"Care to place a bet?" Carl suggested with a grin.
Mew was instantly on high alert. The word "bet" had become a sensitive topic for her, and she shook her head decisively in refusal.
"That's a shame," Carl maintained his smile. "You might want to ask Celebi about it sometime. Although this isn't the exact Kyogre I reeled in, it is indeed one of her kind, so it's not entirely inaccurate."
Mew was astonished. Had the Kyogre of the Westvale region truly experienced such an adventure?
Despite their limited powers, Kyogre and Groudon moved swiftly. Carl hadn't been back at his villa for long before the two legendary Pokémon arrived.
"Next, I'll help you regain some of your strength, and then I'll need a small favor," Carl explained as he got up from his lounge chair.
Though his villa was comfortable, the front and back yards were limited in space. With the continual arrival of treasures from the mystical tree, storage space was becoming increasingly cramped. It was the perfect time for the two legendary Pokémon to help adjust the landscape, expanding usable space without altering the villa's structure.
And so, Groudon and Kyogre got to work immediately upon arrival. It wasn't until evening that Carl was satisfied with the results. During that time, several friends like Daniel wanted to visit, but Carl politely declined their requests.
Seeing Groudon and Kyogre was quite a sight; it was best to save it for another day.
As for the secret of the Buried Tower, Carl wasn't concerned. Without the three precious orbs, the place was just an empty, albeit famous, relic.
After dinner, Carl stretched contentedly, planning to relax in the front yard and check on the progress of the aura training of the four girls. He expected that both Jasmine and Catelyn would awaken their aura abilities within the next couple of days, while Serena and Lillie might need another two weeks of practice.
Carl had just laid back when Lillie rushed over, her voice on the verge of tears. "Carl, you have to help me!"
Carl frowned, wondering if Mew was up to mischief. He reassured her, "Don't worry, take your time. What's going on?"
"It's my mother… she's missing!" Lillie was nearly sobbing.
"Grace is missing?" Carl was taken aback. "Wait a second, you've been here with me. How did you find out?"
He handed Lillie a glass of water, not particularly surprised. Grace had been obsessed with her research into alternate dimensions, so it wasn't entirely unexpected. What concerned him more was Lillie's source of information.
Had she secretly contacted Grace? If so, that would complicate matters. While Carl could overlook the issues Grace might bring, if Lillie was acting independently, it would be harder to keep her here.
"I just logged into the League's social media and saw a private message," Lillie explained, sipping the water to calm herself. Despite her mother's constant busyness, in Lillie's heart, her mother was the most important person.
"The League's social media? A private message?" Carl's frown eased. "Let me see."
Lillie handed over her phone. The message had been sent seven days ago, meaning the information had been sitting there for a week.
Carl quickly checked the IP login records and found several entries from the Alola region. It seemed Lillie's account had been compromised on Grace's end.
The earliest record was from the day Lillie had first visited him. So that's how it was; her account activity had been monitored when she logged in to show him some photos. He pondered this quietly.
"I was careless," he admitted to himself. "I assumed the power of the mystical tree would block all surveillance, not considering account login vulnerabilities." He stroked his chin. "But it's strange. Grace knew Lillie was in Havenport over ten days ago, yet there's been no follow-up."
Based on his understanding, if a parent knew their child might be in Havenport, they would inevitably send someone to investigate. Yet, given his extensive network in the area, any external investigation would have caught his notice.
He reopened the private message: "Miss, the Director is missing. Please contact us immediately if you see this. Cosmog's power might help us find the Director."
The message was simple, but mentioning Cosmog raised alarms. However, knowing Lillie, she would risk anything for her mother's safety, even if it seemed like a trap.
To Carl's relief, Lillie had remained calm enough to consult him first. He smiled and handed the phone back. "If you want to contact them, go ahead."
"Shouldn't we prepare?" Lillie hesitated.
"Prepare?" Carl gestured to the nearby Kyogre and Groudon, who were playfully sparring, with Mew watching the spectacle. "What kind of preparation do you think we need?"
Lillie glanced around and chuckled. Indeed, rather than worry about being unprepared, it was better to hope her mother wasn't setting a trap. Otherwise, facing three legendary Pokémon, the other side would be at a disadvantage.
"Alright, I'll contact them now!"
Lillie accessed the foundation's internal system and connected with Grace's secretary.
The call was answered immediately, revealing a woman with glasses who looked exhausted and pale.
"Becca, are you okay?" Lillie asked with concern.
Becca, a senior executive at the foundation and Grace's personal assistant, was primarily responsible for Pokémon protection efforts. With Grace often busy with research, Lillie spent more time with Becca.
"It's a relief you're safe," Becca managed a weary smile.
"Never mind about me. What's going on? Is it true that my mother is missing?" Lillie pressed urgently. In her view, Becca was even more trustworthy than her mother.
Becca gripped her thermos tightly, her expression serious. "The Director has indeed gone missing. Seven days ago, there was an energy fluctuation above the Aether Paradise."
"She believed Cosmog had brought you back and rushed to check. Instead of finding you, she encountered the legendary Mew. Acting hastily, she didn't have the right equipment, and after attempting to engage Mew, she suddenly vanished."
"We suspect she's trapped in some space. Only Cosmog's power can help us locate her, which is why I was eager to reach you."
Lillie looked at Carl for confirmation of Becca's account. After all, Mew was right there with them and could verify the story.
Carl was already about 70% convinced. Nearby, an altered Pokémon, a testament to Grace's handiwork, was proof enough.
This Pokémon had been given to Grace by Mew, and the timing matched perfectly. There couldn't be so many coincidences. Still, it was best to confirm everything.
"Mew, come here a moment," Carl called.
"Mew!" Mew was encouraging Groudon to use a solar beam attack, but despite her reluctance, she teleported obediently to Carl's side.
Since regaining her powers, she had tried numerous times to teleport away, only to have her abilities sealed instantly. Unless Carl allowed it, she couldn't leave.
With no other choice, she had reconciled to her situation.
"Mew~ (What is it?)" Mew blinked curiously.
"Mew?! Is it true that you took the Director?" Becca's voice was filled with shock.
Lillie was stunned. What kind of logic was that?