Come to think of it, Yuto had told me they were a criminal organization, but I might not have heard what they actually did.
But Mr. Yuto answered that question for me.
"They attack and occupy infrastructure like this, steal other people's Pokémon, and brazenly try to steal research results. And those aren't their only-"
That immediately cleared up my doubts.
More importantly, they actually stole other people's Pokémon!
"Pip?"
I looked down and found Piplup looking up at me. Our eyes met.
Being forcibly separated from this little one.
I had never imagined anything like that.
I couldn't even imagine what it would be like if it really happened.
I must have taken having these little ones beside me far too much for granted.
"I absolutely... won't lose...!"
Those words slipped out before I realized it.
"You haven't figured everything out yet, but they've apparently been up to something, and they're planning more, right?"
Well, I had expected things to diverge a little because of my involvement, but I hadn't expected Mars to turn into such a refined young lady. Ha.
Mars certainly had a proud personality. She was supposed to be forceful and unwilling to lose, and I could still see that in her.
"I absolutely... won't lose...!"
It looked like something had flipped a switch in Dawn, too. Her voice was quiet enough that Mars and the others probably hadn't heard her.
"Let me make one thing clear: all of this serves a legitimate and noble purpose. Alas, sadly, you wouldn't understand, would you? So-"
As she spoke, Mars took out a Poké Ball, extended her arm, and held it up.
"Let's settle this with a Pokémon battle!"
"Fine by me!"
"We'd love to!"
Our hands were already on our Poké Balls, and Kirlia and Piplup