Chapter 171 – Righteous or Evil?
Among the Kanto Elite Four—
Agatha, the seasoned elder, was naturally powerful with her vast experience.
Among the three younger members, both Lance the Dragon Master and Lorelei of Ice possessed rare special abilities, geniuses among geniuses.
As for Bruno, he had no such innate powers. Barely thirty years old, yet his strength rivaled Lance and Lorelei.
It was clear that Bruno was an extraordinary man in his own right. Through sheer effort, he awakened the Mind's Eye, training for years in the mountains, harmonizing body and spirit with nature.
Often, he could even reach a state of communion with wild Pokémon.
The heavens reward diligence—his rise from an ordinary man to the pinnacle of mastery was proof of that.
Unlike others who relied on special gifts, Bruno's accomplishments came purely from perseverance, discipline, and relentless training in seclusion.
For ordinary people, a few days in the mountains might be tolerable. A few weeks, and they'd suffocate. But for Bruno, the wilderness had become his home.
The young Articuno chick did not resist when Lorelei crouched down and scooped it gently into her arms.
Pressed close against her, the tiny bird trembled. Memories of its mother seemed to resurface—its eyes welled up, and tears spilled down like broken strings of pearls. In a hoarse voice, the little one whimpered weakly.
"Cry… cry all you want. You'll feel better after letting it out." Lorelei stroked the chick's back softly, her voice tender.
When its emotions finally calmed, she drew out a cerulean Poké Ball and tapped it gently against its body.
At once, the Ball sprang open. A red beam enveloped the Articuno and drew it inside.
This was no ordinary Poké Ball—it was Lorelei's specially crafted Zero-Degree Ball, its environment like an eternal iceberg, a sanctuary perfectly suited for Ice-type Pokémon.
Because of this, its success rate in capturing Ice-types was vastly higher.
The Articuno chick barely struggled at all. The indicator light blinked red once—then dimmed.
Capture successful.
Lorelei smiled faintly. To capture a legendary Pokémon and still remain so calm… that spoke volumes about the strength of her spirit.
By contrast, the silver-haired girl at her side could barely contain her excitement. Her face shone with admiration."Cousin, you're incredible! You actually captured the legendary Articuno just like that!"
Lorelei turned to her, eyes warm with fondness.
This girl was Yukie, her younger cousin. Though still young, her talent was exceptional. Like Lorelei, she had awakened the Power of Ice Soul from childhood, and her strength was already remarkable.
"Yukie, we're heading to the Seafoam Islands again. That is Articuno's home. I will not allow Team Rocket to wreak havoc there."
Though Lorelei was known as the Ice-type Elite Four, famed for her gentle, graceful, and intellectual demeanor, when it came to Pokémon—especially the Ice-type Legendary Bird—her expression turned uncharacteristically stern.
"Mm." Yukie nodded firmly.
The two summoned their flying mounts. Lorelei's was a majestic Pidgeot, its wingspan immense, no smaller than Yozora's own Pidgeot.
But for Lorelei, one of the Elite Four, such a Pokémon was not even considered battle strength—merely a mount. Even so, it was extraordinary by any standard.
Yukie's mount was an Altaria, its sky-blue body and fluffy, cloudlike wings marking it as a rare Dragon- and Flying-type Pokémon from Hoenn.
Together, they flew toward the Seafoam Islands. As they neared, they spotted a boy riding a Pidgeot, soaring out from the caves.
Their eyes met briefly midair.
Lorelei's heart skipped. "That boy…"
Yozora's chest tightened at the same instant. To meet such a legendary figure here… Yet he did not linger. With a sharp command, his Pidgeot swept him swiftly away.
"That boy didn't look like a Team Rocket member. So why was he at the Seafoam Islands?" Lorelei frowned, suspicious.
"Probably a coincidence. The environment here is harsh, but sometimes adventurous trainers come to explore," Yukie replied casually.
The cousins landed before the cave entrance.
Lorelei's eyes narrowed instantly—two skeletal Team Rocket corpses lay sprawled in the snow, their bodies frozen stiff beyond all hope.
Inside the cavern, the carnage was worse. Boqi and the rest of the Rocket squad were all dead—emaciated husks, faces sunken, as though their very life force had been drained away.
"What cruel methods… Could this be that boy's doing?" Lorelei's brows furrowed.
Of course, to her, Team Rocket deserved no pity—their sins outweighed their deaths.
But to reduce them to hollow shells like this… such brutality was disturbing. Lorelei thought of Gengar. It was a ghost's work.
But more important than the Pokémon was its Trainer. If a Trainer commanded such merciless methods, how were they any different from Team Rocket themselves?
And to wipe out an entire elite Rocket squad at once—that was no small feat.
She didn't recognize Boqi, but from the uniform, she knew he was a Rocket elite captain, an exceptionally strong Trainer—top-class by League standards. Even most Gym Leaders would struggle against him.
And yet, that boy had annihilated them effortlessly?
"What a formidable one," Yukie murmured in awe.
When she crossed paths with Yozora in the sky, she hadn't paid him much mind. Already, his face had begun to fade from memory.
But now, she forced herself to recall his features, etching them into her mind.
Because she realized—among her generation, this youth might one day stand as her true rival.
"So young, yet so strong… Truly a rare talent. I only hope he doesn't lose his way." Lorelei shook her head slowly.
For geniuses were like double-edged swords.
Walk the righteous path, and they blessed the world.
Stray into darkness, and they brought endless calamity.
As an Elite Four of Kanto, Lorelei was like a guardian deity, shielding the region. It was her duty not only to nurture righteous talent—but also to eliminate those who turned astray.
Though their encounter was fleeting, she had engraved Yozora deeply into her memory.
He was not destined to be ordinary. They would meet again—she was sure of it.
"When that time comes, I'll face him myself. To see with my own eyes whether he is righteous… or evil."
Yozora's methods had been cruel. Yet Lorelei did not hastily brand him wicked.
For if one carried a heart of true justice, then even ruthless methods could be justified.
But the key was that heart. Without it… cruelty was only cruelty.
(End of Chapter)