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CHAPTER START---
---Horizon Tower, 2 AM...
SHAMBLES!
Horizon warps back into his tower, into the kitchen where he moves to get a glass of liquor.
"Oh! Oh! Check out this part!" he hears Sero yelling from the living room. "I kicked this guy so hard his tooth stabbed his friend in the face!"
A few moments later and Horizon walks into the living room, seeing Sero, Juzo, and Shinso, sitting on the couches eating a late dinner and having some drinks, mostly beer, with Juzo drinking a soda.
The room was somewhat dim with his massive TV showing footage from Sero's body camera, from the raid hours prior.
As per usual, after each day with a incident resolved they have to review their footage and edit it before uploading, hence the laptop beside Juzo who was already editing his video.
"Did anything happen on the way back here?" Horizon asks, and none of them react to him suddenly entering the conversating or taking a seat beside Shinso.
"Minato Tokyo is quiet tonight," Shinso says.
"We just got done deciding what should get cut and what should stay from Shinso and my footage," Juzo says. "Ours was pretty boring compared to Sero."
Sero chuckles at that, "well, when you guys have enough hours of indoor combat training with Horizon you can join me in those cramped hallway fights."
"That's Sero's role," Horizon says. "To be flexible and mobile, plus capable enough to back up any position. It just so happened that this time he was our vanguard for the siege."
"A role I'm surprised you didn't take," Shinso says.
"The public already knows what I can do, this was about showing them how formidable Team Horizon is without me," he shrugs. "I need any of you to be able to lead teams with Fully Licensed Pro Heroes in my stead while commanding respect. You are the next Big Three after all."
They all think about it for a moment while Horizon takes a sip of his drink, sensing Ryuko already asleep in his bed.
"Anyway, what was your favorite part of the raid?" he asks.
"Oh!" Juzo looks up from the laptop. "Definitely Shinso doing that thing with All Might's voice."
"I've been working on that for a while, but I can only control small groups at once, and the more people I control the shorter the time, barely a few minutes," Shinso says.
He then continues, "personally I like the thing you did with the rocket, your reaction time really is incredible, and your ability to predict where people will focus on an ever changing battlefield. I see why Horizon chose you to lead in his absence."
"Well it definitely couldn't be me," Sero laughs. "Trying to keep track of so many things is one thing, but making and communicating a plan on the fly is beyond me at the moment. That's why I mostly just rush off on a solo task, so I don't need to talk I can just keep building momentum and moving.
Oh, but aside from the combo the three of us did in the hallway, I think either the submarine stuff or ripping the doors off the base was my favorite part."
"A grandiose display of power," Shinso says. "But was that harder than the skyscraper you held in the air before you came to the summer camp?"
"Honestly," Horizon thinks about it for a moment. "Pulling the subs out of the water was harder than holding them in the air, plus I had to rip them away from the docks they were in, that's why the lower levels flooded."
"Ahh, that's why those guys were rushing up from there soaked," Sero says.
"Yeah, but the four subs weren't as heavy as the skyscraper, it was like 80 stories after all. But even if it was, I'm so much stronger now that I could hold up a few of those buildings easily, so I honestly wouldn't notice."
"No wonder villains don't want to fight you, sheesh," Juzo goes back to editing.
"But back to the question, my favorite moment was definitely the first confrontation of the raid, obviously," Horizon says. "Its a perfect showcase of why I chose each of you for this team. We smashed into that base and had dozens of heavily armed and trained men locked up within a minute.
Either sealed into the floor, held at gunpoint by their allies. Tied to the ceiling or knocked out by Sero, or simply brainwashed and catatonic. Quick and efficient work, exactly what this team is all about."
"Too bad now they're all going to know my Quirk," Shinso says.
"Not necessarily," Horizon takes another sip of his drink. "Its suspiciously hard to find any footage of your matches from the sports festival, strange how that happened. Plus your Quirks are never explained by us.
Unless you go around announcing it, the general public is so stupid they'll never put the obvious pieces together, especially since we're blocking some of the only evidence they have."
"And since we won't be competing in the sports festival next year, that's all the hints they'll ever get," Shinso says.
"I'm still kind of bummed we can't compete next year," Sero says. "But being in this team is already way better than the attention that would have given us, heck Best Jeanist already sent me a request to go work with him."
"Moving up to the #3 Pro Hero, you plan to accept?" Juzo asks.
"Heck no, that guy is too reactive," Sero says. "I prefer to go looking for villains like Edgeshot instead of reacting to crimes that are already happening. Plus learning to investigate and solve cases is way more fun than sitting in a agency waiting for a call all day."
"And since I'm also working under Edgeshot it helps us build synergy," Shinso says.
"What about you Juzo?" Horizon asks. "You'll get a lot of requests after this raid goes public in a few days, any plans to leave Crust?"
"No I've still got a lot to learn from Crust, his approach is pretty good since all his Quirk gives him is a shield. Its just like how I don't really have any offensive power, so shadowing him gives me a lot of ideas. Maybe next year I'll move over to another agency, ideally Endeavor."
"He'll be #1 by then, officially at least," Horizon says. "Plus Endeavor doesn't take work studies students, he only made an exception for me because I'm Horizon, and obviously he'll take his son."
"Speaking of the raid going public," Sero cuts in. "How'd the meeting at the Commission go, are the other teams ok?"
"Minor injuries, nothing they can't walk off, mostly. But no reasons for me to leave Tokyo and go heal anyone. All the loot should be locked into nearby stations, military armories, or guarded facilities by now."
"So a complete success huh, the biggest raid of an underground criminal network in Japan for well over a century, organized and led by a student," Juzo says. "If anyone didn't think you were the real deal before, now they don't have a choice but to accept you."
"And we'll get even more famous from it," Sero grins like a idiot just thinking about it. "All the agencies will start making me even bigger offers, plus the money we'll get from taking part in this raid will be massive."
"And our predicted Hero Rankings will go up," Shinso says.
"And we'll get international fame," Juzo adds. "Mudman will finally have his name out there for the entire world to see."
"And the money," Sero says.
"You already said that," Horizon says.
"Its worth saying twice, I just found a real nice place closer to where my dad works to buy, if I keep working like this I'll have it in no time."
"I figured you'd be more excited for the women," Shinso says. "It seems like that's been on your mind more and more lately."
"Horizon is rubbing off on me," Sero admits. "But nah, we're still clawing our way out of debt from the last few back surgeries dad had, hell he shouldn't even be working so the longer I take the more likely he ends back up in the hospital, so money first."
"Too bad you didn't know me back then, and you should bring him to see me immediately," Horizon says as he glances down the hallway, sensing Ryuko waking up. They all notice this but are used to it by now, then he turns back to them, "but I will admit I've been enjoying the freedom and perks of being a top hero more and more lately."
"Still a workaholic though," Juzo says. "Anything else from the commission we need to know about?"
"Just the report for this raid going public tomorrow night, and this," he takes the envelope out of his jacket and puts it on the table. "The ambassador of Germany was there."
"The manga lady!" Sero says.
"What?" Shinso asks.
"She looks like a manga page, all black and white, must be some kid of ink Quirk I'd bet," Sero says.
"I didn't ask," Horizon says. "But she made me that offer."
Without hesitation or shame Sero picks up the letter and begins reading it. And both Juzo and Shinso can see the mortified and confused expression on his face.
His brain trying and failing to fathom the insane offer that was made.
"Is it that bad?" Juzo asks.
Sero just shakes his head and stiffly hands the letter to Juzo, all while looking at Horizon with genuine surprise.
Juzo scans the letter and looks aghast, "wow...I didn't think anything or anyone was worth this much money."
"How much?" Shinso asks.
"Just a little over 12 Billion dollars."
"For what?" Shinso couldn't wrap his mind around it either.
"To live there," Horizon says. "Just setup shop in the most heavily populated city, the capital. Let them move all important critical assets around the Horizon Tower I'd build there. And occasionally when a national or global emergency pops up, I solve it," he shrugs.
"So they give you that much money, just to live there?"
"It also gives them a lot of sway in the United Nations, especially the Hero Legislation board within it. Currently America has the most sway because they have Star and Stripe. Japan had almost as much back when All Might was in his prime, but now they aren't even runner up, not until I graduate and get my full license at least."
"So they want to pay you billions, for the political power that comes with your name," Juzo says. "Not to mention villains will flee Germany when you appear."
"12 Billion a year, not the best offer I've gotten, and they'll only get bigger from here."
"Would you really leave Japan?" Sero asks.
"What, can't you run this place without me here to babysit?" Horizon asks jokingly.
"Oh please, we'll be fine. But seriously, will you."
Horizon sighs, "I plan to focus more on medicine in the future and less on punching villains all day, so if someone makes me a better offer, why wouldn't I take it. I don't have anything tying me here after all."
"I guess so," Sero says , and the room gets a bit sad before Sero tries to cheer them up. "Plus America pays more, and lets you be way more hands on with villains."
Juzo joins in, "yeah but the food will stop your heart before the villains get a chance."
Shinso chuckles, "but its soo good. I mean there is a reason we're always ordering from that American burger place nearby. Its worth the health risks."
"Well if the American way is great burgers, the freedom to do whatever I want, lots of money, and permission to get hands on with villains, maybe its worth fighting for...Even if I'll be fighting heart disease more than villains..."
They all share a laugh at that as the debrief continues.
Celebrating Team Horizon's first major operation in the limelight...
END CHAPTER---
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CHAPTER START---
Pantu sat in her office behind her desk as a hologram was project upward from it.
Showing Chitose breaking down yesterdays raid operation, the most recent, and which turned out to the among the most successful in history.
Almost as if Horizon somehow knew exactly when higher value items would be in Japan before getting shipped to America.
Only a few people put this together, but the woman sitting across from Pantu isn't one of them.
Ryukyu simply sits back and watches the broadcast.
"Horizon was busy as always when I reached out for an exclusive comment," Chitose said. "But after the reports of the suspected value of the seized assets were announced by the Hero Public Safety Commission, I just had to as. Why not trust a more experience Pro Hero with such a important operation?
After all, Horizon, regardless of how we view him, is technically still signed on as a Work Studies student under Endeavor, who he commanded during the raid. For this to be not only the largest but most monetarily successful operation of its nature in history, in the hands of, well, a teenage, the risk seemed far too high.
To this, his only response was, and I quote, 'I intend to lead the next generation of Pro Heroes, so that we may guide Japan into a better future than ever before. Why not start to practice now with the current generation?'
But with that being said, of course since he did most of the investigation and planning process to make all of this possible, handing it over likely wasn't something he was willing to, or should have done.
After all, when the future of Japan is at risk, who better to trust than Horizon? Now w---"
Pantu shuts off the screen, snapping Ryukyu's attention onto her.
Even now she maintains her icy facade, perfectly concealing how annoyed she is.
"Horizon's value just shot even further through the roof," Pantu says. "Have you spoken to him since the raid yesterday?"
"Only on the phone for a few minutes," Ryukyu says, and Pantu detects no lies. "I stayed at his tower a while longer than I needed to last week, met his... pet cat?"
"Oh, her," Pantu says. "Her personality is far too caring and honest, approaching her for information is announcing to him that we're keeping closer tabs on him than he knows. But we have her on a short list of people to avoid interactions with, its not worth the risk."
"He knows you're watching him at all?" Ryukyu was surprised by this.
"Of course, he knows that everything we can monitor, we do, but his daily movements are impossible to track when he's in the tower or simply wants to disappear."
"Well Ryuko is head over heels for him," Ryukyu says. "And she knows he doesn't particularly care about the heroic part of being a Pro Hero, from what we spoke about he doesn't have anything he cares about. At least not enough to stay in Japan."
"Well hopefully that changes within the next few years," Pantu says. "But other countries will be making even larger bids for him. I need information on what he really likes, because at a certain point money stops mattering and the other perks will outweigh it."
"Have you tried asking?"
"I did, and he doesn't have any such interests at the moment, but if it happens to appear, you're there to find out."
"And to spot any vulnerabilities he has," Ryukyu mutters.
"Naturally, but you don't have to worry about fighting him. It will never come to that, worst case scenario, I give him what he wants and he abandons Japan."
Ryukyu winces, "the loss of life from him suddenly leaving, the influx of villains and chaos that would cause... unimaginable."
"And at this rate, unavoidable, because it seems he's determined to insert himself as the pillar of our society, replacing All Might. But there are much worse things than him simply leaving us alone."
Ryukyu thinks about it for a moment, "well, hopefully we at least clear out the League Of Villains before he leaves."
"You don't have to worry about them," Pantu says. "I have a man working on that as we speak..."
---Elsewhere...
"Where the heck is this?" Hawks asks as he steps out of the warp gate, only seeing the ocean ahead of him and a dark forest behind him.
Looking around the warp gate closes, before another opens and Dabi walks out.
"Why do you look so confused birdie?"
"I prefer to know where I am, what, we couldn't meet up in a mall, maybe get some food?"
"Do I look like I want to watch you eat birdseed?" Dabi rolls his eyes as the warp gate closes, keeping his hands at his side as he approaches Hawks. "You said you had something good, this better not be a waste of my time, Hero."
"For the record, I prefer eating chicken," Hawks says as he turns away from Dabi and looks at the ocean. "So, did Shigaraki have his supply lines disrupted by those raids we did?"
Dabi rolls his eyes, "we have Warp Gate moron, we don't pay transport fees, from the manufacturer directly to us, instant and cheap."
"Did you at least keep up with the news about it, we got a lot of stuff?"
"Estimated 3 Billion dollars of things the news won't tell us the specifics about," Dabi says curiously. "Is that number real?"
"A low estimate," Hawks says, which surprises Dabi. "But the most valuable thing is already back with its owner, so it wasn't counted in all of that."
"And you called to meet me the day after these raids because---"
Hawks pulls out a piece of paper from his coat.
"---There we go, payday," Dabi says. "A few billion dollars to expand our operations will help out a lot, maybe even earn you some facetime with the boss. We're planning a big...uh, nevermind, you aren't that trusted yet. Just know this will help."
Hawks hands over the page and Dabi quickly skims it, "this is only one location, the report said over a dozen locations were raided. They couldn't have moved them all to one location within a day."
"Nope, they're all sitting at individual armories and strongholds across Japan, but most of it, roughly 2 Billion dollars of fine art, artifacts, gems, and some more fun items are sitting in the most heavily defended spot in Tokyo."
"This isn't Tokyo," Dabi says, gesturing to the page.
"Nope, that's Yaiba city, Yoroi Musha, a top 10 Pro Hero will respond fast when you guys attack, but only him and some other weak Pros. You can handle that, right?"
"The 'Senior Citizen Pro Hero', yeah, I can handle that myself. But why this location, and only this one, huh, Hero?"
"I figured all the arms and ammunitions at that spot would have been more valuable than trying to sell off art, at least to Shigaraki."
"We've got more than enough of that, the money would be better," Dabi glares at Hawks, then just looks annoyed. "We're looking to increase our war chest since one of our big benefactors got killed recently, not long after you joined us."
"Wasn't me," Hawks raises his hands in surrender, jokingly.
"I know, cops said its a break-in gone wrong. Just the same shit luck we've had all our lives, but if you can get us one of the more lucrative storehouses from this raid, the boss will appreciate it."
Hawks thinks about it for a moment.
"Mmm, one is close to my agency, but after you guys supposedly broke out under mine and Ryukyu's watch I can't afford to fail at defending that. If I drop down from #2 then the intel I can get becomes a lot more limited.
I chose that one because Yoroi Mush should be a easy kill for your league, plus he's far from any other power Pro Heroes, not to mention the equipment there is most immediately useful."
"What about the others, you'll probably have to respond to anything in Tokyo, but Ryukyu was on that raid, and she's far from Tokyo."
"Yeah, but she's friends with Horizon, well, at least they worked together a few time. And the plan is to avoid giving him reasons to start looking into us, remember. Plus Yoroi Musha's raid went the most public, so you guys actually have a believable reason to know where that is," Hawks gestures to the map he gave them.
"And it covers the fact that we have a spy," Dabi adds, and Hawks nods along. "Well, we can always use the firepower, and killing a Top 10 Pro before the big hero ranking ceremony next month should remind the public that we're out there."
"Exactly what I was thinking, anything else you need me to look into?"
"Just keep doing what you're doing, knowing where Horizon won't be is still very important for us," Dabi says as he begins turning, a Warp Gate already behind him. "Oh, and just incase we suddenly have something super powerful on our side, where's the stronghold with all the big shiny things in it."
"Wanna go after the big money items huh, well its pretty obvious. That raid was in Tokyo, and what's the most secure place that no smart villain would attack?" Hawks gives him a cheeky grin.
Dabi sighs, "nevermind then, there isn't enough money in the world worth picking a fight with him, not until---" he cuts himself off, not wanting to reveal Gigantomachia's new modifications.
"You sure? A billion is a lot," Hawks says jokingly.
"Yeah, and breaking into Horizon tower is also a lot, just keep doing what you're doing."
"Gotcha!"
"Kurogiri, I'm done here."
A purple mist manifests behind Dabi and envelops him, warping him away before it closes and disappears.
And suddenly Hawks is alone on the beach, in the middle of nowhere.
"Uh, Kurogiri?" he asks, looking around for his warp gate, but after a few minutes nothing happens. "Sigh, great, I though we were over this crap," he begins flying toward the sky, trying to get cell reception.
"Why can't anyone who likes me ever get a warping Quirk," Hawks mutters as he still sees nothing denoting civilization round him.
---Horizon Tower...
"Wow, if I didn't know better I'd say you wrote the script for them," Ryuko says as she sits on couch.
Horizon is beside her working on his laptop, on the TV Chitose's report just finished, 45 minutes of stroking Horizon's ego.
"Can't help it that I'm amazing," Horizon shrugs. "Definitely can't wait to see what my new offers are to move abroad."
"Hmm," Ryuko thinks about it for a moment, "I'm hoping Germany wins the bidding...even if that's unlikely, I mean living there seems super relaxing."
"What makes you think I'd take you with me?"
Ryuko rolls her eyes "what makes you think you can get rid of me?"
END CHAPTER---
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