blogombal Chapter 422 Loz's Determination
Chapter 422 Loz's Determination
Chapter 422 Loz's Determination
[That was awesome! Every punch landed with a visceral impact, every move drew blood—this is the kind of elf battle real men should watch! (Gun-boiling!)]
[That's terrifying... Tyranitar didn't even need Mega Evolution or Crystallize to sweep the team...]
[That's normal, right? The Palicoes and Dragonite from the Prison can easily take on six opponents in Expert Tournament, so taking on three gym leaders in the Prison is a piece of cake for my class, isn't it?]
Lulina has played really well! I feel like she has a chance to achieve a higher ranking in this year's Galar All-Star Game!
]
Indeed, it was unexpected that her newly trained Mega Gyarados could barely keep up with Xia Chi's Tyranitar in a pure power contest, although it ultimately lost.
[Promise me, Laoshui, you'll stay in Shuizhou Town for a few days and then go back to Donghuang, okay? Otherwise... I'm thinking of buying a plane ticket and leaving Galar for a vacation... (shivering)]
Although the final result of this water boat dojo challenge was still a near-total victory for Xia Chi, without any suspense.
However, Lulina's tactical acumen and on-the-spot decision-making throughout the process, as well as the remarkable ferocity and tenacity displayed by her final Mega Gyarados, still won the recognition and respect of the vast majority of viewers both inside and outside the live stream.
Of course, along with the recognition came increasingly strong concerns due to Xia Chi's visit to Galar.
The comments section was full of jokes like this—
Looking back over the past year, from the strange changes in Hoenn to the paradoxes in the Padia region, and the legendary battles in Unova, which major event that shook the region was not behind the figure of this "human Absol"?
His sudden arrival in Galar without warning has inevitably sparked much speculation.
At the same time, in the Galilee region, in the city of Hammerlocke.
Top floor office of the Marocomón Energy Group headquarters building.
Sunlight streamed through the floor-to-ceiling windows that covered an entire wall, spilling onto the gleaming dark floor, but it couldn't dispel the heavy gloom that hung between the room's occupants' brows.
Loz leaned back in his luxurious chair, with a huge virtual screen floating in front of him.
The image frozen on the screen was the very last scene before the live broadcast of the Water Boat Arena ended—
Xia Chi calmly raised the Poké Ball and recalled the Tyranitar that had just completed a feat of defeating three opponents and was now incredibly powerful.
The room was filled with the faint electronic noise of the live stream ending, which only accentuated the silence.
After a long while, Lóz let out a long and complex sigh, mixed with regret and a trace of deeply hidden irritation.
"Why... even you choose to become obstacles in Galar's future path?"
His voice was not loud, as if he were talking to himself, or as if he were questioning the young figure in Shuizhou Town on the screen.
Olive, his secretary standing to his side, gently pushed up her gold-rimmed glasses.
Behind the glasses, his eyes were calm and still, clearly reflecting the president's slightly tired figure.
As Lorze's most trusted confidante and the direct executor of the plan, she certainly understood what the chairman meant by "you".
Xia Chi on the screen... and Leon, who was discovered, nurtured, and supported by the president, and eventually reached the pinnacle of Galar trainers, and was hailed as the "strongest champion".
Indeed, given Loth's intelligence and understanding of Leon, the unusual level of attention Leon paid to the "Infinite Energy" project, as well as his subtle probing and investigations, had already alerted him.
Xia Chi's sudden visit and high-profile battle with the Gym Leader of Water Boat Town have completely confirmed Rose's conjecture that Leon already knows the truth about the "Infinite Energy" project.
Furthermore, his stance is one of clear opposition.
"President."
Olive bowed slightly, breaking the suffocating silence. "Should I... have another private conversation with Champion Dante? I believe that, given his respect for you and his sense of responsibility for the future of Galar, he might understand your good intentions after learning the whole story and your profound considerations, Chairman."
Her suggestion was reasonable.
However, Lorze slowly shook his head, his fingers unconsciously twirling the signature strand of hair on his forehead, his movements appearing somewhat weary.
"No need, Olive."
His voice carried a knowing certainty. "I know Dan Di's character very well. He, too, possesses a stubbornness that once he's made up his mind about something, will never look back. Just like his belief in pursuing invincibility in battle, he has already made his judgment. At this moment, no amount of words... will likely change his mind."
He paused, his gaze sharpening and hardening again, as if convincing himself: "When he sees with his own eyes that we have successfully controlled Anuttara and extracted inexhaustible, infinite energy," bringing true, eternal prosperity and security to Galar, he will naturally understand that all the sacrifices and choices were worthwhile."
Olive lowered her head, hiding all her emotions behind her glasses, and respectfully replied, "I understand, Chairman."
Without saying another word, Lorz raised his hand and waved it, and the virtual screen in front of him that had frozen Xia Chi's figure quietly closed and disappeared.
He stood up, straightened his impeccably expensive suit, and strode towards the huge floor-to-ceiling window.
Outside the window, the city of Hammerlocke, as the industrial and energy center of Galilee, is filled with towering buildings and a bustling sky train, presenting a prosperous and thriving scene.
This is the result of his years of hard work, the present that he must protect at all costs, and the future that he must create for it.
After gazing at her for a moment, Lorz, without turning around, asked Oliver with his back to her, "How's the progress at the underground research facility of the energy plant?"
Olive immediately looked up, following Lorz's retreating figure with her own light, and gave a fluent report without hesitation, demonstrating her thorough understanding of all matters.
"Dr. Abeloa promised that the final model of the energy binding device used to safely guide and stably extract the energy of Anuttara" has entered the final assembly and debugging stage, and is expected to be completed within a month. At the same time, the mental suppression and guidance program for the residual consciousness of Anuttara has also entered the final key finishing stage, and is expected to complete the targeted guidance of its mental fluctuations within a week.
"7
This series of good news, which was quite smooth and even exceeded expectations, did not completely ease the frown on Loz's brow.
He paused for a few seconds, then asked another question that had been lingering in his mind for a long time: "So... what about the 'Rotten Sword' and the 'Rotten Shield'? Are there any new clues?"
Three thousand years ago, after the disaster recorded as "Dark Night" subsided, a legend began to circulate among the people of Galar.
When darkness once again engulfs the land, only those who wield the proofs of heroism—the "Sword of Decay" and the "Shield of Decay"—can find the sleeping hero and gain the power to save the world.
Loz knew that once Eterna was successfully awakened and attempted to be controlled, the biggest variable and threat would be the interference of the two legendary "Hero of the Sword" and "Hero of the Shield".
Therefore, he has never stopped searching for these two key keys over the years.
Olive's expression faltered slightly, and her voice unconsciously lowered, carrying a hint of barely perceptible shame.
"I'm very sorry, President, the exact whereabouts of these two items are still unknown, but..."
She hesitated for a moment before stating the team's internal speculation: "Based on cross-analysis of existing intelligence, we believe there's a very high probability that they're being secretly kept by Professor Magnolia. After all, she's the most authoritative researcher of Pokémon history and legends in the Galar region, and the most likely person to know their true value and whereabouts. Should we take some... more proactive measures?"
She didn't finish her sentence, but the implied meaning was clear.
Upon hearing this, Lorze immediately shook his head, his tone resolute: "It's not necessary for now. Dr. Mulan holds a high position in academia and has a long-standing friendship with Mastedt... It's not advisable to act rashly, lest we alert her or trigger an unnecessary backlash. Just continue to send more people to closely monitor the movements around the Mulan Research Institute and Mugan Town. Report any suspicious activity to me immediately."
"Yes, Chairman."
Olive nodded in agreement.
After giving her report, she should have turned and left to convey Lóz's latest instructions.
But she stopped abruptly, turned slightly, and spoke again: "President, there's one more thing... regarding Xia Chi. Now that he's arrived in Galar, how should we... deal with him?"
The name Xia Chi now represents not only a powerful trainer, but also an extremely unstable factor capable of stirring up the region.
Olive had to be extremely cautious.
This time, Lorz did not answer immediately.
He remained with his back to Oliver, silently gazing at the skyline of Hammerlocke City outside the window.
The sunlight outside the window elongated his tall figure, casting it onto the polished floor, yet it somehow made him appear somewhat lonely.
After about half a minute of silence, Lorz finally spoke, his voice even lower than before, as if he had made up his mind.
"As for Xia Chi... there's no need to take any drastic measures for now; I'll handle it personally."
A barely perceptible hint of surprise flashed in Olive's eyes.
Is the chairman going to handle this personally?
In what way?
But she knew Lortz's style of doing things well, so she didn't ask questions she shouldn't ask, and simply bowed again: "I understand, Chairman."
Then, she quietly left the somber office.
The heavy solid wood door closed gently, separating the inside from the outside.
The vast top-floor office fell silent once more, with only the faint hum of the central air conditioning system.
Loz stood by the window for a long time, his gaze deep, as if he could see through the prosperity before him to a more distant future, or perhaps a deeper darkness.
Finally, as if he had broken free of some invisible shackles, he resolutely turned around and strode back to his desk.
He reached out his hand, and the high-tech watch on his wrist lit up slightly, causing a virtual screen to pop up again.
Instead of using the fixed communication equipment on his desk, he dialed a very special number directly through an encrypted line using his personal Rotom cell phone—a number that would never be recorded in any official address book.
"beep..."
The waiting sound was exceptionally clear in the silence.
After ringing about five or six times, just when Lorz thought the call wouldn't go through, a voice came from the receiver.
The voice was deep and steady, with a magnetic quality that suggested a life of experience, and a calm, unhurried smile as if it had anticipated the call.
"Oh? What a rare guest, President Loz. What brings you here at this hour?"
Loz's fingers, gripping Rotom's phone, unconsciously tightened slightly.
Although he had already made up his mind, when it came to actually taking that step that crossed the line, he couldn't help but feel a strong vortex of hesitation and self-loathing.
Because the person on the other end of the phone was Sakaki.
The leader of Team Rocket, the former Gym Leader of the Viridian Gym in the Kanto region who was removed from the list, and the ambitious "Giant of the Earth" who controls a vast underground empire.
An underground emperor who is now wanted by all regional alliances around the world and listed as the most dangerous.
And he, Rose Malcolm, is the president of the Galar League, a leader and role model in the hearts of countless trainers.
If he could justify his "unlimited energy" plan by claiming it was for the long-term prosperity and energy security of Galar, a "necessary evil," then he was right.
Therefore, once he reaches a substantial "cooperation" with someone like Sakaki, he will fall into an abyss from which there is no turning back, betraying all his principles and positions as the chairman of the alliance.
On the other end of the phone, Sakaki seemed to keenly notice Loz's brief silence.
He didn't urge him, but said slowly and deliberately in a playful tone, "If President Rose is just calling to offer his greetings, or hasn't thought things through yet... then I have some things to take care of..."
"etc."
Loz interrupted him, his voice a little dry, but his tone had become resolute, "The possibility of cooperation you mentioned last time, I... agree."
"Oh?"
Sakaki's tone rose slightly, his smile became more pronounced, and it even carried a hint of undisguised mockery.
"So, in that case... Sakaki and Team Rocket should thank Chairman Rose for taking the time out of his busy schedule to give us this opportunity to cooperate?"
Loz's heart sank, a feeling of frustration rising in his chest.
He understood that Sakaki was trying to raise the price and seize the greatest benefit and initiative at his most passive moment.
Trying to negotiate with a tiger for its skin will ultimately come at a price.
He suppressed his turbulent emotions, trying to keep his voice calm and authoritative, attempting to regain some control: "I said, this is cooperation," Giovanni, don't forget, your situation and that of your Rockets aren't necessarily much better than mine. The Unova's defeat has cost you dearly, hasn't it?"
The implication is that this is a reminder to Sakaki to recognize the reality that everyone in the family has their own difficulties and not to make exorbitant demands.
However, who exactly is Giovanni?
How could I be manipulated by words of this level?
"hehe..."
A low laugh came through the receiver, a laugh that revealed neither joy nor anger, but sent a chill down one's spine.
"President Lotz is right, but that's precisely why we need to take our time to plan this cooperation and ensure we're both satisfied, isn't it? I think... there's no need to rush. We can discuss it in more detail later, once things are clearer on your end."
He used a strategic retreat to advance, directly putting Lorz in a difficult position.
This clearly tells Loz that it's you who's begging me now, not the other way around.
If the terms aren't agreed upon, there's no point in discussing anything further.
Faced with Sakaki's threat, which was hardly a threat at all, Rhodes almost couldn't help but utter some harsh words.
But the image of the urgently needed device underground at the energy plant flashed through his mind, and he swallowed his anger.
The Unlimited Energy Project is ready to be launched and cannot afford to fail.
He neither had the time nor the confidence to gamble.
Silence once again spread across both ends of the phone.
This time, however, the initiative was clearly not in Lós's hands.
A few seconds later, Lorz's voice rang out again, much lower and less forceful than before.
"Given the current state of your Rockets team... after the damage suffered by the United States, how much effective combat support can you provide?"
Asking this question is almost tantamount to tacitly acknowledging the intention to cooperate and being willing to make considerable concessions in negotiations. He has begun to care about what bargaining chips the other party can offer, rather than worrying about whether to cooperate at all.
Sakagi on the other end of the phone clearly understood the implication.
His tone was noticeably more relaxed, even carrying a hint of confident ease.
"Well... President Lorz, you can rest assured. Since you dared to propose cooperation, you certainly won't be disappointed. After all, you're not the only one with grand plans in mind."
Loz astutely grasped the key point in his words and countered, "Oh? Judging from what Boss Sakaki is saying, it seems you have other tricks up your sleeve? I wonder how this compares to the lineup you displayed last time in Unova, when you teamed up with Team Plasma...?"
He deliberately brought up Unova's defeat, both to probe the truth of the matter and to slightly dampen Sakaki's arrogance.
Sure enough, when the defeat of the United States was mentioned, even someone as shrewd as Sakaki's tone instantly turned cold.
"President Rose, the situation last time was special. That spirit... hadn't been created yet. Otherwise, the battle would never have turned out the way it did!"