Chapter 417: What Is Your True Purpose?

The Explorer Team's spaceship sailed slowly at high altitude, its steadiness almost dull.

These past two days, Spinel has vanished as if evaporated from the world, never contacting Huo La, nor sending any orders; Huo La can only ruminate in his room over the other's intent, his doubts deepening.

When the spaceship docked at the supply station and slowly descended, Huo La happened to walk to the window, his gaze sweeping below, just catching Yindi's figure hurrying off the ship, expression rushed, evidently to carry out Spinel's assigned task.

He pulled out his phone, opened the map, stared at the blinking coordinates, his expression growing odd, and finally couldn't help muttering, "What the heck? We're already in the Hoenn Region!"

Sure enough, just as he turned off the phone, a corner of his eye caught a massive silhouette swooping from the distant sky, wrapped in biting wind, its speed astonishing; in a blink it settled steadily directly in front of the Explorer Team's spaceship, blocking the way.

Huo La stared at the massive figure, momentarily stunned, unable to react.

Beside him, Paipa had already grabbed Huo La's shoulder excitedly, pointing outside the window, voice trembling, "Look, look, Lai! That's the Galaxy Team's captain Chi Ri! He's riding none other than the so‑called Time God Dialga!"

Huo La snapped back to awareness and clearly saw the figure—Dialga's body a deep blue, surrounded by a faint Time Aura, majestic and massive, with Chi Ri perched on its back.

Yet the Chi Ri before him was completely unlike the flamboyant, cold image in his memory: a gradient of pastel blue clothing that made his aura uniquely striking, his once sleek, bold blue short hair now streaked with eye‑catching pink strands.

Huo La couldn't help rolling his eyes, muttering low, "That look is way too flamboyant."

Aside from the jab, he knew Chi Ri's appearance wasn't accidental, so he turned toward the room's doorway, intending to step out and investigate.

But the moment he swung the door open, two figures instantly blocked his path—two Explorer Team members, faces solemn, posture upright.

Seeing Huo La attempt to leave, one of them spoke first, voice firm, issuing an unchallengeable command: "Lai, the S Division orders you to stay in the room; no matter what happens outside, you may not go out."

Huo La's expression darkened a few degrees, a flash of displeasure in his eyes; he glanced again at the two tense, unmoving members at the doorway, then reluctantly shut the door and turned back inside.

"What's wrong? They won't let you out?" Paipa, now recovered from his excitement, saw Huo La's off‑color demeanor and hurried forward, asking, his tone full of puzzlement.

"Well, the doorway is guarded dead‑hand by Spinel's men, explicitly forbidding me to leave," Huo La spread his hands, tone resigned, though a hint of wariness glimmered in his eyes, "Who knows what kind of medicine he's selling in his gourd."

"Huh? How can that be!" Paipa's face was shocked, instinctively raising his voice, "Is he trying to house‑arrest us? What on earth does he want!"

"Not sure," Huo La shook his head, eyes returning to the window, a slight sparkle, quickly pulling Paipa closer, "Fortunately this window remains; we'll watch quietly. Look—Spinel is emerging."

At this moment, on the ship's deck, Spinel stepped out slowly, posture erect, expression as indifferent as ice.

He looked up; opposite in mid‑air, Dialga unfurled its massive form, enveloped by a heavy Time Aura, Chi Ri perched atop, gazing down from above, an oppressive pressure bearing down, yet Spinel's face showed no hint of timidity, remaining calm and composed, confronting the other across the void.

Chi Ri's corpse‑pale face bore no expression; his voice was ice‑cold and bone‑shivering, devoid of emotion, speaking from above, he asked gravely, "Spinel, you trespassed on my territory. What do you want? A battle?"

As the words fell, Dialga's throat vibrated, emitting a deep, authoritative Dragon‑like roar, a vast temporal pressure suddenly unfurling.

Spinel calmly raised his hand in a light gesture, his demeanor relaxed, "No need for such sword‑and‑bow tension. I came specifically to ask you for a small favor."

"A favor?" Chi Ri's tone suddenly turned cold, his expression even more hard, "It seems we aren't that familiar yet, and as for the relationship among us, I need not elaborate."

"Positions and relationships always shift with circumstances," Spinel said, a faint smile at the corner of his mouth, eyes devoid of warmth, his voice slowly cold.

"Hmph." Chi Ri let out a cold snort, the chill around him receding slightly, then in a deep voice, "Speak plainly, what do you want me to do."

Spinel lifted his gaze, staring at the other, tone calm yet purpose clear: "I need to borrow your Dialga, to wield its time‑travel power, to go back a hundred years and capture a Pokemon."

"Crossing time, rewinding a hundred years to catch a Pokemon," Chi Ri said with sarcasm, a cold laugh, "Spinel, you really dare to think that. Your ambition and delusion are just too grand."

Spinel's eyes were steady, fixed on him, tone detached yet resolute: "What's there not to dare?"

Chi Ri's face grew cold, he asked indifferently, "We are neither kin nor allies, our positions opposed; on what grounds should I act to help you?"

Facing his scrutiny, Spinel slowly curved a cryptic smile, each word deliberate, answering in a deep voice, "I can help you deal with Ghetsis."

Chi Ri narrowed his eyes slightly, coldly saying, "I have no grudge against Ghetsis; why would I take the initiative to confront him?"

"Heh." Spinel chuckled lightly, tone intriguing, "Unova is such a vast territory; aren't you at all tempted?"

Chi Ri fell silent instantly.

Spinel, seeing this, continued, "Even if you have no expansion ambitions, do you think Ghetsis will remain obedient forever?"

"Among all of us, only you, Ghetsis, and Lysandre share the most similar pursuits. We each fulfilled our obsessions in the original world, and only then arrived in this new realm."

"Your and Ghetsis's territories lie adjacent; rather than wait to be restrained by him, you should seize Unova first, strengthen your power, and later you can also absorb Lysandre."

Chi Ri remained silent, the atmosphere oppressive.

After a long while, he lifted his gaze toward Spinel, asking in a deep voice, "And you? What is your true purpose?"