The thugs Herman called were not your usual dumb brutes but rather clever criminals who knew how to handle things for greater impact with less noise and could actually follow his plans without messing up.
And because Herman had also explained the plan to them in detail and also added some hypnotic suggestion to their heads, they didn't attack Ochaco's parents immediately.
First, they followed the couple in the morning, gathered all the information about their workplace, and understood the ins and outs, like the nearby alleys, the routes to the police station, the neighbours who could be potential witnesses, and other crucial details.
After all that was done, they finally decided to act according to plan, which was to create a scene at the beginning and then later settle the bill in the name of revenge, at which point Herman would act personally.
The time they chose was the afternoon, when most people would be inside their houses and offices, enjoying the cool air of AC in the sweltering summer heat, but could also come out to help if the commotion was loud.
Ochaco's parents ran a small family-owned construction business and took on modest jobs like repairs, small buildings, and renovations.
But the work was unstable and physically exhausting, which was also the reason why Ochaco grew up watching them overwork themselves for very little return.
Their small office smelled of sawdust, old paper, and the faint scent of sweat, which was all proof of their hard work and dedication.
Blueprints were stacked randomly on the desk, and Ochaco's father was halfway through explaining a renovation estimate to Ochaco's mother when the door creaked open without a knock, and a man stepped in.
Obviously, it was one of those thugs who was wearing a black jacket that seemed out of place in the summer heat with cheap boots, and he had a smile that clearly told everyone that he was here for no good reason.
And as expected, without even bothering to sit, he swaggered around the office as if he already owned the place, and his eyes scanned every corner with interest before saying.
"So this is the Uraraka Construction office. You folks are lucky."
Seeing the man, Ochaco's father frowned, his worn face tensed up with concern.
As an experienced man, he understood immediately that this ruffian was looking for trouble, but he still tried to keep things professional, hoping to de-escalate the situation.
"If you're here for work, please take a seat. We—"
But the man cut him off with a dismissive wave of his hand.
"Don't teach me what to do. This area falls under our Takamine Gang jurisdiction. Means you're protected by us, but for such a long time, we haven't seen any appreciation from you guys."
Hearing that, Ochaco's mother stiffened, and her hands clenched nervously in her lap.
The thug, after a deliberate pause, added.
"And this is the reason I am here today. You don't have to worry since you can still show appreciation as a sign of goodwill," the thug continued, tapping the blueprints with a dirty finger. "You'll be building a house for one of our associates... Of course, it will be free of charge."
What followed his speech was a heavy silence before Ochaco's father finally stepped forward.
"A house? For free?"
"Yes, and a big one with good materials... Be quick with the schedule." The thug grinned evilly, revealing yellowed teeth.
"That's impossible," Ochaco's father said flatly. "We barely manage our current contracts. We can't take something like that without payment."
"So you're refusing?" The thug's smile vanished, replaced by a cold look.
"I'm saying no. We're not interested in protection fees."
Hearing that straight refusal, the thug's eyes narrowed, but then they suddenly drifted and landed on Ochaco's mother, who had shrunk back in her chair.
Right away, his lips curled into a perverted smile, and he licked them deliberately, while his eyes roamed over her body in a way that made her skin crawl.
"Well, there might be another way to show goodwill without paying the protection fees..." He lecherously looked at Ochaco's mother and said. "What do you say, sexy? Come on, spend a night with me… and maybe we can forget about this little refusal."
Smack!
He had just finished speaking before a slap landed straight on his face, and the sound echoed through the small office like a gunshot.
"Get the hell out."
Ochaco's father was almost shaking with rage.
The same was true for the thug, and for a moment, it looked like the thug might explode and start fighting right there.
But then, his phone vibrated, which was a notification from other thugs waiting outside, and he understood that it was time to end the act.
Realizing this, the thug chuckled and backed away with a threatening look in his eyes.
"This isn't over. You just spat in Takamine's face."
With that, he left before some workers heard the commotion and came to help.
Seeing his back, Ochaco's mother pressed a hand to her chest, and she couldn't help but say.
"Honey, will this be alright…? I am having a bad feeling about this."
"So do I."
Her husband didn't say much and hugged her tightly, and they decided to go to the police that evening.
Unfortunately for them, the thugs were also waiting for the evening, knowing exactly where they would go and when.
At the same time, Herman was at the cafe where Ochaco came after school for the part-time job, and he was feeding her brain new hypnotic suggestions to trust him in any situation.
The mental suggestions were like seeds of dependency and admiration that would blossom into full-blown trust over time. He was doing this all while having some fun with her.
"Mmm… This pastry is too good. Here, you have some too, Ochaco."
Before Ochaco could react, Herman stuffed the pastry in her mouth, and when she realized what had happened, her face turned red like the pastry she had just eaten from his hands.
She was holding a tray with two empty cups of coffee, but as she became flustered and tried to back off, Herman used his Transformation Quirk secretly to extend his leg, causing Ochaco to trip.
"Oh—!"