Chapter 1231: Capture Operation

Future Swords of Justice and Ancient Entei Guard.

Both prototypes were Legendary Pokémon; once the Paldea League discovered them, they immediately focused their attention.

It was just that the influx of a large number of outside personnel and engineering machinery inevitably brought chaos to the local ecology of Area Zero.

Not to mention the Paradox Pokémon being disturbed, the ordinary wild Pokémon were also having a hard time.

Although Geeta had considered this before the operation and properly relocated the non-Paradox Pokémon elsewhere, what about the remaining Paradox Pokémon?

Area Zero was like a calm, large lake, and the ripples created by humans reached every corner.

But what was being staged in Area Zero was not a story of Paradox Pokémon uniting to drive away humans and reclaim their quiet home.

While they often attacked the noisy research stations, they also engaged in fierce infighting.

The Ancient Entei Guard and the Future Swords of Justice were two relatively distinct factions.

In the middle layer of Area Zero, one could often see them fighting, as if they had some deep-seated hatred, fighting until they were inseparable.

"Rika believes that the Future Swords of Justice are attempting to drive away the Ancient Entei Guard."

Larry said listlessly: "They want to maintain the peace of Area Zero, so they view the Ancient Entei Guard as an unstable factor; this situation has been going on for almost two months..."

Nemona and the others looked at each other.

They actually didn't come to Area Zero very often; after all, one was the student council president of the academy, and the other was a shut-in programmer.

—Why didn't Arven know?

Facing the questioning gazes around him, Arven was confused, "No, why are you looking at me? I don't come here often either! Only once a month!"

He indeed hadn't paid attention, and occasionally coming down was just to see Professor Turo.

"Alright, dwelling on these things is meaningless."

All Baimu snapped his fingers repeatedly to attract everyone's attention and asked: "Is their fighting having a big impact?"

"The impact is definitely there, especially recently as they fight more and more toward the upper layers; that's exactly why Rika became suspicious."

A route map suddenly appeared next to Larry's avatar, and the red dots and red lines recorded on it seemed to be their movement trajectories.

If this continues, the Ancient Entei Guard really might be "driven" out of Area Zero.

... This is bad!

Not to mention the chaos they would cause after going out, there were so many people active near the gate, and there was a construction team building protective nets on the cliff.

Gouging Fire and Raging Bolt might belong to the moderate faction, but what about Walking Wake?

Just based on the aggressive posture it launched without rhyme or reason when they first met, there was no need to think; it would definitely take action.

All Baimu frowned, then slowly relaxed, and continued to ask: "Do you have any ideas?"

"The Chairwoman's intention is to capture them."

Larry said plainly: "By Nemona-kun."

Nemona blinked, "Me?"

She didn't lack confidence, feeling she couldn't beat the Ancient Entei Guard, but as the person involved, she didn't even know about this operation that concerned her!

Larry nodded, "Originally, it was prepared to be told to you after you returned from your visit to Blueberry Academy."

Nemona suddenly realized, and then raised her arm with great interest, "Since I know in advance, let's start now! All Baimu! Let's do it together!"

She enthusiastically invited All Baimu to participate in the "hunt" for the Ancient Entei Guard.

All Baimu didn't respond and continued to ask Larry, "Why choose to stand on the side of the Future Swords of Justice?"

In his view, Walking Wake was indeed a bit ferocious, but Gouging Fire and Raging Bolt were clearly very rational and had the possibility of communication.

Moreover, when they came last time, the ones who actively attacked them were the Future Swords of Justice, not the Ancient Entei Guard.

For what reason did the Paldea League decide to restrain the Ancient Entei Guard and let the Future Swords of Justice go?

"For months, Walking Wake has frequently attacked the research stations." Larry released many more images, all without exception showing it destroying engineering machinery and attacking research station personnel.

But only Walking Wake was doing this.

All Baimu remembered Iron Leaves' behavior of diverting the disaster and asked: "What about the other two?"

"They haven't appeared."

Larry shook his head, "They are often fighting with Iron Thorns and Iron Jugulis."

Some trembling images were displayed, seemingly taken secretly from a very far place.

Gouging Fire vs. Iron Thorns, Raging Bolt vs. Iron Jugulis.

Penny suddenly spoke up, "Could Walking Wake's behavior be guided by Iron Leaves?"

She clearly also thought of this layer and recounted their encounter just now.

"The Future Swords of Justice might just want to borrow our power to drive away the Ancient Entei Guard." Penny became more certain the more she thought about it.

Hassel said: "It's indeed very likely!"

"After they drive away the Ancient Entei Guard, will they also drive us away using the same method?"

Arven had never really trusted Paradox Pokémon.

If it weren't for Scream Tail and Iron Treads performing well enough, he wouldn't have considered Slither Wing at all.

The reason for his consideration also lay in his inner wariness of Paradox Pokémon.

Mabosstiff's encounter wouldn't be fully digested in two or three years.

"... Hard to say."

Larry shook his head.

No one could give a definitive answer to this matter.

Three Pokémon that hadn't communicated with them—who could figure out their specific thoughts?

The scene was silent for a moment.

A short while later, Hassel spoke again, "If the Future Swords of Justice's next target is us, what are you prepared to do?"

Larry didn't speak, also waiting for the group's answer.

Penny thought of the time a few months ago when they entered the deepest part of Area Zero, the Future Swords of Justice had helped them resist the surrounding Paradox Pokémon.

Arven's speculation was based only on himself.

It might not be correct.

"Hey!"

Nemona suddenly raised a finger and said: "I have a good idea; let's just capture them all together!"

"Capture them all together?"

"Yes! Leave it to me and All Baimu! Capture the Ancient Entei Guard and take them out, capture the Future Swords of Justice and leave them in Area Zero, and everything will be fine!"

She looked smilingly at someone beside her who hadn't said a word, so everyone followed her gaze.

Capturing six Paradox Pokémon based on Legendary Pokémon—perhaps only All Baimu dared to say it would definitely work.

After all, in the field of Legendary Pokémon, he, who had publicly revealed the five Legendary Giants, could be called an authority.

All Baimu was speechless.

He always felt the script wasn't quite right.

In the anime world, when a dispute between two groups of Pokémon appears, shouldn't it be tracing the source, then letting them reconcile and live in peace from then on?

How come when it reached the Paldea League side, they directly chose to wipe them all out?

If Ash were here—

No.

It's because the main blame lies with the Paldea League side!

All Baimu suddenly realized that before they entered Area Zero, the Future Swords of Justice and the Ancient Entei Guard had always been at peace.

The entry of humans perhaps allowed the Future Swords of Justice to see the possibility of wiping out these three biggest "unstable factors," which was why they did this.

Did the change create an opportunity?

So smart!

He further recalled the unlucky Rose.

Similarly, as the Champion under his command, Nemona unconditionally supported Geeta's decision, while Leon rejected Rose's request.

... Although there was a suspicion of taking things out of context.

All Baimu sighed inwardly and nodded on the surface: "As long as Chairwoman Geeta agrees, I have no opinion."

From the perspective of an ordinary Trainer, wild Pokémon don't belong to anyone; he can capture them if he wants.

From the perspective of a Regional Champion, for existences like the Future Swords of Justice and the Ancient Entei Guard, one must seek Geeta's opinion before taking action.

Of course, a crucial point was that the Paldea Elite Four were all watching.

If he were alone, he would have captured them.

Larry nodded and said: "I will convey it to her."

The call hung up.

Arven said: "I didn't expect such an episode to appear this time. So, are we continuing to go down, or staying here to wait for Chairwoman Geeta's response?"

"Continue down, let's go see Professor Turo."

All Baimu felt that since it was rare to come here, he should see everyone he was supposed to see.

The other three expressed affirmation.

—

Leaving Research Station No. 2 and heading down.

The group arrived at the middle layer of Area Zero, where the greenery was significantly increased, and the air was rich with moisture.

In the distance, one could see the rumbling waterfall flowing.

"Iya~ Iya~"

Scream Tail walked forward happily with big strides.

It had originally lived nearby, which was a very lonely time, but now it had already obtained everything it wanted.

Therefore, when revisiting the old place, there was an inexplicable feeling of returning home in glory.

"You went the wrong way."

The Rotom Phone reminded Scream Tail not to run around.

Scream Tail turned around and kept waving its hands, "Iya! Iya~"

"What is it saying?"

Nemona asked curiously.

All Baimu spoke a step ahead of the Rotom Phone, "It wants to go see its 'old friends' from before."

Although the time spent with Scream Tail wasn't long, it was too easy to understand, so much so that All Baimu knew what it wanted to do the moment it stuck its butt out.

"Old friends?"

Arven looked at it suspiciously, "A guy as noisy as you has friends?"

"Iya?!"

Scream Tail felt insulted and glared at Arven.

Arven snorted: "Did I say something wrong?"

"Iya—"

Scream Tail became increasingly angry.

After all, lies don't hurt people; the truth is the sharp blade.

Naturally, it didn't have anything like friends; what it wanted to see were just those wild Pokémon that had excluded it before.

Scream Tail's purpose in doing this was purely to show off the existence of All Baimu and the others to them.

'Look! Even if you don't accept me! There are people willing to accept me! I don't care about you at all!'

From this little thought, it wasn't hard to see how much psychological damage the lonely days had caused it, so much so that it was eager to make up for it.

Arven wasn't afraid of Scream Tail; facing it, which was furious, he just showed an "I told you so" expression.

At this time, Penny said faintly: "You aren't much better than it, are you?"

"Uh."

Arven's triumphant expression came to an abrupt end, and he hurriedly looked at All Baimu, Nemona, and the others, panicking: "Aren't we friends?"

"We are... but besides us, there's no one else, right?" Penny emphasized the word 【besides】.

Arven ignored it directly, patted his chest in relief, "As long as we are, hmph! See that!"

He continued to look at Scream Tail triumphantly.

Scream Tail also gave him face by continuing to be angry.

Nemona laughed loudly, Penny was speechless, and All Baimu—

He was watching the peeper.

Iron Jugulis, the leader of the Future Swords of Justice, was standing on a large rock far away, quietly watching them from afar.

All Baimu smiled and waved at it.

And after realizing it had been discovered, Iron Jugulis turned and left quickly.

Nemona noticed his action and looked in that direction, but found nothing, "Who are you waving at?"

"One of our targets."

All Baimu's smile faded, "I'm wondering if they don't have Arven's guessed second-step plan, and we go to capture them, will it be seen as a betrayal?"

"Uh."

The three looked at each other.

Penny said: "... Very likely."

"Then what should we do? Give up the plan?" Nemona, the proposer, began to hesitate.

Arven's eyes drifted.

They were all people easily swayed.

All Baimu shook his head: "Let's see if they are willing to communicate when the time comes; if they aren't, then there's nothing to say."

If it's a real misunderstanding, just release them after capturing them.

What?

Psychological trauma caused by "betrayal"?

Who told you not to explain your own behavior! Communication is the greatest tool in the world!

All Baimu recalled Iron Leaves' behavior of diverting the disaster again, thinking that the Future Swords of Justice probably didn't expect that they also belonged to the unstable factors.

If you want to use the League as a blade, you have to be prepared to be bitten back by the blade!

Soon.

Scream Tail's former residence arrived.

A simple little cave.

It drilled in excitedly, then ran out angrily, grabbing a pile of fruit pits, "Iya! Iya!"

Who ate all my stock!

Scream Tail had originally wanted to take out the food it had hidden to entertain All Baimu and the others.

Who knew it had all been gnawed clean.

All Baimu patted its head, "Alright, you don't lack this little bit of stuff now; take us to find your 'friends'."

"Iya..."

Scream Tail's angry expression quickly faded; it threw the fruit pits to the ground and crushed them, then resumed walking with happy steps.

However, it took the group around the vicinity for a long time, but never found those familiar figures.

"Iya?"

Scream Tail was bewildered and continued to walk around everywhere.

But no matter how it circled, it couldn't find those Pokémon.

"It's estimated that under the influence of the chaos, they all migrated away." Penny observed the surroundings.

All Baimu squatted on the ground, checking for possible footprints, "Hmm, at least two or three weeks without traces of biological activity."

This skill came from the Bad Boys.

Plop.

Scream Tail sat on the ground in disappointment, its expression particularly dejected.

The pitiful appearance made Nemona and Penny look unbearable, "Scream Tail..."

"I—ya—!!"

It suddenly made a noise and started rolling on the ground in a tantrum.

Arven shouted: "I knew it! This guy absolutely can't stay calm!"

"Shut up."

All Baimu grabbed its snout, glared at it and said: "What's the rush? Area Zero is so small, just search for them! If you make noise again, I'll tape your mouth shut!"

"..."

Scream Tail glared back aggrievedly, tears welling up in the corners of its eyes.

But no one sympathized with it.

Penny and Nemona were both busy rubbing their ears.

And All Baimu waited until Scream Tail was really calm before releasing its snout, saying: "Go down first, I'll help you find them when we come back; it just so happens we'll have to find those six Pokémon then too."

"Iya..."

Scream Tail agreed reluctantly.

The group set off again.