Mt. Pyre?
Phoebe's grandparents? The two elders of Mt. Pyre?
Even if Juan had not mentioned it, Cain had already planned to go. Not only to see whether Darkrai's problem could be completely eliminated, but also to ask why, when they helped Haunter evolve into Gengar, they had injected the energy of the Underworld Dragon, Giratina, almost causing him to lose his life.
It had not been urgent before, but now it had to be accelerated. Juan's words carried a special implication.
Upon hearing the mention of Mt. Pyre, Phoebe showed excitement; since leaving, she had not returned and missed her grandparents greatly.
Afterward, they discussed how to face and handle the Sacred Church.
With their recent large-scale deployment, it would take them at least three or four days before they could act again.
They also talked about Cain's promise: in three days, information about Mega Evolution would be announced at the Hoenn League headquarters.
Since Cain had already declared it publicly, many people would come to Hoenn. It would be a major event, and they had to organize it flawlessly to demonstrate the greatness of the region.
But all of that did not have much to do with Cain. He was responsible for fighting; the others managed the rest. Each fulfilled their own role.
After finishing this long meeting —one that would change the balance of the Hoenn League— Cain left together with Phoebe and the others.
They had too many questions: what Cain had done during his disappearance, and what he had done after returning.
Cain also wanted to know what had happened in Hoenn and in the League during that time, and more about the Sacred Church.
By the time they finally parted ways, it was already night. If not for the time to sleep, they would have continued until dawn.
After returning to his room and lying down for a moment on the soft bed, Cain used Teleport and disappeared.
After leaving the League building, he did not stop. He used Teleport several times until he reached an unknown forest.
"All of you, come out," he said, now dressed differently.
Several figures immediately appeared before him, kneeling on one knee.
"Sir!"
Two of them spoke with firmness and devotion; the other two showed respect tinged with fear.
And besides them, a special figure stood out among the group.
"Greetings, sir, meow!"
A Meowth that could speak!
"Stand up," Cain said indifferently.
They all obeyed.
"Brad, Catherine, it seems you have already adapted to your identities. How are the tasks I assigned to you progressing?"
That's right. Among the four were Brad and Catherine, whom Cain had subdued in the Space-Time Continent. There, they had been average, but in the current Pokémon world, they stood at the top of the food chain.
"Sir, everything is done. Only these two..." Brad replied.
When mentioning the other two, both his expression and Catherine's became peculiar.
"What is it?" Cain raised an eyebrow.
Brad hesitated. He did not know what relationship those two people had with Cain. If they were important to him, he could not speak carelessly.
In the end, he summarized it in three words: "Hard to explain."
But with just that, Cain understood what kind of "experience" those three eccentrics from the Pokémon world had caused.
"Jessie, James, and Meowth. They say what happened with you is difficult to explain. Would you like to explain it yourselves?"
Cain's gaze sharpened. When he became serious, the presence of someone in a high position was already imposing; now that his strength had increased enormously and he held the position of First Elite Four of Hoenn, it could be said that he stood at the center of all attention. When he adopted a serious attitude, the invisible pressure he emitted became even more penetrating.
In reality, more than pressure, it was that confidence radiating from the depths of his being. Absolute, invincible confidence.
Upon hearing that the lord had spoken their names, Jessie, James, and Meowth trembled at the same time, unsure of how to begin speaking.
That's right. Besides Brad and Catherine, the other two figures were Jessie and James, together with the talking Meowth, whom Cain had sent to train on the island where Regice was located.
They had agreed on three months of training. Before retrieving Brad and Catherine, Cain had even reminded them to go pick them up; this showed that he valued them quite highly.
In reality, after their previous encounter on Trial Island, Cain had already observed them closely. He knew that, although they sometimes acted somewhat incoherently, they were uncommon talents. Their potential was not weak; if properly refined, they could become two great combat forces in the future.
After all, they were people capable of constantly confronting someone like Ash, the child of destiny. Although they always ended up defeated, many times they achieved initial success; they simply failed at the final step, which was why they repeatedly returned in defeat.
Even Jessie, when she later followed the path of Contests, was able to obtain several ribbons through her own strength. That proved she possessed real ability.
As for James, even more so. Born into nobility, his level of knowledge was not inferior to anyone's. The way he got along with Pokémon and the coordination he had with them surpassed even many League trainers. His potential was definitely not low.
And Meowth, as the first normal Pokémon in the world capable of learning human language through his own effort, although not strong in battle, possessed intelligence superior to many other Pokémon. He perfectly complemented Jessie and James.
Therefore, this group of "two and a half people" was something Cain valued greatly, and not only because of Giovanni's assignment.
Jessie and James did not know how to explain themselves. Now they finally understood what kind of identity the person who had taken them from Trial Island possessed. He was the leader of Team Heaven. During that time, they had not stopped acquiring knowledge, especially under the instruction of Brad and Catherine, and they felt deep respect for Cain.
As for Giovanni of Team Rocket, they had not even met him yet. Nor were they official members of Team Rocket, nor had they been recruited by him. At that moment, Cain was the only object of their loyalty.
And when it came to Jessie, James, and Meowth, once they developed loyalty toward a leader, it never disappeared. That loyalty alone already placed them above most people.
In the end, it was Jessie, as the leader of the small group, who stepped forward to explain.
At first she spoke fearfully, but upon seeing that Cain showed no intention of becoming angry, she gradually gained courage.
Outwardly, Cain showed no reaction, but beneath the thin layer of psychic energy surrounding him, his eyebrows could not stop twitching.
He did not know how the brains of those three were wired.
With no one chasing them, they had turned Regice's island upside down. Those reckless fools had even confronted Regice directly.
They had even blown up its ice cave! If Regice had not promised Cain to protect them, that single act alone would probably have turned them into ice sculptures.
In fact, for a period of time, they were. When Brad and Catherine went to pick them up, they were frozen like statues on the beach, sunbathing.
If not for their resilient constitution, they probably would have frozen to death.
(End of Chapter)