Wedding Bells

"Get dressed already!"

July 7th, 17:45.
All Might's office.

"The American wrestling mobs, huh?" David took a brief read of the articles Deku had included in the folder:

Three non-identified mutilated corpses found in the desert of Nevada; possible result of illegal fight

Owner of a club accused of being a member of a wrestling mob is absolved for lack of evidence

Five Japanese heroes bring down a local which hosted illegal matches in Monterrey. Most important members of a mob arrested

Former illegal wrestler called to testify dies in a car accident before trial

"The Man": myth or reality?

"Indeed" All Might corroborated. "However, the papers didn't reveal these five former UA's students were there to intercept a member of the League of Villains who was about to make a delivery. Both the deliverer and the briefcase were brought back here, but we have checked she doesn't know about the content. That's when my pupil decided to investigate on his own".

"Has he discovered something?"

"Not much. But I had to keep that folder away from him. The kid is so committed..." All Might had told Deku not to worry about anything, but if the League's interests went as far as the other side of the ocean there was no denial something bad would be going on.

David then found the article he knew he would find and sighed:

Police commandeers I-Expo's items used during an illegal match in Los Angeles; David Shield involved?

"Then I saw these criminals were also causing trouble to you" All Might hadn't been in the US for a while, but he knew that not even David Shield's inventions would be safe from the black market and criminal hands. "The critics you have received because of the use some people use your creations are totally unjustified".

"You know my vocation is to create items that allow common people have an easier life, and more importantly, that help Pro Heroes to do their job better. However, since my company started to spread worldwide it's now nearly impossible to know in which hands they end up" the professor explained in resignation. "Don't worry about me, All Might. I wouldn't be here if I couldn't handle criticism and rumors".

"I know. I wanted to ask you..." All Might joined his fingers and looked at his friend. "Have you heard anything about the League of Villains acting in America? Or about this... *The Man*?"

"I'm sorry. I haven't acted in the front since we were students in the old days. I don't know about the League of Villains more than what the news say" David answered. "About this so called *The Man*... it is said to be the criminal mind behind all the business of illegal fights in America. The police has tried to identify him for years. Some say it is unlikely that just one person has the whole control over these mobs, but one thing is for sure: for those who work within those circles, this figure is very real, and the mere mention of it means serious business".

"So... it is not even confirmed he actually exists?" asked All Might. If there was a villain so powerful and dangerous the League would make all the way to America to make some deal with him, they had to know.

"You know how heroes and villains work. When both earn too much popularity and recognition people tend to dehumanize them to the point of turning them into demigods or demons. But if they had something to do with the stealth of my technology, I would definitely like to know more" David frowned. "Look at this" he handed his phone to All Might. 

The UA's teacher contained a gasp and started to sweat: the video playing was a security record from the I-Expo where a masked stranger dressed in silver and blue was fighting a group of hooded and armed intruders who had managed to outfit the security system. So that episode at the death metal concert wasn't the first of Melissa's appearances.