Sinnoh, the old castle
"You're back."
Psychic was still looking at the screen, except that the image on it had long since changed from the Indigo Plateau Conference's tournament venue to some soap opera starring Diantha.
"Emm. Back."
The black-robed man's tone remained calm, but Psychic could keenly hear that his breath was a little less even.
Turning his head to look over, Darkrai and Deoxys in front of him bore wounds, and the black-robed man himself looked a little worse for wear.
A pair of willowy eyebrows under the mask gently saved towards her brow before she asked, "What's wrong with you?"
The black-robed man nodded towards Darkrai and Deoxys before pulling two Master Balls from his own belt.
The two Legendary Pokémon were retrieved into their respective balls.
The black-robed man then took a seat in his place and shook his head, "Being caught off guard by Rope... I didn't realize that person's existence was actually that unique..."
As soon as he heard the name Rope, Psychic's tone seemed a bit unkind, "Rope... what is he?"
"He doesn't seem to be human... but rather Pokémon in appearance... in all, a very strange person. I suggest you don't think about getting into trouble with him or anything. At least not until I find a way to be able to suppress him."
The black-robed man couldn't help but bring meaning weariness to his tone.
"I'm not your subordinate. There's no need to talk to me so much if you don't feel like talking. I have my own judgment on this matter."
Psychic's tone remained cold.
The black-robed man shook his head, then said, "Gather all the surrogates for me. I need to get through to them."
Psychic looked at the guy in front of him for a long time, shook his head, and then pressed a red button on the table.
Soon sixteen curtains of light lit up. Light curtains appeared on all the seats except Psychic's and the black-robed man's. And soon, human figures appeared on the light screens.
"Oops? This sudden meeting? Poor me, I was just about to go to sleep, I wonder what exactly Ms. Psychic is planning to do with this meeting? Why don't you give me an explanation? After all, it's not easy for me to sleep."
A person wearing a Kyogre mask said mildly, but his dissatisfaction could still be heard in his tone.
"Why are you still pretending to be gentle when you're having a wake up call, Water, why don't you just start cursing!"
A cynical, gangly-sounding voice came out from a nearby light screen. As expected, it was none other than that Flying guy.
Water ignored him as well, feeling like he was still smiling gently. After all, Kyogre's mask was smiling...
One by one, silhouettes appeared on the other light screens as well.
A single Pokémon mask appeared on the light screen, just as the one of Froslass stood out.
"Yoo-hoo! This is the newly appointed surrogate 'Ice', right... ah, no, you want people to call you 'Ice'. I'm Rai, pretty girl leave a contact!"
And another voice that sounded old and immodest at first listen came over from the side. And he was looking at none other than Snow who was brushing her hair with a mask on the screen.
"You sound familiar to me... what was the reason you put on Manectric's mask? I'm quite curious, if I give you my contact info, can you give me that information?"
Snow's tone held a smirk, even a hint of pettiness...
But whichever Rai was wearing the Zekrom mask wasn't vocalizing...
And after he fell silent, silence fell in the conference hall.
Everyone saw the man at the head of the room.
That was Arceus, the leader of the entire Servants of God organization, their boss and ATM.
And after a few moments of silence, a woman with a Giratina mask spoke, "You showed up? The plan is complete?"
Ms. Ghost still opened her mouth and was straight to the point.
Everyone nodded for Ms. Ghost, but that being said, Ms. Ghost was in league with those two, so naturally there was no problem with Straight Balls asking. But if they had taken the initiative to ask...well no such guts...
"No. But our opponent has appeared. So I need your help."
The black-robed man opened his mouth to Ms. Ghost in the first half of his sentence, but the second half of his sentence turned into a sweeping look at everyone else.
This was actually the first time all of them had all met together. It was like Water had never officially met Snow so far. And Flying had met Fire and Rai for the first time. even though they were all in the same group...
And someone with a strange mask of Pokémon that no one has ever seen before and a person with a mask of Yveltal also appeared in their respective seats representing Poison and Dark.
[So it turns out that our organization, the people are all together!] *15
"Naturally, we have no reason not to agree to Mr. Arceus' request. But all the same, we need to know more details, once and for all, to judge the payment we deserve."
The man with the mask that no one recognized spoke up, "Incidentally, I am Poison, and the mask I wear is that of the god of the Galar region, Eternatus. of course, that name was told to me by Ms. Psychic, and the mask was handed to me by Ms. Psychic."
Rather incidentally, he introduced himself to the others present.
"I see what you mean Leopold."
The black-robed man spoke suddenly.
Poison, on the other hand, froze steeply in his movements... he hadn't expected Arceus to reveal his real name...
Was this a warning?
"I'm sorry about that, I'm just used to calling you guys by your names... it's like Poloson, Thurman, Ishikai..."
Water, Flying, and Rai's faces froze...
What does it mean to take off your vest? Going to flip out on everyone?
Water's heart instantly just stuttered. Bad, I just told that Taito guy that we can't beat these three guys together, and in the blink of an eye, we're going to really flip out? Then I should have gone to showdown with League myself!
"Don't get me wrong guys, as I said, it's just a habit...well, let's talk about the pay. It's still the same, you guys can pick whatever you want besides paper money. We will selectively give resources of sufficient value."
The black-robed man knew that the more he said, the more wrong he would be, so he simply misplaced the topic and proceeded to start talking about the payment.
And for a while surprisingly no one dared to open their mouths...now these four guys were running around naked. Guess the faces under their masks wouldn't look very good either...
Snow also had a surprised look on his face, while a smile couldn't help but appear under the mask.
Looks like it's going to be another very Rope call today!
"I know you guys don't really have a sense of belonging to the organization. I won't even ask for those things either. You guys can betray the organization and sell out the location of the headquarters to League without any harm. But I hope this is after our first step of the plan is completely finished."
"Otherwise...I'll actually come to your door and demand a statement from you."
"What the hell do you want!"
Steel suddenly yelled in a dry and direct manner. It seemed as if he was completely unafraid of the strong man in front of him who knew his true identity.
"There is simply no need for us to listen to your instructions. Even if we don't complete your mission, we can still directly defect to the League. With our strength and the information we brought with us. It's definitely possible to get League's shelter."
"I don't believe you have the means to confront all of League's powerhouses head on."
"All, either talk properly or break up."
Steel's eyes flashed with an unexplained, bone-deep hatred.
"I, for one, will never accept any threats."
The scene fell silent once more.
And the black-robed man, as if spoken to in fear, refrained from speaking. And Ms. Psychic shook her head helplessly. while Ms. Ghost gave a cold snort of disdain.
And after a moment of silence, the black-robed man spoke again, ''Are you still not going to change your temper? Continue to do so even if your son dies because of your obstinate temper and weird personality?"
Steel's movements stiffened, then a shudder began...
"How did you know?"
There was suppressed anger in his voice.
"Mr. Malkin, I hope your grandfather is still well, after all, his old man is considered a living fossil amongst the League fugitives."
Dark's fists clenched steeply, staring at the man in front of him with the Arceus mask.
"Ms. Riko, I hope your daughter is well. But with all due respect, your wish to seek Ho-Oh to cure your daughter's illness is not shown. Because as generous as Ho-Oh seems to be, she is also only very generous to her subordinates and partners."
"And the blessings that can save a person's life she has already used up, your prayers are useless, and your pursuit is naturally even more useless."
The woman with the Shaymin mask slammed the table, then brushed herself to her feet. Both eyes stared angrily at the person in front of her. Like she intended to eat him alive.
"There are many others, and I know all of your secrets. Before you officially break with me, remember to protect the treasures in your lives."
"Loved ones or loved ones these weaknesses of yours will be used by me to take advantage of you. I respect you all and do not normally give you mandatory tasks."
"But I have my own quests. If you stand in my way..."
"Then don't blame me for not remembering old times."
The black-robed man's tone intensified as he said this, and there was also a hidden tendency to flip out.
But everyone else really didn't dare to make a move...
Everyone had their own secret that they didn't want to be known by others. If once that secret was known by others, then the best way was to silence it. The second best way is to give up the secret. But if neither of the first two could be done, then obedience might be the only option.
"Alright, let's talk about what to do about your mission next. At least you should tell us what the mission is first.Mr. Arceus."
Snow spoke up. So a step was given to everyone.
"Thank you, Ms. Harumi."
The black robed man spoke again.
"Please call me Ice, Mr. Arceus. That is my current and future name."
The black-robed man visibly froze for a moment, then shook his head, then said, "Yes, I respect your choice, Ms. Ice."
He then looked to the crowd present.
"I want you all to help me gather all of Plate's marks. You will face the Plate's that Arceus has left out in the open, fight them, and then go the imprints. And finally give me the Seal."
"Team up freely and choose your targets freely. I am only responsible for giving you the information you need. For I have other preparations to make myself."
"Gentlemen, I need your help because I have too few fellow travelers. And you just happen to be the ones I can use."
"The deal between us is not a fair one, but you have no room to refuse."
"There is no specific time limit. For Plate's location is just as much for you to find. I will give you facilities, including the Plate's inability to reach each other to ask for help."
"Go and help me. Gentlemen, after this goal is accomplished, you will regain your freedom. I will not ask you to do anything more."
"The deadline is one year from now, I don't have time folks..."
The black-robed man actually bowed towards the crowd.
Then turned around with the intention of leaving.
"Who the hell are you?"
A woman with a Diancie mask snapped, she was Rokku.Ground and Ishi's superior.
"You have spoken information about us people. Also know the secrets we each don't want known to outsiders. I suspect our more deadly secrets should be within your grasp as well."
"So the question remains..." this woman's eyes blazed like knives, "who are you really?"
And so silence once again fell in the conference hall where the temperature had just warmed up...
A moment later, a chuckle came from behind Arceus' mask.
"Ha," the black-robed man turned his head and said with laughter in his tone, "Don't worry about these irrelevant things, my friend. Names are just code names, identities are just symbols. Who am I? I am a sinner."
"A sinner in the past, a sinner in the present, and still a sinner in the future."
After saying that, he turned around and left the conference hall.
And the light screen didn't disappear, everyone looked at each other, not knowing what to say.
What they couldn't see were the pursed lips under Ms. Psychic's Mew mask, and the somewhat cruel and pained smile under Ms. Ghost's mask...
——————————————
"It looks like things are really grim..."
Lance looked at the curtain of light in front of his eyes, then rubbed his save point.
Thanking Rope for teaching him this somewhat relaxing maneuver...
"An opponent that's even stronger than Rope's firepower..."
Steven's face carried the same gravity. Seriously, he's now thinking again about whether or not he's going to hand Wallace the title or not. He knew rationally that Wallace should be able to handle the pressure and do just fine.
But he just feels like he should just take on more responsibility...
And the various champions from the other regions frowned, unsure of what to say...
Cynthia shook her head and said, "I can only just tell you guys this information, but we still have to wait for Rope to discuss the specific plan with everyone."
"After all, amongst us, Rope is the one who knows the most about this."