Chapter 35: How Could Tapu Fini Be With You?

Days passed in the blink of an eye.

Kukui and the others made no major moves, merely sending people to monitor the entertainment complex and search for traces of Caitlin.

In truth, this was not difficult to investigate; after all, Caitlin had not hidden her identity, and the villa under her name was naturally included in the surveillance area.

However, Caitlin had long anticipated this. With Teleport, those people could not grasp her whereabouts.

These past few days had been calm, but it was, after all, merely the silence before the storm.

Mamen did not care in the slightest; his daily routine remained the same, going to the beach at noon to sunbathe, feel the sea breeze, and swim.

In the afternoon, he would accompany Caitlin for special training, and in the evening, he would give Domino special training—it was quite pleasant.

Until one day.

Caitlin, dressed in a form-fitting white and pink long dress, set out from the villa area. After arriving in the city, she met with Lance, and the two walked slowly toward the outskirts.

"Who is that person?"

In a certain room, looking at the captured footage, Kukui exchanged a glance with Hala, who had already been discharged from the hospital; naturally, they did not recognize Lance.

"Let me see."

Kukui recalled something and pulled up the wanted list of Team Rocket members he had searched for on his phone.

"Team Rocket High-Ranking Executive Lance"!

"Another high-ranking executive."

Kukui's expression turned solemn. It was actually another high-ranking executive, and one of the four generals of Team Rocket who were notorious in the Kanto region.

"Kukui, they seem to be heading to the outskirts. This is a good opportunity!" Hala said to Kukui.

Although he didn't know what these two wanted to do, it didn't matter; it would have been difficult to make a move if they were in the city.

After all, there were so many civilians in the city, and given the strength of Caitlin and the others, if they were truly unscrupulous, they could completely use the civilians to threaten Kukui and his group.

It would be much easier in the outskirts.

"Hmm, notify Olivia and the others. Let's take them both down as soon as possible."

Kukui frowned slightly; he felt that something was not quite right.

However, opportunity knocks but once. It had been hard to find this chance, so taking down these two Team Rocket high-ranking executives was the priority.

As long as they could be captured, the threat level of the Alola Team Rocket would drop sharply.

"Alright, should we notify that person?"

Hala pondered for a moment and asked Kukui.

And the person he referred to was none other than the Sinnoh Champion, Cynthia, who had rushed over from the Sinnoh region just these past two days.

To be honest, Kukui hadn't expected that Cynthia was actually a close friend of Caitlin. Originally, he had sent Caitlin's information to the Sinnoh League only hoping that the Sinnoh League would take it seriously and provide more information about Caitlin to him.

As a result...

The Sinnoh Elite Four Champion, Cynthia, had come over in person.

Kukui was stunned!

"Let's not for now. After all, this is our own business in Alola. What do you think?"

Kukui hesitated, but he did not make the decision on his own and asked for Hala's opinion.

Although he knew Cynthia had no ill intentions, and she had also said that she just wanted to bring Caitlin back to Sinnoh.

But this was, after all, the Alola region, and Cynthia was the Elite Four Champion of the Sinnoh region; Cynthia's identity was simply too sensitive.

Especially now that the League had not yet been established in the Alola region, Team Rocket had come to expand their territory, and in the end, they had to rely on Cynthia, a Sinnoh Champion, to take down Team Rocket's high-ranking executives?

If this got out, it would be truly bad for the reputation of their Alola region. Wouldn't it make it seem like they in Alola couldn't even handle a branch of the Alola Team Rocket and needed outsiders to help?

If the Kanto League found out about this, the Alola region's League would probably have no hope again this year.

Because of the hidden danger of Ultra Beasts, which could not guarantee safety, Alola was seen as a not-so-'safe' region in the eyes of the Kanto League. If their strength was also lacking, it would be even harder.

(PS: Whether in the games or the anime, the Alola League was only established after the Ultra Space was explored. Kukui had applied many times before and was rejected; the threat of Ultra Beasts was one of the important reasons.)

"Correct, I agree."

Hala also nodded silently. With Kukui taking the field himself this time, wouldn't dealing with two Team Rocket high-ranking executives be as easy as pie?

Team Rocket could develop and grow under the nose of the Kanto League; it was a reasonable guess that there might truly be Champion-level Trainers within the organization.

But even if there really were Champion-level ones, they would be stationed at their Kanto headquarters; it was impossible for them to come to a branch, right?

"Let's notify Champion Cynthia after the matter is settled. I think she will be able to understand."

Kukui looked at Caitlin and Lance in the video footage with a solemn expression.

Ten Carat Hill, located near the outskirts of Hau'oli City, had pleasant scenery and an open view, making it an excellent spot for a picnic.

For example, Mamen was currently sitting on a picnic mat, feeding sliced apples to Tapu Fini.

Caitlin and Lance had also arrived here.

"Who is that person? And... how could Tapu Fini be with him?!"

Looking at the three of them from afar, Olivia asked Kukui and Hala in shock and confusion.

Because in the scene she saw, Caitlin and Lance seemed to be quite respectful toward that young man.

Of course, the most important thing was the Tapu Fini beside the young man!!

Although Tapu Fini was the guardian deity of Poni Island, that did not prevent Olivia from recognizing it.

"I don't know!"

Kukui was also stunned for a moment and replied in astonishment.

"Sigh..." Nanu sighed while holding his forehead.

Hala's graying brows were tightly locked, his gaze fixed on Tapu Fini; it was definitely the guardian deity of Poni Island, Tapu Fini, there was no mistake.

But how could it appear here? Had it been captured by that person?

A bad premonition rose in Hala's heart. It couldn't... be, could it?

For a moment, Kukui, Hala, and Olivia all fell into silence, their minds racing in a frenzy.

"He seems to have discovered us," Nanu reminded in his listless voice.

Kukui looked and sure enough, he discovered that the young man and the two, Caitlin and Lance, were looking in their direction.

Especially that young man, who was even waving at them.

"Let's go."

Kukui's face sank; he understood in an instant that the other party had likely lured them here on purpose.

However, since they were already here, they naturally had to go and meet them.

The four of them walked slowly and stopped not far in front of Mamen and the others.

"Oh my, Professor Kukui, and the three Island Kahunas, seeing you all at once, it is truly an honor."

Mamen was still sitting cross-legged on the ground, smiling as he took a sip of coconut juice, his other hand waving as a greeting, presenting an innocent and friendly image.

Caitlin and Lance were standing on either side in front of Mamen, looking at the four of them; the hierarchy of the three was immediately apparent.

This young man's status seemed to be even above that of Caitlin and the other.

Hala narrowed his eyes, looking at Tapu Fini, which was floating obediently beside Mamen, and then glanced at Caitlin and Lance.

"Folks, the visitors are not coming with good intentions..." Hala said in a low voice.

Hearing this, Nanu's expression was a bit strange. After scratching his head, Nanu couldn't help but reply to Hala.

"Is it possible that we are the ones who are the visitors this time?"

After all, they were the ones who came to find trouble for the other side today.

The corner of Hala's mouth twitched, and he glared at Nanu.

(End of chapter)