Prophecy Ability Users and the Villain List

Prophecy ability users were incredibly rare among superpowered individuals. Even with the global population in the billions, the number of prophecy users didn’t exceed three digits. In a world overflowing with superpowers, only they still received treatment akin to national treasures. In ancient times, their roles were roughly equivalent to national advisors, great shamans, divining fortunes, guiding directions, avoiding harm, and ensuring peace.

Unlike invoking elusive ghosts and gods, prophecy superpower users were visible and tangible. Information about them was always top secret. It was said that when relevant personnel interacted with them, from entry to exit, they only received answers to their questions but had no recollection of what happened—perhaps their memories were erased.

They never appeared in potentially dangerous places, nor did they expose themselves to public view. After all, in a world of bizarre superpowers, there might be someone who possessed the ability to [REDACTED], right? Mysterious, unknown, and unfathomable.

“If you’re judged by a prophecy user as a harmful existence, imagine a world—or at least a country—where all superpowered individuals join forces to design your death, all lurking in the shadows, executing in a way that the average person would define as an ‘accident.'” Miss Dandelion couldn’t help but shudder, finding the mere thought hair-raising.

“Ha~” Red Spider Lily was speechless. After a moment of silence, she said, “But can prophecy users really be right all the time?”

“First of all, you don’t even know what prophecy they made, so how can you discuss right or wrong? Secondly, even if a major disaster is happening right before you, what they see is the future. From a temporal perspective, it might already be the smallest possible harm, and greater harm might have been averted due to timely intervention. How can you argue otherwise?” Miss Dandelion sighed. “Only they themselves know if they’re right.”

“…” Red Spider Lily thought for a moment and found it reasonable. “So should I think that way? That among those middle school students, some might cause immense harm to the world in the future?”

“If that’s the case…” Miss Dandelion stood up and began brewing a new pot of herbal tea. “Then they should appear on the villain list.”

“…The villain list?”

Miss Dandelion continued, “Yes. After all, it’s a wanted list for future villain superpowered individuals created by prophecy users. Back then, with strong official support, the efforts were immense and actions decisive. Ordinary people would have a preconception that those on the villain list must have done something wrong first to get listed.”

“…” Red Spider Lily, an ordinary person herself, just listened.

“Later, the officials also intentionally aligned with public opinion. The videos of those villain superpowered individuals causing chaos and every update to the list featured villains who were about to make a big splash.” Miss Dandelion watched the bubbles rising in the transparent kettle, bursting into steam. “This gave the list a lot of credibility.”

“Of course, Su Mo’s existence was a minor, harmless bug. She was a full decade late, but since she’s a shape-shifting ability user whose appearance doesn’t change, it could be glossed over.”

“!!!”

“Of course, it’s normal for powerful ability users to maintain youth permanently, so there’s no need to explain. Extra explanations would just be suspicious.”

“I see… That makes sense.” Red Spider Lily smiled and nodded.

****

…

“So, is it possible that, like Su Mo, these are villain ability users who show up many years later? Look, middle school students are just children.”

“…” Red Spider Lily thought she had found a loophole and raised her finger as an example, but was met with Miss Dandelion’s gaze that said, ‘This idiot.’

“Didn’t I already say the villain list has strong credibility? With strong credibility, the purpose is to facilitate operations. Covering tracks is just a means to improve credibility, not the goal. Don’t get cause and effect reversed.” Miss Dandelion exhaled. “Which plan is better: capturing one or wiping out a group? Especially when children are the future—maybe one of them could become the next Sovereign, though that’s unrealistic.”

“Then under what circumstances would ‘forced sealing’ be used?” Red Spider Lily gave up thinking.

“I don’t know.” Miss Dandelion also shamelessly gave up along with her.

“Hey, hey~”

“I really don’t know.” Miss Dandelion held the teapot and refilled Red Spider Lily’s cup with a light blue herbal tea. “Speaking of which, this tea can calm emotions and has brain-boosting effects. Let’s continue drinking while we talk.”

“Ding~” came from the kitchen.

“The herbal cookies are ready too. Want some?” Miss Dandelion asked again.

“Sure! I’m fine with anything~” Red Spider Lily sniffed the faint fragrance of the tea, feeling enveloped, her brows relaxing. She took a small sip.

“…”

Sitting opposite Red Spider Lily, Miss Dandelion looked at her. “You really aren’t afraid I might poison you~”

“Huh?” Red Spider Lily tilted her head, pausing with the cookie in hand. “Eh? Poisoned?”

“It never crossed your mind?” Miss Dandelion suddenly didn’t know what to say.

“Ah? Ha ha… That… No. Whenever you talk about herbs and flowers, Miss Dandelion, your eyes always light up. Even when you’re talking to someone like me, you speak much more. It shows you cherish these things. So I don’t think you’d do that.” Red Spider Lily put the herbal cookie into her mouth. “Mmm, delicious~”

“…” Miss Dandelion looked at her, clicked her tongue, picked up her teacup, and traced her finger along the rim. “The ‘forced sealing’ of the ‘Shadow Snake’ is usually for reasons that cannot be shared with the public.”

“Something really bad?”

“Yes. So if you get involved and the prophecy user discovers you, even if you know nothing, you might not be spared!” Miss Dandelion took a small sip and picked up a cookie.

“…” A few points flashed through Red Spider Lily’s mind, and she frowned. “So, by saving Little Ruoruo, that child will still be targeted and can never live a normal life?”

Miss Dandelion drank her tea, looking down at her. So she was worried about that? More than her own safety? She set down her cup.

“I’ve already said, prophecy users are not omniscient. They only see the future—fragments of it. ‘Shadow Snake’ is not something to be used for random trial and error. Its use is controlled by prophecy users, not held by some city mayor. As long as we get involved without being discovered, and Ruoruo truly knows nothing, then the results of the prophecy users’ observations won’t be affected, and there will be no follow-up actions.”

“We can only hope that child doesn’t learn anything she shouldn’t.” Miss Dandelion shook her head.

“…” At those words, Red Spider Lily was stunned. “Wait, thinking this way, it’s not that Saint Lily was targeted. It was because of Ruoruo’s matter that Saint Lily investigated and discovered something, so Saint Lily had to die.”

Miss Dandelion remained silent.

After a long while, she said, “Regarding Lily’s death, are you hiding something? Since you can see more images based on emotions…”

“Mm… Would you believe me if I said Saint Lily beat the Frost Snow Sovereign to death?” Red Spider Lily raised her index finger.

“…Eh?”