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What's going on here? Li Xiang was a bit confused.
According to his assumption, Mewtwo should have been sitting in a subordinate seat, looking well-behaved and waiting for the judgment of fate...
Alright. That wasn't its personality.
Although Mewtwo was diligent, eager to learn, friendly, and lively, its personality was actually very strong. It was impossible for it to wait like a quail for the butcher's knife to fall.
Even when it had been knocked unconscious inside the Tree of Beginning and trapped by crystals, it had constantly thought about breaking free.
It was only after being broken through its defenses and realizing it had been deceived that it first felt a sense of despair.
Later, with Li Xiang's "comfort," it regained its desire for freedom.
But sitting in the main seat, like an emperor waiting for his subjects to pay homage, with everyone below looking normal, and Mo Ye and Zhong Hai having no objections, that was a bit unbelievable.
What exactly had it done in these two months? Had it brainwashed them?
Li Xiang looked at Mewtwo, and Mewtwo glanced at him, not paying much attention to his slightly stunned expression.
At the top, a light lit up. A yellow Mirage appeared in the conference room. After flying around once, it slowly landed on Li Xiang's shoulder.
This was most likely Uxie's soul.
Li Xiang turned his head, initially wanting to say something, but didn't open his mouth because Slowking stood up to speak.
"Everyone, as we all know, our Mist Island is a place of unity, friendship, and love..."
This pink hippo said a lot of formal words. It wasn't until Mewtwo grew a bit impatient and started tapping the desktop with its finger pads that he returned to the main topic.
"These past days, everyone has seen Mewtwo's contributions to Mist Island. Therefore, I nominate Mewtwo to become the eleventh member of our Ten Sages Group!"
Li Xiang: "!!!"
In just two months, it had fast-forwarded to joining the Ten Sages Group!?
He watched as the other sages simultaneously raised their claws, limbs, tails, or vines, feeling incredibly strange in his heart.
It had passed unanimously, as if it had been arranged beforehand.
Could it be that Mewtwo threatened them by saying it would leak the black energy if it wasn't allowed out?
...Impossible.
Li Xiang still remembered that when he first encountered Slowking with Mewtwo, the latter, having just come down from Trophy Mountain, had been wary and fearful.
But at this moment, the expressions on the sages' faces were mostly those of respect and kindness. This kind of demeanor usually appeared on people who had received a favor.
Li Xiang began to seriously consider what factor could cause all the sages to side with Mewtwo—
Mist Island!
Yes, it should be this land that nurtured them. Just how many significant things had this guy quietly done without him knowing?
After Mewtwo was unanimously approved as the eleventh sage, the meeting returned to its main topic. The proposal concerning whether it could go out to the vast outside world.
Again, it was a vote by show of hands. But before that, there was still a short section resembling an oath.
"Mewtwo, do you agree that after going to the outside world, you will care for your fellow creatures, be friendly and united, and not take any actions that disrupt the existing order?"
[Yes, I agree.]
"Do you agree to follow the rules of human society, restrain your own power, and not arbitrarily take any punitive actions against any living being?"
[Yes, I agree.]
"Do you agree not to take actions that alter the laws of nature?"
[Yes, I agree.]
"Do you agree to respect the right to life and not arbitrarily deprive any creature of its life?"
[...Yes, I agree.]
Listening from the side, Li Xiang felt inexplicably uncomfortable.
Although he himself followed the above rules, hearing them stated out loud gave him a feeling of being heavily constrained.
The so-called punitive actions probably referred to taking the law into one's own hands, right?
For example, stopping poachers who were chasing Pokémon and then beating them up to vent.
Heroes using force to break the law. Doing this was also to ensure social order. Seeing that Mewtwo itself had no objections, Li Xiang naturally couldn't say much.
Moreover, rules were dead, but people were alive.
He didn't think the Pokémon and humans present were so rigid. If Mewtwo had a valid reason for breaking the above agreements, they would likely understand.
After the series of requirements were stated, it was Zhong Hai's turn to speak. The middle-aged man stood up and said, "I have a few questions. I hope you can answer them."
[Please, go ahead.]
Mewtwo nodded slightly.
"If a bounty hunter hunting you appears before you and attacks you with his Pokémon, actually harming you, what will you do?"
Zhong Hai raised a situation Mewtwo might encounter.
[I will fight back, defeat them all, but I will not take their lives.]
Mewtwo responded seriously.
"If a wild Pokémon is attacked by a human right before you, what will you choose to do?"
[I will observe. If the Pokémon itself has no will to fight and is still being harmed, I will intervene. The same applies conversely.]
"Do you agree that it is reasonable behavior for a trainer to capture Pokémon in the wild?"
[I don't fully agree. I respect the Pokémon's own will more.]
"What will you do if you encounter poachers?"
[I will release all of their Pokémon and take them to the nearest police station or ranger base.]
"If you are hunted by trainers from the North American Pokémon Association, what will you do?"
[I will fight back. If I can escape, I will escape. If I cannot, I will go to the nearest ranger base or the International Police for help.]
The series of questions and answers satisfied Zhong Hai. He nodded and sat down. "I have no more questions."
After that, it was Mo Ye's turn.
He had only two questions. But the content of the questions surprised Li Xiang a bit.
"Are you willing to register in the League database through the Zhu Xia Association?"
[I am willing.]
"Are you willing to go to the Pokémon League headquarters and explain what happened to you as the interested party?"
[I am willing.]
Mewtwo's expression was calm, without a trace of fear.
It knew this was the simplest and fastest way to gain a life without too many restraints or harm. Being registered in the database proved that Mewtwo was a legal Pokémon, protected by law, and could not be harmed by any human organization or individual.
By obtaining an official identity, when it went to find Li Xiang, it wouldn't have to worry about endangering him.
And the Zhu Xia Association's approach was undoubtedly going against the North American Pokémon Research Institute and the several financial cliques that were secretly funding it.
Zhu Xia had always collaborated with them in the past.
Doing so much for Mewtwo?
Li Xiang didn't know that the president of the Zhu Xia Association had long ago reported the information about the black energy, as relayed by Mewtwo, to the League headquarters.
The North American Pokémon Research Institute had already been thoroughly investigated by the International Police. The several financial cliques had also suffered as a result.
There was no helping it.
These people had made the matter too big.
The genetic experiments on Pokémon were a gray area themselves. Before a specific law was passed, they were neither illegal nor legal.
Previously, they had created Porygon, and in the last two years, Porygon2, which made many people turn a blind eye. Now causing this kind of incident left no room for argument.
A complete package of bans and thorough investigations. And as for causing Zhu Xia trouble? Zhu Xia considered it fortunate not to be causing them trouble.
Of course, the North American Association was also inquiring about Mewtwo's whereabouts. They hoped that the cause of all this could return to their embrace.
What was wrong with a Pokémon born in North America returning to North America?
But the Zhu Xia Association directly refused, citing that Mewtwo's whereabouts were unknown.
The two sides began a long series of tug-of-war meetings.
Until not long ago, the Zhu Xia Association finally decided, on the grounds of respecting Mewtwo's own will, to support it in personally appearing and testifying against the crimes of the Pokémon Research Institute.
Which led to this situation.
Mewtwo was incredibly lucky, but this was also partly due to the fact that over such a long period, it had not leaked even a trace of black energy. Time had made everyone believe that it truly could control its dark state, rather than pretending or forcefully suppressing it.
After Mo Ye finished asking, he sat down. Slowking looked around and began the vote.
—Unanimous, passed.
Although Li Xiang didn't know exactly what Mewtwo had done, it still didn't stop him from standing up and applauding excitedly.
He was happy for Mewtwo.
How painful it must be for a Pokémon that longed for freedom and had a yearning for travel to be trapped on Mirage Island, covering only a little over a thousand square kilometers, living only with someone who thought they understood everything.
Li Xiang couldn't help but glance at Uxie's Mirage. He saw it was also applauding, even producing a faint clapping sound.
Souls also have sound?
And with their movements, the sages and humans present all contributed their applause for the successful conclusion of this meeting and for Mewtwo gaining its freedom.
[Thank you.]
Mewtwo stood up from the main seat, lowering its head slightly.
The meeting ended.
...…
Back on Mirage Island.
Li Xiang was somewhat eager to hear Mewtwo recount its experiences over the past two months.
[There's really nothing much to say.]
Mewtwo sat in its designated spot and said calmly, [I just had a stroke of inspiration and found the right strategy.]
At first, it had planned to follow the original plan, using the most straightforward rule among Pokémon: might makes right, to gain the favor of the Pokémon.
This approach was very effective initially.
Mewtwo fought and subdued the Salamence clan, the Metagross clan, the Kingdra clan, and the Garchomp clan, among others.
Even the Dragonite clan and the Tyranitar clan.
These were all relatively high-combat clans within Mist Island, and most of them had simple, violent dispositions that respected strength. As long as you were strong enough and didn't harm them, you could gain their recognition.
And that was indeed the case. The patriarch of the Salamence family once even became Mewtwo's mount.
Unfortunately, not all Pokémon were receptive to this approach. The progress of Mewtwo's conquest had to slow down.
But then, the events at the festival gave Mewtwo an inspiration.
For the Pokémon of Mist Island, their bond with this land was very deep. Nothing was more important than the land that had nurtured them.
Unfortunately, even though they knew Mist Island had its own soul, there was no way for them to communicate with it.
This made them very sad.
And then, Mewtwo appeared. Unlike Uxie, who liked to be a cryptic riddle-speaker that let things take their own course, Mewtwo generously expressed its willingness to help the Pokémon of Mist Island communicate with the spirit of Mist Island.
Even to build a channel to connect with it.
Just like how Uxie could move about Mist Island through its soul, and the Pokémon of Mist Island could communicate with it.
To show its sincerity, it took the initiative to let Slowking experience it.
At that point, the Ten Sages Group treated Mewtwo as an honored guest.
But the matter wasn't over yet.
Previously, Mist Island's ley lines had been contaminated by black energy, affecting the environment, and remnants remained.
Although generating illusions could solve the problem, illusions were ultimately dangerous. Appearing randomly in any place could easily cause unnecessary harm.
Seeing this, Mewtwo voluntarily transformed into Dark Mewtwo and absorbed all the black energy from the ley lines.
It solved the problem once and for all.
This naturally made the Ten Sages Group even more grateful. Added to that, Mewtwo was diligent and eager to learn.
On Mist Island, Pokémon who valued knowledge and wisdom were the most respected. Slowking had become the leader of the Ten Sages Group not through strength, but through his love of learning.
After communicating with Mewtwo, he was greatly moved and remarked that he hadn't encountered such a diligent Pokémon in a long time.