Chapter 367: A Repairman Who Can Defeat the Pill Emperor? Really?

Compared to Luo Mu's rather high-handed proposal, Zacian and Zamazenta were more concerned with the surge of emotion they hadn't felt in many years.

They felt this emotional surge might be called shame turning into anger.

It was one thing for Luo Mu to lift up the Rusted Sword and Rusted Shield, which had actually lost their power to identify heroes due to their negligence and had become loose in their grooves from the erosion of time.

But after placing the sword and shield back into their grooves, why did a faint look of disgust appear on Luo Mu's face, as if his hands had touched dirty things like dust and mud, causing him to run straight to the riverbank to wash them?

If anyone else whom the siblings had favored for their potential and tried to guide into pulling out the rusted sword and shield had behaved this way, they would have without a second word activated the mist and sent that person away immediately.

But the Luo Mu before them was the King's friend; how would they dare?

Zacian and Zamazenta could only listen with some frustration as Luo Mu continued to narrate his plan.

"After taking away the Rusted Sword and Rusted Shield, we can consider starting to scout for heroes of the sword and shield even before the Dark Night is about to descend upon the world; at that time, Lei Guan Wang, you will be in charge of vetting, I will be responsible for execution, and I presume Zacian and Zamazenta, you two have no objections, correct?"

Zacian and Zamazenta nodded repeatedly; naturally, they had no objections, and rather, they were even more eager to see what kind of heroes the King would choose for each of them.

Since the Rusted Sword and Rusted Shield had been damaged and exhausted their King's Power, the only ways to make them shine again, aside from reforging and repairing them, were to find heroes with qualifications matching the Sword Hero and Shield Hero to resonate deeply with them, using the power of their hearts to allow the weapons to return to their forms as the King of the Sword and King of the Shield to combat the Dark Night.

While using telekinesis to hold up Cosmog and play with it, Lei Guan Wang stroked his chin in a thoughtful manner, and only after a moment did he slowly say:

"The matter of deciding the heroes of the sword and shield can be discussed later; having me vet them is not impossible, it is just a pity that if those excellent craftsmen from the past were still here, we could attempt to repair the sword and shield."

"At that time, due to the tight schedule and the approaching Dark Night, we were forced to go to the front lines alone before suitable Sword Heroes and Shield Heroes could be selected from my former subjects."

"If we could supplement the fully repaired sword and shield with the mental power of excellent heroes, even against the Dark Night whose power has spread to the Crown Tundra, Zacian and Zamazenta's chances of victory would still be very high."

Zacian and Zamazenta were stunned; even though they were battle maniacs who liked to act without thinking, they guessed some of the meaning from Lei Guan Wang's words.

Lei Guan Wang was indicating that he could provide help, but he would no longer personally enter the battlefield or provide assistance.

This was solely because he was no longer the King of Galar, and thus no longer had a reason to protect this place even at the cost of falling into a heavy injury-induced slumber.

Meanwhile, Luo Mu revealed a contemplative expression and asked aloud: "Can the sword and shield be repaired?"

Lei Guan Wang nodded: "Since they are weapons, naturally they can be repaired."

"If the sword and shield had not suffered their current damage, simply infusing them with my power would allow them to radiate their former brilliance."

"But given their current state of damage, if they are not repaired, the sword and shield cannot withstand my power."

"It is a pity that those excellent craftsmen from that time likely have had their lineage severed; under these circumstances, where should we go to find new craftsmen?"

Speaking to the end, Lei Guan Wang couldn't help but let out a sigh.

When Zacian and Zamazenta, who had stayed within the Slumbering Weald without stepping out since defeating Eternatus and knew nothing of the outside world, heard that the craftsmen's lineage was severed and the chance of repairing the sword and shield was slim,

their expressions became somewhat sad and sorrowful.

Could it be that their most important weapon and armor could only remain in their current state?

Spectrier and Shadow Rider exchanged a glance; rarely showing any signs of schadenfreude, they instead felt somewhat guilty.

In fact, having been active from that time until now, they had almost personally witnessed the disappearance of the vast kingdom once governed by Lei Guan Wang.

But at that time, they were only concerned with running wild outside and did not act to save it; one could say that the severing of the craftsmen's lineage had some connection to the two of them, so naturally, they felt guilty.

Seemingly due to the influence of this low mood, even Cosmog, who had been happily playing with its telekinetic wobbling car, was infected by the emotion and became dejected.

Compared to the gloomy and desolate atmosphere of the six legendary Pokémon present, Luo Mu and Luxray exchanged a glance, similarly seeing the same thought in each other's eyes.

If it comes to craftsmen who forge weapons, perhaps there is a way!

Lei Guan Wang noticed the expressions on Luo Mu and Luxray and asked with some curiosity: "Luo Mu, do you two have another idea again?"

Luo Mu and Luxray nodded in sync, and Luo Mu spoke to explain: "If we are talking about candidates naturally suited to be craftsmen, I might have some leads."

As soon as he finished speaking, five lines of sight immediately converged on Luo Mu.

Cosmog didn't count; it was just a child whose emotions changed with the environment.

"Woof—" (Oh friend of the King, are your words true?)

Luo Mu affirmed and added: "Naturally, it is true, however... to be precise, those Pokémon should be particularly suitable for forging, but they are likely completely ignorant when it comes to craftsmanship techniques."

"That is sufficient." Lei Guan Wang's gaze stretched far away, as if looking into the past, "I remember every detail of how the craftsmen forged the sword and shield; I can teach them again, as long as those Pokémon you speak of can learn."

Luo Mu's face lit up with joy as he said: "Then that is sufficient; those Pokémon suitable for forging only have habitats distributed in Paldea; their names are Rolycoly, Carkol, and Coalossal, and they are born knowing how to create hammers that fit their hands."

Luo Mu gave Lei Guan Wang and the others a detailed introduction to the specialties of the Rolycoly species of Pokémon.

Upon hearing that Coalossal not only possessed the monstrous strength to easily wield steel hammers weighing over a hundred kilograms but also possessed the high intelligence used to attack Corviknight, Lei Guan Wang knew that letting this kind of Pokémon learn forging would be like the Creator God personally feeding them.

It couldn't be more perfect!

Lei Guan Wang then made the final decision: "In that case, we will take the Rusted Sword and Rusted Shield with us."

Zacian and Zamazenta lowered their heads, indicating that they had no objections whatsoever to Lei Guan Wang's decision.

A moment later.

Holding the Rusted Sword and Rusted Shield, which revealed their original appearance after he had meticulously cleaned them in the river, Luo Mu displayed a shocked expression.

These were the Tetanus Holy Sword and Holy Shield!

If the original Rusted Sword and Rusted Shield were a mixture covered in dust and mud that had dried out, looking like gray, toy-like weapons and armor,

then now they were tetanus artifacts covered in rust, with rolled edges and holes torn in them.

Taking out two slightly larger boxes, Luo Mu carefully placed the true Rusted Sword and true Rusted Shield inside them, sealing them steadily to avoid accidentally inflicting the negative status effect of tetanus on himself while rummaging through his backpack.

After doing all this, Luo Mu visibly let out a sigh of relief and looked toward Lei Guan Wang.

Lei Guan Wang nodded slightly and said to Zacian and Zamazenta: "Tonight we shall temporarily trouble you to rest here for a night; let us set out again when the dawn breaks."

The time had already entered late night; although Lei Guan Wang himself was still full of energy, for Luo Mu, as a human who needed to sleep for nearly one-third of every day, the fatigue accumulated from a whole day had reached its limit.

While "sealing" the Rusted Sword and Rusted Shield, watching his eyelids tremble as he nearly sliced his fingers on the blade several times, Lei Guan Wang was also startled several times.

Zacian and Zamazenta had no objections whatsoever and even specially controlled the thick mist they could form to surround the area, making their sleeping ground more concealed so that no creature would disturb Lei Guan Wang.

Before going to sleep, Luo Mu forced himself to stay awake against his drowsiness, pulled a camera out of his backpack, and asked Zacian and Zamazenta: "Can you let me take a photo?"

Zacian and Zamazenta were stunned; because they did not understand what taking a photo meant, they subconsciously looked toward Lei Guan Wang.

Lei Guan Wang lifted his head somewhat proudly, showing off the knowledge he had just learned from Luo Mu during the day: "This is a camera, a divine artifact tool that can intercept a moment in time and materialize it!"

"Rest assured, this will have no effect on you whatsoever!"

With Lei Guan Wang's guarantee, Zacian and Zamazenta could only half-believe as they followed Luo Mu's request, standing before the single archway where moonlight fell most broadly, waiting while Luo Mu adjusted his angle and pressed the shutter over a hundred times.

Immediately after, Luo Mu and Luxray gathered around the camera to select the most satisfactory photo, used the camera's own Pai Li De Gong function to develop it, and displayed the photograph to Zacian and Zamazenta.

The two great dogs leaned in for a closer look, their eyes instantly widening like bronze bells.

They had only ever seen their own reflections in water, or perhaps in the incredibly precious mirrors within the King's temple.

But those simply could not compare to the photos Luo Mu had taken.

Before an old archway surrounded by mist, as if lost beyond the world, stood two handsome figures that dispelled the dark night; cool moonlight showered down upon them, draping the powerful pair in a veil of mystery.

All of the above was merely the internal imagination of Zacian and Zamazenta.

Incidentally.

From Zacian's perspective, it was her own handsome and powerful self alongside her foolish little brother.

From Zamazenta's perspective, it was his own reliable, handsome, and powerful self alongside his violent older sister who would beat people up at the slightest disagreement.

In short, relying solely on this one photograph, Luo Mu evolved Zacian and Zamazenta's impression of him from "Annoying, but he is the King's friend, so we can't mess with him" to "This person seems quite nice; he made me look so handsome and is the King's friend, so let's be friendlier to him in the future."

After letting Zacian and Zamazenta admire the photo, Luo Mu took out a photo album and, under Lei Guan Wang's curious expression, opened it to reveal an interior containing only a single photograph, with the first page almost entirely blank.

Luo Mu smoothly inserted the photo of himself and Mo En taken that morning, which had been developed along with the previous one, into the album in chronological order; noticing Lei Guan Wang's curious gaze, he explained, "I hope that one day I can fill this entire album with photos of myself, my Pokémon, and my friends."

Lei Guan Wang's gaze fell upon the album's spine, which was thicker than the books his subjects used for learning in his memory, and he sighed somewhat emotionally, "That must be a truly meaningful endeavor."

Luo Mu gently stroked the laminated first photograph in the album; it was the picture Sonia had taken, and since crossing over, it remained the first group photo of Luo Mu with his Pokémon, including Luxray and the others.

The one preserved by Geeta in Paldea's Champion Hall did not count, as that was the sole copy held for commemorative purposes, and even Luo Mu, the main subject, could not obtain a duplicate.

Seeing this photograph for the first time, Lei Guan Wang, holding Cosmog, stared intently at the radiant, happy smiles of Luo Mu and the Pokémon—both familiar and unfamiliar to him—standing before a golden wheat field.

As if infected by the intent the photographer wished to convey, Lei Guan Wang involuntarily said, "You must have been extremely happy and blessed at that time."

Hearing this, Luo Mu and Luxray exchanged a glance and shared a knowing smile; then turning to look at Lei Guan Wang and Cosmog, Luo Mu said with a laugh, "Since then, we've gained many more companions, and now that I'm returning home, it's time to update our family portrait."

"When the time comes, you, Lei Guan Wang, shall be the photographer."

Lei Guan Wang paused, lowered his eyes to look at Cosmog, who didn't quite understand but was cheering anyway, and nodded softly, saying, "Indeed, that is a fine proposal."

Morning.

Under the watchful eyes of Zacian and Zamazenta, Luo Mu and Lei Guan Wang set off once again toward Paldea.

They first arrived at Hammerlocke, but unfortunately, they did not see those two young men outside the hospital this time; with the idea of asking Lei Guan Wang to provide treatment for the two somewhat familiar youths dashed, Luo Mu could only go to the Hammerlocke station to take a train to Hulbury, a small coastal port town in eastern Galar.

Incidentally, for convenience, during this period Luo Mu temporarily used Poké Balls to capture Lei Guan Wang, Spectrier, Glastrier, and Cosmog.

However, according to Lei Guan Wang, who re-emerged from his Poké Ball after Luo Mu left the station, neither he nor Spectrier and the others particularly liked the environment inside a Poké Ball, but if it was for convenience, they didn't mind staying inside temporarily for a while.

While waiting for the ship to Paldea to depart, Luo Mu took Luxray, Lei Guan Wang, and the others to a famous seafood restaurant in Hulbury to taste the local cuisine, where they encountered a young black-skinned female model who, upon seeing Lei Guan Wang, instinctively shouted, "What a huge head!"

Because this world was so vast, even professors specializing in Pokémon dared not guarantee they knew every Pokémon in existence, so most people merely thought "A Pokémon I've never seen before!" upon encountering the unfamiliar Lei Guan Wang, Spectrier, and Glastrier, which greatly facilitated Luo Mu moving about with them.

While savoring the delicacies at this seafood restaurant named the Wavebreak, Luo Mu learned from Miss Raihan—who was apologizing for her rudeness—a piece of news circulating among the Gym Leaders of Galar.

Not long ago, Chairman Rose of the Galar League had also hosted two young students from Paldea and a local from Galar at this very Wavebreak seafood restaurant.

Chairman Rose greatly admired the talent of one of them, but unfortunately, that person already had an idol they worshipped and was unwilling to stay in the Galar region to showcase their battle prowess.

When mentioning that young girl, Raihan said with a sigh that when her own raging waves were easily shattered by that girl, she knew the girl's achievements would surpass even her imagination.

Yet, despite being such a gifted young girl, she held a certain Trainer in the highest esteem.

Although upon hearing this, Luo Mu already had an ominous premonition.

But when Raihan personally stated that when Chairman Rose asked the girl named Hearing Hearing Nimo whether Galar's Champion Dan Di or her teacher was stronger.

Hearing Hearing Nimo directly and without hesitation blurted out, "I can't imagine my teacher losing," and under Lei Guan Wang's surprised expression as he listened with great interest, Luo Mu couldn't help but black out before his eyes.

Good, good, good, what a treacherous rebellious disciple backstabbing me!

If Rose really had that intention and contacted Geeta, wouldn't I actually have to fight Dan Di?

Me fighting Dan Di, for real?

That would be a thrill infinitely close to fighting that older brother at Mount Silver!

(End of Chapter)