After finishing his conversation with Mewtwo, Axel left them at the villa and went out together with Cynthia.
During the days he had been in Sinnoh, Axel had always been busy rushing from one thing to another and hadn't had the time to properly take in the unique sights of the region.
Now that they had to wait for Giratina's emergence, it was a good chance to relax and experience Sinnoh's customs and scenery.
"Cynthia, are there any good hot springs in the Sinnoh region?"
"Eh?", Hearing Axel suddenly bring that up, Cynthia blinked in surprise, her entire face turning red. Clearly, her thoughts had gone to some... inappropriate places.
"I... I..."
"What's wrong with you?", Axel looked at her with confusion.
"I just feel a little tired lately, so I wanted to find a place to take a bath. And maybe find some water source to release the Lake Trio. Why are you blushing?"
"It's nothing, I just... thought of something else...", Cynthia stammered, clearly unable to come up with an excuse anymore.
"Fine, I admit it. I just missed you! So what?"
Seeing Cynthia suddenly turn from a startled little deer into a fierce little tiger, Axel couldn't help but laugh out loud.
"Now that's how a girl should act! Everything's already been taken care of, Dialga and Palkia are both lounging in your backyard. What are you still so worried about?"
"Huh? You're teasing me on purpose, aren't you!", Realizing it, Cynthia bit Axel's ear hard and started tugging.
Feeling the warmth of her body against his chest, Axel couldn't help but blush a little.
"Keep doing that and I'll fight back!"
"Go ahead! Everyone else in the League is busy in meetings anyway, and this city's practically empty. Even if it's out on the street, I'm not afraid of you!"
"You said it yourself!", Axel didn't hesitate, scooped Cynthia up, and ran into a nearby clothing store called Uniqlo.
"Hello! I'm buying this store!"
After the manager and staff left, Cynthia looked at Axel in surprise.
"Why would you buy a clothing store?"
"You don't get it. The fitting rooms here are really well designed."
"But you can't just buy an entire store just for the fitting room, right?"
Axel grinned and was about to show her the "benefits" of a fitting room through action when he suddenly froze.
'Wait... that voice came from outside the store, didn't it?'
He quickly put Cynthia down, just in time to see a twin-tailed girl wearing a white blouse, a blue jacket tied around her waist, and blue-and-white striped socks walk in.
"You're..."
"Candice!", Cynthia called out the girl's name excitedly and introduced her to Axel.
"Axel, this is Candice, the Gym Leader I told you about, who planned to help me in Snowpoint City. Unfortunately, when she went there, the whole town had already been separated from this dimension by Palkia."
"Hello, I am Axel," Axel politely extended his hand and lightly shook Candice's fingers.
Candice seemed a bit nervous. After a brief touch, she immediately withdrew her hand and hid it behind her back, lowering her head, not daring to meet his eyes.
During the earlier meeting, when the eight Gym Leaders and Officer Jenny compared notes, they realized just how powerful Axel was.
Out of eight Gym Leaders, seven had been defeated by him.
Even more outrageous, he possessed power strong enough to suppress both Legendary Dragons.
Just thinking about how she had fled the battle, Candice couldn't help but blush.
"I'm sorry... I didn't know you were saving Sinnoh. I ran away from my Gym. I hope I didn't waste your time?"
"It's fine," Axel smiled and shook his head, "It actually worked out, I ran into some old friends by accident."
"As for Giratina's situation, they might still be of great help."
"Then I'm relieved," Seeing that she hadn't caused trouble for him, Candice visibly relaxed, and her words began to flow freely.
"By the way, you're amazing! No wonder you're the one who could win over Cynthia."
"During the meeting earlier, everyone was talking about you."
"And also..."
At this point, admiration even flickered in Candice's eyes.
"Even the usually stern Officer Jenny said something when we talked about you, she told us all about how you snatched the Lake Trio right from under Cyrus's nose."
"Oh? And what did she say about me?", Axel asked curiously.
"Of course she described your battle! She said that at your command, the Fairy Queen and Rayquaza led hundreds of Arcanines into the fray."
"They captured tons of Team Galactic members and left Cyrus completely dazed!"
Axel: "..."
Officer Jenny really knew how to give him a reputation boost.
Candice went on, "I knew it! What they said about you wasn't true at all."
"You're the hero who saved Sinnoh, how could you possibly be as shameless as Melissa and the others made you sound?"
Outside the store, several Gym Leaders who had come to thank Axel stopped in their tracks.
Melissa clenched her fists, took a deep breath, and said through gritted teeth, "You guys go ahead. I just remembered, there are still some Galactic remnants in Hearthome City I need to take care of.'
"Oh, and when you're done, tell Candice, she'd better watch out for an 'accidental assassination!'"
"Hahaha~", The other Gym Leaders all burst out laughing, looking at Melissa with pity.
This girl first had her city turned into a villain base, and now she'd been backstabbed by Candice. Poor thing.
But before their laughter faded, they heard Candice again, "By the way, Volkner and the others beat up Gardenia just because she spoke up for you~"
Volkner and Roark: "..."
"Sorry, brothers. Rain check."
With that, only Gardenia and Crasher Wake were left standing at the door.
Gardenia looked curiously at Crasher Wake, "Didn't Candice call you out too? Why aren't you going in?"
Crasher Wake forced a smile. He wanted to leave, honestly.
It wasn't even about whether Axel was strong or not, he had just saved all of Sinnoh. How could someone who'd badmouthed him earlier walk in there now?
The problem was, the Berlitz family had given him an invitation, to deliver to Axel.
They said it would allow him access to the deepest part of the Great Marsh, to capture a Gible.
After being exposed by Candice like that, if he couldn't even deliver this invitation.... Crasher Wake felt sure Officer Jenny would make his life miserable.
"I've got something I have to do. Want to come with me?", Seeing Crasher Wake's pained face, Gardenia grinned, put her hands on her hips, and laughed loudly.
"Of course! Why wouldn't I?"
"I've bled for Axel! I've spoken for Axel!"
"Now that our hardships are finally over, how could I not go?"
"Besides, the Great Marsh is basically in our city. I know that place like the back of my hand."
"With me there, Axel will definitely be able to find the best Gible!"
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