Chapter 043: Remnants of the Old Era 

After several seconds of hesitation, the strange man spoke again: 

"So, what's your answer? If you really don't want to, you can just pretend we never met and go home like nothing happened." 

"Heh..." 

Ezaki smirked. "You can pretend we didn't meet, but I can't. Fine, take me there. I'm curious to see who wants to meet me." 

The strange man smiled. "Alright, kid. Follow me." 

With that, Ezaki followed the man into the bar. The place was mostly empty. After passing through a door, they entered a luxuriously decorated hall. 

On the sofa sat a man about the same height as Ezaki, reclining casually. 

His outfit was strange—he wore a bird-beak mask and white gloves on both hands. 

Ezaki studied him carefully. Since *My Hero Academia* hadn't finished when he'd been transported, and he wasn't the type to read manga, he had no idea who this man was.

Therefore Ezaki had no memory of the person in front of him. 

"Boss, I've brought the person you wanted. If there's nothing else, I'll be on my way," the unfamiliar man said seriously. Without waiting for the man on the sofa to respond, he quickly left, leaving Ezaki standing there alone. 

"Hurry up. I'm on a tight schedule," Ezaki said as he sat on the opposite sofa, staring intently at the man across from him. 

Chisaki Kai slowly lifted his head, scanning Ezaki Kitazawa with a sharp gaze. 

"Ezaki Kitazawa?" 

"Yes, that's me." 

"Would you like something to drink?" Chisaki Kai asked. 

"No need. Just tell me why you're looking for me." 

"Compared to others your age, you're quite unique—and careful too. I admire that. Since we're both smart people, I'll get straight to the point," Chisaki Kai said calmly. 

Ezaki Kitazawa signaled for him to continue. 

"Have you heard of Shie Hassaikai?" Chisaki Kai asked. 

Shie Hassaikai, according to the original story, was a criminal organization—one of the second-tier enemy factions. Before All Might's rise, many dangerous groups ruled the underworld. 

However, as heroes became more prominent, these groups were exposed and disbanded. With All Might's arrival, their era ended. The surviving groups that avoided capture were labeled as designated enemy groups, under constant police surveillance and forced to live cautiously. In other words, Shie Hassaikai was a remnant of the old underworld. 

Currently, the underworld's true ruler was All For One, leaving little room for Shie Hassaikai to act. Even so, as the current leader of Shie Hassaikai, Chisaki Kai saw Ezaki Kitazawa's unique potential and wanted to recruit him. 

"Never heard of it," Ezaki Kitazawa replied calmly. 

"That's fine. It's basically a criminal organization," Chisaki Kai explained further. 

"And?" 

"I want to invite you to join us." 

"Haha..." Ezaki couldn't help but laugh. He found it curious. He'd rarely acted publicly, except for the U.A. recommended admission exam. 

"Wait... U.A. entrance?" 

Ezaki pondered silently. It was likely that some of their people were watching during the exam. Otherwise, how could they know about him? 

"You must've had someone at the U.A. recommended entrance exam," Ezaki Kitazawa asked. 

"Indeed. Not only that, but I also know another group tried to recruit you, but you turned them down. Of course, I understand we might not have much of a chance either. But it's fine—you don't have to give me an answer now. Take your time and think it over." 

"Also, during this time, if you ever need anything, Shie Hassaikai will do its best to help you." 

As he spoke, Chisaki Kai pulled a business card from his pocket and casually tossed it toward Ezaki Kitazawa. 

Ezaki Kitazawa caught the card, glanced at it, and after a few seconds of thought, slipped it into his pocket. 

"I'll think about it." 

With that, Ezaki Kitazawa stood up and left without another word. 

---

....

---------------------------------------

You can read 10 chapters ahead on patre on

patr eon.com/JYouyi