For Sato, two vials of Potential Enhancement Serum weren't anything particularly valuable at this point. But Cynthia's way of handling things felt very agreeable… 'Especially the part where she directly kicked out Micah, someone whose mind was always full of schemes!'
Leaving that matter behind, Sato naturally asked about the plan for this operation, and Cynthia began explaining in detail.
"Right now, the Sinnoh League is stuck in an awkward transitional period. Veteran Elite Four members are retiring or stepping down, and the newly promoted ones lack experience and combat power.
Meanwhile, the underground organizations have rapidly grown over the past few years. After a long process of fighting and absorbing each other, three major forces have emerged. The Pokémon Hunter Guild, Team Galactic, and Team Thunder.
This time, they're our target!"
Upon hearing this, Sato couldn't help but frown. Hadn't he already taken out Cyrus, the leader of Team Galactic? How was it still one of the top three factions?
'Could there be a real boss still hidden behind Team Galactic?
Or maybe with "one" Cyrus down, there were thousands of other would-be Cyruses eager to rise up and create a "New World"?'
"Is something wrong?" Cynthia noticed Sato's reaction and took the initiative to ask.
Sato quickly shook his head, signaling her to continue.
"According to our investigation, strange radio waves have been detected around Mt. Coronet recently. It's suspected to be connected to the Legendary Pokémon Regigigas from the ancient legends.
All three factions have learned of this and have dispatched large numbers of members to Mt. Coronet to investigate.
Our mission is to secure the southwestern region of Mt. Coronet and ensure that not a single underground operative escapes through our area!"
"So, Raticate hunts Caterpie, unaware of the Pidgeot above?"
"Exactly! The encirclement is already in place. The three factions are even aware of the League's movements, but they still can't give up their greed for Regigigas."
It was an open conspiracy laid bare.
Over the years, the three underground factions had formed a delicate balance. Any further expansion would require one to absorb or eliminate the others.
At a time like this, none of them would want the others to suddenly gain power and break the balance.
So they would all eagerly jump in, not necessarily for profit, but just to sabotage each other's plans.
There was no way they'd sit out something as big as Regigigas; some might even fantasize about becoming the ultimate winner in the end.
However…
"Then what about our stance on Regigigas…" Sato asked cautiously. Cynthia caught on quickly.
She suddenly gave a sly smile, leaned in close, and gently whispered into Sato's ear~
"…The source of the strange radio waves is Heatran, not Regigigas. Though both are Legendary Pokémon, you should know the difference between them~"
The warm breath brushing against his ear and neck made Sato squirm all over… Goosebumps shot up across his back and arms instantly!
"…A-Ahem, I see!" Sato instinctively took two steps back!
…Then immediately regretted it.
'Why… why the hell did I back off!? I've lived over forty years across two lifetimes… am I still trying to play the shy virgin!?'
Just as he was about to step forward again, Cynthia had already straightened up, her face back to a businesslike seriousness.
"Everything I just told you is top secret. Be sure not to mention it to anyone else~"
"I won't…"
Sato nodded absentmindedly, his eyes dazed.
Did she just flirt with him…?
And then run right after!!?
'This girl… DEFINITELY…!'
---◓---
Sato's life at the base gradually settled into a routine.
As a "professional enforcer", he didn't need to be involved in high-level Sinnoh decision-making. All he had to do was quietly wait for the command to strike.
Whenever he had free time, Sato would run over to the training grounds to -cough- spar with the soldiers.
Frogadier and Absol loved it. High-intensity combat training wasn't easy to come by, and even though it was exhausting, they always scrambled to be the first to take the field.
With his Pokémon working so hard, how could Sato possibly stay idle?
And so, he took the initiative to approach Cynthia, who had been avoiding him for several days…
◓---
At the base cafeteria.
---◓
After spending half an hour deciding what to eat for lunch… Cynthia finally sat down, satisfied and ready to enjoy her meal.
Just then, Sato walked over with his own lunch tray and sat across from her.
"Cynthia… I need to talk to you."
Cynthia paused for a fraction of a second, then calmly lifted her head as if nothing had happened.
"Good food shouldn't be wasted. Let's talk after we eat?"
"…Alright!"
And so, the two of them quietly focused on their food, the only sound being the clinking of spoons against plates.
Finally, lunch was over.
Cynthia looked up… only to find Sato staring at her. Judging by the look in his eyes, he had probably been watching her for a while!
She kept a "calm" expression, but inside, she was panicking! Doing her best to maintain grace, she decided to hit first…
"Some things… should be said with caution. Right now, we should be focusing on improving our strength."
"Yep, I completely agree!" Sato nodded earnestly and was about to continue, but Cynthia cut him off again!
"SO! We can't be impulsive about certain things… like training. You mustn't rush it!"
Sato blinked and paused for a moment before replying, "You mean… I've been too aggressive with how I've been training Absol and Frogadier lately?"
"…E-Eh?"
Now it was Cynthia's turn to be stunned. She had just used that as an example; what she really meant was… "THAT"!
"Wasn't it? Or… did you mean something else?"
"…No, that's what I meant."
"Oh! Actually, the real reason I came to talk to you today is-"
"WAAAAIT!"
Cynthia interrupted Sato again. She looked around and noticed there were still people coming and going in the cafeteria.
"Let's talk somewhere else. This isn't the right place." With that, she trotted off into the distance…
Sato watched her retreating figure and thought, 'We've already been talking here this long… and now it's suddenly not suitable?'
Then, like a good soldier, he followed along!
---◓---
Eventually, Cynthia led Sato out of the camp entirely, to a remote cliffside where no one could possibly overhear them.
"Whatever you wanted to say… just say it here!"
Cynthia feigned composure, lifting her chin and meeting Sato's gaze head-on.
But when she saw those pure, slightly innocent eyes¹[1] of his, she couldn't help but lower her head and avoid eye contact…
Her ears turned just a little red.
Finally, Sato stood in front of her, leisurely looked around, and said with "admiration", "I didn't think you'd even prepare the location!"
"It was… something I stumbled across during patrol. I definitely DIDN'T choose it on purpose!"
Cynthia snapped back like a startled Skitty, rushing to explain.
"Oh, well, what I really wanted to say is…" Sato circled back to the topic.
"Mm… I know ( *'ω')～"
"You already know…? That makes it easy then. Hhh… I just wanted to ask you for some Pokémon battle training!
I was worried you might be too busy to make time, but looks like you even found us a training spot…
It's spacious enough, and Flying-types won't be restricted either. I really miss the days we traveled together, battling every day… Ah! I made so much progress back then!"
Cynthia looked up and stared at Sato with her big eyes…
"…That's it?"
•
•
¹.Pffff! This blind poor woman… KYAAA~!
[1] Pffff! This blind poor woman… KYAAA~!