Upon reflection, it did seem logical that such extraordinary power and Mew were involved at the time.
"It wasn't me who did it; otherwise, I wouldn't have contacted you," Lillie explained.
Becca quickly calmed down.
Indeed, if Lillie had been responsible, there would've been no need for her to make this call.
More surprising was the fact that the legendary Pokémon Mew was with Lillie.
"By the way, I heard a man's voice earlier. Who was that?"
"Did you kidnap someone?" Carl asked Mew.
"Mew~" Mew looked baffled.
"Kidnap? I wouldn't do something like that," Mew shook her head, denying the accusation.
"Then it was just a prank, like Professor Oak's," Carl remarked. He adjusted his phone to show a holographic image.
The image was a private selfie of Lillie's mom that Lillie had provided.
"Have you seen this person?" Carl pointed to the image.
"Mew!"
Mew, with her incredible memory, nodded after just a glance.
"I knew it was you!"
Lillie was instantly excited, pulling Mew into her arms and playfully pinching her ears. "Tell me quickly! Where did you take my mom?"
A gasp could be heard from Becca on the other end of the call.
It had only been half a month, yet Lillie seemed much more assertive, daring to handle even a legendary Pokémon with such ease. What had happened during this time?
"Huh?" Mew tilted her head, puzzled.
Could that woman really be Lillie's mother?
"Are you sure that's your mom?" Mew asked Lillie for confirmation.
"Yes," Carl answered for the confused Lillie.
Hearing Carl's words, Mew suddenly understood. "Mew~ (It's not my fault, she was the one who got curious first...)"
Mew recounted what had happened that day, aligning with what Carl had previously described.
Carl gestured for Lillie to remain calm and then asked, "Where did you send Lillie's mom?"
"Mew~ (To an uninhabited island,)" Mew replied nonchalantly.
"Aren't you worried she might be in danger?" Carl frowned.
"Mew? (Danger?)" Mew shot him a look as if to say, "Don't underestimate me."
"Mew~ (I'm not like Groudon and Kyogre, I understand humans quite well.)"
"Mew~ (The Pokémon she used, much like Mewtwo, was artificially made, even utilizing Arceus and my power.)"
"Mew~ (By your standards, she's an important person, surely she has Pokémon with her for protection, right?)"
Carl was momentarily speechless.
It was true; Mew had a deep understanding of human society. Lusamine was a workaholic who traveled light. On the day in question, she was rushing to a meeting at Aether Paradise and hadn't even brought basic outdoor supplies, leading to a week of survival-like living on the island.
Hearing Carl's retelling, Lillie's eyes welled up. Her mom, who always insisted on immaculate clothing, was now roughing it in the wilderness, potentially in danger. She couldn't help but glare at Mew.
"Mew (Don't worry, Auntie is safe,)" Mew reassured, lazily flicking her tail. Though she loved mischief, she knew her limits. When she sent Lusamine to the island, she had left a safeguard to monitor the situation.
Feeling somewhat relieved, Lillie signaled Carl with her eyes. Carl understood and said to Mew, "Let's have Hoopa bring her back." He wasn't about to let Mew leave just yet, wary of her potential antics.
Mew obediently contacted Hoopa in Kalos. Finding the situation amusing, Hoopa agreed. She asked Lillie for Lusamine's photo, then tossed a colorful ring into the air: "Hoopa, bring it over!"
Carl was lounging in his chair when he suddenly noticed a halo appearing above him. Before he could react, a figure landed heavily on his legs. Reflexively, he caught her, completely bewildered.
Lusamine, having just found a water source to freshen up, was equally stunned by the sudden change of scenery. Lillie, standing nearby, was speechless as well.
Their eyes met, and the air thickened with tension.
Carl, after a moment of awkward silence, blurted out, "You look even better in person than in the photos."
He immediately regretted his words, realizing how awkward his opening line was.
Lusamine's golden hair cascaded like a waterfall to her knees, serving as a natural shield. However, from Lillie's angle, she could clearly see her mother's bare back.
"Oh my gosh! How did this happen?" Lillie's mind momentarily froze.
Hearing Carl's comment, Lusamine raised an eyebrow. She calmly adjusted her hair, elegantly crossed her legs, and focused on Carl, "Where did you get my photo?"
Carl admitted he'd seen it.
"My photos are never shared," Lusamine propped her chin with one hand. "You know Lillie?"
"More than just know," Carl smiled, "we're quite close."
Lusamine squinted, scrutinizing Carl. "Lillie never mentioned having a friend like you." She lowered her voice, "You're not the one who took her away, are you?" she asked, suddenly alarmed.
Lillie's departure with Cosmog had always been a sore spot for her. In her heart, she was the most important person to Lillie, even over Lillie's biological father. She had been the one to raise her.
But then again, if Lillie had been sweet-talked, it could be a different story. Yet, Lusamine controlled Lillie's social circle tightly, making such a possibility slim.
Seeing Carl, however, shook her confidence. This young man was indeed striking, even making her look twice. More suspiciously, he knew about the private photos only she and Lillie were aware of.
As she pondered further, a force pushed her slightly.
Ralts, shining in Carl's arms, shook its head disapprovingly, red eyes fixated on Lusamine. It disliked anyone getting too close to its master, especially when the woman intentionally brushed against it.
While it didn't mind other girls around Carl, it didn't like Lusamine, especially since their hairstyles were similar, which irked it more.
Carl silently cheered. Seeing Lusamine's flustered state, he couldn't help but think of Nessa and the others, imagining they would have much to talk about.
"You!" Lusamine began to protest.
"Mom!" Lillie's call froze her in place.
"Are you alright?" Lillie hurried over, concerned.
Lusamine's face turned red. The fall wasn't a big deal, akin to tripping in a swimsuit.
But having her daughter witness it caught her off guard, shattering her usually composed and dignified image.