How Could an Internet Café Be Opened on a Mountain? (3k)

Sure enough, just as Cynthia had expected, the moment the call connected, Lance's rough, bold, distinctive voice began complaining.

"Damn it, Cynthia, the lead on that Team Rocket base went cold again... Those guys are way too cunning."

"It feels like the intel and clues we receive are always one step behind them. Every time I arrive, they've already vanished without a trace... This time, I caught nothing again."

"I'm starting to wonder whether Team Rocket has an informant inside the Pokémon League."

On the other end of the call, Lance leaned back in his desk chair with a helpless expression, feeling increasingly frustrated.

Things had truly not been going well lately. It would have been one thing if there had been no progress on Team Rocket, but according to the Pokémon League's classified intelligence, an organization called Team Aqua had quietly emerged in the Hoenn region. Though it was nowhere near as large as Team Rocket, it had likewise begun growing in the shadows.

Sooner or later, he would have to deal with that threat himself. Otherwise, it would eventually spread into the Kanto region, and then the problem would become serious.

But the intelligence on Team Aqua... was nearly as nonexistent as the intelligence on Team Rocket.

That was why his pressure lately had been truly immense.

After venting his emotions in a rapid barrage, Lance finally sighed and turned to ask Cynthia.

"Cynthia, how has your matter... been progressing lately?"

"I've also asked people to help look for that person you've been searching for, but just like before, there's still no news."

After saying that, his expression could not help turning strange.

Cynthia was the same—she had spent her entire life searching for that person from her memories... Yet after all these years, there truly had not been a single clue.

He did not know whether Team Rocket's intelligence was harder to find, or whether the person Cynthia was searching for was harder to find...

Well, hers was probably harder.

After all, even he did not really believe such a person could exist.

Yet she had truly searched for so many years... She really was determined.

The next moment, Cynthia's answer came through the phone.

"Thank you. I've found a new lead."

Lance nodded.

"Ah, it's nothing. I believe—"

"Wait, what did you say?"

He suddenly reacted.

On the other end of the line, Cynthia continued.

"This is somewhat complicated to explain, but I believe you'll be interested as well."

"Because not only did I find what I was looking for there, I also found clues about Team Rocket."

The moment he heard Team Rocket, Lance perked up.

"What?!"

"It's a long story. To put it simply, yesterday, while taking shelter from the rain, I accidentally entered an internet café."

Cynthia paused.

"Everything there exceeded my expectations."

"I saw many things in the game that I had never seen before, and I encountered people from Team Rocket as well... Although my story progress did not reveal more about Team Rocket, I suspect the creator of this game must know something."

That string of information left Lance utterly baffled.

An internet café? A game?

Team Rocket?

He could not help frowning.

"Cynthia, that alone cannot prove the game contains intelligence about Team Rocket."

"At the end of the day, it's only a game."

—That could only prove that the game's creator knew Team Rocket existed. Though the Pokémon League had kept Team Rocket's existence confidential, word had long spread because of Team Rocket's activities across various regions.

In fact, after saying those two sentences, even he felt somewhat confused.

What was wrong with the usually composed Cynthia today? Was she joking with him?

However, the next moment, Cynthia's serious voice sounded once more.

"When I finished using the internet café, the screen told me I had received a reward that allowed me to read ancient writing. At the time, I also thought it was just a game, so I paid no attention to it."

"But that night, I could understand every stone tablet and ancient text in my home."

"That internet café can also let me travel instantly between the summit of Mount Coronet and my home. Even Caitlin cannot do something like that."

Lance froze.

Cynthia's tone sounded completely serious.

But... understanding ancient writing... instantly traveling thousands of kilometers...

How could he possibly believe that?

Yet Cynthia's voice continued.

"Mm... Besides Team Rocket, there were other things too. Ultra Wormholes, Ultra Beasts, and... Team Aqua."

The moment those words were spoken, Lance shot up from his chair.

If it were only Team Rocket appearing, that could still be understood.

But Team Aqua...

Only that afternoon had he received a top-secret report from a Pokémon League agent. Its contents were that a new organization called "Team Aqua" had already formed in secret.

At present, among the entire upper echelon of law enforcement, aside from himself, perhaps no more than three people had seen that report.

Yet Cynthia said that she had seen Team Aqua in a game yesterday?

Combined with Cynthia's descriptions...

Lance began pacing back and forth through the room.

Was it a coincidence?

Or...

A moment later, he abruptly stopped and made a decision.

He was already completely in the dark anyway. Rather than sit here waiting for the Pokémon League to send him intelligence, he might as well go see what was going on with this internet café Cynthia had mentioned.

"Fine, I'll go now."

"Alright. I'll send you the address immediately."

Cynthia hung up, and the screen quickly lit up with a message containing coordinate information.

Lance glanced at the region indicated by those coordinates and scratched his head.

The Sinnoh region... That was far away. Looks like I'll have to travel.

But speaking of which, this location... Why did it seem to be in the mountains?

He considered it for a second before putting away his phone.

Forget it. He would set out first and ask Cynthia once he arrived.

After all, it was an internet café...

It could not possibly really be open on a mountain, could it?

Meanwhile, outside the villa at Little Wave Bay, Cynthia put down her phone.

She wondered what Lance's reaction would be when he saw that address... An internet café opened in the mountains; even she had been startled when she first saw it.

Still, he had Dragonite, and its flying speed was far faster than her Garchomp's. Making a trip to Mount Coronet was not actually that difficult for him.

With that thought, Cynthia led Garchomp and pushed open the villa's front door.

"Vee~"

The moment she opened it, a wave of cold air rushed toward her. A blue figure appeared beside Cynthia's feet and lightly rubbed against her leg.

"Glaceon... Didn't you go to the backyard today? Is it too hot?"

Cynthia stroked Glaceon's head and looked out the window.

Summer had arrived, and the weather was gradually growing warmer.

"Vee~"

Glaceon nodded, then returned to lie on the living room sofa and stretched lazily.

Soon after, a green figure approached from afar and stopped before Cynthia, waving its red and blue rose-like arms as though greeting her.

"Rade!"

"Good morning, Roserade."

Cynthia smiled.

The next moment, as if she had suddenly remembered something, she took the blue candy out of her pocket.

"Roserade, I brought this back for you."

"Rade~"

Roserade came closer and sniffed the scent wafting through the wrapper, but did not seem particularly interested.

Cynthia was not surprised by that.

Roserade had followed her for a long time and had tasted all sorts of sweets. Even desserts specially prepared for Pokémon by high-level nutritionists could barely arouse Roserade's interest.

Much less an ordinary-looking piece of candy like this.

However, the next moment, the leaves atop Roserade's head suddenly trembled as if sensing something.

He took the candy from Cynthia's hand, deftly removed the wrapper with his vines, split it in two, and slowly ate one half.

While Cynthia was still stunned, an unusual aura abruptly erupted from Roserade's body. Green leaves began dancing through the air, and amid the motes of light scattering around him, his aura continued rising!

She was naturally very familiar with this sight. It was a natural phenomenon that occurred when a Pokémon's strength improved!

That morning, after Garchomp drank that beverage at the internet café, the same thing had happened, but it had been nowhere near this intense.

Sensing Roserade's aura continuing to rise, Cynthia froze.

As a Pokémon who had joined her team relatively late, Roserade had likely only reached the Champion tier last year. During the past two years, though Roserade's strength had improved through daily training, he had only barely reached the middle ranks of the Champion tier.

Yet based on her experience, the aura Roserade was releasing now was already approaching the upper ranks of the Champion tier!

Half a piece of candy had improved Roserade this much?

Even Glaceon on the sofa noticed Roserade's abnormal state. He sat upright, pricked up his ears, and looked toward Roserade with a bewildered expression.

After sensing Roserade's aura, he instantly realized the seriousness of the situation.

Garchomp seemed to have improved a little after coming back today, and that was fine. After all, he had always been the strongest big brother on Cynthia's team...

But how had Roserade... become so much stronger after eating half a piece of candy?

That aura... How was it... stronger than his?

That was not right, was it??

As the team's third-biggest brother, seeing his status about to become unstable, Glaceon finally could not take it anymore.

"Vee, vee!"

He jumped down from the sofa and protested at Roserade.

—Unfair! I want some too!

However, Roserade merely stood elegantly in response to Glaceon's demand. Unhurriedly, he raised the other half of the candy with his vines and offered it toward Glaceon.

Just as Glaceon reached out with a paw... Roserade gave him an elegant, meaningful look, instantly pulled back his vines, and directly popped the candy into his own mouth.

"Rade~"

Boom!!

His aura surged once again!