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"Chien-Pao?"
Gym Leader lono was stunned.
"That's right, have you heard about them?"
Mammon walked over to the bookshelf in the history and mythology section, picked out a book, and started flipping through it, asking Gym Leader lono.
"Emmm... I've heard a little, but it was when I was very young, my grandma told me about them. I always thought of them as stories back then."
Gym Leader lono blinked, recalled for a moment, then shook her head.
That was when she was a child; she couldn't remember it now.
"Most mythical stories that have been passed down naturally have their reasons, and the clues are mostly hidden within them," Mammon replied.
The two of them each took a collection of mythical stories and sat down at a table by the window.
"Hmm... Mammon really is Handsome."
Gym Leader lono's mind was clearly not on the book. She propped her chin on her hand, tilted her head, and gazed at Mammon, who was diligently reading, her large eyes sparkling.
Sunlight streamed through the window, illuminating half of Mammon's body. In the hazy light and shadow, the young man looked Handsome and sacred.
Indeed, this appearance... it was simply too perfect, wasn't it?!
Gym Leader lono was momentarily captivated. She was already half an appearance-enthusiast, and for a Handsome man like Mammon, who was young, attractive, and so capable...
Her resistance was simply too low.
"A cauldron, a sword, bamboo slips, and a jade. A merchant sold these four treasures, brought from the Eastern Lands, to the king. However, very soon, this kingdom fell into utter disaster, and the royal city was destroyed."
Mammon spoke softly, his eyes already noticing someone not far away.
"Ah? Why?" Gym Leader lono instinctively asked.
"Because these four treasures are actually four Pokémon."
A magnetic female voice drifted over. Gym Leader lono turned her head and saw a woman with dark purple hair and dark skin.
"You are... Professor Raifort?"
Gym Leader lono thought for a moment and recognized the woman as Professor Raifort, a history teacher at Orange Academy.
"Gym Leader lono, hello. And this gentleman, he must be Mammon, the leader of Team Rockets, right? Pleased to meet you, I am Professor Raifort, a history teacher at Orange Academy."
Professor Raifort pushed up her glasses, her gaze falling on Mammon.
"Hello, Ms. Raifort. You know about the Chien-Pao?" Mammon looked at Professor Raifort with interest.
She took the bait~
"Ah~ I'm personally very curious about the legends passed down through history, so I've studied a lot of books and materials," Professor Raifort said proudly. When it came to history, she naturally had absolute confidence; otherwise, how could she become a history teacher at Orange Academy?
"Moreover, I'm very interested in the Chien-Pao. I've researched historical disaster records, personal diaries, mythological books, and even various interviews and reports."
"Amazing~!"
Gym Leader lono was full of admiration. Aside from her live streaming, she wouldn't devote so much energy to anything else.
Clearly, for Professor Raifort, she was genuinely very concerned about these Chien-Pao.
"I see. Then, Ms. Raifort, could you please share some information about the Chien-Pao? I'm also very curious about them," Mammon said, not stinting on his words, humbly asking Professor Raifort for guidance.
"Of course." Professor Raifort was quite a proud person, especially when it came to her research on the Chien-Pao.
"Professor Raifort, why did the Chien-Pao destroy the royal city?" Gym Leader lono asked at a very opportune moment.
"Because the birth of the Chien-Pao was based on various negative emotions," Professor Raifort sat down and replied directly.
"The four treasures—the cauldron, the sword, the bamboo slips, and the jade—had passed through many hands before falling into the king's possession. Human desires and Curses gradually became attached to them."
"When they finally fell into the king's hands, corrupted by his desires, they finally transformed into calamities and began to wreak havoc, destroying the royal city in an instant," Professor Raifort narrated.
"That fierce…" Gym Leader lono clicked her tongue. Hearing that, the name Chien-Pao really wasn't wrong.
They truly were objects of calamity.
"What was the final outcome?"
"In the end, to protect his country, the king invited a renowned Pokémon Trainer, who engaged in a fierce battle with the Chien-Pao, suppressing them and quelling the disaster."
"They were sealed away," Gym Leader lono mused.
"That's right, the Pokémon Trainer sealed each of the four Chien-Pao in four separate shrines."
Professor Raifort stroked her chin, her gaze shifting to Mammon.
"It is said that the Pokémon Trainer also used sacred stakes to suppress their calamitous power, which means that if all the corresponding stakes could be removed, the Chien-Pao could be released."
"Mammon, do you think this story is true?" Professor Raifort asked Mammon.
"All legendary stories have traces to follow. If it's truly as you say, then has anyone discovered these shrines and stakes?" Mammon countered.
"Hehe~ Indeed, and coincidentally, I recently saw an interview with a carpenter in a report who discovered something similar to sacred stakes. I think it's true!" Professor Raifort's lips curved into a smile, her eyes a little fervent.
She was filled with unparalleled curiosity about the Chien-Pao, which is why she paid so much attention to collecting information about them.
"If Mammon is interested, I can tell you the locations of those stakes. I have also investigated the locations of the shrines," Professor Raifort continued.
"But aren't these four Pokémon, the Chien-Pao, very dangerous? Is it really okay to release them? Hmm, it seems it doesn't matter."
Gym Leader lono was startled, but then looked at Mammon and realized.
Although legends say the Chien-Pao destroyed a royal city, in front of Mammon, they would probably be no big deal.
"Mammon is recognized as the strongest modern Trainer, isn't he? I think if it's Mammon, he can definitely catch the Chien-Pao," Professor Raifort said with a light laugh. Indeed, at first, she had thought of obtaining the Chien-Pao herself, as she truly liked them too much.
But then she thought, if she released the Chien-Pao but didn't have the ability to catch them… that would truly be ridiculous, and she really couldn't bear the responsibility. Although fervent, Professor Raifort wasn't foolish; she had some self-awareness.
"If your information is accurate, then no problem." Mammon pondered for a moment and nodded.
"Please rest assured, Mammon, this is the intelligence I have gathered so far, absolutely no problem!" Professor Raifort was very confident.
"I just hope that after you catch them, Mammon, you can bring them back and let me see them with my own eyes. This is my request."
"No problem, naturally so."
Mammon readily agreed; such a small request was truly not excessive.
"Alright, then I will send you the locations of the shrines and stakes."
Professor Raifort was quite pleased.
Having gotten the locations of the Chien-Pao's seals from Professor Raifort for free, Mammon naturally had no need to remain in the library.
The reason he went to the library was originally to find Professor Raifort. Mammon, who had played scarlet and violet, of course knew that if he wanted to find the Chien-Pao, Professor Raifort was the best informant.
Otherwise, he would have had to find the locations of the Chien-Pao's seals himself, which would be much more troublesome.
The Icerend Shrine is located at the end of a mountain pass on the westernmost part of the Paldea Region.
After obtaining the location of the shrine, Mammon immediately took Gym Leader lono and set off on Reshiram.
Along the way, he also removed the stakes, unsealing the shrine.
The magnificent white dragon descended from the sky. Mammon and Gym Leader lono leapt from Reshiram.
"This is the place."
Mammon looked at a circular shrine ahead, which was locked with chains. However, the shrine, which was originally almost covered by sand, was now flickering with an ominous yellow light.
Because the stakes had already been removed, the Chien-Pao sealed within the Icerend Shrine already had the ability to break through the seal.
Gym Leader lono stood behind Mammon, her Rotom Phone already in camera mode, ready to film the upcoming scene.
"Let me help you."
Mammon threw a Poké Ball behind him. A white light landed, and an Annihilape with wild gray-white fur appeared.
Is this the Annihilape that Mammon used to sweep through the Indigo Plateau Conference two years ago?
Gym Leader lono curiously looked at this Annihilape, which exuded an astonishingly oppressive aura.
"Vacuum Wave."
Annihilape's blood-red eyes stared at the shrine. Its right fist clenched, and it threw a punch into the air.
A materialized Vacuum Wave shot forward, directly striking the shrine.
Boom!
With a bang, a violent explosion echoed, smoke and dust spread, and debris flew everywhere.
That violent? Gym Leader lono was startled.
But the next moment, a thick, freezing cold air permeated from beneath the smoke and dust, and 'crackling' sounds were incessant.
A low roar sounded, and a snow-white figure instantly leapt out, then landed lightly on the ground, its abnormally cold eyes scanning Annihilape, Mammon, and Gym Leader lono.
"Is this a Treasure of Ruin?" Gym Leader lono curiously examined this white Pokémon that resembled a snow leopard.
Its entire body was white, with light blue diamond-shaped markings. Its physique was very slender, and the most peculiar part was its mouth, where a broken ancient sword pierced through its muzzle.
It was Chien-Pao!
"Chien-Pao, the Sword of Ruin. It is said that the resentment of those who perished by the sword long ago intertwined with the snow, transforming into this Pokémon."
Mammon examined this Chien-Pao, nodding with satisfaction.
Good, Chien-Pao's appearance suited his aesthetic. This trip was not in vain.
Chien-Pao let out a low growl, seemingly warning Mammon and Gym Leader lono.
It had just been released from its seal and was, strictly speaking, in a weakened state. Most importantly, it felt a strong threat from Annihilape.
"I released you not to let you go, Chien-Pao." Mammon naturally understood Chien-Pao's meaning.
"I am also your savior. I wonder if you've heard the saying, 'A life-saving grace should be repaid with one's own body.'"
Mammon continued to speak to Chien-Pao with a smile.
Chien-Pao's eyes grew even colder.
"I saved you; you become my Pokémon. That's not too much to ask, is it?"
Oh my goodness!
Gym Leader lono looked at Mammon with admiration. Can you really say something like that?
Isn't that just blatant exploitation of kindness? Without even trying to hide it.
No, Mammon really seemed to be that kind of person.
Recalling giving Mammon a back rub and an oil massage last night, Gym Leader lono pouted and instantly felt that it wasn't strange at all.
"Roar!!"
Chien-Pao roared angrily at Mammon. The ancient sword on its mouth began to faintly glow with an ominous yellow light.
A visible circle of ominous light spread out, instantly sweeping past Annihilape's body.
Ability: Sword of Ruin!
With the power of the sword that can summon calamity, it lowers the Defense of all other Pokémon except itself.
It's a very powerful ability, because in a sense, if the opponent's Defense is lowered, it means one's own Attack is strengthened, right?
And Chien-Pao is a high-speed, high-attack Pokémon!
"Tsk~ Not only are you ungrateful, but you even huff at your savior? You little leopard, you're not very well-behaved."
Mammon raised an eyebrow, looking at Chien-Pao with a half-smile.
"Alright~ Chien-Pao, teach this little leopard a good lesson, let it know that huffing and puffing is very bad behavior."