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Since the last place Abomasnow had appeared was Poni Island, which was the closest to Melemele Island, Lurantis believed it was unlikely that Arman was hiding there.
However, Ribombee held the opposite opinion from Lurantis. Instead, she thought that Arman was more likely to be hiding on Poni Island.
Wishiwashi declared that he would search Ula'ula Island, staying away from these two contentious locations.
Hehe, I'm really a genius.
But thanks to the "genius" Wishiwashi's decision, Ribombee summoned her followers to Poni Island, while Lurantis headed to Akala Island.
This arrangement inadvertently caused a situation where, even during the Island Challenge trials, participants who arrived at their intended island might very well not encounter the Totem they wished to challenge.
This invisibly widened the gap between the trial participants once again.
Of course, there might also be some exceptionally lucky individuals who would fortunately meet the Totem they wanted to challenge on the very island where they started.
However, the reason such people were called exceptionally lucky was precisely because the probability of such an event occurring was extremely small.
For a time, all the trial participants were complaining about their circumstances.
But because the Totems were all focused on tracking down the Alliance traitor—Arman—they had no grounds to voice serious complaints.
What's more, the Totems wouldn't reject trials proposed by participants when the trainers managed to find them.
In general, this Island Challenge was undoubtedly the most difficult one in recent memory.
However, there were certain things that some trainers wouldn't have to experience.
This was because they had already completed the trial of one island's Totem long before the current search operation had started.
And the Totem Pokemon of Melemele Island, Kommo-o, would never leave his island.
This was good news for those who wanted to attempt Kommo-o's trial.
Roy was naturally included among them.
Caroline and her Gardevoir had completed the trials of three Totems quite some time ago.
Caroline stood by the seaside of Poni Island, raising her head to gaze in the direction of Melemele Island.
Her eyes appeared vacant, and she seemed to lack any fighting spirit.
"Garde, Garde?"
Gardevoir was playing with the sand, swaying her white dress-like lower body gracefully.
Although she had gradually grown accustomed to her trainer's lack of motivation, Gardevoir always made a point of asking Caroline what she was thinking.
Caroline was brought back to reality by Gardevoir's call.
"Nothing, just spacing out a bit."
"We'll head over in a little while."
Suddenly, behind Caroline came the rustling sound of grass and foliage caused by someone walking through.
Gardevoir was the first to enter a battle-ready state, gently raising her slender green arms and placing them against her chest.
Anyone familiar with Gardevoir could tell that although this appeared to be a casual gesture, it was actually the preparatory motion for using a move.
Within her small palms, considerable power was already gathering.
Caroline showed no reaction at all, displaying no signs of being on guard.
She stared expressionlessly at the bushes making noise, waiting for whoever it was to appear.
After a moment, Caroline and Gardevoir saw Roy emerge through the bushes, with disheveled leaves stuck in his hair and holding a long wooden stick.
"I didn't expect that path would lead here."
Lucario and Blastoise also walked beside Roy, emerging from the undergrowth.
"Sorry, I remembered the route wrong."
Roy smiled and patted the dog's head. "Even Wingull, who grew up here, got lost like that, so it's understandable for you."
Lucario made an embarrassed expression, not feeling that Roy's words were particularly comforting at all.
There should still be at least a small gap in competence between me and Wingull.
Blastoise covered his mouth from behind and let out a muffled laugh.
Roy looked up and happened to spot Caroline in her white dress.
Well, this dress is much more practical than last night's formal gown.
Roy took a quick glance.
'Well, this dress really is... quite elegant. Yes, that's the word—elegant.'
"Ahem."
Roy coughed twice and greeted Caroline.
"What a coincidence. Are you also on Poni Island?"
Caroline nodded. "What a coincidence indeed."
After Gardevoir recognized Roy as someone familiar, she quickly lowered her arms, showing a friendly demeanor.
"Garde, Garde~"
Roy walked over and gently patted Gardevoir's head.
"Ah, good afternoon, Gardevoir."
"Garde~"
Good afternoon.
After the simple greetings, Roy didn't linger much longer, as he understood that Caroline wasn't a trainer who was particularly willing to engage in extended conversations with others.
You could tell that from the nickname that had spread throughout the competitive circuit.
The Psychic Queen.
"Queen" didn't exactly sound like an approachable title.
And Caroline perfectly embodied this nickname.
Roy directed Blastoise toward the sea, and the massive turtle shell floated on the water's surface.
Roy hopped onto Blastoise's back. The space wasn't too cramped—it was more than sufficient to accommodate Roy comfortably.
This was the same method they had used to reach this island previously.
Now that the Island Challenge had restarted, the previous rules would take effect once more.
Naturally, Salamence couldn't serve as his long-distance transportation over water.
"Are you heading to Melemele Island as well?"
Hearing Roy's question, Caroline nodded in response.
"Then... would you like to travel together?"
Roy spoke with some hesitation, seeming a bit uncertain about the offer.
After all, their relationship wasn't particularly close, but she did appear quite solitary standing there alone.
When they had ventured together into the altar, they had essentially faced life-and-death situations as companions.
Of course, there had also been those two somewhat foolish individuals, Takeshi Aihara and Master Amora, with them.
However, now that the Island Challenge had resumed, Roy hadn't encountered them on his journey thus far, so he naturally didn't know where they currently were.
If one thought about it seriously, every participant in the Island Challenge could be considered to be in competition with one another.
It was just that there were healthy competitions and malicious competitions.
In any case, trial participants like Roy, who actively inquired about other people's travel plans and even suggested traveling together, were extremely rare.
Either someone was truly an innocent and naive person, or they were a cunning schemer hiding behind a friendly facade.
Caroline wasn't someone who lacked judgment, and she also clearly understood that Roy wasn't either of these two types.
Caroline looked at Roy expressionlessly, her gaze somewhat unsettling due to its lack of emotion.
'He seems to have some secrets.'
'Well, he appears to have quite a lot of secrets, actually.'