This elf world is a bit strange

New tea is refreshing and has a strong aroma. Just sniffing the tea fragrance will make your lips water.

"It tastes fresh and refreshing, and the aftertaste is lingering. It is indeed a good tea. However, I didn't expect that Mr. Chairman likes to drink new tea. I thought that elders of your age would like to drink old tea, just like Senior Nino."

After taking a sip, Firion showed a surprised expression and complimented softly under Ravi's expectant gaze.

"Nino... this old kid is also my senior. About fifty years ago, when I was still a rookie, he was already famous, but he was always reluctant to leave his hometown, otherwise his reputation would be much greater than it is now." Ravi smiled with his eyes narrowed, and the wrinkles on his face slightly stretched out. "He has a good life, it's easy, happy, and fulfilling. But I don't envy him. People always have to face challenges, always have to contact and face new things, just like I only drink the new tea of ​​that year every year. I am also very willing to get along with outstanding young people like you."

Hearing him say this, Filio frowned slightly and asked in confusion: "If that's the case, then you...?"

"Why did you leave so abruptly, huh? It seems that you pay close attention to the news. I thought you wouldn't be interested in reading these things after you just woke up." Ravi put the teacup on the table, looked at Firion without flinching, and smiled. "Wanting to get in touch with and adapt to new things doesn't mean you can do it. In my interactions with you, Karuna and the others, as well as young people like Joan who are a little older, I gradually realized that the Kalos Alliance and I are old, and we are getting old very quickly. Although we have the young Four Heavenly Kings and the Alliance Champion, this alliance is already old."

As he spoke, he stood up and walked to the window, looking at the avenue not far away. There, a new crowd and lively celebrations had started again early in the morning. There were active young people as well as young and old who were equally energetic.

"Tell me, Firio. You've been traveling for a few months and have almost visited all of Kalos. What do you think? About our homeland, this society, Team Flare... and the Alliance. Anything is fine."

Looking at everything outside the window, the old man felt a surge of emotion, and his old but lively voice trembled a little.

Although he could only see the other person's back, Firion felt like an old lion was watching him from a distance. He subconsciously walked forward and spoke without thinking before releasing his superpowers: "I do have some thoughts, but I have been through so many things that they are fragmented and unsystematic."

Ravi nodded in agreement. "Fragments represent the truth. If you really tell me a long story, I will wonder if this guy has done his homework in advance. That would be bad. This is not a work place, but your ward. Don't think of me as the chairman of an alliance. Just a friend or a neighbor. It's enough for you to chat with an old man like me who refuses to admit his age."

"Then I'll share some of my immature thoughts." Filio's keen superpowers sensed the subtleties between Ravi's mental fluctuations and words, and he didn't find anything abnormal, nor did he feel any defensiveness. He felt relieved and said in a deep voice, "If I really want to talk about my experience in the past few months, it might be more appropriate to describe it as 'fractured'."

"In many places, I can detect a strong modern atmosphere. New technologies and the new culture and social representations they have spawned have penetrated into our lives."

“Culture is a way of life.”

"Karos is a continent with a long history, but it is also very young now, thanks to various information technologies and a new generation of cultural and social representations - in this, we cannot exclude the contribution of Vladali. He did bring Karos to the brink of destruction with his madness for a long time, but he was also a genius who created brilliant technological achievements and completely changed our culture and our lives."

"But in many areas, we are conservative. We are like ancient people using modern tools. The most typical example is our art, but also many other aspects. We are stuck on the achievements of decades or even hundreds of years ago. We are faithful to them but have little progress."

"Most people naturally wouldn't have any objections to this, and would be content and happy with such a life, but that's not all. I've met many members of Team Flare, and they have a lot of blood on their hands. In them, I can always see anger towards such a rupture. So, maybe the emergence of Vladali is an isolated case, but the people he represents and distorts may not be isolated cases for our society, but represent a group of people whose number and proportion cannot be ignored. They are not Vladali or Claire, but they follow them."

"In the past, they pursued happiness and enjoyment, but now they pursue destruction and rebirth. The large-scale emergence of such lunatics at least shows the sickness of our society. Sometimes, it also shows the divisions and divisions within the alliance. Otherwise, there wouldn't be so many times when the Flare Team led the alliance by the nose, right?"

"It is precisely because of the existence of such people and things that the Kalos Alliance, which has been unwilling to change for more than ten years or even decades, seems even more old and powerless. It can maintain the smooth operation of this society, but it is difficult to prevent the emergence of organizations like the Flare Team. Madness is not just an individual behavior and mentality, but a social and structural one."

"..."

What he had seen, heard, and thought over the past few days turned into an endless stream of opinions, mixed with some resentment over the repeated crises of intelligence leaks.

Ravi just leaned on the windowsill, not saying a word, listening quietly to Firio's stories of his experiences and thoughts until he finished speaking.

Looking at Firio who was talking attentively and telling everyone he thought and knew without reservation, his smile became even more loving. He put one hand on Firio's back, walked back to the sofa with him, and added some tea to moisten his throat.

"After saying so much, your experiences have been connected into a whole. Maybe you know why I resigned?" Ravi took a sip of hot tea and looked at Firio with a smile. "Although what you said is not comprehensive enough, it does point to part of the problem, Firio. In order for Kalos to truly usher in peace and development, we must not only eliminate the Flash Team that is causing trouble, but also let the alliance itself make changes, let Kalos make changes, and thus eliminate the soil for this evil organization. To achieve this, the first person who needs to change is me, the chairman."

“Time is fair to everyone. No one can defy it. Those who try to do so are either believers in the classical beauty of art who pursue eternity and stagnation, such as Fradari, or arrogant careerists and fools who are fooled by others.”

"But, to be honest, when I realized that I was getting older, I was confused, but fortunately, I'm not that stupid yet, which makes me feel lucky."

"Generations need to change. The old generation, which is old and weak, will leave the stage, and the new generation, which is young and strong, will take the stage. This is the norm in history at all times. Looking at young people like you, I feel that the future of the league, the future ten or twenty years later, will definitely be much better than it is now."

At the end of his speech, Ravi's smile gradually faded and his eyes became meaningful.

Firion subconsciously turned his head slightly, not looking at the old man, and said modestly: "You are right, I understand what you mean, but it does take courage to do this, which is really admirable. As for me, it was just a coincidence of fate that brought Mewtwo to that situation. I don't deserve your evaluation at all."

Firio's reaction was not beyond Ravi's expectations. Although they had met only a few times, the old man had never stopped observing him since they first met at the Miale Arena. After the incident in the Pokémon Village, the level of attention he paid to him even higher.

After gathering information from various sources, he, who has seen countless people, has already had a fairly deep understanding of Firio's character, but he still dares not draw a conclusion.

Until the decisive battle outside Mingshui Town, the figure standing tall on the dragon's back made him certain of his judgment.

He didn't care about Firio's evasion. He just picked up the teacup and took a sip, speaking calmly: "Things like this can't be rushed, we can only do it step by step. You are still young, and life is a long way to go. Different people have to do different things, just like I can promote reforms within the alliance, but I can't command a legendary Pokémon to stop Zygarde. You can join forces with Mewtwo to defeat Zygarde, but you still can't understand the operation of the alliance. People are different, and it is precisely because of their differences that this society is made up. For each of us, it is to play the role that we can play in the occasion that suits us. Do you think this is right?"

"...Of course, people should never shirk their responsibilities at any time." Firio nodded silently.

After hearing what the old man said, he also understood the other party's intention of rushing to see him immediately after his farewell speech - to allow him to take on more responsibilities in the future, no matter in what capacity.

I think there should be quite a lot of conversations like this in the next few months, and the people involved should cover all aspects, from young trainers like myself, to the current young and strong backbone, to the four heavenly kings and champions who are undoubtedly the top combat power in the league - perhaps I have communicated with them in advance, otherwise Pakira would not have come out to broadcast it personally.

As he is about to leave the position of chairman of the alliance, the old man also hopes to use his prestige and personal connections to bridge the differences within the alliance and society as a whole, to gain as much confidence and support for the alliance as possible, and to pave the way for the future of the Kalos region.

Thinking of this, Firio looked at Ravi with a little more respect.

During the heart-to-heart communication, he increasingly understood the old man's helplessness and powerlessness. The weight of history and the inertia of reality superimposed on him made him, who was lazy by nature, feel a little breathless even if he just watched.

"I'm glad you think so!" Ravi seemed not to notice Firio's gaze. He smiled happily, and suddenly he seemed to be a few years younger. "You are still young, and you have a long way to go in the future. It's really exciting. Every time I see you, it's like I see myself decades ago in the Firè region, fighting poachers and Team Rocket with the rangers."

The old man's eyes were full of reminiscence. He took out an old photo with a slightly yellowed back from his arms and handed it to Filio.

In the photo, several trainers who are in their golden age, some younger and some older but no older than forty years old, are wearing simple combat uniforms that are completely different from what they are now, with only the logos vaguely recognizable, and they are smiling brightly.

The oldest person in the middle is Ravi himself, next to him is the serious Horace, and in the corner is Vladali, who has long red hair but a gentle and calm expression despite his young age.

Pointing at the photo of himself who is not young anymore but still full of vigor, Ravi said with a smile: "You may not believe it, but more than ten years earlier than in the photo, I was also very handsome, not much worse than you are now, and the kind of person who would always have girls turning their heads to look at me when I walked on the street. It's a pity that I was always busy at that time, and I never had the opportunity or interest to take pictures. By the time I recovered, wrinkles had appeared on my face, and I never had the chance to show off my handsomeness again."

The past, which carries countless memories, was made more relaxed and interesting by the old man's interruption, which actually diluted the heaviness of the rift between old friends.

Firio tactfully did not ask about Vladali, but Ravi was very talkative. He pointed at the photo of Vladali and said, "At that time, Vladali was still a newcomer. He was very strong, but still very immature in every aspect. He also had a good personality and was very gentle to people and Pokémon. Perhaps it was this gentleness that made him what he became. He had more things in his head than the rest of us. He was a genius, but he lived a very tiring life and finally crushed himself."

The old man's words were suggestive, but he stopped short of saying anything. Without waiting for Philiodo to say anything, he picked up the photo, stuffed it back into his arms, and changed the subject, talking about the interesting stories between himself and the current top ranger Horace.

From Frey to Sinnoh, to Kanto and Hoenn, as an exchange trainer between the Kalos League and the Ranger League, Ravi traveled to almost every region in his prime years.

In the past few years, away from the work within the alliance, he made many ranger friends with different personalities and also cracked down on countless criminals.

Horace was his best partner in those years. Together with him, they created a great reputation. Horace personally presented him with the friendship badge when they parted.

That is the one that Joan handed over to Filio.

Firio quickly took out the badge from his bedside drawer, held it in his palm, and handed it to the other party.

However, Ravi had no intention of accepting it.

The old man waved his hand and said with a smile, "I'll give you this badge as a souvenir. If you keep it with me, it will just gather dust in the drawer. Besides... I can hear what old man Horace is doing at the bottom of Grant Peak at the Alliance headquarters. Don't let him get away with it. Remember, you are a Kalos, not a ranger!"

When he talked about the latter part, the old man couldn't help laughing, and he felt a little like the fighting spirit of his childhood.

Firion held two badges in each hand, one of which was identical except for the difference between old and new. Thinking back to the scene when he met Captain Horace in Yingxue City before, he did not know whether to laugh or cry at the behavior of the two old children. In the end, he could only stuff them all into the compartment of his backpack.

"That's right. When I retire, I won't have so much to do. I might as well be a teacher in the ranger school in Fyre and stay away from the disputes. If you want to see me then, you'll have to take this badge and line up at the school gate as a guest." Ravi waved his hand with a smile, looking energetic.

Suddenly, he remembered something, slapped his forehead, and sighed: "Hey, look at my brain! Once I started chatting, I almost forgot the business!"

"What's wrong, Chairman Ravi?" Firio's eyes were filled with inquiry.

"It's nothing. I came here this time not only to meet you and chat, but also to bring you some good news." Ravi laughed, his eyes warm, as if he was looking at his own nephew. "Kalunai and the others came here once yesterday and brought you rewards from the alliance, right?"

"Yes, I just distributed them with Mewtwo last night, and I haven't figured out how to use them yet. They are all rare and good things, so we must not be careless." Firion nodded slightly and spoke sincerely, but he forgot that these things were still casually placed on the bedside table and were noticed by the old man at a glance.

"Yeah! They are indeed good stuff, and very suitable for your Pokémon. Think about it carefully." The corners of Ravi's mouth twitched imperceptibly, and he had a better understanding of Firion's character. "They are escorting the Leaf of Life taken directly from the Alliance's secret vault. It's a matter of great importance, but it's not all the rewards the Alliance wants to give you this time. I came here this time just to ask you if you need anything for this reward?"

"Eh? Can I still pick things by myself?" Surprised, Firion's eyes rolled, and the little fox's cunning instinct rose, "Is there any range?"

"Well...funding, formulas, conventional resources, and cultivation experience are all possible. Of course, if you want something else, it's not impossible to discuss, but I'm not sure it's possible. You can bring it up and I'll listen."

After hesitating for a moment, perhaps unable to bear Firio's eager gaze, Ravi patted his chest, appearing very generous.

"It's not something particularly valuable, so I won't put you in any trouble." After receiving Ravi's almost complete promise, Firion nodded with a smile. The glimmer in his eyes made Ravi a little scared. "What I want is very simple, which is..."

......

......

"Eh?"

After a moment, the old man's surprised voice spread in the house.

Chapter 219 Knowledge and Growth Are Priceless Treasures

The calendar turned with the wind, and in the blink of an eye, more than a dozen days and nights had passed.

As December approached, even Miare, a city with mild weather all year round, had become quite cold. There were fewer travelers on the road, and the lively celebrations finally died down as people's enthusiasm faded, and the city returned to calm.

On the morning of the 9th, after the professional judgment of Dean Farang, Filho, who was forced to stay in the hospital for three weeks, was finally able to take off his hospital gown and his discharge date was set for tomorrow.

According to the requirements of the alliance meeting, although Korni was reluctant to leave and was very worried about Firion's health, she had to return to Sala first and continue to cooperate with the alliance's coastal defense forces to deal with the remnants of the Flare Team wandering around the coastline.

At the same time, she felt Firio's rapid growth in the past few months. She was half proud and half nervous, and had a vague sense of crisis. From the first day she returned to Sala, she seized the time for special training and preparation, waiting for the final challenge that had been agreed upon long ago.

In the bright ward, Filio was still wearing his hospital gown, sitting obediently at the head of the bed, staring intently at a tablet computer, with no intention of raising his head at all.

It must be said that the chairman’s power is unlimited and his efficiency is unparalleled.

The day after Ravi left, Joan, with a grin on his face, brought a brand new disk to Filio under the pretext of visiting a patient. This was the second reward that Filio had specifically asked Ravi for - the top-secret documents about ancient civilizations and ancient Pokémon that the Alliance had accumulated over the years.

Even though the mental force that always worried him in his mind was no longer the sword of Damocles that could fall at any moment, he still yearned for priceless knowledge.

Since receiving the disk, he has taken some time every day to study it word by word, searching for useful information in the ocean of knowledge.

There are not many documents in total, and each one is not very long and somewhat incomplete. It requires a comprehensive analysis based on the research results of the Alliance Headquarters and major scientific research institutions. Even so, it is still mixed with speculation. It seems very difficult, but Philio enjoys it, and after some time, he has actually gained something.

Seeing how focused he was, Nazi had a vague sense of something, and she looked at the pendant lying quietly on his chest, seeming to be thinking about something.

But her guess didn't actually touch the full picture of the problem.

What really made Firio make up his mind was not only the fact that Priscilla was in a deep sleep, but also the memories of ancient Pokémon that Priscilla showed him, and the great inspiration that this memory brought him.

There is a huge difference in body structure between ancient Pokémon and modern Pokémon, and their strength seems to be generally much stronger. Although the strength of the strongest ones is not much different from today's, there are many more inferior ones.

Plus, there were some meaningful words that Xerneas left when he first met her.

【Seeds of Life】

【Masterpieces of history and the world】

All of this, combined with the tiny changes that were happening in the dream demon's body every moment, made him determined to find an answer.

Even if things are developing in a good direction, as a trainer he must find out the specific reasons to the best of his ability. This is his responsibility to himself and his partners.

Material wealth and research results that can be accumulated over time are no longer so important at this moment, although their prices and values ​​are high.

Pure knowledge, which has a lack of access channels but has great practical significance, is the treasure that he and his partners truly need at this moment.

Especially now that previous loot and alliance rewards have been distributed and put to good use.

-----------------

Time spent traveling in the ocean of knowledge always passes quickly, and in the blink of an eye, the sun is already high in the sky.

However, what brought Firio back to his senses was not his perception of time, but a faint smell of burnt food and a faint cry.

When he raised his head, what caught his eye was the curling black smoke from the small kitchen, the iron pot that was almost burnt through, and Nazi standing beside it, at a loss.

......

......

Even with the windows open to let the cold wind in, the burnt smell in the room could not be dissipated.

Nancy, who had hardly cooked since she was a child, saw that Filio was absorbed in reading and seemed to be able to cook with ease. She suddenly had an idea to show off her cooking skills and thoughtfulness by making lunch for him before he left. However, she never thought that observation and actual operation were two completely different concepts. Not only did she start off badly, but she also ruined the big iron pot that had accompanied Filio in his battles for months and had made great achievements.

Standing in the small kitchen, looking at the messy table and Nancy's evasive eyes, Firio felt helpless but couldn't say anything.

After all, she meant well, and she really had forgotten to cook.

Thinking of this, Firion threw the tablet in his hand towards the nightmare, left a message to Nancy, "Leave it to me, small problem", and cleaned up the mess neatly - meaning throwing the pot away.

The invisible hero with countless military exploits quietly ended his "glorious" life before the last journey of his endless journey was about to begin.

"Enpe!"

A white light flashed, and the gold medal chef appeared from the Poké Ball. Soon, several side dishes came out of the pot.

......

......

The atmosphere at the dinner table was a bit dull.

Naz seemed to have more complicated emotions than just the cooking failure, and she just focused on eating.

Seeing such behavior, the Pokémon that were always chirping couldn't help but become quiet and eat their meals properly.

Putting down his bowl and chopsticks, Filio asked in confusion: "Why do you look unhappy? What happened? Or is today's lunch not to your taste?"

"No, it's delicious." Nazi shook her head, "I'm just not in a good mood."

"I'm not in a good mood..." Filio frowned, and after thinking for a long time, he finally understood. He slapped his thigh and laughed, "Ahaha, I understand! It's not that serious, isn't it? It's just a matter of meeting the crowd? These days, I've seen high reviews of the movie, and I'm waiting for you to win the award!"

"What's wrong with you..." Nazi's eyes widened, then turned red. She stopped talking halfway, pouting her lips, buried her head in eating, and became sulky.

The longer they spend together, the more her cold exterior fades away. Nancy, who rarely opens her heart to others, becomes more and more coquettish in front of Filio.

"I was wrong. I shouldn't have ignored Miss Nazi's feelings." Filio immediately raised his hands in surrender, stood up and walked around to Nazi, pulled a chair over to sit down, and put his arm around her, letting her soft shoulders lean on him. "Don't be sad, we'll see each other soon anyway. How about I take you to the airport this afternoon? It happens that I haven't been out of the hospital for a long time recently. I have to go to an open space for training. I'm too lazy to stay here. Let me go and move around, how about it?"