Chapter 554: Omen of Team Wipe

Before Baimu thought he was just killing time.

Baimu spoke in a gentle voice, laying out his thoughts from a personal perspective.

"The place I come from is called Orei. It's terribly barren — one look and you see yellow sand flying everywhere, the ground so dry it cracks open, not a single green plant in sight. Precious water has to be dug up from deep underground or hauled in from outside…"

He said softly, "But even in a place like that, there are still plenty of people willing to stay, wanting to make it fertile, make it mountains and clear waters, make it like this place."

Volcanion followed Baimu's gaze, and where his eyes landed — towering mountains, flowing streams, lush shade, blossoms carpeting the ground — what a magnificent sight.

It could see the longing in this human's eyes, and understood that what he longed for was not this Nibel Plateau itself, but the day when that land called Orei would one day show a scene like the Nibel Plateau.

"If one day you can no longer live on the Nibel Plateau, and humans keep pestering you until you're forced to leave your home — come to Orei."

Baimu picked up the Bai Bu and wiped his hands, a soft smile on his face. "As long as I'm still here, as long as my Pokémon are still here, as long as my friends and companions are still here, you'll be able to find a safe place to belong."

He didn't expect his words to easily move Volcanion.

If the latter were so quick to entertain thoughts of moving, it wouldn't have called the Nibel Plateau "our home" when facing Ash and the others.

It's not only humans who are attached to their homeland — Pokémon are the same.

Leaving a familiar place takes courage; heading into unknown territory takes resolve.

Volcanion: "…"

"Did I go too far? Sorry, I just wanted to offer a suitable reference opinion. I don't think what I said is necessarily right, and I didn't mean to imply you can't keep living on the Nibel Plateau."

Baimu saw its sullen expression and hurriedly apologized in a low voice to soothe its mood.

Good intentions are good intentions.

This kind of "prophecy"-style argument, which at first hearing sounds like borrowing trouble, was bound to make Volcanion feel he was being arrogant.

Who says everything will play out the way he claims?

Speaking too intimately on shallow acquaintance has always been a major taboo in human relations.

Baimu normally wouldn't meddle in such matters either — if not for the bond between Volcanion and Magearna being moving enough to touch him…

"It's alright. I understand."

Volcanion said in a low voice, glancing at Magearna in the distance with a slightly helpless expression.

The Nibel Plateau lies in the southeastern part of the Kalos region; the nearest human town is the Kingdom of Azoth.

It may be called remote, but trainers and Pokémon Hunters passing through are hardly few — otherwise Volcanion would have had no way to shelter so many Pokémon hurt or abandoned by humans.

From Ash's earlier question of "does this kind of thing happen often," to Volcanion's affirmation and its method of driving them away, it's not hard to see that in recent years, with the expansion of human footprints, the Nibel Plateau is no longer the paradise it once was.

Perhaps as early as five hundred years ago, when it first met Magearna, the Nibel Plateau had already begun to change.

Baimu watched its melancholy expression and felt an inexplicable sense of kinship welling up inside.

For a Mythical Pokémon without enough strength, surviving in this world is genuinely difficult.

Not to mention anything else, the few strategies he offered all amounted to armchair theorizing. Setting up a reserve sounds simple, but the Kalos League isn't his lackey — how could he just establish one on a whim?

Moreover, even if "legal" harm from trainers could be prevented, it would easily draw the eye of Pokémon Hunters.

A reserve is like a single green leaf among a thousand flowers — it openly tells you rare Pokémon are inside.

If patrol efforts aren't strong enough, the drawbacks may well outweigh the benefits.

So what about running?

Where to escape to is also a problem.

Even Mewtwo couldn't guarantee finding a Pokémon paradise beyond humanity's reach — the Clear Crag it finally reached was still discovered by Giovanni and Team Rocket.

Volcanion certainly couldn't.

But in a world dominated by humans, the general idea of using humans to check humans isn't wrong.

Baimu pointed toward Princess Jimeiya and Raleigh in the distance and said, "I know you'd rather keep living on the Nibel Plateau, so go discuss it with them — they are your neighbors, after all."

The royal house of the Kingdom of Azoth has countless threads of connection with Magearna.

Most importantly, although the Kingdom of Azoth still has a king who never appeared in the plot, the kind-hearted Princess Jimeiya or Raleigh both hold a certain amount of authority.

They can offer Volcanion and Magearna aid when necessary.

"I understand."

Volcanion nodded and walked forward slowly. After only a few steps it tilted its head slightly, its tone returning to light and cheerful, and said, "Thank you… Baimu. I'll think about your suggestion."

"Mm."

Baimu raised his hand and waved.

——

Evening.

At sunset.

The crowd, having finished the victory banquet, boarded their giant airships and flying machines one by one, waving goodbye to the Pokémon of the Nibel Plateau.

Baimu stood on the deck, looking down at the wild Pokémon below with smiles on their faces, and softly hummed the ending theme from the movie that lingered in his memory.

"Happy?"

Chansey looked at him curiously — she rarely heard her trainer humming songs; what was going on today?

"Just felt inspired."

He smiled and patted Chansey on the head. The ending themes of Pokémon movies were usually very nice and left a deep impression.

What Volcanion had discussed with Princess Jimeiya and Raleigh he didn't know, but just like in the original plot, Raleigh — who considered himself insufficiently experienced — was egged on by Ash and decided to take his favorite Pokémon, Steenee, out on a journey.

Truly the world of the Pokémon anime—

Want to know my secret to becoming Champion?

Go on a journey!

All the answers are out there!

Baimu had already thought up the lines he'd use in the future to trick… no, to promote the benefits of traveling and get the people of Orei to go out and see the world.

"Are those people still quiet?"

He turned his head and asked the air.

"Lulu~"

Doronbaruto gave an affirmative answer, and then two Doronmeshia appeared out of thin air, stacking up like a Jenga tower on top of his head.

"Hii~"

"Mihii~"

Although a Trainer can't launch them out, the top of his head unexpectedly makes them feel at ease.

It's the second habitable spot besides Doronbaruto's launch hole.

Unfortunately, he normally doesn't let them perch there, saying something about how having things constantly on your head can easily cause cervical spine problems, and only reluctantly agrees when he's in a good mood.

"You two."

All Baimu raised his hand, thought about it, and still didn't pull the two lizards off.

Not long after.

The sun had completely sunk below the mountains, the stars replaced its brilliance, and the neon lights of the Azoth Kingdom illuminated the airspace ahead of the airship.

Landing field.

Many people had long been waiting here.

A few guards dressed as such escorted Jarvis and the other two away, and a bespectacled girl with a mushroom-like head walked toward Princess Jimeiya.

"Flamel! Thank you for your hard work!"

Princess Jimeiya said with a smile.

"It's all what I should do." Flamel lowered her head in greeting, then looked at All Baimu and Ash and the others. "Everyone, His Majesty the King invites you all to dinner together."

The group exchanged glances — they had already eaten dinner before coming. Should they go and humor him?

Princess Jimeiya raised her hand and said: "Everyone has already had dinner, and they're very tired too. Prepare rooms for them first. I'll go explain things to Father."

"Understood."

Flamel bowed again.

Rakel, who had been in the mood for jokes earlier, now restrained her expression and asked Flamel uneasily: "Did Father... mention me?"

"Yes, His Majesty the King hopes you go wait for him in his study."

"...... Okay."

Rakel's tone was hollow, her gaze drifting — clearly panicked out of her mind.

It's just like hearing a parent say "I'm going to deal with you when we get home." Some parents like to hit their children in front of people, while some parents prefer to do it in private.

The King of the Azoth Kingdom was most likely the latter.

"It's alright, Father will understand." Princess Jimeiya's comfort didn't achieve much effect.

All Baimu, on the other hand, felt a bit of schadenfreude.

Even though this kid had a great awakening, the punishment he deserved still had to be endured. The level of imprisonment was probably hard to come by, but a good beating to vent some anger was also acceptable.

The travel plan will have to be put on hold for a few days, young man.

Through the arrangements of the Princess's secretary Flamel, All Baimu and the others were able to spend a night in the royal palace. To be honest, it wasn't much better than a five-star hotel, at most adding a bit of royal dignity and historical depth.

Judging from the palace's furnishings and staff, the Azoth Kingdom really had declined just as Jarvis had said.

The grand palace had fewer than twenty servants and guards combined — even if the Azoth Kingdom was only the size of a single city, that was still somewhat absurd.

He even made a special trip to tour the royal prison—

Since it hadn't been put to use for too long, all the facilities were practically antiques, and he could pry the metal bars off.

Fortunately, Jarvis was bound by his own invention, the Capture Bracelet — otherwise, escaping would have been a matter of minutes, wouldn't it?

Of course.

Whether Jarvis was angered to death by being screwed over by his own invention is another matter.

A wonderful night passed.

The next morning.

Under Flamel's guidance, the group met the current King of the Azoth Kingdom.

A blond, burly man with a full beard.

An appearance that could completely fill out his clothes to show off his muscles — if not for the identical hooked nose and eyes, it would be hard to imagine that the frail Rakel was actually his son.

"Hahahaha! Thank you all for ridding our country of those treacherous villains!"

The King laughed heartily, patting everyone on the shoulder with a fan-like large hand, completely without the airs of a king.

"You're too kind..."

All Baimu twitched the corner of his mouth.

He could generally imagine why Rakel, a ten-year-old child, had been bewitched by Jarvis and was obsessed with personally reviving the Azoth Kingdom.

Because the man in front of him was definitely not interested in revival at all!

Autonomous rule of an independent kingdom under the Alliance system probably wasn't as wonderful as he had imagined.

"I heard you're an International Police officer?"

The King asked him.

"No, I'm just a member of an organization that has a cooperative relationship with the International Police. I come from the Orei region." All Baimu had no intention of hiding his identity.

Unexpectedly, upon hearing Orei, the King's eyes lit up: "Oh oh! Is that the salvation organization that overthrew Orei's oppressors and rescued the people?"

"You know about it?"

"Of course. Perhaps on a general level, not that many people know you. But on a higher level, your great name is like thunder in one's ears!"

The King said, amid Ash and the others' bewildered expressions: "I very much look forward to your future development! If you need assistance, don't hesitate to ask!"

What do you mean? Investment?

"Ahahaha, I will." All Baimu laughed it off.

He had no authority to agree to such a thing — external communications were handled by Shanon and even the Guibei City side; what did that have to do with him, the Rainbow Team leader?

Immediately after.

The King invited everyone to join him for breakfast.

And after the lavish breakfast came to an end, everyone began to say their goodbyes.

The situation with Team Flare was urgent; All Baimu figured that since the International Police had agreed to come take custody of Jarvis and the other two, it was time to head over early to make preparations.

The funny thing was.

Ash and the others had initially lingered at the crossroads, reluctant to part with All Baimu, until he reminded them helplessly and they remembered there was still something they — or rather, Z1 cooperating — needed to do.

They couldn't help feeling a little embarrassed.

But aside from that, Ash and the others were equally worried.

"Will the operation be dangerous for Xerneas?" Yurika looked at All Baimu with pleading eyes — she actually already had a certain answer in her heart.

But children always like to ask until they get to the bottom of things.

"Danger is relative. As long as the plan is meticulous enough and the operation swift enough, we can rescue Xerneas's companions under the safest possible conditions."

All Baimu gently patted her head. "You have to believe in Xerneas — as a Zygarde, the guardian of nature's order, it possesses the power to turn everything around!"

In the Magearna movie, Z1 actually had its moment to shine.

Namely, a single Core alone transforming into its Ultimate Form, firing Dragon Pulse to help the Pokémon on the Nebel Plateau block the cannon — but sadly its screen time got stolen away, so Z1's moment of glory naturally vanished.

Thinking about it, Z1 probably didn't need that kind of shining moment anyway.

"Is there anything we can do?"

Ash was extremely eager to do his part in this matter, even calling out Greninja. "The strength of me, Pikachu, and Greninja will absolutely not lose to anyone!"

"So I need you all to hold the rear."

All Baimu patted his shoulder with earnest weight. "If something unexpected happens and we're trapped inside or at a loss, that's when you step in and show your might — you understand, Ace?"

Master Liu Ge definitely wouldn't want Ash to get involved, just as he once hadn't wanted the underage All Baimu to take part in their cause.

But Ash absolutely couldn't sit still — there was no way to stop him even if you tried.

Plus, this guy carried the fortune of "justice always wins" on him, so it was necessary to let him shoulder the responsibility of holding the rear.

If Fladali had some weird trump card up his sleeve, having Ash go up and shout a bit wasn't a bad method.

On the other hand.

"Citron, there might be something you can help with."

All Baimu asked with a smile: "Do you understand networks?"

Citron's face went blank: "... Huh?"

——

Fladali's Laboratory.

Inside the main hall.

Fladali sat on the sofa, quietly savoring his red wine in silence.

Suddenly.

A man in a red suit came to his side and whispered something in his ear.

Fladali set down his wine glass and slowly rose; his height of over two meters allowed him to look down at the suited man. "I understand. Dismissed."

"Yes."

The suited man lowered his head and withdrew.

Only Fladali remained, gazing through the massive floor-to-ceiling window behind him in silence at Alain walking along the avenue outside.

"..."