Hearing the Carbink say that she was unable to complete the final stage of her mutation, Chen Shi felt somewhat puzzled and was just about to ask why.
But suddenly—
A series of footsteps echoed from outside the abandoned hotel.
Chen Shi's eyes narrowed slightly as he turned to look.
This hotel had long since been abandoned. Normally, nobody ever came here.
So who could it be now?
Could those Pokémon Hunters still have accomplices?
Swampert and the others immediately looked toward the hotel entrance, already prepared for battle.
"Shi'er, it's Sister Cynthia coming back!"
Just as the atmosphere became tense, Jirachi suddenly spoke up.
Chen Shi froze.
It wasn't Pokémon Hunters?
Cynthia had come back?
But hadn't she already returned to the hotel?
Why was she back again?
While he was still confused, Cynthia's tall and familiar figure slowly appeared within everyone's sight.
Her steps were light, her expression as calm as ever.
"Why did you come back?" Chen Shi asked in confusion.
"What? Am I not welcome?"
Cynthia raised an eyebrow, her tone calm.
Then, without another word, she directly tossed a backpack toward him.
Chen Shi caught his backpack, his mind filled with question marks.
"I'm staying here with you tonight too."
Cynthia crossed her arms, her tone leaving no room for objection.
Seeing Chen Shi remain silent, she continued:
"What are you standing around for?"
"Hurry up and set up the tent."
Chen Shi fell silent for a moment before muttering quietly:
"Tsundere…"
"What did you say?"
"N-Nothing."
"Then why aren't you setting up the tent yet?"
"Ah, right away!"
As he spoke, Chen Shi reached into his backpack and rummaged around for a while before pulling out a tent.
His movements were swift and practiced.
In no time at all, a sturdy and spacious tent had been firmly set up in an open area inside the abandoned hotel.
Afterward, Chen Shi searched through the backpack again, taking out Swampert's and Lady Florges's energy cubes before distributing them to everyone.
Once he finished everything, he dusted off his clothes and walked over to sit at the tent entrance.
Seeing this, Cynthia also stood up and walked over, sitting down right beside him.
She gently picked up the tiny and adorable Victini and placed it on her lap before slightly tilting her head and resting it lightly against Chen Shi's shoulder.
"You seem especially concerned about these Carbink."
"Especially that differently-colored Carbink."
"Is it because they can create diamonds?"
Chen Shi shook his head.
"Of course not."
Then he smiled.
"These Carbink are far more special than you think."
"And that Carbink isn't shiny either."
"She's currently undergoing a mutation."
"If the mutation succeeds, that Carbink will become the Mythical Pokémon Diancie."
"A Mythical Pokémon!?"
Cynthia's eyes widened instantly, her face filled with shock.
Many people couldn't distinguish the difference between Legendary Pokémon and Mythical Pokémon.
But after spending so much time around Chen Shi, Cynthia had learned a little from him.
The difference between Legendary and Mythical Pokémon mainly lay in their abilities, rarity, and battle strength.
Legendary Pokémon typically possessed overwhelming power.
The strongest among them could even shake an entire region.
The Hoenn Weather Trio was the perfect example.
As for Mythical Pokémon—
They possessed all sorts of unbelievable abilities.
For example:
Mew's complete genetic manipulation.
Victini's infinite energy.
Jirachi's wish-granting powers.
Although Mythical Pokémon weren't famous for raw combat ability, that certainly didn't mean they were weak.
Even Arceus, the creator deity from Sinnoh's legends—
Was classified as a Mythical Pokémon.
Overall—
Whether Legendary or Mythical, both were extremely rare and overwhelmingly powerful Pokémon.
Most people might never encounter even one in their entire lives.
And according to Chen Shi—
If this Carbink completed her so-called mutation, she would become a Mythical Pokémon!!
How could Cynthia not be shocked?
After pondering for a moment, Cynthia said seriously:
"Steven was right."
"Following you around always leads to unexpected surprises."
Chen Shi: "..."
"If I said all of this was just coincidence, would you believe me?"
"I would."
"Whatever you say is true."
"As long as you let me keep following you in the future."
Those words instantly rendered Chen Shi speechless.
What was he even supposed to say to that?
She had clearly already made up her mind to stay with him.
In other words—
She obviously didn't believe the "coincidence" explanation at all.
At that point, anything he said was meaningless.
Cynthia smiled and asked:
"Then what exactly is this mutation you mentioned?"
"And what kind of Pokémon is Diancie?"
Chen Shi rubbed his chin thoughtfully before replying:
"As for mutation… you can think of it as a special evolution unique to the Carbink race."
"Their tribe can only ever have one Diancie Queen."
"And only after the previous Diancie Queen passes away…"
"Will one Carbink within the tribe begin mutating into the next Diancie Queen."
"As for Diancie herself…"
"She's a Rock/Fairy-type Pokémon."
At this point, Chen Shi suddenly remembered Steven's indifferent attitude toward the mutating Carbink earlier and couldn't help laughing.
Cynthia immediately asked:
"What are you laughing at?"
"Nothing."
"I just thought of Steven."
Cynthia pinched his waist irritably.
"You really are something."
"You clearly know all these things, but you never tell him."
The way Chen Shi and Steven interacted sometimes genuinely amused Cynthia.
Yet despite all that, the two of them still had an incredibly good relationship.
Chen Shi hurriedly waved his hands.
"This really isn't my fault."
"Diancie is simply too important to the Carbink race."
"According to legend, the Diamond Kingdom relies on the Sacred Diamond to continue existing."
"And only Diancie can create the Sacred Diamond."
"So for the Diamond Kingdom of the Carbink race…"
"Diancie is absolutely irreplaceable."
"So that's how it is…"
Cynthia sighed softly.
"It seems there are still countless things in this world that I don't understand."
At that moment, the mutating Carbink walked over and softly spoke:
"Nah nah, nah nah~"
(What Lord Chen Shi said is correct.)
(The Sacred Diamond of our Diamond Kingdom is nearing the end of its lifespan.)
(But I've been unable to complete my final mutation and become the new Diancie Queen.)
(That's why I left to search for a solution…)
(I never expected to encounter Pokémon Hunters instead.)
At this point, the Carbink's eyes dimmed.
If she could not become the new Diancie Queen before the Sacred Diamond's lifespan ended—
Then the Diamond Kingdom would head toward destruction.
Afterward, the Carbink spoke to Chen Shi in a pleading tone:
"Nah nah~~"
(Lord Chen Shi… could you please help us?)
Chen Shi scratched his head helplessly.
"But I don't know how to help you mutate into Diancie either."
The Carbink shook her head and pointed toward Lady Florges.
"Nah nah?"
(I can sense that your partner possesses something that would greatly help my mutation.)
(Could I exchange something else for it?)
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