N pursed his lips, truly not knowing how to face Ghetsis, but he still answered the phone.
"Father."
"N, did Colress get the message?"
Ghetsis asked N. When he learned that Colress's base was being attacked, he immediately told N to go fetch Colress and bring him back.
After all, in Ghetsis's eyes Colress is a helpless researcher, though he does have some odd techno-things.
But against strong Trainers, Colress is easy to seize.
Yet not now!
Colress is extremely important to Ghetsis, not only because Colress revived and modified Genesect to greatly boost Team Plasma's strength,
but also because Colress's some prodigy inventions, such as the Colress Machine named after himself by Colress.
To Ghetsis, the Colress Machine is a prodigy invention! Because Colress Machine can control wild Pokémon.
This is also one of Ghetsis's ambitions relying on.
And what few people know is that, besides the Truth Dragon and the Ideals Dragon in the founding myth of Unova, there exists another strongest Legendary Dragon!
Yes, the body left behind when Unova Legendary Dragon Pokémon split long ago became Kyurem.
That is the strongest Legendary Dragon of Unova!
But because Kyurem basically slumbers in some area, Unova people largely don't know Kyurem exists.
But Ghetsis knows well, so he highly values Colress, because as long as Colress can keep improving the Colress Machine, then if he can locate Kyurem's location,
he'll have a chance to master this strongest Legendary Dragon! So Colress must not come to harm.
Then who could be his Team Plasma's opponent with Kyurem, Zekrom, and the Genesect Army mastered by Team Plasma?
"Sorry, Father." N hears the urgency in Ghetsis's words, and feels ashamed.
In the castle, Ghetsis is startled, and a bad premonition fills his mind.
"What's going on?"
"Team Rocket has appeared; that Damian has kidnapped Colress."
"What the hell—what did you say?!"
Ghetsis's voice shoots up eighteen degrees in pitch, full of anger.
N is startled; it's the first time he sees Ghetsis lose his cool like this.
Ghetsis also reacts, tamping down his rage and trying to keep his tone calm.
"What happened? N, didn't you take Zekrom with you?"
But even with full control, Ghetsis remains unable to hide his anger.
He cannot comprehend how Team Rocket's Damian could steal Colress from N!
And moreover—this is Team Rocket attacking Colress's base?
Those damn intruders!
"Zekrom was injured by Damian; badly hurt, and that Damian… he controlled Primal Kyogre."
"… "
Ghetsis's face sinks; his gaze shifts between dark and light.
Primal Kyogre?
And to think that neither N nor Zekrom seems to be Damian's opponent? That guy…
"I understand. Where are you now? I'll send someone to fetch you."
Ghetsis takes a deep breath and speaks sternly to N.
He isn't completely irrational; he believes N won't lie.
Hanging up, Ghetsis sits on the throne, his face grim.
"Trash! N is trash!! Useless thing!"
Ghetsis can't help but vent his anger, cursing.
He had obtained the legendary Zekrom, yet he couldn't even beat a Team Rocket guy, and he had to retreat?
And N actually lost to that jerk!
What trash this is?! He's wasted over ten years raising N!
Ghetsis's chest rises and falls rapidly; anger is useless. He must rescue Colress.
Thinking, with an experimental ideology, Ghetsis dials Colress's phone.
Though Colress is a prisoner, his phone would have been confiscated, but fortune favors, perhaps Colress hid it?
If he can contact Colress, it would be easier to rescue him.
But to Ghetsis's surprise, the call connects smoothly, and someone soon answers.
"Hello? Ghetsis?" Colress's elegant, magnetic voice comes through as always.
"Colress? Are you okay?"
Ghetsis is astonished.
"I'm fine, I'm good."
Colress smiles faintly; he had just finished dinner with Damian and planned to rest in his room a while.
"You escaped from Team Rocket? As expected, Colress."
Ghetsis immediately suspects this was Colress's doing; Colress's wisdom always helps him through.
"That's not it."
"Ghetsis, I was just thinking of you too; I'm quitting Team Plasma."
"What did you say?"
Ghetsis's pupils shrink; why?
"I'm quitting Team Plasma, and… Colress, don't contact me again; I'm afraid Lord Damian would misunderstand."
"Colress!!"
Ghetsis's voice cannot control the rage; he cannot accept Colress betraying him and joining Team Rocket!
"Colress! I've not treated you badly! I took you in when you were at your lowest during the Unova League warrants!"
"It was I! It was I who took you in!"
Ghetsis's voice roars.
He cannot accept Colress betraying him, especially calling that smug Damian "My lord"!
Colress never even uses the word "My lord" for him!!
"Please stop speaking so cruelly; I never said I pledged allegiance to you." Colress's brow is cold and stern.
"Ghetsis, our cooperation has always been mutual benefit; I provide you with my research results, and you provide me with equipment and subjects."
Colress calmly says; he doesn't feel he owes Ghetsis anything, and his return to Team Plasma yields more for him than Team Plasma provides.
"The three Genesect I've sent are already enough to compensate all your sponsorship, Ghetsis. We'll part ways amicably."
"Colress! You white-eyed wolf, fuck your mother…"
Hearing this, Ghetsis cannot hold back; he curses Colress, but before he finishes Colress hangs up.
Ghetsis, of course, is not content; he immediately calls again.
But the line rings once, then is hung up.
Call after call, it's blocked.
"Colress!"
The string in Ghetsis's mind breaks; his mindset explodes.
With a loud crash, he slams the phone into pieces, screaming the name of thescientist.
"Colress!!!"
The Castle seems to echo with the name.
...
Nimbasa City, after a heavy rain just ended; fortunately the downpour was short.
Now the rain has cleared, the sun shines on the streets, and the fresh air is refreshing.
At least Damian is in a very good mood; he's strolling alone along the streets of Nimbasa City.
Caitlin is at the hotel's private pool with Little Lugia, while Zinnia has gone off for special training.
So Damian finds himself wandering, alone in the city for a change. Well, not truly alone.
"Damian, Damian! Fini wants to eat that!"
"I want some too! I want some too!"
Tapu Fini tugs on Damian's big coat, pointing at a nearby stall with ice cream, and Jirachi perched on Damian's shoulder is being spoiled as well.
"Okay, okay."
Unable to resist these two adorable requests, Damian steps up to the stall.
"A trio of vanilla ice cream."
Damian orders three.
"Sure, guests, please wait a moment."
The stall owner beams with enthusiasm as he gets to work.
As the owner busies himself, Damian glances around casually and his eyes lock on a distant, beautiful silhouette nearby.
"Hey, fancy running into you here."
Damian's lips curve into a slow smile.
The silhouette is Elesa, the black-haired, tall, supermodel-looking Gym Leader of Nimbasa, whom he just met outside the city not long ago.
Elesa, about to return to the gym, halts in her steps and looks shocked at the ice-cream stall in front of Damian.
Her black bleached hair, handsome face, all-black outfit, and that distinctive Jirachi perched on her shoulder are highly recognizable.
That's right, a Mythical Pokémon Jirachi—Elesa has a keen eye.
So this person… is indeed the Team Rocket Admin who beat Zekrom earlier!
Elesa is stunned; she hadn't expected a Team Rocket villain to swagger openly in the city.
Could there be another plan at work?
Elesa's expression wavers between suspicion and caution; should she alert Officer Jenny and intervene?
But how could she be Damian's opponent? If she angered him, how would she deal with the city?
Elesa bites her lip, hesitating.
However then she sees the Team Rocket Admin wave at her.
Elesa lingers for a moment, then steps forward toward Damian.
"Want some ice cream?"
Approaching, Elesa hears that question.
As a world-renowned model, Elesa doesn't usually like ice cream—the calories are high, after all.
But…
"Sure." Elesa nods.
"Owner, one more vanilla ice cream, please."
Damian asks the owner.
"Coming right up! Wow— Gym Leader Elesa!"
The stall owner looks up; seeing Elesa, his expression lights up.
For folks in Nimbasa City, Elesa is a well-known figure—the city's emblem.
"Hello." Elesa nods, her tone neither warm nor cold.
Her oratory isn't bad, but privately she isn't much of a talker.
The stall owner, however, seems to be an admirer of Elesa, his words spilling out with excitement.
Yet Elesa's reaction is cool; her mood is tense, because standing beside her is a terrifying man indeed.
With the ice cream in hand, Damian and Elesa turn to walk away.
The atmosphere is quiet; Damian leisurely admires the city's scenery, but Elesa cannot settle.
"Mr. Damian… is that right? What are you coming to Nimbasa City for?"
Finally, Elesa can't hold back and asks softly.
"Ah, this…," Damian raises an eyebrow, then reveals a sly, malicious smile: "depends on whether Miss Elesa is willing to cooperate."
"Miss Elesa, You Don't Want This City to Be Surprised Either, Do You?"
Elesa's pupils shrink.
~~~
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