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"What do you mean?"
Alder was startled, then frowned and asked Ghetsis after he regained his composure.
"You're worried about Team Rockets, isn't it just because you fear Mammon's power?"
Ghetsis's cold, dark gaze was chilling as he stared straight ahead, as if hallucinating the black-clothed young man.
He absolutely had to make that person pay!
He had indeed failed, utterly, and now he could only see if N would come to save him.
But Ghetsis was unwilling; even if he failed, he would drag Mammon down with him!
"Legend has it that besides splitting into Reshiram and Zekrom, the Unova Dragon God's remaining body transformed into a third legendary Pokemon."
"That is the strongest Dragon Pokemon!"
Ghetsis said calmly.
"The strongest... Dragon Pokemon?"
Alder's brows furrowed deeply. He seriously doubted the truth of Ghetsis's words. How had he never heard of it?
Alder looked at Steven and the others, who were either deep in thought or puzzled.
Even Alder, the local Champion, didn't know, so how could they?
The legendary Pokemon is a collective term for Zekrom and Reshiram; they are jointly referred to as 'legendary Pokemon'.
But Alder truly didn't know that there was a third 'legendary Pokemon'?
"Are you talking about Kyurem?"
At this moment, an old man with a white beard spoke in a low voice.
"Hehehe... As expected, Drayden, you know too."
Ghetsis glanced at the old man, who was Drayden of Opelucid City. Originally, he was the mayor of Opelucid City and had handed over the Opelucid Gym to Iris.
However, since the Unova League lacked an Elite Four member, Drayden temporarily filled the position.
It's worth mentioning that Drayden is Du Ruo's grandfather; yes, Du Ruo is Drayden's grandson.
"Kyurem..."
Alder murmured the name.
Kyurem, he did have an impression of it, as he had been traveling around the Unova region for the past few years.
He had once reached Lacunosa Town and heard a legend from the locals.
In ancient times, a Dragon Stone fell from the sky into Giant Chasm and transformed into Kyurem. Kyurem would appear in the City at night, accompanied by cold winds, abducting people and Pokemon as food.
Because of this, the residents of Lacunosa Town built high walls around the City and implemented a curfew to defend against it.
But this was clearly completely different from what Ghetsis had said.
"That's right, it's the strongest Dragon, Kyurem, Alder. As long as you can find Kyurem and obtain Kyurem's power, you won't need to fear Mammon at all!"
Ghetsis revealed a sinister smile.
"Even Kyogre won't be Kyurem's opponent!"
"Take him away."
Alder didn't answer but spoke to Officer Jenny nearby. Officer Jenny walked over and escorted Ghetsis away.
Alder rubbed his temples, feeling a bit tired.
"Drayden, is what Ghetsis said true?" Alder looked at Drayden.
"Yes, Kyurem is indeed the third Dragon formed from the body left behind by the Unova Dragon God, and its power is stronger than Reshiram and Zekrom."
Drayden nodded, then hesitated for a moment.
"Moreover, Kyurem seems to have the ability to fuse with Reshiram and Zekrom, as long as it has that item."
Drayden took out a pair of wedges from his backpack.
The wedges were gray, black, and white, with golden tops.
"What is this?"
"This is the DNA Splicers passed down through my family for generations. It has a deep connection with Kyurem," Drayden said in a deep voice.
"This, I'll give it to you, General Alder." Drayden handed the DNA Splicers to Alder: "Ghetsis is full of tricks. He must have deliberately revealed the information about Kyurem, wanting you to find Kyurem and fight Team Rockets."
Despite this, Drayden also understood that if Alder truly made up his mind to fight Team Rockets, then Kyurem would indeed be a very necessary fighting force.
But the key was... would Kyurem help Alder and the others?
"I understand."
Alder took the DNA Splicers, looking at the pair of wedges in his hand, the strongest Dragon Pokemon Kyurem...
"Let's go back to Vertress City first. We'll discuss it there."
Alder looked at Steven and the others. Whether to go look for Kyurem, he felt he still needed to discuss it thoroughly with Steven and the others.
...
On the other side.
N returned to his castle, and he immediately went to a room.
"N."
"N, you're back."
Inside the room, two girls saw N walk in and showed confused expressions.
They were 'Goddess of Love' Anthea and 'Goddess of Peace' Concordia, also children adopted by Ghetsis, N's sisters.
"Anthea, Concordia, there's something I want to ask you."
N looked at his two sisters and asked in a low voice.
Anthea and Concordia exchanged glances. They could both see that N's emotions seemed a bit off at the moment.
"Has something happened, N?"
Anthea tentatively asked N. Since childhood, they had rarely seen N display such a solemn demeanor.
Only when facing injured Pokemon would N show a sympathetic and sad expression.
"Someone told me that my ideals were specifically guided by Father."
"He said that those poor Pokemon were specifically placed by Father by my side. Is this true?"
"..."
Anthea and Concordia were speechless upon hearing this.
The room fell silent for a moment.
And N, looking at his silent sisters, couldn't help but turn a little pale. So... was it really like this?
Seeing N's expression, Concordia's eyes showed unbearable sorrow.
They had always known that N's heart was so pure and flawless, but precisely because of this purity, nothing in this world was more beautiful and terrifying than it.
Ghetsis deliberately made these injured Pokemon close to N. N understood their pain and plight, and thus began to pursue his ideals, solely for the sake of Pokemon.
But... were these ideals correct? Was this will for the sake of Pokemon... correct?
It was not correct, because this was not N's ideal derived from his own will; this was not N's true will and ideal as a person.
"N, it's true."
Concordia placed her hands in front of her, looking at N and slowly said in a gentle voice.
She knew that her words would cause a great blow to N, but... she had to say it.
Finally, receiving the confirmed answer from his sisters, N's expression was complex and sad. His left hand gripped the doorframe tightly, his knuckles turning white.
"I understand."
N's eyes dimmed again, his empty, lifeless pupils even darker than before.
N slowly turned and left. Anthea and Concordia watched him go, both sighing.
They knew that N must be extremely distressed at this moment. N was actually a very emotional and sensitive person.
It was just that his upbringing had caused him to almost completely seal off his inner self, leading to the light in his eyes even disappearing.
His gentleness, kindness, and sensitivity were almost only manifested in his treatment of Pokemon.
And this... was all caused by Ghetsis.
But even so, N still greatly respected his two sisters and his adoptive father, Ghetsis.
Even towards others, he would try his best not to harm them.
The way he wanted to achieve his ideals was also to use the influence of the Unova founding legend, trying to avoid war.
And now, knowing that Ghetsis had actually been deliberately guiding and using him, how could N not be sad?
N walked out of the castle, looking back at his own King's Castle, N pursed his lips.
"Zekrom, are my ideals... correct?"
"That's for you to ask your own heart, N."
Zekrom's deep telepathic voice echoed in N's mind.
"N, find your ideals, solidify your ideals, fulfill your ideals. I will always assist you."
It was awakened by N. As long as N did not lose his desire for ideals, and did not abandon it, it would not abandon N.
It had always been watching N, so Zekrom knew that N was a pure human and he was worth its wait.
Even if he was now confused about his ideals, Zekrom believed that N would find his own ideals.
"Thank you, Zekrom."
N took a deep breath, then, for the first time in a long time, showed a smile and sincerely thanked his best partner.
He didn't know why, but losing the ideal he had always held onto left his heart empty, yet he felt lighter than ever before.
That's right, although he had lost his ideals, he still had Zekrom!
His best partner, Zekrom, had always been by his side. They would surely find their true ideals.
"But there's one more thing I must do."
N looked into the distance. Although... Ghetsis had always deceived and used him, Ghetsis had, after all, nurtured him.
No matter what, he had to settle things with Ghetsis.
N walked towards Vertress City.
"Tsk~ Even though his ideals are shattered, Zekrom still hasn't left him."
And just after N left, Mammon appeared in front of the castle, raising an eyebrow as he watched N's receding figure.
Should it be said that it's N after all?
Logically speaking, it would be perfectly normal for Zekrom to leave once the Hero of Ideals had lost his ideals.
But N, relying on his personal charisma towards Pokemon, had somehow managed to make Zekrom stay for him.
It was the same in the game. In the final battle between truth and ideals, N lost to Touko and realized that his ideals were wrong.
But Zekrom did not abandon N; instead, it followed N and accompanied him to re-seek and fulfill new ideals.
"Looks like I still need to think of a way."
Mammon pondered for a moment; the timing didn't seem quite right yet.
Never mind, no rush. For now...
Mammon looked at N's castle, a smile appearing on his face, and took out his phone to call Gladion.
This magnificent and enormous King's Castle was truly a waste for Team Plasma to use.
One day later, Gladion arrived with his people.
This King's Castle, belonging to N, had already changed hands. Without high-ranking executives and a leader, Team Rockets took down this King's Castle with ease.
All Team Plasma members inside the castle were captured; those who surrendered, surrendered, and those who refused were sent to mine.
Mammon had always been very humane.
Colress defected to Team Rockets, Ghetsis went to the League dungeon, and N entered a period of ideal blankness.
Team Plasma was now completely disintegrated, or rather, on the verge of complete collapse.
And Mammon, being very loyal, delivered the final blow.
"Yo~ Hello, two beautiful ladies."
Mammon arrived at the room of the two 'goddesses,' looking at their somewhat flustered faces, and greeted them with a smile.
"This King's Castle now belongs to me, and everything in the castle is mine, including you two."
Anthea and Concordia pursed their lips, their expressions helpless and bewildered.
"I hope you can obediently listen to me. You wouldn't want anything to happen to N, would you?"
Mammon's expression was so malicious.
Anthea and Concordia's pretty faces changed.
For them, they truly regarded N as their younger brother.
Meanwhile, in the meeting room of the League building in Vertress City, Alder and the others were holding another meeting.
Alder fiddled with the DNA Splicers in his hand, hesitating.
"Everyone, should we go look for Kyurem?"