The hike back to the Mobile Home passed in heavy silence.
Kiyomi walked at the group's center, her tablet clutched against her chest like a lifeline. The device contained everything she'd managed to document, photos, translations, measurements, but it couldn't contain the physical artifacts that had been buried under tons of rubble, or the murals that had survived four centuries only to be destroyed in seconds.
"They didn't even want the ruins," she said finally, her voice hollow. "They wanted specific artifacts, and when they couldn't have everything, they chose destruction over preservation."
"Cultural terrorism," Miyuki said quietly. "There's no other word for it."
"The League needs to know," Kasumi added. "This goes beyond Pokémon theft or illegal capture. This is historical erasure."
Sasuke remained silent, but his expression carried the cold anger that his companions had learned to recognize. The Aether Foundation had crossed a line that couldn't be uncrossed. Whatever their ultimate goals, they'd proven themselves willing to destroy irreplaceable human heritage rather than allow it to exist beyond their control.
Power without bond is tyranny.
The ancient text had been prophetic. Aether Foundation embodied exactly what those long-dead philosophers had warned against.
The nearest Officer Jenny station sat at the junction of Routes 11 and 8, a modest building that served travelers moving between Vermillion and Celadon. The officer on duty was young, perhaps recently graduated from the Academy, but her expression sharpened immediately when Sasuke's group entered.
"You look like you've been through something," she observed. "What happened?"
Kiyomi stepped forward, her academic training providing structure for the report. "Approximately three hours ago, we discovered an unregistered archaeological site in the forest northeast of here. Pre-modern era, significant historical value. While documenting the site, we encountered Aether Foundation operatives engaged in artifact theft."
"Aether Foundation?" The officer's expression flickered with something that might have been recognition. "Can you describe the operatives?"
"Five individuals. White and gold uniforms with Aether insignia. The leader claimed to have archaeological recovery authorization, but the documents were clearly forged, I'm a registered field researcher, and I recognized the formatting errors immediately."
"What happened after you confronted them?"
"Combat." Sasuke's voice was flat. "They attacked, we defended. When we defeated their Pokémon, they detonated explosives throughout the site."
"Explosives?"
"Military-grade charges positioned at structural weak points. They'd clearly been planning this contingency for some time." Sasuke's crimson eyes met the officer's gaze directly. "The entire site collapsed. Centuries of history destroyed rather than allowing it to remain accessible."
Officer Jenny's expression had grown increasingly troubled throughout the account. She made notes, but her movements carried hesitation that didn't match standard procedure.
"This is... a serious accusation," she said finally. "Aether Foundation is a registered organization with significant League standing. Claiming they destroyed an archaeological site..."
"We're not claiming," Kiyomi interrupted. "We documented everything. Before the destruction, during the confrontation, after the collapse. Photos, video, translations, sample materials. The evidence is comprehensive."
"Even so, investigations involving major organizations require..." The officer paused, choosing words carefully. "...coordination with League administrative offices."
"What does that mean?" Kasumi asked.
"It means I'll file this report, but the investigation won't be handled locally. Regional authority will take over, and they'll determine appropriate response."
The implication was clear. The report would be filed, but its fate would depend on whoever controlled the regional office, whoever had potentially authorized the forged documents in the first place.
"Someone in the League bureaucracy is helping them," Kiyomi said quietly as they left the station.
The Mobile Home's common area became a war room.
Kiyomi spread her documentation across the table, photos of murals, translations of ancient text, recordings of the Aether operatives and their threats. Everything she'd captured in those precious minutes before the explosives detonated.
"The forged authorization document referenced approval processes that don't exist anymore," she explained. "That means whoever created it either doesn't understand current League procedures, or they're deliberately using outdated formats to avoid scrutiny."
"Or both," Miyuki observed. "Corruption often comes from people who remember how things used to work, not how they work now."
"Regional administrators," Sasuke said. "The grunt leader specifically mentioned regional authorization. That's not central League, that's local bureaucracy."
"Which is easier to compromise." Kiyomi nodded. "Fewer oversight mechanisms, more direct personal relationships with major organizations."
"So we can't trust local reporting." Kasumi's voice carried frustration. "The officer will file the report, but whoever's helping Aether will bury it before investigation begins."
"Unless we go higher."
Everyone turned to Sasuke.
"My brother is the Champion," he continued. "He has authority to initiate independent investigations that bypass regional administration. If we inform him directly..."
"Would he act on it?" Kiyomi asked. "Champion authority is significant, but using it for what could appear to be personal family matters..."
"This isn't personal. This is documented criminal activity by a major organization. Itachi takes his responsibilities seriously." Sasuke was already reaching for his communicator. "And there's something else. The merchant we met mentioned Aether expansion near Lavender Town. If they're operating throughout the region, establishing facilities, destroying historical sites... this is systematic."
"Worth the attempt," Miyuki agreed. "What do we have to lose?"
Sasuke composed the message carefully, factual, documented, requesting official attention rather than personal favor. He attached Kiyomi's key documentation, the forged authorization photos, and their own recordings of the confrontation.
The message sent with a soft chime.
They waited.
Itachi's response arrived forty minutes later.
Sasuke read it three times before sharing the contents with the others.
"'I'm aware,'" he quoted. "'Working on it. Be careful.'"
"That's it?" Kasumi asked. "Three sentences?"
"Itachi is economical with words." But Sasuke's expression suggested he found the brevity concerning. "The important parts are 'aware' and 'working on it.' He already knows about Aether Foundation's activities. This isn't new information to him."
"Then why hasn't he acted?" Kiyomi's frustration was evident. "If the Indigo League Champion knows a major organization is destroying historical sites and corrupting League officials..."
"'Working on it' suggests he is acting, just not visibly." Sasuke stared at the message, trying to parse meaning from minimal text. "'Be careful' is the concerning part. Itachi doesn't give warnings lightly."
"What does he think we need to be careful about?"
"Us specifically? Our team?" Miyuki's analytical mind was already working. "We've interfered with Aether operations twice now, Mt. Moon and these ruins. They know who we are."
"The merchant warned us," Kasumi added. "They're interested in powerful trainers with rare Pokémon. Sasuke's team makes him a high-value target."
"Not just Sasuke." Kiyomi's voice was quiet. "We all have valuable partners. Shaymin, the Legendary birds' attention during our travels, my connection to archaeological sites they apparently care about. We're all potential targets."
The implications settled over them with uncomfortable weight.
Aether Foundation wasn't just a criminal organization they'd stumbled upon. It was a systematic operation with League connections, historical ambitions, and awareness of who had interfered with their plans.
"Itachi says he's working on it," Sasuke said finally. "That means investigation is happening at levels we can't see. Our job is to continue our journey while staying alert."
"And documenting everything," Kiyomi added. "Every Aether encounter, every suspicious activity, every connection we identify. We build the case that Itachi needs."
"While not getting captured or killed ourselves." Kasumi's tone was sardonic but carried genuine concern. "Easy enough."
"We've handled them before." Sasuke's voice carried confidence that seemed to steady the group. "We'll handle them again. But from now on, we assume we're being watched. We assume they know our route, our capabilities, our patterns."
"Paranoia?"
"Preparedness." Sasuke looked at each of his companions in turn. "Aether Foundation is more dangerous than we initially understood. We treat them accordingly."
The evening settled into quiet planning.
Kiyomi organized her documentation, preparing multiple backup copies stored in different secure locations. Miyuki reviewed their medical supplies, ensuring they were prepared for potential confrontations. Kasumi trained with her Pokémon, emphasizing defensive techniques that hadn't been priorities before.
Sasuke stood watch at the Mobile Home's entrance, Victini on his shoulder, crimson eyes scanning the darkening plains.
Be careful.
Itachi's warning echoed in his thoughts. His brother didn't give warnings without reason. Whatever was "working on" involved forces and complications that the message hadn't revealed.
Aether Foundation was building something. Something that required ancient artifacts, historical sites, and apparently the attention of the Champion himself. Something that had connections deep enough to forge League documents and compromise regional administrators.
The conspiracy ran deeper than destroyed ruins and stolen tablets.