Chapter 422: Exchanging the Plate
"No."
Latias's reply was concise. Hikaru knew what she was thinking, but still suggested, "It's been a long time since we were in Alto Mare. Aren't you going back to see your kin?"
"Oh..."
Latias's resentment grew, but she still complied. Her figure vanished into thin air, and the next moment, a small red airplane appeared in the skies above Alto Mare, "leisurely" flying into the distance.
It caused a wave of exclamations.
Ever since Hikaru's Latias became famous, the number of visitors to Alto Mare had clearly increased significantly.
Everyone came to Alto Mare hoping to try their luck, to see if they could gain the favor of a Legendary Pokémon.
But even in Alto Mare, seeing Latios and Latias was a rare occurrence.
Now,
Latias merely showed her form briefly, and a large group of trainers became agitated.
"Holy crap, Latias! It's out, quick, let's go!"
"Come out, Wartortle! Let's go, we'll capture it!"
"Don't compete with me, Latias is mine!"
...
Watching the swarm of trainers rushing over, Xue Nai couldn't help but sigh, "Latias's charm is truly great."
"Indeed..."
Hikaru also nodded in agreement.
But he also understood their pursuit of Latias.
Bearing the title of a Legendary Pokémon, clearly knowing their whereabouts, plus Latias's recent fame,
Having such renown was actually not surprising.
"Then what are you going to do?"
Xue Nai poked him in the side.
"Do about what?"
Hikaru was puzzled.
"About Latias, of course. Her feelings for you are different..."
Xue Nai thought Hikaru was feigning ignorance and couldn't help but pinch the soft flesh at his waist.
After getting along for a month, things she hadn't dared to do at first had now become natural.
"Ah..."
A cry of pain. Hikaru also felt somewhat helpless. Fortunately, Xue Nai had only pretended to pinch.
Sometimes Hikaru felt that he was more comfortable in the past, doing whatever he wanted.
He equivocated, "Let's just leave it at that."
Meaning, he also didn't know what to do.
As long as Latias was by his side, he couldn't avoid it.
"Forget it,"
Xue Nai rolled her eyes at him, knowing she wouldn't get an answer by asking. So she asked, "Then what are we doing in Alto Mare?"
"Meeting an Elite Four from Team Rocket. I made a deal with him before."
Hikaru shrugged. He had just sent out the news that he had arrived in Alto Mare. Randa's reply was quick, saying he would arrive tonight.
"Team Rocket?"
Xue Nai was somewhat surprised, "That's not a good organization. After being suppressed some time ago, they haven't shown their faces recently. What kind of deal?"
Hikaru replied, "They want Charizard's blood for research, in exchange for a Plate... maybe more than one."
In fact, he didn't know what experiment the other party was conducting, nor was he clear why they were so eager for Charizard's blood.
But the allure of the Plates was simply too great.
On Green Bubble, the other party had sent two photos.
They were the two remaining fragmented Normal-type Plates, and a complete Fire-type Plate.
Adding Hikaru's own Plate, it would make two complete Plates.
The originally fragmented Normal-type Plate, if carried for a long time, could elevate a Normal-type Pokémon's talent straight to Third-Tier Deity. Hikaru couldn't imagine how much a complete Fire-type Plate could amplify Charizard.
And the price for the exchange was.
Besides needing to provide Charizard's blood, Hikaru also needed to perform Bond Evolution, Mega Evolution, and Lucario's [Kaioken] form in front of him.
Initially, the other party had also wanted some of Tyranitar's rock armor.
But Hikaru hadn't agreed; after all, he was asking for too much.
Before leaving, Hikaru used Aura to tell her (Latias) to return before evening.
She didn't say anything.
Hikaru didn't know if she heard.
But he still found a place to stay first.
He strolled around with his senior sister, watched the water races in Alto Mare. Time quickly passed until evening. Latias returned at five in the afternoon, pouting and looking dejected.
Hikaru asked his senior sister to stay in the hotel, while he himself took Latias to meet Randa.
In a ubiquitous coffee shop in Alto Mare.
Hikaru spotted Randa, dressed in black, sitting at a table at a glance.
"Young friend, you've really kept me waiting."
Looking at Hikaru's figure, the corner of Randa's mouth, hidden under his black robe, twitched.
It was originally agreed that the transaction would take place after the Youth League ended. Unexpectedly, it had been delayed for a whole month.
This meant his experiment schedule could not be delayed any further.
If Hikaru still didn't agree,
He would have had to risk going to Kyoto to find Hikaru.
"Sorry, sorry."
Hikaru apologized with a smile that didn't reach his eyes. The malice indicator above this person's head was still orange-yellow. He unceremoniously sat down opposite him.
Randa didn't waste words either, directly taking out a fragmented Normal-type Plate, "I've prepared this. What about your things?"
"So quickly? I thought we'd build some rapport first." Hikaru also took out a tube of Charizard's blood from his backpack. The orange-yellow blood had a faint white glow, about 50ml. At the same time, he inspected the Plate in Randa's hand.
[Arceus's Fragmented Plate (Normal-type): SSS-rank secret treasure, a Plate possessing a portion of Arceus's origin power, containing incredible strength. Although only a fragmented version, long-term carrying can enhance a Pokémon's talent.
Note: Forcibly absorbing the energy within will cause irreversible damage to the Pokémon's body!]
The item was correct.
Hikaru, however, didn't hand over the blood to the other party immediately.
"Are you sure this is your Charizard's blood?"
Surveying the test tube in Hikaru's hand, a trace of greed flashed in Randa's eyes.
Currently, Mewtwo's research had reached its final step.
Its embryo had already formed. As long as Charizard's genes were added, Mewtwo would possess Charizard's super regenerative ability.
By then, with Mewtwo's strength, it would be even stronger than ordinary deities!
"Don't believe me? If you don't believe me, then let's not trade. It's just something that enhances energy activity. Who knows how much the Youth League prize money can buy."
Hikaru's smile stiffened, and he sneered at him, "If you weren't pressing so urgently, I really might not have come."
With that, he made to leave.
"No, no, young friend,"
Seeing this, Randa quickly grabbed his hand and passed the Plate over, "It's not that I don't believe you. I've just never seen Charizard blood like this before. Thinking about it now, young friend's Charizard is different; it must have its unique aspects."
Taking the Plate, Hikaru's heart stirred, but he said, "Alright, alright..."
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