Chapter 192: N

Compared to Hive, reestablishing the League was undoubtedly a far greater challenge for Goodshow. After all, he couldn't exert coercive control over League officials like Hive could over its members.

To make them listen, he'd need to employ every tool at his disposal.

And now that Hive and Volkner were basking in the public spotlight, swaying the people's opinion against them would take time—and careful maneuvering.

"Welcome, Elite Four Volkner, Lady Anabel, and Sage Brandon, to the Unova League Headquarters," greeted Marshal, one of Unova's Elite Four, as they arrived at League Mountain with a warm smile.

Unova League Headquarters?

Anabel and Brandon exchanged a glance, surprised by his wording.

While League offices across the world were often called by their respective regions—the Johto League, Kalos League, Hoenn League, and so on—the only place traditionally referred to as the headquarters was the Pokémon League atop the Indigo Plateau.

It seemed Unova's upper echelon had tacitly begun treating this place as the new League Headquarters.

Heh. Lucius chuckled silently to himself.

Power didn't lie in what you called it.

Power lay in perception, in the influence one wielded over others.

By now, the number of infected under Lucius's control had surpassed ten million—and was still growing by the second.

It was no exaggeration to say: Lucius, who held absolute command over this horde, was now the most powerful person in the world. Bar none.

"Thank you for your kind welcome, Elite Four Marshal." Lucius smiled as he followed the others into League Mountain.

After resolving the previous League incident, Goodshow had chosen to remain stationed in Unova, rather than return to the Indigo Plateau. Meanwhile, the newly crowned Champion of Unova, N, showed little interest in League affairs, preferring instead to roam the region, mediating disputes between Pokémon and humans.

In that sense, N was quite similar to Alder.

The inner sanctum of League Mountain resembled an ancient Greek temple. As Lucius entered alongside Marshal, he could feel the overwhelming surge of golden energy suffusing the chamber—far denser than anywhere else he'd been.

So this was the heart of the energy shielding the Unova region.

"Volkner, what brings you here today?" Goodshow greeted Lucius with the same calm expression as always, as if the long and bitter power struggles between them had never happened.

"I have something important to discuss with the President," Lucius replied with a genial smile, seemingly unconcerned with past hostilities.

After all, his true aim was the evolution of the virus. Hive's conflict with the League was merely one strategy in service of that goal.

Goodshow nodded, then dismissed everyone from the room. Alone with Lucius in his office, he leaned back into his chair.

For the virus's mastermind to make a personal visit—it could only mean something serious.

"President, do you remember when Lugia tricked me and the other Champions into entering the Reverse World?" Lucius asked, staring directly at him.

The old man's eyes flickered. How could he not remember?

At the time, the League hadn't yet understood the virus's full scope. The aftermath had allowed Hive to infiltrate them completely and silently—one of the few grave missteps in Goodshow's long career.

Now Lucius brought it up again. Goodshow's expression darkened as he gave a slow nod.

"In the Reverse World, we uncovered a truth of paramount importance," Lucius said with a faint smile. "It concerns Arceus. I thought you might want to hear it."

He saw it clearly: the moment he said Arceus, Goodshow's pupils contracted sharply.

"What do you want in exchange?" the old man asked quietly.

"Nothing." Lucius shook his head. "This concerns both of us. I'm willing to share it freely."

Goodshow was silent for several seconds, then nodded.

Lucius proceeded to relay the entirety of the Giratina plot—to replace Arceus.

Goodshow, brilliant as ever, grasped the implications immediately.

From everything they'd seen, Giratina stood allied with Lugia, Ho-Oh, Mewtwo, Groudon, and the two deities of space and time. In other words, these mythical Pokémon had united in opposition to Arceus.

Lucius claimed he expected nothing in return, but the real message was clear: Hive was willing to join forces with the League to stand against the Mythical Pokémon.

Because if Giratina truly sought to usurp Arceus, then this went beyond mere politics—this was a war of foundational ideology.

The enemy of my enemy... could be an ally. If Hive and the mythical faction stood opposed, there was no need for the League and Hive to clash immediately.

Goodshow also understood: Lucius wasn't just saying this to him—he was saying it to the being watching behind him.

To Arceus.

Goodshow nodded lightly. "Understood. Thank you for the warning, Elite Four Volkner."

Lucius rose to his feet. His purpose in Unova was complete.

Arceus, now aware of Giratina's plot, would be forced to act. Lucius only had to wait patiently. When the time came, and Arceus struck back, Lucius would seize his chance. Lugia, Ho-Oh, Groudon… they were all targets for his Primal Gene harvesting.

And judging by Goodshow's response, Lucius was certain: Arceus had already awakened—and was now acting as the League's hidden protector.

Now it was only a matter of time.

He had barely stepped out of the temple when he saw a tall young man with green hair, wearing a Monge Sponge pendant across his chest.

The new Champion of Unova. Former Leader of Team Plasma.

Natural Harmonia Gropius—known to the world simply as N.

In the eyes of Unova's people, he was already being hailed as the Hero of Ideals, the one who would lead them to a new golden age.

"So it's you?" N walked up to Lucius, staring directly into his eyes. "You're the one who dragged both humans and Pokémon into this quagmire… this monster?"

Perhaps because he himself had been called a monster all his life, the word carried a deeply conflicted tone when it left his lips.

Despite being Champion, his words made everyone present—especially those within the League—frown in discomfort.

"Heh. A monster?" Lucius gave a casual smile. "Maybe."

Just then, an overwhelming force burst down from the heavens.

Even before it landed, everyone felt it—skin prickling, muscles twitching involuntarily, like lightning coursing through their bodies.

A gray-black dragon descended behind N, upright on two legs, its wings spread wide. Its conical tail—ringed with jagged spines—rotated slowly, flickering with arcs of blue electricity. Blood-red eyes locked onto Lucius, radiating unmistakable hostility.

Zekrom—the mythic dragon of Ideals.

So, N had come here specifically to confront me…

Lucius glanced between N and Zekrom, and everything became clear.

"I want to hear," N said softly, "what your Pokémon's hearts are really saying."

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