\~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~/
I changed some things in the previous chapters. Mainly the warehouse to an abandoned building.
Hosu is a ward so i don't think there would be space for something like abandoned warehouses.
So just imagine an abandoned apartment building.
\~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~/
(Unknown location)
'...this is awkward...' Giran thought as the creature who introduced itself as 'Carnage' sat across from him at the counter.
A fitting name for the it, he couldn't help but think.
What wasn't fitting was what it was doing right now.
It was a pouring tea for the both of them using utensils it pulled out from god knows where, acting as if it hadn't scared the shit out of him.
That was another thing, the overwhelming fear he had experienced when it first revealed itself was now almost completely gone.
It still lingered in the back of his hand and made cold sweat flow but he could move and think again instead of being completely overwhelmed by fear.
And now that he was able to clearly process the creature, he couldn't help but wonder what the creature's quirk was.
But no matter how many questions he may have, they were not important right now. Carnage was a client now, and Giran was a professional if nothing else.
But before he could try to break the awkwardness between them, Carnage spoke first in that creepy voice of theirs.
"I apologize for the scare once more Mr. Giran, I was just testing something. I didn't think it would be that effective.I am very sorry." It said, using one of its tendrils to put a cup before him before pouring the tea in.
And Giran was once again taken aback by the way it spoke and carried itself. For a literal monster, it was quite polite. It's table manners were impressive too.
But he was getting distracted. They were both here for a reason.
"Ah, I understand. That was quite the scare you caused me i must say, of all the strange encounters I have experienced in my line of work.... I would rank that at the top....hehehe." he replied, also thanking him for the tea before taking a sip.
It was delicious too, it reminded him of the local tea his hometown produced.
His reply seems to have some effect as well because Carnage let out a laugh of his own.
"Oh stop it, you flatter me. I was just messing around. I have no intentions of harming you, rather i want us to work together. I hold your abilities in very high regard you see." It replied, taking a sip of its own.
It was quite a sight if he was being honest.
"Oh, is that so. However, and mind my language for a moment, I was under the impression that you just wanted to lure me out to threaten or kill me. You know, due to that phone call." Giran said, the way that conversation went made it seem like Carnage wanted something from him and working together seem too trivial for that.
"I did want to lure you out, I'm not denying that but there is no reason for me to eliminate you. I don't work for the Hero Association you know." It said as it finished the tea and set the cup down.
And there it was again, there was no doubt that Carnage knew about his past and his situation.
"That is reassuring....and what about that whole working together thing? I usually just work as a broker and informant but I assume that is not what you want, am i correct to assume that?" he asked as he took finished the tea and set the cup down.
"You are correct, and if I may be direct....what I want is for you to work under me. I have a goal and to reach that goal, I need your abilities and connections." It replied, looking directly at him and setting it's arms on the table like it was negotiating a deal.
Giran was taken aback once more, no one had ever proposed such a direct deal to him. Most were satisfied with his services, granted most of his clients were lowlifes who had no ambition.
Carnage however didn't seem like his regular clients, but for him to even consider working under someone, they would need to have the necessary funds.
Their goals would have to align too.
"And what is that goal if you don't mind me asking?" he asked as he tried his best to maintan eye contact, he needed to hold his ground. He couldn't seem like a pushover now, "I need to make sure our goals align to even consider working under someone you see."
Hearing his question Carnage just grinned, which was just disturbing.
"Oh I think our goals would align Just fine Mr.Giran, It is one of the reasons i even approached you in the first place." it answered before continuing, "Ask yourself this Giran, can I call you Giran?...ask yourself this, are you satisfied with the current state of our society?...."
"The current system of heroes and villains is sickening, heroes used to be someone who you couldn't help but admire. They did the right thing because it was the right thing to do, they knew the risks that came along with it but they still did it.....it was inspiring" Carnage said as it spread it's arms out, seeming like he was spreading a gospel.
"They didn't fear breaking the laws of society if it meant doing the right thing, they acted when no one else would. But now look at the state of our current society....It is rotten!" Carnage spat as if it thoroughly disgusted them, "Heroism has become an industry, it has been commercialized and advertised like some entertainment. It is not!"
"Heroism is not a job, it is a duty. It is not a popularity contest. And it certainly is not something that some half-assed wannabes can be." it continued, "Because of the current system, anyone with a decent quirk and a head on their heads can become a licensed 'hero'. It doesn't matter what their true nature is like. A strong quirk and a few flashy battles with some trash is all it takes for the public to consider them as heroes."
"Meanwhile, those with actual character and a sense of justice are not even given the opportunity because they do not have a 'heroic' quirk or any quirk at all." Carnage said as it slammed its hands on the counter.
"In this society, those with strong flashy quirks are worshipped while those with 'evil' quirks are outcasted and stigmatised. And this creates tragic villains, villains who could have been better people or heroes if they had not been abandoned by society."
"And while this is happening, some piece of shit hero is beating his wife and kids, another is using his status to force himself on a woman and one is using it to get out of legal trouble. And the best part?.....the association is covering for them! Hahahaahha, the same association who pledged to serve the public. But I assume you are very familiar with that particular one.." it said, looking directly at Giran.
And Giran couldn't refute any of the things Carnage said, especially the last one.
So after a few seconds of silence, he spoke.
".....so what exactly is your goal then?, I assume you want to do something about it.." he asked.
And Carnage smiled again, this time a full on grin that exposed every single one of its teeth.
"What I want is to change this society Giran. I want to get rid of all the false heroes and the corruption that plague us. I want to bring back the age of the true heroes of the past." It replied with joy in its voice.
"And how exactly are you going to achieve this dream? I would assume you have a plan?" he asked again.
"What I plan to do, Giran, is to completely shake up this society. I will become the ultimate symbol of evil for this world. Better than All for One could have ever been. I will force this world to change, the false heroes will be eliminated, they will drop like flies and that will prevent other wannabes from becoming heroes."
"Only then will true Heroism shine, the true heroes will persevere, they will rise up and the quality of heroes will have no choice but to improve. Only then will they have a chance of defeating me."
"And i don't plan on stopping at just Japan, I want to change the entire structure of the world."
"And that is why I need you Giran. I need allies, people who are reliable. Generals who I can trust to carry out my orders. I want you to search for these people." it finnally said, looking at Giran. Waiting for his answer.
And for a few minutes, there was only silence.
Giran thought about the offer, it seemed ridiculous....but he couldn't help but be curious, curious if Carnage could actually do what he said.
Did it even have the strength necessary to achieve this grand dream of his?
As he debated on whether he should accept or not, struggling to reach a decision,a memory came to mind, one that made him start this path to begin with.
The memory of his niece, laying dead on a hospital bed.
She had been coming home from school when she got in a car accident.
She had just been walking, it was the drivers fault. No one should be driving while being so severely drunk.
But the driver didn't receive any punishment for his crime.
It turned out that he was a hero under the association. People in suits showed up and offered his sister and her husband compensation and informed them to not take it further.
His sister and brother in law did not listen.
And on the day they were scheduled to take the case to court, they were caught up in a 'villain' attack. Becoming just another statistic.
After that, no one even mentioned the event again. Probably because they also received some 'compensation' for keeping quiet.
That was the straw that broke his hopes in the system and made him go down the path he was currently on, promising himself to avenge his niece and her family.
Finnally making up his mind, he looked at Carnage and decided to place his trust in them. They shared a similar goal and if trusting it meant he could avenge his niece, he would gladly do so.
"I accept your proposal....if you can really achieve what you say you will, I will gladly follow you." he said, offering his hand.
Carnage looked at the outstretched hand for an instant before smirking and shaking it with its own.
"I assure you Giran, I always keep my word. You will have your revenge." It proclaimed.
Giran couldn't help but smile as they finally finished the deal. He couldn't help but be excited about the future.
There would be bloodshed, but he was hardly innocent anymore. His life or the lives of others didn't matter to him anymore, his revenge did.
"So....do you have anyone in mind for these generals of yours?" he asked, "Or do i have to look for suitable candidates?"
"I have two people in mind as of this moment." Carnage replied.
"And who might those be? I assume they are powerful for you to actively looking for them" he inquired as he raised an eyebrow.
"They are indeed very powerful in their own right but more importantly, they are skilled. Better than a majority of the villains in this nation and with potential to surpass the majority of quirk users in the world." Carnage answered, "I need you to look for two individuals, one of them has a history as a vigilante while the other is pretty unknown for now."
"And the names of these individuals?" he asked, now very interested.
"Right now, they go by Stain....and Dabi..."