You are not allowed to be a Pokémon Trainer!

Chapter 335: Reuniting with her best friend and then meeting a junior she admires—two events overlapping...
The vehicle came to a smooth stop in the manor's neatly manicured forecourt, and the door opened.

Immediately, a tall and graceful figure stepped out with ease.

Her signature long, golden hair cascaded down like a waterfall, its color shimmering brilliantly in the sunlight.

Perhaps knowing the warm climate of Ripple Town, Cynthia didn't wear her usual black trench coat today, but instead changed into a simple and refreshing outfit.

A white floral print knee-length dress, paired with simple high-heeled sandals, revealing slender and fair bare ankles.

She looked perfectly at home in the seaside atmosphere.

She stopped, raised her hand to gently brush away a strand of hair that had been ruffled by the sea breeze, and looked at Gadriya and Xia Chi, who had quickly come out of the villa to greet her upon hearing the sound.

"Long time no see, Gadriya and Xia Chi."

Her voice was gentle and pleasant, like a breeze rustling through a wind chime.

Caldea maintained her delicate, expressionless face. Upon hearing this, she stated the facts in a calm and even tone: "If I remember correctly, we met in Cubic City in Sinnoh just last month, so you can say 'long time no see' to this guy next to you alone."

Cynthia was clearly used to her best friend's occasional quirks and remarks. She simply smiled tolerantly, not taking it to heart, and turned her gaze to Xia Chi.

Xia Chi tried to smooth things over, saying, "Sister Zhu Lan, it's been quite a while since I've seen you. I remember the last time we met was at the multi-attribute expert competition in the Galar region, right?"

Cynthia smiled and said, "Even so, I've been seeing you on the headlines all over the place lately."

Xia Chi coughed lightly and said, "Those aren't exactly respectable news stories, Sister Zhulan, please don't make fun of me."

"Oh?"

Cynthia tilted her head slightly and smiled, "If successfully preventing a massive disaster that could have overturned the entire region and discovering a super-evolutionary phenomenon that shocked the academic world are not considered 'respectable,' then I really don't know what else deserves that word."

As the two were exchanging pleasantries, Cattleya, who had been "neglected," suddenly interrupted, saying, "Let's go inside. Don't you feel hot standing outside?"

Xia Chi and Xilona exchanged a silent glance, seeing the helplessness in each other's eyes, and smiled at each other.

Cynthia chuckled first, "Okay, I've been on a plane for quite a while, and I'm a little hungry too."

The three of them then walked together along the paved stone path into the villa.

------

Cattleya had clearly made ample preparations for her close friend's arrival, with an extremely lavish welcome feast already laid out in the restaurant.

A long dining table was covered with a clean white tablecloth, and the silver cutlery gleamed under the lights. A wide variety of delicious foods were on display, ranging from local Unova specialties to Sinnoh flavors, and the aroma filled the air.

Although there were only three humans dining, the huge restaurant instantly became bustling with activity once the elves were also released.

Most of Cynthia's main teammates were present.

Garchomp, Lucario, and Milotic, who had stayed at Xia Chi's house for a period of time last year, were all on the list.

When the elves saw Xia Chi, they all nodded or chirped in a friendly manner.

Xia Chi glanced around but didn't spot the rather arrogant Ice Eevee, feeling a little disappointed.

Is this a shift workday/holiday?
He had originally hoped to see the cat that it had bullied back then put on a dramatic show of "Thirty years east of the river, thirty years west of the river, don't underestimate Kimi's poverty."
The elves clearly enjoyed this carefree atmosphere more. They gathered in twos and threes, either picking out their favorite food at the table or finding a comfortable corner to share the delicious food with familiar companions.

Meanwhile, at the human table, Xia Chi, Cynthia, and Gadriya were eating and chatting.

"So, what's the deal with the underwater ruins? Which legend in the Unova region is it specifically related to?"

As expected, Cynthia brought up the topic of underwater ruins first.

Xia Chi put down her juice, her expression turned serious, and began to recount the information she knew.

"According to some scattered ancient records and folk legends, that underwater ruin is likely the final resting place of a great first king of the ancient United Kingdom, and the most important thing in it is to enshrine or guard an item called the 'Mirror of Revealing Form'."

He paused, organized his thoughts, and continued to explain: "This 'Mirror of Manifestation' is said to possess the power to stabilize the current forms of the Four Cloud Gods. You should know that the tornado clouds, lightning clouds, and earth clouds that are now known to people are more like 'incarnations' after their power has been restrained."

Caldelia, who had been listening quietly, suddenly turned her cool gaze toward Xia Chi: "When I asked you a few days ago, you didn't seem to give such detailed answers, did you?"

"Uh"

Xia Chi tactfully picked up his cup and took a sip, his brain racing as he tried to find a reasonable explanation. "This information... I probably found it in the library in Lianyi Town or on some online archaeology forums these past few days?"

Cattleya glanced at him indifferently with her eyes that seemed to see right through people, without calling out his obviously weak explanation.

The two of them have barely been apart these past few days except when they're sleeping. How could Gadalia not know whether he had been to the so-called "Ripple Town Library"?

However, since they were discussing serious matters at the moment, she simply gave a soft "humph," letting him off the hook for the time being.

He then steered the conversation back to the topic: "'Transformation form'? From what you're saying, they have other forms?"

Xia Chi nodded solemnly, “Yes, in contrast to the relatively stable and more human-like ‘avatar form’, there is the true form known as the ‘spirit beast form’. In this form, the Four Cloud Gods will return to their most primitive and wild form as spirits of nature, and their power will be even greater. However, at the same time, their temperament will become extremely unstable, and can even be described as brutal.”

Although in the game's design, switching between the two forms only results in changes to the base stats' attack and defense, but not the total base stats.

However, judging from the animation, the "spirit beast form" is indeed as Xia Chi described—

It was the unbridled manifestation of nature's power, brimming with primal danger.

Cynthia seemed thoughtful, her slender fingers lightly tapping the table: "So, your goal this time is to find this 'revealing mirror' and bring it under the strict control of the United States Alliance, just in case?"

"It's not just about bringing them under control."

Cattleya picked up the conversation, her tone resolute: "More importantly, we absolutely cannot let this crucial item fall into the hands of Team Plasma."

"Plasma team?"

Cynthia paused slightly, a hint of surprise flashing in her eyes.

Before arriving, Cattleya did not mention the current tense situation in the Unova region in her communications.

After all, given Cattleya's personality and status, she would never actively seek help from champions in other regions unless absolutely necessary. This is her pride and also a principle of the United States League's internal affairs.

However, now that the person had arrived and that a major event that could affect regional security was involved, Cattleya no longer concealed anything.

She succinctly explained to Cynthia the recent unusual movements of Team Plasma, their possible ambitions, and the fact that N and Zekrom had already awakened.

Upon hearing this, Cynthia frowned slightly, her tone carrying a mixture of concern and reproach: "Why didn't you tell me sooner that you were facing such a difficult situation? If I had known, I would have brought Glaceon and Togekiss with me."

Caldelia remained calm. She shook her head and said firmly, "No need. With Xia Chi and my strength, that's enough."

Upon hearing this, Cynthia was visibly taken aback.

This was the first time she had ever heard Cattleya say that she was tied to another person.

Although the words themselves were not ambiguous, this was an unprecedented first for this young lady who always kept to herself.

Gadriya keenly caught the fleeting surprise in Cynthia's eyes for that instant.

A faint blush seemed to flit across her fair cheeks, and she explained with a slightly unnatural expression, "What I mean is, I just happened to see the news that Xia Chi was coming to the Unova region to participate in the competition, and his strength is enough to handle it, so I invited him to help with these matters. That makes perfect sense, doesn't it?"

"Oh, I see. That makes sense."

Cynthia nodded, but her eyes darted between Xia Chi and Gadria, lost in thought.

She reunited with her best friend and also met with a junior colleague she admired.

These are two things that should have brought double the joy when combined, but now, their overlap feels somewhat awkward.
Xia Chi pretended not to understand the air and continued, "So, in terms of time, our mission is quite urgent. If everyone is okay with that, let's set off to explore the underwater ruins first thing tomorrow morning. By the way, there's another crucial question: do you have any spirits that can help us stay underwater for extended periods, or spirits with diving abilities?"

The successful shift in topic instantly restored the delicate atmosphere at the dinner table to normal.

Cynthia nodded and calmly replied, "I have Milotic, no problem."

Caldelia said calmly, "I can go down by myself."

Xia Chi: "."

Every time I come across this humanoid mythical beast, the art style always looks weird, what's going on?
However, this can be considered as each person showing their unique abilities.

------

Meanwhile, over the vast sea, nearly 100 kilometers away from Lianyi Town.

A colossal airship, of enormous size, hovered silently beneath the clouds.

On both sides of the airship, the Rocket Team's iconic bright red "R" logo is prominently painted, reflecting a cold, hard luster in the sunlight.

There were many figures on the deck of the airship.

Surprisingly, the event was not only attended by Team Rocket members in their uniform black outfits, but also by a number of people wearing gray Team Plasma uniforms.

Although the two groups were on the same boat, they were clearly separated, and their eyes met with obvious wariness and scrutiny.

In a dimly lit, top-secret conference room deep inside the airship, this invisible sense of confrontation was even stronger.

On either side of the long conference table sat key figures representing the two regions' largest dark forces. On one side sat Team Rocket executives, led by Giovanni and the three Beastmen.

On the other side is Team Plasma, represented by N and several of the Seven Sages.

It is worth mentioning that Quixote was not present.

At this moment, the air in the conference room seemed to freeze, carrying a tense atmosphere of impending doom.

"It's really puzzling."

Beside Sakaki, Sachi, one of the three beast warriors, broke the silence first, a sneer curling at the corner of her lips as she glanced at N opposite her.

"They've already successfully awakened the legendary Zekrom and even wield greater power, yet now they're hesitant and timid because of a mere Xia Chi?"

"If this is the 'courage' shown by the most powerful organization in the Unova region, it is too disappointing. In my opinion, it would be more practical to face reality and join our Team Rocket."

These provocative words immediately drew a counterattack from Team Plasma.

Across from him, the white-haired yet vigorous Sage Asura snorted coldly and retorted sarcastically, "Sachi, I really wish you could be this tough before that Eevee in Xia Chi. Do you think you're stronger than Groudon and Kyogre?"

These words caught Sachi, one of the three beast warriors, off guard. Her face stiffened slightly, and she swallowed back the rest of her sarcasm.

She certainly wouldn't dare to boast that she could solve Xia Chi's mysterious problem.

If she were to be held hostage by the other side, the eldest brother, Sakagi, would go along with it and actually send her to confront that monstrous Xia Chi and his treacherous Pon.
This is no different from sending someone to their death.

Seeing his subordinates suffer a setback, Sakaki, who had remained calm throughout, finally made a move.

He tapped the armrest of the chair lightly. The man standing behind him adjusted his glasses and said calmly, "Sage Asura, the purpose of our operation this time is not to directly oppose Xia Chi, but only to reveal the mirror in the underwater ruins."

"How can you be sure that Xia Chi's target isn't the underwater ruins?"

Asura remained unyielding, her aged eyes gleaming with shrewdness. "Do you think he traveled across the entire continent of Unova, from the snowy city of Snowflake in the far west to Ripple Town on the east coast, just for a vacation?"

True Bird frowned slightly, stopped arguing with Asura, and turned his gaze to N, who had remained silent.

"Your Majesty, are you sure that Xia Chi is the real hero and has already awakened Reshiram?"

N finally raised his head, revealing his pure, lake-green eyes beneath the brim of his hat, and nodded slightly. "Naturally, Czechrom's judgment is correct."

He then turned to Sakaki, who was in the main seat, and said in a calm tone, "Mr. Sakaki, you should know that our crucial research is nearing its final stage. We only need to wait another half month to have a more solid grasp of the situation. Can't you wait that short time?"

A half-smile crept across Sakaki's face, adding an unfathomable depth to his already dangerous triangular eyes.

He shrugged casually and said, "Of course, Team Rocket doesn't care about time. In fact, we can wait until your Team Plasma and Xia Chi officially start their war with the entire Unova League before we get involved. We can come over and take the Revealing Mirror then."

Sakaki has his own methods.

His information network knew that the Plasma Team was at a crucial stage in its research on the Genesis Legion.

It will only be at that point that we cooperate with N to retrieve the revealing mirror.
The question of who the Four Cloud Gods belong to is not so certain.

So, either now, or after the Plasma Team's coronation ceremony.

His plan only included the timing of these two actions.

N clearly understood this as well, and said with a resolute expression, "Without me, even if you find the general location of the ruins, you won't be able to enter the true core area, let alone obtain the Revealing Mirror protected by the ancient power."

This is his confidence as a descendant of the royal family of the ancient United States.

Sakaki raised an eyebrow slightly. "Oh? That's not necessarily true."

N remained calm and even leaned back slightly, making a gesture of "please go ahead".

"In that case, Mr. Sakaki, you may as well give it a try now."

Sakaki's face twitched almost imperceptibly, then he suddenly let out a low laugh, breaking the slightly stiff atmosphere.

"Hehehe, as expected, heroes emerge from among the young. No wonder he is worthy of being recognized by the legendary ideal dragon Zekrom. His composure and confidence are admirable."

He suppressed his smile, leaned forward slightly, and placed his hands crossed on the table, adopting a truly negotiating posture: "Alright, enough with the probing. Let's talk frankly."

He paused for a moment, then presented Team Rocket's conditions: "All I want is control of the four legendary Pokémon. In the final battle between you and the Unova League, I will have Sachi and Okada lead at least seven legendary Pokémon into the fight. What do you think of this condition?"

N remained calm. "The seven legendary spirits refer to the four Kumo no Kami obtained by borrowing our power, and the so-called three legendary birds of your Kanto region?"

Although his face didn't show it, his tone still revealed his disdain for those three so-called "legendary elves".

Sakaki: "."

Although his trusted lieutenant had been insulted, he was momentarily unable to refute him with conviction.

It's just that these three "legendary birds" of Kanto seem somewhat lacking in prestige compared to legendary beings of a higher rank.

As appendages of the sea god Lugia, and possessing their own races, they do indeed somewhat "disgrace" the name of the legend in the face of the ancient dragons who truly created the Unova region in the legends.

But Giovanni is Giovanni after all. He didn't dwell on this point. He tapped the table lightly and launched another heavyweight bet.

"The legendary forces participating in the war are not limited to these; we also have an extra 'surprise'."

The real bird behind him immediately understood and quickly began operating the tablet computer it carried with it.

The next instant, a huge holographic projection screen suddenly lit up at the end of the conference room, attracting everyone's attention.

On the screen, a battle video that had clearly been specially processed began to play—

The background appears to be a desolate valley, and in the center of the image, a strangely shaped Pokémon is battling alone against Moltres, Articuno, and Zapdos!
This sprite had never been seen before; it seemed to be a humanoid life form composed of several flexible, long strips of red and blue material interwoven like DNA helices.

He exuded a cold and mysterious cosmic energy that seemed to belong to another world.

Its movements are as fast as a ghost, and its form seems to be constantly adjusting, sometimes becoming as solid as a shield, sometimes as agile as the wind, and sometimes as powerful as a raging storm.

The three divine birds were no match for it.

Scorching flames, frigid frost, and raging lightning—all sorts of powerful attacks bombarded it, yet they seemed to be deflected or absorbed by some invisible force field, with minimal effect.

The three divine birds, working together and giving their all, could only manage a draw against this strange being, and were even subtly suppressed by its bizarre and unpredictable attack methods!

The video abruptly ended at this moment, and the holographic projection screen vanished instantly.

The meeting room fell into a deathly silence.

The Plasma Team's several knowledgeable sages were filled with shock and disbelief.

Despite the insult to the birds, Moltres and its companions are genuine legendary Pokémon, possessing power far exceeding that of ordinary Pokémon.

And whose general is the strange elf in the picture who easily suppressed the three divine birds working together all by himself?

All eyes involuntarily turned back to Sakaki, who remained calmly seated.

A satisfied smile played on Sakaki's lips as he slowly uttered a name: "A virus from space, a warrior that can change its form at will—Deoxys. It will also be involved in this operation. Everyone, do you still have any doubts?"

Upon hearing this, the members of the Plasma Team exchanged bewildered glances, their hearts filled with shock, and they began to quickly formulate their plans.

If the Rockets' claims are true, then in a potential all-out conflict, N's Zekrom would be a match for Summer's Rehiram.

With the three legendary birds provided by the Rockets, plus this terrifyingly powerful Deoxys, even if they can't defeat Xia Chi's bug-like Evil Phantom, it wouldn't be difficult to restrain it for a short time.

The two most troublesome ones have been resolved.

The remaining battlefield can be completely controlled by the large number of elite members of Team Rocket and Team Plasma, as well as the "Three Beasts" and "Seven Sages" whose strength has reached the level of Gym Leaders and even Elite Four Leaders!

Sakaki's seductive voice rang out again, echoing in the silent conference room.

"Gentlemen, we are not those insignificant, worthless fish and shrimp teams like Team Lava and Team Ocean."

"Now, we have gathered the top forces from Kanto, Johto, and Unova, spanning three regions. Isn't such a powerful alliance enough to give you confidence in victory?"

The sages of the Plasma Team clearly showed signs of interest.

They all turned their gaze to N, who had fallen into deep thought once again after the video was played.

With Ghettoss absent, the Plasma Team's soon-to-be-crowned king is the ultimate decision-maker for this operation.

Under everyone's gaze, N remained silent for a long time, his lake-green eyes flashing with many complex thoughts.

In the end, everything returned to calm.

He raised his head, his gaze sweeping over Asura and the others beside him, before looking at Sakaki.

He spoke in a deep voice: "Alright, we'll move out tonight."

(End of this chapter)