"Feeling conflicted, aren't you? Miss Cabbage."
Su Sheng raised his hand, gesturing for Cynthia to sit, and said with a smile, "Harboring such a big secret, you must have been sleeping poorly these past few days, right?"
Cynthia, still in her developmental years but already showing promise, felt her chest rise and fall. After a long while, she asked as if deflating, "What do you want?"
"I don't want anything. On the contrary, I want to know what you want."
Su Sheng said calmly, "I'm a little curious about what you're nervous about, rushing over from Sinnoh in such a hurry."
Cynthia bit her pink lip, finally pouring out the words hidden in her heart in one breath, "If Hoopa falls into your hands, Team Rocket can attack any region at any time! I must stop this kind of thing!"
She had kept these words in her heart for too long.
Once the valve was opened, they poured out continuously.
Su Sheng bent slightly, reached out, and stroked his chin, saying, "First of all, I'm not that interested in Hoopa. They sent it to me themselves. Secondly—why are you so sure that I will attack regions after I have Hoopa?"
"You guys were previously at Indigo Plateau and Lily of the Valley Island—" Cynthia was about to retort, but she stopped halfway.
Because recalling these two events, she realized that the primary responsibility for these major incidents did not lie with Su Sheng and Team Rocket.
"Looks like you've also realized the problem. In the end, didn't Shadow and Silver initiate the attacks at Indigo and Lily of the Valley Island first? We just came to pick up the scraps, just like the Life Orb incident. Although you probably won't believe it,
But the Life Orb in Sheena's hands has been fake since the moment it was passed down from her ancestors a thousand years ago. The real one has always been sealed in the ruins. So, the news saying I stole the Life Orb from Sheena was completely misreported. At most, I was 'picking up the scraps'."
Su Sheng shrugged.
"What exactly do you want to say?"
Cynthia's expression was complicated, her pink lips bitten white by her teeth, "You want to say Team Rocket is innocent? Do you know how many terrible things they've done—"
"I know,"
Before Cynthia could finish her sentence, Su Sheng interrupted her and said calmly:
"Using large-scale violence to capture wild Pokémon, forcibly taking away Pokémon with potential even if they already have trainers, occupying the underground black market for illegal trading, and Pokémon experiments—"
"Team Rocket has done so many beastly things. I know better than you."
Cynthia's eyes widened, obviously not expecting Su Sheng to describe his organization as 'beastly.' This was a bit beyond the pale for Miss Cabbage, who, although not born into a prestigious family, had grown up somewhat in an ivory tower.
"Since, since you know all this, then, then why—"
"Me? I'm an orphan. I wandered in the wild until I was ten years old. Five years ago, I wandered to Azure City in Johto. You should know that, right?"
Having said a bit too much, Su Sheng picked up the teapot, poured himself a cup of tea, took a sip, and also poured a cup for Miss Cynthia, but she had no intention of drinking tea at all.
"Back then, Joy Saori of the Azure City Pokémon Center bought me a meal and helped me get an identification certificate. So, last week, I gave her, or rather, gave the Joy family, my latest research on the treatment pod as a thank you for that meal."
"Aren't you threatening me?"
Cynthia subconsciously retorted.
Su Sheng was stunned for a moment, then couldn't help but laugh after two seconds, "You're thinking too much. With your current strength, do I need to go to such lengths to threaten you?"
Su Sheng's smile gradually became unrestrained, "If I really wanted to threaten you, I should choose to block you in a small room and say, 'Cynthia, you don't want me to destroy the League, do you?' Wouldn't that be simpler and more convenient?'
Cynthia's pretty face flushed slightly.
Thinking about it carefully, that was indeed the case.
If Su Sheng really wanted to threaten her, wouldn't he just come to Sinnoh and put a knife to her neck?
Was it necessary to go through so many twists and turns?
Hey, wait... why does this sound so strange all of a sudden?
After figuring it out, Cynthia cursed inwardly and madly scolded Su Sheng in her heart.
No wonder there were so many scandalous rumors. What a dog of a man!
"After that, that man—the leader of Team Rocket approached me."
Su Sheng continued to talk eloquently, "He taught me Pokémon battle techniques, breeding methods, and provided funding for my scientific experiments. From that moment on, I was considered half a Team Rocket member."
Cynthia's eyes revealed a few traces of unwillingness, "That's just how those criminals buy people's hearts."
"In my hometown, there's a saying called 'judge by actions, not by intentions.' I don't care what he was thinking at the time. The key is whether he provided me with help."
Anyway, Cynthia already knew his true identity, so Su Sheng was too lazy to hide it. He released Umbreon, Bewear, and Shadow Lugia all at once and let them go play.
Umbreon was like a clingy ragdoll cat. As soon as it came out, it jumped onto the sofa and lay down on Su Sheng's lap to sleep.
Zoroark tugged at Su Sheng's sleeve, its expression like a primary school student asking their parents for their phone to play with.
Su Sheng helplessly handed his Pokédex to Zoroark.
After receiving it, it immediately opened the communication page and contacted a certain pirated yellow-skinned rat to play games together.
Seeing this scene, Su Sheng wondered if he should remind Zoroark to stay away from that dried fish cat.
"You help whoever helps you? This, this is simply not distinguishing between right and wrong! Team Rocket is evil! I think it's understandable that you worked for them before you knew their true identity, but now that you know their true colors, you should—" Cynthia briefly snapped out of the shock of so many powerful Pokémon appearing and shook her head to refute Su Sheng.
"Should what? Should I jump ship from Team Rocket to the League?"
Su Sheng asked with a smile, "Aren't I already one of the League Champions?"
Cynthia: —·
Miss Cabbage was instantly speechless.
She forgot that this guy had another identity!
"And I'm not just repaying Team Rocket's kindness. Miss Joy Saori helped me register my identity and bought me a meal. I repaid her family with the treatment pod. Professor Samuel Oak provided me with research ideas. I gave him half of the copyright fee for the Pokédex. Chairman Rose helped me a lot. I also—oh, I haven't repaid this one yet, but I will in the future."
Su Sheng spread his hands, "Ask yourself, Miss Cabbage, in terms of contributions to the League, not to mention ten years, but just in the last five years, has anyone contributed more than me?"
Cynthia: —
Miss Cynthia was silent for the second time.
If Su Sheng had just rendered her speechless, then this time she was truly at a loss for words.
Not to mention the last five years, even in the last ten years, or even since the establishment of the Pokémon League until now.
Probably not many people can compare with Su Sheng in terms of contributions.
And there are still several great achievements that he hasn't mentioned!
And the reason why Cynthia didn't dare to accuse Su Sheng, besides the fact that he held the leading power in the Pokémon world, the more important reason lay here.
The current Su Sheng can be said to be the common idol of countless young trainers.
His current position in the League is more than comparable to Sosuke Aizen in his glasses form from the Bleach setting.
Cynthia didn't even dare to imagine what the consequences would be if he were to "collapse."
"I don't want to participate in the discussion of whether Team Rocket is evil and the League is good, and I'm not interested. I only know that I will never do anything that I will regret."
Su Sheng spoke again:
"Do what you want to do, live freely, my life motto is only this. Don't think of me as too complicated."
"What you're most worried about now is nothing more than me completely siding with Team Rocket and replacing the League, right? You don't need to worry about this kind of thing the most."
Su Sheng comforted:
"Although the League itself also has a lot of problems, it is generally healthy. More importantly, the general public supports them."
"Like Shadow before, wanting to overthrow the League by violent means and replace it, and doing it in front of the whole world, such behavior is, in my opinion, simply foolish."
"No member of the public wants to be in an environment ruled by violence. Even if Shadow was lucky last time and Team Rocket didn't interfere, and they really destroyed the League, they wouldn't succeed. It wouldn't be long before a new strong person was born and destroyed them."
"Team Rocket is the same. Their terrible image is already deeply rooted in the hearts of the people. It is impossible to replace the League. Being a boss of the underground world is basically the limit."
Su Sheng spread his hands.
That's still very terrifying, okay?
Cynthia muttered in her heart, feeling quite speechless.
Ruling the dark organization of the entire Pokémon world's underworld.
It's like a Sword of Damocles hanging over the League's head.
Cynthia felt that if Team Rocket really developed to that day, there would definitely be an earth-shattering battle between them and the League.
"And speaking of which, you don't need to worry so far ahead now. Sinnoh itself also has a lot of messes waiting for you, the Champion, to deal with, doesn't it?"
Su Sheng changed the subject.
"Are you talking about Lily of the Valley Island? Mr. Cyrus has already taken over there and is carrying out reconstruction work."
Cynthia frowned slightly. She thought Su Sheng was talking about the destroyed Lily of the Valley Island.
Although it was already a mess, with the magical power of Pokémon, plus the financial resources of the Galactic Corporation.
She believed that the restoration work wouldn't take too much time.
"Mr. Cyrus—"
Hearing Cynthia's address to Cyrus, Su Sheng couldn't help but show a Southern Beng expression that said, 'I won't laugh unless I can't help it.'
"Heh~ In short, you can handle my identity however you want."
Su Sheng stood up and said, "Either you go to Mr. Darach and accuse me, or you have to keep this secret in your stomach for the rest of your life. But in that case, you have to be careful when you get married in the future. It's best to see a doctor in advance to find out if you have a habit of talking in your sleep, otherwise you might accidentally reveal it."
Speaking later, Su Sheng joked half-jokingly.
"During this time, relax in this resort paradise of Alola. After all, your work will be handled by that Mr. Cyrus for you, won't it?"
Leaving the last sentence, Su Sheng patted Cynthia on the shoulder, leaving her alone to think quietly.
The Lily of the Valley Island incident ultimately ended with the old chairman of the Sinnoh League voluntarily taking the blame.
The Galactic Corporation stated that it would fully take over the restoration work of the island,
Securing a large number of votes for Galactic Corporation Director Cyrus.
During the election process, there were almost no accidents or opponents that could threaten him. The young entrepreneur Cyrus, who was not yet 25 years old, was promoted to Chairman of the Sinnoh League.
Cynthia also followed Su Sheng's and Darach's advice and temporarily vacationed in Alola.
After learning about this, Gardenia, the little fan girl who had recently received an invitation from Grandma Kukui, the chairman of the Unova League, and jumped ship from Sinnoh to Unova, quickly followed, asking if Miss Cynthia had not been feeling well recently.
Cynthia said that she was just a little tired after going through the Lily of the Valley Island incident.
But Cynthia was superficially on vacation, but in reality, she was secretly observing Su Sheng's territory in Alola.
She wanted to determine what kind of person Su Sheng was through personal observation.
When she learned that Sophocles, the original Ground-type Gym Leader, had passed away before a single Gym battle had been fought, and that Professor Kukui was temporarily serving as the Gym Leader.
Cynthia even thought about whether she should jump ship and become the Gym Leader to keep an eye on Su Sheng at all times.
Gardenia was dumbfounded when she learned of Cynthia's idea.
Why not be a good Champion, what kind of Gym Leader are you?
"Miss Cynthia, you wouldn't have fallen in love with that scumbag, would you?"
The light in Gardenia's eyes gradually faded.
Because besides this reason, she really couldn't figure out why Cynthia would give up being a Champion and lower herself to become a Gym Trainer in a foreign country.
"I'm just saying, don't take it seriously."
Seeing the little fan girl like this, Miss Cynthia quickly changed her words.
Indeed, this approach is not rational.
Not to mention whether Sinnoh would let people go, let alone what the outside world would think if she really did this?
Say I'm secretly in love with a criminal?
Just thinking about this scene made Cynthia feel uncomfortable all over.
The next day, when Cynthia and Gardenia were drinking afternoon tea together, Cynthia picked up a newspaper and drank black tea while reading it.
This was a newspaper from Mesagoza, the capital of the Paldea region, the 'Mesagoza Daily': "Lance Declines Chairwoman Tyme's Invitation and Abandons Terastallization"
Seeing this title, Cynthia raised her eyebrows slightly, showing some interest.
The Paldea region has researched a new means of strengthening Pokémon, which seems to be called Terastallization.
Originally, Cynthia also wanted to go and see it, but because the Lily of the Valley Island storm had not subsided, coupled with the fact that Su Sheng's true identity troubled her, she forgot about it.
Champion Lance has already gone one step ahead?
After carefully reading the report, Cynthia was a little speechless,
From the report, Cynthia learned that Terastallization is a means of strengthening that can change a Pokémon's type in battle.
To be honest, the strengthening strength is not as great as Gigantamax and Mega Evolution.
But it is much more convenient to use than the former two.
Gigantamaxing must be done in places with Gigantamax energy points, which are basically the major stadiums in Galar.
Some Galar stadiums don't even have them.
So, if you encounter dangerous Pokémon and criminals in the wild, it is basically impossible to rely on the power of Gigantamaxing to turn the tables.
Because there are basically no energy points in the wild,
While Mega Evolution can be used anytime, anywhere, the stones are too hard to find, and even if you do find one, it might not be the stone that corresponds to your Pokémon.
Terastallizing is more convenient; any Pokémon can use it, anytime, anywhere.
But there's still one problem.
That's the Tera Orb. Every time you use it, you have to go to a Pokémon Center in Paldea to replenish "Tera Energy."
In other words, if you leave the Paldea region, you can only Terastallize once.
After that, you have to return to a Pokémon Center in Paldea to "recharge" before you can use it again.
Which is a pain in the ass. (Game setting: If the colorful turtle Terapagos is in the party, you don't need to return to a Paldea Pokémon Center to recharge; you can use Terastallization without restrictions.)
The report claims that Geeta invited Champion Alder to Paldea so he could use Terastallization without restrictions.
But Alder ultimately refused.
Alder also stated that he wouldn't use Terastallization. The media speculated this was because Alder himself wasn't in Paldea most of the time, making recharging too troublesome.
According to a scoop from Lumiose Station in Kalos, the real reason is that Alder's two Dragonite become Flying-type after Terastallizing, which the Dragon Champion is very unhappy about.
Su Sheng didn't pay attention to the report.
He had Wicke help arrange a new home for Mally and Hoopa.
Looking at the exceptionally excited girl and the little demon after moving, and then looking at the cocoon of destruction in one of the Poké Balls on his waist,
Su Sheng thought that this way, Team Flare wouldn't be able to cause any trouble, right?
After all, even if Lysandre captured Xerneas as the key to activate the ultimate weapon, he could only use the ultimate weapon's "eternal life force" to grant immortality to the target.
He wouldn't be able to use Yveltal to unleash the power of destruction to destroy everything.
The following time passed unnoticed.
Without anyone paying attention.
At the beginning of the new year, two boys who had just turned ten, at Professor Oak's Laboratory in Pallet Town, received their starter Pokémon, Charmander and Squirtle, respectively, and embarked on their own trainer journeys.
While the two 10-year-old boys embarked on their journeys, their younger brothers also came to the entrance of Pallet Town to see their older brothers off.
After watching them leave, the two younger brothers started fighting again.
As always, they took out their initial partners, a Shiny Stufful and a Pikachu, to battle.
And the final result was not surprising. A Pokémon that hadn't awakened the [Fifty-Fifty] trait was beaten to a pulp by the Shiny Stufful.
