"Otherwise, your subordinates will definitely become disloyal toward you as their boss!"
"They might even betray you on the spot!"
Bakugo Katsuki did not say those final words aloud, but Shigaraki Tomura could already guess what he was implying.
And honestly—
based on Shigaraki's understanding of this batch of cannon fodder, betrayal really was something they were capable of.
After all—
you could not possibly expect a bunch of selfish, cowardly social scum with no principles or loyalty to suddenly develop devotion, right?
Thinking this, Shigaraki let out a long sigh.
Partly because his subordinates were too useless.
And partly because Bakugo was far too naïve.
Using a hostage to threaten him?
Did Bakugo seriously think he cared about that hostage's life?
Or perhaps he believed Shigaraki would actually honor his word?
Don't be ridiculous.
He was a villain.
A villain breaking promises was practically standard procedure.
And besides—
this brat was actually trying to play the hostage game against an actual villain?
Should he call him naïve?
Or just childish?
True, his plan required these grunts to continue acting as laborers and deliver "gifts" to All Might.
But that did not mean they were truly important.
Nor did it mean he would become helpless without them.
After all—
these few people were only a tiny portion of the total manpower he had available.
Even if everyone in this particular space died, his plan would still continue operating perfectly fine.
Because the other dimensions were still functioning normally.
As long as the other spaces remained intact, sacrificing the people here meant nothing to him.
There were always replacements.
"So."
"Choose."
"Accept my condition…"
"Or let him die."
While Shigaraki was thinking this, Bakugo suddenly spoke again.
At the same time, he tightened his grip around the hostage's neck.
Meanwhile, flames and sparks began erupting from his free hand, the blazing palm aimed directly at the hostage's head.
His intentions were obvious.
The moment Shigaraki refused his demand—
Bakugo intended to execute the hostage.
Seeing this, Shigaraki sighed helplessly.
Then he said with an exasperated expression,
"Seriously, are you stupid?"
"I'm a villain."
"And yet you're trying to use the methods people use against Pro Heroes on me?"
"Are you joking?"
Unfortunately for him, Bakugo clearly did not believe a single word.
In fact, after hearing Shigaraki say that, Bakugo deliberately tightened his grip even further.
"Like hell I'm joking!"
"And I don't believe you'd just stand there and watch me kill him!"
"He's your subordinate!"
"If you let your own subordinate die without helping him, nobody's going to keep following you after that!"
Before Shigaraki could respond, the remaining grunts hurriedly declared their loyalty.
"Brat, stop trying to sow discord!"
"Yeah! Boss, trust us! We'd never betray you!"
Unfortunately—
Shigaraki did not believe even a single punctuation mark of what they said.
Because he knew exactly what kind of people they were.
If he truly abandoned that hostage now, these idiots would absolutely become resentful toward him.
Some might even directly betray him.
After all—
who would willingly follow a leader who abandoned his own subordinates?
Especially when these people already possessed almost zero loyalty to begin with.
But if he chose to save the hostage…
then Bakugo would definitely make even more troublesome demands afterward.
Like demanding freedom.
Or demanding All Might's release.
Thinking this, Shigaraki rubbed his chin thoughtfully.
This situation really was interesting.
Originally, he had held the absolute advantage.
But because of a momentary lapse in attention—
the offensive and defensive positions had completely reversed.
Bakugo had become the one in control.
And he himself had become the one being threatened.
How amusing.
The more Shigaraki looked at Bakugo—holding a hostage with a vicious expression like a genuine criminal—the more satisfied he became.
Hot-tempered, yet unexpectedly careful.
Admired heroes, yet was not constrained by traditional heroic ideals.
As long as he could achieve victory, even dirty methods were acceptable.
This kid…
really was born to become a villain.
Thinking this, Shigaraki's lips slowly curled upward.
"Oh?"
"Then what's your condition?"
"Let me go."
Hearing that, Shigaraki instantly rolled his eyes.
As if that was possible.
He had personally come to this dimension specifically for Bakugo.
If he let the brat go now, wouldn't this entire trip have been pointless?
"No."
Bakugo was not surprised by the refusal at all.
After all, he already knew Shigaraki was unusually interested in him.
The guy had repeatedly lowered himself to recruit him.
There was no way Shigaraki would release him before achieving his goal.
Which was precisely why Bakugo had never expected that demand to work in the first place.
His real purpose was negotiation.
First, propose an outrageous demand.
Then follow up with a more reasonable one.
That way, the second request became easier to accept.
So immediately after being rejected, Bakugo decisively proposed his true condition.
"Then fight me again."
"And no weapons."
A classic negotiation tactic.
After thinking things through for so long, Bakugo had finally realized where he had lost earlier.
And more importantly—
he had already figured out how to deal with Shigaraki Tomura.
That was the reason he demanded a rematch.
Because he believed—
this time, he would definitely defeat Shigaraki and save everyone.
"Oh…?"
"You want another round?"
Hearing that, Shigaraki suddenly became interested.
Not that he was addicted to bullying weaklings or anything.
"Sure."
"If you're volunteering to get beaten up again…"
"Then I'll gladly satisfy you."
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