Chapter 442: Releasing Claws and Radiants on Monocles?!
A BANG resounded as the Crystal Globe exploded into smithereens.
Luke stared at the shiny and dull pieces, clenching his fingers into a fist.
Forget about finding out to whom Himiko Toga, or, better to say, Twice's Clone, had passed on the knife that carried the blood of who knew how many students; he couldn't even see a hint of the knife itself.
[Conformity?] Miss Justice guessed.
"Most probably," Luke admitted, nodding. "I'd thought He only parasitized Shigaraki. However, upon closer examination, I believe his reach is expanding. It must be related to the active involvement of Her Radiants in so many events. Instead of limiting Himself to one person, He is turning the entire League of Villains into His personal Claws."
[It can also be related to the Monocles…]
"Definitely," Luke said. "No doubt that both of Them now know something's wrong with these new, Quirkless people gaining power, and it has nothing to do with Mr. Fool or me. She might not have acted against me for some… unknown, selfish reason. But, will They remain on the opposite sides concerning the Monocles as well?"
[Do you mean?]
"Hmm…" Luke took a deep breath. "I think, if we play our cards right, we can get Them to act against Monocles without revealing the Parasite plaguing this world."
No matter how much he wanted to get rid of Amon, taking the help of Conformity and Singularity wasn't the right way to do it.
Who knew what kind of safety measures He had planned against these Concept-like Beings?
It was nigh impossible for Him not to know that there were Powers, just like Him, making moves behind the scenes; Powers indigenous to this world. It was especially so with The Boundary's presence around the planet, which He had tried to break through over and over by now.
Luke dialed Apostle Shield.
[Leader?] Melissa's voice rang, sounding concerned. [Everything's alright?]
As the Manager of the Apostles of Mr. Fool, controlling all their operations from the headquarters, she knew exactly where all the members were at all times.
It was something Dr. Blessed had tacitly agreed to as well.
It was better to take precautions after what happened to him.
If Luke hadn't added the GPS to his costume, then Amon would have all but turned him into His Blessed.
So, knowing exactly where the leader was, Melissa hadn't expected him to call.
Luke changed his voice, making it sound like Dr. Blessed's. "First, search for a girl named Camie from Shiketsu High School," he told her. "Look for matches over public CCTV and try to find out the location where she is adjusting her clothes, or looking into the mirror, or making weird expressions. When you have found her, send the details to the Police anonymously."
[…] Melissa remained quiet for some time. Then, ignoring the queer command and instantly taking it seriously, she replied, [Got it! Second?]
"Second," Luke continued, nodding within, "contact Alexander Becking — the Radiant of Gravity."
…
"What took you so long?" Erasure Head asked, narrowing his eyes.
The second stage had already started, Luke noticed.
It looked like a rescue exercise.
On the other side, seeing Luke not take the chance to make another joke, especially with the question giving him the best opportunity to do so, both Aizawa and Todoroki instantly tensed.
Ms. Joke, who sat by Erasure Head's side with a box of popcorn in her hands, didn't notice them tensing up and continued to focus on the stage.
From the row behind his seat, Luke bent down and whispered in Aizawa's ear.
The Pro's eyes widened, Todoroki almost standing up, seeing that expression.
"Remain here…" Aizawa said, looking at Todoroki. "Luke, come with me."
"What gives?!" Ms. Joke asked. "The best part is coming up…"
But, ignoring her completely, Aizawa jumped over his seat and left with Luke, leaving a pale-faced Todoroki behind.
Unknown to all the students, a storm raged across the Takoba National Stadium, with teams of Police, Detectives, and other Pros rushing from one corner of the building to the next, searching for the real Camie.
The worst was the Pro who had come with the Shiketsu High School students.
Who knew since when the fraud Camie had been tagging along with them?
Detective Tsukauchi pulled a blank-faced Erasure Head and Luke away from the scene and sighed. "We will need to… confine all the students in the stadium," he told them. "I have already called my sister. She can help us sort the situation out faster, I guess."
From the way Aizawa just nodded, Luke knew the Pro didn't like this one bit.
If Camie were a Twice Clone, then who knew how many such Clones were hiding among the students?
One wrong move and everything could go south, with a student getting hurt by a panicked Villain, even if it were a Clone.
Not everyone would be like Luke…
"How did you know she was a Clone?" Tsukauchi asked.
Luke shrugged. "I didn't."
"…" Tsukauchi.
"…" Aizawa.
The Detective replayed the part of the recording where Luke was pressing Camie to know what her Quirk was.
Luke scratched the back of his head.
He couldn't say he had found Camie's Quirk quite similar to Himiko Toga's upon using Spirit Vision.
"I was just interested…" he said, blushing.
Aizawa took a deep breath, not knowing what to say in his student's defense.
"Still…" Tsukauchi said after a while, obviously accepting Luke's excuse. "… You said you instinctively reacted to the Clone's attack. What if… it hadn't been a Clone?"
Even if it were a Clone, for a punch to destroy it instantly…
If it hadn't been a Clone, then the same punch could have probably killed the girl.
And, if that had happened, then no matter if she were a Villain or he had acted in defense…
Luke opened his mouth to give the perfect excuse.
Aizawa put himself between his student and the Detective first, though.
"It was a Clone," the Pro emphasized. "If you want to know how Luke performs in imaginary scenarios, you can stream any public footage of Battle Royale."
Luke stared at Erasure Head's back, feeling…
His mobile vibrated.
Luke inched away from the two men and saw the text…
… a chill running down his spine!
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