"I don't know."
After hearing All Might's question, All For One answered immediately, as if he had expected it long ago.
"He's already beyond my control. He has his own thoughts."
"He doesn't even need my inheritance anymore."
"Inheritance?!"
All Might immediately caught that word. His eyes narrowed.
It seemed that even in prison, All For One was still dangerous.
"He's probably talking about those genetic technologies," Masata said calmly from the side.
"The things that doctor left behind."
He still remembered the artificial monsters created by the League of Villains.
"That's right," AFO said softly.
"Deadwood has no interest in those things."
"So I gave them to people who needed them more."
"One day, the one hiding in the darkness will cut off your head."
All Might stared at AFO's terrifying, featureless face.
After a long silence, he finally spoke.
"Why?"
"You were willing to overturn common sense and sacrifice everything for this body."
"You achieved a twisted form of immortality."
"And yet you use it only to dominate others."
"Why?"
AFO laughed quietly.
"This question is boring."
"Even if I answered, you wouldn't understand."
"There are people in this world who will never understand each other."
Perhaps he had been lonely for too long.
He spoke more than usual.
"Actually, you and I are the same."
"You want to be a righteous hero."
"I want to be the king of evil."
"Isn't that simple?"
"I have an ideal."
"And I have the power to realize it."
"For that ideal, I'm willing to pay any price."
His hoarse voice carried faint excitement.
"Then why train successors?" All Might asked.
AFO burst into laughter.
"That's what you ask?"
"How interesting!"
His body shook slightly, making the guards tense.
"Didn't you take everything from me five years ago?"
"And then, five years later, your successor stopped me again!"
"Look at me now."
"Even high-speed regeneration can't save me."
"I can only survive through these tubes."
"My endless ambition has turned into dust."
After that, he fell silent.
All Might also said nothing.
The room grew quiet.
"With so much power," Masata suddenly said,
"Why insist on being a demon king?"
"Wouldn't being a hero be better?"
As soon as he spoke, he realized it was a foolish question.
When Quirks first appeared, only a few newborns had them.
Most people were still powerless.
Discrimination, persecution, even human experiments—
All of it had happened.
It was written clearly in history books.
As those first Quirk users grew up, chaos followed.
Why should they be looked down on?
Why should powerless people rule over them?
Riots broke out worldwide.
But scattered resistance couldn't fight the state.
They were crushed.
Then, one man stood up.
All For One.
He united them.
He became the Dark Emperor.
And dragged countless people into darkness.
How could someone like that become a hero?
Later, Quirks became widespread.
Balance returned.
Justice rose.
Then All Might appeared.
And peace followed.
Masata scratched his head awkwardly.
"Uh… forget I asked."
"If it were me, I might've used my Quirk for profit too."
"I'm not as selfless as you, All Might."
"If I were oppressed nonstop, I'd definitely fight back."
"Igarashi!"
All Might panicked.
His eyes widened.
Multiple terrifying possibilities flashed through his mind.
Even AFO looked surprised.
He had thought Masata was just another All Might.
Now, he saw the difference.
And opportunity.
"Hehehe…"
AFO laughed softly.
"So you understand me."
"This society is full of restrictions."
"Why struggle inside it?"
"Why not destroy the rules and make your own?"
It was a perfect provocation.
Anyone else might have wavered.
But Masata wasn't ordinary.
He was a product of modern education and values.
"What are you talking about?"
"If I mess up society like you said, where do I shop?"
"Where do I eat?"
"Where do I travel?"
"All villains are single, right?"
"I don't want to be a lonely masked guy."
"Most importantly—"
"My face is too handsome for villainy."
"How can someone this sunny be evil?"
"So if I followed you, I'd be the dumbest idiot of the century."
"Absolutely number one."
"And I'll leave you with twenty-four words."
"Prosperity, democracy, civilization, harmony."
"Freedom, equality, justice, rule of law."
"Patriotism, dedication, integrity, friendliness."
"Memorize them."
"If you live by them, you'll become a glorious youth pioneer."
All For One froze.
Twenty-four words?
Youth pioneer?
What was this nonsense?
He had lived for over a century and never heard of it.
Was this Masata's secret technique?
"Let's go," Masata said lazily.
"We came to ask about Deadwood, right?"
"I've got class tomorrow."
"All Might, can you write me a fake excuse note?"
"I'll get scolded if I'm late."
He was already tired of the prison.
Soldiers everywhere.
Oppressive atmosphere.
And AFO's ugly face.
Nothing compared to his warm bed.
All Might was still stunned.
He had never heard Masata talk like this before.
He wouldn't tell Masata—
One reason he brought him here was to crush AFO's aura.
After all, this time, AFO wasn't defeated by him…
But by Masata.
For righteous All Might, that was quietly satisfying.
...
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