"Gentlemen, shall we go find Kyurem?"
Alder hesitates, asking Steven and the others.
He thought about it all last night, but he still can't make up his mind.
Hearing that, Steven and the others pause to consider.
"Could you share your concerns, Senior Alder?"
Cynthia answers for Alder; she can tell he's wavering.
"Of course." Alder sighs.
"First, if we're going to find Kyurem, that means we must go to war with Team Rocket."
In truth, Alder is torn about whether to formally declare war on Team Rocket.
Up to now, Team Rocket has landed in Unova, but they haven't directly picked a fight with the Unova League.
Team Rocket has mostly targeted Team Plasma and other rogue groups and hunter organizations, not robbing ordinary people or hunting Pokémon en masse.
But if the Unova League starts attacking Team Rocket, that would be a signal flare—an official declaration of war.
Although it's normal for the Pokémon League to strike evil organizations, Alder still hesitates.
Team Rocket is incredibly powerful, especially with Damian wielding the Kyogre as a nuclear option.
And Alder is old; his pride won't tolerate a rash move.
"Second, Kyurem's strength is not clear yet, and its temperament—in Lacunosa Town lore at least—Kyurem is a brutal, ruthless Legendary Pokémon."
"Going after it and disturbing its sleeping may draw its wrath; it might not help us."
Alder sighs, turning the DNA Splicers in his hand.
There's so little reliable information about Kyurem; Lacunosa Town's legend is the most substantial.
In that legend, Kyurem is a ferocious Legendary Pokémon, with tales of it eating humans and Pokémon circulating.
That's a bit far-fetched.
"So I'd like to hear your opinions." Alder looks to Cynthia and the others.
"Senior, this still depends on your ideology." Cynthia shakes her head.
"Indeed, Champion Alder, if you can't decide to face Team Rocket head-on, there's no point in chasing Kyurem."
Leon nods; this is not something they can advise Alder on, given their own history.
After all, Hoenn's affair left shadows on Leon and Cynthia; they left Steven to make the call, but the consequences were dire, and they still feel guilt.
"Damian leading Team Rocket isn't necessarily a savage, at least from what we know, that's true."
Steven speaks with some authority here.
"Indeed, Hoenn Team Rocket's operations are business-driven; sometimes their methods are a bit aggressive."
Wallace offers a cautious add: when dealing with the same kind of product, Team Rocket uses covert tactics—buying favorable publicity, digging up dirt, but that's just normal corporate competition, not outright murder or wholesale Pokémon slaughter, right?
But that's only now; who knows what Team Rocket will do in the future?
Kanto Team Rocket has a dark history, the kind that's hard to wash clean.
"But Damian has ambition; who knows what he'll do next." Steven murmurs.
He still recalls what Damian once said about wanting to rise to the skies.
What kind of sky‑high plan is that?
"Even if Team Rocket now only wants quiet growth as a company, we can't accept that."
Alder's voice is low.
The Unova League isn't decided by one man; they won't simply allow Team Rocket to settle in Unova as if nothing happened.
A strong evil team like this is always a cause for concern.
Alder takes a deep breath and resolves.
"Then let's go find Kyurem!"
He turns to Jenny, the overall commander.
"If we can get Kyurem's assist, we'll truly have a chance to go up against Team Rocket."
Jenny nods, triggering the projector.
"Right now, Unova Team Rocket's upper echelon is basically set."
Jenny's commander speaks up.
"Top-tier Admins total four: Damian, Caitlin, Zinnia, and the newly joined Colress."
"From what we know, the biggest threat Damian wields a main roster including Primal Kyogre, Shadow Mewtwo, Reshiram, Shiny Genesect, Rayquaza (doubtful), Suicune, and Tapu Fini."
In truth, Suicune and Tapu Fini aren't as worrying as Damian's Mega Evolutions with Gengar and Tyranitar.
Rayquaza had appeared in Johto's Goldenrod City and attacked the Johto Pokémon Association; it's possible Damian captured it, hence the tentative tag.
But the bottom line—
"This guy—Damian—has actually reached this level."
Giovanni's brows knit tightly; Damian's threat level is now at maximum.
Wallace can't help but mutter.
Even without Rayquaza, Damian already has a full set of Legendary Pokémon on his side.
Cynthia and Leon fall silent.
"So if we truly take on Team Rocket, we must secure Kyurem's assist."
Otherwise, perhaps we shouldn't fight at all—the odds are too low.
"Senior Alder, we could still get N's help."
Leon strokes his chin and speaks up.
Alder freezes.
He recalls that N was deceived by Ghetsis, but Damian has revealed Ghetsis's true nature. He thinks they might be able to recruit N.
"That's reasonable."
Alder's eyes light up; indeed, N is a potential combat power to be gained.
With Zekrom on N's side, although not Damian's opponent, N is still incredibly strong.
"I'll send someone to look for N; if we find him, I'll personally meet him."
Alder nods.
"And what about Kyurem's location?"
Steven asks.
"According to Lacunosa Town's tale, Kyurem should dwell in the Giant Chasm; I'll send people to scout, and if confirmed, we'll hurry there."
"But Kyurem's temperament may be ferocious; if the situation isn't right, we might need Giovanni's Groudon to step in."
Alder looks toward Giovanni.
He's cautious; even if the tale says Kyurem eats people, such rumors carry weight, and Kyurem is likely not easy to handle.
"Rest assured."
Giovanni smiles slightly.
N's Castle — No, It Should Be Damian's Castle Now
Sunlight streams through the gaps in the curtains, painting the luxury bed in a messy, disordered light.
Concordia's blonde hair glitters in the sun as she slowly opens her eyes.
Her view lands on a handsome boy's side profile, and Concordia sighs with a soft, contented smile—a hint of embarrassment coloring her cheeks.
Yes, last night she and this boy had a wild evening together, and with Anthea by his side.
Oh my goodness
Concordia sits up, her curves catching the eye; she glances and finds Anthea, eyes rimed with tears, curled up in the boy's arms, sleeping soundly.
Concordia bites her lip and slides out of bed, but standing straight makes her wince in pain.
As expected, the "Goddess of Peace"—Concordia—bends to scoop up and dress herself.
Though she willingly used her body as the price to secure Damian's mercy for N, what happened has left Concordia deeply confused.
Her future with Anthea—
Concordia tiptoes out of the room, but just as she steps into the hall, she spots a slim figure in a pink long dress and a woman beside her—Elesa.
Yes, Elesa has come to wake Damian, but she dares not enter the room for fear of catching a forbidden glimpse.
"Miss Caitlin, Miss Elesa, good morning."
Concordia places her hands gracefully at her abdomen and bows to the two women, her tone soft.
"Morning."
Elesa answers coldly, her eyes covertly sizing Concordia up.
She's beautiful, and though her blouse is loose, it's clear Concordia is a hidden powerhouse.
Clearly, both she and her sister are of a slim frame, so how is this chair so big?
"Is Damian still asleep?"
Caitlin eyes Concordia's unusually poised stance and speaks calmly.
"Yes."
"Very well."
Caitlin turns with elegant efficiency and strides toward the stairs.
She's getting a little irritated by Concordia's odd posture—these two bitches, luring Damian away and playing him, and loudly at that? Don't they fear the walls have ears?
Women!!
Enough, stay calm, be elegant.
Caitlin steadies herself; she's used to the women of Unova being shameless, impossible to expect them to be as restrained as she is.
No problem, this kind of flirtatious world, it's normal for Damian to be tempted; but having tasted it, Damian won't fall for it again.
Let him gain experience now, it's fine.
Caitlin closes her eyes briefly, then resumes her composure.
"Feeling like Miss Caitlin is hostile toward me?"
Concordia watches Caitlin's back, noting the subtleties of being called the Goddess of Peace.
But why?
"Don't mind it; Lady Caitlin is just like that." Elesa says calmly, unfazed.
She's used to it.
"Really?"
Concordia tilts her head.
"Yes, Lady Caitlin has a crush on Lord Damian; anyone who appears around Lord Damian like us doesn't earn her much affection."
Elesa glances at Concordia.
"Not to mention you two spending the night with Lord Damian like that."
"..." Concordia's face reddens.
"But you don't need to worry that Lady Caitlin will target you; she's a decent person, she'll probably just say some cutting things."
Elesa shrugs; she's got experience, after all—she's been through this.
"Caitlin genuinely likes Lord Damian; as long as Lord Damian doesn't show open hostility toward you, she won't harm you."
Hmm, that's Elesa's conclusion.
She thinks even if she herself slept with Damian, then later confronted Caitlin, the elegant young lady would likely erupt but not truly harm her.
Because Caitlin knows she'd make Damian unhappy if she harmed Elesa.
Since Caitlin interrogated her last morning, Elesa's feelings toward Caitlin have softened, though she's still wary.
Honestly, Elesa hadn't expected Caitlin to be so into him.
This is a total crush!
~~~
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