"Lance, I didn't expect you to be the first one to come and negotiate with me."
"I thought you would be the last; you've truly exceeded my expectations."
"Why has a man who has always been so loyal to the League finally entertained the thought of betrayal?"
Agatha unhurriedly placed her Poké Ball into her bag, turned around, and looked at Lance with an unreadable expression. Lance was currently leaning against a pillar.
"My loyalty is to the League, not to Goodshow alone," Lance explained calmly. It was clear his mind was made up. "Seeing how Goodshow has turned the League into a cesspool since taking office... I've given up hope."
"Especially his attempt to control the Dragon Clan by bribing high-ranking members just so he can attack us whenever he pleases and unify the Kanto region," Lance said, gritting his teeth. The persecution of his own kin was something he could never accept.
"A crafty old fox indeed," Agatha muttered, leaning on her cane. "But he's being too clever for his own good. I'll call upon the wild Dragon-types. Lorelei is close to agreeing to my terms, and Bruno is already under my control."
"I know Team Rocket has a plan to fuse the Legendary Birds. Once combined, they will wield immense power over ice, fire, and lightning. According to my informants, Zapdos has already been captured. Now, only Articuno at the Seafoam Islands remains."
"We cannot rush. We must gather our resources and bide our time. Once we set the altar and summon the legendary beast, Kanto will fall into our hands," Agatha said with total confidence.
Lance nodded silently. Once a decision was made, he was not a man to look back.
Excellent. With Lance on my side, the Elite Four will soon be a united front, Agatha thought with a triumphant smile. Everything seemed to be falling perfectly into place.
At least the Dragon Blood Fruit tree has recovered. Otherwise, the clan would be in chaos. I must thank Feng Che properly when I see him again, Lance thought. He felt a deep resentment toward Goodshow for trying to sabotage his family's legacy.
Three Days Later
A white yacht pulled up to the shore of a deserted island.
"This island is called Poseidon Island. In ancient times, it was a place of worship for Kyogre," Shizukawa explained with a touch of nostalgia. "The ancestors of the original residents were the first humans to offer sacrifices to Kyogre and received many blessings. Later, due to various incidents, the residents migrated to Lilycove City in Hoenn, and the island fell into ruin."
"I only discovered the Water Sanctuary by accident while hunting a rare Pokémon years ago," the captain continued. "The summit of the island was where the Sea God was summoned. Now, the grand structures are nothing but crumbling ruins."
"Elite Feng Che, please follow me. The Water Sanctuary is hidden in a very secluded spot." Shizukawa led the way.
"Captain Shizukawa, it seems no one else knows of this place. Why tell me? Aren't you afraid I'll report this to the rest of Team Rocket?" Feng Che asked curiously as they walked.
Feng Che scanned the surroundings; there was truly no sign of human life. He wasn't one to believe in free lunches. Why would a man he barely knew share such a significant secret? He remained wary, wondering what Shizukawa's true angle was.
I remember Poseidon Island being a secret base for Team Aqua in some lores, Feng Che thought. There must be a massive secret here for Team Aqua to value it so much.
He prepared a backup plan. With his psychic powers, he could sense danger before it arrived. If things went south, he'd deploy his mini-sub and vanish.
"It's so peaceful here," Shizukawa said, gazing at the sky. "I once dreamed of settling here, watching the sun rise and set, listening to the Wingull."
Suddenly, Shizukawa's eyes took on a fanatical glint. He lowered his voice to a whisper: "The Sea God's light will spread across the entire world."
Though it was a whisper, Feng Che's psychic ears caught it clearly. Is Shizukawa a fanatic? That kind of mental influence usually comes from the 'Sea Monster'—the fake Kyogre summoned by Jirachi. Perhaps the island was abandoned because the residents accidentally summoned that monstrosity, incurring the real Kyogre's wrath.
Feng Che subtly rolled a Poké Ball down his pant leg. Ditto emerged and transformed into a Yanmega, following silently in the shadows.
After thirty minutes of hiking, they stopped before a massive cavern. Thick mist drifted from the entrance, and the interior was lined with glowing deep-blue crystals that sparkled like sapphires.
"Here we are, Elite Feng Che. This is the Poseidon Grotto. At the very end lies the Water Sanctuary. Your Water-type Pokémon will benefit immensely from training there."
"These blue crystals... they're Sea Gems," Feng Che noted, his heart racing. Sea Gems were the essence of the ocean condensed into physical form, a priceless treasure for Water-type Pokémon.
"You can train here, but do not take the gems," Shizukawa warned with a wry smile. "The sea will rage if you do."
To prove his point, Shizukawa picked up a small blue stone. Instantly, the sunny sky turned black. Thunder roared and lightning lashed the island. When he put the stone back, the weather returned to perfect sunshine as if it were a hallucination.
"Incredible... this control over the climate. This grotto hides a massive power," Feng Che thought.
Shizukawa brushed the dust off his hands and led Feng Che and Hanabi deep into the Poseidon Grotto.