Just as the students arrived at the campsite in the evening, another group of individuals appeared in the parking spot at the top of the mountain.
A luxury, armored car dropped six people.
All six of them walked up to the railing at the edge of the cliff and looked into the distance, a chilly silence lingering between them.
Just as the last ray of dusk settled behind the mountain, and the students entered the campsite's premises, the silence broke.
"… They are in."
The speaker had green hair and was wearing a yellow version of a shirt and a short skirt, similar to Mandalay and Pixie-Bob, identifying herself as a member of the Wild, Wild Pussycats.
She was Tomoko Shiretoko, No. 32 Pro Hero — Ragdoll!
"Your Quirk will help us a lot here," Gran Torino, flying up to stand on the railing, remarked. "These days, it's hard to trust the electronic system."
"… Trust?" Pro Hero No. 5, Rabbit Hero: Mirko, donning a scar on her forehead, scoffed. "Don't you mean hard to use them, you old fart?!"
"Ara-Ara!" Midnight giggled next to them. "He is not that old."
As Gran Torino frowned, Midnight winked at him, making the old man wince.
"Senior Torino is right, though," Sand pointed out. "Reports say that the giant thing Dr. Blessed used to run away from the USA is a cyborg. We cannot depend on the monitoring system alone. Search will play the biggest role during the next three weeks."
Yawara Chatora, Pro Hero: Tiger of Wild, Wild Pussycats, nodded in agreement as well.
He was wearing a maroon-colored costume, similar to the women members of the Wild, Wild Pussycats.
However, despite his womanly dress, his appearance was anything but delicate.
Large, chiseled muscles adorned his arms and legs as if they were carved from stone. Combined with his Quirk, Pilabody, which gave him the ability to stretch, flatten, and bend his body in ways that would normally be impossible, just like a Clown, he truly stood true to his Hero name.
"Ragdoll can observe and monitor up to a hundred people at a time, including their location and weak points," Tiger mentioned offhandedly. "Not only that, but it also stores data in her memory."
Ragdoll grinned. "My Quirk latches onto a target by sight," she explained. "Also, the part with storing data… I need to let go of extra individuals, if the total crosses the limit of a hundred."
"Still…" Sand shook his head. "An entire country's worth of reach is no joke. You don't need to humble yourself."
Ragdoll blushed.
"I have been traveling all over the country to chance upon Dr. Blessed," she admitted. "With one look, I could have locked onto him, and then we could all jump on him at his hideout."
Jump on him?! Sand, Gran Torino, and Midnight's mouth twitched.
"Yeah…" Mirko grinned, slamming her fist into her palm. "Jumping is good…"
"…?"
"I am a little shocked, though," Tiger said. "With how much emphasis UA is putting on this Training Camp, it makes little sense that more Heroes are not here… Like… All Might."
Sand, Gran Torino, and Mirko exchanged glances from the corner of their eyes.
The nightmare Mr. Reijirou Saionji had drawn out for the Top Heroes in the secret meeting at the Hero Public Safety Commission HQ didn't show where the hell would manifest.
The only thing it promised was destruction, fire, and loss of lives.
It could happen at Tartarus, with the Villains going after Stain. As it was the most likely scenario, and also held the greatest risk of country-wide disaster with the threat of many Villains escaping the prison, the likes of All Might, Endeavor, Best Jeanist, and Edgeshot had gathered there.
It could also happen here, at the Training Camp, involving the children, as it had already happened before.
That's why, with the help of the Commission, UA had set up two teams. Hunter, who would actively monitor the surrounding area, and Backup… for the worst-case scenario.
There were still chances that the threat would descend at an inconceivable location, though.
That's why they couldn't afford to bring too many Heroes in one place, as that would be the greatest blunder.
Gran Torino briefly explained this situation to Tiger, Midnight, and Ragdoll, not mentioning anything about Mr. Saionji's nightmare.
"… I see," Tiger nodded. "So… things can get ugly, huh?"
Midnight licked her lips sadistically. "Other than the six of us," she said, "we also have Erasure Head, Vlad King, Mandalay, Pixie-Bob, and the two Sir Nighteye's Sidekicks. I heard that the girl's Quirk is as useful as Ragdoll's Search. Also… All Might himself vouched for Lemillion, calling him the guy with the potential to be the future No. 1. I think, we 11 Hunters are more than enough to take down even Dr. Blessed…"
None of the other Heroes agreed with Midnight's bold claim regarding Dr. Blessed.
It wasn't about strength against that masked Villain, they knew.
It was about the mystery.
Still, one claim was undeniable.
With eleven of them gathered here, the training camp was one of the safest places in the country right now, just behind the Tartarus.
"Anyway," Tiger asked, "just for the peace of my mind… who are these Backups?"
Gran Torino and Midnight looked at Sand.
"… Guests who have overstayed their welcome," Sand said. "You all must have heard of at least one of them. Captain Celebrity."
Brows jumped at that name.
Captain Celebrity had made it to national headlines years ago and was considered to be an All-Might-level Hero.
Sighing, Tiger nodded.
"We will stay around the campsite, keeping ourselves hidden most of the time," Sand said, turning around. "Pixie-Bob must have used her Quirk to create underground chambers for us, right?"
Tiger and Ragdoll nodded. "She's best at that."
Suddenly, just as Gran Torino, Midnight, and others reached the car, they sensed an oddness. They were… missing someone.
Their heads snapped back, and they found Mirko, standing atop the railing, grinning as she looked in the campsite's direction.
"Young Mirko…" Gran Torino gasped. "Don't!"
"Hahaha!" Her grin widened. "I… have been dying to test out his new Quirk…"
With one push, Mirko shot forward, jumping off the cliff — going after Luke!
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