Chapter 149: Cynthia, Can You Join Team Rocket?

"Very good, thank you for your hard work, Champion Cynthia."

Two hours later, the filming finally ended. Mamon took the camera from Popplio, quickly reviewed the film negatives, and nodded in satisfaction.

Cynthia straightened her slightly disheveled clothes.

"Then I have fulfilled my promise to you. We are even."

Cynthia spoke calmly.

How should she put it?

This photoshoot process would likely be something she could not forget for a very long time.

"Of course, I am a person who keeps my promises." Mamon grinned.

"These photos..." Cynthia hesitated, then decided to ask Mamon how he intended to handle them.

"Speaking of which, Champion Cynthia, you can search for a user named 'Photographer Mamon' on the Hoenn Forum. All the posts on that account are my works."

Mamon flashed a 'pure' smile at Cynthia.

"Before you, there were also artistic works by Master Wallace and Master Steven, all photographed by me."

"..."

Upon hearing this, a strange expression appeared on Cynthia's exquisite and beautiful face.

Master Wallace and Master Steven's artistic works? Those weren't just the cross-dressing photos of Wallace and Steven's twisted sense of humor, were they?

Yes, that's right; Cynthia had also seen this series of artistic works.

After all, on the Hoenn Forum, this art series was simply too popular. Whenever Cynthia entered the Hoenn Forum, she could always see it on the hot posts.

Of course, Cynthia had never asked Wallace and Steven about the source of these photos; she respected other people's personal hobbies.

But now she finally understood how these 'artistic photos' had circulated online.

Mamon was truly a malicious fellow.

She didn't know if Mamon would post the couple photos of her and him...

Cynthia hesitated but didn't ask. She understood that if Mamon really wanted to post them, she had no way to stop him, so it was better not to ask.

"Mamon, I know I cannot persuade you, but I want to ask: can you let Caitlin go?" Cynthia asked Mamon.

"'Let her go'?" Mamon raised an eyebrow. This woman was starting again.

"Champion Cynthia, hearing you say that makes me very unhappy."

"Wasn't Caitlin the one you brought into Team Rocket?"

Cynthia was now certain that the person who caused Caitlin to change was Mamon! There was absolutely no mistake.

"Indeed, it was me, but I don't think this is a bad thing." Mamon put the camera away and tilted his head, looking at Cynthia with leisure.

"Champion Cynthia, I think both I and Caitlin have told you that you do not understand what people like us truly want."

Upon hearing this, Cynthia's brows knitted tightly.

"Caitlin is very excellent, but before, she had no freedom, no self, and was even constantly overshadowed by your shadow, Champion Cynthia."

Mamon spoke in a calm tone.

"You didn't know, did you? When I met Caitlin, she was already prepared to give up. She was prepared to give up the thought of chasing you, and she was prepared to give up that proud self of hers."

Cynthia pressed her lips together, her expression somewhat dim.

Was it because of her? Was it because her excellence had brought too much pressure to Caitlin?

Cynthia couldn't help but feel some self-blame.

"And now, Caitlin has freedom, she has a home, she has ideals, she has Team Rocket which is willing to accept her unconditionally, without any shackles. Where does she fall short compared to the past?"

Mamon's rhetorical question made Cynthia's breath catch.

"But Caitlin's future should not be in Team Rocket..."

However, Cynthia quickly came to her senses and refuted in a low voice.

"In the end, it is just your prejudice against Team Rocket, believing Team Rocket is an evil organization, and thus rejecting us." Mamon sneered.

"Is that not true?" Cynthia stared at Mamon.

"Of course, it was indeed so in the past. I do not deny it." Mamon shrugged; he did not refute.

Team Rocket was indeed a malignant organization in the past, hated and opposed by people, and wanted by the League, all for good reasons.

"So I want to ask you to let Caitlin go, Mamon. I can promise you anything!"

Cynthia's tone was firm.

"It seems I said so much just now, but you still won't listen. Whether Caitlin stays or leaves is not up to me to decide." Mamon was somewhat speechless, but immediately became interested again.

"And is the 'anything' you just mentioned really true?"

"Yes."

"Including agreeing to marry me?"

"... I can." Cynthia hesitated: "As long as you, Mamon, let Caitlin quit Team Rocket with you, we will get married."

Tsk~ Why such a sudden huge change?

Mamon looked at Cynthia in confusion. Clearly, when they were in Lumiose City, Cynthia was very resistant.

"Truly a tempting proposal, but unfortunately, I cannot agree to it." Mamon quickly chuckled and replied.

"Caitlin has her own will. Besides, she is also my right-hand man; Caitlin is very important to me."

"If Caitlin quits Team Rocket, who will fill Caitlin's vacancy? Will you do it, Cynthia?"

Mamon asked Cynthia with a smile.

Upon hearing this, Cynthia's dark eyebrows knitted tightly again. Could she understand Mamon's words as meaning...

Caitlin can quit Team Rocket, yes, but she, Cynthia, must fill the vacancy left by Caitlin's departure?

This...

Diantha bit her lip. How could this be? She simply wanted Cresselia to break free from the evil organization known as Team Rocket, but if she herself joined Team Rocket, what difference would that make?

Diantha fell into complex contemplation.

……

In Lumiose City, at the training ground behind the League Building.

Steven and the others had gathered here, and Diantha had already returned.

Although her expression upon returning was quite strange, Steven and the others were preoccupied with their own thoughts and did not notice Diantha's oddity.

"These are the Mega Stones and Key Stones sent by Professor Sycamore."

Steven opened the briefcase on the ground, revealing rows of crystal-clear, beautiful Mega Stones and Key Stones inside.

"So beautiful~"

Wallace couldn't help but sigh at the splendor of these 'gems'.

"They really are beautiful," Nemona said, looking at these Mega Stones with full curiosity.

"Professor Sycamore is still researching the origins of the Mega Stones. Moreover, if these Mega Stones do not contain the ones we need, they will have to be returned."

Steven spoke.

"And this is the Key Stone, carried by the Trainer. As long as the Trainer carries the Key Stone and resonates with the Mega Stone carried by the Pokémon, the Pokémon can successfully undergo Mega Evolution."

"Of course, these are Professor Sycamore's theories, but they seem plausible; Mamen evolved Tyranitar that way back then."

Steven picked up a Key Stone and analyzed it for Giovanni and the others.

"However, every Pokémon has its corresponding Mega Stone. Currently, Professor Sycamore has not yet analyzed the types of these Mega Stones, so we must find them ourselves."

"Additionally, not all Pokémon can probably undergo Mega Evolution, so let our own Pokémon try to sense their respective evolution stones."

"Since these are evolution stones exclusive to Pokémon, there must be some connection."

Steven continued.

"This is simple, then let me go first!"

Teacher Wallace flicked his bangs, looking extremely cool and dashing.

"I can't wait to Mega Evolve my Milotic and then go capture those evil Team Rocket executives!"

Teacher Wallace holds a grudge!!

Leave Mamen to Steven and the others to handle, but regarding that Sigilyph and Diantha, Teacher Wallace was extremely unconvinced!!

He is Wallace, a Trainer who once served as the Hoenn Champion!

How could he possibly be unable to defeat an executive of an evil organization? That is completely unreasonable!

"Alright." Steven nodded, and he and Diantha stepped back a bit.

Wallace took out a Poké Ball and opened it; Milotic landed before Wallace, turning its head in confusion to look at him.

"Milotic, take a look at these evolution stones. Is there one that feels special to you?" Wallace asked Milotic hopefully.

Milotic tilted its head in confusion, but under Wallace's urging, it turned toward the box containing the Mega Stones.

Sniffing left, sniffing right, a look of bewilderment appeared in Milotic's eyes.

"No reaction?" Wallace was shocked.

That shouldn't be! Could it be that there is no Mega Stone for Milotic among these evolution stones?

Hmm, Wallace absolutely refused to believe that his beloved Milotic was one of the Pokémon incapable of Mega Evolution.

"How about I try?" Giovanni pondered for a moment before speaking.

"Alright."

Wallace did not refuse; he felt the issue probably wasn't with his Milotic.

"Beedrill." Giovanni threw out his Beedrill.

"Beedrill, sense these stones. Is there one inside that feels special to you, perhaps one that resonates?"

Giovanni pointed to the Mega Stones in the box and asked Beedrill.

Beedrill tilted its head, thought for a moment, floated to the front of the box, and used its stinger-arm to rummage through them. After rummaging for quite a while, Beedrill pointed to one of the Mega Stones, turned around, and let out a low hum to Giovanni.

Really?

Steven and the others were delighted.

"Is it this one?" Giovanni quickly stepped forward and picked up the Mega Stone that Beedrill had pointed to.

Beedrill nodded.

"It really works? Senior Giovanni, please try it quickly!"

Nemona became excited.

Senior Giovanni's Beedrill was already terrifyingly strong; if it Mega Evolved, how powerful would it be?!

Nemona had tested it personally; during this period, out of boredom, she had sparred and trained with Diantha, Giovanni, and several others including Leon.

Because Nemona was enthusiastic and cheerful, and also a junior, Diantha and the others did not refuse.

Undoubtedly, Giovanni's Beedrill left an extremely deep impression on Nemona, refreshing her Stereotype Mark regarding the Pokémon Beedrill.

It was simply too strong!

Her main ace from last year, the Baxcalibur, was defeated by Beedrill after only a short battle; it was utterly absurd.

Nemona even felt a bit tempted: should she go raise a Beedrill?

"That's right, Gym Leader Giovanni, give it a try." Steven also nodded in agreement.

"Alright."

Giovanni also showed willingness; he picked up another Key Stone from the box and attached the Mega Stone indicated by Beedrill onto Beedrill.

"According to Professor Sycamore, besides the corresponding Key Stone and Mega Stone, Mega Evolution also requires the deep mutual trust and bond between the Trainer and the Pokémon."

Steven looked at the Trainer and the Pokémon and said in a deep voice.

"Otherwise, even if Mega Evolution succeeds, the Pokémon might go berserk from power that's too strong."

"Gym Leader Giovanni and Beedrill should be fine." Lance crossed his arms, watching Giovanni and Beedrill with great interest.

He wondered whether his own Charizard would also have a Mega Stone.

Lance was quite hopeful about this. Although the Galar region had its unique Dynamax, Dynamax could only be used in the Galar region, and only near specific energy points at that.

But Mega Evolution didn't seem to have this restriction. If he could master Mega Evolution, then his strength would naturally grow even greater!

"Beedrill!"

Giovanni raised the Keystone toward Beedrill; in truth, his heart was perfectly calm.

Beedrill's Mega Stone — Mamen had already given it to him long ago…

What Beedrill had just pointed out was the Beedrillite. Giovanni was certain, so this Mega Evolution was bound to succeed.

The Keystone began to shimmer, and in sync, Beedrill was also enveloped in the seven-colored light of evolution.

Seeing this scene, Steven and the others all subtly shifted their expressions.

"It reacted! Just as I thought, it works!" Nessa was overjoyed.

"Excellent!"

"With Mega Evolution, we can launch another offensive against Team Rocket!!"

Maylene was also very pleased — Team Rocket, just you wait!

We Champions have mastered Mega Evolution; we won't be afraid of you anymore!

(End of Chapter)