Chapter 530: Moltres

Julian walked up to the unconscious Aso and Eguchi—of course, the Bastiodon protecting them had already been knocked out by a single punch from Metagross.

He took the Poké Balls from their bodies and recalled the few Pokémon that were still alive. Most of their main team was either crippled or dead.

"Metagross, check their memories," Julian ordered.

These two were geniuses from Babath—especially Aso, who held a high status both in his country and within his family. He was bound to know some secrets.

With Metagross's psychic powers invading their minds, the memories of their lives began to surface—one by one. Even events they themselves had long forgotten were dug out by Metagross.

A few minutes later, Metagross released the now-lifeless bodies and used its psychic power to transmit everything it had learned directly into Julian's mind.

"So it was your family who did it. Then you really didn't die unjustly."

With a kick to Aso's abdomen, Julian sent the body flying over a hundred meters away.

The assassination attempt on him back at Imperial University had indeed been orchestrated by Babath—and it was carried out specifically by Aso's family.

Aso's memories also contained the locations of several secret laboratories in Babath—all of which were conducting genetic experiments.

There was also information about how to contact the five people from Celestria while inside the secret realm.

However, those five weren't currently on Akala Island—otherwise, Aso would've contacted them already.

Opening Aso's backpack, Julian found quite a few valuable items. Two of them especially caught his eye.

[Grass Orb: Can raise a Grass-type Pokémon's potential from Cyan to Blue (100% success rate). Useless for potentials above Blue.]

This was exactly what Julian needed.

He opened Kartana's Poké Ball.

"This is for you."

Looking at the round, shiny orb in Julian's hand, Kartana swallowed it in one bite.

After consuming it, Kartana immediately felt a change in its body. Its eyes lit up—even though it didn't fully understand what had changed, it could tell the transformation would allow it to reach greater heights.

As for the other treasure…

Moltres: "Is this one for me?"

Looking at the approaching Moltres—drooling at the mouth—Julian was speechless.

The next second, one of Julian's Poké Ball popped open, and Arcanine burst out, roaring at Moltres.

Even without telepathy, Julian could tell the dog was probably cursing up a storm.

Arcanine glared at Moltres, this damn homewrecker who hadn't even officially joined the team yet was already trying to steal treasures. If it actually got in, it'd probably start bossing everyone around.

Arcanine: "That treasure's mine. The Master only gives things to me."

Moltres: "Why should it go to you? It's mine!"

Arcanine: "Why? Because you're not one of the Master's real Pokémon!"

Moltres tilted its head: "So if I become his Pokémon, I can get treasures to eat too?"

Arcanine raised its head proudly: "Of course. There's also delicious food, a big villa to live in, furniture you can destroy at will, medicine when you're hurt, and even the water you drink helps strengthen your body."

"A wild Pokémon like you has probably never seen a bed made entirely of Top-grade Fire Stones. My bed is made like that."

To set the scene, Julian had built a doghouse for Arcanine in the villa's backyard, with the bedding made entirely of top-grade Fire Stones.

Arcanine sneered: "Country birds like you? Not worth my time."

Moltres, clearly tempted, asked: "Then… what about treasures like the one you ate earlier?"

At that, Arcanine's head shot up even higher, nearly bending backward: "That was my second Ultimate Fire-type treasure! Brother Gengar has eaten three, Fatty (Dragonite) soaked in the Dragon Pool, and Boss Metagross even got a world-class treasure from the master!"

Arcanine had different nicknames for each of Julian's Pokémon:

- Gengar was called "brother" because they got along well—one loved wrecking the house, and the other loved licking Julian. Both were experts at causing trouble.

- Dragonite was called "Fatty", since that's what Julian usually called it.

- Metagross was "Boss"—no explanation needed.

Among Julian's current main team, the only ones who hadn't eaten an Ultimate treasure yet were Lucario, Melmetal, and Steelix.

These kinds of treasures were rare and hard to come by. And they also needed to match the Pokémon's type, so it wasn't like Julian was playing favorites.

Hearing all this, Moltres was completely sold.

Becoming this human's Pokémon came with so many benefits—food, shelter, treasures—it was all upside and no downside. Damn, why didn't this human show up a few hundred years earlier?

Moltres turned to Julian. "I want to be your Pokémon too!"

Arcanine was dumbfounded. "Wait, no—I said all that to roast you, not to invite you to the feast!"

Julian rubbed his temples. "You're supposed to be suppressing the volcano."

Moltres scoffed. "Don't be fooled by Tapu Lele. If I leave, it can handle it—it's just lazy. Besides, you already took the Ultimate treasure from inside. The volcano won't erupt for centuries!"

Since the volcano needed time to regenerate the treasure, all its energy would go into that. So there was no need to worry about an eruption for at least a few centuries.

As for what would happen after a few hundred years?

Julian: 'I'll be long dead by then. Not my problem.'

Now Julian was starting to be tempted.

But before he could even consider it, Moltres bumped its head against an empty Poké Ball on his waist.

Julian stared silently at the now-captured Moltres. This was only the second time a Pokémon had thrown itself at him like this.

The first was Steelix.

Of course, in terms of status and flair, Moltres definitely outclassed Steelix.

"Arf arf arf!!!"

Arcanine barked furiously, drool nearly splattering onto Julian's face.

Arcanine: "You shameless homewrecker! I'll bite you to death!"

Its position as the "Only Fire-type" of Julian's team was now officially gone—and worse, it had actually pushed this mistress into place itself.

"Alright, alright, you're still my good boy."

Julian quickly reassured Arcanine.

His Pokémon, perhaps influenced by Metagross (the reigning king of jealousy), all had a bit of a possessive streak.

Luckily, Moltres wasn't some scheming "little flirt"—otherwise, Arcanine would never be able to compete.

After releasing Moltres, it smugly declared to Arcanine: "He's my trainer now too."

Then it glanced greedily at the treasure.

[Blaze Stone (Flamethrower Edition): Doubles the power of Flamethrower.]

Its effect was simple and had no type restrictions, meaning any Pokémon that knew Flamethrower could use this Blaze Stone.

But naturally, it was best for Fire-type Pokémon, since they could draw out the full potential of this item's effects.

Julian looked at Arcanine, meeting its dumb, earnest, and stubborn gaze that seemed to say: "If you give this to that homewrecker instead of me, I'll throw a tantrum right here."

Taking a deep breath, Julian said, "Let's give this one to… Moltres first. But after we leave the secret realm, I'll take you to the dog park."

"Arf!"

Arcanine: "No deal."

"Twice."

"Arf!"

Arcanine: "Still no."

"Three times." (Tone hardening)

"Each session at least two hours long."

"Arf!"

Arcanine: "...Fine. But you'd better not spoil that homewrecker too much."

*****

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