"Let you off this once?" Natsui looked her up and down a few times. "That depends on whether you can offer equivalent bargaining chips. Alright, tell me first, what exactly are you going to do?"
It had to be said, Natsui's current appearance was very aggressive. Especially when she recalled this man's terrifying strength, it left Shelly without even a single thought of resisting.
However, regarding her purpose, Shelly seemed reluctant to say much, looking as if she wanted to speak but stopped.
"Seeing you act like this…" Natsui shook his head. "You still don't understand the situation. Fine—if you won't talk, I'm not going to waste my breath on you. Once I hand you over to the International Police, you can confess everything to them if you want any leniency."
Saying that, he took out two Poké Balls. With a wave of his large hand, in the next second, his Dragonite and Tyranitar appeared on Shelly's left and right, surrounding her in a pincer formation!
Seeing this scene, Shelly immediately panicked and hurriedly said, "Wait… wait a minute! I'll talk, I'll talk!"
Knowing Natsui wasn't joking, Shelly hesitated for a moment, then, as if having made some major decision, said to Natsui, "Since the last time we launched an oper… no, since the last time I left in a sorry state from in front of you, I took some people to the Weather Institute near Fortree City. After occupying that place, I conducted investigations and simulations, and also studied the ocean's influence on the Hoenn region. Only then did I discover… how absurd and ignorant the goal Team Aqua has been pursuing since its establishment really is!"
The goal Shelly spoke of referred precisely to Team Aqua's intention, centered on their leader Archie's philosophy, to build an ideal home for Pokémon, and to awaken and control Kyogre using Primal Reversion to achieve their ultimate plan.
And for this goal, which they considered a 'lofty ideal,' Team Aqua surged forward one after another, not hesitating even if they turned themselves into an evil organization that everyone shouted to beat.
But now, Shelly actually said this goal was absurd and ignorant, which was indeed somewhat unexpected.
Of course, it only surprised Misty. For Natsui, who had played the games and knew the plot, this was something he had known for a long time.
"What did you find out from your research?"
Shelly shuddered, saying with lingering fear, "It was Archie who was too naive… Primal Kyogre won't listen to anyone's orders. All it can do is endlessly cause the sea levels to rise and create various extreme weather conditions, using giant whirlpools to swallow everything in the world completely!"
Sighing, Natsui said wearily, "Isn't this very obvious? I really don't understand. Such a simple principle, why did you guys only realize it now?"
Shelly looked slightly embarrassed. However, this couldn't entirely be blamed on her. After all, Archie's forthright personality won the deep trust of his subordinates, so no one had ever doubted his ideals.
If she hadn't investigated it specifically out of curiosity a few days ago, she probably would still believe in it firmly even now.
Knowing she had realized how ignorant her previous thoughts were, Natsui asked again, "So, are you going back now to stop Archie?"
Shelly nodded. "I broke away from the team and rushed back here nonstop just to stop him before Archie awakens Kyogre!"
From her words, Natsui keenly seized upon that piece of information. "You mean, Archie has already found where Kyogre is?"
Shelly hesitated again, seemingly thinking about whether to reveal more information. However, upon looking up and seeing Natsui's gaze slowly becoming grave, her heart shivered, and she nodded hurriedly.
"That's right. Actually, not only that, but some time ago he obtained a Blue Orb possessing magical power at Mt. Pyre. I heard that as long as one uses that orb, one can awaken Kyogre and make it undergo Primal Reversion!"
This is trouble…
Natsui stroked his chin and began to ponder in his heart.
Mt. Pyre was similar to locations like the Pokémon Tower in the Kanto region, the Lost Tower in the Sinnoh region, and the Celestial Tower in the Unova region. They were all places for resting the souls of deceased Pokémon. Because those places were filled with mist and the lingering wishes of Pokémon, and there were also large numbers of Ghost-type Pokémon haunting them, many people dared not go there. But precisely because of such characteristics, Mt. Pyre also became the best location to preserve those miraculous items that were not wished to be controlled by humans.
As for the Blue Orb Shelly mentioned, Natsui didn't know how it was formed or who put it there. He only knew it was a pair with another Red Orb, and through the power contained within, they could awaken Kyogre and Groudon and make them undergo Primal Reversion.
Since Archie had already obtained the Blue Orb and found Kyogre's hiding place, it meant awakening Kyogre was only a matter of time.
And once awakened, if it led to Kyogre losing control and affecting the entire Hoenn region, who could stop it?
Thinking of this, he couldn't help but ask, "How do you plan to stop Archie?"
"This…" Shelly also had a troubled look on her face. "I will try my best to dissuade him."
"Dissuade?" Natsui said noncommittally. "Are you sure he will listen to you?"
Shelly fell silent.
Although Archie was very charismatic as a leader, he was also a stubborn person. Seeing that the philosophy he had pursued for so long was within easy reach, how could he possibly give up easily just because of a few words from others?
Seeing her appearance, Natsui knew she had no confidence at all.
Sighing lightly, he first signaled his two Pokémon to retreat a bit, then proposed, "Although I also really want to completely get rid of your entanglement and solve you guys in one go, after all, this involves the entire Hoenn continent. How about this? Let's make a deal."
"A deal?"
Shelly stared blankly at the man in front of her. Although she knew Natsui was exceptionally strong, she had always treated him as the greatest threat. She also knew he and Team Aqua were enemies as incompatible as fire and water. She had never thought she would have any deal to discuss with him.
However, thinking of the current situation, although she had a guess in her heart, she still asked tentatively first, "How do you want to cooperate?"
Natsui smiled slightly. "I can pretend I didn't see you and let you off, but in return, you have to take me with you to find Archie!"
"And then? What do you want to do after finding him?"
"Of course, do what I'm best at." Natsui said as if it were a matter of course, "Defeat all his Pokémon, put a stop to his unrealistic fantasies, and then send the orb back to Mt. Pyre!"
Shelly fell silent again. Seeing her furrowed brows, it was evident she was extremely conflicted in her heart.
If she took Natsui along, it would be tantamount to betraying Archie and betraying Team Aqua. It could be said to completely overturn her own beliefs. Even if she succeeded in stopping Archie, she would lose the qualification to stand in Team Aqua in the future. Biting the hand that feeds one would be looked down upon by everyone.
But if she didn't take this man along, yet just as he said, even if she laid out the reasons in front of Archie, she really had no way to stop him. Moreover, in that case, it would send the entire Hoenn into a state of eternal damnation, which was also completely inconsistent with the philosophy she held when she first joined Team Aqua…
For a moment, Shelly was caught in a dilemma.
Seeing she couldn't make up her mind, Natsui didn't rush her. Instead, he turned his gaze to the distant sea surface.
He didn't doubt the authenticity of this matter or worry it was a trap.
In fact, precisely because it was a plot that had appeared in the game, he firmly believed in it and knew what the consequences would be if he let it be.
As a traveling Trainer, he actually could have turned a blind eye, ignored its occurrence, and left this thorny matter to others to handle.
After all, even if the sky fell, there were officials and the Pokémon Association, and even the Elite Four to handle it. It didn't need him to do everything personally.
But as someone who considered himself very kindhearted, how could he truly remain indifferent?
Let alone that this matter was happening right in front of him!
I'm afraid no one is closer to the center of the situation than me right now, nor more capable of stopping this matter!
Most importantly, he also wanted to see for himself exactly how Kyogre differed from the anime or games, and how much shock this extremely powerful creature could bring him!
While he was pondering, Shelly seemed to have already made up her mind.
She took a deep breath, then nodded heavily to Natsui. "Okay, I'll take you to find Archie, but you have to promise me one condition, and that is you can't lay a hand on other members…"
Before she could finish her sentence, she was interrupted by Natsui.
"I say, you really haven't understood your current situation, have you? Or is it that you're used to being an Admin and like giving orders to me too?" Natsui sneered. "What standing do you have to negotiate conditions with me? The initiative is in my hands right now; I don't need you to dictate terms!"
Shelly's expression froze. Indeed, she just remembered her own situation and knew she really didn't have the capital to bargain with the man in front of her.
Letting out a long breath, she said with resignation like accepting fate, "I understand. Can we set off now?"
As expected of a smart person. One could only say Shelly was still very capable of recognizing reality and made the most correct choice.
Regarding her attitude, Natsui was also relatively satisfied. However, although it was a cooperation, to prevent her from changing her mind or escaping, Natsui still secretly ordered Gengar to pay attention to her movements at all times.
After discussing the subsequent action plan, Natsui decided to follow Shelly's original plan: go to the cave where Kyogre was hiding first, and after finding Archie, act according to the circumstances.
However, before he set off, he also sent a message to Anabel, roughly telling her about this matter.
After all, he dared not guarantee he would definitely succeed, so he must ensure a necessary retreat route. At the very least, after notifying the police, if Kyogre really triggered a tsunami, it could at least buy some evacuation time for some people at sea.
The three continued to walk forward along the cargo warehouse area, heading toward a secret base Team Aqua hid here.
This was a small facility only known to Admins. Inside, some necessary supplies were stored, and there was even a small speedboat that could serve as their next means of transport.
While Shelly led the way in front, Misty fell behind a few steps, came to Natsui's side, and asked in a low voice, "Natsui, do you really trust this woman? I just feel something is wrong with this matter."
"Don't worry." Natsui patted her head. "What she said should be true. And even if it is some trap, I can bring you out safely."
"That's not what I'm talking about." Misty waved her hand. "I just feel her change is too fast. Does Kyogre really have such strong power to make the entire Hoenn be swallowed up?"
"Don't underestimate these Legendary Pokémon." Natsui glanced at Shelly in front. Seeing her preoccupied appearance and not listening to their conversation, he whispered, "You saw Rayquaza's power last time too, right? Although it's very strong and can be evenly matched with Deoxys, in front of Primal Kyogre, it's completely not enough to look at! It needs to also evolve into a stronger form to contend with it! Even just moving its tail slightly, it can cause the seawater to rise violently and create terrifying giant whirlpools!"
"That powerful?" Misty stuck out her tongue. "Then can we really stop it? You know, those main Pokémon of yours aren't by your side right now!"
"This is also what I'm worried about." Natsui sighed. "However, as long as we snatch that orb before Archie makes a mistake, I think it shouldn't prompt Kyogre to undergo Primal Reversion."
"Hope we can stop him." Misty nodded too, but she immediately realized something and couldn't help asking, "You are so enthusiastic this time; you haven't set your sights on Kyogre, have you?"
"Of course not." Natsui denied directly. "I can still distinguish which Pokémon can be captured and which cannot. For guys like Kyogre and Groudon, it's better to let them stay quietly in the corners of the world."
"Then what about Rayquaza?" Misty pressed. "I saw your gaze toward Rayquaza was very heated last time. Do you have no ideas about it either?"
"It's different. One more or one less of that kind of Pokémon doesn't change anything for the world. However, my target isn't the one that appeared last time, but a more handsome one! Alright, that's a story for later. Let's focus on the crisis before us now!"
While talking, the three arrived at a warehouse in the deepest part of the area. As Shelly entered the password, the heavy warehouse door opened automatically, revealing the situation inside the warehouse.
In the center of the warehouse was a pool connected to the ocean. Inside the pool, a small submarine with the Team Aqua logo printed on the outside was docked quietly.
Shelly didn't start the submarine immediately. Instead, she walked to a shelf on the side, took out two sets of clothes, and handed them to Natsui and Misty.
"To avoid causing unnecessary trouble, and also to approach Archie more smoothly, you guys should change into these uniforms first."
Natsui hadn't expected Shelly to be so 'thoughtful.' However, he had no objection to this. After all, approaching Archie most quickly and smoothly was the urgent task!
And to be honest, although the Team Aqua uniform looked rather ugly in his eyes, the act of infiltrating in disguise still gave him an inexplicable sense of excitement!
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