Luke reached out of the water and… grabbed Sir Nighteye's hand.
His heart was steady. There were no signs of worry on his face, but exhaustion. His blue eyes didn't carry any fear, but an admiring confusion.
Sir Nighteye, who had spent years investigating criminals, picked up on that confusion instantly. He pulled the boy up, knowing exactly the reason behind Luke's confusion.
Things had taken a wild turn ever since he had decided to use Foresight on Luke, hoping to find Dr. Blessed's whereabouts through his future.
If a disaster was brewing, waiting to erupt and burn All Might, it was crucial to know what Dr. Blessed's role would be in all this. It was especially so when All Might didn't show any hint of the animosity or emotion that he usually did when mentioning Villains.
Sir Nighteye had to eliminate all the variables, including Shigaraki, Stain, and Nomus.
But he decided to go after Dr. Blessed first because it was… easy.
Sir Nighteye observed that he had already let this farce continue far too long. Because these were All Might's students, he hadn't minded seeing their growth now that he was already here.
The boy whom All Might chose as the next successor of One For All wasn't anything special, either. At least, without arranging a one-on-one session with Midoriya, he wouldn't be able to find what All Might saw in him.
Luke… felt different.
Even without a Quirk, the confidence this boy radiated was on a next level.
Sir Nighteye looked at the boy's hand as he held it and… thought against using Foresight immediately, Mr. Reijirou's face flashing through his mind.
Yes.
Renji Saionji wasn't Izuku Midoriya.
Even if he was adopted, Luke was the son of one of the most influential men in the world. He couldn't use Foresight on the boy. Not without the exclusive permission from the head of the Saionji family first.
There lay the issue, though.
From everything Sir Nighteye had gathered on Luke and Mr. Reijirou's relationship, it all seemed… too much out of place. All things were hidden so well behind curtains that it was impossible to find them without alerting the Saionji Group first.
In the end, Sir Nighteye had concluded that Mr. Reijirou Saionji might never allow him to use Foresight on Luke.
However, if the boy himself agreed to it, then he wouldn't need Mr. Saionji's permission anyway.
So, yes.
Instead of using Foresight in a secretive manner, it was better to let the boy know the reason behind it.
Meanwhile, Midoriya and the others eyed Sir Nighteye and Luke eerily as the Pro had already told them that he wasn't here to recruit anyone.
Then, why did it seem that he was here exactly for Luke?
And when Sir Nighteye said the next words, ignoring everyone, that doubt settled in their hearts.
"… Let's talk," Sir Nighteye said, letting go of Luke's hand. "Come with me."
…
[That was…] Miss Justice remarked as Luke entered the bathroom. […brilliant!]
Luke looked at himself in the mirror and barely held himself from slumping against the wall, gasping for breath.
This was no mere physical exhaustion.
Even in his scientist days at the Blue Site, Luke had never pushed his mental capacities to such limits.
From instantly decrypting Sir Nighteye's rationale to misdirecting his thoughts, forcing him to decide against using Foresight on the spot…
Within a few moments, Luke had digested a great chunk of Cryptologist Potion.
[… I didn't want to say this,] Miss Justice pointed out. [But you really have an exceptional knack for the Marauder Pathway…]
Luke closed his eyes, shaking his head.
He didn't mind Miss Justice outright mentioning it.
Time after time, even if he disliked admitting it, his actions had proved exactly what Miss Justice said.
He digested Marauder the fastest of the three initial Sequences.
Then, he digested the Swindler potion instantly, despite it being a Sequence higher than Marauder.
Now…
"Let's hope it was worth it…" Luke said after a while, wiping the sweat from his forehead.
Sir Nighteye had already told him about his intention of using Foresight upon him. He had also exclusively mentioned that it was for the Greater Good of the world — clearly suggesting that refusing wasn't an option.
Luke had earned himself a few minutes using the bathroom as an excuse.
So, hurriedly, he set up a ritual, creating a Spiritual Wall around him. With Amon already on the Earth, he didn't even talk about Him or Mr. Fool in the open anymore.
Also, with nothing to add on from his side to the Tarot Club Members' findings related to Amon, Luke had not written more letters to them, either. It was best to digest Cryptologist as soon as he could and freely discuss his situation above the Gray Castle. It would be best if he could get guidance from Mr. Fool Himself.
For now, His Blessing would be more than enough if it could counter Foresight.
…
The Fool that doesn't belong to this era;
The Mysterious Ruler above the gray fog;
The King of Yellow and Black who wields good luck
I pray for your help.
I pray for your loving grace…
…
Luke stared into the flickering flame above the candle after explaining his plight.
Suddenly, the entire world darkened, the flame burgeoning in his vision. From that flame, an ethereal figure, donning red robes and carrying twelve wings on its back, walked out and overlapped itself on him.
A warmth surged within Luke, instantly calming his mind.
Even the stray thoughts that had been plaguing him ever since he had become a Cryptologist suddenly died.
This was the second time he had asked for Angel Embrace, yet… the entire event felt as grand as the first.
Thanking Mr. Fool from the bottom of his heart, Luke wiped out all signs of the ritual and then left the bathroom.
Sir Nighteye was waiting for him in the hall, eyeing the bathroom door already.
"… Done?" the Pro Hero asked, donning his usual gray suit. "I hope you didn't change your mind…"
Luke smiled in return and gave him his hand.
The Pro Hero gave a rare smile and held Luke's hand, looking right into the boy's eyes as he activated Foresight.
Sir Nighteye's pupils suddenly widened, becoming purple gears.
The world ceased to exist for him, a gray fog replacing the ground and the sky.
Suddenly, sensing a shadow over him, Sir Nighteye looked up and saw… an enormous figure looking down at him… seated on a throne.
Crack!
Cough!!
Sir Nighteye's eyes rolled back into his head as he coughed out a mouthful of blood… painting Luke's stunned face red!
********************
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