he could finish his sentence, one of the agents shot to his feet, creating a ruckus.
"What?" Hawks asked, narrowing his eyes.
"Sir…" the agent gulped. "Mr. Alexander Becking has gone missing…"
********************
Note: Up to 60 more chapters are available in advance across three Tiers. [Use the link in my webnovel profile to access all options]
You can even subscribe Trial Tier for just 1 dollar to have an experience of exclusive chapters for an entire month. I hope a few of you will consider supporting the work.
100 Power Stones/day: +1 Bonus Chapter next day