'A mining buddy?'
Hearing Sun's words, Axel's eyes lit up, and he almost couldn't help laughing out loud.
This guy's business scope was way too broad, wasn't it.
But the result was obvious. Sun's friends were spread all over Alola, naturally forming an intelligence network.
"I got it. Your intel is extremely useful. I'll transfer money to you later."
Axel hung up the phone, and a plan quickly formed in his mind.
While continuing to nurture Lillie, he would take Gardevoir and go out to look for that mine cave, rescuing Gladion first.
That way, the other side wouldn't be able to use Gladion as a threat and drag Lillie into danger.
"Black and White Dragons, I'll leave the house to you for now. I'm heading out with Gardevoir and Pheromosa."
"If anything happens, have Regirock notify us. We'll teleport back immediately."
At this point, the effect of Axel's early-stage mass cultivation of Pokémon really showed.
Many people, in order to rapidly boost top-tier combat power, only raise three Pokémon.
But Axel was different. As long as he had the chance, he trained all Pokémon without discrimination, almost regardless of cost.
Now, fighting on multiple fronts didn't feel stretched at all.
As Gardevoir's level rose and she underwent a series of enhancements, her single-use teleportation range could now be measured in kilometers.
If she went all out, she could return from anywhere in Alola to the Sun and Moon Research Lab in almost five minutes.
After making a few arrangements, Axel released Glastrier from its Poké Ball and rode it together with Gardevoir, slowly disappearing into the night.
———
At the same time, far away from the Sun and Moon Research Lab, the adopted daughter was staying in a hotel with a large number of subordinates.
Watching the extremely dazzling Glastrier leave in the sky, a sly smile appeared at the corner of her mouth.
"Looks like my guess was right..."
"Once he knows about Gladion, he'll definitely go to rescue him."
"Axel? Seems like he's nothing special after all."
After receiving Pryce's mission, the adopted daughter was first terrified, but she quickly came up with a plan.
'Isn't Axel strong?'
'Then make Axel leave this place too.'
She had two subordinates deliberately make low-level mistakes, making it seem like Gladion was in the mine cave.
In reality, Gladion had already been transferred to her side.
As long as Axel left, only two unrevived Dragon Gods and a Regirock with second-tier god-level strength would remain at the Sun and Moon Research Lab.
In this situation, she had a very good chance of killing Lillie, and might even seize the stone where the Black and White Dragons resided, earning great merit for her foster father.
"Someone, bring Gladion up. Tomorrow morning, I'll take him and launch an attack on the Sun and Moon Research Lab."
"And have those two Team Plasma members hide as much as possible. Let Axel search slowly."
"Oh right, have them leave behind some clues. Do everything you can to lure Axel over to foster father's side."
"When that happens... one move will settle everything!"
———
Early the next morning, the main force of Team Plasma arrived.
Looking at the large mass of subordinates behind her, a trace of arrogant madness flashed through the adopted daughter's eyes.
After Lillie's speech yesterday, both Pryce and Team Plasma's former leader Colress regarded Lillie as a thorn in their side, fearing she would continue giving speeches and put even more pressure on Aether Paradise.
Compared to Lusamine, they were the ones most afraid that Aether Paradise wouldn't be able to hold on.
To ensure their cooperation with Aether Paradise, Team Plasma dispatched all local members without assignments overnight.
Aside from the group led by N, the people here were almost half of Team Plasma's total strength.
Looking at the crowd in the hotel plaza, disguised as a company team-building event, the adopted daughter slowly picked up a cup and poured the wine inside onto the ground.
"Team Plasma members, plus the Delibird messengers foster father trained for me..."
"Brother... watch how I avenge you!"
This time, she would also let Axel experience the pain of losing family!
"Everyone, move out with me!"
———
[Sun and Moon Research Lab]
Ever since Eva arrived at the research lab, all the researchers felt like useless trash, almost pulling all-nighters every single day.
So in the mornings, there was practically no one who could wake up before eight o'clock.
Today, Axel's Pokémon were all gone as well, so the entire research lab was extremely quiet.
"Ugh~", The Black Dragon let out a small yawn and slapped the White Dragon awake beside him.
["Wake up... it's time to patrol. The Lord of the Gods just told us yesterday to keep an eye on the research lab."]
The White Dragon opened his eyes in a daze, stretching his mouth wide, wearing an aggrieved expression.
After sleeping for several thousand years, having to wake up every day now really wasn't something he was used to. The White Dragon felt his morning rage was about to explode.
Zekrom wasn't much better. Although he woke up earlier, it was mainly because he was afraid Axel would come back and catch the two of them slacking off again, plus Dragonair and the others, Axel's eyes and ears, were still here.
If Dragonair and the others hadn't stayed at the lab, Zekrom wouldn't have wanted to wake up either. He was just as full of pent-up anger with nowhere to vent.
As the Black and White Dragons flew outward, they exchanged a knowing glance.
They really hoped some intruder would show up.
["Huh?",] Just after taking off, the Black Dragon, who had woken a few seconds earlier and had a clearer mind, suddenly rubbed his eyes.
["White Dragon, do you see a group of people we've never seen before coming from over there?"]
Reshiram blinked, then nodded, saying in confusion, ["It does look a bit strange. Most of these people carry the scent of Unova. Could it be they know we've revived and came to pay respects?"]
Having long been worshipped as Dragon Gods by the people of Unova, their first reaction was that their believers had arrived.
This kind of thing had happened before during past revivals, and Zekrom and Reshiram were already used to it.
["Let's go, let's go, take a look. If they really are believers, that'd be awesome. They can patrol from now on while the two of us sleep."]
The more the Black Dragon spoke, the more excited he became, feeling like a bright future was right around the corner.
If they had so many believers, they could help Axel deal with Team Plasma even without returning to Unova.
With Axel's reward-based personality, who would dare call the two of them huskies again in the future?
Zekrom and Reshiram roared excitedly, flapping their wings and diving toward the approaching group, flames and lightning surging around their bodies, hoping to display their supreme divine might and show these "believers" their strongest side.
But immediately after, something happened that left them completely dumbfounded.
The moment she saw them, a female trainer with Delibird burst out laughing without any warning.
"Brothers, the time to make our mark has come. Capture Zekrom and Reshiram!"
"Then we'll be the kings of Unova, even the kings of the world!"
Zekrom, Reshiram: "???"
'Damn it, did we not eat breakfast?'
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