Excadrill was a Ground-type, so Eelektross's Electric-type attacks naturally had no effect.
After Eelektross's Thunderbolt was completely nullified by Excadrill, Liam curled his lips into a cold smile. Looking mockingly at the PokeBall in Ghetsis's hand, he said,
"Oh? So... you use PokeBalls too, huh? If I remember correctly, Team Plasma preaches that humans and Pokémon are equal, and that people shouldn't capture Pokémon with PokeBalls. Yet what you're doing now completely contradicts your own beliefs. You preach equality while acting in complete opposition to it. Heh... how laughable."
Liam shook his head slightly, his voice dripping with sarcasm.
"Hmph! Those who seek to accomplish great things must naturally make certain sacrifices! These Pokémon share our lofty ideals. They willingly entered these PokeBalls! Once our great cause succeeds, they'll naturally retire with honor!"
The corner of Ghetsis's eye twitched before he snorted back in rebuttal.
"Hahaha, what a joke. You're pretty good at twisting words to justify yourself. Hmph—but I have no interest in wasting time arguing with you! Excadrill!!"
"Drill!!"
"Use Dig!"
"Drill!!"
Liam merely sneered at Ghetsis's explanation. Excadrill immediately burrowed underground.
"And Empoleon! Use Surf!"
"Empo!!"
"Chi chi chi~"
That wasn't all. Liam immediately ordered Empoleon to unleash Surf.
With a deep roar, Empoleon summoned a massive tidal wave beneath its feet. The enormous wave lifted Empoleon high into the air, while Zorua, standing on Empoleon's shoulder, immediately let out an excited cry. As Zorua's cheerful voice rang out, the gigantic wave crashed forward!
"What?! Have you lost your mind?! You're using Surf in a place this narrow?! What about N?! Don't tell me you don't care about—You...!"
Seeing the enormous wave rushing toward him, Ghetsis's eyes widened in shock as he shouted at Liam.
After all, they were fighting inside a narrow alley. Using Surf here would instantly flood the entire passage with water.
If that happened...
Little N, standing behind Ghetsis, wouldn't escape either!
But…. just as Ghetsis shouted at Liam and instinctively turned around, intending to use Little N as a shield...
He saw...
The Excadrill that had burrowed underground had somehow appeared behind Little N.
Just before the tidal wave arrived, Excadrill stuck out its tongue at Ghetsis in a mocking face, then grabbed Little N and disappeared underground once again!
"No!!"
BOOM!!
As Ghetsis let out a furious roar, the tidal wave crashed down, instantly swallowing the alley in front of Empoleon.
Crack!
"Drill, drill~"
After the flood had washed through the alley, the ground beside Liam suddenly cracked open.
Excadrill dug its way out with one claw while carrying Little N in the other, quickly jumping out of the tunnel, which had already begun filling with water.
"Little N! Little N! Are you alright?"
Little N still wore the strange mask.
Liam immediately picked him up and called out worriedly.
Just then—
Buzzzz...
The mask suddenly emitted a low humming sound.
Then it slowly detached itself from Little N's face, floated into the air, and gradually vanished.
Liam looked up at the disappearing mask before glancing toward the alley, where the floodwaters had already receded.
Neither Ghetsis nor any of his Pokémon were anywhere to be seen.
Liam immediately understood.
Ghetsis had escaped.
But Liam had no time to worry about Ghetsis, because….
"Huh? Big Bad Guy? Why are you here? Huh? Where is this? Why are we outside? Weren't we visiting the museum just a moment ago?"
With the mask gone, Little N had regained his senses. He looked at Liam with complete confusion.
"Uh... actually, what happened was—"
Rumble!!
Seeing that Little N apparently had no memories of everything that had happened while he was under the mask's control, Liam smiled bitterly and was just about to explain—
When the battered wall beside them finally collapsed with a tremendous crash!
As the wall fell away, Curator Lenora stood on the other side with his mouth hanging wide open, staring at Liam and Little N in utter disbelief.
"Grrww~"
"..."
With the wall collapsing, Liam's attention shifted entirely toward explaining the situation to Lenora.
Because of that, he failed to notice that high above them, a vicious Hydreigon hovered silently in the sky, carrying the Ghetsis who had just disappeared.
Ghetsis's face was as dark as thunder as he recalled his three PokeBalls. Looking down at Liam, now tiny from this height, he let out a cold snort.
"Hmph. We'll meet again. Let N stay with you a little longer. We'll settle this sooner or later. Hydreigon, let's go."
"Roar~"
As soon as he finished speaking, Hydreigon carried Ghetsis away, quickly disappearing from above Nacrene City.
...…
Half an hour later...
After Liam had explained the entire sequence of events to both the police and Lenora—naturally omitting the parts that should remain secret—he and Little N were invited into Lenora's office.
Then—
BANG!!
"I'm truly, deeply sorry! Such a kidnapping happened inside my museum! As the Curator, I have utterly failed in my duty! I sincerely apologize!"
Lenora bowed so forcefully that he slammed his forehead directly into his office desk.
His attitude couldn't have been more sincere.
"Uh... Mr. Lenora, this wasn't entirely the museum's fault. The enemy was simply too cunning. Please don't blame yourself so much."
Looking at the desktop, which was already beginning to crack, Liam couldn't help swallowing nervously.
"Even so, the museum bears responsibility. We nearly allowed your young master to be kidnapped, and even his Pokémon suffered such serious injuries. We absolutely cannot shirk our responsibility!"
BANG!!
Having just raised his head, Lenora caught sight of Little N sitting on the sofa.
Tears still clung to the corners of the boy's eyes as he quietly sniffled while applying medicine to his injured Purrloin.
The next second, Lenora slammed his forehead into the desk yet again.
Liam: "..."
Liam didn't bother correcting Lenora's mistaken assumption that Little N was his son.
Trying to explain the truth now would only create unnecessary complications, so he simply let the misunderstanding stand.
Seeing that Liam didn't respond, Lenora immediately raised his head again and asked earnestly,
"Mr. Liam, no matter what, please allow our museum to compensate you. Is there anything at all you'd like us to do? Just say the word. As long as it's within the museum's ability, we'll do everything we can to satisfy your request."
Liam blinked.
"...Hmm? Anything?"
He looked at Lenora with slight surprise.
"Yes! As long as it's something our museum is capable of, we'll absolutely do it!"
Lenora declared while thumping his chest confidently.
"Oh, in that case... could I take one item from the museum?"
Liam straightened up and looked Lenora directly in the eyes.
"The black round stone I mentioned earlier. I'm rather interested in it. If possible, Mr. Lenora, could you give that stone to me?"
"Ah... um..."
After hearing the request, Lenora immediately hesitated.
"What? Is that not possible?"
Seeing Lenora hesitate, Liam sighed inwardly, a trace of disappointment creeping into his voice.
"...No! It's fine! No problem at all! It's just a mysterious stone of unknown origin. There's nothing wrong with giving it to you! Please wait here for a moment, Mr. Liam. I'll be right back!"
After hesitating for only another second, Lenora finally gritted his teeth and agreed.
Then he hurriedly rushed out of the office.