He was finally discharged from the hospital. Only four days in the hospital, and all his wounds had healed. The doctors also said that he should have suffered significant blood loss from such cuts, but there was none. Was his blood clotting quickly due to his dragon nature? I don't think that had ever happened before.
He lay down on the couch, throwing his shoes in the corner. «Reptiles can grow tails. They seem to have something to do with regeneration, too. I've known for a long time that my quirk isn't just a transformation. It affects my essence, so it's somewhere between transformation and mutation. Who the hell knows,» he whispered quietly in the silence of his apartment. After taking a shower, he couldn't take his eyes off the scars, tracing them with his fingers. About half the cuts weren't very deep and, once they healed, were almost invisible, but some were easily spotted with the naked eye. A small scar on the lip. The doctors managed to heal the scar on the cheek almost completely.
— Yeah. Damn Nagoya. Next time...no, there won't be a next time.
«Did I have a choice but to end this mockery of me? If I had used my quirk, he would have decided to clip my wings like a dove. I don't see how I could have freed myself faster and prevented the massacre.»
Doran voiced his concern and alerted the entire Nagoya East Police Department, catching dealers and couriers red-handed. Everyone ratted on each other, knowing they faced long prison terms. Of course, some didn't crack, but they were insignificant pawns. Doran knew exactly who to pressure and who not to even bother questioning.
...
— I wanted to thank you for all this. You helped bust a major drug trafficking ring. Ryuushiro, do you want me to transfer you to Tokyo? After your injuries, I had doubts about your assignment to those dangerous areas. I didn't think such a storm would arise there. Apparently, Mamori was connected to many of the crime bosses in that area, and his loosening of his tongue angered many.
— In Nagoya, I think, in any case, after a series of searches, all the criminals will go back to their holes. We can try Tokyo, it'll be closer to home. And as for the wounds, they're just scratches. It healed quickly, like I was a dog. But I'm a dragon=_=.
— Your business. Just be careful. I feel like we've stirred up a hornet's nest, and the pretrial detention center will be rapidly filling up soon.
— You should be more worried about the safety of those I've detained than about me. That guy with the bitten throat, I still remember his look. After a short pause, Doran replied,
"Maybe you should see a psychologist? I can give you a couple of days off. You can arrange a day off. Tokyo is a new city for you, after all. Not at all like Hirashima.
— Forget it. I'm fine.
— You'll have your Quirk tested soon to get permission to use it. This week. So try not to end up in the hospital, okay?
— Okay, okay. I'll be careful. Is there any work for me in Tokyo?
— There always is. By the way...— As he was leaving the office, Ryuushiro stopped at the doorway with a folder of documents. He waited for Doran to formulate a thought. — How can I put it... They found Trigger among those drugs in the Nagoya warehouses. Not much, but they found it.
'This stuff is spreading..."
...
The night in Tokyo was chilly and restless. Ryuushiro was returning from questioning a witness when he received a call from the dispatcher. Unusual activity had been detected in the area around the old dock—traces of smugglers had been detected there—but surprisingly, the police were already calling not only the patrols but also a registered hero. The dispatcher gave a name: "Siren" —a low-ranking woman known for her strange gift: her voice could induce a trance or deafen people if she concentrated. This second-tier hero, almost forgotten by the press, worked more on neighborhood patrols than on the big stage.
Ryuushiro chuckled skeptically. He rarely interacted with lesser-known heroes, but the orders were clear: a joint mission.
When he arrived at the docks, the sea breeze carried the smell of rust and rotting fish. Metal beams creaked, and the occasional lantern flickered in the darkness. A thin figure in a blue cloak appeared among the shadows of the containers, and a soft female voice rang out:
— Are you Officer Ryuushiro? My name is Sirena.
She looked tired, her face hidden by a half-mask, and her eyes were wary. It was clear her reputation didn't allow her to feel confident around the HPSC agent.
— I don't care who you are,— he said coldly, straightening his tie and looking around. —The important thing is that you don't get in the way. If your voice really works as well as the reports say, you'll be useful for capturing someone alive.
Sirena pressed her lips together but remained silent. The two of them delved deeper between the containers and almost immediately heard booming voices. Several men were unloading crates, inside which Ryuushiro detected a sharp odor—a familiar chemical odor. Possibly drugs or precursors.
He darted first, like a shadow, and pounced on the nearest one. Handcuffs snapped, and a scream was heard. The others turned, grabbing batons and knives. One even pulled out a pistol.
— Siren! -Ryuushiro ordered sharply, hiding behind his captive.
She stepped forward, closed her eyes, and began to sing a short, almost vibrating tune. The vibrations of the air struck her ears, and the sounds became thick. Two of the smugglers staggered, their weapons falling from their hands, and the third clutched his head.
But the effect wasn't perfect: two managed to hold on, and one lunged straight at Ryuushiro with a knife. At that moment, the dragon within the officer roared. In one motion, he grabbed the attacker's arm and slammed his knee into him, sending him crashing down, howling in pain.
— Try again! -Ryuushiro hissed, a predatory glint flashing in his eyes.
The siren's voice increased in volume, this time the resonance sharpening, and the remaining enemies went limp, like dolls without strings. She was breathing heavily, and it was clear the technology was wearing her down.
"Phew..." She leaned against the side of the container. "I can hold them off for about five minutes. After that... I don't know."
Ryuushiro stepped closer, checking the bound man:
— That's enough. Your control is weak, but the effect is effective.
Her eyes lit up. Perhaps for the first time in a long time, she'd heard someone acknowledge its usefulness.
When police arrived on the scene, some of the detainees were still in a trance. Siren stood to the side, trying not to attract attention.
— It's strange to see a hero working like a shadow, -Ryuushiro said, lighting a cigarette. — Most of your colleagues love cameras and noise.
She smiled quietly with the corner of her lips.
— I don't need cameras. I just want my work to matter.
— Then keep up the good work, -he exhaled smoke, watching her. — You saved lives today. Those guys with guns wouldn't have spared anyone.
For Sirena, these words meant more than her restrained smile could indicate. As the police led the detainees away, she bowed her head.
— Thank you. I think we'll meet again.
— Perhaps, -he said curtly, looking at the shimmering lights of Tokyo in the distance. The dragon's anger still simmered within him, but a rare sense of respect had emerged over it. Not all heroes are created equal, and sometimes even the unpopular manage to find their place.
Ryuushiro stubbed out his cigarette and headed for the car, mentally noting that there were few true allies in the world. But that night had shown that even a weak voice could become a weapon if used in time.
...
It was time to undergo an examination and receive permission to use his Quirk. A key step in his career.
Ryuushiro spent the next week training and undergoing Quirk suitability tests. Basically, licensing and a general assessment of his physical fitness and capabilities. As a police officer, he wasn't allowed to use his Quirk without permission, and his license is valid for two years, requiring a re-validation each time. A Quirk, like a service weapon, is a special tool used strictly according to regulations. Therefore, the dragon didn't even fly on his own wings to Tokyo, but traveled by public transportation to avoid being conspicuous.
Contrary to expectations of a boring pastime, Ryuushiro was surprised to learn new aspects of his Quirk under the guidance of HPSC scientists. A man in a lab coat was researching his Quirk's capabilities. He clearly knew his stuff. All sorts of tests were conducted. Even diving underwater. To his surprise, after two minutes, he felt no discomfort from oxygen deprivation. Ryuushiro himself wasn't particularly fond of swimming and rarely did it. Curiosity piqued, he spent another ten minutes underwater, discovering he still didn't feel any discomfort from oxygen deprivation.
— No symptoms of hypoxia. Oxygenation has dropped to 40%, -the scientist wrote down the data on a tablet, standing by the pool. — Interesting, interesting... Grass snakes, snakes, and lizards can easily survive in water for long periods of time, drawing oxygen from the water through certain organs, and even enter a kind of suspended animation or underwater sleep. The blood vessels constrict, and the muscles consume less oxygen. I bet if you held your breath out of water, you wouldn't last more than two minutes. -The scientist clicked his pen, as if a new thought had occurred to him. — Don't dragons breathe fire?"
— What? I can also breathe fire? Lizards and snakes can stay underwater for a long time, that's clear, but spewing flames out of their mouths like the fucking Endeavour?!
— It hasn't been proven yet, but it could very well be. Try inducing a gag reflex, it might work.
He tried to force something out of his body with his mind and began blowing toward the dummy on the test site. For a couple of minutes, he tried to deflate the dummy, like the wolf from the Three Little Pigs. A barely perceptible glimmer of warmth in his throat prompted a more correct technique and execution. He stopped blowing like an idiot and simply focused on the growing feeling. First, he felt warmth inside, and then a fierce heat, red-hot...?his palm? His hand was bathed in a bright glow from the flames within. Muscles, bones, and veins became visible. Panicked, he pointed his hand toward the dummy, and a second later, a jet of flame shot out of his palm, right down the center, burning the dummy to ashes.
— What the hell is going on in my palm?! What the hell was that? Is there a flamethrower in my hand???
— It looked creepy and a little clumsy. Hm. From the palm of your hand... Strange.
— I thought your Quirk affected your face and transformation + mutation, but it seems I should add another type of Quirk. Destructive energy or something, -the scientist thought, quietly recording the data, moving on to the next measurement.
Wow, the maximum wingspan is three and a half meters, like a fighter jet," the scientist concluded. —So. Your Quirk is very strange, actually. This is the first time I've seen a Quirk with so many features. Support, transformation, mutation, and destructive. It's like all the Quirk types combined. The heat is controlled and does not harm the user's health. The flames emitted are stable, but it is not recommended for use against living targets. The A1 specimen, which is as close to a human as possible, has multiple fourth-degree burns.
While the scientist was writing his report, Ryuushiro felt a residual warmth inside his right hand, like the last squeak of the heat that had been raging within him. Goosebumps appeared on his skin from the indescribable sensation of warmth. It wasn't painful at all. For a second, it seemed he might lose control of himself and the emotions within him. Was the flame somehow affecting his mind, or was he simply engaging in predator mode? Probably from lack of familiarity.
Breathing underwater, spitting fire. What's next?
— The sensors showed the flames inside you reached a thousand degrees. Did you feel any discomfort?
— There was no discomfort. It was just unusual to experience something like this for the first time.
— Excellent, then it's time to test your flame immunity. So, let's continue. -The scientist escorted him to further testing.
— What?!...Are you going to spray me with a flamethrower?! -Ryuushiro found himself inside a concrete, insulated room, wearing heat-resistant shorts. A hissing sound came from the loudspeaker, followed by the voice of a scientist behind the glass on the other side.
— Why the flamethrower straight away? -the doctor smiled. —Don't worry. First, we'll test your quirkless heat resistance on a localized patch of skin. Bring your untransformed hand to the candle in front of you and try to hold it there as long as you can until you feel a sharp pain from the flame.
Ryuushiro followed this crazy idea, but he understood that this was how real Quirk research works. Not the kind usually conducted in local hospitals. Here, he was receiving the full treatment. A complete study and monitoring of all his indicators, and most importantly, none of the local staff would expose him to unnecessary danger. Well, almost... Quirks like his weren't common, so they had to resort to all sorts of experiments to obtain the full information.
An ordinary candle burned before Ryuushiro. He slowly raised his hand, ready to pull it back at any moment. The dragon tried to recall the last time he'd burned himself on something, and to his surprise, he found no such memory. His palm remained unburned, no matter how long he held it over the candle flame.
— Excellent. Complete immunity to regular fire, even without a Quirk.
— To the usual? Is there any possibility that unusual flames could harm me?
— Actually, yes. We don't yet know if you have heat resistance to, for example, burning gases like methane, and most importantly, if you have heat resistance to the flames of other Quirk users.
The pro-hero Endeavor immediately came to mind, with its endless scandals, just like its endless flame.
— Well then, launch your methane into the room.
— Are you sure? We don't know for sure.
— Yes, I'm sure. -Then came the scientist's excited sigh. He pressed a button, and the room was engulfed in a seething stream of flame for a few seconds. Nozzles, carrying a stream of methane, ejected flames at jet speed, plunging Ryuushiro's silhouette into the flames.
— God, if he doesn't survive, I'll definitely be fired, if not sent to prison for murder. -The scientist turned away from the glass and began whispering to himself, — I'm just following orders. Calm down.
His hands shook with excitement. A few seconds later, the gas burner cycle stopped, and Ryuushiro continued to stand in the room, breathing in the scorching air. The ventilation system kicked into high gear, forcing the methane out of the air. The scientist breathed a sigh of relief. The thermometer inside the chamber registered three thousand degrees Celsius. The concrete walls were coated in soot and turned black. It would be difficult for the cleaners to scrub off.
— Holy shit! Better than a cup of coffee in the morning! -the dragon shouted, jumping up and down. His body felt incredibly invigorated and warmed by the heat. Steam billowed from his mouth and nostrils, and his golden hair seemed completely unfazed by these pathetic attempts.
Only then did the scientist bring in his colleague, who possessed the Fire Touch Quirk. It became clear that using it had already begun to cause Ryuushiro pain and he couldn't avoid transforming. He was then forced to transform only partially. This is how he learned to avoid summoning wings.
The research didn't stop there, and he was recruited to lift weights in and out of his dragon form. The results were astounding. He grew three to five times stronger thanks to his dragon form and could bench press a ton of pure weight. Even without his dragon form, his punching force reached 2500 kg! For comparison, Mike Tyson's maximum punching force is 800 kg. Only at the end of the day, an exhausted Ryuushiro was given another meeting for the following day. Again. And so it went all week. He couldn't imagine how he could handle such weights. The dragon rarely found himself in conditions that pushed his body to its limits, so he didn't know the limits of his own strength. Perhaps the academy had hardened him? Or was he beginning to transform into something more?
...
Major Doran was in his office outside the HPSC headquarters as he read the report on Ryuushiro. The Internal Security Division headquarters was located near the United States Embassy in Tokyo, in an upscale neighborhood. His eyes widened as he read the physical examination and Quirk properties. His attitude toward Ryuushiro was cordial, as he was a good guy without any vices. His reeducation at the academy had only emphasized his strengths.
Doran thought that if Ryuushiro possessed the unruly and unbridled nature of a dragon, he'd be arrogant and greedy. Dragons supposedly loved gold, but that turned out to be a fantasy stereotype unrelated to dragons. Is he proud? Yeah, definitely, but that doesn't make him an arrogant jerk. In his case, it's actually a useful quality. Healthy egotism, etc.
After the academy, Ryuushiro became disciplined and showed nothing but his best side over the past two months. Responsible, cool-headed, and most importantly, logical. Hardworking. His calm and combative philosophy was captivating, and his gaze was enough to influence the mind. He has leadership potential; he fires a gun like a child of war. He knows the rules perfectly. This is the very beginning of his journey, and he's already showing impeccable results. What's next? What other qualities could such a fine fellow possess?
It turns out they can. There's no limit to perfection, as they say.
«Madam President shouldn't read this document, and the Heritage Project will be transferred to my management. Let her think about it, but it won't go further than that. The prospect of involving Ryuushiro in this is too good. He has a good chance of absorbing All Might's power, and it certainly won't make things worse. It's worth a try.»
On the one hand, this move will ensure the nation's future, but on the other, it will put Ryuushiro in an awkward position, "given" him great responsibilities and troubles. Does he need this? Essentially, the Legacy Project is a project to create a supersoldier, a loyal pawn for the state. If All Might is a private individual, then the Legacy Project can be used to select the right person for state affairs and problems.
The Major dreamed of seeing an honest, noble, and patriotic man at the forefront of Japan, as All Might currently is. Many in Japan dream of this, and their supporters number in the tens of millions. To some extent, this idea blinded the Major, and he couldn't see the obvious:
Someone will exploit their position and abuse their power to obtain such power as a pawn. Politics is a nest of vipers and cynical scum willing to do such things for power and wealth. If the pawn is a government one, they simply have no choice but to submit to a higher-up in the hierarchy or lose their position. A decree from a minister or the president? Pfft, who is this Ryuushiro Genba to disobey?! A mere officer!
There's no stopping this process anyway. The Major's influence on the Heritage project is far too insignificant. All Might has become imprinted on the foundation of Japanese culture, becoming practically a god. A true Symbol of Peace and Prosperity. And just imagine if it were taken away from the population dependent on it? Chaos and anarchy. Lawlessness, devastation. Japan's Golden Age is over.
The choice is Ryuushiro's. Whether he's ready, and what will follow after his choice, is unknown.
...
The top-floor office seemed quieter than usual. Not a tick of a clock, not a hum of air conditioning, as if the building itself were holding its breath. Ryuushiro walked with a thoughtful expression. The new information about his Quirk had thrown him off his usual rut. Inside, he was seething, but on the outside, he wore the same expression of calm, draconic disdain. It would seem that all these qualities were positive and an advantage, not a disadvantage. But something had been nagging at him for the last couple of days.
Or maybe he dreamed that after the flight he met a flying wise whale at the Tokyo Sky Egg, and it whispered some advice to him that he never remembered. ^_~
On his way to Madame President's office, he almost collided with Major Doran.
— Ah, Ryuushiro. An important job for us just came up there , -he said, formally as always, but with a hint of friendly
The dragon had already turned away from thoughts about his characteristics, but he felt in his gaze... a pause.
He narrowed his eyes, asking the question that interested him:
— What do you think about my new characteristics?
Doran froze for just a split second, as if trying to avoid the question and now searching for a response. A predator caught in a moment of weakness.
— I didn't know you could control fire. Dragons are supposed to spew it out of their mouths.
Eyes locked. Yellow, with vertical pupils, piercing the gray ones. Doran had already managed to hide behind a polite smile and looked away, but Ryuushiro caught something. Some shadow of doubt or understatement. Ryuushiro nodded, took a step aside, and walked past, not breaking eye contact until the very end.
Madame President greeted him with reserve. Her gaze, once piercing and attentive, was now… unfocused. As if she were looking right through him.
— Sit down, Ryuushiro. There's work for you.
He sat down, crossing his arms. Too calm. Too neutral. Even for her.
— Hello. I recently went through an inspection. I reported for a license to use a quirk as a special agent. You've probably had the opportunity to read my report." His voice was soft, but the tension was clear between the lines.
— Yes. I've read your report. Nothing remarkable. Everything is within normal limits. A good base, of course, but nothing particularly noteworthy."
Silence.
He tilted his head slightly to the side, as if he were thinking, and then said with a slight hint of irony:
— What do you think... Can dragons breathe fire?
She looked at him with a barely noticeable smile:
— I don't know. Can you do it? There are no records at the academy of you being able to do that.
Bach. Something inside clicked.
«But it was in the report…»
He lowered his eyes to the table. Then, carefully, without showing it, he asked:
— May I see my references, madam?
The old woman nodded, handing him a thin folder. He opened the document.
And then everything became clear.
The physical stats are understated. The Quirk is described vaguely. No mention of heat resistance, no mention of underwater breathing. And nothing at all about partial transformation or fire. Just a basic mutation and a vague concept.
A second. Another. He looked up, no longer expressing any emotion.
«What the hell...» having received a report on the next mission in his email, he sat down at the local buffet and grabbed something to eat. Mint tea helps him calm down and think.
Considering Doran's answer was accurate, and only one day had passed since the last study was completed, he deserved to read the original. What they blatantly and brazenly planted on Madame President was a falsification, designed to keep her from learning anything about me. It was obvious, clear even to a child, that she had lost her former interest in me. Just compare how she greeted me at our first meeting, and now I barely even merited her attention. Only one conclusion suggests itself. Most likely, my profile was classified, and she was fed false information for the sake of security. If I had known what abilities I possessed, I would have withheld the information for security reasons. It was also clear that Doran hadn't expected to see me here today; he's definitely involved. I don't even know, he probably wants to hide my stats from the public or even his closest circle. But I have no idea why? Yes, my stats are far from ordinary. I am a dragon, after all, and the new study confirms that. Fine. I don't want to guess anymore. I'd better get to work."
Ryuushiro pulled a PDA from his pocket, a work tablet with a biometric password. It contained a lot of useful stuff: access to a shared police database, police stations, a registry of Quirks and heroes. It also had a location tracking chip built into it. He checked his work email and read Doran's letters.
"Protocol No. 10956. I am handing over the case to Junior Officer Ryuushiro Genba with all the attached data and information regarding the open case.
According to the Information Department's report (link attached) under protocol #10956, an unidentified middle-aged man with an unremarkable and unremarkable appearance and no distinguishing features was identified: average age 35-45, wearing a black office suit and carrying a black briefcase with unknown contents. Surveillance footage provided by local police revealed that the suspect headed to the city of Naruhata, where his trail was lost.
Added an hour ago*
According to surveillance cameras and witnesses, the suspect was again spotted in the city of Naruhata, District XXX, where the hero of Eraser Head is currently patrolling.
Order from HPSC Chief Madam President: Monitor the area for Quirk usage by heroes and conduct on-site interrogation of suspects. Agent Status: Secret. Use of Force Level: Full Authorization.
The decision was approved by Director of Internal Security Doran at Internal Security Headquarters. In accordance with this order, the agent was granted access to equipment and gear at Internal Security Headquarters, and transportation to the combat mission location was arranged."
The dragon closed his PDA in agitation. "What's going on? Did they promote me to the next league after the test?"
He headed to headquarters, where he would don the appropriate gear. Currently, the law banning "Trigger" is being passed. It can't arrest anyone for selling the substance, but it can arrest a criminal if they intentionally harm or plan to harm another person or animal. It's a bit of a loophole. Criminals think they can exploit a loophole, but no. The police can easily exploit it, too.
— Finally, the first serious assignment. I can't wait!
"Conduct on-site interrogation"—a small remark—meant that Ryuushiro (the designated agent) had the right to interrogate a detained criminal or suspect, using any non-lethal method, directly at the scene of their arrest, without trial or investigation. His identity must remain anonymous, meaning he would operate under a mask.
— The bosses probably think they're giving me the dirtiest work, but I'm actually enjoying it! I have to show Doran what I'm capable of, and my career will be determined. -For Ryuushiro, staining his hands with the blood of his enemies and the nation's saboteurs is both a supreme pleasure and a sacred duty. Unleashing his inner beast and channeling it into useful pursuits—what could be better?