Needless to say, after Juna's confident declaration, everybody raised their voice. Some are concerned, others in shock. Even the other side of the phone was not silent.
Lloyd gathered everyone's attention by clapping his hands together. "Everyone, please... one at a time. You're overwhelming Juna."
Now, everyone looked at Juna, who winced and closed her ears. It seemed like she had expected them to raise their voice.
"Now, does anybody have a question?" Everybody raised their hand. Of course, Lloyd sighed. "Okay, one by one, counterclockwise, starting from Scott. Juna will immediately answer them to make it fair."
"...Terrorist attack?" Scott said after some deliberation. It was surprisingly a lot of questions packed into one. He guessed the others would ask anything else that Juna didn't answer here.
"Yes. Now, this is just me connecting the dots, but everything just fits. Why does the Empire hire a Jaeger group? To intimidate all the lesser nations and Calvard? No way. But if you add the news that the Imperial Princess was almost taken away last month? Now it's obvious. They're clearly here for extra protection," Juna explained.
"But this is just a guess, right?" This time, it was Michel's turn to ask questions. Hm? Lloyd perked up when he noticed something. Did the guild not know of Juna's 100% rate of gut feelings? But he put that for later.
Juna sadly smiled. "Yes, it is. But now that we have arrived at that conclusion, can you confidently say that it won't come true? No, right? Therefore, there is a chance, no matter how miniscule it is, that the West Zemuria Trade Conference will truly be attacked by terrorists."
"I'd second Juna's guess," Wenzel spoke up when it was his turn. But rather than questioning Juna, he instead supported Juna's theory. "The Blood and Iron Chancellor is pragmatic enough to hire Jaeger for protection. He is, after all, the one who forced the guild to disband after the attack from the Jester Corps two years ago. But the most damning evidence is the involvement of Scarecrow, Lechter Arundel. He's always involved with the deepest conspiracy in Erebonia, and he won't act without Chancellor Osborne's command."
Lloyd had heard about it. Wenzel was originally from the Erebonian branch before he was transferred here after Chancellor Osborne pressured the guild to stop their activity on Erebonian soil. Now that someone from Erebonia put his weight behind Juna's guess, everyone went pensive. Not long after, Ries spoke up. Actually, what was she doing here?
"...How sure are you of this, Juna?"
But it wasn't Juna who answered, but Elie.
"Juna's 'guess' after she connected the dots from information has 100% accuracy."
Lloyd nodded at Elie's words. "Time and time again, the SSS put our faith in Juna, and we always got rewarded each time. I'd advise you to believe her, especially since the matter is this dire."
Scott and Wenzel looked at Juna in surprise. So, his earlier guess was correct. Juna didn't show her uncanny ability to guess things correctly to the guild. Now the question turned into, 'Why?'
"I know you guys really trusted Juna, but this is a serious matter... I feel like we can't just take her words at face value," Noel said. "Don't we need more proof before we can take a decision?"
"I agree," Wazy nodded. "But Juna said this is just a guess, right? I take it she doesn't have proof aside from her words?" Juna nodded after being addressed by the green-haired former gang leader. "Then, how about you explain how you arrived at that conclusion?"
Wazy was correct. The best proof that Juna needed was to explain how she arrived at a conclusion, mostly because the only one who could piece her clues was him, who had trained himself to understand Juna's words. Even Elie couldn't understand Juna as fast as him and needed time to understand.
"Alright," Juna exhaled. "But there are lots of unexplainable things. The closest I can describe them is my 'gut feelings,' but it really is not."
"What Juna meant is that she can connect information together to form a conclusion. What makes it different from a normal thought process is the information involved," Lloyd took over explaining Juna's ability. At this point, he had to trust all of the people there since Juna herself revealed it to them. Considering the scope of the situation, though... It was understandable. Neither Juna nor the SSS could do something without help for the West Zemuria Trade Conference next week. "It's actually hard to understand. Thankfully, Juna had provided a notebook concerning some of the more common information that I can use to help connect the dots."
Once Lloyd put the book on the table, everyone turned their attention to the book.
"That book is honestly incomprehensible," Elie sighed. "I tried reading, and I can read it, but I can't understand how Lloyd and Juna use them to conclude something."
"It's not that hard. You just have to see the situation at hand. For example, Juna once said 'When you have a distinct description, most likely the first person I meet with that description is the person described.' I noted it down and put it in that book. And then, in my last mission, I met a green-haired priest. It sounded normal until I remembered Estelle's story about the Orbal Shutdown Phenomenon and a green-haired priest's involvement in it. I asked if he was Father Kevin that Estelle mentioned, and he confirmed it," Lloyd elaborated on his recent example. "So yeah, those incomprehensible facts, the unknown reason why those are facts in the first place, is the basis for Juna's analysis and prediction. Please continue, Juna."
Even so, after Lloyd gave his own example, not everyone understood his explanation. Scott and Wenzel looked at each other in confusion while Michel hummed and wrote something down on a paper. Ries took a peek at Lloyd's notebook and let out an interested hum. Actually, he still didn't know what Elie's friend was doing here. Noel tried to look assuring, but Lloyd knew she did not understand. Wazy, the one who told Juna to explain, furrowed his eyebrows, trying to process what Lloyd had just told them.
Juna then faked a cough. "First, let's establish some facts. Lloyd met with Bloody Shirley and Ogre Rosso. Bloody Shirley is seen talking with Lechter Arundel, who simultaneously confirms that he is a member of the Erebonian Intelligence Division. Combine those three facts, and you get a most likely prediction: Erebonia hired the Red Constellation. This is what Lloyd and I have established last night. Following me so far?"
Yes. This was a rehash of their conclusion last night. He nodded at Juna's words. It was not a hard fact since there was no evidence pointing to the hiring of Red Constellation. Still, Lloyd suspected it, and now, after Juna confirmed things, he was very sure of it.
"Next came the question. Why did those Erebonians hire the Jaeger Corps? Well, we can intuit their reason judging from big events that would happen soon: The West Zemuria Trade Conference. Lloyd connected it himself last night. He wanted me to confirm if his own guess about Erebonia hiring Red Constellation for the conference was correct. And after I think about it, Lloyd is most likely correct."
"Hold on," Scott interrupted Juna. "What do the big events happening soon and Erebonia hiring Red Constellation have anything to do with each other? I mean, when you said it like that, I can understand what you mean, but I don't think I can make the connection by myself..."
"It feels like you jumped to a conclusion," Noel rephrased Scott's interruption.
That was the mystery behind Juna's ability. Even Lloyd still didn't know how Juna's information-processing ability to connect the dots and arrive at a certain conclusion worked.
Juna grimaced. "That's... just... how it is. Sorry. I can't explain it myself. It is the facts that I used as the basis for my analysis. I actually haven't said anything about it to Lloyd, too, so there was nothing in the notebook."
"Okay," Wenzel clapped to make everyone focus back on the problem. "So your first guess is that the Red Constellation is hired by the Erebonian government. What's next?"
"Right. So, if they were truly there for the conference, what were the Red Constellation hired for? There has to be a reason. Otherwise, just any other group will do. But it is the Red Constellation that appeared here in Crossbell, not any other, so why? From that, there are only two major possibilities. Either the Empire wants to intimidate the other party or protect themselves. Now, this is the limit of information Lloyd and I had last night, so unfortunately, that means I can't connect the insight with any more information. Thus, I asked Michel, who kindly connected me to Miles from the Legram branch," Juna pointed to the phone in Michel's hand. "Miles then told me about the political situation in Erebonia, as you two have heard before, and about the ILF who attempted to kidnap the princess but failed. Following me so far?"
This part had just happened ten minutes ago; it should still be fresh on everyone's mind.
"Now we can establish more facts: Erebonian politics are heating up. A known terrorist group is making its first wave by attacking the capital city and trying to kidnap a royal family member. They failed because a group of military students stopped them. This is where my weird facts strike again. The terrorist? They will attack until they succeed. Their first attempt failed. And wow, would you look at that? Next week, there is a big chance for them to attack another Erebonian royal family member! This aligns with my prediction about the Red Constellation's presence here in Crossbell."
Juna finished her explanation. Everyone was absorbing the information.
"So you think they will target the Debaucherous Prince?" Michel pointed out something from Juna's explanation. The list of invited guests was already published by the newspaper, and the representative of Erebonia included Prince Olivert Reise Arnor, the infamous Debaucherous Prince.
"Yes," Juna nodded at Michel's question. "They've already targeted the princess before and failed. They'll target the Prince next. I'm sure of it."
"I see..." Michel hummed at Juna's answer.
"You know, I still don't understand most of it, especially since you keep jumping at the points you're trying to make. But I can see what you're trying to tell us," Wazy smiled at the pink-haired girl.
"How about it, everyone? While I trusted Juna one hundred percent, I know you might not. However, now that Juna has pointed things out, you can't dismiss it as nonsense either," Lloyd made his point. Juna had explained things as best as she could. It was now for everyone whether they wanted to take the possibilities Juna mentioned and make countermeasures or not.
...If they didn't want to, though, Lloyd would still push for the CPD to do something. He had to.
"...You're right. It's not that I don't trust Juna. She's our beloved junior, after all, but this is not a small matter that I can just take her words at face value, even after her explanation. However, I do acknowledge that the possibility of those coming true is not zero." Scott voiced his thoughts.
"I still think that the conference will be attacked because Scarecrow is involved," Wenzel frowned. "Thank you for letting me know, Juna."
"We need to talk about this with everyone, even the HQ in Leman, I think," Michel decided. "We'll take your prediction as the worst-case scenario, Juna. Now, what will the SSS do?"
"I'll contact Dudley. The higher-ups in the CPD trusted him. There must be something we can do to mitigate the situation," Lloyd told everyone in the room. "We're too late to prevent anything from happening. Red Constellation and the terrorists... both are out of our hands. But those hands can still do something to help protect our beloved city, and it will take everyone's cooperation from the guild, the police, and the Guardian Force to make it succeed."
"Lloyd..." Elie trailed off with a fond smile on her face.
"Miles said that we here in Crossbell are amazing," Michel suddenly said, relaying messages from the neighboring country. "Speaking of... Juna, is there something else? Miles had something to do and wanted to end the call."
"Oh, wait!" Juna took the phone and spoke, "Thank you so much for the information, Miles! I hope this will be the first of many! Hmm... yes. Yes... Oh, also, if possible, I want to know more about the group of military students who foiled the terrorists. ...Oh? Are you serious!?"
Juna's expression turned into a surprise before she shook her head. "Yes. ...Yes. Oh, I would be glad to. Thank you!"
She then handed the phone to Michel.
"Well, my job here is done. Let's go, Sister Ries! Time to go to the hospital!"
"Right..."
Juna and Ries then left the guild. Really. Juna was like a force of nature. After dropping a bomb that shook the entire room, she just casually left them without second thoughts.
"I think it's also time for us to continue our support requests. Michel and everyone, thank you for your time. I hope that we can count on the guild's strength during the trade conference."
"Of course!"
"Alright, SSS. Let's go."
"Yes!"
Crossbell was still in a downpour when Ries and Juna arrived at the bus station. The two sat down in the empty shelter. In heavy rain like this, fewer people came and went to the hospital. Seeing that nobody was there, Ries started to talk.
"Juna... that was..." Ries referred to the talk in the guild. Even after a walk from East Street to Station Street, Ries' mind was still in disarray.
"Hmm? Oh, me connecting the dots and predicting things?" Juna casually asked Ries back. Once she nodded, Juna continued. "Well... sorry you have to see that."
She sheepishly laughed as if it was no big deal.
Really... This girl...
"...I'm interested in the 'incomprehensible facts' that Elie mentioned. Do you know where you read it before?"
The casual attitude suddenly dropped. Juna looked at her seriously with no blink.
"Um... Juna?" It felt weird being stared at by her. With others, she felt that they were judging her. But with Juna? It felt like the younger pink-haired girl dissected her.
"...What does the Septian Church want?"
"...You haven't answered my question," Ries pointed out, a little unnerved by Juna's serious tone. There was no trace of her chirpy personality.
Juna sighed, dropping her serious face. "If it wasn't an emergency... No, Sister Ries. I did not read it anywhere. It's just there inside my mind. Been able to comprehend those facts since I was little," Juna answered as she pointed her finger to her head.
Ries opened her mouth, but no sound came out.
Was it really possible...? For Juna to be able to do that since she was little... that meant...
Ries bit her lip.
"So, what does the Septian Church want with me?"
She shook her head at Juna's question. "...You really have an inclination about what I'd do?"
Juna smiled bitterly. "It's easy if you can understand my thoughts. You're from the secret order of the church. Stumbling upon my weird analysis is just a coincidence, but you're probably still expected to make a report to your superior."
She then sighed.
"You being so silent on your way here is probably a sign that what you've seen me doing is abnormal by even the church's standard. So, really, it's easy to see."
Juna was one hundred percent correct. Standard procedure dictated that she had to report to the higher-ups; in her case, it was Kevin as her Dominion. Kevin then would escalate it to others above him, and they would make a decision.
"So what would it be? A secret order to kidnap me? Or would you dispose of me because I'm dangerous? Or maybe involuntarily join the church 'or else?'"
...What kind of image did she have of the Septian Church?
Well, she could do some of that. Not all (she wouldn't dispose of someone like Juna), but some.
But...
"I don't think I will report you," Ries decided.
Juna's eyes widened in surprise at her words.
"I know I'm supposed to, but I would only do that if I deemed you a threat. Right now, you are an earnest girl trying to do her best for Crossbell. You even told the others about a potentially dangerous attack by terrorists, revealing yourself to other people without care for your own safety. That's enough for me to judge your character," Ries elaborated with a smile. "However, I offer you to come with us to Arteria once my mission here is finished to learn more about your oddity. How about it? Are you interested?"
Ries offered to the other girl, whose eyes teared up.
"U-Uwaaaahhhhh!" She glomped Ries and cried on her shoulder. "I thought I was going to die! Thank you, Miss Ries! Thank you!"
"A-Ah..." Ries was frozen as she felt Juna's body envelop hers. Slowly, she patted the younger girl's back gently. "You're welcome, Juna."
Ries recalled the information in Lloyd's notebook. She read some of the 'incomprehensible facts' that Lloyd said were all from Juna. She could not claim that she understood them. However, she noticed what they were. Patterns of events that could unfold summarized into several pages full of bullet points. Not even the apocryphal books of the church had that many concentrated secrets on how to predict the future. And yet everything was contained inside a single notebook that police used to help solve cases.
Juna said all of the information had been there inside her mind since she was little. Ries could not believe it. It should be impossible, according to the scripture and teachings of the church. Because if Juna did not lie...
Then that meant Juna understood the Laws that governed things beyond what the Goddess had intended for humans to understand: Divergent Laws.
A/N: There you have it. I think we'll have one more chapter to go before Chapter 1 of Azure is finished and I can go back to Buggy CS. And yeah, that's the full prediction from Juna. Considering her sample size is small, I think it should be a correct conclusion for her. And finally the D word is here!