"Would you be willing to lend your name to the Empire once more?"
Year asked as he opened his mouth to Al. The words naturally revealed something as soon as they were uttered.
Al looked at Year somewhat strangely, then said with a seeming smile, "Looks like the rumors from back then weren't just empty talk.Boss Year really does have some kind of special relationship with our current empress, Her Majesty."
"Yes means yes, no means no. And what's the so-called. I'm unmarried and she's not married."
Even though Year said that, a blush couldn't help but rise on her face. It was probably one of those situations where the girlfriend's dad caught him in the act while he was kissing his girlfriend.
Al was also just flirting with the fact that it was certainly nice to say that these two were a good match, but it was also true that there were a thousand reasons to say no that could prevent them from bonding. Not to mention, a lot of powers at the same level wouldn't want to see a union between the Empire and the Company.
Those big powers at the very top certainly didn't care, not to mention the union of the company and the empire, even if about half of the empires at this level were to unite, they still couldn't pose a threat to any of the uppermost powers.
"I don't owe the Empire anything anymore."
Al said this in a dry and direct manner, there was no such thing as embarrassment, and it was clear that he really had a clear conscience. This was something that Rope, after understanding some things, also really felt that there was nothing wrong with what the other Al had done. After all, in the end. It was indeed some people on the side of the empire who were unorthodox.
Although it was clear that this matter and Al's relationship was really not that great. Since the empress had inherited this country, what she was going to inherit was far more than just the glory and greatness of this country.
The darkness of this country, the hatred of this country, the friendliness of this country.
All of that was to be passed down.
The empire was the same, and so were those forces that hated the empire, or were grateful to the empire, the object of their hatred, or gratitude was the empire, not someone or some people in the empire.
That's why Al hated those who had shaded him behind his back, the guy named Marianne very just now. But all the same, he hates the Empire and the Abyss.
Doesn't Al get his revenge?
No, Al's revenge never stops. Holding this time piece in his hand is in itself a great restriction on Marianne. If he killed the Marianne here, then Marianne would be heavily injured and her strength would plummet in a short period of time. That was why Marianne had appeared here.
He had expected this matter of Rope meeting Marianne, but what was most unexpected was Rope's use of the Origin that belonged to him.
When Rope was using his fire, it felt no different than when he was using Rope's own flame.
Al was truly feeling at the time that if this kid Rope went to the Void and was serious about exercising his abilities, he might also become someone who could go on to compete for the rules of flame.
Flame was indeed the great path, but this path, as well as the vast majority of rules in the entire Void, did not have a true master.
As for Al's retaliation against the Empire...
As long as he didn't step in now, then the Empire would almost certainly go downhill. His not stepping up is both a favor to the Empire and a punishment.
As for whether it would be a punishment or a favor in the end, one could only say that it would depend on the ability of the empire's leader.
Year was ready to leave after asking for an answer.
"Aren't you going to talk some more?" Al had a smile on his face, "Maybe one Supreme's words I'll listen to a little more."
Year snorted, "First, your conflict with the Empire had nothing to do with me in the first place, and I helped ask because I did it for Sendora's sake. I can't wait for the Empire to collapse and then I can actually be with her in a big way."
"Secondly, I'm not quite a Supreme, not by quite a bit. And I don't think you'll honestly listen to anything the Supreme tells you."
Year looked into Al's narrowed eyes. Couldn't read the eyes or see much else in the way of emotion. Smiling and squinting his eyes into slits wasn't a happy expression some times. It was also possible that he was just hiding his emotions.
"A person who has pursued strength for tens of thousands of years suddenly told me that he is not interested in strength or progress, and suddenly thought of retiring from the world after collecting blows."
"Heh, I don't even know who can say such words."
"Thousand Arm God, this is reality, not a novel, and although it's going to seem more outrageous than a novel, there's still an implied chain of logic. There is a famous saying in my old home. 'If you want people to not know, unless you don't do it.' I'll give this to you today."
Year finished, and turned right around, ready to leave. And Al just smiled, like he was ready to see him off.
"Right. Incidentally, I don't care what you're planning to do, but...it's best not to do any damage to Rope and this sub-world."
"You know. The company takes the job and is bound to do it right. If the Saviors can't do it then they'll send regular employees, if the very employees can't do it then they'll send senior employees...and in the end, even if it's me personally."
"Infinite Company, every single order will be accomplished."
After saying that, Year directly waved his hand, and the abyssal mist in front of him shattered into a void of turbulence. Year's figure also disappeared.
Al looked at the turbulence in front of him and said softly, "What a kind person I am, how could I do something so heartless."
"You worry and too much, Lord Dream Weaver."
And by now, Rope was back in the middle of Al's cabin, but of course, he didn't know any of this subsequent stuff, after all, Al had turned off the projection when Year left him behind.
Rope guessed that Year would have something to say to Al, but had no idea what it might be. Of course, he wasn't really all that interested.
With his current strength, it was too early to even touch Marianne, and if this world wasn't idiosyncratic, then it was unlikely to think that Rope would even cross paths with Al. Mind you, all of them were considered big shots in the Void.
And Year was paying attention to Rope, which was both good and bad for Rope. No one wants to be on the job and have their boss come over and look at them every now and then.
But there wasn't much Rope could do to resist, and for some things, one could only hope that Year, the asshole, was self-conscious.
"Rope, what the hell is going on in there?"
Whitley asked, somewhat puzzled. Hoopa on one side also looked curious.
Rope instead looked at the curiosity in their eyes, took a sip of tea and asked, "Since when have you guys been invisible?"
"Invisible since the time you were brutally beaten by that Marianne woman."
Hoopa said with a serious look on his face.Rope didn't like it when he heard that.
What do you mean brutally beaten by Marianne? What do you mean brutally beaten? Hadn't he fought back then? Since he fought back! Then it wasn't a one-sided beating!
Rope had just opened his mouth and was about to explain the incident when he heard Whitley's words.
"Hoopa, you're not being very strict, Rope wasn't beaten up."
Whitley's words really made Rope feel relieved!
It seems that he really didn't hurt this little girl for nothing, and now he knows how to speak for his teacher.
"Rope wasn't brutally beaten, brutal beatings are one sided and can't be fought back, but Rope fought back. It's just that it's useless to fight back."
Rope sniffed happily and tapped her head.
"Rope that's called being teased, just like he teased Growlithe with a ball back in the day."
Rope nodded...no, nodded what!
Looking at Whitley with a serious expression that didn't look like a joke, Hoopa thought carefully.
"Whitley you have a point!"
"There's a skinny point!"
Rope gave the two little bastards a punch each. All to the head.
Whitley and Hoopa didn't dare to resist this guy, they could only cover their heads and said on the side, "Look look look, this guy dish actually doesn't let others say it."
The corner of Rope's mouth twitched slightly, and he didn't know what to say to these two guys.
Just then, Al also appeared in the room.
"Yo, you guys, it's quite lively haha."
Al had a gentle smile on his face, as always.
"It was okay."
Rope was too embarrassed to say that it was because Whitley and Hoopa had revealed their shortcomings that he went up and gave them both a lesson.
Al to didn't care about such trivialities, and after being disliked by Year, he wasn't really in the mood to continue playing the game with Rope.
"So this is Azure Flute." From his own waist, Al unhooked the light purple, oddly shaped flute and handed it to Rope, then said, "You can use this for some basic attacks, as well as summoning initials in between. You'll have to figure out how to use it on your own."
Rope took the Azure Flute and said seriously, "Thank you."
Rope originally an Azure Flute here was simply an item for summoning, and at most, it would have some small functions attached to it like the Feather of the Crescent Moon, which could be used without nightmares. But I didn't expect that this Azure Flute now, between summoning the initial instead became a side effect, and its real function was to be used for battle.
This would basically be the equivalent of picking up a divine artifact for nothing.
Al waved his hand and said, "No need to be so polite, the Azure Flute's symbolic significance is far greater than its practical significance. If you reach the Void, this flute also to give you some boost, but it will also bring you no small amount of trouble."
Rope naturally understood when he said that.The Azure Flute was the equivalent of Arceus's identity even in the Void.By holding it in his hand, Rope was basically saying it plainly to everyone.
I have something to do with Arceus, there are enemies to avenge, there are grievances to hold wrongs!
Of course, it can't be all enemies.A person like Al, even if he's mixed up, he can't really be mixed up to the extent that he's the enemy of the world.
"And this flute isn't really a treasure." Al looked at Rope and smiled somewhat helplessly, "You who rely on the company behind you shouldn't have lacked the so-called artifact in the first place."
Although Rope didn't know why Al said that, when Al mentioned the company, he instinctively felt that something was wrong. It was reasonable to say that it wasn't the first day that Al knew that he came from the company.
If nothing else, Al probably knew about Rope the savior before Rope himself.
Rope didn't know what Al meant, and Al had no intention of making it clear, so once again there was an impasse here.
And just as the scene was getting awkward, Rotom suddenly scurried out of Whitley's backpack.
"Loto! Emergency comms! Loto!"
Rope's face instantly changed, this was the highest level of alert he had set for Rotom. That meant there was already a situation that was starting to get out of hand.
"Who is it?"
But no sooner had Rope asked the question than Al's eyes steeped, then with a casual grab, a humanoid Pokémon was caught in the house.
"Stop!"
The flaming longsword in Rope's hand reappears. And it was pointed at Al.
At this moment, the originally friendly atmosphere faded and almost everyone held their breath.
Hoopa and Whitley were even more confused. Ever since coming to this house, they hadn't kept up with Rope's brain circuits.
Every choice Rope made, every guess he gave was a little baffling to them.
"Is that how you thank me?"
Al asked as he looked at the tip of the sword and opened his mouth with a smirk.
"Let go of Mewtwo, she meant no harm and I apologize."
Of course Rope knew Al couldn't be trusted. He knew it when Marianne appeared in the time fragment.
He wasn't stupid, if it was really just an illusion given purely for the sake of a test then naturally there wouldn't really be any karma involved. It was even more unlikely that someone would be able to follow a simple illusion and fight their way to the front.
And it's not like Marianne's strength is hitting Year's level. At most it's about the same as Al. Which meant that if she wasn't really involved with myself, then it was impossible to get past.
At that point Rope realized that it was true that Al wanted to help himself, and it was true that he gave Azure Flute.
But it was pure bullshit that Al didn't have his own ideas and didn't want to use himself.
Promiscuous? A promiscuous person couldn't start from nothing in the Void.
So Rope did have gratitude towards Al, but when it came to major events, Rope wouldn't really take that little favor, to heart.
Like Al said, Azure Flute was far from a real gem. At best, it was in the same league as that crystal that had been consumed. It was still quite a bit short of what Year had given Rope at the time.
A light smile appeared on Al's face as he watched Rope's icy face with a hint of nervousness. The hand around Mewtwo's neck eventually loosened.
And the first time Mewtwo got out of the trap, he didn't do anything or complain, but immediately said to Rope anxiously.
"Rope, something's wrong! The peace talks have gone wrong, someone is deliberately stirring up conflict between humans and Pokémon!"
"Lumiose City is surrounded by a tide of Pokémon!"