The Villain Factory, if it had continued into the present day of My Hero Academia, would undoubtedly be a far more insidious and widespread threat, adapting its methods to the current hero society.
Here's a speculation on how it would work:
Evolution of the Villain Factory in the Present:
Covert Operations & Global Reach: With All For One's initial goal of creating a being to rival All Might largely achieved (or at least, having produced Shigaraki as a successor), the Villain Factory would likely shift its focus. Instead of solely operating in Naruhata, it would become a more globally-minded, decentralized organization. They would operate in the shadows, using front companies, online networks, and sleeper agents to avoid detection by the increasingly vigilant hero society.
Targeted Quirk Research & Enhancement: Their core objective would remain Quirk-based experimentation, but with a more refined approach. Instead of simply creating "Instant Villains" through widespread Trigger distribution, they might focus on:
Designer Quirks: Developing specific Quirks for specific nefarious purposes, perhaps for assassinations, espionage, or large-scale sabotage. This could involve combining multiple Quirks or artificially creating new ones.
Quirk Awakening & Overdrive: Researching ways to force Quirk awakenings in individuals or push existing Quirks into "overdrive" states, similar to the effects of Trigger but perhaps more controlled and stable. They might even develop methods to temporarily grant Quirks to Quirkless individuals, creating a new class of disposable agents.
Anti-Hero Countermeasures: Actively researching hero Quirks and developing countermeasures or weaknesses to exploit. This could involve creating "anti-Quirk" drugs or devices, or training their enhanced villains to specifically counter popular hero abilities.
Sophisticated Recruitment: Their recruitment methods would evolve. Instead of just kidnapping potential "Instant Villains," they might target:
Disillusioned Individuals: People who feel marginalized by hero society, those with "villainous" Quirks, or individuals seeking power or revenge.
Underground Scientists & Bio-Engineers: Recruiting brilliant but unethical minds to further their research into Quirk modification and enhancement.
Quirk Trafficking Rings: Becoming a major player in the black market for Quirks, either by buying and selling them, or by "harvesting" Quirks from unwilling donors.
Technological Integration: The present-day Villain Factory would heavily integrate advanced technology into its operations:
Advanced Surveillance: Using sophisticated drones, AI, and data analysis to monitor hero movements, public opinion, and potential targets.
Cyber Warfare: Employing hackers and cybercriminals to disrupt hero networks, leak sensitive information, or spread disinformation to sow chaos.
Automated Production: Utilizing automated labs and manufacturing facilities to produce Trigger, Quirk-enhancing drugs, and even synthetic Nomu-like beings on a larger scale.
Political Manipulation & Economic Influence: They might subtly infiltrate political and economic structures, using their enhanced villains and resources to manipulate events from the shadows, destabilize governments, or control key industries.
New "Nomu" Variants: Their "Next-Level Villains" would become even more terrifying, perhaps evolving into specialized Nomu variants designed for specific roles (e.g., stealth Nomu, intelligence-gathering Nomu, crowd-control Nomu). They might even develop "intelligent Nomu" capable of independent thought and complex strategies.
Public Perception Management: While operating in secret, they might also subtly influence public opinion through propaganda, creating a sense of unease or distrust towards heroes, making it easier for their operations to go unnoticed or even gain passive support.
In essence, the Villain Factory would become a more advanced, adaptable, and pervasive threat, operating less like a brute-force criminal organization and more like a shadowy, high-tech syndicate capable of undermining hero society from within.