All of them. There were five gangs listed in the files. Each operated in different areas, dealing in various crimes—drug distribution, loan-based extortion, and organized robbery.
The main challenge was that none of the members had identifiable records. They either wore masks or managed to avoid surveillance entirely. Aside from the locations where they operated and the nature of their crimes, there was practically no usable information.
Witnesses had seen the crimes happen, but all reported the same thing: the culprits always kept their faces hidden.
The police had narrowed the activity zones to the city center and deployed additional patrols. Since there was no solid intel on their identities, the current strategy was to wait—wait for the gangs to make another move. Until then, officers and pro heroes from other agencies had been stationed throughout the area, hoping to catch them in the act.
On the surface, the operation seemed well-organized. The police had a clear plan, and it was being executed by professionals. Mewtwo raised an eyebrow as he skimmed through the folders. "Why not just let the agency in charge handle it?" he asked, his voice calm but skeptical.
Lady Nagant leaned against the wall, her tone sharp with frustration.
"That's the issue. These aren't high-level villains. According to witness descriptions, none of them have powerful or rare Quirks. Nothing that would explain how they keep slipping away. And yet, it's been over a month and not a single arrest."
Mewtwo's gaze sharpened. "So the Bureau thinks the heroes involved in the operation—or others—might be helping the villains escape?"
"Exactly." Kaina didn't hesitate. "Our mission is simple: track down and capture the criminals. But if we uncover evidence that any heroes are collaborating with them, then we arrest those heroes too."
Mewtwo glanced back at her. "Just arrest them?" His voice carried a note of suspicion, reflecting the darker picture Kaina had painted earlier about the Bureau's methods.
She gave a half-smile, bitter and knowing. "If it were just me, they might've ordered a more... permanent solution. But you're here. And that complicates things for them."
She stepped forward, her expression serious.
"You're still clean. No blood on your hands. If they pushed too far too fast, you might start asking questions—or worse, speak to someone outside. They can't risk that. Not yet. So for now, all your missions will involve arrests only. And while you're out there, they'll slowly show you the ugliest parts of this world. Let you see how broken everything is. One day, they hope you'll think to yourself, 'Maybe the world would be better off without people like this.' That's when they'll send you to kill."
Mewtwo said nothing, simply nodded and returned to the folders. As he analyzed the files, it became clear why the Bureau suspected foul play. These weren't supervillains. Their abilities were ordinary—one had minor fire-based powers, another used light constructs, and a few possessed mutant-type Quirks that made them harder to identify but not impossible to catch.
These were small-time threats. Based on the descriptions alone, they should've been dealt with weeks ago. And yet, they remained active, untouched, and invisible.
Overall, every member of those gangs should have been easy to track down—either by the police or by other heroes. That fact alone made Mewtwo pause, frowning as he flipped through the files.
Which of the two is my real mission? he wondered. Am I here to catch the villains… or the corrupt heroes? He already knew the answer was technically both, but if it came down to a choice, which one would take priority? And what if I had to fight a hero right here in the city? How do I even go about that? He was sure the Bureau wouldn't want the public knowing there were corrupted heroes among them.
"You don't," Lady Nagant said plainly, as if reading his mind. "If it comes to that, you guide them somewhere out of sight—somewhere you can take them down without civilians noticing. You only engage them in public if they attack you without hesitation and in front of everyone. If that happens, the Bureau will step in with a press conference, claiming the hero was manipulated by someone's Quirk. That way, the public stays calm, and the Bureau keeps its image."
Mewtwo nodded slowly, absorbing the layers of secrecy and spin. "I get it…," he muttered, sighing. "I had a feeling this plan to take down the Bureau's director wasn't going to be quick."
"It's not," Kaina replied with a shake of her head. "That's why I once thought about ending everything in a single move. But now, it's different. We need to gather real evidence. When we've got enough, it's simple. The Bureau might dodge accountability, but they still answer to the judicial system. If we expose them properly, the courts will be forced to act."
"I see," said Mewtwo, his voice steady now. "So what do I do next? Start the mission immediately?" With a motion of his hand, the floating files arranged themselves neatly on the table.
"Not yet," Lady Nagant replied as she stood and walked to the door. "First, you've got to greet the bastard in charge. It's your first day, after all. I'll also give you a tour of the place. That's standard procedure. If we have time, we'll do a bit of light patrolling. Nothing serious. Tomorrow, the real work begins, unless something happens in the patrol."
She paused and looked over her shoulder. "By the way, are you staying in your house or somewhere nearby?"
"No," Mewtwo said, walking after her. "I'll be staying at U.A., in the dorms. It's closer, and I'm expected to be here from 8 A.M. to 6 P.M. That's the shift the school assigned to me."
They stepped into the hallway together. Surprisingly, Lady Nagant didn't go quiet like usual. She kept talking, explaining details about the facility—who worked where, how departments were structured, where backup was coordinated. Mewtwo listened, a little stunned.
He couldn't recall a time she had been this talkative. Even if everything she said was related to logistics or building layout, it was still more than he was used to.
The building itself was organized in a clear, layered structure. The main hall connected all departments, and from the second floor to the sixth was what they called the "Hero Central." There, heroes affiliated with the Bureau reviewed missions, conducted investigations, and held coordination meetings with the police. Above that—up to the tenth floor—was the Communications Center, where operators handled calls from across Japan, connecting branches and working closely with the Hero Public Safety Commission.
That's also where backup was requested during high-risk operations.
Above that level were the administrative offices for the entire facility—human resources, internal affairs, the kitchen staff, and everything related to the personnel that kept the place running day to day.
Higher still was a floor shrouded in quiet authority. This level dealt exclusively with high-profile operations and confidential matters. It was strictly off-limits to most staff, accessible only to a handful of select heroes and the upper echelon of the Bureau's leadership.
For now, Kaina led Mewtwo to the uppermost floor. The entire level was reserved for the director's office. It spanned nearly the whole floor, silent and sterile. Apart from the director himself, the only other person there was his secretary, quietly working behind a polished desk. No guards. No assistants. Just a door and the man behind it.
Mewtwo had been here before—twice, in fact. Once during the Raid, and another time when Kaina had first introduced him to the Bureau's director.
And now, this was the third.
As Mewtwo stepped inside, the familiar unease returned instantly. The director sat at his desk, hands folded neatly, his expression stretched into that same unnerving smile—too wide, too fixed. There was something unnatural about it, something off. The man gave off a feeling that twisted in Mewtwo's gut.
He hadn't forgotten what he saw during the raid either. The day the director ordered both Mewtwo and Suneater into the front lines without proper intel, Mewtwo caught the looks exchanged between the heroes present.
Not just confusion—disgust. His decision hadn't just seemed questionable, it had felt deliberately reckless. And while it could've been written off as poor judgment, Mewtwo remembered clearly how many heroes shifted uncomfortably, glancing at the director with something close to contempt.
And now, here they were again.
"Welcome back, Raiden-kun. It's been a while," the director greeted with a voice as polished as his suit. "I've been looking forward to having you join us. I assume Kaina-san has already shown you around? What do you think of the place?"
Mewtwo nodded politely, choosing to respond aloud instead of telepathically. Strangely, he didn't feel comfortable speaking to this man with his mind—it felt like letting him in too close.
"Hello, sir. Yes, she has. The place is even bigger than I expected from the outside," he replied, his voice low and resonant, deeper than when he used his human form. "I've also been looking forward to joining. Thank you for having me."
"Wonderful. Truly wonderful," the director said with a broad smile that didn't quite reach his eyes.
"We've been waiting for a young talent to show this kind of enthusiasm. You see, I didn't mention it last time, but most new heroes these days prefer to work independently, or they're quickly recruited by large private agencies. Some even end up in high-level private security roles for sensitive sites. Only a handful ever choose to work with us—or the military. So having you here is refreshing."
He glanced at Mewtwo, then at Kaina with a raised brow. "I assume Miss Kaina already briefed you about your first assignment?"
"Yes, sir," Mewtwo replied. "She told me about the gangs that have been causing trouble around the city."
The director nodded, but not to Mewtwo—his eyes shifted to Kaina again, and she returned his nod in silence.
"I suppose you're waiting for me to explain," Kaina said, exhaling quietly. "The truth is… not every hero out there lives up to the title. No one wants to admit it, but some of them have lost their way—or maybe they never cared to begin with."
She turned toward Mewtwo, her expression more serious than before.
"That's why we want you involved. You and Kaina," the director continued, his tone suddenly solemn, theatrical almost. "We need people we can trust to confront those who have tainted the name of this profession. So, tell me, Raiden—can you help us clean up our own?"
His words had weight, but they felt oddly staged, as though he were playing a part in a well-rehearsed act. Still, Mewtwo nodded.
"Yes, sir. I was hoping to head out today, maybe patrol the areas that have been targeted. I'd like to get a look from above—see if I can spot anything unusual."
At that, the director stood abruptly and gave the edge of his desk a light tap, his grin returning with a little too much cheer.
"Excellent. That's the kind of spirit we need. Kaina-san, would you assist him with this? We can't afford to let such motivation go to waste. Off you go—don't let me hold you up."
If it had been anyone else, Mewtwo might have brushed off the strange vibe. Without what he already knew about this man, without Kaina's warning, even he might've believed the director was just passionate—maybe intense, but well-meaning.
But that wasn't the case.
Mewtwo had seen too much, heard too much. He knew better now.
He didn't just want to follow orders. He wanted to help his mentor, bring the truth into the light—and if possible, recover the samples that had been taken.
And maybe, just maybe… see this man fall.