16 Credit Will Be Due

After the lonesome crow left the confines of the central meeting room, a knock echoed from the dark wooden door. 

The pro-heroes turned their gaze towards it, wondering who the guest was. 

"You may come in."

Nezu said with a smile as if he wasn't bothered by the recent confrontation. 

The dark wooden door opened, and behind its cover was Thirteen in her ordinary clothing. The pro-heroes were a bit astounded by her appearance, which was understandable.

After all, the heroine always wore her hero costume as if it were her second skin. It was rare for her colleagues to see her outside of it. 

"What brings you here, Thirteen?"

Nezu was finding it hard to continue smiling. He had a feeling that something regrettable would happen with the appearance of Thirteen.

"I'll be resigning from my position as an educator."

The hero academy seemed to be going through its turbulent times. One after another, pieces of unwelcome news kept counting. 

"W-What?"

Nezu's smile was breaking apart in real time. The evolved animal could barely keep himself from frowning upon hearing such words.

The pro-heroes in the central meeting room were also shocked by the words of their colleague. To them, she was a young lady who yearned to be in the hero academy.

She loved teaching kids about the responsibilities of their quirks. She's also proud of how she became an educator at a prestigious academy.

So what happened?

"May I hear your reasons for resigning, Thirteen?"

Nezu, at least, wanted to know what made the teacher quit. Was there a problem in the U.A. that he wasn't aware of? 

"I'm resigning for personal reasons, Principal Nezu."

Thirteen's words were straightforward, making Nezu sigh in disappointment. Personal reasons... These two words were things he couldn't fix. 

"I understand your resignation, Thirteen."

"I'll accept it, but do note."

"We will be waiting for you to come back. The doors of the academy will always be open to you." 

The pro-heroes felt sorry to have one of them resign, especially after the USJ incident. But there was nothing they could have done about it other than utter words of congratulations. 

"You are a great teacher, Thirteen."

"I agree. I will be waiting for you to return."

"Yes, I'll also keep your desk clean until then."

Their words resounded in the central meeting room, prompting the usually aloof Thirteen to genuinely smile. 

She didn't regret working in the academy. It was the opposite; she felt proud to work in it. But destiny wasn't always linear, and now that her idol had emerged.

She must follow what she oathed in the past.

"Thank you for helping me reach this stage of my life, seniors."

On the other hand, All Might found himself silent. He remembered during the time of the recent incident. The Counter Division Leader, Makima, was alongside Thirteen. 

He didn't know what this meant, but it was too much of a coincidence for the events to not be correlated. 

But nevertheless, he felt the need to congratulate his junior heroine. 

"Thirteen, your journey is long. I hope you grow stronger not only as a heroine but also as a person. I believe it will not be long until we meet again."

"So, Plus Ultra."

"""Plus Ultra!"""

The pro-heroes cried out All Might's words, resounding the two words pridefully in the central meeting room. 

Meanwhile, after Makima concluded her eavesdropping in the hero academy, she opened her eyes and found herself in the commission headquarters in Tokyo. 

In front of the Devil was Madam President, who was confused when the Counter Division demanded a meeting with the Hero Public Safety Commission. 

Her eyebrows were furrowed as she looked at Makima with a questioning gaze.

"What do you want from the commission, Miss Makima?"

Makima stopped entertaining her thoughts and looked at the old lady with golden hypnotic irises. Her gaze was cold, as though she was looking down on Madam President. 

"I just discovered something peculiar, Madam President."

"Do you wish to hear it?"

Madam President felt the commanding presence of Makima's words. She wondered if this was the effect of the crimson-haired lady's quirk.

"What did you discover, Miss Makima?"

She softly asked and barely maintained her dignity as the Executive of Tokyo's Hero Public Safety Commission. 

"There was some pest trying to unveil some information regarding my organization. I wonder where the cockroach comes from."

"Do you know where the pest came from, Madam President?" 

Madam President couldn't utter a lie to the lady before her. The commanding presence becomes suffocating the more she thinks of lying.

"It appears some executives of the commission made moves of their own without reporting to me."

"I apologize if it caused you some inconvenience."

"The Tokyo Headquarters will punish the rogue agent and pay reparations for the information leak." 

Makima's pleasant face returned as though she was in a good mood. Which wasn't far from the truth. Having extra money and favors was desirable.

"It looks like we have an understanding."

"But I'm not here to collect some favors for your idiocracy. I want to talk about business."

Lady Nagant, who stood beside Makima, placed several files on the table. Madam President raised an eyebrow and picked up the files.

She read through the information written on their sheets and felt bewildered. 

"This is information about the two villains you have captured."

"You want the Hero Public Safety Commission to take credit. But why?"

"This should be a good event that you could use to make the Counter Division renowned. Why are you giving up this chance?"

Madam President couldn't understand the thoughts in the crimson-haired lady's head. But there was one thing she was sure of.

There was a reason. 

"It's not like I'm giving you the credits of their capture for free."

"I still want the two to be under my custody, and I'm asking for your vote in the parliament when the time comes."

Madam President finally understood the reasons for Makima. The Counter Division was barely floating in the sea of bureaucracy. 

Obviously, there would be politicians that don't like its existence. So, securing the votes of politicians would be a priority for the Counter Division.

With this thought process, Madam President became confident in handling the Counter Division. 

"I will not deny your proposal then."

"I'll accept the credits of the two villain's capture."

Madam President wanted to shake hands with the crimson-haired lady. But unfortunately for her, Makima wasn't in the mood.

"Well, then... I'll take my leave."

"You can tell the media tomorrow about their capture and your involvement in the operation. The Counter Division wouldn't say a word."

Makima stood up from her comfy chair and walked out of the office. Following beside her was Konrad and Lady Nagant.

Lady Nagant felt confused as to why her Master gave their credit to the Hero Public Safety Commission. 

Using it as a favor to gain a vote from a politician was understandable. But the mind of her Master never worked that way. 

"Master, can I ask why you gave the credit to the commission? It should have been a great stepping stone for the Counter Division."

Hearing the questioning Lady Nagant, Makima stopped walking and glanced at her cute puppy. 

"I believe there will be greater opportunities in the future than two little villains."

"And the Hero Public Safety Commission has been torn on my side. I'm sure they'll continue spreading information about us."

Lady Nagant felt muddled as she couldn't understand the grand thoughts of her Master. But fortunately, Konrad stepped in and made it explicit for Lady Nagant.

"Does Master desire to destroy the Hero Public Safety Commission?"

Makima looked at Konrad for a second and didn't answer his question. However, her reaction was enough for Lady Nagant.

'It seemed Master was planning to destroy the Hero Public Safety Commission for bothering her. But how?'

Lady Nagant wanted to know how the HPSC would face its inevitable destruction. Then, she finally realized something important.

The information she had learned recently from her Master.

Kurogiri was a subordinate of the Symbol of Evil, and Shigaraki was an apprentice. 

If the Hero Public Safety Commission revealed that they had the two under their custody, the commission would face the wrath of the Symbol of Evil.

"Time will tell about the commission's bleak future."

"I'm looking forward to it."

As they left the grasp of the Tokyo Hero Public Safety Commission Headquarters, the three saw a black convoy of cars waiting for them. 

Beside the convoy was an old coot patiently waiting for his Master and her puppies. When he saw the group, he felt elated and walked towards them.

"It's been a while, Tengen-kun."

"I'd like you to hear about the status of the tasks I have given you."

Makima said with a smile while Tengen kneeled and deeply bowed to his Master. 

"I am honored of the Lady remembering my name."

"I have done what Master has told me to do."

Tengen was confident since he had done his tasks well. There were no prominent issues, and the Counter Division wasn't disturbed. 

"You have done a good job, Tengen-kun." 

"Why don't we have a discussion in our recently-gained business?"

That's right. With the vast wealth of the Tengen Conglomerate, Makima bought the entirety of the Stellarbucks of Japan. It wasn't hard since it only took some time.

Nevertheless, the simple and popular coffeehouse will be one of the foundations of her Empire. It will serve good uses for the Counter Division.

Tengen opened the door of the jet-black limousine, and Makima entered. Her cute puppies stayed behind, but she pleasantly looked at them and gave an invitation.

"I won't let my puppies be separated from me,"

 "So come in."