Within the spacious interior of a New York residence, a distinguished gentleman was observed feeding a baby from a bottle. This individual was Winston Oxton, cradling his cherished daughter, Lena Oxton. Over the preceding months, Winston had meticulously attended to Lena's well-being, adhering strictly to David's counsel and directives. Consequently, Lena had flourished, exhibiting a level of health that brought Winston profound solace.
The day following Lena's official adoption – a process that was expedited due to his prominent national standing – Winston returned home. He had already procured a variety of infant essentials: a crib, numerous feeding bottles, toys, and the precise dietary provisions recommended by David. With his mental checklist complete, Winston concluded Lena's feeding, then gently patted her back to induce a burp before settling her into her crib, where the child quickly drifted into slumber.
Once Lena was asleep, Winston proceeded to the kitchen to prepare his own meal. The sheer arduousness of infant care had proven to be an eye-opener. As he cooked, his thoughts drifted to a disquieting telephone call he had received just a few hours prior...
"Hello, is this Winston Oxton?" a masculine voice inquired from the distant end of the line, interrupting the apartment's hushed ambiance.
"Indeed?... It is me. To whom am I speaking?" Winston responded, a faint trace of weariness in his tone.
"This is John Vegas, contacting you from the Department of Scientific and Technological Intelligence. I'm calling to convey recent intelligence furnished by the Department of Security." Winston's eyebrows elevated in genuine astonishment upon recognizing the caller. "As you may be aware, numerous scientists have recently vanished without a trace overnight; this situation has compelled the Department of Security's heroes to exert extraordinary efforts."
Ah... given how preoccupied he had been with Lena and his impending retirement, the string of disappearances had entirely slipped his mind, Winston reflected, a grimace settling on his features.
"After two months, conclusive evidence has been unearthed revealing the culprit behind these events: a villain who identifies as Bad Hood. His unique ability, 'Warp Door,' permits him to conjure a portal anywhere, enabling teleportation to previously visited locations. Fortuitously, we have secured a list of his intended targets, and your name appears on it."
Winston's cognitive functions momentarily ceased as he assimilated the chilling information.
"WHAT?! HOLD ON! WAIT! WAIT! WAIT! ARE YOU IMPLYING THERE IS A ROGUE ASSASSIN INTENDING TO TAKE MY LIFE?!" Winston shrieked in alarm. He faintly registered Lena stirring from her sleep due to his outburst, but at that moment, it was of no consequence.
"Yes, but rest assured. Given your substantial contributions to scientific advancement and our nation, we have decided to authorize your relocation to any other state or country, to ensure your safety from this assailant. Naturally, certain conditions accompany this offer," John calmly articulated, endeavoring to placate the distressed scientist.
"I... I understand... please, inform me of the conditions..." Winston managed to utter, his voice barely above a whisper.
This turn of events is incredibly abrupt... Winston pondered, a wave of apprehension washing over him regarding his precarious circumstances.
Relinquishing the city that had been his home for so many years was an unwelcome prospect. Beyond the mere physical location, it encompassed the memories forged there, his aspirations, his accomplishments, his friendships – every aspect of his life was intrinsically tied to this place. The mere contemplation of abandoning it all filled him with profound revulsion.
Yet, what genuine alternatives did he possess?
His life was in peril... and not solely his own, but his daughter's existence was also in grave danger.
He strode to the refrigerator, retrieved a beer, and consumed nearly the entire bottle in a single draught before drawing a ragged breath. "At least the options are tolerable..." Winston murmured to himself, attempting to mollify his rattled nerves. He ambled back into the living room and sank onto the couch, staring vacantly at the ceiling, lost in a maelstrom of thoughts.
Several nations presented themselves as potential relocation sites...
However, they first had to satisfy specific criteria: robust security measures, reasonable taxation, and a commendable educational system for Lena.
Spain: During the years of conflict, Spain had assumed a vital role as a supplier of resources and a mediator among nations, granting approval to numerous countries. This represented potentially one of the most favorable destinations; it was a tranquil nation where large-scale incidents were infrequent, thus ensuring excellent security. The principal concerns lay in employment and education. Spain was not particularly celebrated for either; a substantial portion of earned income (36%) was allocated to government taxes, which, while leaving ample funds for a comfortable life, was not ideal. Furthermore, its educational system was not particularly robust compared to many other countries, being at best average, especially in its public institutions.
Russia: In the wartime era, Russia and the United States had forged a closer, albeit peculiar, relationship, providing mutual reinforcement and aid, sometimes for reciprocal benefit, at other times simply to assert dominance. Arguably, the two nations maintained a strange, underlying rivalry. Nevertheless, a move to Russia was not an optimal choice, primarily due to Winston's inability to speak Russian. Moreover, scientists and Quirk users were subjected to stringent governmental control, and the educational system was not top-tier, with an almost exclusive focus on military training. Despite these drawbacks, its strict controls rendered it one of the world's safest nations.
Japan: Throughout the war years, Japan played a highly active role, courtesy of its exceptionally well-trained soldiers. Beyond that, it boasted an abundance of extraordinarily powerful Quirk users, which enabled it to excel in the conflict and secure significant resources from its adversaries. Although it withdrew and resolved its hostilities with other nations at the war's conclusion, it retained sufficient prestige to be notably remembered when discussing the conflict. Presently, Japan stood as the safest country globally, largely attributable to figures such as the former Nana Shimura, the celebrated All Might, and the formidable Endeavor, among countless others. Its education, across virtually all sectors, was outstanding, ranking among the top 7 best educational countries. The sole disadvantage with Japan was the seemingly constant occurrence of significant incidents, yet given the sheer proliferation of Heroes inhabiting the nation, this should not pose an insurmountable challenge...
Taking another prolonged swig of his beer, Winston finalized his decision.
"Japan, then..."
A shadowy, cloaked figure advanced swiftly and silently, approaching a large residence in the deep of night. His objective for the evening: to eliminate Winston Oxton, one of his designated targets. The criminal underworld was offering a substantial bounty for Oxton's head. For reasons unknown, the High Commanders had recently developed a peculiar interest in eradicating scientists, though the assassin felt no need to complain—the monetary compensation was always welcome.
Upon reaching the sizable dwelling, he deftly slipped through an upper window, finding himself in a strangely vacant chamber. Dismissing its emptiness, he exited the room and meticulously inspected each subsequent one, moving with extreme caution to avoid producing any sound. He quickly ascertained that the second floor was clear.
Quietly, he began his descent down the stairs towards the living area, maintaining absolute silence...
Then, every light in the house abruptly illuminated.
"Finally! I was growing weary of waiting!" A booming voice, one he recognized almost instantly, sent a jolt of panic through him.
The hooded man instinctively adopted a defensive posture, his gaze fixed upon the formidable woman before him, as if reluctant to confirm her identity. She possessed vibrant yellow hair and wore flamboyant attire reminiscent of the United States flag. It required no genius to deduce the woman's identity...
Star and Stripes.
He reacted instantaneously, understanding that he stood no chance against the sheer power of the nation's premier heroine. He bolted, desperate to locate the nearest exit to activate his Quirk and escape. But as he attempted to open the door...
It was locked.
Before he could even process the thought, he was suddenly sprawled on the floor, with Star and Stripes pinning him down, her gaze fixed upon him with that detestable smile. "Bitch, release me!!!" he snarled.
"You believe I'm going to permit your easy escape after the murders you've perpetrated?!" Star bellowed, simultaneously retrieving her phone and initiating a call. "I've apprehended Bad Hood; the plan was a resounding success... Of course, I don't mind waiting a few minutes; he won't be moving anywhere anyway! HAHAHAHA!"
In that moment, Bad Hood realized he had been ensnared. He couldn't pinpoint who had orchestrated this, as only the High Commanders should have possessed knowledge of his whereabouts—
Oh no.
With a resounding blow to the head, his world dissolved into darkness, and he lost consciousness. The villain notorious for murdering scientists was, on that day, placed under arrest by the Security Department, never to be seen again.
"Are you entirely certain about this, John?"
Perched atop a towering edifice, two figures were discernible. The first, who had just spoken, was a fair-haired individual adorned with black horns. The second was smoking a cigarette, his physique imposing and tall, with dark hair and a pair of black wings extending from his back. Both men were immaculately dressed in formal suits.
"No, but we were presented with no superior alternative," John stated, taking a drag from his cigarette and subtly stretching his wings. "Matters have grown somewhat chaotic of late..."
"But... why permit Winston to leave freely? Is he not an individual of considerable importance to the nation's advancement?" the horned aide questioned uncertainly. "Could we not compel him to remain, perhaps with some binding contract—"
"We had no viable option but to let him depart. I must remind you that Winston falls under David's protection, rendering him virtually untouchable by our organization," John retorted, continuing to smoke, his eyes vaguely surveying the city sprawling beneath them. "Furthermore, this situation is not as detrimental as you perceive. We secure his assistance on a select few projects, which is preferable to nothing. I recall he was on the brink of retirement anyway. Moreover, we successfully utilized him as bait to ensnare the Assassin, who has proven to be a considerable nuisance to us over the past several months. And above all, Star accrues greater prestige and renown by capturing the Killer."
The aide lapsed into silence, contemplating the broader implications. He had to concede that the outcome was not unfavorable. While the loss of Winston was regrettable, it was unequivocally preferable to incurring the displeasure of David and the entirety of I-Island.
"Incidentally, he should be arriving in Japan by now, correct?"
"Yes, he has already set foot on Japanese soil. He will reside in an unassuming yet high-quality dwelling. A compact laboratory, fully equipped for medical and technological research, will be installed in the basement... currently, the residence is situated in Musutafu prefecture."
"Well... I trust he will find no cause for complaint and that he thrives in his new role as a father..."