Ariel's gaze subtly swept over the three guards.
He saw them each focusing on their own thoughts, some studying the structure of the stalactites above, others observing the ripples in the puddles on the ground, as if completely oblivious to everything happening around them.
However, the slight twitch at the corner of one guard's mouth betrayed the fact that he was desperately trying to hold back laughter.
Ariel instantly understood in his heart.
No wonder coming to Meteor Falls involved such a grand production.
Bringing three highly capable Trainers, and that Hitmonchan that clearly had seen many battles at a glance.
Earlier, Ariel had thought this high-ranking Alliance official was just naturally afraid of death and exceptionally protective of his life.
Turns out, it was about using public office for private gain.
Under the banner of an "official investigation," using Alliance personnel to come to the dangerous depths of Meteor Falls to help his precious daughter capture rare Pokémon with high potential.
This move was really something.
Of course, Ariel would only complain about this in his heart; he definitely wouldn't voice it out loud.
Leaving some face for the Alliance official was leaving a path open for himself.
Seeing the old man Mori's flushed face, so awkward it seemed like water could drip from it, Ariel cleared his throat and took the initiative to defuse the situation.
He put on an "I understand" expression, his tone carrying a familiarity of someone who had been there before.
"I get it, I get it. As a father, to get your child out to see more of the world, you always have to come up with some nice-sounding reasons."
His words not only gave Mori a way out but also framed the matter as a harmless family anecdote.
Mori, as if grabbing a lifeline, his eyes lighting up, quickly seized the opportunity and climbed up the offered ladder.
"Right! Yes, yes! Brother Ariel understands me!" He slapped his thigh heavily, the awkwardness on his face vanishing completely, replaced by a hearty, though still somewhat stiff, smile.
"Kids are most interested in catching Pokémon! If I didn't say it like that, she definitely wouldn't want to come with me to a place like this, haha, hahaha..."
Mori's laughter echoed in the cavern, dispelling the suffocating awkwardness.
The three guards finally dared to breathe a sigh of relief. Their gazes towards Ariel, besides being serious, now held additional gratitude and admiration.
High emotional intelligence.
This youth, not only strong in ability, was also so adept at dealing with people.
Ariel looked at the innocent-faced Misato.
As the saying goes.
Children's words carry no harm.
But there's also a saying: trouble comes from the mouth.
Last time, an offhand remark from Misato inadvertently caused Yuta's father, Saki, to get an early "boxed lunch."
This current remark, if the people present weren't Ariel, but some Alliance officials with higher positions than Mori, or his competitors in the same position, this one sentence could likely end his old father's political career early.
Ariel and Mori exchanged a smile, their eyes both holding unspoken understandings.
This old fox.
Ariel evaluated in his heart.
"Dad!"
Misato, growing impatient, anxiously tugged at her father's arm, about to start arguing something, but was stopped by a look from Mori.
The look wasn't severe, but it carried an unquestionable authority.
Misato pouted resentfully, muttering quietly, "We clearly came to catch Pokémon with me..."
The voice wasn't loud, but in the silent cavern, it was enough for everyone present to hear clearly.
The three Alliance Trainers, who had just relaxed, instantly tensed up again, instinctively looking towards their superior.
A flicker of barely noticeable embarrassment passed over Mori's face, but it was quickly covered by a seamless smile.
Ariel couldn't be bothered to watch this tug-of-war between father and daughter any longer; his purpose in coming here wasn't to make friends.
"Since you have official business to attend to, I won't disturb you further." He succinctly stated his intention to leave. "Farewell."
With that, he turned and walked decisively towards the deeper parts of the cavern.
"Goodbye, Teacher Ariel!" Misato's clear voice came from behind, carrying a touch of genuine reluctance.
Ariel didn't look back, just casually raised a hand and waved.
Mori stood smiling in place, his gaze following Ariel's back until that figure completely disappeared into the shadowy turn of the next cavern.
The smile on his face, like a candle flame blown out by the wind, instantly vanished.
He slowly let out a deep breath, his entire aura abruptly changing.
That sharpness and pressure belonging to a high-ranking Alliance official returned to him.
"Proceed according to the original plan, enter the depths of Meteor Falls." His voice was low and hard, devoid of any emotion.
The three subordinates straightened their posture in unison and responded in deep voices, "Yes!"
Only then did Mori lower his head, patting his daughter's head, the lines on his face softening slightly.
"Misato, let's go. Dad will take you to catch the strongest Pokémon."
"Okay!"
...After parting ways with Mori's group, Ariel traveled alone through the deep, winding caverns.
The surrounding environment grew increasingly primitive and silent. Only his own footsteps and the occasional sound of dripping water from afar echoed in the vast underground space.
The air was filled with the scent of damp earth and rock, chilly and fresh.
On the cavern walls, some unknown moss and fungi emitted a faint blue-green fluorescent glow, like stars in the night sky, providing the only light source in this eternal darkness.
He wasn't in a hurry to press on. Instead, he stopped, taking three Poké Balls from his waist.
Red light flashed as Krokorok, Inkay, and Sneasel appeared before him.
"Roar!"
As soon as Krokorok emerged, it habitually opened its large mouth and let out a low roar, asserting its presence.
After evolving, its body had grown another size, its skin gleaming with a hard luster under the fluorescence, appearing extremely intimidating.
Inkay floated lightly in mid-air, the three light-emitting organs on its head spinning around as it curiously observed the strange surroundings.
Sneasel was the most vigilant. It landed without a sound, a pair of scarlet eyes sharply scanning every shadow around, the blades on its forepaws flashing with a cold glint in the dim light.
Ariel's gaze swept over his three Pokémon as he pondered.
A high-ranking Alliance official, bringing three enforcers to the depths of Meteor Falls to catch Pokémon?
Ariel looked at the map in his hand, at the location marked "Nest."
Could it be that there were really some unknown secrets deep within Meteor Falls?
Mori was a high-ranking Alliance official. Could he also have heard some rumors from somewhere?
That possibility was very high.
He stopped overthinking it and, with his three Pokémon, continued advancing deeper into the cavern.
The further in he went, the more complex the terrain became, with more and more branching paths, like a massive underground maze.
The composition of the rocks on the cavern walls also began to change, no longer a uniform gray-brown but mixed with many deep purple and ink-blue strange ores, shimmering with magnificent colors under the fluorescent light.
At that moment, a black shadow silently drifted down from the rock wall above, blocking the path.
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