Even with a blade pressed against his back, Shigaraki Tomura showed no trace of panic.
Instead, he adopted a faintly lecturing tone, speaking toward the seemingly empty air where Kurogiri concealed himself.
"A criminal, you see… if they possess the capital to commit crime, then they inherently have value."
"And even better—most of these Villains have extremely limited social circles. If they disappear, very few people notice."
"After all, the only ones who care whether a Villain lives or dies… are other Villains."
"So cleanup is… rather convenient."
He tilted his head slightly.
"Now do you understand why I came here, Kurogiri-san?"
Kurogiri's reply was solemn.
"I have been enlightened, Shigaraki-kun."
And he meant it.
At this moment, he truly believed Shigaraki possessed the potential to become the ultimate evil—to become the Savior of Villains, and bring chaos to this world.
Because Shigaraki—
Was more ruthless, more calculating, more cold than the criminals themselves.
He resembled a Villain more than Villains did.
Kurogiri was utterly convinced that if this continued, one day Shigaraki would eclipse even All For One.
A darkness more absolute.
A calamity capable of plunging the world into despair.
"Good. I'm glad you understand."
Seeing that Kurogiri had finally grasped his "good intentions" and no longer suspected him of coming here merely to flirt with hostesses, Shigaraki nodded in satisfaction.
Seizing the moment while Kurogiri was fully convinced, he added casually,
"Then let's not waste time. We'll take this one back and let Sludge test compatibility."
If this one doesn't work, we'll find another.
After all—
They had both time and an abundant supply of hosts.
He didn't say that part aloud.
Even if he didn't particularly value these criminals' lives, they were still outside. Walls had ears.
And he was now a public figure.
The "Savior of Villains."
If someone recorded him openly declaring he didn't care whether Villains lived or died, all his previous groundwork would collapse.
Of course, that assumed anyone even knew his real identity.
He had worn a mask during his speech.
Still—
Caution never hurt.
"Who are you talking to?! Stop mumbling and hand over the money!"
Behind him, the mugger's patience snapped.
Watching Shigaraki casually converse with "air" as though the blade meant nothing ignited his temper.
He pressed the weapon closer to Shigaraki's back.
Yet Shigaraki merely shrugged.
"Well… since we're not in a hurry, let's test whether the host's physical condition affects Sludge's performance."
A pause.
"Hmm. Let's break the legs."
Before the mugger could process those words—
Shigaraki reached back, seized the weapon, and clenched his fingers.
Crack.
The blade shattered into fragments.
A scream tore through the alley.
"AAAAAHHHHH—!"
"Ding. Detection: Host has successfully defeated one Villain. Calculating rewards…"
The system's mechanical voice echoed faintly in his mind.
Ignoring both the screaming man and the notification, Shigaraki calmly crushed the mugger's knees underfoot, rendering him immobile.
Then he turned toward Kurogiri, who had now revealed himself.
"Let's go. Take him back. Sludge can try him."
"Yes, Shigaraki-kun."
Kurogiri bowed deeply.
On his face—
Was reverence.
Not merely for chaos.
But for Shigaraki Tomura himself.
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