Another five days passed.
Cain took Brad to the next district; master and servant traveled together for those five days.
During those five days, Brad experienced for the first time how comfortable it was to survive in the outside world alongside a person of terrifying strength who was also an advanced-level breeder.
There were almost no battles in which he had to intervene; throughout the entire journey, Cain's Pokémon took care of everything. This was part of Cain's plan, as he needed to improve the strength of all his Pokémon.
Whether in combat or in daily life, Cain handled everything in an extremely planned and orderly manner.
Moreover, Cain was an extremely disciplined person. Every day, he demanded a great deal from both himself and his Pokémon; every morning upon waking, he spent half an hour carefully planning all the tasks for the day.
It was then that Brad understood why Cain could become so outstanding.
Extraordinary talent, combined with extreme self-discipline, clear goals, and a firm direction of effort... it was practically impossible for someone like that not to succeed.
However, after those five days, Cain and the others were about to arrive at another marked point. There, Cain and Brad had to part ways, as Cain had a mission he needed to entrust to him.
"Brad, there is still quite some time before we can leave, but I suspect they won't wait until the end to act. You've lived here for so long that you know the place well."
"I know that, besides you, there should be a few other people who were forced to stay here and who are also looking for an opportunity to return. Go find them and tell them that I can promise to take them back and give them a new beginning, but I need their loyalty. If they don't accept, there's no need to force them," Cain said to Brad.
Although the people forced to stay here were no more than three to five, and their strength might not match Brad's, they could still be considered uncommon talents. If he could recruit them, it would be of great help to Team Heaven, a force that severely lacked high-level combatants, yet controlled an enormous territory and had been formed only recently.
From the moment Cain subdued Brad, he already had this plan in mind.
And Brad became his calling card, or rather, that "bone horse" bought at a high price to attract other talents.
"Yes!" Brad replied respectfully.
During those five days, Cain had already mentioned this idea to him, and Brad indeed knew the location of one or two people. In the past, they had been completely incompatible—no one trusted anyone—but now, since Cain needed him, he didn't mind going to "convince" them on Cain's behalf.
Watching Brad quickly ride away on the three-headed Hydreigon until he disappeared from his field of vision, Cain lowered his gaze to the special symbol engraved on the tree at his feet.
That symbol had been designed by Cain and Steven before entering this place. Steven and the other two had left those marks discreetly along their route, making it easier for Cain to find them.
Now that Cain saw that symbol beneath that tree, it meant that the marked point he was heading toward likely housed one of the three: Steven, Phoebe, or Wallace.
Among so many marked points, finding one of them already at the second was undoubtedly quite good luck.
Cain destroyed the mark on the tree using psychic powers, then leapt back onto Salamence's back and flew toward the second marked point.
This point was an enormous lake; even on the map it appeared as a very expansive location.
Fifteen minutes were enough—flying at full speed, Salamence was truly fast.
The surface of the lake shimmered with sparkling ripples, and one after another, Water-type Pokémon played in the lake.
Cain, standing on Salamence's back, flew toward the shore. Knowing that this landmass was dangerous, he did not dare draw too much attention, and moreover, the wild Pokémon in this area were by no means weak.
But when someone has good luck, nothing can stop them.
Cain had just arrived when he vaguely heard sounds of battle not far away, and immediately headed in that direction.
He saw a huge terrestrial Pokémon covered in metallic armor fighting against another Pokémon. That Pokémon Cain compared to a land beast was one he also possessed: Aggron!
Not far from Aggron, there was a person dressed in a black suit even within the jungle, with light cyan hair that floated elegantly. It was none other than one of Cain's best friends: Steven Stone!
"Who's there?" Steven sensed the movement around him. A small Pokémon beside him, with a huge, strange-looking black mouth filled with spike-like sharp teeth, launched an attack toward the place where Cain was hiding.
A Mawile Cain had never seen before—a new Pokémon of Steven's!
And moreover, it was incredibly strong!
Just by sensing its aura, Cain realized that this Mawile possessed Champion-level strength.
Fortunately, Salamence's reaction speed was sufficient; it quickly retreated and dodged the attack from that strange metallic mouth.
Seeing that Mawile was about to attack again, Cain immediately shouted, "Steven, it's me!"
Upon hearing that familiar voice, Steven's serious expression instantly turned to joy.
"Cain! Mawile, stop! He's an ally!"
After Steven's order, Mawile's steel fangs no longer pursued Cain and Salamence. Although Mawile had not yet clearly seen the enemy nor knew exactly where he was, thanks to its sharp combat awareness and instinct toward danger, it had precisely determined his location.
When Mawile stopped, Cain and Salamence emerged from the forest. Seeing that Mawile was still on guard, Cain showed a surprised expression.
That Mawile's offensive power exceeded his expectations. In that brief instant, Cain, standing atop Salamence, clearly felt all of Salamence's scales bristle with tension, demonstrating the enormous pressure Mawile was exerting on him.
However, being a Fairy-type Pokémon, and with strength far surpassing Salamence's, Cain could completely understand that pressure.
But what happened next was what truly left him stunned.
Mawile, which moments before had been full of momentum, puffing up its yellow cheeks in anger, suddenly showed an expression of absolute fascination the moment it saw Cain.
If one ignored the huge mouth on its back, Mawile was actually quite adorable. Especially now—upon seeing Cain's face, it went from a fierce appearance to the gaze of a lovestruck fan, exactly like many of the followers Cain had met before.
While Cain still didn't understand what was happening, Steven approached him with a smile full of helplessness, accompanied by his Aggron.
Aggron had already defeated its opponent as quickly as possible.
"Cain, you arrived pretty fast. Am I the first one you find?" Steven asked.
Cain nodded, then looked at Mawile, which, upon seeing Cain and Steven together, seemed even more dazed. The corner of his eye couldn't help but twitch.
(End of chapter)