Lillie's speech was not aimed only at the Alola region.
After deciding to use public opinion to provoke Aether Paradise, Axel contacted Professor Kukui and registered accounts on major social media platforms in the name of the "Alola League."
In other words, everything Lillie said now represented Alola's official stance.
It had to be said that although Lillie appeared weak, she was by no means an empty-headed fool.
Having grown up in the Aether Foundation, influenced by what she saw and heard from a young age, she spoke in a clear and organized manner, easily resonating with many people.
Through Lillie's words, the original motivation behind the founding of Aether Paradise, the help it initially gave to Pokémon in the Alola region, and the later process of its transformation were all laid out on the social media accounts.
Without any traffic manipulation at all, it quickly shot to the top of trending lists on various platforms.
"So Aether Paradise actually has secrets like this? I thought it was bad from the very beginning. Didn't expect there were villains inside doing whatever they wanted."
"Oh my god, Team Plasma is this evil? Messing up the people of Unova wasn't enough, they even ran over to screw with Alola's peace of mind."
"What? Aether Paradise wants to open a passage to another world? There won't be an apocalypse, right?"
"Everyone hurry up and pool together any clues you find. An organization like this has to be found as soon as possible!"
"Is it this chaotic outside? Our Paldea region is still the best. The mountains are high and the emperor is far away. We don't even know what chaos is. Just lie flat and chill."
"Huh?"
"Gym Leader Iono actually reposted it. Everyone stop lying flat, get the hell up and push the post!"
After the announcement went out, public opinion instantly formed a one-sided trend. Almost everyone was condemning Team Plasma and trying to find Aether Paradise's location as soon as possible.
———
[Aether Paradise, Sky Island Section]
Lusamine stared at the pinned video on the social platform, dangerous light flickering in her eyes.
"Lillie... I really did raise a good daughter."
"You look weak and easy to bully, but you're actually stronger than your brother."
"But do you know this? What you're doing now is provoking me, becoming my stumbling block!"
"Ultra Beasts are such beautiful Pokémon. They should descend upon this world."
"Only the most perfect Ultra Beasts can wipe out those disgusting villainous organizations completely and make this world truly wonderful."
"You are all wrong. Only I am right!"
"Someone, spend money. Smash money into it hard. Crush all these posts."
"The glory of Ultra Beasts will illuminate this world sooner or later!"
———
[Team Plasma]
Colress came out of the research lab immediately, also wanting to smooth over this wave of public opinion.
Ever since he had been beaten by Axel, he had been thinking almost every day about how to become stronger. While pursuing Kyurem, he discovered that Pryce had already subdued it.
So Colress decisively gave up the leader position and returned to his research post, intending to take revenge through Pryce's hands. The two hit it off immediately.
Now his research on Genesect had reached a critical stage. He was just one step away from reviving Genesect.
After that, he even wanted to research Ultra Beasts, pushing his art to an even higher level.
If Aether Paradise were found, wouldn't all of this effort go to waste?
"Someone, go brainwash some big influencers. While you're at it, send people to grab the owners of these social media platforms."
Both sides took action at the same time, trying to suppress the public opinion stirred up by Lillie.
But in the end, they were shocked to discover that no matter what methods they used, they couldn't stir up even the slightest ripple online.
The money smashed out by the Aether Foundation had no one daring to take it. Even commission tasks worth billions were hidden by the platforms using special means, completely invisible to users.
The same went for Colress. No matter how they tried to brainwash people, no influencer dared to post even a single message saying that the Sun and Moon Research Lab was in the wrong.
Even if Team Plasma used those influencers' accounts to post something, the videos and accounts would be instantly banned.
As for those sent to assassinate the platform owners, without exception, every single one of them.
The last message each person sent back was, "Watch out for Cynthia."
Several invisible hands were exerting force together, making their public opinion battle completely ineffective.
Left with no choice, Colress and Lusamine almost simultaneously dialed Pryce's number.
———
"What?"
"You're telling me another one of my adopted sons is dead, and the Sun and Moon Research Lab is stirring up public opinion?"
Hanging up the phone, Pryce, who had been pondering how to save Kyurem, slammed his fist onto his wheelchair, glaring viciously toward the distant research lab.
He had thought that with Kyurem tying down so many powerful Pokémon, Axel's side would be relatively empty.
But he never expected that even after Mewtwo and Rayquaza were gone from Axel's side, he could still unleash such terrifying power.
And this guy didn't play by the rules at all.
Who the hell fights between two factions by yelling insults in the street?
What Axel was doing now by stirring up public opinion was basically yelling insults.
Pryce casually placated Lusamine, then his gaze sharpened.
"Colress, I want you to immediately send people over to coordinate with my adopted daughter and surround and kill Lillie."
Colress asked in confusion over the phone, ["But how are you going to lure Lillie out of the Sun and Moon Research Lab?"]
Hearing this question, the corners of Pryce's mouth lifted, his emotions finally calming a bit.
["My adopted daughter still has Lillie's brother, Gladion!"]
Thankfully, he had the habit of grabbing kids.
———
"Not bad," Seeing Lillie walk out of the speech room, Axel smiled as he shut off Rotom.
Ever since those people had exposed their undercover identities, their information had been out in the open on Axel's side.
Not long after the video was pinned, the Team Plasma undercover agent on the adopted daughter's side sent a message saying that the "adopted daughter" would take action to assassinate Lillie within three days.
He hadn't gotten any useful information out of the adopted son, and he wasn't going to let this adopted daughter off either.
Hearing Axel's praise, Lillie's pretty face turned bright red.
"I-I was just copying how my mother looks when she holds meetings with other people. Plus, I really do want to help the Aether Foundation rise from the ashes. Maybe that's why it looked like I could stir up emotions a bit."
"Imitation is also a kind of ability," Axel smiled lightly and waved, signaling Lillie to come over.
"Now that the public opinion has blown up, both Team Plasma and the Aether Foundation will probably go crazy trying to find you."
"The Aether Foundation is fine. Now that Faba is already one of my people, your mother might capture you, but she'll most likely just lock you up, not kill you."
"But Team Plasma is different. They seem to have mixed together with Pryce's group now... and among them are some who are addicted to killing. They're more dangerous."
"They might use Gladion to threaten you."
Lillie grew anxious, "Then what should we do?"
Thinking of Gladion gave Axel a headache. That guy had always had a rich-young-master temper, always thinking he was amazing and could solve everything himself.
If he found out he had become his sister's weakness, he might even off himself.
Unfortunately, even the Team Plasma undercover agents didn't know Gladion's current location. They only knew that the people guarding Gladion had had their communication devices confiscated, cutting them off from the outside world.
If only they could find his location. It would make a rescue much easier.
Just as this thought crossed Axel's mind, a phone call suddenly came in.
"Sun?", Axel was a bit surprised as he pressed the answer button, not knowing what this guy wanted.
["Mr. Axel, I've got a huge discovery."]
["I have a buddy who does part-time mining. He found two bodyguards at the entrance of a cave on some mountain. Those people even tried to chat him up and asked him to release his Sandshrew."]
["They're very likely people from Team Plasma!"
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