Chapter 13

POV Ace

Talks are always boring, especially when the opposing party are a group of rather greedy politicians. Their intelligence, sneakiness, and misuse of the wisdom they’ve acquired make them very annoying if one chooses to abide by their rules.

Obviously, we don’t.

We chose exactly who our negotiators will be before arriving in Japan. We had taken the necessary time and effort to make sure that the one sitting on the opposite end of the table would be someone who is unfit, unintelligent, emotional, and rather a bad example of a crude politician.

To make things even simpler, the Stick & Carrot method was employed. Namely, blackmail and bribery…of course, leaving no trace of any.

As expected, the fat fucks rolled right into our hands and as expected, the number of votes were enough to push our agenda forward.

I watched from the back as our company’s head lawyer (Rohan) climbed his way up the stairs and took his place behind the podium to the side of uproaring applause. The sound of confirmation as the Parliament of Japan just passed many of its major and crucial rights to the GrandLine…like so many others.

This wasn’t his first time to win over a nation with his slightly brain-washing quirk, he would do fine. I left him there as I made my way out of the stuffy and boring room. It looked like my little kitten got to have all the fun this time. Obviously it would be a lot more risky for me to fight All For One was through all of the ‘upgrades’ and my recent awakening, I was quite confident that I would come out victorious. Besides, I wouldn’t be looking down on him like I did with Teach, my biggest mistake.

As I sat outside sipping a soda from a vending machine (Japan had lots of those), I let my mind wonder around. What would it be like to fight Endeavor? Somehow it seemed like this world had a Sakazuki of its own. A true hypocritical ally of Justice.

Shame. I wouldn’t mind beating up a couple of Heroes to knock some sense into them…as well as relieving some stress. The only fighting I’ve done was through training and it just isn’t the same; though I do doubt that anyone here in this world could give me any sort of life threatening adrenaline.

Perhaps some Heroes in the United States? I heard Captain Celebrity was pretty powerful.

*ding*

Looking at my phone (really convenient device by the way. So much easier to handle than transponder snail…though I do miss them sometimes) I saw it was a message from Syrup

Syrup: Killed the greedy king. Interrupted by Garp’s equivalent. Doing Fine. Met Mirko in Ramen shop and got my hoodie signed.

Love you~

Seeing her remain this childish and joyful ever since that fateful meeting on the Moby Dick (well…she was twelve but somehow more serious and scarier back then) made me smile a little in memory.

Good times really.

I miss Pops, Pineapple, and so many others on the crew. I miss the wide open world with mysterious to explore and the dangers hidden underneath the depths. But on the other hand, I truly enjoy Syrup and my world here. A world that’s so developed and connected that the level of peace they enjoy is something that could never even be hoped for back in ‘Our’ world.

It’s absurd how the media cries over every lost life and the Heroes paying their tribute for every life lost. I had to hold myself from laughing at the image of Sakazuki in a black suit apologizing to some civilians for not saving their children’s lives. Most likely he would have burned them all up himself if there were any pirates in the midst.

Me: Oh well. Can’t have everything

3 Weeks Later

POV Syrup

News of All For One’s death spread fast throughout the underworld as the peace that was once maintained broke down and factions began warring once again. The numerous villain organizations trying to take a bite out of the cake that All For One had created before others rushed in.

All For One had ruled the dark as an unchallenged Emperor. The One true King who was treated like a god by his followers and a myth for those who had heard of him. But him and his followers weren’t the only players in the dark. Like all Kingdoms, there was always a ‘noble faction’. A group who was subservient to the show of power by All For One…but never a follower. Always waiting even deeper, even darker waiting for the right moment to strike.

High on the news of All For One’s passing, these players rushed to take the cake as all form of honor was lost.

The Professional Heroes of Japan as well as the Public Safety commission quickly caught onto what was happening as they began deploring Heroes in groups to clean out small groups while pushing the lions back into their cages. While the small cleanups were a success, the hungry Lions aren’t easy to subdue. Only the top 50 Heroes may have the necessary strength to put their words into results.

So where did I come in this? Well…GrandLine business. There was so much to earn from this power vacuum. The first reason would be that with the entrance of GrandLine, we didn’t want our new market to be infested with fleas. As was tradition (especially when entering unstable nations, Japan is an exception to this), GrandLine mobilized a couple of squadrons’ worth of men before cleaning out the area.

Getting them to Japan wasn’t easy considering their Public Safety and image to consider…if this was a month ago. Despite All Might hiding his injury and continuously showing up on the scene and public, the higher ups knew exactly what was going on. This was made worse when All Might accepted Principal Nezu’s proposal to teach Full Time at U.A.

“TO BRING UP THE NEXT GENERATION OF TOP HEROES” he said, but in reality it was to reduce the time he spent moving around and further injuring himself; especially true since somehow (I think) he realized my connection with GrandLine and hasn’t been seen using any GrandLine facilities despite his injuries. I guess his only real ally now is U.A.

49 men were brought into Japan. 49 of our top agents each with specialized quirks split into 5 groups. Each group had a former high-ranked Pro Hero with them to lead the charge all across nation. The last group? With me.

Another benefit of doing this? More bodies, more fruit, more business. A roundup of the ‘unwanted’ and processing them at low prices and in mass bulk would give us the majestic entrance we need whenever we enter a fresh market (Quirk related markets).

Me: I’ll lead the bust…like always

Standing in front of a rather shady looking grey building disguised as a run-down sake-bar, my subordinates prepared themselves for the charge.

Each of them wore full combat gear and were armed to the teeth. Full length temperature-resisting tights underneath to the bullet-proof vests. Black cargo pants with metal pads for protection and (dull) spikes on the knees. Their combat boots stomped hard but quiet, absorbing all the sound. Their head was covered with a rather silky ski masks and their eyes were covered with a high-tech ski goggles before covering the head with a fitting helmet. A helmet that had a breather attached in case of any gas or poison based quirk users.

Their jackets, combat belt, and pockets held all sorts of devices, tools, and explosives for all types of situations.

Soldier: Yes Commander

I was dressed completely different from them. These guys didn’t know my persona of Snowfallen so wearing that outfit was a big no-no. Instead, I opted for a more professional look. Normally I would be too lazy and annoyed by the restrictive clothing but with the introduction of quirks, some cloth makers could do wonders.

Like the rest of the team, I was dressed head to toe in black but in professional attire. Black dress pants, work shoes, button down shirt, blazer and even a silky scarf. To add the cream on top, I had a proper gas mask on my face, covering everything. Not the one I usually wear (the signature of Snowfallen) but rather the actual gas mask.

Since I would be going in as ‘Commander’ and not ‘Snowfallen’, using any of Snowfallen’s listed quirks was going to propose some risk. Not that I expect any of them to betray me should they find out but still.

Hmmm…lately I’ve been too focused on using flashy attacks and training my quirks. It’s been some time since I’ve practiced my basics. The foundations which made me strong. Perhaps I should just stick to those.

Signaling to them that we’re starting, I kicked open the metal door right off of its hinges. A yelp and a crash told me that an unfortunate victim was behind the door.

Thug 1: hey! Who ar—

Me: Shigan

A distant shigan directly through his head silenced him as he began to fall to the ground lifeless. Before his blood even spilled out, my observation flared as I read everyone in the room.

5 people in the entrance and a total of around two hundred more upstairs. 15 are mediocre, 1 is okay (probably the boss), and the rest are fodder.

My senses sped up as I used a soru to the next thug who didn’t even raise his head in time to notice that his head was no longer attached his shoulders. As the three guys on the other side of the entrance was beginning to reach for their guns, I felt a force blade (rankyaku, but with hands) at them with a wave of my hand. The blade reached them before their hands even drew their weapons as they fell dissected.

At the end of this, the first guy finally hit the floor.

I could feel the various emotions behind me from my team. Fear, admiration, shock…but thankfully they proved themselves to be the best of the best as they kept their discipline and order. Without a single word, the second-in-command (code name Tranquil Archer) signaled his team to move.

They cleared the room (although I could sense there was nobody) before searching for any hidden traps and signaling the okay for the next floor. I positioned three men in front of the elevator, 2 outside, while the rest of us took the stairs. As I lead the team up I was met with a couple of charging, screaming, half-naked asian men.

Intimidation factor? Possibly…if their opponents were amateurs or strong.

Disgust? Absolutely. A couple of them were actually fully naked. Was it the other way around in that I should be thanking the half that had the decency to wear something to cover their (pitiful) lower halves?

Thugs: DIEE!!

Me: Fire

A series of rapid fire and light lit up the narrow stairway as bodies fell by the dozen pierced by automatic machine guns. Praise the gun restrictions in Japan. Makes the job so much easier! Oh, it looks like two of them are alive somehow?

Not-dead-yet Thug: How…how dare you! I’ll avenge them!

Me: Archer

He nodded once before an arrow was suddenly sticking out of the thug’s right eye. He screamed as silver liquid came flowing out followed by blood. Still..somehow not dead.

Oh, I see. He had a minor hardening quirk that could resist bullets from piercing…but from the looks of pain and his movements, I looks like he was going to bruise all over.

As I kicked away the other charging fool into a splatter, I lead the team up as we stepped on the kneeling thug’s neck. A solid crack told me someone behind me had made sure the job was complete as I stood in front of another door. What was it with Japan and these doors in front of stairs? So 80s like!

Archer: ?

Me: Three dozen men inside. They’re prepared to ambush us the moment we walk in through the door. Hmmm…I sense guns.

He nodded behind pointing at me. I got the message as I told them to stand back a bit.

Me: rankyaku (light)

A horizontal sickle kick sliced apart the entire floor in two as the wall, door, and anything above the height was bisected instantly.

So weak, the people here.

I remember how Rob Lucci had cut down an entire tower pre-haki period against Luffy. Even then, the normal Marines had somehow managed to survive the CP agents from team-killing while the Straw Hats got away safely. But here? A single poke of a finger (shigan) and they were dead instantly. A light kick in their direction and the team would have to scrape their remains off the floor.

As I was lost in thought about my exciting fight with Fujitora (which I lost…still sour about that), Archer calmly led his team over the remains of the door and into the room. Sounds of individual bullets sounded every few seconds signaling they were putting them out of their misery.

As I followed in after the last guy, Archer pointed upwards.

Me: No one on the third or fourth floor. Everyone, around 50, have gathered on the 5th floor.

He nodded as he began signing rapidly to his team. As I didn’t bother to read or study what they meant, I just waited for him to finish before he gave me the nod that they were ready.

Stopping on the forth floor, we called the elevator before putting in a couple of C4s and sending them up. Moments later, explosions and screams sounded telling us all we needed to know.

I charged upwards directly through the floor, too lazy to go for the stairs, as I shot upwards and landed directly in front of a guy. He didn’t fully recognize what was happening as I head-butted him directly in the nose as he was sent crashing into the floor and down below (3rd floor maybe?).

The others began draining their bullets towards me. As a Logia, I didn’t really need to do anything but I reminded myself that it was important to always keep my foundations secure.

Me: Tekkai

The bullets bounced off of me harmlessly (and by anime logic my clothes as well) as I slowly made my way over to the best dressed guy (and the strongest). Being in the middle of Tekkai would normally mean being unable to move but modifying the technique a little as well as my rather fluid nature of snow allowed me to do whatever I wish.

On my way, a couple of the thugs charged towards me with a knife in which I dodged smoothly with a kami-e before continuing on. As they came back, I simply gave them a shigan right through their throats which left them drowning on their own blood.

After a couple more of these, the thugs paled before backing off, leaving me a clear path to the boss.

Boss: No…no! Why is GrandLine here!

As the rather fancily dressed guy tried to jump out the window, I soru-ed right in front of him before pushing him back into the the building just as the door was burst open with Archer in the lead.

Archer: Orders?

Me: Clean them up. We only need him anyway.

I grabbed the boss by the hair before forcing him onto his knees. Not really satisfied nor able to guarantee his safety this way, I pressed him down with my foot until he was in a dogeza position.

While the boss was literally down, bullets pelted and shot every corner of the room as the walls began to resemble Swiss cheese. As the last one fell to the ground, Archer talked into his talkie as a container truck arrived outside the building. The men from the truck rushed in with body bags as they began cleaning up the place. Leaving no body or evidence of our involvement. Sure, the government already knew but it would do no good for the public to see us in the dark as well.

I threw the sniveling and pitiful man to archer who clasped some cuffs on the man before dragging him out by the ankle without giving a damn. The sound of painful thumps down the stairs made me smirk a little bit. Man, I’m really turning more and more sadistic aren’t I? And here I thought it was just when genocide took over.

Me: Come on, our job here is done.

We had more little bases to destroy. What was the next one again? Shie Hassaikai?