"Work with you?" Brad thought he had misheard.
Brad admitted that Cain had given him his last food, helping him fulfill a great desire; even his enemy Alex had died indirectly because of him, and the Hydreigon he had lost had also reappeared before him.
He felt that all his regrets had been resolved; even if he died now, he would feel no resentment at all. But if there was a chance to keep living, who would choose to face death?
Even so, Cain's change in attitude was difficult for him to accept.
Becoming someone's subordinate was not something unacceptable.
Cain nodded and walked closer to Brad.
"That's right, work with me. In any case, you can't go back to the League, and living here as a savage surely doesn't interest you either. Better come back with me and let me see how much light you can emit."
"As a show of sincerity, I can first return this Hydreigon to you, and even give you plenty of resources so you can train new Pokémon."
"Although you're no longer young, I believe that with this Hydreigon and your three original Pokémon, it's not impossible for you to reach an even higher level."
"You're saying... you'll give Hydreigon back to me?" Brad couldn't believe it.
One had to understand that this was a Champion-level Hydreigon; its value couldn't be measured by simple numbers, something he understood perfectly despite having been away from the Pokémon world for so long.
As a former trainer from Unova, it was thanks to luck that he managed to capture a Deino and train it into a Hydreigon. Precisely because of this, the Unova League valued him and granted him the precious opportunity to enter the Continent of Time and Space.
"Exactly. Hydreigon returns to you, and you'll also receive more resources," Cain affirmed once more.
"Aren't you afraid that after I recover Hydreigon, I'll betray you?" Brad asked.
It wasn't impossible for him to accept becoming Cain's subordinate. His strength and potential were the greatest he had seen in someone of the same age: he possessed Darkrai, that special kind of evolution, and even Salamence, which hadn't even participated in the battle and obediently served as a mount, conveyed enormous potential and pride.
But being a subordinate and living constantly under suspicion and distrust was not something Brad would accept.
In that case, one wouldn't even have basic freedom of action.
Cain's smile did not change.
"Of course I'm afraid of that. That's why, if you accept, I'll plant a seed in your mind. Normally it won't have any effect, but when the intention to betray me arises, it will activate."
"Don't think I'm doing this to restrain you. In fact, I'm also freeing you: this way you can act with complete freedom, and I can fully trust you. As long as you don't have those intentions, it will never activate."
Brad's expression changed several times. It's not easy for anyone to accept having something implanted in their mind, especially at its most vulnerable point.
Cain didn't pressure him, waiting for him to make his own decision.
Anyone normal would know how to choose: on one side, death; on the other, placing one's life in the hands of someone who could already kill him, but with the chance to keep living for several more decades if he maintained the right mindset.
Brad soon grasped the key point and nodded.
"Do it. Rather than rotting here waiting for death, I'd rather return to the Pokémon world and make a sensation. I've already seen the true nature of the League... but how will you get us back without the League knowing?"
"Leave that to me," Cain replied.
With that said, Cain extended his hand toward Brad's head. His psychic power slowly gathered in his palm, mixed with the mysterious power of the Unown.
"Relax, don't resist, or you might end up an idiot."
"My psychic seed can't be removed by anyone in the entire Pokémon world, so I advise you not to try to look for a powerful psychic to break it after you return."
Brad said nothing; he simply closed his eyes and relaxed his entire body.
He was prepared for what Cain had said.
Seeing that he offered no resistance, Cain added nothing more and placed his palm on his head. The psychic seed was implanted without any obstruction into the deepest part of his mind.
Thus, this man with Elite Four–level strength officially became Cain's subordinate!
Cain handed him Hydreigon's Poké Ball.
Brad showed a complicated expression: on one hand, from that moment on he was no longer free; on the other, Hydreigon, lost for twenty-five years, had finally returned to his hands.
A Champion-level pseudo-legendary. Although, after having been trained by someone else, its affinity was not as high, Brad knew that with some time together, everything could be restored.
Most importantly, the pseudo-legendary Hydreigon, together with Haxorus, Feraligatr, and the slightly inferior Yanmega, made a total of four Champion-level Pokémon.
Originally, due to the lack of potential of his Pokémon, his upper limit was questionable, but now this Hydreigon compensated for that point to some extent.
"Sir!" Brad still didn't know Cain's name, but he quickly adjusted his position.
Although Brad had recovered much of his strength, his life was still in Cain's hands, so he didn't doubt the truth of his words.
On the surface, Cain had lost a Champion-level pseudo-legendary, which was an enormous loss. All the materials he had collected on this continent over so many days were not enough to make up for it.
But in reality, Hydreigon was still under Cain's control; it had simply been handed over to someone who could make better use of it.
Not only was there Hydreigon: he had also gained three Champion-level Pokémon capable of displaying their full strength, as well as a subordinate with power comparable to that of an Elite Four.
A subordinate with such strength could help Cain with far too many things.
One had to know that even Giovanni, not counting hidden forces, had only truly managed to train a single Elite Four, Koga, and even then, Koga's strength was inferior to Brad's current level.
This was equivalent to adding a powerful general to Cain's Team Heaven.
(End of chapter)