While training their Pokémon earlier today, Xiao Luoxue and Jiang Chen had sparred. It was a battle of Milotic versus Milotic.
The result went without saying: Jiang Chen's Milotic emerged victorious.
"Why is your Milotic so much stronger than mine?" Xiao Luoxue asked, her brow furrowed in confusion.
Both of their Feebas had been caught at the same time, and she was the one who had caught them. Back then, she had given one of them to Jiang Chen. Even her Feebas's evolution into Milotic had happened under Jiang Chen's guidance.
Both Milotic had been growing for roughly the same amount of time, yet the gap in their strength was only widening. Jiang Chen's Milotic had completely outclassed hers.
"How am I supposed to answer that?" Jiang Chen shrugged, feigning a look of helplessness. "Maybe it's just because I'm too strong."
"Your Milotic isn't exactly growing slowly either," Ling Wanqiu interjected.
Xiao Luoxue's Milotic had already reached the Elite Four level. While it couldn't compare to Jiang Chen's, its rate of growth was still terrifyingly fast. That rapid growth was largely thanks to Jiang Chen, specifically due to the influence of the Blue Orb. The Blue Orb possessed effects identical to a Plate and was every bit as potent.
"Growth is relative. It depends on who you're comparing yourself to," Xiao Luoxue sighed.
"Why even try comparing yourself to him?" Ling Wanqiu glanced at Jiang Chen. In the past, her only thought had been to compete with him, but now, any desire to challenge him had long since evaporated.
"My Milotic is stronger because it works harder than yours," Jiang Chen told Xiao Luoxue.
Xiao Luoxue couldn't argue with that. In terms of training diligence, Jiang Chen's Pokémon were indeed superior to her own. There was another reason, of course: Jiang Chen's Milotic had been exposed to the power of the Blue Orb for much longer than hers.
"Let's take a break."
Jiang Chen gestured for Mew to deactivate the field of Gravity. Nowadays, whenever he trained his Pokémon, he usually had Mew manifest a zone of Gravity first. Training within that field was much more exhausting, but it multiplied the effectiveness of the exercise.
Jiang Chen remained inside, training his Pokémon within the villa for the entire day. Outside, certain people were starting to lose their patience.
"Takeda-kun, Jiang Chen shows no intention of coming out. What do you plan to do?"
In a room within a remote residential area of the Imperial Capital, two men in their thirties were conversing. From their honorifics, it was clear they were from the neighboring Sakura Country (Japan).
"Nakamori-kun, you are too impatient. We must have patience," the short-statured Takeda replied, shaking his head with an air of complete calm. "We aren't the only ones watching Jiang Chen; there are others. We can wait for them to make a move first to test the waters."
"It doesn't matter who acts. All that matters is that Jiang Chen dies." A flash of murderous intent crossed Takeda's eyes.
They were here on orders to take Jiang Chen's life, yet they didn't dare act recklessly. To them, the villa where Jiang Chen lived was currently like an iron fortress. Jiang Yuan had personally arranged for guards to protect his son. Anyone attempting an assassination would likely be "handled" before they could even get close.
This was the reason for the relative peace on Jiang Chen's end. It wasn't that no one was trying to kill him, but rather that everyone who tried had already been eliminated by the people Jiang Yuan and Xie Lelan had put in place.
"If we are to strike, we must do so with the resolve to die," Takeda said, staring intently at Nakamori.
"Takeda-kun, I am not a man who fears death. As long as I can kill Jiang Chen, I am willing to give my life."
They had been specifically trained by Sakura Country (Japan) and were far from cowardly. Even a suicide attack was acceptable if it meant taking Jiang Chen down. Their nation could never allow someone to control Legendary Pokémon unless that person belonged to them.
"Tonight. We move tonight," Takeda said, his face expressionless. "Even if the others don't act, we will. Nakamori-kun, prepare yourself for total sacrifice."
"To kill the son of a Champion, a genius who has subdued Legendary Pokémon... I'm looking forward to it." Nakamori wore a cruel smile.
He didn't think assassinating Jiang Chen would be that difficult. No matter how powerful the Legendary Pokémon were, Jiang Chen himself was a normal human. A normal person couldn't withstand even a single blow from a Pokémon; even an Elite level Pokémon could easily kill a human.
Since they had been sent on this mission, the Pokémon they carried were formidable, including some at the Elite Four level. They were just one of many groups targeting Jiang Chen.
Aside from Sakura Country (Japan), there were operatives from the USA, Hans Country (Germany), India, and others. None of the major world powers wanted Jiang Chen to exist.
If he remained, how could they ever hope to stand against Xia Nation in future conflicts especially when it came to competing for high-stakes Secret Realms? Xia Nation was already powerful,
boasting the highest number of Champions and Elite Four members in the world. If they added a Legendary Pokémon Trainer to their ranks, the other nations would have no way to survive.
This was why Jiang Chen had to die.
Some had initially considered trying to steal the Legendary Pokémon, but they quickly abandoned the idea. Legendaries were not easily stolen; if a person didn't have the Pokémon's recognition, the creature would simply attack them. Theft was impossible. The only path forward was to kill the Trainer who had subdued them.
As these watchers prepared to move against Jiang Chen, they were blissfully unaware that Jiang Yuan was also keeping a close eye on them.
In fact, Jiang Yuan had already arrived in the Imperial Capital. He wasn't alone; other Xia Nation Elite Four members, such as Ling Wanqiu's father, Ling Zhan, and Xiao Luoxue's father, Xiao Chengtian, were also there.
"To come to our country and stir up trouble... these people clearly have a death wish," Xiao Chengtian remarked, his expression icy.
"How do you plan to put an end to this?" Ling Zhan looked toward Jiang Yuan, and the other Elite Four members followed suit. "Even if we resolve it this time, they won't give up.
These people won't just use underhanded tactics; the USA has already contacted other countries, wanting to pressure us into handing over your son on the charge of 'threatening human safety.'"
As for where the charge of threatening human safety came from if you want to condemn someone, you can always find an excuse. Creating a crime out of thin air was a simple task.
"You think I fear their pressure?" Jiang Yuan sneered.
Xiao Chengtian opened his mouth as if to speak, then hesitated before saying, "Actually, it's not just the other countries Jiang Chen has to face. He also has to deal with our 'own people'."
Jiang Yuan frowned. He understood exactly what Xiao Chengtian meant. Even within their own country, there were those who didn't want Jiang Chen to exist.
The Legendary Pokémon were simply too powerful. With them at his side, Jiang Chen was completely beyond anyone's control. Even Lin Taichu, a Champion, had his Pokémon's memories altered and stripped away by Jiang Chen.
It was clear that Jiang Chen had a forceful personality and didn't care much for traditional rules. To many, such a person was terrifying. Though Jiang Chen was generally mild-mannered and wouldn't bully others unless provoked, his peers didn't see it that way. Some people always planned for the worst-case scenario.
They wondered: what would happen if someone accidentally offended Jiang Chen? How would a boy who possessed Legendaries and wasn't bound by rules react?
Champions were powerful, but they still operated within the system and could be kept in check. Who could possibly restrain a Trainer with Legendary Pokémon?
In their eyes, such an existence was better off disappearing. Legendary Pokémon were too dangerous to be controlled by a single human. Because of this, some of the nation's Elite Four members had chosen to stay on the sidelines, refusing to help.
"That boy might seem gentle on the surface, but he's actually very strong-willed even more so than I am," Jiang Yuan said softly. "The price of angering him is something no one can afford to pay."
"To know how dangerous the Legendaries are and still harbor ill intentions... what is that if not seeking death?" Jiang Yuan's eyes grew sharp.
Xie Yulan had spoken with him previously, so he had some inkling of his son's thoughts. Jiang Chen wanted to make an example of someone to serve as a warning to the rest.
"The fallout of this might have to be handled by my boy, but we can at least take care of the immediate problems ourselves." Jiang Yuan's gaze turned fierce.
He might be a Champion, but he couldn't interfere with whatever Jiang Chen planned to do next. For now, he would just help his son clear away the "flies."
"Let's move. Let's see how many fish we can catch. Hopefully, we'll snag a few big ones."
Jiang Yuan leaped onto his Dragonite and vanished into the distance. Ling Zhan and Xiao Chengtian followed suit, departing in their own directions.
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