Chapter 567: Visiting the Ether Paradise

Although the two Kapis were curious about Kapi Finneon 2, a colleague and kin from another world, they did not feel much hostility.

Of course, if Kapi Finneon 1 were asked to split half of Poni Island and its surrounding seas with the other, Kapi Finneon 1 would undoubtedly turn hostile without hesitation—

As for whether they could defeat Luo Mu, who had already beaten Kapi Tapu Koko, the strongest among them in combat power, that did not matter.

Kapi Finneon 1 cared only about attitude.

While the two Kapi Finneons began communicating and Kapi Tapu Koko hovered nearby, listening intently,

Luo Mu, feeling completely revitalized, released Luxray, Mega Swampert, Milotic, and the mother Dragonite from their Poké Balls once again.

He still held the curious Popplio, who was intrigued by everything around it, in his arms.

The clean, fresh air and the environment that put Pokémon at ease greatly relaxed the tense minds of Luxray and Mega Swampert, who had fought fiercely for a long time.

Although Milotic had not been able to help much due to the circumstances, it now fully stretched its serpentine body; although staying inside a Poké Ball was ten thousand times better than that previous environment, it indeed felt somewhat stifling.

The mother Dragonite wagged its tail, sat beside Dragonite, and went "Booo," "Booo," introducing the environment of the Other Shore Ruins to the person it imagined, or rather, its former Trainer.

How should one put it?

Compared to everything in that other world, they all felt that being born in such a beautiful world and residing in such a tranquil, peaceful place was truly wonderful.

"Moo~"

Popplio originally wanted to go find Kapi Finneon, but discovered another Kapi Finneon very similar to Kapi Finneon was also there, leaving it slightly bewildered.

Yet it still instinctively began crawling toward them.

Since they were discussing important matters there, Luo Mu could not allow it to go over and disturb them.

He simply placed Popplio directly into the small pond surrounding the Other Shore Ruins and explained softly, "They have some matters to attend to; let's play here for now."

As a Pokémon that had only recently been born, Popplio was clearly still in a state of intense curiosity, instinctively wanting to explore the world.

Compared to the small inflatable children's pool Luo Mu had taken out, Popplio was seeing such a vast pond for the first time; immediately captivated, it began swimming happily in the water.

Because the pond connected to the outer sea and fearing it might get lost, Luo Mu called Mega Swampert over again, asking it to keep an eye on Popplio.

Perhaps still retaining some impression of the large hands that had supported it, Popplio did not reject Mega Swampert; instead, as if by innate instinct, it blew a series of bubbles from its small pink nose, launching them at Mega Swampert.

They possessed no destructive power whatsoever; on the contrary, they made Mega Swampert feel slightly ticklish.

While playing along with the child, Mega Swampert also took the opportunity to clean its air sacs using the water from the pond.

During the previous high-intensity battle, it had been forced to use water pressure instead of airflow to accelerate its fists or adjust its posture, avoiding the influence of massive amounts of pollutants or particles floating in the air.

After all, although its air sacs retained a certain filtering function, that function was limited.

After cleaning, it would simply ask Kapi Finneon 1 to purify the water quality.

Seeing Mega Swampert's behavior, Luo Mu suddenly remembered something; noticing that the communication between the three Kapis was nearing its end, he looked toward Kapi Finneon 1.

"If you have time, could you help us purify things? I worry that traveling through the Ping Xing Shi Jie might bring over pollutants, bacteria, or viruses from other worlds."

Kapi Finneon 1, having just finished communicating with Kapi Finneon 2, was still pondering internally that humans were indeed not very reliable, and that the trials for the new Island King in the future would definitely need to be stricter.

Hearing Luo Mu's voice, it agreed without even thinking.

After all, having heard about the environmental conditions of that other world, it had already intended to do so.

Accompanied by a soft chant, Kapi Finneon 1 increased its flight altitude, conjuring out of thin air a clear sphere of water emitting a pure aura, transforming it into a fine rain within the Other Shore Ruins that washed away all impurity and filth completely.

The pond below likewise received this treatment.

Taking the opportunity, Luo Mu rummaged through his space backpack, pulling out items he had used or exposed to the air in that other world.

If not for the possibility that the Other Shore Ruins might not have enough space to hold them all, he would have wished to take everything out and conduct a thorough disinfection.

Yes, disinfection.

In Luo Mu's view, the purifying water of Kapi Finneon was like a disinfectant solution, capable of both disinfecting and sterilizing.

Perhaps it was also somewhat like a detergent, able to remove filth as well.

It would certainly be very convenient for washing grease off dining plates.

While his mind wandered with random thoughts, Luo Mu's actions remained agile; he even pulled out a washbasin, attempting to catch some of this "rainwater," but was quickly glared back into submission by Kapi Finneon 1.

Given the scope of the Other Shore Ruins and the number of people and Pokémon present, Kapi Finneon 1, who had condensed the purifying water, felt quite helpless.

Was it really necessary?

You have already abducted one of my own kin; do you really need to worry about lacking this little bit of purifying water?

Although the other party's current condition was somewhat poor, as long as it re-established communication with some ocean and drew energy from the water flow, it could recover most of its power.

At that time, wouldn't obtaining any amount of purifying water be a matter of a single word?

As for whether the other party would resume its old profession and serve as an Island Guardian on some island, that did not matter either.

As long as it did not divide up its own Poni Island, it had nothing to do with Kapi Finneon 1.

Luo Mu was unclear about what opinions Kapi Finneon 1 and Kapi Tapu Koko held regarding the experiences Kapi Finneon 2 had suffered in its world.

After a brief rest, feeling his entire body restored to a spotless state, he also prepared to rise and depart.

But before that, he still needed to claim the reward he had agreed upon with Kapi Finneon 1.

Although, for him in his current state, that reward was merely better than nothing—

With Kapi Finneon 2 present, as long as they helped it recover its power, it could summon both purifying water and the mist.

The only difference was that Kapi Finneon 2 probably could not summon the Solfrou or other ghosts from its own world.

The "military forces" accumulated by Kapi Finneon 2 had been cleared away the moment it arrived in this world.

Nor could it summon the departed of Poni Island's past like Kapi Finneon 1 could; after all, strictly speaking, there was no connection between them whatsoever.

If it truly could summon them, that would be NTR.

But fortunately, Luo Mu had asked the Hint System.

The mist of Kapi Finneon 2 still retained its original special qualities; apart from the confusing effect, it could also briefly summon the person someone wished to see, based on the intruder's obsession or intense longing upon entering the mist.

Thinking about it this way, did he not seem to be suffering a slight loss?

Luo Mu's face was filled with inner struggle, hesitating whether to be greedy and, using the excuse that the mission difficulty was too high, ask Kapi Finneon 1 to increase his reward.

In fact, Tapu Fini 1 had also considered this situation; although it did not particularly like humans, it greatly admired Luo Mu's active performance, which Tapu Fini 2 had praised with no lack of words in its account.

The siege by over a thousand Vikavolt, the polluted environment preventing full power usage, the disappearance of its strength as an island guardian, and the Ultra Wormholes continuously opening with the aid of the energy within the Sun Altar.

Yet the other party had turned danger into safety in less than two days, not only saving that Popplio and Tapu Fini 2, but also fighting all the way to the enemy's stronghold to completely eliminate the hidden threat.

Tapu Fini 1 was willing to borrow a sentence from its colleague, Tapu Koko, to describe Luo Mu.

He and his Pokémon were simply like a god of war—

Merely offering purified water and mist, which could be conjured with a casual hand, as a reward seemed far too perfunctory.

But for the moment, Tapu Fini 1 could not think of any reward it could offer that would satisfy Luo Mu.

It simply spoke before Luo Mu could, asking what he wanted.

"Puka-fini."

Tapu Fini 1 stared intently at Luo Mu, emitting the sound of its inquiry.

Perhaps having spent so much time with Pokémon, Luo Mu strangely understood its meaning.

His face lit up with joy, yet at the same time, Luo Mu became conflicted.

What should he ask for?

Tapu Fini 1 would likely not agree to anything too excessive, such as the energy sealed within the Sun/Moon Altars inside the Poni Grand Canyon—

Seeing Luo Mu truly struggling, Tapu Fini 1's expression softened slightly; it raised a hand and summoned two diamond-shaped crystals from the pool within the Ruins of Life.

One was blue, the other pink.

They were precisely the Water-type Z-Crystal and the Fairy-type Z-Crystal.

Luo Mu caught the two Z-Crystals, still somewhat dazed.

What did this mean?

Normal, Grass, Ground, Electric, Water, Fairy, and even the Mimikyu-exclusive Z-Crystals; he hadn't even participated in the Island Challenge, so how had he obtained so many?

Of course, Tapu Fini 1 was not offering these two Z-Crystals to merely brush off Luo Mu.

These counted as extra prizes; as for the reward for the mission—

Before Luo Mu left Alola, or even after he had left, if he decided what he wanted, he could come to the Ruins of Life at any time to find it and claim its promise.

In the end, unable to decide what he wanted, Luo Mu could only temporarily leave this reward pending; then, together with Tapu Koko and the others, he was packed up and thrown out of the Ruins of Life by Tapu Fini 1.

Standing on the wind-swept Poni Breakwater Coast, Luo Mu glanced with a blank stare at Tapu Fini beside him, which was holding the Popplio, then rubbed his own stomach and muttered to himself, "Forget it, let's go eat first."

Considering Tapu Fini's special nature, Luo Mu did not let it follow him, strutting openly in the outside world.

Instead, he chose to first take his Swampert and Dragonite, going alone to Seafolk Village, a characteristic seaside town located in the southwest of Poni Island.

Because Tapu Fini was quite averse to land development, there were almost no human settlements on Poni Island.

Apart from the Battle Tree, there was only this seaside town, strictly speaking built on the offshore waters of Poni Island and composed of various ships.

Luo Mu first packed many portions of fragrant food from the boat restaurant, then met up with Tapu Fini, and together they headed to Poni Grove, which was covered in vast patches of purple flowers, releasing their Pokémon to enjoy this peaceful lunchtime.

After eating and drinking their fill, Luo Mu and Dragonite took on the task of cleaning up the generated trash, lest Tapu Fini, who similarly disliked damaging the environment, become unhappy.

Halfway through the cleanup.

Luo Mu suddenly noticed Tapu Fini holding the Popplio, which had drunk its fill of Moomoo Milk and fallen fast asleep, gazing at the grove with a nostalgic look, as well as at the figures of Diejie Diejie Mengmeng and their evolved forms gathering nectar on the blooming flowers.

"Are you still a bit reluctant to leave?"

Pausing his work, Luo Mu asked aloud.

"Puka."

Tapu Fini shook its head.

Rather than reluctance, it was simply that seeing terrain and environments along the way that matched its memories had stirred up emotions.

It had already decided to take the Popplio to find a new home; for this Poni Island that did not belong to it, it only hoped that the other Tapu Fini would guard it well and not repeat its own mistakes.

Perhaps wanting to stop itself from thinking about irrelevant things, Tapu Fini showed Luo Mu a smile and simply helped them clean up.

A moment later.

Poni Grove remained a beautiful landscape of nature, and Luo Mu also stood up, intending to leave.

It was only one o'clock in the afternoon; today's time was unexpectedly abundant.

He took a business card and several photographs out of his satchel.

Gazing at the card and the photos, Luo Mu seemed lost in thought.

Otherwise, he might as well visit Aether Paradise this afternoon.

Upon meeting Lusamine, he would naturally see that family portrait in her office, and then he could logically bring out these photos.

Even if Lusamine had put the portrait away, he could simply make up a few words to steer the conversation in that direction; the result would be the same.

In any case, now that they knew Mo En was still alive, Lusamine and Gladion probably would not care about those minor discrepancies.

Luo Mu also mentioned his plan to handle some matters to Tapu Fini.

It did not mind temporarily resting inside a Dive Ball.

On the contrary, from this moment on, it could finally have a peaceful, pleasant dream without nightmares.

The distance from Poni Island to the Aether Foundation's headquarters, the artificial island Aether Paradise, was not far.

At least, it was closer than Ula'ula Island and Akala Island.

Before setting off, Luo Mu dialed the number on the business card, informing Lusamine in advance of his intention to visit Aether Paradise.

The other party was naturally very welcoming, even asking if they needed to send someone to pick Luo Mu up.

After politely declining.

Leaving Lusamine with a message that he would arrive in about ten minutes, Luo Mu mounted Dragonite's back and flew toward that highly conspicuous artificial island in the ocean.

Before long.

The super-large floating structure built on the sea surface, resembling a massive ship, grew closer and closer in Luo Mu's eyes as Dragonite flew.

Gazing at the artificial island before him, which if not a miracle could at least be called a work of supernatural craftsmanship, Luo Mu's eyes reflected a look of contemplation.

He remembered that the Bluemoon Academy and the Eco-Dome were also situated upon the vast ocean, with the majority of their structures even submerged within the sea as miraculous architectures.

Did this imply that Lillie's side also possessed talents with similar design or construction experience?

Perhaps, once their relationship improved, when he planned to build an Eco-Dome belonging to his farm in the future, he could even borrow some of those talents from Lillie and Mo En?

However, the prerequisite for all of this was that he must first accumulate sufficiently enormous funds.

While his mind wandered through various thoughts, Luo Mu's gaze locked onto a helipad at the Aether Paradise used for landing helicopters, where he could faintly see flashing boundary lights and a figure waving its hand.

He figured that the person Lillie mentioned would come to receive him into the Aether Paradise must be that individual.

He decisively patted the back of the Dragonite beneath him, signaling that it could lower its altitude.

As the distance to the helipad grew shorter, Luo Mu made out the appearance of the greeter.

The other party had purple hair, wore round glasses shaped like pink butterfly wings, and her plump figure was wrapped in the white staff uniform of the Aether Foundation.

The first impression the other party gave was that of a rather gentle and intellectual woman.

Luo Mu remembered her name; she was Bixie, an executive of the Aether Foundation who had not followed Lillie this morning to disturb his peaceful slumber.

Noticing that Luo Mu had spotted her, a smile appeared on Bixie's face, the amplitude of her waving increased by several degrees, and she shouted simultaneously.

"Mr. Luo Mu, please land here~!"

Once the Dragonite landed steadily on the helipad, Bixie hurried over in high heels, glanced excitedly at the Dragonite several times, and only then extended her hand toward Luo Mu.

"Hello, I am Bixie, responsible for guiding your tour of the Aether Paradise today; please, Duoduozhi Sect."

(End of Chapter)