Kurogiri looked around the bar. He kept it for old times sake. And for the times when the League managed to get together like tonight. It was closed to the public. The door was locked and there was a sign on it indicating that the facility had been hired for a private function so they wouldn't have any morons attempting to come in.

Their underlings knew better than to bother them today, and with Imoku here, that was for the best. He was the boss, but he was the hidden boss. People knew he existed. Dabi admitted he reported to someone, but no one knew who he was. With the information Imoku provided them with, it lent the League an air of mystique and power.

So much had changed, yet so much remained the same.

The jokes about his beer for example hadn't changed but the League had. In the wake of the historic vote on Heroes, Tomura had wanted the League to run wild. Imoku had wanted the League to lay low so that the vote wasn't overturned. In that, Imoku had the better view of reality.

They fought. Imoku won. Kurogiri looked to the spot in the bar where Tomura had died. The wood boards were spotless. His bar was always clean but he could see where Shigaraki's blood had been spilt.

As far as he was aware it was the first, and only fight the two of them had. And Imoku was the one who was prepared. Not surprising given Sensei's training. Though, the interesting thing to note, was that while the League had followed Imoku in the heat of the moment, they had actually been on Tomura's side. They did want to run wild, to prove to the world that villains had won.

Imoku had kept them under control and he'd done it in a way that Kurogiri never expected.

He gave them jobs.

Not meaningless make work either. They were actual jobs and Imoku let them keep the profits. Given that all the jobs had an aspect of villainy to them, the profits were large. It had kept them all docile for the last few years.

He, along with Ujiko was running a delivery service. A very discreet, every efficient one that transported all sorts of goods around the country, through customs or whatever else he was paid for. Drugs arrived in a container. They were never even unpacked and there was nothing but residue for Customs to find and in shipping containers, there was always residue. High end clients, those who couldn't be seen going to a dealer, provided coordinates and their poison, whatever it was, was delivered exactly there. He didn't even have to leave the bar. Spinner was his contact, and made sure that he got paid, and that he got a cut.

Spinner was working as an agent for a lot of them helping them out with contacts. Giran was still doing that as well but the man had distanced himself from them slightly. The new environment meant he could now openly sell support items. Giran might be close to being legitimate these days. Kurogiri wasn't sure.

Twice was actually working two jobs, one for himself, in stuff porn, and one for Dabi. He had the advantage over other producers, and Kurogiri knew there were others but no one could output the volume Twice was. They didn't have his advantages. He simply got someone, women usually, but sometimes men, trans, bi, it didn't matter. They all wanted out of the industry. Twice was prepared to arrange that. They paid him to die. Of course they didn't really die. Getting rid of the bodies was such a pain. Twice duplicated them, and they were killed on screen. It meant he could put out a lot of films, while his victims moved on to something new. That was the deal. But the death, the bit those who watched that sort of stuff really wanted, that was real, even if it was just a clone.

Mustard was working with a company Kurogiri suspected Imoku had purchased specifically for the League member. They were making sleeping pills, using the gas he created. It was condensed and solidified and apparently it worked on almost anyone. Being the source of the drug, Mustard got a significant cut of the profits. The boy was happy and sent in sealed bottles every week as his 'work' but did what he wanted in the meantime. Kurogiri suspected that Imoku's company had figured out how to synthesise Mustard's gas since the volume they produced was far more than he did, but Imoku was happy to pay him to keep him quiet.

Dabi and Toga worked together, though Kurogiri wasn't quite sure what Toga did. Dabi was the main contact for the League and he ran an underground fighting ring. All were welcome, and High End, was his ultimate undefeated champion. Twice was called in sometimes, if the combatant was feeling wussy! He cloned them and generally they died. The underground didn't like that, but a new fighter could sometimes get away with using Twice to build confidence. It was actually Dabi who had to deal with the most bodies. He carbonised most of them.

Everyone was kept active. Those who joined the League later, reported to them, and they all got paid. And they had all been quiet. Kurogiri admired the way Izuku had handled that. It made the reason for Tomura's death all the more clear.

Though Izuku was still involved.

The bartender looked over at the corner. The Representative had gotten away for tonight and was sitting in the corner Tomura had favoured. He was nursing a beer but Kurogiri could tell from the way his green eyes were moving, he wasn't missing a thing. Being here, casually, allowed the League to bring their complaints and concerns to him directly. It helped him maintain control.

Though... The Noumu's did that as well. Kurogiri had thought that High End was only loyal to Sensei and Tomura. Izuku had spent a few minutes with the Noumu and High End would have then followed the politician around like a puppy. What Imoku wanted, High End was more than happy to provide. Like a toddler following after a parent, looking for approval. That's why High End was working with Dabi. The Noumu wanted to fight. Imoku had arranged the initial battles and it satisfied High End that no one was allowed to challenge him unless they had proven to be the strongest. It made Dabi's fighting ring one of the most prized in the country.

Underground, of course.

Kurogiri nodded when Imoku raised his chin. He poured a new beer, and went over to Imoku. Dabi was sitting with him. The fire villain grinned at him. "It's time to run wild!" Dabi announced.

Just a tad too loudly.

The bar turned to them.

Imoku gave Dabi a disparaging look. The villain didn't even look contrite. "Soon," Imoku told the League, as Toga bounced up and down happily. "There's just one vigilante I want taken care of first."

"Boss! If that's all you want, why didn't you say so earlier? We'll take out a vigilante!" Spinner said, almost laughing.

Imoku smiled at him. Kurogiri knew that smile. He braced. "ExplodoKill," the Representative said.

"Fuck!"

The expletive was somewhat universal around the bar. ExplodoKill was one of the most problematic vigilantes. He had a very strong quirk, and was quick witted. Not only that, he was tough. He could take a hit unlike others and he absolutely did not play by the rules, or give a fuck about public opinion. Tomura hadn't been completely delusional when he decided to ask the brat to be a villain. Except ExplodoKill was still trying to be a hero, in a society that didn't want them.

"I'm sure you all want to avenge Compress," Imoku pressed, mercilessly.

Dabi held up two fingers. The tip of each was decorated with a blue flame. Imoku smiled at it. Oh, he wanted to avenge Compress. Bakugou had done himself no favours there.

"On this," Izuku told the League, "you can go wild, but I want you to make it very clear to bystanders that you are only targeting ExplodoKill."

"I'll do that!" Toga yelled happily. She had done it in the past. She took on the appearance of a civilian and mingled with those watching any fight. Her comments made sure that those watching knew what the League was trying to do. There was something about hearing things in the heat of the moment that made it all the more believable, and it stuck in the memory.

"You aren't going to give us a plan?" Spinner asked.

"It's one vigilante," Imoku replied. "I think you can handle that."

The green villain managed to look slightly contrite. "Your plans are the best boss," he said.

That got a chuckle. "Then I'll score yours," Imoku countered.

Spinner flushed. It looked odd against his skin but the League understood the message. While Imoku would do his best for them, and was the boss, what good were they if they could not operate independently?

Imoku looked around the bar. "I know, in the wake of the vote, some of you wanted to follow Tomura, wanted to run wild then, to prove to the world our victory! I do thank you for sticking with me, because I know the path hasn't been easy. After ExplodoKill is taken out, you may run wild as you like. Or you can continue in the jobs you've been doing for the last few years." He gave them all a grin, gesturing to himself. "I won't judge."

That brought a laugh. Imoku was dressed in what had to be an expensive suit but his jacket was over the back of the seat, and his tie was stuffed into the front pocket. There were several buttons undone on his shirt. Anyone looking into the bar would know he was the boss from the casual way he wore his suit. Also through elimination. Everyone else was relatively well known. He was the only unknown face... at least in their circles.

"It's going to be your choice, and I'll met with you all when the time comes. In the meantime, taking out ExplodoKill will remove the last risk to returning to a life of traditional villainy!"

Kurogiri didn't comment on the fact that Imoku's smile was a tad mocking at that. The League was now engaged in traditional villainy, if you went to a time before quirks.

"What about Lemillion?" Twice asked. "No, don't worry."

Over the years, while Imoku had not always been present, he was sufficiently versed in each of the League's idiosyncrasies.

Lemillion had been a hero, but in the aftermath of a mission lead by Tomura, one where a quirk destroying bullet aimed for him had been intercepted by Sir Nighteye, he had failed the newly mandated psychological assessment. Counselling had only gone so far and with the vote that lead to the reintegration of heroes into society, he had joined the Police in a desk position, though he was occasionally called upon in odd cases where his phasing ability was an advantage. Obviously being able to phase through a wall, or into a safe was a good way of seeing what was there without actually going through the lock.

However, rumours had it that Lemillion was leading a faction advocating for the return of Heroes. He was running on that Platform, hoping to be elected to the House of Representatives. Much like Izuku had.

"I'll deal with him," Imoku said. There were dark inflections there.

The League heard them. Most grinned. Imoku had been around often enough for them to learn a few things about their boss, and when he spoke like that, the problem was as good as gone. "Now, drink up, while I have a chat with Dabi," Imoku said, sitting back down.

The League toasted him but there was a noticeable gap now between them and the table.

Toga bounced over and sat down, her back to the rest of the League, blocked their view and that completed their illusion of privacy.

"I never thought you'd mention Tomura," Kurogiri murmured.

Izuku gave him a half smile. "I never hated him," he said.

That got him some odd looks. Toga giggled. "You did, Izu!"

"No, I didn't," Imoku objected mildly with a smile. "I understood Tomura," he continued. "I know exactly why Sensei chose him to lead the League."

"You did?" Dabi asked, glancing towards the place Tomura had died.

Toga just giggled.

Kurogiri would admit to being curious as well. In the beginning it had seemed as if Tomura would never mature but over time he had become better, more skilled at leadership. But he had never truly worked out what Sensei had seen in the petulant, selfish, spoiled boy.

"I did. Tomura was gifted," Imoku explained, before finishing off his beer. He took the new beer Kurogiri had brought over and took a long pull.

"Is that what you want to call it?" Dabi snorted.

"Oh, he was," Imoku defended the dead former leader. "We all lash out when we are angry but there is a limit. We will all fight, and we will destroy things, but again, there is a limit. A point at which we stop. You see it every day, Dabi. The fighters you take. Not the newbies and not High End. The seasoned fighters. Even when angry, they know when to stop so that they don't kill someone, don't they?"

The fire villain nodded, his scarred face thoughtful. "I guess, though it's also because they know it's a pain to get rid of the bodies, and I'll dock their pay."

Imoku chuckled. "There's that," he allowed. "All right, let's take a domestic dispute or something like that. There's a lot of hitting involved, even in passion, but there isn't a lot of death. That's what I mean. People hold back. Sometimes they make mistakes and someone dies, but it's not normal, it's not what they wanted."

"How does that connect to Handsy?" Toga asked.

"He didn't have those limits, or any sense of restraint. He went for the kill, every time. And he didn't regret it."

Kurogiri nodded. He'd lived the most through Izuku's words. It was a petty thing but not once did Tomura apologise for anything. Not the disintegrated controllers, or the piles of dust left over when he disintegrated some random customer who looked at him wrong.

"We do go for the kill," Dabi objected. He was obviously remembering when they had trapped Kamui Woods. The plant based hero had burned.

"When it's planned," Izuku told him. "But it was more than that. Tomura would tear down society, bring anarchy to the world and never worry about where his next meal was coming from. The rest of us will be a bit concerned. And that single minded drive is actually harder to find than you'd believe."

Again Kurogiri nodded. Sensei had searched for quite some time before finding Tomura. Not that he had been obvious about it but there had been an air about the man that was satisfied when he found Tomura. Part of it was the corruption of the grandchild of his former nemesis, but a part of it was that Tomura was suited. But if that was the case, and Imoku understood what Sensei wanted then why had he killed Tomura? He hadn't raised the knife himself, but he had created the circumstances and given the order.

"So why..?" The mist villain realised the question had slipped out before he could stop himself.

Imoku looked at him, green eyes weighing him, just for a moment. His expression changed, becoming amusedly resigned. "I guess I never explained, did I?"

"You haven't," Dabi answered for the bartender.

Imoku nodded. "Tomura was what was needed to tear down society. In that, every time he failed, he would simply try again, until he succeeded. Me being there, helped on the timeline but that was Tomura's job. He just never thought of what would happen next. And since he refused to listen-"

"He died!" Toga trilled happily.

"He did," Izuku agreed.

"That is true," Kurogiri said, referring to Imoku's earlier explanation. "I do sometimes remember him as the one Sensei chose," he added. Izuku was mature enough to know he meant nothing from it. He'd made his choice on that fateful day because he wasn't stupid. He knew that Izuku would have had plans on how to take any of them League out, if they objected to the change in leadership.

"You forget then Kurogiri, Sensei chose me as well." Izuku's eyes were hard. His voice was chilly.

"He did," the mist villain agreed amicably. Izuku was mature enough to know he wouldn't challenge but there were things best left to when they were truly private. "He did."

They sat in silence for a few moments. Toga figited, while Imoku took another drink of beer.

"You wanted to talk to me?" Dabi said finally breaking the slight tension. It was best to move on to a new topic.

"I did," Izuku said, his voice back to being completely pleasant. He leaned forward, resting his elbows on the table and resting his head on his clasped hands. "Has anyone heard anything about QERI?" he asked.

The three League members shared a glance with each other. Toga was easy to read. She had no idea what was going on. Dabi looked at Kurogiri, one burned eyebrow rising slightly. Kurogiri heard the most of them. The mist villain shook his head slightly to indicate he didn't know.

Dabi nodded shallowly. "I've only ever heard of it in relation to Yatsu's case," he said finally.

"Who's Yatsu?" Toga chimed in.

"One of my ex-underlings," Dabi explained. "He was killed in remand."

"And you did nothing about it?" Kurogiri asked. Killing a member of the League got retribution, especially if they were in remand, where they should have been safe.

Izuku snorted.

"What he said," Dabi told the mist villain.

The laugh meant there was a story and that Imoku had decided retribution wasn't necessary. "He had a minor restraint quirk," Dabi explained. "It was sometimes useful, but he just couldn't stay clean," the fire villain added.

Himiko laughed. It wasn't like they were clean.

"He kept assaulting women and expecting the League to bail him out," Imoku explained.

"And being in prison interferes with my work," Dabi added. "I heard about QERI in relation to his case, but I never looked into it," he explained further.

"So what is QUERI, Izu?" Toga asked.

"QERI," Izuku corrected. "When it was used on Warui, it was Quirk Experimental Remov-"

Kurogiri didn't hear any more. He knew what Izuku was going to say. Maybe not the exact words but he knew the meaning. "You copied it?" he whispered.

Izuku waved his free hand. "Overhaul was not discreet," he sounded disgusted. "QERI is the first working version."

"You copied it?" Kurogiri repeated his question.

Dabi was tapping at his phone. "It says BioSimip Industries developed it for the Department of Justice," he told the warp villain.

Kurogiri had never heard of them.

"BioSimip Industries is owned by Yakuhin, which is owned by Citic which is owned by-"

"Kunshu," Imoku said.

"You did develop it," Kurogiri said. Kunshu was the main company Izuku ran. As a company it was quite small but its holdings were diverse and powerful.

"Overhaul was not discreet," Izuku repeated, sounding slightly defensive. "There were at least five test versions we beat out by making ours first. And, there are advantages to me making it," he added. He reached under the table and pulled something out of his pants pocket. Kurogiri couldn't see what it was.

"Five test versions?" That was too many!

"Once quirk removal became known, it's too valuable a tool to ignore," Imoku shrugged. "There was the military version, the very underfunded police version, one from a university research group and two other commercial lots. Mine was better than them all."

"Hardly surprising! You had the bullets," Toga reminded him.

"And one was used on Overhaul," Izuku reminded her.

She knew it. She'd been there.

"And the other was used for this," Kurogiri concluded.

"Mostly," Izuku agreed. He pulled his hand back from what he'd placed on the table. It was a small vial. "But, as I said, there are advantages to me making it," he repeated.