Dr. Blessed's HQ,
Suwanosejima Island
Luke sat on the high-backed chair, dressed as Dr. Blessed, his black, clown mask resting on the long table in front of him at one corner.
Behind him, Nyx perched at the chair's top.
Both were looking at the crystal globe resting exquisitely in front of Luke on the table.
It was the Crystal Ball — the Sequence 7 Astrologer's core ability.
It was also the only ability that set an Astrologer apart from a Seer, as both Sequences shared almost all other abilities.
Ever since he had become an Astrologer, Luke had been trying to actually put this ability to the test.
As a Seer, he could Dream Divination to find answers to some odd questions. However, because of Conformity and Singularity, he dared not attempt it.
Crystal Ball provided a much better alternative.
And, it just so happened, Luke dearly needed to use it.
[It works the same.] Miss Justice guided him. [Let your Spirituality interact with the Crystal Ball, focusing on the question you want to be answered. If there is no interference, and the relevant info is not lacking, then you should get the answer. Of course, the more you practice and the more you interact with the Crystal Ball, the more accurate the Divinations will be.]
Luke nodded.
He closed his eyes, putting his hand on the Crystal Ball.
"Melissa Shield's current condition…" Luke said out loud, focusing on his interaction with the girl before leaving the I-Island.
As he repeated it seven times, letting his Spirituality freely interact with the globe, a fog churned within the Crystal Ball suddenly.
Luke opened his eyes, his blue pupils dilated to the extreme.
Slowly, the fog within the Crystal Ball began taking definite shape, even gaining color.
The scene reflected Melissa's eyes first, showing intense struggle. Then, slowly, the scene expanded, showing her full face — water trickling down her cheeks.
Luke frowned.
But before he could relate those drops of water to tears, the scene expanded even more.
Miss Justice screamed in Luke's mind. [Shut it off!]
Nyx cried. "I will kill you if you do that, Luke!!"
Luke's entire face lost color as he realized what he was looking at.
It was around midnight, and Melissa Shield, after a very busy day… was taking a shower before going to bed.
Hurriedly, Luke cut off the Spirituality, making the scene vanish, a bright, red flush appearing on his cheeks.
"Arghhhhhhh!" Nyx pounced on Luke, scratching his face. "You… Why… Why… WHY?!!"
Luke pulled Nyx away from his face after a while, large claw marks drawing blood on his chin and neck.
"I knew it was too good to be true!" Nyx lamented, lying flat on her back on the table, pointing her legs up and using her wings to cover her face. "I got swindled! … Arhh… Can't even change to Astrologer anymore… Dammit!"
Taking a moment to calm down and ignoring Nyx, Luke drew a deep breath, feeling ashamed.
Still, despite trying to forget the entire scene, he couldn't erase the look in Melissa's eyes.
"… They must be making her life miserable," Luke contemplated. "Dr. David Shield is a world-renowned Scientist. So, he must have his own set of enemies, fueled by jealousy. If even one of them was transferred to the I-Island after the incident, then he wouldn't let his daughter live freely as well."
[That's true.] Miss Justice agreed. [If this keeps going on, they would break her spirit…]
Luke knew what the System was suggesting — to talk to her.
He had already sown the seed for a future member within Melissa.
Luke had mentioned that because of the inherent flaw in the Quirk Amplification Device, Villains might come after her father eventually. And he hadn't lied. If Melissa wanted to secure her and her father's future against Villains and greedy people alike, then she needed to become powerful independently.
"Let's give her more time," Luke decided. "Manipulation is easy… especially when she's already cornered. But… It's not the right thing to do."
[…] Miss Justice smiled.
On the table, even Nyx held back a smile and kept complaining about having a Crystal Ball of her own.
"OK," Luke said, looking at the Crystal Ball. "Let's try the most important task of today…"
Nyx sat up straight. "You mean…"
Luke nodded.
That day, Melissa wasn't the only one they had swindled.
There was one more person in whose heart they had planted Mr. Fool's faith, without promising any power.
Compared to Melissa, this person stood the best chance of accepting Mr. Fool's faith — unconditionally and with a greater zeal.
"I just hope…" Luke lampooned, "… we don't see an old, naked man showering…"
Then, as Nyx's face crumpled in disgust, Luke put his hand on the Crystal Ball. "Samuel Abraham's current location…"
Dr. Samuel Abraham, David's assistant, was the mastermind behind I-Island's incident, who was later betrayed and almost killed by Wolfram. Because of the sporadic firing, he was shot in the head.
Under Pop*Step's pleadings, Luke had intervened, operating on the dying man on the spot, ultimately digesting his Magician Potion as well.
Ever since then, Luke had been trying to keep an eye on the man who had obtained a new chance at life.
The Crystal Ball let out a suppressed silvery-blue halo, showing a new scene.
It was of Sam, dressed in an orange shirt and pants, and lying on a bed, staring up. His mouth was constantly moving as if he were chanting something.
Despite not being able to hear through the Crystal Ball, Luke instantly learned what Sam was saying.
"Praise be to Mr. Fool…" Sam was chanting — on and on. "Praise be to Mr. Fool…"
The scene changed, then, showing a notice board with LA Villains Detention Center written in bold letters on it.
"Are we doing it?" Nyx asked.
Luke smiled. "Well… he isn't doing anyone any good just lying there… Alright. Let's bring Mr. Iwao and Ms. Kazuho…"
However, something happened then, making Luke pause mid-sentence.
His eyes narrowed at the Crystal Ball, the fog within churning once more.
Didn't the Divination end?! Luke asked himself, sharing a questioning glance with Nyx.
But the fog within the globe was already taking shape.
It was a scene of a lab — showing a bearded man in a white lab coat, scribbling on a paper.
The moment Luke's eyes landed on him, the man too looked up — and grabbed the right side of the glasses on his face, pushing them deeper against his eye.
Then, the man looked away and continued scribbling once more, and the scene vanished.
Luke and Nyx stared dead at the Crystal Ball, their mouths hanging open a little as they said together — What the…
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AN: Original Image of the man with glasses within the Crystal Ball is available
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