Pokémon: Breeding Simulator Chapter 183 183: Pokémon: Breeding Simulator [183]

Zoroark was tangled in a ss of thoughts.

She hadn't fully grasped everything Cynthia and Elias were discussing, but one thing was clear:

A highly dangerous Pokémon had appeared near the camp.

And what's worse—it shared similar abilities with her.

If that Pokémon went on a rampage, she would be the first suspect. No question about it.

That's why she wanted to leave for a while. Lay low. Clear her na.

And… not bring any more trouble to Elias.

Hearing her request, Elias didn't even hesitate before shaking his head.

"No. Absolutely not."

He turned her down flat.

He understood exactly what she was thinking—which was precisely why he couldn't agree.

Aside from how unfair it was to her—

More importantly…

"If you run away now, wouldn't that just make you look even more suspicious?"

"How could you co up with sothing so stupid?"

He flicked her forehead lightly, half-scolding.

Sotis, Elias seriously wondered if the Pokémon he was raising was really a mythical fox. At tis, she was less clever than Lucario.

Zoroark lowered her head, feeling a little aggrieved.

But as she processed his words, she had to admit… he wasn't entirely wrong.

"Now that we've found the [Keystone] early," Cynthia chid in at just the right mont, "we still have a lot of ways to turn this around."

"Spiritomb isn't exactly subtle when it moves. As long as we're scanning carefully with [Aura] or similar skills, it shouldn't be hard to catch."

Having once caught a Spiritomb herself, Cynthia clearly knew its behavior patterns well.

At her words, Lucario's eyes lit up.

His turn to shine!

But before he could charge up an [Aura Sphere], Elias held out a hand to stop him.

Lucario glanced at him, confused, as Elias explained:

"If we intercept Spiritomb too early, people will still bla Zoroark if sothing like this happens again."

"So… we wait. Let it make a move first."

"As long as we keep eyes on its real body, we'll bring it down tomorrow."

Now that he knew Spiritomb wouldn't be difficult to locate, Elias was surprisingly calm.

In fact, rather than silently dealing with it behind the scenes, it'd be better if Spiritomb caused so chaos first—then they could crush it publicly.

That way, after this precedent was set, the clans would think twice before pointing fingers at Zoroark again.

And beyond that—he also wanted to find out who sent Spiritomb.

There was no way such a Pokémon would appear near the camp on its own.

For so reason, an image of Volo from the Ginkgo Guild rose unbidden in Elias's mind.

Everything about him was suspicious.

And the Pokémon he had with him weren't ones an ordinary rchant should be able to command.

Cynthia nodded in agreent with Elias's plan.

As she expected—his way of thinking was nothing like the native Hisuians'.

She narrowed her eyes slightly.

With his talent, Elias was destined to achieve sothing remarkable.

And yet… why hadn't she ever found a single trace of soone like him in all her modern archaeological research?

Did he change his na in the future?

Or… did sothing happen?

At that thought, Cynthia's breath hitched.

She made a ntal note—at so point, she needed to warn Elias.

---

[Despite Zoroark's protests, you've decided to wait for Spiritomb to make a move before striking.]

[But this decision has left Zoroark deeply unhappy.]

"It'll be okay. We have the [Keystone] now. There's no way we'll ss this up tomorrow."

Zoroark had her jaws clamped around Elias's hand, and he could only stroke her gently with his free one, trying to soothe her.

But it was like she couldn't hear him at all—she refused to let go.

Of course she knew what Elias was saying was true.

And she believed that with him and Lucario keeping watch, there was no way Spiritomb would escape.

But...

In that window of ti—before the truth ca out—people would still condemn Elias.

And that thought gnawed at her.

At last, Zoroark loosened her bite and slowly sat up, casting a glance toward the camp beyond the tent flap.

If I were strong enough…

Strong enough to be like the mythical creator of Sinnoh itself… would anyone dare bla then?

Even among the most bitter, short-tempered people of the two great clans—none would have the courage.

That thought took root in her heart before she even realized it.

...

Elsewhere in the camp—

Volo stood alone in an open clearing, cradling a rhomboid stone tablet in his arms.

He'd changed clothes before leaving, just in case soone recognized him.

"All right… Co on out."

He spoke casually to the tablet.

Monts later, a swirling mass of mauve mist tinged with green seeped out of it, floating lazily into the air.

Spiritomb.

It looked around, intrigued by its new surroundings. A glint of disbelief flickered in the space that passed for its eyes.

I'm… really out of the [Keystone]?

That human didn't lie to ?

Seeing it erge, Volo gave a satisfied smile.

He hadn't released Spiritomb from the [Keystone] himself—that was beyond his ability.

But he had sothing that could.

—The [Spooky Plate].

A gift from Giratina, forged in the image of the great Sinnoh deity. It corresponded to the Ghost type.

As long as the typing matched, using it to help Spiritomb escape its [Keystone] was entirely feasible.

"Don't waste ti," Volo said coldly. "Pick a target and get moving."

Then, after a pause, he added:

"Success doesn't matter. Just make sure your identity stays hidden."

Spiritomb let out an annoyed ripple of energy, shifting shape briefly as a begrudging nod.

If this human hadn't beaten it before...

And if he hadn't truly freed it from the [Keystone]…

It would never have bothered with these Hisuians.

Still, orders were orders. Spiritomb began carefully scanning for a target.

As it observed the camp, its resentnt swelled.

A male Trainer flanked by both Lucario and Zoroark… a female Trainer with a Garchomp curled up beside her…

Even a white-haired woman traveling with two legendary Pokémon.

Was Volo trying to get it killed?

After a long pause, it finally found soone more reasonable:

A blond-haired Trainer… no Lucario, no Garchomp. Just a clueless little Eevee.

You'll do.

With that thought, Spiritomb released a tendril of soul energy from its core.