Just as Ace was rapidly running through scenarios in his mind, a pair of wheat-colored arms wrapped around him from behind.
Zinnia rested her head on his shoulder, her breath soft as orchids. "Have you thought of anything, Successor-sama?"
Feeling Zinnia's soft yet firm body against his back, Ace blushed slightly.
Zinnia, however, seemed to have made a new discovery and teased him, "Unexpectedly innocent, aren't you, Successor-sama?"
"Stop fooling around."
Ace gently broke free from Zinnia's embrace, steadying his mind. "Zinnia, contact the people inside Team Magma and Team Aqua. Tell both organizations to expand the area of land and sea as much as possible. This should stimulate Groudon and Kyogre to awaken."
Zinnia paused, then caught on, smiling. "You want both organizations to surface as much as possible, let them attract all the attention, and we can operate in the shadows, right?"
Ace looked at Zinnia with surprise before realizing that Zinnia and Blue were quite similar. Their premature exposure to the world's dark side had essentially turned them into shrewd operators.
The foolish ones had long since perished.
Only the intelligent ones survived.
Zinnia, who navigated between the two organizations, was inherently not foolish. After all, neither Team Magma nor Team Aqua were benevolent groups; messing up meant losing your life.
"Partially," Ace admitted. "As for stimulating Groudon and Kyogre, that part is serious. The collision between the ocean and the land has a certain chance of awakening them. Our job is simply to stir the pot and gain as many benefits as possible."
"I understand. I'll take care of it."
Zinnia nodded, the teasing look gone, replaced by a serious demeanor. She straightened her clothes and quickly walked out of the room.
As the door closed, Ace let out a sigh of relief.
He closed his eyes and suppressed the lingering romantic thoughts. Now a young man, Ace sometimes experienced the "troubles" that came with growing up.
"Now is not the time to think about this."
Ace returned his attention to the computer screen and continued to plan his next moves.
Elsewhere, after leaving the hotel, Zinnia walked to a hidden corner where several members of Team Aqua were waiting.
"Find a way to inform Archie to expand the ocean area, striving to awaken Kyogre ahead of schedule. Understand?"
Zinnia conveyed Ace's plan to these Team Aqua members whom she had turned and who were now loyal to her.
The Team Aqua members silently nodded. Although they were just grunt-level members of Team Aqua, they were useful for delivering messages or spreading rumors.
One of the long-haired female members spoke to Zinnia, "Zinnia, we chose to follow you because we trust you. But now you tell me we have another leader above us? I'm not entirely convinced."
Zinnia looked at the woman and said sternly, "He is the one who bears the ultimate responsibility. He also saved my life. Even without you, he would still accomplish that mission. Do you understand?"
The woman lowered her head, though a hint of defiance remained in her eyes.
"You should go and execute the plan first," Zinnia sighed. "I need to contact the people we have lurking in Team Magma and inform them of the situation so they can start acting too."
"Expand the ocean?"
The woman looked up at Zinnia, surprise in her eyes.
"It will be land expansion for them," Zinnia clarified seriously. "The conflict between the two will allow Groudon and Kyogre to awaken as early as possible."
"The purpose of doing this..."
"You will know in due time. Now is not the time for you to know."
The Team Aqua members thought for a moment, eventually nodded, and then left the area to return to Team Aqua headquarters.
Upon seeing them leave, Zinnia immediately dialed her communicator to contact her inside agent in Team Magma.
The situation with Team Magma was smooth. The agent agreed immediately, requiring no further worry from Zinnia.
"Now, we just wait to see how things develop."
Zinnia looked up at the sky. Watching the clear weather, her mood inexplicably lifted.
Three days flew by. Ace mostly stayed holed up in the hotel, spending his time, outside of eating and sleeping, reviewing the information Zinnia sent him.
Based on the information and his current knowledge, Ace gradually instructed Zinnia to assign personnel to execute the plan.
Within three days, Ace had received numerous reports: many areas near the edges of the Hoenn region were experiencing frequent earthquakes or tsunamis. Clearly, Team Magma and Team Aqua had begun their actions.
And with their actions, both organizations gradually surfaced, entering the Pokémon League's line of sight.
Evil organizations in the Hoenn region?!
The League's first reaction was this, followed immediately by: Eliminate them quickly to ensure the region's stability.
It must be said that on this point, Ace had to give the League credit.
Although the organization was flawed, bloated, and full of bad apples, the League was reliable when it came to maintaining regional stability.
The League began to apply pressure, fiercely attacking Team Magma and Team Aqua's vulnerabilities. While this didn't cripple the two organizations, it did keep them in check somewhat.
Having been hit, retaliation was a natural response.
Team Magma and Team Aqua successfully clashed with the League, resulting in a lively back-and-forth fight.
And this was exactly what Ace wanted!
With Team Magma and Team Aqua drawing the League's attention, and the two organizations being incapable of cooperation due to their conflicting ideologies, Ace was free to maneuver. Even if he did something that the League noticed, he could simply pin the blame on the two organizations.
And they would be forced to take the blame.
After all, would the League believe an evil organization?
Or would they believe a wealth-bringing benefactor with a spotless reputation?
Ace checked out of the hotel and walked outside.
Not far from the hotel, beneath a tree, Zinnia leaned against the trunk, her eyes on Ace.
Ace walked over and told her, "Let's go. You'll be with me for the next part of the operation."
Zinnia nodded. Although she didn't know Ace's exact plans, she was absolutely clear on one thing: as the Successor, Ace had to face the Millennial Catastrophe.
Her role was merely to do her best to help him accomplish his mission. That was enough.
"Where are we going?"
Zinnia followed Ace out of Lilycove City and, after watching him release his Aerodactyl, she released her Salamence and asked Ace.
"Mt. Pyre."
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