With the captured Lord of Marina City, Kale, accompanying him, Aven returned to his own lord's castle.
Upon arriving, he immediately sent word to Fessen, instructing him that preparations must be made at once to depart for Aspiration City without delay.
"Lord Kale? The Lord of Marina City?"
When Fessen first received this news, his face was filled with astonishment and disbelief.
He simply could not make sense of it. Why would the lord of Marina City, a prominent figure in the East, suddenly appear inside their own territory?
And more shocking still—how was it that he had been captured and brought back by Lord Aven himself?
For a fleeting moment, an absurd thought flashed in Fessen's mind: could it be that Lord Aven had personally invaded Marina City, fought through its defenses, and dragged its city lord back in chains?
But almost as quickly, he shook his head vigorously, dismissing the thought as sheer impossibility. That scenario was simply beyond belief.
Aven, seeing Fessen's troubled look, said calmly:
"There's no need to overthink it. Marina City has suffered betrayal from within. Its lordship has already changed hands."
He briefly explained the situation, though only in simple terms, before giving firm orders:
"The matter is indeed complicated, but you must immediately strengthen the defenses of our territory. Once Marina City stabilizes its internal chaos, it is highly likely they will attempt an attack on Aspiration City without hesitation. Increase patrols along both the Black Coast and the Black Forest borders."
"Also, send messengers to the other lords of the Eastern Alliance. They must all be prepared for the possibility of war. The Black Forest borders nearly the entire eastern frontier, and any of those sections could become the enemy's point of invasion!"
Fessen, realizing how dire the matter truly was, straightened his expression and bowed in acknowledgment. He knew full well that this was not a trivial task but one that concerned the very survival of their lands. Without hesitation, he went to carry out the commands.
Meanwhile, Kale's feelings were deeply conflicted. Watching Aven so decisively mobilize his people, he could not help but mutter bitterly:
"I do not even know if telling you all of this was the right choice… or the wrong one."
Aven merely shook his head lightly. "Did you not reveal these things precisely because you wanted us to resist Marina City's advance and, in turn, crush the Sorcerers Organization?"
"Yes… that is true," Kale admitted, his voice subdued, "but I still cannot bear the thought of the Marina City Knight Order being ruined."
"The Marina City Knight Order?" Aven's tone was steady. "Their leader now is Hill, not you—the former lord."
Kale's lips trembled slightly at those words, and for a moment he was at a loss for reply. Finally, with a heavy voice, he said:
"Not all of them are on Hill's side."
After a short exchange, Aven arranged for Kale to ride in an ordinary horse-drawn carriage, escorted by a contingent of knights, and together they hurried along the road leading to Aspiration City.
When they reached the city gates, Aven revealed his identity. Upon seeing the seal of the Earl of the Southeastern Border, the guards immediately opened the gates and allowed the carriage to proceed swiftly toward the castle.
Thanks to the advance message Aven had dispatched earlier, Sheriff Richard was already waiting with his knights by the time they arrived.
"Earl Aven, you've finally returned," Richard greeted as Aven stepped down from the carriage.
"Sheriff Richard, it has indeed been a long time," Aven replied courteously.
"Yes, far too long," Richard said, though his face was solemn. "But now is not the time for pleasantries. Did you bring him?"
With that, Kale was escorted from the carriage. Immediately, several knights stepped forward to guard him closely.
"The Lord of Marina City—Kale!"
Richard's eyes widened in astonishment. Though Aven's letter had explained the situation, seeing Kale in the flesh—disheveled and visibly defeated—was still a shocking sight.
To think that the lord of such a prominent city had actually been captured and brought here by Aven himself—it was something Richard could still scarcely believe.
"Her Highness Mira is already awaiting us in the study," Richard said at last, taking a deep breath before leading Aven toward the castle interior.
Inside the study, Mira sat at her desk, busily reviewing documents.
With winter's arrival, administrative burdens had grown significantly heavier. She needed to ensure that the citizens had enough provisions to endure the cold season and also prepare defenses against the winter beast tides.
Fortunately, Fruitvale Village had supplied a great deal of potions and food this year, which meant that, compared to winters past, this one would be far more bearable.
Whenever she thought of the goods from Fruitvale Village, Aven's figure came to mind. Almost without realizing it, Aven had grown from an ordinary commoner into a lord whose influence now weighed heavily upon the fate of Aspiration City.
Knock, knock, knock.
The sound of Richard's voice came from beyond the door.
"Enter," Mira called, her expression turning grave.
The door opened, and Richard entered, ushering Aven forward. Behind him, closely guarded by knights, came the burly man whose face Mira instantly recognized.
Her eyes narrowed slightly. Yes, this was indeed Lord Kale of Marina City. Yet compared to the dignified figure in his portraits, the man before her appeared ragged, weary, and stripped of authority.
"Your Highness Mira," Aven greeted with a noble bow upon entering.
"Rise, there's no need for ceremony," Mira responded, making a light lifting motion with her hand.
Turning her gaze toward Kale, she said evenly:
"And this must be Lord Kale of Marina City. This is our first meeting. I am Mira, City Lord of Aspiration."
Kale's eyes rested on her for a long moment before he lowered his head respectfully. "I greet Your Highness Mira."
Although both held the rank of city lord and the noble title of duke, Mira was also a candidate for kingship. Thus, in terms of hierarchy, Kale was obliged to address her as "Your Highness." Such was the etiquette of nobility.
After these formalities, Mira returned to her seat behind the desk, and the exchange of information began. Kale repeated what he had already told Aven.
When the words "Sorcerers Organization" were spoken—an enemy faction wielding a guardian deity equal in power to the legendary Azelf—the atmosphere in the room grew noticeably heavier.
"What do the two of you think of this information?" Mira asked gravely once Kale had been taken away under guard.
"Of Marina City's turmoil, there can be no doubt," Richard said with a faint, ironic smile. "I hardly believe a city lord would abandon his realm and deliver false news to us, merely for a ruse."
"The information should be genuine," Aven added with a nod. "Kale told us these things so that we would stand against this organization. He has no reason to deceive us."
Mira closed her eyes and leaned back in her chair, her white hair cascading over her shoulders. She fell into deep thought.
The truth was, the moment Kale revealed the Organization's aim, she had believed it. Azelf's strength truly did come from the willpower of the people. As Azelf's chosen emissary, no one understood this better than she.
And according to the enemy's plan, Azelf's power could indeed be weakened step by step.
The path forward was therefore clear: they must prepare for war in earnest, stand ready for an invasion from Marina City, and, when the time came, launch a counterattack.
If the Sorcerers Organization had set its sights on Azelf, then they were enemies of Aspiration City. No matter the cost, such an organization had to be eradicated.
"It is a pity that winter is upon us," Mira said slowly. "This is hardly the ideal time to launch a campaign of war."
"Otherwise, I would already be mobilizing our troops to march directly on Marina City, striking down both Hill and his usurpers in one swift move."
Kevin, clad in knightly armor, could hardly restrain his excitement. The temptation of conquest and glory was irresistible to any knight. Should they seize Marina City, his name would forever be etched into history—a dream of honor for all knights.
"No matter what, we must be ready for battle," Richard declared. "After a full year of recovery, the losses from last year's Abyssal War have been completely replenished. Now it is time to return the favor to Marina City. If they dare to come again, then let us ensure none of them ever leave this land alive!"
Mira looked at her officials, their voices filled with passion, and nodded slightly. Then her eyes turned to Aven.
"Earl Aven, what is your view?"
Aven inclined his head thoughtfully. "If Marina City chooses to attack, they can only do so from two directions: either through the Black Forest or along the Black Coast."
"Therefore, my suggestion is this: we should reclaim and cultivate the Black Forest, incorporating it into our territory. We can then turn its beast tribes into a natural defensive line."
He laid out his concept of the Ranger Defense Line —something already being implemented in his own lands—and proposed extending it to the entire domain. This, he believed, was the perfect opportunity to do so.
"You speak of the Ranger Defense Line?" Mira's eyes gleamed with interest. She had already heard reports of the Black Forest reclamation in Aven's territory, as well as his success in taming the Nidoking tribe in the Nidoking Valley.
"Exactly," Aven confirmed. "The truth is, the magical beast tribes of the Black Forest are not impossible to coexist with. What we need to do is find the balance between humans and them. Their incursions into human lands are always driven by survival and food. If we can resolve those needs, they can live alongside us peacefully."
"Take my territory, the Pokémon Domain, as an example. The magical beast tribes there not only pose no threat, they have actually become a vital force protecting our safety. I am convinced that once the Ranger Defense Line is fully established, even the perennial crisis of winter beast tides will be solved."
He explained his vision again in detail: that humanity must slowly abandon its prejudice against magical beasts, and that only by providing them with a stable environment for survival could they become allies rather than foes.
Johnson, the finance officer who had entered later, frowned. "Lord Aven, according to your plan, such a project would require a massive expenditure of manpower and resources. At present, Aspiration City's finances are far from abundant. We do not have the surplus for such an endeavor."
"Furthermore, it is difficult to even calculate how much it would ultimately cost to complete the entire Ranger Defense Line. And beyond that, we would need the cooperation of all the lords along the borders—something much easier said than done."
He paused, then added, "And most importantly, the common people. The citizens of other domains do not think like those of your Pokémon Domain. They still regard magical beasts with hatred and fear."
Indeed, this prejudice was deep-rooted, born of centuries of suffering inflicted by beast attacks.
Yet Johnson admitted one thing: "Still, if it could truly be constructed, the Ranger Defense Line would bring enormous benefit to Aspiration City. It would put an end to the menace of winter beast tides once and for all, and in the long run, the benefits would outweigh the costs. It would also provide us with a living shield—a frontline defense against any external invader."
Aven responded with confidence: "Treasurer Johnson, on that point, I must offer another perspective. Reclaiming the Black Forest is not merely an expense—it is also an opportunity to gather resources. Furthermore, we could designate a zone outside the Black Forest as a magical beast breeding area. From there, we could establish an entire industry based on magical beast, creating a stable chain of production and profit."
He elaborated on the concept of a Pokémon industry chain, which left the assembled officials in thoughtful silence.
If such an industry could truly be built, it would rival—even surpass—the existing trade of magical beast. It would become a massive source of wealth for the city.
Of course, it would inevitably face resistance from the entrenched interests of the magical beast -trading industry, which had not been fully destroyed despite the collapse of the Gilded Fang Merchant Guild.
Still, Aven asked for no promises. For him, the greatest success was that Mira and the council did not outright oppose the idea. That alone meant the seed was sown.
Yes, the seed of coexistence between humans and Pokémon had been planted here in Aspiration City.
One day, it would sprout, grow tall, and bear fruit—reshaping the destiny of the entire land.
(End of Chapter)