Chapter 153: Let Me Capture Groudon! For the League!

"It seems even if we attack it, it won't wake up."

Seeing Maylene's face flushed red and on the verge of exploding, Cynthia spoke with high emotional intelligence.

"That's right. After all, Water counters Ground. So what should we do? Continue attacking?"

Champion Leon nodded in strong agreement.

Moreover, Maylene had indeed demonstrated something; at least under Maxie's full-power Hydro Pump, Groudon did show some reaction.

Perhaps with some even more powerful moves, Groudon would truly wake up.

"But in that case, Groudon would surely become enraged, wouldn't it?" Giovanni spoke thoughtfully.

"It is currently in a very deep sleep. Mr. Maylene's attack just now proved that. If we continue attacking and wake it, it might go berserk?"

Giovanni voiced his speculation.

"That's right, that is a possibility." Cynthia glanced at Giovanni.

"Then what do we do? It's such a pity; we don't have the Orb."

Nemona sighed. Groudon was right before their eyes, yet they were powerless.

In that case, hadn't all their efforts over these past few days been in vain?

"There are two methods left."

Giovanni spoke while pondering, drawing everyone's gaze toward him.

"First, we lure Team Rocket over here to fight nearby. The sounds of battle and the aura of Kyogre might wake Groudon."

Upon hearing this, Leon and the others fell into thoughtful silence.

"The idea is feasible, but the problem is how to lure Team Rocket over here?"

Steven frowned. If they really fought nearby, it would indeed be feasible, but the key was how to lure Team Rocket over here?

Team Rocket is an evil organization, but Mamen and the others aren't fools. Moreover, making Team Rocket proactively challenge the Hoenn League is an extremely difficult task.

Finding Team Rocket isn't an easy task, let alone luring them over here.

Cynthia nodded in agreement; luring Team Rocket to this location would be very difficult.

"Then the second method: capture Groudon right here!" Giovanni took out a Poké Ball and said in a heavy voice.

"What?!"

"Huh?"

"Senior, please don't act impulsively!"

Upon hearing this, Steven and the others were stunned and immediately urged Giovanni.

"Gym Leader Giovanni, Groudon is a Legendary Pokémon. Even if we capture it in a Poké Ball now, once it wakes up, I'm afraid the Poké Ball won't be able to restrain it."

Steven spoke to Giovanni; the option of capturing Groudon was simply too dangerous.

Many powerful Pokémon are not restricted by Poké Balls, let alone a super-ancient Legendary Pokémon as powerful as Groudon.

If it suddenly wakes up and finds itself captured by humans while sleeping, it might fly into a rage and even attack the trainer who 'took advantage of the situation.'

"This is the only way. As long as we put Groudon inside a Poké Ball, we can take it away."

Giovanni's eyes were resolute; he had already made his resolve!

"This action is too risky, Gym Leader Giovanni." Cynthia frowned, her beautiful brows knitting together.

"That's right. Even if we must risk capturing Groudon, it should be me! Gym Leader Giovanni, you..." Steven spoke in a heavy voice.

He was the Hoenn Champion! He was the one qualified to dedicate everything to Hoenn!

This Groudon, no matter how you look at it, should be captured by him. If Groudon wakes up midway, then he, Steven, will bear the risk.

"Mamen is my son. If the son is not taught, it is the father's fault. He has turned out this way; the responsibility lies with me. No matter what..."

Giovanni's tone was very low, his eyes sad yet stubborn.

"I must defeat him! Make him return to his former self, at any cost!"

Giovanni's tone was extremely firm, so firm that it shook the minds of Steven and the others. What kind of conviction was this?

"Therefore, let me do it! I will bear all the risks alone."

"For the League and for Justice!"

Giovanni's voice was deafening!

Giovanni's words made Steven open his mouth, but he still made no sound.

"Then I leave it to you, Gym Leader Giovanni."

Maylene's expression was sincere. Back when Giovanni hadn't arrived yet, he had even harbored doubts about Giovanni.

After all, his son was a high-ranking executive of Team Rocket; it was hard for a father like that not to arouse suspicion.

But after interacting over this period, Maylene really wanted to slap himself twice!!

You really deserve to die! You suspected Gym Leader Giovanni? Are you even human?!

"Groudon..."

Giovanni stepped forward two paces, gazing at the fiery red giant beast sleeping in the magma. The corners of his lips lifted imperceptibly.

The Legendary Creator of the Land, the Lord of the Fiery Earth; his compatibility with himself should be quite good.

At this moment, Giovanni's back was turned to Steven and the others, the curve of his mouth gradually brewing with intense malice.

He threw the Ultra Ball in his hand directly at Groudon.

According to what Mamen said, a sleeping Groudon would most likely not resist, which is why he sought this opportunity to capture Groudon.

This was the best opportunity!

This was the legendary 'Lord of the Land'. After all, under the pressure of 'a cornered dog jumps over the wall', Steven would very likely think of putting Groudon into a Poké Ball to take it away.

To be safe, Giovanni brought this up in advance and proposed that he himself put Groudon into the Poké Ball.

Compared to having the League Champion take Groudon away, naturally, it was more suitable for him, Giovanni, to do so.

After all, it must be said that Steven, Wallace, Diantha, and the others are truly outstanding; with the right opportunity, they might just earn Groudon's recognition.

So, to be safe, let him take this 'risk'!

The Ultra Ball traced a perfect parabola, landing directly on Groudon. Instantly, Groudon's entire massive form turned into red light and was absorbed into the Ultra Ball.

It went in! Will it succeed?!

Seeing this, Steven and the others all looked somewhat tense.

Especially the young girl Nemona, who clenched her fists tightly, staring fixedly at the Poké Ball floating in midair.

Beep~

The Poké Ball swayed once in midair.

Ding~

The next moment, accompanied by a ding, the Poké Ball froze.

Capture successful!

Diantha and the others were extremely surprised; it succeeded just like that?

With a swoosh, Beedrill darted past the Ultra Ball, carrying it back to Giovanni's side.

Giovanni took the Ultra Ball, an involuntary smile of satisfaction appearing on his face.

Though he was also delighted deep down, having heard Mamen's introduction about Groudon and Kyogre's current situation, he knew this was only the first step.

"It succeeded, everyone."

Giovanni turned around, looking at Steven and the others with a smile.

"Congratulations, Gym Leader Giovanni."

Steven's mood was somewhat complex.

The three Ancient Legendary Pokémon are the legendary Pokémon of the Hoenn region's history, but now Kyogre has already been captured by Mamen.

And Groudon has been captured by Giovanni; only the Sky Dragon Rayquaza remains...

"So amazing, Senior! This is Groudon!" Nemona's expression was extremely excited; she was incredibly agitated at that moment.

This was the first time she had ever witnessed someone else capture a Legendary Pokémon!

No, no; after she returns to Paldea, she must definitely look for clues about Legendary Pokémon. She is now incredibly interested in Legendary Pokémon!

Of course, the main reason was that battle in Lumiose City, which truly made her see the natural, massive gap between ordinary Pokémon and Legendary Pokémon.

Those beings at the very top of the world's Pokémon food chain were truly terrifying, yet at the same time, they inspired boundless longing.

"It's merely temporarily stored in the ball; the Poké Ball cannot restrict Groudon. Without Groudon's recognition, it does not count as capturing it."

Giovanni shook his head, remaining incredibly clear-headed and calm.

"Indeed, but this first step is already complete. As long as Groudon isn't that extreme, Gym Leader Giovanni, you still have a chance to truly capture Groudon."

Diantha still acknowledged this, but she also felt Giovanni still had a very good chance.

If it weren't inappropriate, he himself would have been quite prepared to throw a ball at Groudon just now.

Of course, the premise is that Groudon isn't that extreme; otherwise...

Just imagine: late at night, Giovanni is sleeping peacefully; Groudon inside the Poké Ball wakes up, discovers he is in the ball, and in a rage bursts out of the Poké Ball, killing Giovanni instantly while he sleeps.

That would be too terrifying!

"Champion Steven, the next priority is to quickly locate Mamen's position."

Giovanni nodded, then looked at Steven and said in a deep voice.

"Good!"

Steven nodded; he naturally knew this, and it was a matter of urgency.

The longer time drags on, the greater the risk for Giovanni.

In Caitlin's villa in Mossdeep City.

Looking at the message on his phone, Mamen's face broke into a smile.

"What's wrong? Is there good news?"

Caitlin placed a fruit platter on the coffee table before Mamen, elegantly brushed her hands over her hips, sat down slowly beside Mamen, and asked curiously.

"Groudon has been captured by the old man; the Hoenn League is searching for our base's location," Mamen said with a smile.

That's right; Giovanni had just sent him the latest news.

Hearing this, Caitlin's beautiful eyebrows raised slightly.

"The Hoenn League has been completely played by you father and son."

Caitlin picked up the water glass from the coffee table, took a sip, and smiled gently.

The Hoenn League never dreamed that the method they thought of was actually the result of being guided; the hope of defeating Mamen simply does not exist.

Even taking ten thousand steps back, Groudon without the Red Orb would not stand a chance against Primal Kyogre.

If Giovanni suddenly betrayed them during this battle, the Hoenn League would likely be utterly destroyed.

Of course, Caitlin also knew Giovanni would not betray them at this moment; otherwise, aside from provoking the mental state of Steven and the others, it would be completely meaningless.

Because in this battle, the Hoenn League originally had absolutely no chance of winning.

"That's not quite so exaggerated; I didn't expect Steven would really give this opportunity to the old man."

Mamen raised his legs with interest, unfortunately unable to see the scene on-site.

Otherwise, he would really want to know how Giovanni 'snatched' the opportunity to capture Groudon from Steven's hands.

After all, as the Hoenn League Champion, Steven should logically be the one to capture the sleeping Groudon.

"Should we 'respond'?"

Caitlin peeled a grape with her beautiful, slender fingers and handed it to Mamen, asking softly.

"Of course~" Mamon opened his mouth and bit down.

Feeling the touch of her fingers against Mamon's lips, Gardenia blinked her pretty, bright eyes.

"It's also time to let them witness true power." Mamon's mouth curved up high.

"And this is also the perfect chance to settle the matter with Hikari."

The great land-and-sea battle would also let Hikari lure out Rayquaza—though whether Hikari would prove capable was another matter.

"Then when shall we prepare?"

Gardenia peeled another grape, her gaze expectant as she looked at Mamon.

Watching Mamon eat the grape she had peeled, her heart felt warm and she was very happy.

"Tonight is when the Millennium Comet arrives—let's see if this little fellow will wake up."

Mamon looked at the purple crystal on the table; he was still quite interested in this little fellow, Jirachi.

"Mm~" Gardenia gave a slight nod.

If Mamon himself didn't wish to be exposed, it would truly not be easy for the Hoenn League to find him.

Time came to evening—tonight was the night the Millennium Comet arrived—at a coastal hill in Mossdeep City.

The three of them sat there now, a picnic blanket spread out, with the crystal in which Jirachi slumbered placed upon it.

"Legend says a beautiful song can wake Jirachi—Lillie, I'm counting on you."

Mamon watched the beautiful white comet appear in the night sky and smiled at Lillie.

"Mm~ leave it to me!"

Lillie, brimming with confidence, took out the Azure Flute from her bag, while the big bat beside her wore a resentful look.

Clearly the Azure Flute and the Lunar Flute were its 'exclusive' items, okay?!

But Lillie obviously hadn't noticed this; she brought the Azure Flute to her lips.

A beautiful, melodious flute sound drifted out slowly, like a clear, pure babbling brook, purifying the negative emotions in people's hearts.

The wonderful flute melody flowed gently through the night sky; the Millennium Comet shone in the night sky like the brightest, most dazzling star—but what people could not see was that the comet's white energy fell drop by drop, all of it absorbed by Jirachi's purple crystal stone.

A dazzling white light shone from the stone, and this Slumbering Stone slowly floated up.

"It really worked!"

Sensing the change in the Slumbering Stone, Lillie stopped playing, watching the stone with wonder and delight.

The legendary Wishing Star Jirachi, who can grant any wish!

The white light grew ever more dazzling, and a small yellow-and-white creature emerged from the Slumbering Stone, slowly opening its bright big eyes.

"So cute~!"

Lillie's eyes lit up.

This Jirachi was indeed exceptionally cute—its body was very small, only about 0.3 meters tall, its head star-shaped, with three green wish tags on the three points, and two ribbon-like streamers like wings on its back.

Its body was white, with a black 'thin line' on its belly, and its short arms and short legs were irresistibly adorable.

"Mm~ Mamon~!"

The moment Jirachi woke up, it quickly looked around, then its gaze fixed on Mamon; its big eyes immediately narrowed into crescent-moon shapes, and it drifted leisurely toward Mamon.

It threw itself onto Mamon's neck, nuzzling him affectionately, just like a spoiled little kitten.

Seeing this, the looks in Lillie's and Gardenia's eyes instantly changed—this was just too soft and cute, wasn't it?!

And it was also a universal wishing machine that could grant wishes!

"Mamon, Mamon~ I'm awake now."

Jirachi's clear, childlike telepathy sounded like a small child whose gender couldn't be told apart.

It was very close to Mamon—after all, before it had fully woken, Mamon had often kept it company chatting to relieve its boredom and had channeled energy into it.

"Congratulations, Jirachi." Mamon smiled, holding Jirachi under its arms with both hands, pulling it off his neck and lifting it high.

Jirachi looked at Mamon innocently and adorably—utterly lovable.

Then, the cute Wishing Star spoke its very first 'wish' after waking up.

"Mamon~ I want to ride the big fishy."

"Huh?"

Mamon was stunned—were you serious? Kyogre might not necessarily agree, you know?

"What's wrong? Mamon, you promised me, remember?" Jirachi tilted its head.

"I want to ride the big fishy—someone told me riding the big fishy feels really great." Jirachi said in all seriousness.

"Who told you that?" This time Mamon was truly stunned.

"Manaphy told me!"

PS: Here it comes, here it comes—I was too tired last night and fell asleep while writing; I'll make up today's three chapters in the early morning—no sleep tonight!

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