The Emperor's Dragon

Unexpected Encounter

"All right gentlemen, space yourselves out on the markings on the floor," Giran commanded the group of men he'd brought through Kurogiri's warp gate. They followed directions without grumbling but they weren't the most intelligent of men. They'd been chosen because they were willing, and one could say lazy. This was a quick job for some pay and all they had to do was keep their mouths shut.

"Okay, now that you are there, put on your masks," the broker instructed when everyone was in position.

"Seriously, you want us to do that? I thought that was a joke!" One of the men complained.

"Not a joke, a condition of employment," Giran replied flatly. "Put it on, or leave."

All For One wanted people for his son to practice on but the man was also paranoid and wanted to keep Izuku's identity secret. These men, in addition to not being smart, were expendable but that was only a contingency. The plan was for them to come in and out and be none the wiser about what had happened.

They would be paid, but he would be paid more for his services in finding them and in clouding their memories. So, really, it was a great job!

The man grumbled some more but put it on. Giran walked around and made sure no one had cheated.

"All right, remain standing there, and this will be over in about 10 minutes," he said, giving a signal to Gigantomachia.

The huge man had been standing in the shadows and no one had noticed him. The giant nodded, and Giran watched as another warp gate appeared in the centre of the circle the men had formed. Izuku stepped from it and looked around curiously. They'd discussed what he would be doing, so there was no need to tell him anything.

Izuku would first try to take a quirk from one man, then two, then three, and then six, making them all fall unconscious as he did it. After he'd done that, he had to give back the quirks, then Giran would erase their memories.

If all went well today, there'd be further training and further opportunities for these men and others to be Izuku's practice targets.

The first man fell to the ground.

Izuku grinned. The cheeky kid again had grey hair and pink eyes. Giran had a suspicion that Izuku would use that colouring every time he was around.

"Stand still!" Giran snapped. He saw the way a few of the men moved. "And you will all walk away from this. You are here for Dragon's training," he growled.

Izuku's head jerked to the men who had shifted slightly, then he glanced back at Giran.

The broker blew a breath out, watching but the men had steadied. "The floor is padded for this exact reason," he told them. That seemed to do the trick. Giran nodded at Izuku again, checking the time.

Izuku shifted again before he frowned. Two more men fell. A smile flashed across his features. He lifted one hand and flexed his fingers, looking at something Giran couldn't see. But Izuku knew he was on a time limit and quickly turned to look at the next three men.

He frowned again, and the broker got the impression that the boy was finding the task more difficult. Giran wasn't a fool. He knew what Izuku's quirk did. It took quirks from a distance. But it appeared there were various ways for the boy to take a quirk. It appeared he could take it without knocking someone out, and that appeared to be easy for him. Knocking someone out was more difficult.

The three men fell.

"Stand firm!" Giran ordered again. "If Dragon was going to kill you, he wouldn't be paying me!"

Izuku took a deep breath before he shifted to face the last six men. Giran saw the boy swallow before he lowered his head, concentrating. It was actually rather impressive that he didn't use a gesture. The broker wondered if it would be easier or if it was just not necessary.