After obtaining that object, Kael, who until just a moment ago still seemed calm and somewhat satisfied, now had his face covered with a gloomy expression. His entire bearing had become very different from before.
Perhaps that was what happened when a person changed completely because of a single thing.
Kael's hand, which held the pendant, tightened its grip. Then he cast a glance toward his Pokémon, who now showed a trace of fear.
It could be clearly seen that those Pokémon, including Mega Latios and Mega Latias, could not help but tremble slightly. It was a completely instinctive reaction, unrelated to their level of strength.
Using Teleport once again, Kael, carrying the pendant and his Pokémon with him, returned to the sky above Mt. Silver.
He looked at the crowd and saw that, compared to the moment when he had left, there had not been many changes. Evidently, after his departure, no further battle had broken out, and everyone had remained in a kind of tense balance, watching one another.
The first person he focused on was Giovanni, who stood to one side observing with a thoughtful expression.
Giovanni noticed Kael's gaze and slightly raised the corner of his lips, returning the look without the slightest retreat. The change in Kael's expression did not affect his own in the least.
Although he was somewhat surprised by the change he had seen in Kael's face, Giovanni had absolute confidence in his own strength. After obtaining Mewtwo, that confidence had expanded even further. If Kael truly wished to battle him, Giovanni was more than willing.
Kael held Giovanni's gaze for a moment, and in the end, he was the one who looked away, abandoning that unrealistic idea that had crossed his mind.
With only one Mewtwo, Giovanni was already able to face his two Master Level Pokémon, and he had not even released his true signature Pokémon, Beedrill. Who knew to what level the strength of that Beedrill had reached after so many years.
Even if it was only a Beedrill, Giovanni's Beedrill was very different from an ordinary one; it could not be judged by common standards. If it had truly broken through to the Master Level, then his situation would no longer be favorable.
In the end, he decided to complete his objective first. As for Giovanni, he could stand aside and watch if he wished.
Thus, the entire group remained silent in the sky above Mt. Silver. No one launched the first attack, and none took the initiative to reignite the battle.
Magnus and Cain let out a small breath of relief. At this moment, the League was at a disadvantage; if there was no battle, it was best to maintain things as they were.
Meanwhile, Kael still had his eyes closed, appearing like someone waiting for the arrival of something, which made him even harder to read.
Cain observed Kael's attitude. With the strength he currently possessed, he could completely destroy the League headquarters at Mt. Silver, and also eliminate all the League trainers still fighting below, yet he was not doing so.
However, thinking about it carefully, it made sense. Eliminating those ordinary trainers, although it would cause considerable losses to the League, would at most break bones and tear tendons; it would be far from enough to truly overthrow it.
If one truly wished to bring down the League, what would be the fastest and most effective way?
Cain thought silently, and very soon grasped the key point.
The council elder!
As long as the council elder remained alive, the League would still have a head.
Destroying the headquarters building would only destroy the outward appearance of the League, but if the council elder fell, then the League would truly be decapitated.
If there was no figure with sufficient prestige to sit at the top and restrain everyone below, ambitions that did not belong would inevitably arise in many hearts.
If Cain could see the key so quickly, naturally the others could also think of it.
Magnus's face now showed obvious anxiety. He wanted to convey this situation to the council elder, to tell him that as long as he remained standing, the League would not collapse.
Giovanni, meanwhile, maintained an expression of evident interest.
He did not believe for even a second that an old monster like the council elder, who had lived for who knows how many years, could be eliminated by Kael, even with Giratina's help.
As the leader of Team Rocket, if he had not acted openly for such a long time, part of the reason was that he feared those old monsters hidden within the League, but the main reason was precisely the existence of that council elder.
Was someone capable of facing a top-tier legendary Pokémon head-on not terrifying?
It was unknown how much time passed, but eventually Kael finally opened his eyes and looked upward. A new spatial rift appeared once again.
From it burst forth a person and several Pokémon. They were precisely the president of the League, the council elder, together with Giratina, the dragon of the underworld, and the three legendary birds that had been fighting against him.
As soon as he returned from the Distortion World, the council elder swept the area with his gaze. He saw some people he did not know and others he knew very well. The one he paid particular attention to was Giovanni and the Mewtwo beside him, although in the end his gaze stopped on Kael, whose face was dark and somber.
From Kael, he sensed that aura so familiar to him, and he could not help but reveal a bitter smile.
Giratina separated from the three legendary birds and returned to Kael's side, while the three birds surrounded the council elder.
Both the three birds and Giratina showed unstable auras, so they had surely all suffered injuries to varying degrees.
Giratina hurried back to Kael's side precisely because it had sensed within him a presence that felt both very familiar and deeply unpleasant.
Its enormous eyes fixed on Kael, and it could not help but ask: "Did you obtain the thing?"
Because it did not use telepathy, its voice was heard by everyone present.
Upon hearing that voice, Darkrai, who remained silent beside Cain, trembled slightly.
Cain noticed the change in Darkrai and gently patted his shoulder, signaling him to relax first. At this moment, they were still no match for Giratina.
Only after receiving Cain's reassurance did Darkrai manage to stabilize himself.
(End of chapter)