Chapter 165

Family.

This Pokémon is inextricably linked to their family.

She seemed to understand what her mother was trying to say. In any case, this Pokémon's ability to "open Ultra Wormhole" could very well be the clue to finding her father and Older Brother.

In other words, it was the Key that allowed their family to reunite.

... Given a mother's personality, she certainly wouldn't want something like this to fall into the hands of someone else.

Moreover...

Qiao Ran Mei watched quietly from the side, without saying anything else. After all, it didn't matter to them who it was anymore—a deeper connection had already formed between them.

As everyone followed Lusamine out of the elevator, they were greeted by a dark hall. In the center of the hall, inside a container, was a Pokémon emitting faint glows.

Its body resembled some kind of blue-purple gas, adorned with stardust-like glimmers, creating a dreamlike and Mew.

"... I'm sorry, the Foundation's power hasn't been fully restored, so we're trying to conserve power wherever possible. Before, just keeping the hibernation devices and elevators running was already quite a challenge."

Lusamine briefly explained the current situation. As the owner of the Foundation, in her usual style, everything should be brightly lit with white light, not like this villainous base where everything is pitch black.

In normal times, they wouldn't have a shortage of electricity here.

"The Pokémon inside this device are the ones I told you about before."

Lusamine stood in front of the device and began to explain.

"According to our foundation's definition, this Pokémon's official name is: Cosmog, meaning 'Smokescreen from space.'"

Lusamine had slowly explained everything. Hiding this Pokémon in such a secluded underground location was enough to reveal the significance Pokémon represented. However, at this moment, she ultimately entrusted it to someone else.

"This Pokémon marked the beginning of our foundation's research into Otherworld, and it also brought an end."

"... As for now, Starter Pokémon I, as your mother, am giving you."

"Take it with you, Lillie."

"It seems like Rotom hasn't woken up yet."

"Rotom, don't speak yet, what if you disturb it?"

After leaving Lusamine's lab, Lillie carefully held the Pokémon without letting go, while the others gathered around, observing it intently. Even Rotom and some other Pokémon spontaneously appeared and circled around the area.

Curious.

"But it really is quite unique... although it looks..."

It feels like a gas, but it doesn't feel like a gas at all. Is it really a gas?

Lillie gazed at the Pokémon named Cosmog in her arms, her eyes filled with affection.

"And since its body looks just like a star, how about we call it Nebby?"

"What a great name Rotom!"

Rotom readily agreed and Levitate in the air, taking several photos in succession.

"Nebby... it's pretty good."

Qiao Ran smiled gently. He actually had similar memories of this Pokémon in the game, and in that game, Lillie also called it "Nebby".

Perhaps this is not a coincidence.

"It must have been very painful for it during the experiments at the Foundation, but it's fine now."

Lillie has fully embraced childcare mode, and Mei and Mei are pretty much in the same boat, keeping a close eye on things the whole time.

If Lillie hadn't said it would disturb their sleep, they probably would have all started to tease it.

The group arrived at Mei's residence and sat down to rest for a while.

Compared to the dilapidated state of the foundation at the beginning, Mei's residence is now much better. Mei's own appearance is no longer as natural as before; with a little tidying up, she can also be a very beautiful and refined girl.

"By the way, Mei, do you have an answer to what you asked before?"

"I..."

Upon hearing this, Mei looked at her toes, hesitated for a moment, and then finally raised her head.

"I promise you, I really... want to leave here."

Life at the foundation was too monotonous for her. While Lusamine could use the facilities to conduct research, it was different for her.

She's just a Trainer; what she Covet is battle.

A Trainer wouldn't want to stop here, and even if she agreed, her Pokémon wouldn't.

Mei's answer stirred up ripples in the already quiet Foundation, even drawing the attention of Lillie and Mei.

"If that's the case, then you..."

Qiao Ran already had a premonition, but Mei suddenly interrupted Qiao Ran.

"Don't get it wrong!"

"...!" Qiao Ran was startled; Mei's reaction was clearly beyond his expectations.

"What I'm thinking about isn't a leisurely trip with you guys."

She looked away, avoiding eye contact with Qiao Ran, but the power in her words was undeniable.

This answer is probably the real reason she has been thinking about it for so long.

"What I'm thinking is going to Galar, which you mentioned before. I want to become stronger faster."

"I'm still too weak..."

"... All right."

A thousand words piled up in Qiao Ran's heart, but in the end, they all boiled down to this one sentence.

Everyone has their own different goals, and besides, even if she really wanted to go to Galar, what's wrong with that?

"Mei..."

Lillie watched her friend's retreating figure, seemingly Frisk something, but unsure how to begin.

Lillie simply hoped that Mei's choice wasn't based on anyone else's influence, but solely on her own decision.

They selected a Nihilego and had Mei travel across the world using the same method as Lillie and the others. By the time the group arrived in Galar, a considerable amount of time had passed.

"So, this is someone you picked up on the street? No, someone you hired as an accomplice?"

Gloria, the Assault Captain in Spikemuth, tried to provoke Qiao Ran with words, but it had no effect.

Qiao Ran wasn't buying it at all, because Mei's strength was beyond question.

"She's very strong, you know, maybe even stronger than you."

"Really?"

Gloria sized up Mei in front of her, and had to admit, she was quite pleasing to the eye at first glance.

Moreover, her short, neat hairstyle also suits her aesthetic.

Even their appearances are similar.

Interesting.

"Of course it's true! Why don't you try fighting her?"

Qiao Ran's gaze held a hint of mockery, while Mei beside him also showed an eager expression.

During this time, she was almost bored to death in the Aether Foundation, so when she heard the news that she could fight, she couldn't help but jump for joy.

"Fine, who's afraid of who!"

Gloria would never refuse such a challenge. When she saw the girl named Mei, she already understood that they were bound to have a showdown.

"Competition is about to start at Spikemuth Battlefield!"

Long live Marnie!

"Long live Miss Marnie!!"

Upon hearing that Competition was about to take place, the townspeople of Spikemuth cheered, grabbed megaphones, and rushed to the town center, inexplicably chanting Marnie's name.

This was clearly not Marnie's Competition at all.

"What a... welcoming place."

As a legitimate heiress Lillie was completely out of place with the local customs, her eyes filled with confusion. Dressed entirely in white, she was utterly...

It's just out of place; to put it simply, it's a bit conspicuous.

As for Mei, she quickly adapted to the atmosphere here, and even borrowed a usable megaphone from a passing Team Yell girl. After all, they had been here once before, and some of the townspeople already knew them.

"Long time no see, Qiao Ran. And... the other two."

The townspeople had mostly fled when Marnie finally arrived, carrying Morpeko. As the administrator of Spikemuth, her job was not as easy as it seemed. She not only had to plan the refugees' food and lodging, but also had to count and distribute the supplies that Gloria brought back. Fortunately, the townspeople were very supportive of Marnie's work, and there were never any disputes or problems.

Of course, this is also inseparable from her own hard work and caution.

"Long time no see," Qiao Ran greeted her with a smile.

Marnie nodded and asked.

"Did you come here today because you plan to stay longer?"

"No, it should be that she's brought you a very capable helper... With her help, the town's supply collection speed might double."

At first, Marnie seemed a little disappointed, but as she listened to Qiao Ran's words, her eyes gradually brightened. "Really?"

"Of course it's true."

Qiao Ran chuckled. Mei, Mei, Gloria —these three are all genuine Pokémon World. If talent had levels, they would definitely be considered SSS-level.

However... if Mei also joins Spikemuth, then this tiny Spikemuth will already have two female protagonists from the Pokémon World.

"Perfect timing! A new batch of refugees recently arrived in Spikemuth. If Trainer with such a strong ability could join us, that would be fantastic."

Marnie stared into Qiao Ran's eyes, her gaze never leaving them. In her heart, she did have the idea of having Qiao Ran join them, but she also knew that it was destined to be impossible.

As the Sword Hero, he cannot stay in one place; even in Galar, many people are waiting for him.

But this way... being able to meet up a few times occasionally seems pretty good, doesn't it?

Spikemuth is still ablaze with excitement today. After a fierce battle, both Galar's Crouching Dragon and Alola's Phoenix Chick fell to the ground.

"Damn it! It's a draw!"

"How... how can this guy be so ruthless?"

Despite their constant banter, they had probably both accepted each other in their hearts.

The interaction between trainers—everything happens during the Competition.

"Not bad at all."

"The same as you."

Gloria Mei stood up and held each other's hands.

Even Marnie, who was watching from the sidelines, couldn't help but look at Qiao Ran.

Where did you find Trainer like this?

That level of skill is enough to qualify someone as a Gym Leader in some Gym, right?

"She's actually from the Kanto, but I met her in Alola."

Qiao Ran briefly explained Mei's situation, and Lillie was standing nearby, added some details.

--While it's surprising that Mei could fight Gloria to a draw, strictly speaking, there should still be a gap between Mei in terms of Gloria.

Well... maybe he'd been cooped up for too long, so he performed exceptionally well?

Or was it the female protagonist's luck that caused her to unleash her full potential?

Despite still having many questions in her mind, Qiao Ran continued.