"Teacher Johan, it's getting harder and harder to hold on!"
James hid in a corner of the energy plant, looking at the energy storage that kept making "buzzing" sounds, under tremendous pressure.
"If you can't hold on, then don't." Teacher Johan's voice from the phone sounded like heavenly music to James's ears.
"But, how much longer can you guys hold out?" Johan asked again.
The professional engineers at Rose's energy plant couldn't even last half a day, yet the Team Rocket trio had managed to hold on for almost three days.
Johan was somewhat surprised by the trio's abilities, but considering their "special characteristics," it seemed somewhat natural.
"At most..." James looked toward Meowth and Jessie. Meowth struggled to hold up three fingers, but Jessie pressed one back down. James immediately said somewhat uncertainly: "At most we can hold on for two more days..."
"Two days?"
Johan was stunned.
They could still hold on for two days?
What exactly would I need to have you do that wouldn't be wasting your talents?!
"Then hold on just a little longer. I'll notify you after I resolve the current situation."
Johan said, then quickly added: "It won't be long."
"Okay, Teacher Johan." James breathed a sigh of relief, but also added: "However, Teacher Johan, recently for some reason, the energy storage's activity level keeps getting higher and stronger. We might not be able to control it..."
There was no choice about that.
Recently, more and more people had come to the Galar region to participate in the "Pokémon World Championships," and there were more and more Dynamax transformations, making Eternatus accumulate power faster and faster.
Moreover, the Galar League's "Champion Cup" had been proceeding intensely these past two days.
Those contestants and Gym Leaders from the Galar region almost all had "Dynamax Bands," with several or even dozens of Dynamax transformations happening almost daily. The stimulation to Eternatus was naturally enormous.
He heard that today was the final stage of the "Champion Cup." Leon's Gigantamax Charizard would probably further stimulate Eternatus.
Let's try to cut through the mess quickly and directly resolve the root of the problem before Rose returns!
"I understand," Johan said. "If you encounter trouble, find an employee named Looker."
"Looker?"
"Just tell him I sent you to find him. Of course, if there's no problem, there's no need to find him."
"O-okay..."
After hanging up the phone.
"What's wrong?"
On the vast grasslands of the Wild Area, Cynthia sat cross-legged on a picnic blanket, revealing her fair ankles. She supported her chin with one hand, her deep eyes watching Johan as he walked back.
"Nothing." Johan smiled, then hesitated before saying somewhat embarrassedly:
"Well... this time I might drag you into some trouble..."
"Trouble?" Cynthia blinked, smiling gracefully. "I'm actually more concerned about what you've prepared for dinner today."
Hearing this, Johan was stunned. "This isn't a small trouble."
Cynthia gently played with her hair. "Being with you, isn't that normal?"
Johan: "..."
That made so much sense that he didn't know how to refute it for a moment.
Never mind, it's all the same anyway.
He would take action!
Johan, wearing an apron, walked toward Cynthia with ceramic dishes from the picnic table. "This beautiful lady, please enjoy."
Cynthia looked at the colorfully arranged vegetables in the ceramic plate, her eyes sparkling. "This dish is beautifully made..."
Johan shook his head and sighed.
Facing Cynthia's puzzled gaze, he suddenly smiled: "Too bad it's not as beautiful as the person who'll taste it."
Cynthia paused with the fork in her hand, gave Johan a gentle glare, then curved her lips: "I think so too."
Then she added: "However, I think the person who made it is also a tiny bit better than it."
Johan's eyes widened. "Just a tiny bit?"
He pointed toward the other side, in the direction of Gengar and Garchomp. "Some Pokémon have already been completely won over by my 'charm.'"
He could see the two Pokémon fighting over a plate, dumping the food from the plate into their mouths from left and right.
Crunch—crunch—
Chewing.
Gengar & Garchomp: (=ω=)
Cynthia's face showed amusement as she gently tucked her golden hair behind her ear, forked a piece of vegetable, and slowly chewed.
After a while, she finally breathed out, her face glowing faintly as she said softly:
"Very, very delicious!"
Although it was just vegetables, it gave her a feeling like... when she was small, rolling up her pants legs with Gible to catch small fish in the irrigation ditches—that cool, comfortable, joyful, and free feeling.
This feeling was like...
"It seems like you added—"
"Mint. I added mint."
Johan smiled as he sat beside Cynthia, gently wiping some residue from the corner of her mouth.
The intimate gesture made Cynthia's fair face flush again, and that expression made Johan tease: "Hey, my apple seems to have ripened."
Cynthia gave him an annoyed look.
After brief hesitation, her head quickly moved close to Johan, then moved away even faster.
Johan only felt... his cheek being touched by something soft, moist, and cool.
Oh no!
Johan, who prided himself on having a thick skin, felt his face uncontrollably becoming somewhat heated, unable to suppress it.
Cynthia blinked her eyes, teasingly asking: "Why is your face red?"
"It's wax I applied for cold protection, no..." Johan coughed twice, realizing he was getting his references a bit too advanced.
"Recently it's really... summer vacation is over but the sun is still so strong. The weather's a bit hot, haha..."
"Ka-kaah?"
Gengar put its hand over its eyes and looked up at the sky...
Eh? Aren't we hiding under a big tree? And there are clouds all over the sky...
Johan pressed down on Gengar's head, pushing it directly back into the shadows.
"Well then." Johan clapped his hands. "I also made specially prepared chilled berry juice. Want to try some?"
Cynthia couldn't help but laugh, watching Johan "bully" Gengar to cover his embarrassment with amusement. She was already used to this kind of playful interaction—it was probably how the bond between Johan and his Pokémon manifested.
Her eyes were gentle, her smile elegant: "Sure."
The two people and Pokémon picked up their juice. Johan thought for a moment and said:
"To summer, to youth!"
Cynthia and the Pokémon's expressions were somewhat strange.
Wasn't that a bit too literary?
After Johan finished speaking, he had a similar feeling. After brief consideration, he raised his glass again:
"To Lucian!"
Cynthia couldn't help but laugh out loud, but still chimed in: "To Lucian!"
"Ka-kaah!"
"Shaka!"
The Pokémon all raised their glasses, celebrating Lucian's "sacrifice."
Galar region, Wyndon City, Wyndon Stadium.
"Now is my Champion Time!!"
That cape covered in small advertisements fluttered up as Leon struck his signature pose of pointing to the sky with one hand, finally shouting out the "Champion Time" he'd thought about for so long.
Whoosh—!!
But the audience ate up Leon's routine, erupting in extremely intense cheers.
His opponent Raihan, as a popular streamer, had support second only to Leon. The final duel between the two was everyone's favorite "brotherhood battle."
Weather boy Raihan VS Galar's son Leon!
The final showdown of the Galar League "Champion Cup"!
For a moment, the event's popularity even overshadowed the "Pokémon World Championships."
But that was normal.
After all, as the "Pokémon World Championships" progressed, the Galar region and Dynamax were becoming known to more and more people. This battle, destined to feature Dynamax clashes, naturally drew increasing attention.
Listening to the tsunami-like cheers around him, looking at his best friend and rival standing opposite him, Leon's mind flashed back to the conversation Chairman Rose had with him before the finals began.
In the dimly lit contestant tunnel.
Chairman Rose stood to the side with a smile, greeting the confident Leon.
The two had a brief exchange before the match began.
Rose first affirmed Leon's strength and effort, then suddenly shifted the conversation to the "disaster" the Galar region was about to face.
When Leon heard the word "disaster," his expression was very surprised.
After all, they were currently in the "Pokémon World Championships" phase. If the Galar region erupted with a major "disaster" at this time, the blow to the entire Galar region would be enormous.
After all, the "Master Tournament" didn't have just the Galar region as a venue—there was also the Paldea region...
Rose heavily patted Leon's shoulder.
"But if we can get through this, what awaits our Galar region and Galar League will be a thousand years of glory!"
"I have high hopes for you, Leon. This 'disaster' will be your greatest test."
This simple pat on the shoulder made Leon feel tremendous pressure.
It was as if what rested on his shoulder wasn't a hand, but the entire future of the Galar region.
"Why bring this up suddenly now, Chairman Rose..." Leon asked with some helplessness in his smile.
He was about to participate in the final battle!
"Because..."
Rose paused.
Then smiled wistfully: "Whether you call it time not waiting for anyone, or say it's to make you look further ahead, from some point on, the responsibility on your shoulders has always been there."
After speaking, Rose turned and left.
"Although I'd love to watch you be 'crowned,' as I said, time waits for no one."
He waved with his back to Leon.
"Don't disappoint me, Leon."
Watching Rose's departing figure, Leon could clearly feel Rose's trust, but sometimes, this kind of trust was actually also a kind of pressure.
His chaotic thoughts settled.
Leon, wearing his competition uniform, gently patted his cheeks, his eyes gradually becoming determined.
"You can do this, Leon!"
Defeat Raihan, win the championship, then... carry the entire Galar region on your shoulders!
"Crunch, crunch—"
The last small cookie was thrown into Johan's mouth under Victini's gaze, making a crisp sound.
"You've eaten enough already. Look at your little belly."
Johan gently scratched Victini's nose, pointing at its already bulging little tummy.
"Vii~~"
Victini laughed sheepishly, feeling quite embarrassed as it turned invisible and hid.
Clapping his hands, Johan stood up, stretching long with "pop pop pop" sounds from his body.
"That's about enough. Time to make our move," Johan said.
"Now?"
Cynthia was holding a tablet showing the "Champion Cup" final battle between Leon and Raihan.
"Right now." Johan nodded definitively. "Any later... things will become much more troublesome."
Once Rose returned from the "Champion Cup," facing this forceful League Chairman, Johan, as Hoenn League Champion, would be... somewhat passive in terms of status.
A few days ago, Eternatus might still have been in a half-awake state.
But after these past few days of accumulation, Eternatus was probably about ready to fully awaken.
More importantly...
Under Johan's direction, today's Wyndon Stadium was unused and had no audience. Even if Eternatus revived, it wouldn't cause any casualties.
To close down Wyndon Stadium's usage in such a major environment as the "Pokémon World Championships," Johan had also put in some effort and used some "privileges."
Of course, the "Champion Cup" finals did indeed temporarily attract a lot of "attention." Audiences who couldn't attend in person would stay home to watch the livestream.
This was also a very important reason.
"Okay~"
Cynthia wrinkled her little nose but immediately put away the tablet and obediently walked to Johan's side.
Johan grinned.
At least two Champions—couldn't they handle a mere Eternatus?
"Let's go, Wyndon Stadium!"
"Cha!"
Tinkaton stuffed a mouthful of cake, clapped its hands, picked up its hammer and the sword and shield, and called out excitedly.
Let's go!
Central Galar region, Wyndon Stadium.
"Inspector Johan, Wyndon Stadium lockdown complete!"
A young man with short red hair wearing beige and red work clothes reported with some excitement and reverence in his expression.
"You're... Hop?" Johan remembered seeing him on Master Mustard's island.
"I didn't expect Teacher Johan to still remember me." Hop scratched the back of his head somewhat embarrassedly.
In Johan's impression, Hop and Gloria from the anime were the two people in charge of the "Project Dreamcatcher," with their signature Pokémon being two Urshifu. They should be students of Master Mustard.
And even Goh had participated in "Project Dreamcatcher."
He hadn't expected the two had actually joined the International Police.
And had become one of the people in charge of the Galar International Police branch.
"Well done." Johan patted Hop's shoulder.
Then asked: "What about the energy plant?"
"Gloria is handling that side," Hop said. "However... the Macro Cosmos Group people are reacting very strongly. I'm worried the lockdown might not succeed..."
As he spoke, Hop looked worried.
Although they were International Police, Macro Cosmos Group's influence throughout the entire Galar region was really too great. With just Gloria alone, Hop worried she couldn't suppress it.
"It's fine."
Johan and Cynthia walked toward the energy plant.
The energy plant was actually not far from Wyndon Stadium, but the truly massive part of the energy plant was its underground space, extending all the way beneath Wyndon Stadium.
"What exactly are you trying to do?! This is Wyndon's energy plant, even affecting the entire Galar region's energy supply. If something goes wrong, can you take responsibility?"
Before even reaching the energy plant entrance, they could hear voices from outside.
From the other party's tough tone and attitude, they seemed extremely angry about the energy plant being sealed off.
At this time, Johan and Cynthia walked over.
"Teacher Johan!"
"Officer Johan!"
"Champion Cynthia!"
Gloria and Officer Jenny from Wyndon all breathed sighs of relief seeing Johan's arrival.
The arrival of two Champions also weakened the shouting from the energy plant side.
But the other party still stiffened their neck, struggling: "E-e-even if it's Teacher Johan and Champion Cynthia, one Hoenn League Champion and one Sinnoh League Champion don't have the authority to seal off our Macro Cosmos Group's energy plant, right?"
"No."
Johan smiled as he took out credentials: "Sorry, I'm police."
As International Police Inspector, this identity was sometimes more useful than being Champion.
"Now we suspect your energy plant is hiding an extremely dangerous Pokémon. For the safety of all Wyndon and the Galar region, we're now sealing you off for investigation. Any objections?"
"I, you..." The person suddenly didn't know what to say.
Where would an extremely dangerous Pokémon come from?
Johan waved his hand: "Now we suspect this person may be related to hiding dangerous Pokémon. As an important suspect, arrest him."
"Yes!"
Two International Police officers immediately responded, directly handcuffing the person.
"I'm not, I didn't, I..."
The other energy plant employees, seeing Teacher Johan being so forceful, were immediately overwhelmed and didn't dare speak up.
The International Police and Officer Jenny's side immediately gained confidence with Johan and Cynthia's arrival.
"Don't let anyone else enter the energy plant. Control everyone who comes out, then keep them away from this area."
"Yes!"
After giving these instructions, Johan and Cynthia walked into the energy plant under everyone's reverent gazes.
After the two walked around the corner, Cynthia teased: "Officer Johan, such authority."
Johan smiled as he took Cynthia's hand: "Handsome, right?"
"Handsome~ Officer Jenny was looking at you with complete admiration."
Johan immediately felt the hand in his tighten, quickly coughing: "Cough cough, Rotom, navigation, navigation. Let's head straight to the energy storage!"
"Beginning navigation, Rotom!"
Seeing Johan's somewhat embarrassed expression, Cynthia showed a mischievous smile.
"How do you have an internal map of the energy plant?"
"I have my ways... okay, I planted undercover agents," Johan compromised.
"Undercover agents? You're really getting more like International Police."
The two strolled leisurely through the complex interior of the energy plant.
Rumble—
The closer they got to the interior, the more both could faintly feel the ground shaking and a vague sense of oppression.
Feeling this aura, Cynthia finally understood what Johan meant by "not a small matter."
Another legendary Pokémon?
"Ka-kaah?"
Gengar poked its head out of the shadows with a puzzled expression, lightly scratching its rear and sniffing.
What was this somewhat familiar aura? It seemed very similar to something it had eaten before?
Soon, the two reached the deepest part of the energy plant.
"Why didn't we encounter anyone along the way?" Cynthia asked curiously.
"Because... them."
Johan pointed ahead at the neatly dressed Team Rocket trio.
Seeing Johan, the trio immediately rushed over with tears streaming down their faces: "Teacher Johan, you're finally here!"
The next second, they were all hanging on Johan, each telling their own hardships during this time.
Johan looked pleadingly at Cynthia, who covered her mouth laughing and took a step back.
Why hadn't they encountered anyone?
Of course, because the Team Rocket trio, as supervisors, had given the factory workers the day off as much as possible according to Johan's wishes.
Minimize unnecessary casualties.
"Alright, alright, I know it wasn't easy for you. I'll report this when we get back—promotion! Raise!"
"Really?!" ×3
"So~nansu?! ∠(°ゝ°)"
"Really." Johan nodded. "Now you should evacuate too. There's going to be quite a commotion here."
Hearing it would be unsafe, the trio immediately fled.
"Goodbye Teacher Johan! Goodbye... Officer Lady Cynthia—!!"
"Officer Lady?" Cynthia blinked her lively eyes.
"Cough, cough cough..."
"However, I remember them—they're Team Rocket people, right?"
"They've reformed. Actually, they're very capable people. Having them do anything feels like wasting their talents."
Johan took out the ID card the trio had given him and swiped open the energy plant's storage door.
"Mm... their ice cream is delicious." Cynthia lightly licked her lips, saying somewhat temptingly.
"Next time I'll have them make some for you..."
Hiss—
The storage door slowly opened.
A stream of dark red Galar particles immediately rushed toward them.
"Ka-kaah!"
"Shaka!"
Gengar and Garchomp simultaneously positioned themselves in front of Johan and Cynthia, taking different stances.
Garchomp swung its scythe arms, slicing the dark red Galar particles in half.
And Gengar... opened its mouth wide.
Vacuum absorption!
Garchomp: "?"
"Is that the thing?" Cynthia squinted her eyes, speaking heavily while locking her gaze on the energy storage containing Eternatus.
Even though Cynthia wasn't an ability user, she could clearly feel the oppressive force emanating from within.
"Should be..."
As Johan spoke, a voice came, attracting both their attention.
At the other end of the energy storage, Rose stood wearing his signature gray suit with hands in pockets, expression calm, by the railing.
He said flatly: "Teacher Johan, I already discussed this with you. The Galar League will handle matters here ourselves. I didn't expect you to still come..."
Why was Rose here?
Johan was somewhat surprised.
The "Champion Cup" finals—as League Chairman, Rose wasn't at the scene for the award ceremony, not taking the newly promoted League Champion to register, but came to the energy plant instead?
And hadn't the energy plant been sealed off?
Seeming to see Johan's confusion, Rose smiled: "I believe in Leon, so I came. As for how I got in... this is my energy plant after all."
After all, this was such an important place and Rose's territory. Arranging one or two secret passages would be no difficulty for Rose.
Johan understood.
Then he also stepped forward, smiling:
"Sorry, Chairman Rose. Before having dinner with you, I had already promised someone else that I'd come deal with this guy."
As he spoke, Johan slowly loosened his collar, slowly rolled up his sleeves, his clear footsteps echoing in the chamber as he stared at Rose, speaking slowly but forcefully:
"At the same time, I don't think you can stop me either!"
----------
Powerstones?
For 20 advance chapters: patreon.com/michaeltranslates