pertwk Chapter 493 The Wise Men of Ancient Times
Chapter 493 The Wise Men of Ancient Times
Chapter 495 The Wise Men of Ancient Times
Just as the Elite Four were advancing into the deepest part of the ancient kingdom ruins, Hugo, the Unova Champion, arrived alone at the entrance of the small tavern at the end of the Champions Road.
Although it's called a tavern, it's more like an appendage of the Alliance headquarters.
A few hundred steps further on is the testing room where trainers have their eight Gym Badges checked before challenging the League. Every year during the various League tournaments, trainers from all over Unova line up in front of that testing room.
While Unova trainers generally perceive the badge test as a solemn ceremony—with each badge passed, eight gates symbolizing a trainer's strength open in sequence—the actual verification process is conducted beforehand in a small room, requiring both human and machine authentication. Only after all verifications are complete does the theatrical process begin to avoid any mishaps. When there are many people, several people even have to go through the process together in batches. According to Douzi, who experienced it firsthand, the entire process was incredibly tedious, completely lacking the sacred feeling that young trainees dreamed of.
That being said, the annual League Grand Finals remain the largest festival in the entire Unova. At this time, the small tavern, which is just a stone's throw from the headquarters, welcomes its busiest season of the year—people waiting for the results, people celebrating their advancement, and people drowning their sorrows after being eliminated, crowd the small shop to the point of being packed.
If it weren't for this flow of people, how could this secluded tavern on the road to victory possibly stay in business? Does it rely entirely on the civil servants from headquarters coming over for a couple of drinks after get off work?
As for now, with all staff at the league headquarters on "vacation" and all competitions at all levels suspended, this little tavern has naturally also closed down.
It was lucky—at least it still stood there intact. The building further away, which tested the badges, along with the entire Alliance headquarters, was reduced to ruins the moment the Plasma Group castle broke through the ground.
Hugo stood at the badge inspection door that had once been used for interludes, looking at the mess of metal debris, his expression somewhat complicated.
He came here, of course, not to reminisce.
The Heavenly Kings' surprise attack plan took an unexpected turn. What was expected to be a blitzkrieg turned into a war of attrition.
Thus, the battle reached a strange stalemate—the Plasma Team members remained huddled inside the castle, refusing to emerge, while the Alliance lacked sufficient high-end combat power for another offensive. The two sides were like chess players who had exhausted their pieces, separated by the center line of the board, neither willing to make the first move.
On the edge of this sit-in war, the only ones still keeping alive were the media reporters desperately trying to squeeze through the blockade to cover the events. However, the path to victory was inherently fraught with peril, and with Hugo's prior instructions, these outside eyes never truly reached the foot of Team Plasma's castle. All publicly released information underwent rigorous vetting by the League and the police; otherwise, given the "propaganda" tactics of that Sage Smura from Team Plasma, who knows what they might have done to exploit this moment of panic.
Of course, this stalemate couldn't last forever. The Alliance couldn't maintain a news blackout indefinitely with its headquarters fallen, while Team Plasma could rely on its long-established fortresses to wage a protracted war of attrition. Time wasn't on the Alliance's side.
So, Hugo's current job has become wandering around aimlessly.
To put it more politely, it's called "acting as bait for fishing".
The ideal prey, of course, is Ghetsis, who possesses the superpowered ring. If he were to attack invisibly, Gadriya, lurking in the shadows, could immediately subdue him—frankly, if it came to that, the war between Team Plasma and the Alliance could essentially be declared over sooner rather than later. Even if they came up empty-handed, capturing other Sages, or key members of elite Team Plasma units like the Dark Triangle, would still be a perfectly acceptable outcome.
Just as Hugo was hesitating about whether to take the risk and walk a little further towards the Plasma Group's castle, a thin mist suddenly enveloped the ruins in front of him.
The alliance headquarters is located on a mountaintop, where the air is always dry and the wind never stops—this is definitely not naturally formed fog.
Hugo immediately became alert.
However, just as he was about to send the coded message, the telepathic connection he had been maintaining with Cattleya suddenly broke down.
Suddenly, a cold wind swept in without warning, swirling with mist.
Hugo squinted instinctively, and when he opened his eyes again, there were two figures standing side by side in the thick fog.
One had cherry-blossom-colored hair flowing down her back, while the other had her blonde hair tied into a long braid. Both wore simple, sleeveless long robes with a clean cut and a beautifully draped fabric that moved almost silently. The style didn't resemble commercially available clothing; rather, it looked more like some kind of religious attire.
Although he had lost his backup, Hugo looked at Gardevoir and Lady Gothic standing side by side behind the two men and did not panic. Instead, he spoke first.
"To appear here at this time, in this way—you must be from Group Plasma, right?"
The blonde woman bowed slightly. "Hugo, the Unified Champion, we've come specifically to remind you."
"We know this suggestion might be a bit presumptuous, but at this critical moment, it would be unwise for the League to confront the Order." Another girl chimed in, "You are the one who has the ability to change all of this, and you should act as a champion."
The two did not refute Hugo's question—which could be considered an admission of their agreement.
But their demeanor unconsciously reminded the detective of a certain green-haired youth—that almost naive certainty that emanated from his very bones, that sense of entitlement that "I am doing the right thing."
Were they trying to persuade us to surrender? Or was it something else?
"Barbena and Holena".
Hugo probed with his words while carefully observing the other person's expression—it seemed he hadn't guessed the name wrong.
"You two must be those two non-blood-related sisters from N, right? You can hear Pokémon's thoughts too?"
Hugo's whereabouts were decided on short notice, and almost no one, even within the League and the police, knew about them. The fact that these two were able to find him so accurately the moment he was alone made him immediately think of N's innate talent for obtaining information from Pokémon.
"Our abilities are far inferior to the King's." The cherry-haired woman understood Hugo's unspoken meaning and replied earnestly, "Unlike him, who can hear all the thoughts of Pokémon, we can only vaguely sense their emotions. The reason we were able to find you this time..."
She turned slightly to the side, gesturing to the two Pokémon standing side by side behind her.
"It was only by the combined efforts of the two of us, Gardevoir, and Lady Gothia that we barely managed to do it."
After saying this, she lifted her skirt and gave a solemn bow.
"Nice to meet you, I am Barbena. This is Holena."
"I've heard the rumors about you," Hugo said, not returning the greeting but simply crossing his arms. "Just as N is the king of the Plasma Group, you are respectively the 'Goddess of Love' and the 'Goddess of Peace' of that order." It must be said, such titles seem somewhat incongruous to those outside the religious sphere in this day and age.
Observing two people simultaneously, while doubling the workload compared to observing a single person, is actually simpler because there is a point of reference for comparison.
For example, right now, both "goddesses" maintained their composure, but Barbena, with her cherry-haired hair, had a noticeably more expressive face, and she became slightly shy when mentioning her title. Perhaps because she was younger, she didn't hide her unease as completely.
Hugo naturally steered the conversation toward the interior of the plasma cluster—
"After becoming the league champion, I gained access to investigate more information. According to the household records left by Quetzalcoatl in the early years, you were originally his adopted son and daughter. In this light, after he found N, the most suitable puppet to be the king, he kicked you out of the candidate position and turned you into religious symbols representing God's assistance to the king and stabilizing the hearts of the cult members—quite a harmonious family relationship indeed."
These probing questions worked—they were even too effective. Even the Psychic-type Pokémon behind the two "goddesses" turned hostile.
Holina raised her hand to gently soothe him, her movements as practiced as if she had done it many times before.
"We know what you mean. In fact, we don't entirely agree with Father's approach either."
She brushed aside her bangs, which were styled into four petal-like shapes, and said calmly, "Unlike our younger brother N, we two were not completely isolated from the outside world from childhood. Therefore, we can vaguely understand the various anomalies within the cult—and that is precisely why we are here."
Hugo abandoned his tentative stance and became serious.
"What are your demands?"
"Please stop the conflict with the Order immediately." Barbena's tone became urgent, her neatly trimmed pink bangs, resembling those of a pumpkin monster, swaying slightly with her movements. "Because of the pressure from the Alliance, our father is plotting something terrible."
"Which of the things your Plasma Group is planning isn't terrifying?" Hugo swallowed those words.
In order to communicate with him, the other party not only gave up this golden opportunity to seize the Unova Championship, but also broke away from Team Plasma's control without authorization. This act, which is tantamount to betraying the organization, has already demonstrated enough sincerity.
As the "goddesses" of Team Plasma, Barbena and Holena couldn't possibly be unaware of the Seven Sages' actions over the years. They had witnessed countless crimes and endured countless injustices, yet only now had they finally decided to stand up. This suggests that what Team Plasma was plotting was likely far beyond their tolerance.
The "horrible" things they described are probably completely different from the evils that ordinary people understand.
"Do you know exactly what that matter is?" Although he anticipated the answer, Hugo still asked, "Is it related to the legendary spirits controlled by the Plasma Group?"
Both of them shook their heads.
As expected. All they could offer were vague hints, not concrete information.
"We can only be certain that this matter has nothing to do with N, or the founding dragon he controls." Helena's voice was calm, yet carried an undeniable certainty. "If N were in the castle, he would never allow this to happen. And he's still on his way here. The only way to avert this crisis is to get the Alliance to back down."
Hugo understood.
The Plasma Group has acquired a certain weapon. In order to get the Plasma Group to give up its use, the Alliance must take the initiative to make concessions. This is the negotiation plan brought by these two "goddesses".
He frowned, his mind racing as he reviewed the cards the Plasma Cluster held.
"The Victini captured by Team Plasma has escaped. Although Akroma obtained the sealed legendary spirit, it's impossible for it to revive and regain control in such a short time. The Land Cloud in Yoggs' possession is related to legend, but it doesn't possess the power to destroy the world—so where exactly does the danger you're talking about come from?"
He looked at the two of them.
"Since you don't know any details, how do you know that 'horrible thing' exists?"
"Because we heard it," Holina whispered.
"This morning," Barbena continued, her voice very soft, as if afraid of disturbing something, "we overheard what Father said to Gerald before he left the castle."
Holina raised her head and looked directly into Hugo's eyes.
He said one.
Barbena, standing to the side, spoke slowly and deliberately.
"After midnight tomorrow, activate the castle's defenses to maximum and prepare for the worst-case scenario where half of the United States will be razed to the ground."
The air seemed to freeze for half a second.
Tomorrow at midnight.
There are less than 30 hours left.
"Could it be some kind of rhetoric?" Hugo asked cautiously.
Although he was ruthless and insane, Ghetsis was ultimately an ambitious man in the conventional sense. He wanted a unified kingdom that submitted to him, not a scorched earth. Wasn't that guy still planning to put N on the throne? How come he suddenly became like Crimson Sun, wanting to destroy the world?
"The castle has already begun its defenses." Helena shook her head, her tone grave. "Originally, after controlling the three Heavenly Kings who entered the castle, the Order should have launched a more proactive offensive against the outside world. But now, they are completely in a state of retreat."
This is certainly enough to illustrate the seriousness of the situation.
Hugo silently calculated in his mind.
The Plasma Team was unusually silent that day. Not only at headquarters, but also throughout the Plasma Team churches scattered throughout Unova. Logically speaking, after Ghetsis hijacked the communication signals and delivered that inflammatory speech, those hidden forces should have been active. The Alliance's recent "luring the snakes out of their holes" operation should not have achieved such a suppressive effect.
Even Hugo himself, who used himself as bait to loiter around the edge of headquarters, was doing so because of the Plasma Group's strangely conservative state.
"I think—this should also be outside of Quixote's plans."
After a long silence, the detective spoke.
He looked at Holina.
"Ghetch used the phrase 'worst-case scenario' when discussing this with Geralt—indicating that he himself didn't want it to happen. And within your Order, there are actually very few who are capable of defying that person's will."
According to the two sisters, N had nothing to do with the matter.
As for Acrom, although he possesses the "bomb" of sealed Pokémon he brought from the Giant's Cave, even the most insane scientist needs time and equipment to make a splash. Having just fled in the underground river, it's impossible for him to revive and regain control in such a short time, let alone create a disaster that could destroy half of Unova.
The only remaining candidates were the Seven Sages, who were as famous as the "Foolish Fools' Carnival".
Vio and Asura, the two sages who have already been captured, need not be considered. Of the remaining sages, Geralt guards the castle, Rhodes manages the finances, and Smura specializes in propaganda—none of them seem like the type to excel at destruction.
If we include Quixote himself, and eliminate all these options, then only one name remains: Joggs.
"Exiled pottery shards".
A sage who holds the power over the land and clouds.
That old man who, among the seven sages of the Plasma Group, chose to call himself a "historian".
He is one of the few neutral factions among the Seven Sages, and once attempted to use Victini and Land Cloud to kill the former champion's ace partner in order to make their King N the champion.
And now, what does he want to do?
When Quixote left the castle at this moment, was he trying to stop that insane act, or was he adding fuel to the fire?
Hugo hoped it was the former, but if Quixote really planned it that way, he wouldn't have warned the "City Defense Division" to deploy their defenses in advance.
Land clouds do not have the power to destroy the world—that's true.
But what if its power is amplified, distorted, or even alienated in some way?