Chapter 344 The Plasma Team's Declaration of All-Out Offensive!
Chapter 344 The Plasma Team's Declaration of All-Out Offensive!
Chapter 344 The Plasma Team's Declaration of All-Out Offensive!
"By the way, any new developments from the Plasma Team?"
Xia Chi steered the conversation back on track.
Compared to the Rockets, who are currently lying low, the Plasma Team, who will be holding their "coronation ceremony" in seven days, is the enemy that needs the most attention right now.
Mentioning Team Plasma, Cynthia's slightly relaxed expression turned serious again.
"That's exactly what I was going to tell you."
Her voice lowered a bit, "Just saw this, Team Plasma has made some new moves."
As she spoke, she tapped the screen with her fingertip, pushing a video in front of Xia Chi.
In the image, Quixote, wearing his iconic sage's robes, stands behind a solemnly arranged podium.
He was waving his arms wildly at the camera, his voice amplified through the microphone, carrying a seductive power.
The League's actions are sinful and wrong. They imprison souls with cold Poké Balls and bind nature with narrow battle rules, undoubtedly depriving Pokémon of their inherent right to freedom! This is a shackle on civilization, a regression of the times!
He opened his arms as if embracing a phantom future.
"Team Plasma, fight to the very end for the noble ideal of liberating Pokémon! In seven days, the 'Coronation Ceremony of the New King' will begin. We will broadcast it live to the world, inviting everyone with a conscience to witness the dawn of a new era of freedom!"
The screen was filled with a dense barrage of comments.
Clearly, this declaration has provoked an extremely strong reaction.
[Good grief, is this some kind of complete abandonment of pretense? Like a self-destructing truck?]
[Ah, right, right, the League is evil, trainers are slave owners, and your Team Plasma controlling Pokémon to dominate the world is the epitome of justice, right? (Sweating soybeans)]
[Don't rush, everyone! I'm Xia Chi. Add me on WeChat (V50), and I'll take you to see the Yang Plasma Team's airship live in seven days! (doge)]
Treat this as a serious matter!
Officer Jenny reminds you that the internet is not a lawless zone; any evil will be brought to justice!
[I've already followed, don't let me down! I'm just waiting to watch the live stream and see how you get thoroughly humiliated in prison!]
【…】
Cynthia added, "This is a video posted this morning by the official Team Plasma account. In just two or three hours, it has already surpassed five million views, and it's still growing like crazy."
Xia Chi put down her phone, unsurprised by the situation.
"That's normal. After last night's battle at the underwater ruins, legendary Pokémon have appeared on a large scale, and Team Rocket and Team Plasma have colluded. This is the peak of the topic and attention. Ghettos knows how to pick the right moment."
Cynthia's delicate eyebrows furrowed slightly, and her eyes showed confusion.
"But judging from the comments section, the public opinion is almost entirely in support of the alliance. What practical significance does Quixote's release of this video, which is almost a 'declaration of war,' have besides angering the public?"
Xia Chi shook his head and explained, "You can't use normal logic to speculate about fanatics. After so many years of management and selection, the core members of Team Plasma are already 'purified' extremists. The more intense the criticism from the outside world, the more..."
The louder the opposition, the more it fuels their martyr-like mentality and sense of unity, making them even more convinced that they are a righteous army fighting against "the whole world."
He clicked his tongue and said, "To put it bluntly, they're using us 'stubborn old-world defenders' as the best stimulant for their internal mobilization."
Cynthia immediately understood the deeper meaning behind Xia Chi's words, and her expression became even more solemn.
"In other words, this so-called 'coronation ceremony' is no longer a test or a declaration, but the Plasma Team's long-awaited final offensive!"
"The probability is extremely high."
Xia Chi was prepared for this. He nodded and said, "Zekhrom has awakened, and the Four Cloud Gods have fallen into their hands. Their core combat force is complete. In addition, the conspiracy has been completely exposed. The alliance will definitely be on full alert. Quetzalcoatl really has no reason to delay any longer."
Cynthia looked at Xia Chi, hesitated for a moment, and then asked, "Do you need me to urgently dispatch reinforcements from the Sinnoh region? Da Ye and Wu Song can set off immediately."
Xia Chi shook her head. "No need, Sister Zhulan. In the end, this decisive battle is still a clash between legendary Pokémon. As for the core forces, the local Elite Four members and Gym Leaders of Unova are enough to cooperate in defense. Having more people is not very meaningful in that level of confrontation, and may even cause unnecessary casualties."
He looked at Cynthia, then smiled and said, "Of course, someone as skilled as you, Sister Zhulan, is always a welcome addition!"
Upon hearing this, Cynthia smiled and said, "Don't worry, I will fight alongside you, both personally and professionally, until the very end."
Xia Chi continued eating her breakfast, mumbling, "Well, it's perfect that you, Sister Zhu Lan, can take command of the Three Sacred Birds. Although their strength... well, that's debatable, they still have the reputation of being legendary, so they should be able to hold their own."
Cynthia was slightly surprised, then a warm feeling welled up in her heart.
To entrust three legendary Pokémon to me so readily is undoubtedly a tremendous act of trust.
Without the slightest hesitation or pretense, she readily nodded and agreed: "Okay, leave it to me."
"And what about me?"
A faint voice suddenly came from beside them, breaking the warm atmosphere between the two.
Xia Chi was startled and almost choked on her milk. Turning her head, she saw that Cattleya had silently appeared at the restaurant entrance at some point.
She was wearing a light purple silk nightgown, her long golden hair was disheveled, and her face still showed signs of waking up, but her icy blue eyes looked at them clearly.
Cynthia awkwardly brushed a strand of blonde hair behind her ear. "You're awake? Did you rest well?"
Caldelia said expressionlessly, "Yes, I've been awake for a while."
She naturally walked to the empty seat next to Xia Chi and sat down, continuing the previous topic: "Since we're going to assign tasks, let me command one or two of the three sacred birds. It'll be easier for me to command them using telepathy."
Cynthia glanced at Xia Chi subconsciously.
After all, nominally the three sacred birds were his captives, so such "personnel changes" would definitely require his opinion.
However, Xia Chi wisely shrank back, pretending not to have heard anything.
Clearly, he had no desire to get involved in the somewhat awkward discussion between the two best friends.
Seeing Xia Chi's ostrich-like appearance, Cynthia sighed helplessly in her heart and had no choice but to deal with it herself.
"Alright, I'll take charge of Zapdos. Moltres and Articuno are yours, Cattleya."
Cattleya then gave a soft "hmm," picked up the jam knife, and began to slowly and methodically spread jam on the toast.
He stopped talking.
The restaurant fell into a slightly strangely quiet atmosphere, with only the faint clinking of cutlery remaining.
In this quiet atmosphere, breakfast finally came to an end.
Xia Chi returned to her room with a sense of "escape".
Pushing open the door, a warm and inviting scene comes into view.
Most of the elves had already woken up and were staying in the room in twos and threes.
A night's sleep has relieved them of most of their fatigue.
However, the intensity of last night's head-on battle with the legendary Pokémon was simply too high. Even they seem somewhat listless now, far less lively than usual.
Victini, who would normally have flown over and pounced on him long ago, seemed rather listless this time.
It merely raised its little paw weakly and let out a soft cry.
Then it slowly floated over, found a comfortable spot to lie on his head, buried its little face in his hair, and seemed to be planning to go back to sleep.
Looking at the little guy's unusually listless appearance, Xia Chi couldn't help but smile with a mix of helplessness and heartache.
It seems that its boast last night about "me and Sister Meowha teaming up to beat Articuno 300 times" might not have been entirely an exaggeration.
However, he is not too worried at the moment.
There's still a full week until Team Plasma's "coronation ceremony," giving the Pokémon ample time to recover.
Get into peak condition.
He clapped his hands and said, "Alright, let's go eat first. Everyone must be hungry, right?"
"Gurgle!"
As soon as Xia Chi finished speaking, a purple figure suddenly darted out from the corner with incredible speed.
It was Milton.
Its electronic eyes gleamed with an almost tangible excitement, and its tail swayed slightly with excitement.
Clearly, they had been waiting for Xia Chi to say those words for quite some time.
Xia Chi reached out and gently pushed away its head, which was trying to rub against her, with a hint of annoyance: "I know, I specially asked the kitchen to prepare your favorite sandwiches, and there's plenty for you."
Upon hearing this, Milton's eyes practically shone with excitement. It nuzzled against Xia Chi's body affectionately once more.
That posture was exactly like a Growlithe with its bones exposed; where was there even a trace of the legendary Pokémon's airs?
Then it rubbed its head against Xia Chi's body like a Growlithe dog.
Xia Chi shook his head helplessly, preparing to lead the way out of the room.
However, he stopped abruptly after taking just one step.
He slowly turned around, his gaze scrutinizing Millerton, who was still in a state of excitement, and tentatively asked, "You... you've changed back?"
Clearly, judging from this guy's performance just now, the current Milton is completely different from the future god who "bravely fought Deoxys" last night.
It has completely reverted to its former "cowardly lizard" appearance!
"Gurgle?"
Millerton tilted his head, his electronic eyes filled with confusion and bewilderment.
Change back? What does that mean?
No, is Lao Mi pretending to be stupid or what?
Xia Chi narrowed his eyes, leaned down, and stared intently at Millerton's seemingly "stupid and clear" electronic eyes, his tone tinged with suspicion.
"You don't remember anything about what happened last night? Like, fighting a bloody battle with a red and blue creature that could change shape?"
Millerton was even more confused upon hearing this. It scratched its smooth head with its paw, thought about it carefully, and then shook its head firmly.
"Gurgle?"
[Last night? Weren't you sleeping last night? You were sleeping soundly...]
"."
Xia Chi: ",
Why is this amnesia plot going on?
He stared at Millerton's eyes, which revealed no pretense whatsoever.
It doesn't look like acting at all.
Could he really have lost his memory?
Or is there two different "Dragon Ranks"?
Good Milletton and Evil Milletton?
Uh... no, for the Labourers, it should be "Cowardly Milton" and "Brave Milton".
Xia Chi stared at Milton, trying to find clues from its simple changes in expression, but after a long time, he still found nothing.
He eventually gave up on investigating further.
Fine, let the Rhone clan split if it wants to...
Xia Chi had gotten used to its "cowardly lizard" form, and since it kept maintaining the fierce and valiant appearance from last night, Xia Chi felt that it might take some time to get used to it.
Thinking of this, Xia Chi shook his head, temporarily putting this question out of his mind.
"Let's go eat!"
"Gurgle!"
Millardon immediately put all his doubts to the wind and rushed out of the room excitedly.
Meanwhile, in the northern part of the Unova region, in Kagome Town.
The rising sun cast its pale golden rays upon this small town, located on the edge of the Alliance and perpetually carrying an air of desolation.
However, this morning, which should have been full of vitality, was instead filled with an unsettling silence and desolation.
The streets in the town center were eerily deserted, with hardly any ordinary residents in sight. Only members of the Plasma Team, dressed in uniform gray suits, were patrolling the area.
Their footsteps sounded particularly clear and jarring in the silent air.
Every household had its doors and windows tightly shut, as if the entire town was holding its breath under some kind of invisible pressure.
The plasma team has already occupied this place without firing a shot.
High in the sky, a biting, cold wind howled past.
A colossal dragon, its entire body covered in jet-black armor and its tail gleaming with a superconducting engine, hovered silently in the sky like a black fortress.
Sitting on the broad, cold back of the dragon in Czechoslovakia, the brim of his pure white cap cast a few shadows on his face.
He looked down at the small town below, which was "controlled" by his organization, his lake-green eyes slightly dazed.
As expected... it still came to this...
He sighed silently in his heart.
If I were myself a month ago and witnessed this scene, how would I feel?
Would you be shocked and uncomfortable by this scene that is almost like "military control"?
He will still be immersed in the "ideal" picture carefully woven for him by his adoptive father, Quixote, believing that all of this is a necessary measure to "liberate Pokémon".
N himself could not give a definite answer.
His thoughts drifted away.
So, should we be glad that when we passed through Fanba City, we ran into Xia Chi and went up to talk to him?
If it weren't for that conversation with Xia Chi, I'd probably still be a pawn in Quixote's hands. Or rather,
A puppet shrouded in lies, yet believing himself to carry a bright future?
The thought of Xia Chi evoked a complex mix of emotions that were hard to describe.
There was gratitude, admiration, sparks of ideas clashing, and a touch of melancholy at not wanting to oppose them.
That guy... I really don't want to be his enemy.
)
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