"I just want to eat..."
Looking at the fiery red explosive hair blocking his path, leaning in close with an intense stare, Larry's wooden face showed helplessness.
Why did it seem like he couldn't get his meal?
"Ah!"
Flint suddenly shouted, staring at Larry: "I remember now! You're... the Paldea League Elite Four, Hazel!"
Larry's mouth twitched as he gripped his briefcase tighter, saying flatly:
"Sorry, you've got the wrong person."
After speaking, he sidestepped around Flint and continued toward "Treasure Eatery."
"Eh?" Flint scratched his explosive hair, looking puzzled. "Wrong person?"
Larry gradually quickened his pace!
He wasn't lying, because his name was "Larry," and Flint had just said "Hazel"—that was definitely the wrong person, right?
And... quick escape!
This guy clearly didn't look very bright.
People like this were either not very smart but might burst with unexpected enthusiasm in battle, or... just simply not very smart.
But either way, battling such people might be "contagious"!
"What, didn't find him?"
At this moment, Johan, Cynthia, Caitlin and others walked over. Seeing Flint standing there constantly scratching his head, Johan asked.
Honestly, he was quite looking forward to seeing what would happen when Flint, that ball of fire, battled Larry, that block of ice.
"No." Flint shook his head. "That mister just said I had the wrong person. Where would Hazel go?"
"Idiot! The Paldea League Elite Four is called 'Larry,' not 'Hazel'!" Caitlin couldn't help but scold.
"Eh?" Flint was stunned.
Cynthia brushed her hair aside and said softly: "You really shouldn't go out representing the Sinnoh League Elite Four title in the future..."
They'd think everyone in the Sinnoh League was an idiot.
"Does he look like this?" Johan took out his phone—the League's official website had photos of Paldea League Elite Four Larry.
"Yes! That's the mister!" Flint immediately jumped up. "And he said I had the wrong person?"
Caitlin rolled her eyes unsympathetically. "You called him 'Hazel,' of course he'd say you had the wrong person."
"That makes sense..."
Everyone unanimously rolled their eyes.
They finally understood why Lucian, despite being so busy, was willing to let fellow Elite Four Flint wander around outside.
"I'll go find him right now!" Flint was eager to give chase.
Johan stopped him.
"At this hour, he's definitely off work eating dinner. You think everyone's like you, already finished eating? Go later or tomorrow."
That made sense... Flint looked dejected but could only accept this reality.
"I'll squat at the eatery entrance for him!"
Thinking of this, Flint perked up again, stuck his hands in his pockets, and walked toward "Treasure Eatery" with a swagger.
Everyone was speechless again.
"I bet ten thousand Pokédollars he won't catch him," Johan said.
If Larry knew Flint was squatting for him at the eatery entrance, he definitely wouldn't use the front door.
With his relationship with the "Treasure Eatery" owner, using the back door wouldn't be difficult.
But unfortunately, no one took his bet.
After dusk, night fell with the full moon hanging high in the black curtain.
Johan sat on the deck of the "Brave Olivine," mimicking Old Man Ludlow by fishing in the air, experiencing "solitude."
Friede had gone to Rica and Alex's house. They had invited Johan and the others too, but considering there were so many of them, they might not all fit, so they politely declined.
Flint was still squatting for Larry at the "Treasure Eatery" entrance.
Cynthia had been pulled by Caitlin to the upper deck, supposedly to admire the moon.
This left Johan "alone" sitting on the bow deck.
Of course, true solitude was impossible—at least he had his little ones keeping him company.
Gengar, Dragonite, and Urshifu playing Pokémon poker, Tinkaton and Ceruledge forging and being forged, Tyranitar eating, Ninetales and Snivy chatting...
"Sigh..."
Johan sighed softly.
"Oowoo..."
Thoughtful Ninetales wrapped one of its tails around his arm.
"I'm fine." Johan's heart warmed.
"Oowoo!"
Ninetales' tail pulled again, gesturing for Johan to look north.
Hmm?
Following Ninetales' direction, Johan was stunned.
A League helicopter was flying toward their location.
In the middle of the night...
Johan put away his fishing rod and got off the Brave Olivine.
Soon the helicopter landed on the grass beside the Brave Olivine.
A woman in an elegant black tailored suit with long black hair, wearing blue gloves, tall and graceful with a gentle smile, got off the helicopter.
Seeing this outfit and appearance, Johan immediately recognized her.
"Teacher Johan, I'm sorry for visiting so late."
"No, we should have visited you instead, Chairman Geeta," Johan said.
The visitor was clearly the Chairman and Champion of the Paldea League, Geeta!
Actually, Johan had planned to visit Geeta tomorrow.
After all, this was their first time in the Paldea region, and as Champions of two regions, he and Cynthia should visit the Paldea League's Chairman and Champion.
He hadn't expected Geeta to come looking for them first.
Geeta smiled slightly. "I happened to see your battle with Mr. Hassel online."
"I called Hassel, and he spoke very highly of you, so I couldn't contain myself and came over while it wasn't too late."
Speaking of this, Johan was actually quite annoyed.
Hassel, a dignified first Elite Four of the Paldea League, had given him fewer points than beating Caitlin!
Clearly the Paldea region was one of the "Pokémon World Championships" competition areas, clearly Hassel was also an Elite Four, even the first Elite Four, yet he had so little presence in the rankings!
This really "angered" Johan.
Because after the battle, calculating the points, he was still damn well at the bottom of "Master Ball Tier."
This was "bullying" honest people.
But thinking about it later, Hassel had probably been "tormented" by that Dragon Tamer from his family recently, with no time to farm points.
Moreover, Hassel's personality didn't seem like someone who would accept any opponent just to climb ranks.
The facts told Johan: next time before battling someone, he must check the League website for rankings and their points.
At this time, Cynthia and Caitlin, who had also noticed the helicopter, came down from the Brave Olivine.
They briefly greeted Geeta.
Then, at Johan's invitation, they boarded the Brave Olivine and went to the cabin's living room.
Johan made coffee for Geeta and poured juice for Cynthia and Caitlin. Gengar wanted to show off its tea-making skills, even bringing out Sinistcha and Poltchageist.
However, as a Paldean, how could Geeta not know about Sinistcha and Poltchageist?
No matter how good Gengar's tea was, Geeta wouldn't dare drink it.
Not to mention, Gengar was brewing Energypowder tea.
Finally, the little fatty could only sit aside sipping tea alone, ears drooping as it enjoyed its own "solitude."
"Actually, I came to find you because there's something I'd like your help with," Geeta said directly after sipping her coffee.
Johan gave Cynthia a look, then asked warily:
"What kind of matter?"
If Geeta mentioned anything about Area Zero or North Province, he'd immediately show her out.
This trip to the Paldea region was meant to be tourist-like point farming—gaining points while seeing if he could collect those extremely rare "Herba Mystica."
If he could see ancient and future forms of Pokémon, even better. He didn't want to mindlessly charge into the Great Crater of Paldea, Area Zero, or North Province.
"It's like this..."
Geeta took out a piece of decayed wood with extremely obscure and ancient writing carved on it.
The moment Cynthia saw this piece of wood, her eyes immediately lit up.
As an excellent mythology scholar, such a historically rich item with ancient writing held enormous appeal for her.
"This was accidentally dug up by a farmer while tilling his field. I'm not even sure if it's wood, because pure wood couldn't possibly be preserved for such a long time without any protection."
Cynthia nodded in agreement.
"At first the farmer didn't care, but gradually he became wrong—his temper became violent, becoming... filled with hostility and even hatred toward everyone."
Hatred?
Johan and Cynthia looked at each other, both frowning simultaneously.
"If it were just that, this matter wouldn't really be my concern. But after that, everyone in that village gradually became like that farmer, and even the surrounding wild Pokémon were all the same..."
This was becoming like a Pokémon world version of a "cursed village story"?
Why did it sound so creepy?
Geeta continued: "We suspect the problem lies with this piece of wood, but... no matter how hard our experts try, they can't decipher the content..."
Johan took the wood piece and glanced at it briefly, his expression becoming somewhat strange.
Why did this writing look somewhat familiar?
"Miss Cynthia is a famous mythology scholar, and I heard Teacher Johan also has some understanding of ancient writing and is a psychologist—perhaps you could help us find the cause."
Geeta continued with some helplessness:
"So even though it's nighttime and very rude, I came calling."
"This matter..."
Before Johan could finish, Cynthia reached under the table and gently squeezed Johan's hand.
Understanding Cynthia, Johan knew his little Cynthia... was interested.
Cynthia really had little resistance to various historical matters.
"This matter... is quite tricky." Johan no longer firmly refused.
Since Cynthia wanted to accept, he naturally couldn't refuse. But even if accepting, shouldn't he get some "benefits"?
"Indeed." Geeta nodded. "If you two could help our Paldea solve this trouble, the Paldea League would certainly reward you generously..."
Look at that!
This was a shrewd person!
Worthy of someone who could become Champion while also serving as League Chairman.
Just this emotional intelligence and "understanding" was enough to shoulder the League Chairman position.
But Johan immediately raised his hand to stop Geeta's words.
Since she was so understanding, he couldn't appear "clueless," right?
So he said: "We're all League members. Although we're Champions of Hoenn and Sinnoh, Paldea is also part of the League—we couldn't just stand by. I just have one question for Chairman Geeta."
"Please ask, Teacher Johan."
"I wonder if Chairman Geeta knows about 'Herba Mystica'?"
Geeta was stunned.
"'Herba Mystica'? Teacher Johan knows cooking?"
"A little, just a little."
Geeta nodded, pondering briefly before saying: "In that case, I'll send the Paldea League's collected information about 'Herba Mystica' locations and data to your phone."
"Then thank you, Chairman Geeta."
"Then I'll leave this matter to you both," Geeta said.
Both smiled and shook hands.
"I'm still looking forward to facing Teacher Johan in the 'Pokémon World Championships,'" Geeta added.
Johan's expression fell as he said helplessly: "I'm not very hopeful about that."
After more pleasantries, Geeta left behind the wood piece and the data they'd collected about the wood piece, the farmer, and that village.
Cynthia immediately picked up the files to read.
Johan held his coffee cup, sitting aside and happily taking a few sips.
Caitlin frowned puzzledly: "That's not right. With your personality, why didn't you take the 'benefits' Chairman Geeta offered?"
"Not take them?"
Johan raised an eyebrow with a "you don't understand" expression. "What do you mean not take? Did I say I wouldn't take them?"
"But you just..."
Cynthia, still reading files, smiled: "He skipped that topic, but Chairman Geeta showed her interpersonal style, so as long as we complete this commission, the reward will still be there."
Caitlin's eyes widened. Looking at the quietly smiling Johan, she couldn't help muttering:
"Schemer!"
"But I'm more curious—what is 'Herba Mystica' that made you actively ask for it?" Cynthia kept her head down but her tone was full of curiosity.
"Cough cough, what do you mean 'ask for'?"
Johan choked on his coffee but still said: "These are special seasonings that make food more delicious—truly rare treasures."
"I see..."
Even in cooking, Caitlin admired Johan.
No helping it—this guy was truly a chef!
"When we find them, I'll make you a feast!" Johan smiled.
"Ka-kaah!!"
Gengar, who had been pretending to be dejected, immediately perked up and was first to voice agreement.
Even Caitlin's eyes showed some anticipation.
After a brief silence, Cynthia frowned and placed the wood piece before Johan. "I've never seen this kind of writing. Do you recognize it, Johan?"
Johan glanced at the wood piece.
The writing did give him a familiar feeling, but looking carefully, he found it different.
It wasn't the writing he knew.
Johan sighed inwardly but still said: "I don't recognize it either."
After pausing, he immediately continued: "However, I roughly know where this wood piece—more accurately, this 'bamboo piece'—comes from."
"Bamboo piece?"
Cynthia was stunned and picked up the bamboo piece to examine it.
Due to time's "erosion," it was hard to distinguish whether this was wood or bamboo with the naked eye.
"But bamboo being preserved until now would be strange..."
"Because it's a treasure," Johan said.
"A treasure?"
Sitting up slightly, Johan said: "Legend has it that during the Paldean Empire era, someone brought four treasures from the distant East: a vessel, sword, tablets, and beads, which were eventually sold to the king."
"Vessel, sword, tablets, and beads?" Caitlin looked puzzled.
"The distant East?" The more sensitive Cynthia vaguely felt Johan had some strange feelings about these words.
Johan didn't explain but continued: "But these four treasures were actually four Pokémon that had long wandered various places, absorbing many desires and curses. After reaching the king, they triggered various desires deep in the king's heart."
"Then the king destroyed the empire himself?" Caitlin interjected.
Johan rolled his eyes unsympathetically.
"This isn't your Unova region—why would all kings be that stupid?"
Despite having the Black and White dragons, they were destroyed by the dragon conflict. That Unova king clearly didn't understand balance or royal governance.
"You!"
"Don't interrupt me!" Johan ignored her directly. "Later, the king found powerful Pokémon tamers who used 8 stakes each to seal them in four places throughout the Paldea region."
"So..." Cynthia spoke: "You're saying this bamboo piece actually comes from the tablets among those four treasures?"
"Most likely." Johan nodded.
"And those four Pokémon are called the 'Treasures of Ruin'!"
Cynthia and Caitlin repeated "Treasures of Ruin."
"Legendary Pokémon?" Caitlin asked for confirmation.
Johan neither confirmed nor denied, but his expression already gave the answer.
Taking another sip of coffee, he said calmly: "But don't be nervous. They're not legendary Pokémon on the level of Rayquaza, Giratina, or the Black and White dragons. If I had to compare... about the same as the three legendary birds."
The three legendary birds?
Both breathed slight sighs of relief.
With their group—two Champions and two Elite Four—even if all three legendary birds gathered, they wouldn't need to worry.
Even legendary first-tier gods might not be unbattleable.
"But there's also a problem," Johan added.
"Hmm?"
Both looked at him.
"I suspect when that king sealed the four 'Treasures of Ruin,' he sealed them together." Johan put down his coffee cup and gently rubbed the rim.
"What does that mean?" Caitlin frowned.
Can't you just say everything at once instead of acting mysterious?
But Cynthia understood Johan's meaning and also frowned: "Meaning if one seal is broken, the other three seals will gradually loosen until completely unsealed."
"My little Cynthia is so smart," Johan smiled.
Caitlin: [○｀Д○]
"And there's another problem," Johan continued.
"To solve the problem, we'd probably have to break the seal, then defeat that 'Treasures of Ruin' Pokémon, but how do we contain it afterward? Where do we put it?" Cynthia continued.
Caitlin sulked on the side.
Gengar quietly moved over a cup of brewed Sinistcha tea, eyes showing anxiety and curiosity.
The others didn't pay much attention to Gengar's actions.
In thought, Johan and Cynthia looked at each other and very synchronously spoke at the same time.
"Professor Oak's lab!"
"Your island!"
Johan: "?"
Caitlin was amused and unconsciously picked up the Sinistcha tea.
"Pfft—"
But quickly spat it out.
"Ka-kaah~"
Gengar shrieked.
Gotta run, gotta run~
"Professor Oak's lab?" Cynthia looked puzzled. "Why think of Professor Oak?"
Because his stamina was maxed out.
Never mind one "Treasures of Ruin"—even if all were sent there, the old man would definitely suffer but be happy about it.
But Johan didn't explain, instead asking back:
"Why send them to my island?"
Cynthia blinked her crystalline eyes cutely: "Because... I believe you can subdue it or them."
"They're all Pokémon influenced by negative emotions—their nature must not be bad. Isn't this... your specialty?"
Johan opened his mouth, moving his lips.
For a moment, he didn't know how to refute.
But his mind unconsciously conjured images of his Gengar leading four "Treasures of Ruin" Pokémon, calling themselves the "Outlaw Gang," running wild...
He shuddered involuntarily.
No way!
This wouldn't do.
Under his Gengar's "leadership"... wouldn't that cause huge trouble?
Sure enough, sending them to Professor Oak was most appropriate!
No choice—he'd have to trouble the old man.
At worst... Johan could ghostwrite a letter to Elite Four Agatha as "compensation"!
Decided happily!
Now that they knew about the "Treasures of Ruin" Pokémon, the investigation would undoubtedly be much simpler.
But compared to the "Treasures of Ruin" Pokémon whose outcome was already known, Cynthia was more curious about that history.
Even Geeta, the Paldea League Chairman and Champion, didn't know—how did Johan know?
But thinking of how Johan always knew some unknown stories—probably his legendary Pokémon friends told him?
Cynthia didn't probe deeper.
Everyone had their secrets.
"Gengar!! Stop right there!" came Caitlin's wailing from the Brave Olivine.
"Ka-kaah~"
Nyah nyah nyah~ Can't catch me, hehe, can't catch me~~
Meanwhile, Flint was still keeping watch at the "Treasure Eatery" entrance.
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Powerstones?
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