A Collector

"Interesting move." All for One smiled at Izuku as they played chess, as they often did when the teen visited his lair for their discussions. Sensei's chess set was a lavish, marble piece, with the white pieces sculpted to look like angelic warriors, while the opposing black side was dominated by grotesque, demonic figures.

"I've heard Mach has been rough with you."

"I do the best I could when fighting, but I still haven't earned his approval," Izuku replied, moving one of his white pawns forward.

"That you have." All for One moved one of his black knights to counter. "Which is why I thought I should return the favor with a special lesson—just for you."

Izuku raised an eyebrow. "What kind of lesson, Sensei?"

"What do you know about manipulation?" The ancient villain asked, his voice smooth and calculating.

"Manipulation? You mean, like getting people to do what you want? Or tricking them into making a move that benefits me? Or maybe forcing someone to follow my orders? There's blackmail... bribery..." Izuku mumbled as he stared at the board, lost in thought.

All for One smiled darkly. "No, I'm talking about control. How to truly rule people." He leaned back, eyes gleaming with an unsettling hunger. "How do you think I amassed so many followers over the years?"

"You told me once that you offered to give and take quirks," Izuku said, recalling the conversation they'd had before. The revelation that All for One had lived since the dawn of quirks had left him both shocked and awed.

"Yes, but in truth, there simply weren't enough quirks to go around in the beginning. So how did I gain so many followers?" All for One asked, eyes narrowing slightly. "Sometimes, all you need is to control one person."

Izuku furrowed his brow, unsure of where the conversation was going.

All for One picked up his bishop, moving it to a position surrounded by several of his pawns. "Let me explain." He spoke slowly, carefully. "There's one thing I've learned about human behavior: almost everyone has someone—or something—they care about deeply. Someone they'd do anything to protect. It could be family, friends, or even a cause they believe in."

Izuku nodded, understanding what he meant. "Yeah, I get it. Most people have someone they'd risk everything for."

"Exactly." All for One's smile widened, as though he had caught Izuku in a web of his own making. "Now imagine that these pawns are all individuals who care deeply about this bishop here. Maybe the bishop is a friend or family member, or even a beloved mentor. People with emotional ties are often the easiest to manipulate."

Izuku paused, thinking. "So, you give the bishop a quirk, or take someone else's, and then you have leverage over him... and through him, over all the pawns, right?"

"Correct," All for One replied smoothly. "It's a pyramid scheme of control. Once you control the bishop, you control the pawns. And that's how you build an army." He chuckled darkly, his eyes glinting with malicious satisfaction. "I don't just give quirks to anyone. I look for people who already have something—or someone—to fight for. I give them a choice: receive a power, or have their loved ones hurt. Either way, they do exactly as I wish."

Izuku's face tightened as he processed the implications of what was being said. "It's like... a pyramid scheme," he said, his voice thoughtful.

"Exactly," All for One repeated, grinning wider at the boy's understanding. "But you see, in the end, all you really need is to control a handful of key people. Through them, you have an entire army. It's surprisingly easy once you learn how to manipulate the right individuals."