A man in black clothing was sitting on the backside of a car, his legs crossed as he stared at the crowd in front of him.
Nearly a hundred or even more people were standing in a file, like mindless beings, their eyes glazed and drool dripping down some of their mouths.
"Next!" The man shouted.
A woman walked up to him with staggered movements and stopped just in front of him.
He glared down at the woman. "So, what is your quirk?"
The woman continued staring at him, not making any move to answer his command.
"I said what is your quirk, damn it?!"
Slowly, she raised her hands and a rose blossomed from it, a beautiful fragrance reaching the man's nose.
"Ahhh." He smiled. "What a pretty quirk…"
Then his gaze darkened. "A pretty useless quirk!"
Bang!
A slap across the face sent the woman crashing down to the asphalt, the rough road bruising her face and arms.
The man didn't even stare down, she wasn't worth his time.
"Next!"
Like a puppet, the woman stood up and continued walking, until she got to the back of the queue, while another was coming to take her place in front.
"Common boss Orion, don't you think you're being a little harsh?" Someone asked from beside him.
Orion glanced at the boy and frowned. "This is your first day on the job, that is why you don't know how frustrating it has been for me these past few years."
He sighed and waved his hand at the crowd. "Do you see how useless these people are? They don't even have proper quirks talkless of something actually good!"
The young man nodded his head. "You're right boss, every quirk we have seen tonight has been garbage. But if you injure them, the heroes will be on to us…"
Orion rubbed his chin. "Well maybe you're right." Then he scratched his head. "Honestly, if the pay wasn't so good, I won't be helping those pricks."
"Do you know how many months I had to stay here creating nightmare after nightmare to control their minds?"
The young man beside him nodded vehemently. "You're right, your skills are definitely too good for this boss!"
Orion smiled and proudly crossed his arms. "You see, that is why I like you, Zanier, you always know to tell the truth."
"By the way boss, why is the buyer looking for people with quirks?"
As the words left his lips, Orion's expression turned sour.
"If you want to live long in this buisness..." he began, his gaze serious.
"Learn not to ask too many questions. Or you'll end up dead."
Zanier felt a shiver run through his spine. He straightened as sweat began to form and quickly looked for a way to change the topic.
"Ohh, look at that boss, this one is pretty!"
Orion looked at the woman, his eyes widening slightly. He had expected her to be the average type, but when he saw her, he realised he had been sorely mistaken.
She had icy blue eyes, and long silky black hair that framed her face. Her figure was outstanding, and she had a certain presence that followed her.
Even in this half sleepy induced state, she still looked composed, and that composure pissed him off.
"Let's see what you've got, show me your quirk."
Silence…
"Hmm, is this one broken boss?"
Orion shook his head. "I was careful enough, but strangely, she isn't responding to my commands."
He could feel his connection to the last woman, but the link to the lady standing in front of him now was faint.
Almost broken…
He let out a tired breath.
"I said show me your quirk!"
Still, the woman was silent and just stared at him with that sharp, unwavering gaze.
"You bit*ch!"
Thwack!
He slapped her right across the cheeks, causing her to stumble back a few steps, her hair covering her face.
"Come back here…" Orion smiled. "I have all night you know, and I'm going to take my time training you."
'At least I have something to cure my boredom now. Let's see how far my dreamscape quirk can really go!'
But when the woman raised her head next, she no longer had that lost feeling in her eyes. Instead, she looked confused.
She held her red cheeks, most likely feeling the sting from his earlier slap, and glanced around.
"W-where am I?"
Orion's gaze darkened. 'How did she manage to break my dream state?'
The only ways to break the dream state was by having an extremely strong mental capacity, or by overcoming the string of nightmares.
'There was no way she broke my nightmare string…'
The woman's gaze sharpened. "Who the hell are you guys, and what have you done with all these people?"
Orion chuckled. "I see, you are 'special' the very type of people I hate."
"You haven't answered my question…" she said, her voice deathly cold. "Who are you?"
Zanier raised a brow, his jaw clenched.
"It seems you do not understand the situation you are in, lady! You are in the presence of Orion, birth child of the salamander!"
"Salamander? Never heard of it…" She was now packing her hair back in a pony tail, her eyes locked on them in a manner that screamed defiance.
Orion slowly shook his head. "What are you waiting for Zanier? She has seen our operation…"
In all his years of doing this work, this was the first time something like this had happened. But that didn't mean he did not have preset rules for these types of things…
"Boss does that mean…"
He nodded. "Yes, kill her."
Zanier smirked and pulled out a dagger from his robe. "I don't need to use my quirk on someone like you, don't worry, I'll make it quick."
He braced himself, and then he charged, his eyes focused on the woman as he swung his dagger towards her neck.
At least, that was how it looked like, but Zanier was actually aiming for her face, he could not overlook her insult to his boss, and so he would make her pay.
But even as he lunged, the woman made no move to run, she just stood there, slowly observing him as he advanced.
Then Orion saw it, a light glimmer that shone behind her back.
"Zanier, stop—!"
It was already too late.
Golden threads pooled out of her fingers, coalescing together until they birthed a tool meant solely for destruction.
A war hammer with a long golden handle, and a silver squared head. Rune-like patterns covering its ornate frame like an art work.
Bang!
The hammer slammed right into his chest, caving his ribs inward and spreading blood throughout the street.
The woman who had seemed feeble and defenceless just a second ago, had taken down Zanier with one simple strike.
And now, the head of the hammer was gleaming with a bright, golden nefarious light.
"Tch." Tsumi scoffed, turning her attention to the man. "I don't know who runs things where you're from, but here in Musutafu…"
"This is Shie Hassaiki's grounds!"
Orion stood up, his breathing calm as he watched her.
He had heard tales of a woman who fought solely with a hammer, someone who had interrupted their plans in the past.
A woman who was only known amongst syndicates such as the salamander.
But those rumours never came with any sort of proof. Now that he was seeing her with his own eyes, he was sure.
"So it's you…"
His gaze darkened.
"The war hammer witch of Musutafu."