Although the commotion caused by Gimmighoul had everyone on edge, Mr. Bourgeois's dream of viewing the antiques ultimately came true.
He was quite moved—he never imagined he would truly behold such "ancient statues." Caitlin and Hikaru, though, both wore slightly odd expressions.
Perhaps this statue once held power—but now it was only a work of art.
Still, taking this chance, Hikaru decided to craft a special art piece for Mr. Bourgeois—so long as Mr. Bourgeois paid enough money.
Or offered some ancient coins in exchange.
It was a fair trade. As Mr. Bourgeois himself said, antiques are precious treasures—yet a unique, high-value artwork is another matter entirely.
Hikaru flexed his hands.
Carving a small stone sculpture would not take long. At his current pace, he had barely stepped into the workshop before a new piece was finished, still warm from creation.
And this piece was unlike any sculpture before it.
[Legendary Craftwork: Ruins of the Indigo Plateau (Legend Statue — Crystallized Quartz Pikachu).]
[Description: Said to be a remnant ruin in some corner of Kanto's Indigo Plateau. After long shifts of time and space, it took this form. What you see is a reproduction by a highly skilled artisan; no "Ripple of Time" was infused, so no temporal-spatial waves are generated.]
[Slowly feel the flow of time.]
[Effects: Mysticism +100%, Culture +100%, Revivalism +100%, Art +100%. Can slow one's perception of time. Immortality +70%: greatly delays the aging of objects/will/souls.]
[Temporal Dilation +2%: broadly speaking, slowing time's flow is the extension of life and will.]
[Note: May your soul be as it ever was; may your will endure. Even if life passes, the tale never ends.]
When the statue was placed into Mr. Bourgeois's hands, he froze.
Past memories and his original resolve rose within him; forgotten fragments of history surged back. The artwork seemed to call forth the childlike soul and best moments of his youth, while faintly pointing toward an unseen, far-off future.
"I—I don't know what came over me just now. This statue feels… strange!"
"Does it hurt, Father?" Susan asked, worried.
Solemnly, Mr. Bourgeois shook his head, then passed the statue to Susan. The young lady touched it—and instantly understood that hard-to-name feeling.
"The beauty and memories of the past—plus a wordless, distant future—there's a unique artistic power inside… It even feels like it's guiding us. What is this wondrous sensation…?"
"But there's no doubt—it's an excellent—no, 'excellent' doesn't suffice—an extraordinary piece!"
"Mm." Mr. Bourgeois nodded. He said no more, but had already decided in his heart: this "antique-style" statue was fully worth exchanging for a precious antique.
Not only the ancient coins—he felt the statue had somehow made his rotting dream come alive again.
His will was firming; his soul leapt for joy. He felt twenty years younger.
"From my perspective, its value is sky-high… This truly is no ordinary artwork. What's even more astonishing is that you created it so quickly."
"Among all the artworks I've seen, none surpass this! Perhaps only the legendary phantom artisans could compare with you."
Mr. Bourgeois produced a special card. Sums that large aren't exactly carried around in chests.
"Here are fifty million. And the ancient coins I've collected."
"Perhaps Gimmighoul's appearance was my fortune. Because it stole the coins, this affair led me to obtain such a precious statue."
"So these coins are for you—and for it. There are about one hundred and ten."
Mr. Bourgeois concluded the transaction with Hikaru in earnest. Feeling this still wasn't enough, he produced one more rare antique.
It was an object much like a steel Poké Ball.
"What's this?" Hikaru felt the iron sphere was familiar.
Mr. Bourgeois shook his head. "It's a valuable antique, but I don't know what it does."
He explained carefully:
"The seller was a curio shop owner."
"They said five hundred years ago, it was sent from a faraway land—an offering for a king."
"Similar items were once sent to Alola and elsewhere, but no one knows their true purpose."
"However, our Unovan 'true' royal line long vanished in the founding legends."
"The dragons of Truth and Ideals rained fire and lightning—destroying Unova's land two thousand five hundred years ago."
"Afterward, only a few tiny city-states arose from time to time on our soil—none amounted to much, and each faded as Unova developed."
"Unova has no king. So such 'tribute' naturally drifted into the hands of common folk."
"I don't know its use—but it's exquisitely made, and at least several centuries old."
"And I know you're an artisan—so something like this might interest you."
"In truth, I'd originally wanted to offer you a set of elegant tea ware—an extremely expensive antique service."
"In Galar, such prized tea services can draw Pokémon like Sinistea and Polteageist to dwell within; the genuine sets are beyond price."
"Still, I felt those might not suit your eye."
Hikaru studied the fine steel orb. He could clearly feel it was a work of mystic technology.
He had grasped modern future-tech, and ancient knowledge too—but the "mystic science" of the middle eras remained shrouded in mist.
Of course, the many-branching, black-technology-laden "modern sciences" were also far from fully mastered.
"I see. Then I won't be polite—this does interest me."
Hikaru accepted the iron sphere.
[Mythic Craftwork (?): Soul-Heart.]
Those last two words made Hikaru's heart jolt.
…What?
This bronze-hued, timeworn object—its patterns almost erased—was actually Magearna's core?!
Hikaru asked, "Was this treasure obtained from the Azoth Kingdom?"
"That, I don't know," Mr. Bourgeois said. "The curio dealer only said it came from a distant land—likely it's passed through many hands."
Hikaru nodded and drew a deep breath.
He looked further.
[Description: "Soul-Heart" is an artificial soul created by a genius scientist after collecting living energy from Pokémon. It is the core and power source of the Pokémon known as Magearna. However, this Soul-Heart has no corresponding Magearna body.]
[It appears to be a failed unit; the soul within is dormant. In the past, a minor king used it as the core of a scepter symbolizing authority. It can be used to sense other Pokémon's feelings, thoughts, physical states, etc.]
[A false king who cannot read the hearts of living beings—no matter what relic he wields—still cannot become Unova's king.]
[Magearna and Soul-Heart were once presented to royal families of many lands as tributes. The highest-fidelity model was given to the princess of the Azoth Kingdom. Lesser units were sent far and wide. To this day, several unbootable Magearna remain—quietly awaiting the day of awakening.]
[After acquiring "Mystic Science," the Soul-Heart can be repaired, modified, and charged; a body may be forged—thus creating Magearna.]
In the anime, multiple Magearna exist.
Counting game distributions, there have been three Magearna in total, two of which were Shiny.
In that light, for Magearna it might be that the "standard coloration" is the more noble finish—while the "Shiny palette" marked prototypes or failed units.
In other words, only the Magearna from the movie had a Soul-Heart with power enough to drive a royal fortress.
"What is it—is this so valuable? You look like you recognize it," Caitlin pressed, curious.
"I do. I know what this is—it's a true treasure, a vessel for those who cannot be king to pin their hopes upon." Hikaru smiled at Caitlin, then thanked Mr. Bourgeois with due gravity.
Mr. Bourgeois waved both hands. "N-no need to thank me—I should be thanking you."
"I earnestly hope you continue to create greater, grander works! When you do, please inform me—I'll pay handsomely to acquire them!"
[Reward: Recognition of Mr. Bourgeois and the Bourgeois Family!]
[Note: This recognition comes from the magnate Bourgeois family. Your sculpture helped them recall the beautiful dreams of life, so they are filled with gratitude—and will enthusiastically champion your work!]
[Gratitude +200%, Sincerity +100%, Antique Memory +50%.]
[Your emotions grow more sincere; your persuasiveness rises. When handling antiques, there's a chance to revive their memories and deepen their "patina."]
[Unlocked Professional Knowledge: "Collector!"]
[Collected items will appreciate in value.]
[Overall popularity of all your works within Unova has risen to… 93%!]
After bidding Mr. Bourgeois farewell, Hikaru and Ojō-sama returned to the villa. The young lady, after so many adventures, was already tired; and after leaving the Seafloor Ruins, touring the Bourgeois home, and all that followed, night had fallen—stars were wheeling overhead.
"I've never had such a fulfilling day… How nice."
Rarely abandoning her elegant airs, Caitlin stretched and let out her first yawn of the day.
"I'm a little hungry…" she said, staring straight at Hikaru, the meaning obvious.
"And there's a report to write… I think I can now slightly understand Cynthia's work life…"
If every ruins investigation came with this kind of chaos, Caitlin felt it was only natural that sometimes Cynthia didn't reply to her messages.
It was all just… a bit too thrilling!
"Ah—these, too." Caitlin laid a string of stone tablets before Hikaru. "The tablets from the Seafloor Ruins. You said these belong to the [God], right?"
"I brought them all out—so be sure to thank me properly."
Hikaru laughed. "Much obliged, Ojō-sama. So thorough and considerate."
Caitlin sighed. "Hey—why do I feel like I ended up playing the butler? These are chores you—the butler—should be doing. Dereliction of duty, isn't it?"
"But since we've gathered plenty of data today, and wrapped up the expedition, you're forgiven."
Hikaru touched the remaining tablets one by one.
All twelve tablets lay neatly arranged—including the three he'd already acquired: Earth Plate, Spooky Plate, and Draco Plate.
Thus, the tablets he hadn't yet attuned to numbered nine.
[Mythic Craftwork: Sky Plate / Toxic Plate / Stone Plate!]
[Mythic Craftwork: Splash Plate / Insect Plate / Meadow Plate!]
[Mythic Craftwork: Icicle Plate / Mind Plate / Dread Plate!]
The service from Unova's "king" wasn't half bad.
Pretty much all the plates had been delivered in one bundle.
Now, the only one missing was the Pixie Plate; the Legend Plate doesn't belong among the regular set.
『Gained Professional Lore: 5』
When Hikaru saw the number pop, his mind hummed.
Not nine, as expected, but five professions—meaning four had already been unlocked.
Mm—what he now gained confirmed: Ancient Treasure Hunter, Entomologist, Pilot, and Psychic!
Among the Stone, Insect, Mind, and Sky plates, some merely strengthened existing paths.
Stone upgraded to Archaeologist. Insect became Professor of Entomology.
Mind and Sky provided unusual upgrades: Mind Plate granted a "Guide to Psychic Arts."
Go to the indicated place for instruction, and you can obtain a new Trainer class—"Tenchō".
Hikaru blinked.
Then knowledge led him onward, telling the truth:
There exists a unique Trainer class in the games—the shopmaster Inver, an inversion-battle Psychic master.
He developed Inverse Battles as a format, and by using his psychic power, he created a tool called the Type Inverter. Within the tool's—plus his psychic—field, Pokémon type matchups are reversed!
In other words—he is a Psychic so strong he can manipulate the very forces of typing!
"The location is… Mauville City!"
The Sky Plate additionally conferred another Trainer archetype—Sky Trainer, a class unique to Kalos.
The rest were five new professions:
『Dread (Dread Plate): Gambler — Low-accuracy moves gain higher accuracy; gambling win rate +50%; Misfortune +30%.』
『Splash (Splash Plate): Navigator — Skilled at piloting ships and reading sea charts; never lost at sea; can access special isles; Swimming & Diving +50%.』
『Meadow (Meadow Plate): Horticulturist — Expert in garden pruning; follows Planter/Herbalist/Ranger as a new profession; can craft "Perfume."』
『Toxic (Toxic Plate): Cleaner — Can purge filth and defilement to spotless; Cleaning +100%; immune to stench and toxins.』
『Icicle (Icicle Plate): Temple Guardian — In temples, your calls shall be answered; Repair +100%; when Legendary Pokémon go berserk, the chance they side with you increases.』
『Clues to Mystic Artifacts ×5.』
『1. GS Ball — 2. Tidal Bell — 3. Abyss-01 Core Starter.』
『4. Z-Power Ring — 5. Ancient Mask.』
(End of Chapter)
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