Chapter 176: League Investigator
After bidding farewell to Winona, Ryan and the other three prepared to depart for Sootopolis City, where the Grand Festival would be held. The prize Ribbon would be awarded, and Ruby would have the opportunity to participate in the grand finale.
Ryan glanced at the digital map and said, "There's a Slakoth plantation up ahead. The desserts there are excellent, and there are lots of Slakoth. You should check it out if we pass by."
"Desserts?!" The two girls' eyes lit up. "Slakoth?" Ruby was also a little curious.
After determining the direction, the group set off on their journey. As they walked, Ryan asked Ruby about the latest situation in the Hoenn region.
"There haven't been any major changes so far. After all, Groudon and Kyogre had just awakened, and we were able to guide them to Sootopolis City," Ruby said. "There haven't been any major damages.
The only thing that's happened is a sudden rise in temperature or heavy rain. Sootopolis City has been hit the hardest. The Sootopolis Gym has been affected and can't accept normal Trainer challenges, so many Trainers are stranded in Sootopolis City."
"Yeah, that's understandable," Ryan said.
"Celebi has completed its duty and has left me." Ruby took out a Poké Ball and said, "But after this experience, my target is also those Legendary Pokémon. After all, it will be difficult to gather combat power without Legendary Pokémon in future battles."
"This time the League will give out a Legendary Pokémon to reward first place in the conference. How about it? You're a member of my elite team after all. Do you need me to win it and give it to you?" Ryan said. "Although it'll probably be one of the Legendary Birds or something like that."
Ruby shook his head and said, "No, the reward should go to the team members who need to improve their strength faster. I still hope to catch one with my own strength."
"I admire the ambition, but it may be difficult," Ryan said. "Even I find it challenging to catch a real Legendary Pokémon. A pseudo-legendary is no problem. It's difficult to defeat a third-tier Legendary without having a Legendary Pokémon in your team."
"But I won't give up. Lend me your Splash Plate then. I hope Marshtomp and Azumarill can comprehend the origin as soon as possible," Ruby said seriously.
Ryan nodded. If Ruby had such ambition, he wouldn't refuse. After all, they were close friends, so he'd certainly help.
After a few days of walking, Ryan and the other three arrived at the famous Slakoth Banana Paradise. Business seemed brisk; upon entering, they indeed spotted numerous Slakoth lounging around the banana trees.
Ryan glanced at the long line at the dessert shop, shrugged, and said, "Ruby, you go get in line. I need to meet someone."
"Oh, I see," Ruby nodded, perhaps having guessed what he meant.
The two girls found an empty seat and sat down, waiting for their desserts.
Ryan wandered around and found a man sitting at a table wearing a blue brooch. He walked over, sat down, and said, "Hello, mind if I sit down?"
"Go ahead. You're Ryan, right? I'm the League Investigator, Looker," the man said, extending his right hand to shake Ryan's hand.
Ryan shook hands with him, and a data chip was passed from Looker to Ryan. He slipped the chip into his pocket and said, "I'm curious why you're helping me."
"I have no choice. After all, everyone wants to climb the ladder, right?" Looker said.
"Yeah, well, work hard."
"Yeah, only getting a break once every three months is really exhausting."
Looker finished his dessert and quickly left the banana paradise. Ryan smirked and said, "Not bad."
He then returned to Lillie and the others, removed the chip, and simultaneously retrieved a laptop from his backpack, inserting the chip into it. He opened the files, revealing mostly the current state of the League, as well as some future plans.
Lillie leaned over to take a look and asked, "How credible is this?"
"Not sure, about 50-50," Ryan said. "We can't rule out the possibility of double agents, so for now, we shouldn't rely too heavily on defectors. We're more confident using our own people."
"Anything important?" Lillie asked.
"Just one thing. Team Plasma plans to study and revive an ancient fossilized Pokémon," Ryan said. "It's credible and quite plausible, but it doesn't really concern us right now. Judging from the overall data, the League's primary target is Team Rocket, followed by Team Plasma. After all, N is determined to overthrow the League."
Lillie smiled and said, "So, after N fails, will we recruit Team Plasma?"
"N will be the leader of my elite combat team by then. Why would Team Plasma refuse the opportunity to reform? Besides, I've been coveting Team Plasma's researchers for a long time," Ryan said.
"Next, we'll recruit Zekrom and Reshiram. As for Kyurem, Ryan, can you handle it?" Lillie asked.
Ryan closed his laptop and stuffed it into his backpack. "I'm not sure yet, but it should have frozen itself. I hope Team Plasma doesn't wake it up too early, otherwise even N's Zekrom won't be a match for it."
Lillie nodded and said, "Indeed, judging by the attributes of the Tao Trio, Kyurem already has a clear advantage. But I'm curious about those ancient fossil Pokémon. Ryan, you said they were very powerful. How powerful are they?"
"Legendary-tier, mass-produced. Once Team Plasma is recruited, we'll try to ensure that every member of the elite team has one," Ryan said.
"What do you mean, one for every member?" Ruby said, approaching with a large plate of banana dessert.
"They're talking about Legendary-tier Pokémon, mass-produced," Sapphire immediately picked up a plate of banana cake and said while eating. "It seems to be a fossil Pokémon. Once Ryan recruits Team Plasma, we'll have them research this area and mass-produce that kind of Legendary so that every member of the elite team has one."
"Oh, that's great! This way I can own a Legendary, and then I can test myself against it," Ruby said, picking up a cup of banana ice cream.
Ruby, who had seen so much, could now discuss Legendary Pokémon calmly. After all, no matter how powerful a Legendary was, could it be as powerful as Arceus, the God of Creation?
Ryan took a bite of the dessert: the sweetness was just right, not too cloying—no wonder the business was so good.
Ryan then spoke: "Although they're Legendary-tier, I don't know if they've mastered the origin power. If they haven't mastered it, they're just high-level Pokémon. It's just that the chance of comprehending the origin is greater."
The four of them chatted about the origin power of Legendary Pokémon. Now that they had reached such a high level of understanding, it had indeed helped them. After all, only by understanding one's own weaknesses could one grow rapidly.
(End of Chapter)
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