The Emperor's Dragon II

Lighting the Fire

When there were large villain attacks, the communication system was designed to use geolocation to warn those in the area to stay away. The bigger the attack, or disaster, the more people were contacted. That system could be co-opted to let everyone in the country know when there was some large event as well. Usually that functionality was restricted to announcing the result of elections but sometimes, someone thought something else was big enough to warrant national notification.

There were rules but it was still a matter of debate in some communities as to what was important enough.

That's why Izuku was, at first, a bit annoyed when everyone's phone buzzed with a message at the same time. The particular tone of the buzz meant that it was an information notification not a villain event. It meant there was something big happening. Most of the bar ignored it. Notifications like that didn't impact them but a few did look to see what was going on.

"Could someone put the TV on now?" Muko asked. He was in the bar as a client and was sitting with Kamoni. The two of them appeared to be getting along.

"What is it?" Kurogiri asked curiously.

"All it says is that there will be an announcement from All Might," Kamoni told the barkeeper.

That led to a round of jeers, but Izuku knew they'd better find out what it was. He suspected he knew. It was overdue. He nodded at Kurogiri and the misty man picked up the remote and turned on the screen, flicking to the news channel.

It showed a typical media conference room. The logo on the back wall indicated the room was in All Might's agency. There was a long table but only two chairs behind it and two microphones set up. The tablecloth went to the ground, at least on the side they could see.

"Finally," Izuku sighed. It was loud enough to be heard.

"What do you mean?" Dabi demanded.

Izuku looked over at the fire villain. "You know what," he told him.

"Now?" Dabi seemed surprised.

"If he doesn't do it now, then he's gonna go down," Izuku noted.

Dabi thought about that for a moment or two before he nodded.

"What are you talking about?" Twice demanded, with a rare example of a time where he did not contradict his question.

"Just watch," Dabi said with a bright smile.

Kurogiri lifted the remote and everyone watched as the volume symbol rose. While no one was on screen, there was a voice over. "... and we are just waiting now for All Might to appear. For those of you just joining us, earlier today All Might's agency announced that the Number One Hero would be giving a press conference. Speculation is running rife as to what will be the focus but there are hopes this will mean he's caught the new villain, Dragon and will be able to force him to return the quirks he stole."

That announcement caused most of the bar to look at Izuku, who snorted and shrugged his shoulders. He was very visibly here so that rumour was complete hogwash.

"Other rumours suggest that it's a more personal reason behind the conference with the suggestion that All Might will announce his retirement."

At that Izuku nodded. It was a far more reasonable suggestion, though he knew that the rest of the world would be gasping and demanding that it not happen, with the HPSC leading the charge on that one.

"Ah, they are coming on now!" the voice over announced unnecessarily when the camera shifted to show a door on the side of the stage open and three people appeared. Izuku didn't recognise the first one, a woman but she immediately turned away from the stage, and he did recognise the two behind her. Sir Nighteye and All Might.