"If you hand me over to President Lusamine, you should receive quite a reward, right?" Carl put on a deliberately excited expression, as if he could see a large sum of money waving at him.
"No! Absolutely not!" Lillie quickly shook her head, her ponytail swinging with the motion. "I can't be taken back to my mom."
"Why? Is your mom actually a threat to you?"
"She's been researching Cosmog so intensely, and I feel Cosmog doesn't like it. Plus, my mom's getting so obsessed with her research that it's bad for her too," Lillie confessed honestly.
"Research?" Carl raised an eyebrow, sensing something more.
Lillie hastily explained, "It's not some sinister experiment or anything. Look, Cosmog is fine, right? I'm just worried that my mom's dedication is going to ruin her health."
"Really?" Carl asked, skeptical yet curious.
"I swear!" Lillie assured him earnestly.
They both stared at each other, trying to decipher what lay behind the other's eyes. Time ticked by slowly. Carl remained expressionless while Lillie began to feel uneasy.
Then she glanced at the three Cosmog playing nearby and suddenly thought of something.
"Please listen to me," Lillie mustered her courage. "You wouldn't want your two Cosmog to get into trouble, would you?"
"Are you threatening me?" Carl feigned anger, though he was secretly relieved. Finally, she was getting to the point.
"No, not at all!" Lillie hurried to clarify. "I mean, if my mom finds out you have two Cosmog, she'll go to great lengths to get them, and that would cause you a lot of trouble."
"So, for their safety, you shouldn't send me back, right?"
Carl pretended to ponder, though inwardly he was quite pleased. He had already considered these possibilities.
If Lillie found out about the Cosmogs, it would surely reach Lusamine. Lusamine's obsession with researching Ultra Space had reached dangerous levels. Discovering three Cosmog would lead to unimaginable consequences.
Carl had no desire to invite such trouble. Moreover, Lillie had been to the World Tree, a place he preferred to keep under wraps for now. While he wouldn't go as far as eliminating her, it seemed wise to keep Lillie close, perhaps even recruiting her to his cause.
Force or threats wouldn't work—they'd only create chaos. So, he had a sudden idea to pretend to be the one threatened.
"So, we're like two peas in a pod now?" Carl said with a serious face.
Lillie felt a wave of relief wash over her and nodded vigorously. "Yes, yes, exactly like two peas in a pod!"
"In order to protect Cosmog, not only can I not turn you in, but I must also look after you." Carl put on a reluctant face.
"Exactly!" Lillie nodded fervently, secretly relieved. "Yes, you have to protect me."
"And you can't just wander around. If the Aether Foundation catches wind of you, it'll be a problem," Carl added, growing serious.
"Yes, yes!" Lillie continued nodding like a bobblehead. "Please don't send me away; I can stay at your place."
"Or maybe... just silence you for good?" Carl suddenly joked, coldly chuckling. "End of story!"
"Waaah—" Lillie burst into tears on the spot.
Carl: "..."
He had gone too far.
---
Meanwhile, in the Alola region at Aether Paradise, Lusamine paced anxiously in her office, her elegant features overshadowed by a grim expression.
"Bang!" A programmer from the foundation hurriedly entered. "President, we've tracked Miss Lillie's whereabouts."
Lusamine set down her pen. "Where exactly?"
"In Havenport of the Westvale League," the staff member reported, handing over a tablet. "Tracked through her social media logins, but the location is still vague."
Lusamine stood up abruptly. "Organize a search team immediately!" She paused, reconsidering. "Wait, are you sure it's Havenport?"
"Absolutely, the IP shows—"
"Impossible!" Lusamine slammed the table. "Two thousand kilometers in ten minutes? Even a legendary Pokémon couldn't teleport like that."
The staff member was at a loss for words. Indeed, not even a champion-level Pokémon could move at such speed.
Lusamine narrowed her eyes. "Seems she's been planning this for a while." She twirled the pen in her fingers. "Continue the investigation, but try a new approach—look into whom she's been in contact with recently."
Standing by the window, Lusamine's brow furrowed. She realized that Aether Paradise might have been infiltrated by external forces, but whether it was Team Skull, the Alolan royal family, or another group was uncertain.
"Quite a strategy," she sneered. "Using Lillie to distract me."
She quickly pieced together her thoughts. The Westvale League was stable, making it hard for outsiders to intervene. Clearly, someone was trying to mislead her.
"Lillie must be nearby," Lusamine muttered to herself. "It's a psychological game."
She turned and issued orders. "Send a squad to Westvale, make a big show of it. Secretly search the Alolan islands, and report immediately if Lillie is found."
The staff eagerly accepted the mission. Witnessing the president's return to her commanding self, they couldn't wait to uncover the mastermind behind the scenes.
---
Meanwhile, back in Havenport, Carl was comforting a tearful Lillie. The girl, shaken by a series of scares, couldn't stop her tears.
"I have a win-win solution," Carl said seriously.
Lillie looked up, her eyes wet. "What solution?"
"Become my apprentice."
"Apprentice?" Lillie blinked, puzzled.
Carl grinned, showing his white teeth. "I mentor apprentices at the Summit Gym."
Lillie, the cherished daughter of the Aether Foundation, was unmatched in Pokémon theory in her class, known as Alola's Ice Flower. She had an outstanding talent, a prestigious background, a remarkable appearance and poise, only lacking a bit in battle experience. Yet, she was no less capable than Champion Cynthia.
In fact, Lillie could command the legendary Pokémon Lunala and Solgaleo, so her abilities were far from weak.
Imagine the thrill of personally training someone who could rival a world-class champion like Cynthia. More importantly, once Lillie matured, his leisurely days would be even more enjoyable.
Perfect!
"You're a gym trainer?" Lillie caught the key point, a flicker of surprise in her eyes. The young man before her, just a few years older, was already a professional trainer with his own gym—a prodigy indeed.
Such a promising trainer gave her a sense of security and reliability.
"Exactly," Carl nodded. "I'm the Summit Gym Leader, Carl. You can call me Leader, or just Carl."
"By becoming my apprentice, you can legally stay in Westvale. We can supervise each other to ensure Cosmog's secret remains safe."
"You just need to fulfill the basic duties of an apprentice. I'll take care of your food, clothing, and shelter, and personally guide you. How does that sound?"
"No problem!" Lillie agreed without hesitation.
When she impulsively fled with Cosmog, she hadn't thought much about the consequences. Now, she realized she had to live incognito; otherwise, her mother, Lusamine, would quickly find her.
With her current abilities, she wasn't even a formal trainer. Without a Pokémon for protection and in a foreign land, survival was a challenge. The apprentice status Carl offered was exactly what she needed.
As for the duties? She was eager to contribute, not just freeload. She wholeheartedly supported becoming an apprentice.
"Thank you, Carl," Lillie bowed sincerely in gratitude.
Earning an apprentice position under these circumstances was an unexpected boon for her.
Carl smiled contentedly. This young lady was not only down-to-earth but also perceptive.
"Alright then, Apprentice Lillie, here's your first task."
"Understood!"
With a gentle wave, Carl gestured for the three Cosmog to float over to Lillie.
"Help me take care of them," he instructed.
Lillie, surprised, caught them and glanced down at the little creatures in her arms.
"These are...?" She looked up, puzzled, at Carl.
Carl watched her reaction. She held the Pokémon without any discomfort, just pure confusion. This confirmed his suspicions.
The two worlds had given Lillie vastly different experiences. One Lillie, shadowed by childhood trauma, feared contact with Pokémon, while the other bravely protected them and embarked on adventures.
But regardless of her past, Lillie possessed extraordinary talent and a keen ability to learn. From the moment she appeared with Cosmog, Carl leaned towards believing she was the latter. This simple test further cemented his belief.