3rd Person POV:
Doctor Reginald Hargreaves.
Three time winner of the Darwin Prize for Innovation in Quirk Biology.
Awarded the Nobel Prize in Biology for his work in understanding the human genome after the advent of quirks.
The foremost expert in biology and medicine, a man who is well known to be one of the most intelligent people in the world.
Principle Nezu of U.A High was quoted saying ''Sir Reginald's intelligence is almost unparalleled despite not possessing an IQ based quirk. Though, he isn't as cute as me that's for sure!''
Secret founder and investor of the Oblivion Orphanage. Inventor of countless different Hero Support Items. Owner of Hargreaves Financial, one of the most profitable companies in the world.
Unbeknownst to the public, he has made secret deals with a few countries like the United States to help train a few promising children in exchange for those countries turning a blind eye to certain activities of his.
However, Reginald Hargreaves stopped making public appearances all of a sudden. Due to his reputation as an eccentric, no one thought it to be too odd.
....
In a graveyard, a figure stood alone before a gravestone, their posture rigid and unmoving. Dark blue eyes, one of them being covered by a golden monocle, examined the carved letters of a name etched into the cold marble. Clad in a tailored suit, their face was weathered with age and their slicked back hair was marred with grey.
The man was Reginald Hargreaves.
The name on the grave was Abigail Hargreaves.
Reginald Hargreaves POV:
The room was quiet, except for the soft crackle of my old record player spinning Mozart's Symphony No. 40. The notes flowed effortlessly, filling the air with its beautiful sound.
Classical music never fails to relax me.
I sat in the dim light of my study, filling out paperwork like I did every day.
It's been 30 years and I haven't gotten over it. They say time heals all wounds but I still feel the scars from her death. My gaze landed on a framed photograph of my late wife, her laughter echoing in my mind.
I still do not understand why she chose me. Opposites attract, I suppose.
I was a cold-hearted brat in my youth and it was her who changed me. Abigail was a genius whose research in the bioenergy produced from quirks could have made her a household name in the scientific field had she published them. However, she always aspired to be a hero in her youth and due to not having a powerful quirk, dedicated herself to humanitarian work and convinced me to create the Oblivion Orphanage.
She'd angrily berate me if she saw what I had become. I have the most powerful biokinetic quirk in the world and I couldn't even save my wife. I've gone too far to turn back now.
The Valhalla Suite is almost complete. The pinnacle of my biological and engineering experience. I still do not understand how my wife came up with this concept. Truly, she was brilliant.
However, there is no way to power it. Number One was a failure in this regard. I hoped her New Order quirk could be used as a replacement but her reality warping was not powerful enough to ignore the law of the conservation of energy. The same was true for Number Two. His Matter Merge quirk was quite powerful but did not operate in the ways in which I needed it to. Last I heard of them, Number One had become the Number 3 Hero of the USA and Number 2 had reached the Top 10 Pro-Hero list in France.
Sigh
Perhaps it is time to give up.
There are … other ways to see Abigail again.
KNOCK! KNOCK! KNOCK!
''Come in, Pogo.''
My old companion Pogo walks into my study.
''Good afternoon sir, I have brought the recent data from Oblivion Orphanage for you to ..''
I interrupted him saying ''Yes, yes, I am aware. I'll peruse the latest data as soon as I can.''
''Actually sir, I received a call from Doctor Seiji. One of the children, a boy called Victor, showed energy levels that were unprecedented. They have been monitoring the child for a few months. He seems to have an extraordinary sound-based quirk and has demonstrated high levels of intelligence especially for a boy that is only 5 years old.''
Intriguing.
This could be what I was waiting for.
"Do you believe that he will not be a failure like Number One and Two?"
Pogo says "Sir, Young Miss Bates and Master Laveau are not failures. They merely did not reach your rather … unique expectations."
I scoff, "Exactly, they're failures. But enough about them. Tell more more about this Victor boy."
Pogo sighs, "I would prefer if you'd stop belittling them but no matter. I do not want to argue with you. The staff seem confident in Victor's abilities. They also informed me that the child likely has learnt to enhance his hearing so he may be aware of the surveillance and judging by his intelligence, may be hiding some of his abilities."
What a precocious brat.
He's tricky. A small smile briefly forms on my usually stoic face.
"Have Doctor Seiji continue to monitor him for the next 2 months. If his energy levels continue to slowly increase, then I'll take matters into my own hands."
Pogo looks confused, "What do you mean, sir? I rarely see you smile nowadays."
I turn my head and look out the window.
"It means that it is time for me to adopt a child."
3rd Person POV:
Oblivion Orphanage
"Understood. I will continue sending the data for the next two months."
Doctor Seiji calls for Mitsuri to come to his room.
"Mitsuri, we have received some new orders. Our employer is interested in young Victor. Our duty is to continue to monitor him for the following 2 months. And no need to look worried. I have taken measures to soundproof this room."
Mitsuri's face returns to normal and she says "Thank you for informing me. Neither of us could have expected how rapid Victor's growth would be. We merely wanted him to grow interested in training his quirk so that he would come to us for help but he has managed to become this powerful all on his own. It is no wonder that they are interested in him."
"Yes, it was unprecedented. However, Victor will be leaving in 2 months. Surveillance can be kept to just once a week to measure his energy levels. We need to refocus on the other children. Subject 37 has been moved to the advanced class. Subject 62 should be monitored for a short while as her Paper Origami quirk has shown some peculiar characteristics which may be worth studying."
(A/N: No MC in this chapter. This chapter is a bit shorter as it's just to bring Reginald into the story. The Oblivion Orphanage arc will be ending in the next chapter. Canon will probably begin by around Chapter 20ish but I haven't definitively planned out everything. What do you guys think the Valhalla Suite is?)