The Kingdom of Azoth.
Aoki landed softly on the grassy plain just outside the towering, ancient city wall. The stonework was weathered but imposing, speaking to a long and isolated history. His eyes scanned the area, thodically searching for the specific, subtle mark left by Team Flare as a guide. Once located, he moved silently into the dense forest bordering the city, following the path to the pre-arranged eting point deep within the shadows of the trees. The air was cool and carried the scent of damp earth and pine.
"Co out," Aoki said lightly, his voice calm but carrying authority as he arrived at the designated clearing.
On cue, two figures dropped down from the thick branches overhead, their landings nearly silent. They were followed closely by their Pokemon: a Weavile and a Honchkrow, both alert and scanning the surroundings. Find the newest release on novel⚑fire
"Reverend Pastor!" the two n exclaid in unison upon seeing Aoki. They imdiately stopped, crossing their left hands over their chests in a formal, respectful salute. They had exchanged their standard Team Flare uniforms for traditional Azoth Kingdom costus, though the distinctive Shamatte glasses remained on their faces.
Aoki gave a slight, acknowledging nod. "Have you acquired everything?" he asked, his tone all business.
The two n nodded eagerly, one of them stepping forward to present a piece of space equipnt. After taking the compact device, Aoki looked at them both. "Thank you for your hard work. Continue with your assigned duties."
A clear flash of excitent crossed their faces at his words. To be personally acknowledged for their efforts by the second-in-command of Team Flare was a significant honor. Suddenly, all the fatigue from their dangerous mission seed to vanish. "It was no trouble at all, Reverend Pastor. We will take our leave now and ensure the remaining tasks are handled," one said. With that, the two mbers of Team Flare lted back into the woods under the guidance of their Pokemon, disappearing as quietly as they had arrived. They had further instructions from Aoki to carry out.
These two were the captains of the small squad Lysandre had assigned to Aoki, temporarily under his command. Their individual strength as Trainers was not exceptional, only at what could be considered a squadron leader level, but their skills in stealth and infiltration were remarkably proficient. They had managed to enter the secluded Kingdom of Azoth and gather the specific intelligence Aoki required without raising any alarms.
Aoki opened the space equipnt. His first action was to change into the traditional Azoth clothing contained within, the fabrics feeling foreign and ornate. Then, he began removing a large collection of books and scrolls. This was the primary objective of the mission: to collect information and docunts pertaining to the Kingdom of Azoth's unique brand of mysterious science. The plan was set; Aoki would do what he did best: infiltrate.
His goal was to sneak into the inner circles of the Azoth royal court to acquire certain items he desired, or to et specific individuals. Chief among his targets were the lifelong research notes on occult science written by the master creator, Nikola. He was unsure if such notes even truly existed, but the possibility was too great to ignore. Aoki had developed a profound interest in this field of science. Any discipline capable of creating an artificial Pokemon like Magearna was undoubtedly worth mastering.
But that was not his only target. The person Team Flare had specifically been tasked to find information on was Jarvis. This man also had his own unique, albeit twisted, creations within occult science. Jarvis possessed a narrow vision and evil intentions, limiting his influence to the Kingdom of Azoth. Otherwise, with his research, he could have beco a major force in the underworld, perhaps even a leader of a regional team like Lysandre. The reason for this potential was the nature of his creation: the Super Evolution Wave. This was a theoretical ability that would allow a Pokemon to achieve ga Evolution without the need for a ga Stone or the deep bond typically required between Trainer and Pokemon. The ergence of such a wave would irrevocably change the entire landscape of the Pokemon world. It was a pity the researcher himself was so lacking. However, it remained unknown if Jarvis had actually succeeded, as ga Evolution had not yet been unveiled to the world. But Nikola's confird research results were invaluable, each one a crystallization of supre intelligence.
Sitting on a moss-covered log, Aoki began the tedious process of scanning every page of the collected information into his internal system, the data converting and storing itself seamlessly within his vast database. These ancient Azoth texts, dense and difficult for any human to decipher and comprehend fully, were no match for the system's analytical and computational capabilities. It could cross-reference, parse aning, and reproduce concepts at an incredible speed. As the system learned and understood, the knowledge was effectively transferred to Aoki himself.
The process took the entire afternoon, the light in the forest shifting as the sun moved across the sky. While the system scanned, Aoki actively absorbed the ancillary information about Azoth customs, dialects, and daily living habits contained within the texts. This cultural knowledge was crucial to avoid exposure through a minor slip in etiquette or behavior once he was inside the city walls.
As night finally fell, enveloping the forest in a deep darkness, Aoki made his move. Using the cover of night, he slipped silently over the high city wall and into the Kingdom of Azoth. The interior of the city was a mix of archaic architecture and strange, steampunk-like contraptions, all illuminated by flickering lantern light. According to the intelligence gathered by Team Flare on Jarvis, Aoki moved with purpose through the quiet, cobblestone streets, heading straight for his target's residence.
Jarvis was a sowhat famous figure within the Kingdom of Azoth, but his fa was of a particular kind. He was widely considered a joke. His father had been a respected mber of the royal family, a master of occult science, and a minister of high standing. Within the royal court, Jarvis's father had been a figure worth winning over, and he was one of the last individuals to have conducted truly in-depth research on Master Nikola's work. Growing up under his father's influence, Jarvis developed a deep fondness for occult science, particularly obsessed with Nikola's research. But Jarvis had a unique and, to the Azoth people, peculiar hobby: he loved to tinker and attempt innovations within the science.
This should have been a comndable pursuit, a way to deepen his understanding and potentially advance the field. However, the general populace of Azoth did not see it that way. They believed Nikola represented the absolute pinnacle of occult science; the goal was not to innovate, but to perfectly learn and replicate what he had already done. They believed that mastering Nikola's work alone would make one the smartest and most powerful person in the world. This rigid mindset was precisely why Azoth's understanding of occult science had stagnated for five hundred years, actually regressing as more of Nikola's original research was lost over ti. Jarvis's father had been the last great scholar.
For a ti, while his father was alive, Jarvis's eccentric inventions were tolerated, if quietly mocked. People would speak of him with a hint of sarcasm, saying the minister's son was conducting such "in-depth" research that he was already creating new inventions. Then, tragedy struck. Jarvis's father died suddenly from an illness. According to Azoth custom, a father's position, rights, and responsibilities were to be inherited by his son. The problem was that Jarvis had spent so much ti on his failed innovations that he had not adequately mastered Nikola's existing work. His repeated embarrassing failures and presentations in the royal court cented his reputation. Thus, Jarvis beca famous as a fool, a disappointnt who could not live up to his father's legacy.
Reading this, Aoki had been montarily stunned. It read like the backstory of a protagonist destined for a dramatic rise. If this were a tale of reincarnation, Jarvis would now be poised to play the fool only to later reveal his genius, defeating all who had scorned him. But Aoki knew real life was rarely so straightforward. The information suggested that after suffering excessive ridicule, Jarvis's ntality had beco twisted, perhaps it already was. He had temporarily abandoned his innovations and was now feverishly studying Nikola's known research, determined to make everyone who looked down on him pay. It was only later, according to the notes, that he would discover the references to Magearna in his father's old journals, setting the true story in motion.
Tonight, Aoki planned to et this "butler," Jarvis. Aoki was also quite curious about those battle clothes that seem to be quite interesting.
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