Ash Ketchum paused for a moment and said, "That guy's eyes, and the bond Charizard shows, all tell me he will never be defeated by these things!"
Just like Da Wu.
As a battle enthusiast, Ash Ketchum also has quite a good impression of Ailan and looks forward to meeting and competing with him again at the Lumiose Conference.
And to rightfully defeat Ailan and achieve ultimate victory!
Da Wu looked at Ash Ketchum, who stood tall, and Baimu, who was nodding to him in secret, remained silent for a while, then smiled relievedly.
"So you want me to have a little confidence in him?"
"More or less."
Baimu responded softly.
According to the original plot, Ailan indeed overcame the psychological shadow Fladari cast on him and even made it to the position of the Eight Masters on his journey. Da Wu's concern was indeed unnecessary.
"Thank you."
The Hoenn Champion patted his shoulder, turned, and walked back into the villa, "Your comfort has made me feel much better, hoping this proves my decision wasn't wrong."
Hmm?
What do you mean?
Baimu glanced at Ash Ketchum and Pikachu and suddenly realized that Da Wu might have already made up his mind—the decision to "give up" on Ailan, but he was constantly feeling guilty about it.
So when he said he wanted to help Ailan just now... how is he planning to help?
Ash Ketchum asked, "Is everything okay now?"
"It should be okay."
Baimu wasn't entirely sure.
"Ailan... why did he become like this?" Ash Ketchum's tone was somewhat heavy. His naturally kind heart couldn't reconcile with Ailan's current actions and situation, which were so different from the person he once met.
But in fact.
The Ailan Ash Ketchum met was already at an extreme state, but during his battle, he realized the beauty of battles and suddenly awakened to it.
"People always change based on their experiences. Sometimes, the choices we make are not what we want but are forced upon us. Ailan might have come this far under various pressures."
Baimu reached out to stroke Pikachu's chubby cheek and said to Ash Ketchum, "Do you want to help Ailan too?"
"Yes!"
Ash Ketchum nodded without hesitation.
"Then you have to figure out what he cares about and what exactly pushed him to this point. Once you understand all of this, give him a punch in the face, and tell him how you feel."
He spoke slowly, while Pikachu under his hand kept nuzzling his hand with its head and ears.
Ash Ketchum was taken aback, "Give him a punch... is that really necessary?"
"Of course, for those stubborn fools, only by punching them can you open their minds. Normal methods don't work as well as action."
Baimu grinned maliciously, and Pikachu looked at him with a strange expression, then worriedly at its good partner.
"Pika Pika!"
Don't be so easily fooled!
"Is that so..." Ash Ketchum still didn't get it, nodding instinctively.
Pikachu, not giving up, called out again, "Pika~"
"Don't interrupt your partner's thoughts. If I'm not mistaken, don't you often use Hundred Thousand Volts on him to wake him up?" Baimu pinched Pikachu's ear.
Being exposed, Pikachu immediately looked away, embarrassed, rubbing its face with its little paws.
"Pika..."
If anyone's been hit by Pikachu's Hundred Thousand Volts the most, it's probably not Rocket Team but Ash Ketchum, this closest trainer and soul partner.
He even got shocked awake when he slept in every morning, would you believe it?
Ash Ketchum's resistance has been built up, he gets shocked and then goes back to sleep.
——
Lysandre Labs.
After his routine visit to Manon and the comatose Chespin, Da Wu encountered Ailan, who stood silently with arms folded at a corner outside the ward.
"Ailan-kun? You're back?"
"Ah."
Ailan lifted his head, saw Da Wu, then nodded, "I've earned my eighth badge, and upon hearing that there's been groundbreaking progress in Super Evolution Energy research, I rushed back."
"Groundbreaking progress?"
"Yes, the representative said that they've successfully developed a machine that can guide the release and absorption of Super Evolution Energy. This way, we can help Chespin disperse its excess energy, though further experiments are needed."
Ailan spoke softly, a hint of a smile appearing on his usually stern face, "If that's the case, it won't be long before Chespin recovers, and Manon will surely be happy."
"Did you tell Manon?"
Da Wu glanced back at Manon, who still seemed downcast in the ward.
"I... I don't know how to face her." Ailan's smile vanished, his apparently calm face hiding deep guilt and helplessness.
He always believed it was his lack of strength that led to such disasters befalling those around him.
Seeing him in this state, Da Wu couldn't help but sigh and comfort him, "It's okay, Manon won't blame you; she's always been a gentle child."
"Precisely because of that..."
"Alright then, I'll help you relay the message, but you have to do me a favor too."
Da Wu suddenly changed the subject.
Ailan seemed slightly startled, "A favor? Is there anything I can do for you?"
He smiled faintly, "You should know I am particularly fond of fossils, but recently I have some matters that keep me occupied. Could you make a trip to Guxiang Town and fetch a Jaw Fossil for me?"
"I suppose... I can."
Ailan hesitated for a moment, but then agreed, "Understood, please wait for my good news at the labs."
Perhaps, being a tool for others for too long made it hard for him to refuse requests.
The bond with Manon over the long travels was precisely because of this.
"Then I'll rely on you~"
Da Wu waved with a smile, watching the departing figure, murmuring, "Time waits for no one, Ailan-kun, let me see your resilience."
He turned around and entered the ward, wearing a smile but did not share Ailan's good news with Manon, instead told her to stay in the ward tonight, no matter what sounds are heard outside.
Transferring Chespin and Manon recklessly could alert the enemy, hence relying on Hoopa to help with the move during the action.
"Uh, alright."
Even though Manon did not understand his intentions, following Da Wu's instructions was the best course.
And so,
Time quickly advanced to midnight.
Inside the villa.
The crowd, already prepared, held their breath, watching Hoopa and Hitron, also serious.
Liu Ge asked, "Ready?"
"All set~"
"Ready!"
Hoopa and Hitron spoke up in turn.
"Very well, phase one of the operation — Ready! Begin!" Liu Ge commanded.
Swish!
The Golden Ring activated.
A glimmering blue wave flowed at the center.
Hitron swallowed nervously, the mechanical arms on his back reaching into the Golden Ring.
A nearby screen instantly displayed a computer in standby mode and a pitch-black room.
"Room confirmed empty!"
"Excellent!"
"Proceed with the operation!"
The owner of the computer was Kreel, a female executive and one of the scientists in the Flash Flame Team.
Tonight, it was Kreel's turn to be on duty, so she would stay deep within Lysandre Labs to oversee Z2 for a long time, not returning to her room.
This gave them the chance to act.
Hitron connected the data cable from the mechanical arm to the computer, sweating profusely from stress, his sister Youx Lijia watching him earnestly from afar, eager to cheer him on but refraining from speaking loudly.
Before long.
Using the executive privileges, they smoothly accessed the Flash Flame Team's intranet, and a stream of files came through, including the real financial reports and funding sources of Lysandre Labs.
However, the main target—the plan—was nowhere to be found, causing Hitron to grow anxious, his fingers trembling uncontrollably.
Liu Ge saw this, furrowed his brows, and prepared to pull him back.
Suddenly, Hoopa held Hitron's cheeks with both hands, nearly startling him out of intense focus.
It laughed playfully, "Heehee, scared, Hitron?"
"Yes, scared."
Hitron looked at it with fear lingering.
"Still nervous, Hitron?" Hoopa continued to ask.
"...Not anymore."
Hitron took a deep breath, eyes once again serious, fingers moving swiftly across the computer.
This time.
No longer flustered, he meticulously found what they were searching for.
"This is it! Found it!"
The crowd, upon seeing the contents of the file, shocked and unsettled by Fladari's insane plan, couldn't help but share a smile.
No matter Fladari's schemes,
they will all be thwarted!
Liu Ge observed, loudly addressing those around him, especially Baimu:
"Act now!"
"Let's go!"