Kagerou Okuro, also known as Giran, was the only link between All For One and the rest of the underworld. This would continue for quite some time. Ryuji and Otoru left guards at the entrance to a notorious run-down building in a poor area. This was the office where Giran worked, an old acquaintance of Otoru Himura. He worked in his own office, but he didn't like this job, he would rather stand behind the bar and pour drinks than this paperwork. The premises in this office were rented by less than legitimate people, Ryuji and Otoru were forced to go without guards so as not to run into anyone, but unpleasant glances were still caught. Some of the rooms smelled strongly of fumes, there was trash scattered around and groans could be heard.
Quite often, offices in Musutafu cost less than the average room, so even the poor could live there, who did not mind sleeping on the floor.
- Why are they turning a building like this into a dump? Even a pigsty is cleaner. - Ryuji grimaced from the unpleasant smell.
- The rabble is worse than pigs, so know your worth, we will be above this. We are Himura. - Otoru showed no reaction. - 59...60. This one. - He stopped at office 60 and knocked before entering.
- Well, I thought I was already looking for a reason to go on break, and you yourself came, Mr. Himura. - Giran got up from the table, and they followed to the roof of the building, where they can talk.
- Well, how can I help you? - Giran lit a cigarette overlooking sunny Musutafu.
- I... we need to talk to Him. - Otoru looked at Ryuji.
- It's quite problematic now, many heroes are on edge after "Shitara" and the purges of Sensei's property. I can only offer through a disposable phone.
- So be it. - Having finished his cigarette, Giran called them into his office, where he took out one of the many disposable phones and handed it to them.
- Here, don't forget to throw it away after using it, and I have to get to work.
- Himura won't forget this. - They said goodbye.
- It seems easy. - Ryuji said.
- Don't relax. The main test is waiting for you ahead. - They walked towards the exit.
- What test?
- I have prepared a test for you that will teach you something very important to Himura.
Ryuji was puzzled, but it was intriguing. They got into a luxury car and drove to the suburban seaside warehouses. On the way, Ryuji looked at the large and growing metropolis, many heroes in different cool suits. Happy people were walking with their children, visiting the large statue of Almighty as a hero who repelled an attack by an unknown powerful villain. Nana Shimura died that night. Memorials were also erected for the victims of the incident. People with rare manifestations of mutation quirks were surprised and crowded around the celebrity. Huge shopping malls and professional hero offices continued to grow.
- Do you like Musutafu, Ryuji?
- Yes, everyone looks so happy.
- Now I will show you that there are people of a completely different breed. - Otoru said this more seriously than before. - The Himura are far from a noble family, and the current methods are not much different from the old ones. The Himura are known in the criminal world, do you know why?
- ... - Ryuji remained silent. The cars arrived at the seaside warehouses. Otoru and Ryuji got out with the guards and followed one of the containers. Oda also arrived here.
- There is a dark side to everything, we just use it for the family's purposes, that's why our family has survived until this day. - The container doors opened, and the few workers at the dock left the area, fearing reprisals. There were three people tied up in the container.
- These are the people guilty of going against us: a business competitor, a bandit, and a blackmailer. They worked together against Himura. Choose the punishment you think is fair for them, Ryuji.
"So that's why they brought me here." Ryuji was horrified.
- A-are they really guilty? This isn't a bluff?
- ... - Otoru remained silent. - Do you think this situation is like a joke? - Ryuji agreed with him and walked closer to the three. All three were tied up and kneeling. Oda watched this silently from the side, he doubted the brat, just like Otoru.
- If it helps the family, we need to teach them a lesson. - Ryuji said, a bit more seriously. Oda was surprised.
Oda added - We own a cool brewery with our own recipe. A competitor talked a bandit into poisoning the drinks in our brewery. The bastard ruined our batch. And the Blackmailer tried to get the recipe from the workers.
- Let's see what they say. - Oda took the gag out of the first one's mouth.
- I... want money? I'll pay! Seriously, you'll never see me again! - the competitor, a rather pot-bellied man with a beard, muttered.
- Ryuji, how do you think we should teach him a lesson? These two were just following his orders, he's the main instigator.
- Take away his property and-and put him in debt. - It was hard for him to say this, but it was clearly better than physical violence.
- ...And before that, cut off his thumb. - Oda added and took out the pruning shears, threateningly clicking them a couple of times.
- What...- Ryuji didn't have time to realize.
- N-no, no, no! Please. - the man burst into tears when his finger was between the blades.
*Chick*
- Cough!! Mmm..... - they shut him up. The competitor's order-takers watched nervously.
- It was a shame you crossed us, bitches. - Oda said. A pool of blood and a severed finger lay at Ryuji's feet, he began to tremble slightly with fear.
- But... but why did you do this, Uncle?! We could have done without it!
- Different laws apply in the street business. We protect the workers, we have a reputation, if we show weakness, we will be wiped off the face of the earth, for example by the Yakuza.
- ... - Ryuji continued to stand silently, unable to do anything. No matter how cruelly he acted, he was right. The street world is different.
The bandit turned out to be quite loyal to his competitor and broke free from the rope's grip. His Steel Claws quirk activated and aimed at the dumbfounded Oda. Ryuji, without wasting a moment, came out of his stupor and with his good reaction protected Oda with Sting, pushing him aside. The guards wanted to intervene, but Otoru quickly called them off. He wanted to see how Ryuji would deal with him alone. He had already proven that he would stand up for his family, but it was never too late to practice his quirk.
The fight lasted a couple of minutes, Steel Claws could cut metal, it was very dangerous to get caught under them. But Ryuji's Sting continued to withstand blows, in one short moment he managed to find a gap and arbitrarily strike the Sting in the neck. The man fell alive, he was paralyzed, he looked at the boy with wide eyes and tried to move, but to no avail.
Ryuji was out of breath after the fight, which was littered with cuts on the asphalt and concrete, he looked at the man in surprise.
- I didn't know I could do that.
- It's probably some kind of nerve poison. - Oda thought, slightly nervously.
- You did it, Ryuji. - Otoru patted him. - Now kill him.
On adrenaline, Ryuji was enough to hit his neck with the Sting and cut his throat. The man was unable to do anything, choking on blood.
- What... - Ryuji did not want to kill him, it happened by accident. - No, no. Don't die! - Ryuji rushed to him and held him by the bleeding neck, trying to close the wound.
- Pointless, this is a perfect artery cut. He'll die in a couple of minutes. - Otoru patted the boy on the shoulder. - No matter how hard it is for you to accept this, this is the life of our family. Forgive Ryuji, maybe you will hate us for this, forgive me. - he tried to support him. But Ryuji was no longer really listening, being in a trance, his hands were now covered in blood.
- Thank you, you protected me, that's the most important thing. You're great. - Oda encouraged him.
Ryuji was taken home with trembling hands. The competitor, having seen the fight, fainted from fear, and the blackmailer wanted to swear allegiance to the family after that.
- The next generation will be stronger than us, Oda.