Discord: .gg/eHuxNeZfyS
pat.reon: Keanu_Eugene
You.tube: @KeanuEugene
CHAPTER START---
"Welcome back to the UA Sports Festival!" Ms. Midnight riles up the stadium crowd, twirling on the massive stage to give everyone a show as fireworks are launched above the arena.
Gazing at the adoring crowd, Ms. Midnight smiles.
'This is ridiculous,' she thinks. 'Twice as large as last year and they still filled this stadium, absurd…'
After a few seconds, the crowd calms down, allowing her to hear herself think.
"Now, yesterday we saw the first and second-year students put everything they have into competing! But today, we've got what everyone has been waiting for. Our promising 3rd year students will show everything they have in their last year at UA!
A final chance to impress the world and give themself the upper hand after graduation! But before we get to today's events, before the host you've all been waiting for takes the stage and kicks off the competition for his year group!"Ms. Midnight gestures to the massive screen above the arena. "Let's see some highlights from yesterday! And a reminder of what these 3rd-year students showed us last year!"
As the audience gets a recap, and anticipation of the oncoming spectacle builds, high above the arena, a different conversation is happening in a private viewing box.
Standing at the wall of one-way glass, Law looks down at the people below.
Wearing all but his visor and mask, he looks at the report Juzo sent hours ago.
Behind him, Ryuko and Shino -Mandalay- are in their civilian clothes on a couch, drinks in hand.
While Nezu is sitting nearby, working on his laptop.
"Is there any chance of the trail I sent you being wrong?" Law asks, glancing back over his shoulder at Nezu.
"Not from what I can tell. The financial records were backdated," Nezu says. "Fifty-three banks, over five hundred accounts. How did you say Juzo and Shinso got this information?"
They all look at Law, only for him to ignore the question and go back to staring out at the arena.
"Right, thought as much," Nezu mutters. "You're a bad influence."
"Good thing I'm only here for one more year."
"Don't remind me," Nezu grumbles. "Still think you should stay."
"Are you coming to America with us?" Law asks while looking at Shino.
"I can't just abandon my friend and country so easily."
"She did." He nods at Ryuko before returning to his work.
Shino rolls her eyes and gently pets Nezu. "The biggest brain in the world just said you're a bad influence, point proven."
"Bets are open!" Ryuko hops off the couch, staring at her phone. "
"Gambling is illegal," Nezu says. "You could be arrested for that. Illegal gambling, especially on my students."
"She'll be fine," Law says, and Nezu scoffs. "What are the odds?"
"Worst odds are… 1:200 for General Studies students winning. 1:50 for them making it to the solo tournament section."
"Those are good odds for them. Why?" Shino asks.
"Shinso," Law says, reminding them of how he changed things.
"Who has the best chance of winning?" Ryuko asks.
"Wouldn't you be telling me that?" Law asks.
"Or you could tell me who to bet on. You are the host, after all."
"I'm not giving you insider knowledge, about this."
"Mary," Shino says, reading the gambling website as the recap continues in the arena. "It says he has 1:3 odds of winning. Second would be Shoto at 1:5, then Barugo at 1:6." ⱤÃℕȪβÊ𝘚
"Over under for qualifying?"
"People have no faith in anyone from General Studies making it into the tournament," Shino says. "But if you want to make the most money, have someone from the Finance Course win the entire tournament. That's maybe…x1000 payout if I'm reading this properly."
"Because it's impossible," Law says. "They won't even finish the first leg of the opening event."
"Ok, who are we betting on?" Shino asks as the final minutes count down.
"I found something," Nezu says. Law walks over to look at the screen with him.
"All the accounts have different amounts, lots of money held in different currencies. Juzo may have found the money trail on our Trigger case. Any trends?"
"Accounts were accessed from…major cities. Mostly capitals, high population."
"Companies?"
"Shell companies, some ghost accounts, fake people."
"Local?"
"No, and none in America either."
"Mexico, South Korea," Law says. "Check volume against population and surface area. Match against Beijing."
"Hmm, that's odd."
"Unusually high?"
"Absurdly high."
"They had people do whatever it was there then move it across the border," Law says. "All those cities have private chem labs and fabrication labs."
"Chemical bombs?"
"Must be. I already had Star on alert, this just confirms it. Check travel records, anyone from Japan who went to South Korea roughly two weeks ago. Send everything we know to Star, they need to check for any educated engineers who need money and took a spontaneous trip to Mexico recently."
"Why two weeks ago for Japan?"
"I was in Norway two weeks ago for a few days. Healing some people and helping Sero visit his dad. That gave them time to install whatever bomb they have here."
"Wouldn't you sense if it was in Japan?"
"I don't know the nature of it, and all technology blurs together at a certain point. I'll keep an eye out. Scan at the molecular level, but I can't make any promises about that at this range."
"What range?" Shino asks.
Nezu and Law look over to see both women paying attention to them, their Pro Hero training taking full effect.
"Here to Tokyo," Law says. "Don't worry, we'll be fine."
"Saying that is bad luck."
"Unless you're me," Law turns to the arena. "Time for me to start the show. Nezu?"
"I'll send them the intel we have. But if they want to make a bomb from the formula you told me, it'll take a while for the chemicals to properly meld and react."
Law stops and thinks for a moment. "So, a built-in timer?"
"Precisely. From what I can tell, hours. But likely faster by now."
"Something isn't adding up here." Law paces back and forth a few times.
They all look at him, then see Ms. Midnight looking around awkwardly on stage. She reaches up to the communication device in her ear. "He missed his entrance."
"Hero work, start the opening ceremony," was the only answer she got from Nezu.
Ms. Midnight apologizes on their behalf, but the crowd knows better than to complain about Horizon doing Hero Work.
Now, while the introduction and opening ceremony officially begin, Law is still pacing back and forth.
"Was Chile on that list?" Law asks.
"No, is that important?"
Law looks away from them. 'Chile shouldn't be on that list. Border too tight and security is on high alert at their fabrication labs. Actually, Mexico's main fabrication facility is also on lockdown after Tech.
They avoided Japan and America directly because of Star and I. So they don't want a direct fight. But this doesn't make much sense either.
But that then leaves the border issue. The USA-Mexico border is pretty tough to get components to attack major cities through. The world is on high alert for that since Tech. But…USA-Canada would be easier.
And if it has a chemical timer, that's one less component.
No.
That's the only component.
They don't need a bomb if the formula is everything.
"I got it," Law says. "The pipes. The answer is the pipes."
"And for the people who can't read minds?" Nezu asks.
"The Trigger must be in the pipes. Major cities have a few water different water filtration and pump facilities. Standard since villains can attack one and the entire city loses water. But they usually fill from different ends, take a few hours for everything to properly mix—"
"In enough volume to gas a city," Nezu says. "I'll send out the alert and have them double-check the water stations."
"The activation agent won't do anything until they mix for a while, so once people stop drinking water until it's checked, they should be fine."
"Good, now go get to the Sports Festival," Ryuko says.
"Oh, right," Law warps away, leaving the three Pro Heroes in his private viewing box.
Horizon instantly arrives on stage beside Ms. Midnight.
"Sorry I'm late," Horizon says as the crowd goes wild. Seeing him has become a rarity now that he's not needed to deal with Villains much. "Hero work doesn't have a schedule."
"I thought you were always on time," Ms. Midnight mutters while walking over to him.
"What, suddenly realized your age? Don't want all the cameras on you anymore?"
"Not for your fans," she drops the mic in front of him, and he makes it float between them.
"Well, thank you for covering for me," he says loud enough for the mic to hear. "I know I can always count on you to support me."
He then leans forward, surprising her by placing a hand on her waist and lowering his head to whisper in her ear.
The flashing of cameras reminds Ms. Midnight of where she is, of the audience they have.
Of how this must look.
And it takes all her restraints not to shatter his visor as he whispers in her ear.
"My fans? You should be more worried about what your fans will think after seeing these pictures of us."
Ms. Midnight forces a smile and whispers under her breath. "Fuck you."
"Later…" Horizon steps away as the rumors surge through the audience.
'One more year. Just one more year and he's gone,' she thinks while leaving the stage.
"Now, let's get this Sports Festival started!" Horizon announces, causing another uproar. "This is my last year as a student here, so I'll give you the greatest UA Sports Festival you'll ever experience."
Horizon looks at the students. Most are anxious, as this is their final chance to show the world what they can do. Others aren't looking forward to facing some of their stronger classmates.
But this time, none of them bother challenging Horizon.
"Now, the first event will be a new one. It'll test everything you have and push you to your limits. You'll have to—" Horizon stops, confusing everyone.
But the crowd and students hold their breath as he looks around.
They share some concerned glances as he turns around on the massive concrete stage and looks up at the sky.
Then, to the horror of the audience, Horizon taps the side of his visor.
His visor immediately begins broadcasting what he sees live to his social media, and most of the arena gets the notification on their phone.
And in the next moment, he warps Sunder into his hand, and speaks very carefully.
"Nezu, it's happening now. Warn everyone…"
END CHAPTER---
The Monday-Wednesday-Friday upload schedule is still the goal, but I'm taking my time with these chapters. After all, we're in the final era of this story.