"Cain... what's wrong with your Salamence...?"
Cain gently rubbed her head again and positioned her behind him.
"We'll talk about that later. The battle could start at any moment!"
As he spoke, Cain clearly saw a middle-aged man dressed in yellow, accompanied by a Jolteon and an Ampharos, as well as that figure who felt both familiar and strange to him: Will, the Psychic-type Elite Four of the Johto region.
Only after seeing that Cain had rescued Phoebe did Will and the man in yellow fully react. They had been deceived: from the very beginning, Cain's true objective had not been the device, but Phoebe, whom they had captured.
In fact, Will had harbored that suspicion, but the value of the device was simply too great. They could not afford to gamble.
And Cain had precisely gambled on the fact that they would not dare to do so.
"Will," Cain said, narrowing his eyes coldly.
Upon hearing his name, Will's face showed no emotion. From the moment he saw Salamence, he already knew that the one who had arrived was Cain.
Although they now stood on opposing sides, Will felt a certain admiration for Cain: he had managed to climb step by step to where he was now, reaching such a level of power.
Phoebe, who stood behind Cain, instinctively shuddered upon hearing that name. She clung more tightly to his arm and said nervously, "Cain, be careful... they're very strong. I barely had any chance to resist."
She had already faced them, but was defeated cleanly and decisively. Her entire team—her storage space and all her Poké Balls—had been confiscated by Will. At that moment, they were inside a small blue backpack slung over his shoulder: the spatial equipment that belonged to Phoebe.
"It's fine," Cain replied calmly. "Steven and the others are already on their way."
He did not lower his voice, so both Will and the man in yellow heard him clearly.
Steven and the others?
Will's expression changed. He had had contact with Cain and with Steven, and had even witnessed the battle between Cain and Koga. He knew that, at his current level, he was no match for Cain. Although the man beside him was very strong, that power did not truly belong to him; he could not guarantee his own safety.
Cain's objective was very simple: buy time until Steven arrived.
Defeating the two enemies might be beyond him, but holding them back... of that he was quite confident.
The only problem was that Phoebe had lost all her Pokémon. They were companions who had accompanied her throughout her growth as a trainer. Losing them like this would be an even greater blow than having been tied up moments earlier.
At that moment, Phoebe, hiding behind Cain, slightly poked her head out. Her still-reddened eyes stared unblinkingly at the blue backpack on Will's shoulder.
She wanted to get it back, but did not dare say anything to Cain. She knew it was almost impossible. The enemy would not give her that opportunity and, worse still, could use it as bait to force Cain to risk his life.
So Phoebe, with maturity, remained silent.
But Cain had already noticed her gaze and perfectly understood how important that item was to her.
He gave her hand a gentle pat, signaling her not to worry for now. He had a way to deal with it.
"Why?" Cain asked again. Just one word.
Those who could understand it, understood it. Will, who met his gaze, knew very well that Cain was asking why he had chosen to join the Sacred Church.
"To become stronger," Will finally replied.
His voice was somewhat hoarse, perhaps from not having spoken for a long time, but the simplicity and determination in his words were clear.
To become stronger. That was exactly the same reason why so many had chosen the Sacred Church.
Cain frowned.
"And in the League there's no possibility of becoming stronger? You are Johto's pride, you represent an enormous number of trainers. If even you resort to abnormal methods out of impatience... what do you think those who follow the correct path will think? What will Karen and the others think?"
Suddenly, Will let out a shrill laugh. In that laughter there was desolation, helplessness, and a touch of madness, all without the slightest attempt to hide it.
When he stopped laughing, his eyes became sharp as blades. Behind the mask that barely covered his face, that cold gaze pierced Cain mercilessly.
"And you?" he asked. "Why did you choose to join Team Rocket?"
His voice carried no emotion whatsoever.
But those words fell like a massive boulder onto Cain's heart, causing his wave-like energy to surge violently.
"!!!"
Cain was not the only one shaken. Phoebe, at his side, also showed an expression of absolute shock. She even forgot to look at her Poké Balls and simply stared at Cain in disbelief.
Although Cain's expression did not change, Phoebe, who was holding his hand, felt the sudden increase of strength in his palm.
Cain regained control very quickly, but she had already noticed it.
"Didn't you get this far thanks to the support of Team Rocket?" Will continued. "I admit that, as a poor civilian, standing out within Team Rocket, earning the League's trust, and becoming the famous Sandstorm Elite Four of Hoenn shows talent and ability. But without Team Rocket... do you really think you would have made it this far?"
"Cain, deep down, we are the same kind of person. I simply walked behind you."
Each of his sentences was a direct reproach.
Cain knew perfectly well that his growth up to that point was closely tied to Team Rocket.
But to him, Team Rocket, Team Heaven, or even the League were nothing more than tools on his path toward strength.
Phoebe looked at Cain in silence, then at Will, who spoke with conviction. Deep in her heart, she did not want to believe those words... but for an instant, her resolve wavered.
Cain... of Team Rocket?
(End of chapter)