One After Another

After convincing Hoopa, Rope entered the teleportation gate prepared by Hoopa alongside Whitley.

Hoopa was also aware of the location of Village of Grass. Therefore, the gate opened directly within Village of Grass.

At that moment, Diana, who was assisting her grandparents with packing, observed the familiar light circle with a puzzled expression.

"Rope?"

She put down what she was holding and walked over to the area.

Before she could get close, Rope burst out of the portal.

"Rope, why are you here?"

Diana asked, sounding puzzled.

Rope waved at Diana and smiled, saying, "We came to see you and ask a few questions."

Diana asked in confusion, "What matters? Have you gotten any results from your previous investigation?"

"Yes, the investigation is over. I've gotten what I wanted. I'll just go find it later."

Rope didn't hide this information from Diana. Diana was also one of his capable subordinates. Not everyone could follow Rope around everywhere.

Not everyone was qualified to go on adventures with Rope.

If it weren't for the Village of Grass, even Diana probably wouldn't have had the opportunity.

After all, she was just a junior researcher, not someone considered a big shot in everyone's eyes. But if this junior researcher was connected to Rope, it would essentially be a social climb.

Rope roughly explained the matters he could discuss to Diana. After all, they were companions, and such information shouldn't be kept secret.

After Rope finished, Diana took a moment to process the information. After all, time travel and altering history were complicated matters.

"Aren't you planning to visit Village of Water again?"

After processing the information, Diana asked directly.

After all, Rope should take Sennogi to see her village.

Rope shook his head.

"I don't have time right now. I've already had Hoopa take the Pokémon I brought back and Sennogi there together."

Rope said calmly.

Diana opened her mouth but didn't know what to say to Rope.

After all, this was ultimately Rope's own business and had little to do with others.

It was a matter of personal choice; why should she interfere?

With a self-deprecating smile, Diana asked again, "So, Rope, what are you here for? Who are you looking for? I can call them for you."

Diana could tell Rope was in a hurry. After all, not everyone can chat idly with others when they're in a rush, so Diana just asked directly.

"I need to see your village chief."

Rope didn't hesitate. He had already planned to ask Diana for help. After all, Rope wasn't stupid—why not use an obvious helper?

"The village chief?"

Diana was genuinely puzzled.

"What's wrong?"

Seeing Diana's puzzled expression, Rope's heart sank instantly. Damn it, the village chief of this village wouldn't have met with some accident, causing his message not to be conveyed, would he? Then he would really be...

Helpless...

But it was just helplessness, after all, Rope had indeed made such a prediction. Over sixty years, anything could happen. No one knows whether an accident or tomorrow will come first, but everyone knows that when an accident does happen, we have to learn to accept it.

Diana shook her head and said, "Nothing much. The village chief of this village is my father. But my father isn't here right now."

Hearing that it was just that, Rope felt relieved. After all, it was just that the person wasn't there, not that his message hadn't been conveyed.

"Should we call your dad then?"

Whitley spoke up from the side.

Diana looked at Rope upon hearing this.

Rope pondered for a moment and then asked, "Who was the previous village chief?"

"My grandfather. He's inside the house."

Diana said, pointing to the small house in the distance.

"Then there's no need to find your dad. We can just ask your grandfather."

Rope said immediately.

Diana nodded. Of course, that was fine. After all, Rope had met her grandparents before. If she remembered correctly, her grandparents had even tried to matchmake between her and Rope...

Really...

However, Diana suddenly felt a bit dazed. She clearly remembered that it was not long ago. But now it felt like she had experienced so many things.

Indeed. Although they had only visited four villages together, these four villages, each with their own unique characteristics, had broadened Diana's horizons. It turned out that this world had so many secrets.

That feeling of getting close to the truth of the world was something that could never be understood without experiencing it.

From this perspective, it's not hard to understand why so many people are so passionate about scientific research. Exploring the true nature of the world isn't just an empty slogan—it's something that can truly bring people joy.

Led by Diana, Rope and Sennogi entered the small house.

"Diana! Who's here?"

A voice with a bit of vigor came from inside. Rope recognized the voice; after all, his memory was quite sharp.

"It's Professor Rope! Grandpa! He says he has something to ask you!"

Diana answered the old man while preparing tea on the table.

The old man's voice came from inside the house again.

"Is that so? It's Professor Rope! Wonderful! I'll be right out!"

The old man wasn't stupid. His granddaughter had also picked up some things she could tell him after returning home.

The old man had basically understood Rope's current position and status in the League. More importantly, the things Rope was responsible for...

Although only a small part of it could be revealed, even a glimpse could provide some valuable information, or things that could make one feel awe or fear.

The old man didn't understand the truth of the world, but were those legends actually based on reality?

Could Ho-Oh really bring the dead back to life? Could Lugia really cause a tsunami?

It turned out that this world was truly so fascinating.

The old man soon appeared before Rope.

"Oh! Professor Rope! It's good to see you again!"

Rope quickly stood up and greeted him.

"It's been a while since we last saw each other."

The old man wanted to chat with Rope, but Diana knew that Rope was in a hurry, so she thought it best to let her grandfather speak briefly.

"Grandpa, Rope is here to ask you something."

The old man heard her words and quickly asked, "What is it?"

Rope looked at the old man and smiled, saying, "Actually, it's nothing much. I just want to ask…"

"Who has come to see the divine idol?"

At these words, the old man shuddered, as if he had heard something terrifying.

Diana watched her grandfather's reaction and was somewhat puzzled.

Rope didn't rush the old man, after all, he knew that his words might have been taken seriously by the village chief at the time, but just like how you find it hard to believe your grandfather's tales of his heroic deeds from back then. Children generally don't take the strange stories told by adults too seriously.

They just think the old folks are bragging after drinking too much.

But when the old folks' boasts are proven to be true, that feeling is truly bittersweet.

It's like when your grandfather always said that during the war, he had so many soldiers under his command and killed so many enemies. At first, you didn't believe him, but then one day, a prominent figure who frequently appeared in public suddenly came to your house and greeted your grandfather with a respectful 'Commander.'

Who could resist that?

Novels wouldn't dare… Well, some novels actually do dare write this way…

After a while, the old man gradually came to his senses, took a deep breath, and said with a bitter smile, "I always thought Grandpa was just bragging. I never thought someone would ask this question sixty years later."

The old man looked up at Rope with a complex expression.

"So it was true after all!"

"It's just a trivial matter."

Rope said with a smile.

"So, what's my answer, Village Chief?"

"Someone came to see the statue. It was a person wearing a grayish-white cloak. When Diana was born, her mother actually had a difficult labor. Her father chose to save the mother."

"At the time, that person was visiting the village. Seeing us running around like headless chickens and encountering such a situation, he left the room. We didn't pay him any mind and let him go."

"Not long after, he returned and walked straight into the delivery room. We acted as if we hadn't seen him or didn't care, and let him into Diana's mother's delivery room."

"When he came out, Diana's cries could already be heard from the delivery room."

"We rushed in and found Diana's mother sleeping peacefully, with little Diana lying beside her. On Diana's body were emerald-green patterns that seemed to pulsate with life."

"After that, the man disappeared. According to the children who were outside the door at the time, the man had gone toward the direction of the shrine when he left the first time. The second time, he simply left the village."

Diana listened to the story and was momentarily lost in thought.

"Why didn't you ever tell me about these things?"

The old man shook his head with a bitter smile: "What good would it do to tell you? You and your mother are both alive and well, and that's enough. As for those magical things, it's best not to dwell on them too much. After all, not everyone wants to know those so-called secrets."

After all, some secrets can be deadly.

Whitley sat down next to Diana, placing his hand on her shoulder to comfort her as much as possible.

This kind of thing isn't really that serious, but it's still pretty shocking.

When I was born, I was already blessed by the gods. And after that, I went with others to seek out the traces of the gods. I have to say, it really does feel like fate.

"Do you know his name?"

Rope's face lit up with anticipation. Finally, I've got you by the tail…

"We only remember the name he introduced himself with."

"He said his name was Al. Beyond that, we have no idea where he came from, where he's going, or what he does. We did leave behind a portrait."

Saying this, the old man stood up again and walked toward the house.

Rope, meanwhile, wore an expression of anticipation. He never expected that a casual remark he had made earlier would bring him such a surprise.

Indeed, Rope had long suspected that the one who sealed Sennogi's source might be Arceus, but he never imagined that this being would actually appear before everyone's eyes—and even leave a clue.

Soon, the old man emerged from the inner room, holding a meticulously framed painting.

"This is the painting. I drew it myself shortly after he left, while my memories were still relatively clear. Don't underestimate this old man—though my hands shake now, back then, I made a living with this very skill!"

The old man spoke with pride when mentioning this.

It was clear he cherished his past deeply.

And when Rope unfolded the painting, the lifelike portrait indeed confirmed the old man's claims. His painting skills were truly exceptional.

Rope looked at the portrait and let out a long sigh of relief. He had finally found a clue. This guy...

But before Rope could thank him, Rotom darted out of the backpack behind Rope.

"Rope, Rope! Cynthia's call! Rotom!"

Rope didn't dare to delay, and even felt a bit of anticipation.

"Hello, Cynthia? What's wrong?"

Rope asked happily.

"You're back safely? Why didn't you call me right away~?"

The moment Cynthia spoke, Rope felt like he saw the Star of Death flickering.

"No, it's just... I had some last-minute business to attend to. It was already scheduled, so it's best to get it done quickly. Otherwise, there might be issues if we try to do it later."

Rope hurriedly explained, though his words didn't quite make sense.

Cynthia's laughter came through the phone.

"Alright, I know you're busy. I won't blame you for this little thing."

Rope exhaled in relief. He knew Cynthia wouldn't blame him for such a minor matter. But he went along with her act anyway. For Cynthia, their separation hadn't even lasted an hour. But for Rope, they hadn't seen each other in nearly half a month.

"So what happened?"

"The results of the settlements you asked me to investigate are in. There is indeed another location with human settlements we already know about."

Cynthia explained the situation succinctly.

After all, she knew Rope must be anxious, so as long as she didn't cause him any trouble, that was the best help she could offer.

"Really?! That's great!"

"Yes, I'll send you the exact location and details right away. Be careful when you go."

"And don't forget to come back for dinner tonight!"