Their trip to Sinnoh's three great lakes had done nothing to clear up Chen Shi's doubts.
If anything, the whole situation had only become even more mysterious.
So Chen Shi wasted no time. He had Mew use Teleport repeatedly, taking them straight toward Alamos Town, where the Space-Time Towers were located.
Before long, the group stood at the entrance to the town.
Alamos Town had originally been a secluded settlement hidden away in the Sinnoh region.
However, as the years passed, the town gradually developed into a popular tourist destination thanks to its many historic buildings and, most importantly, the Space-Time Towers.
Visitors came and went in an endless stream.
Even from outside the town, they could already see the ancient twin-towered structure rising high into the clouds, its weathered exterior carrying the unmistakable traces of time.
"So those are the Space-Time Towers?" Chen Shi murmured.
According to Sinnoh legend, the towers had been constructed to commemorate the two deities of time and space.
But Chen Shi knew the truth was not quite so simple.
Rather than being built merely to honor the two gods, the towers had been created to quell the conflict between them.
Within the towers was a particular melody capable of calming the fury of Dialga and Palkia.
Chen Shi knew all of this because he had seen it in one of the Pokémon movies in his previous life.
"Yes, those are the Space-Time Towers," Cynthia replied with a smile. "Grandmother brought me here once when I was little."
Chen Shi nodded.
He was just about to enter the town with Cynthia and Diancie when Mew's unusually serious voice suddenly sounded in his mind.
[Kid, something feels wrong. I can sense two pairs of eyes watching us.]
Chen Shi paused, though his expression remained unchanged.
He responded to Mew through telepathy.
"Even you can't tell who's watching us?"
[No. Their presence is extremely well hidden, and I can't trace where they are. But one thing is certain—they're incredibly powerful.]
Mew's eyes had become solemn.
Chen Shi was speechless.
Did that even need to be said?
Anyone capable of observing them without being detected by Mew was obviously powerful.
Still, there were two presences.
And they were standing right outside the Space-Time Towers.
It was difficult for Chen Shi not to suspect Dialga and Palkia.
He let out a quiet sigh and led Cynthia and Diancie into Alamos Town.
There was no point trying to avoid what could not be avoided.
Whether it turned out to be a blessing or a disaster, they had to go inside and investigate.
However, Chen Shi did not head directly for the Space-Time Towers.
Instead, he took Cynthia and Diancie for a leisurely stroll through the town.
The streets were paved with old-fashioned slabs of bluestone.
Distinctive little shops lined both sides of the road. Some sold exquisite handmade crafts, while others offered all kinds of local snacks.
Tempting aromas drifted out from the storefronts, making people's mouths water.
"Lord Chen Shi, may I try that?"
Diancie looked toward one of the food stalls, drawn in by the delicious scent. Her voice carried a hint of embarrassment.
Chen Shi smiled gently.
"Of course."
He then released Togekiss and Leafeon, the two biggest gluttons among his Pokémon, before leading Diancie into the shop.
And so, Chen Shi spent the rest of the afternoon exploring Alamos Town with Cynthia and Diancie.
Whenever they came across something delicious, they bought a little to try.
Whenever they found a street performer putting on a show, they stopped to watch.
Time passed quickly.
Before they realized it, the sun was already beginning to set.
"It's almost evening," Chen Shi said softly, holding Cynthia's hand. "Let's find somewhere to stay first."
"Alright."
Cynthia had no objections.
The group then started walking in the direction of a nearby hotel.
However, as they passed an old manor that appeared somewhat abandoned, a beautiful melody suddenly reached their ears.
The tune was gentle and graceful, bright and lively.
It flowed like a murmuring stream and drifted like a spring breeze brushing softly across the heart.
Anyone who heard it could not help becoming immersed in its beauty.
"What a lovely melody," Cynthia said with a smile. "I feel much calmer after hearing it."
Chen Shi seemed to realize something.
The corners of his lips curved upward, and amusement flickered in his eyes.
"Come on. Let's go inside and take a look."
Cynthia frowned slightly.
"Wouldn't that be inappropriate?"
"The manor may look abandoned, but someone is clearly playing music inside. That means it still belongs to someone."
"Wouldn't it be rude to enter without permission?"
"It'll be fine. Trust me."
Chen Shi offered no further explanation.
With Jirachi in his arms and Diancie following behind him, he walked toward the abandoned manor.
Cynthia hesitated for a moment before eventually following.
There was no gate blocking the entrance.
Once they stepped inside, they saw that the manor had already fallen into severe disrepair.
The ground beneath their feet was uneven, and many of the stones that had once paved the courtyard were cracked or shattered.
Unknown weeds sprouted from between the gaps, trembling in the wind as though they were the last signs of life remaining in this forgotten place.
Yet despite the manor's condition, a large number of Pokémon had gathered there.
Their bodies were dirty, and their fur had lost its shine.
At the front of the group stood a beautiful young woman with long blonde hair and fair skin.
Her eyes were closed as she played a melody on a leaf whistle.
The surrounding Pokémon appeared completely captivated by the music.
Beside the girl, an ordinary-looking young man was busy working on something.
Chen Shi and Cynthia did not interrupt them.
Instead, they found a quiet stone nearby and sat down.
Only when the melody came to an end did the blonde girl finally open her eyes.
She was about to speak when she noticed that two masked strangers had appeared in the manor.
Alice felt that the pair looked strangely familiar, but she could not remember where she had seen them before.
She walked over and greeted them politely.
"Hello. Is there something you need?"
Chen Shi smiled.
"Nothing in particular. We're travelers visiting the town."
"We happened to hear you playing and thought the melody was beautiful, so we came in to listen."
"I hope we didn't disturb you."
By this point, the ordinary-looking young man and the surrounding Pokémon had also noticed Chen Shi and Cynthia.
The young man scratched his head but said nothing, continuing with whatever he had been working on.
The Pokémon, however, reacted much more strongly.
The moment they saw two unfamiliar people in the manor, they panicked and scattered in every direction.
A trace of apology appeared on Alice's face.
"I'm sorry. These Pokémon were all abandoned by their Trainers, so they aren't very comfortable around strangers."
"Abandoned by their Trainers?" Cynthia asked in surprise.
"Yes."
"They had nowhere else to go, and they don't know how to survive in the wild."
"So they could only gather here and rely on one another."
Alice sensed that the two strangers were probably not bad people, so she answered them honestly.
Unlike Cynthia, Chen Shi did not appear surprised.
The moment he had seen the Pokémon's condition, he had already guessed what had happened.
"So you usually come here to take care of them?"
Alice smiled.
"It isn't just me. Tonio helps too."
As she spoke, she pointed toward the young man who was still busy nearby.
Then she smiled brightly.
"I haven't introduced myself yet."
"Hello! My name is Alice!"
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