My Hero Academia: Thunder God

"Transformers? Sentinels?"

Manshi glanced at Kaminari in surprise before realizing that the boy was referring to the powerful SIS-made robot displayed in the hologram.

"The names you came up with are interesting, but it's a pity—these machines already have official names given by the United States."

"Oh?"

Kaminari raised an eyebrow, intrigued. Even Momo, despite her discomfort at the violent imagery on display, was drawn in by the comment.

"'Iron Guardian,'" Manshi said solemnly.

"The U.S. government has named this class of war machines 'Iron Guardian.' It's a symbolic title, referring to war generals who act as protectors, commanders, and enforcers of authority."

His tone turned heavy as he gestured toward the image of the towering, SIS-made robot on the table. "I have to admit, the name suits them perfectly. When these machines were first deployed, they struck fear not just into opposing forces but into the governments of other nations as well."

"'Iron Guardian' is the series name, right? But each individual unit must have its own designation," Kaminari speculated, his curiosity growing.

Manshi hesitated for a moment before scratching his chin thoughtfully. "You're right, each one has a unique name, but I can't recall the specific names right now."

As a businessman, Manshi didn't delve deeply into military details. The Yaoyorozu family wasn't part of a military-industrial complex like the heavyweights in defense, so the specifics of weapons like this weren't their expertise. All they needed to know was that such terrifying technology existed in the world.

"Allow me to answer," the voice of Ebisu, the artificial intelligence system, interrupted smoothly, emanating from a hidden speaker.

Manshi nodded in approval. "Go ahead."

"This particular 'Iron Guardian' is designated as 'Patton,' after General George S. Patton, one of the most renowned American generals of World War II. His aggressive tactics and unyielding leadership earned him lasting respect and recognition as a brilliant military strategist."

Hearing this, Kaminari rubbed his forehead in exasperation. "Great, now even robots are history lessons," he muttered. But after a moment, he admitted to himself, It's actually kind of fitting… very American.

Turning his attention back to the hologram, Kaminari asked, "By the way, do you know how many 'Iron Guardians' the U.S. has? Or how many exist globally?"

"From the looks of it, these things seem way stronger than most of Japan's top ten Pro Heroes… well, except for All Might," Kaminari commented, his tone half-serious as he observed the robot effortlessly decimating opposition forces with its energy cannons.

"I'd agree," Manshi said with a nod. "In terms of raw destructive power, there's no doubt they surpass the capabilities of most Pro Heroes."

"As for how many the United States has…" Manshi paused, frowning slightly. "It's hard to say. The production of these machines started decades ago, so they've likely built a significant number by now. That being said, sightings and deployments of the 'Iron Guardians' are extremely rare. If I recall correctly, they've only been publicly deployed two or three times."

"Three times, sir," Ebisu interjected again. "And each instance involved a different 'Iron Guardians.' Their names were officially announced as 'Patton,' 'MacArthur,' and 'Sherman,' named after notable American military figures."

"Huh, so they're sticking with famous generals for the names," Kaminari murmured. Guess they're leaning into the theme pretty hard.

He then thought to himself, I wonder if they're planning to create a specific number, like an elite group of 'Iron Guardians.' Or… maybe they already have a full battalion of them.

Manshi's voice pulled him out of his thoughts. "As for their strength… I can't say for sure. But I remember hearing from a Mitsubishi Heavy Industries executive years ago that a single 'Iron Guardian' could take on an entire aircraft carrier.

"And if there are two of them? They could go toe-to-toe with a full carrier strike group. That's why countries like Russia have also heavily invested in creating similar technology."

Hearing this, Kaminari's lips pressed into a thin line. "Wait… are you saying Russia also has their own version of 'Iron Guardians'?"

Manshi nodded. "Of course. However, their numbers are far fewer compared to the United States. After all, the U.S. started development nearly a decade earlier than the rest of the world."

"Of course," Manshi added, "other countries don't call their machines 'Iron Guardian.' Each has its own unique naming conventions."

"I see…" Kaminari trailed off, his gaze returning to the holographic display. For some reason, the image of the towering Patton made him think of the Nomu he had encountered during the USJ attack.

Comparing the two, he realized there were some stark differences. In terms of speed, the Nomu was undoubtedly faster than Patton. And with Quirks like shock absorption and super regeneration, the Nomu's durability was nothing to scoff at either.

However, where the Nomu relied on brute force and a few innate abilities, Patton had the advantage of cutting-edge technology. Its energy weapons, impenetrable defensive shields, and high-frequency vibrating sword gave it a level of versatility and sheer destructive power that was hard to match.

Still… I wonder how many hits its shield could take from All Might or a Nomu-level opponent, Kaminari thought.

Manshi's voice broke through his thoughts once again. "Alright, now you understand why SIS is so valuable to the major powers. You need to be cautious moving forward."

His tone was serious, and as he spoke, the lights in the conference room turned back on. The holographic display disappeared, leaving only the table between them.

"Are you saying these major powers might come after me because of my SIS battle suit?" Kaminari asked, frowning. Momo, seated beside him, also looked at her father with concern.

"I can't say for sure," Manshi replied gravely. "Even if the governments themselves don't act, there will always be rogue groups or smaller nations willing to make a trade or worse, try to steal your suit outright."

Manshi paused for emphasis. "You should also be wary of private forces that might want to use your suit as leverage to gain favor with the major powers."

"Including Japan?" Kaminari asked bluntly, his expression darkening.

"No, Japan has no interest in SIS-made robots," Manshi said with a small smile. "For one, the cost-to-benefit ratio simply isn't worth it. And second, our government has been focusing on the development of high-end biological and chemical weapons instead."

"High-end biological weapons…" Kaminari murmured, a troubling thought crossing his mind.

Could the creation of the Nomu be tied to this? Where else could the League of Villains have obtained the resources, technology, and funding necessary to produce something so grotesque and powerful?

Manshi rose from his seat, his tone softening. "Alright, I've said everything that needs to be said. How about staying for dinner? You've been here so many times, but you always leave after studying. Why not stay and enjoy a meal with us for once?"

"Don't rush off today, Kaminari. If you try to leave, I'll call your father and insist!"

"Uh… alright, I'll stay," Kaminari said sheepishly, realizing he couldn't refuse the offer.

"Hahaha! That's more like it!" Manshi laughed heartily, clapping him on the back.

***

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