Chapter 180: Miori: Today, Team Plasma Answers to Me!
The video continued playing.
After the barbecue—
Asher sat in a wicker chair at the edge of the terrace, gazing at the moon. Miori walked over and sat beside him.
"Zeraora’s Mega Stone."
Without turning his head, Asher took a box from inside his coat and placed it in Miori’s palm.
"Keep it safe."
Miori didn’t ask any questions. She silently placed the box in her pocket.
"Dad, has the seal at Dragonspiral Tower spread again?"
"Mm."
Asher nodded.
"You must reach Dragonspiral Tower within one week at the latest."
Miori lowered her gaze toward her palm.
"I’ll win."
"I know."
Asher smiled.
"My daughter could never lose."
Miori turned toward him, the corners of her mouth slowly rising.
"Dad, are you praising me or yourself?"
"They’re the same thing."
Asher’s expression didn’t change.
Miori couldn’t help laughing. She leaned back against the chair.
"Dad, suppose I really do catch Zekrom. What should I do afterward?"
"Whatever you want."
Asher put down his teacup.
"If you want to continue traveling, then continue traveling. If you want to return to Nimbasa Gym, then return. If you want to become Champion, then become Champion."
Miori rose and walked to the edge of the terrace. With both hands resting on the railing, she took a deep breath beneath the star-filled sky.
"I want the people and Pokémon of this world to truly understand one another."
"Team Plasma might not actually be evil in its current form," Miori said slowly. "They’ve seen only the worst side of the relationship between people and Pokémon, so they assume that every Trainer is an exploiter."
"But what if I can prove otherwise?"
Her fingers lightly tapped the railing twice.
"What if I prove that genuine trust can exist between people and Pokémon? Then perhaps they’ll stop believing that ’liberating every Pokémon’ is the only possible answer."
"That goal is much more difficult than becoming Champion."
Asher’s voice softened slightly.
"But you’re already doing well."
Miori looked down at her hand before slowly clenching it into a fist.
"Dad, thank you."
"What are you thanking me for?"
"Thank you for never making my decisions for me," Miori said softly. "While still supporting me from behind the entire time."
Asher didn’t answer.
He merely extended a hand and gently patted the top of Miori’s head.
"Having a heart-to-heart between father and daughter?"
Elesa approached carrying a tray with three cups on it.
Miori’s eyes lit up, and she immediately reached out.
"I want the hot chocolate!"
"I knew you would."
Elesa handed it to her.
"Don’t drink too much. If you can’t sleep tonight, don’t come looking for me."
Miori stuck her tongue out at Elesa.
"I wouldn’t come looking for you if I couldn’t sleep. I’d go to Dad."
"Your father has to keep me company tonight."
Miori nearly sprayed out the hot chocolate she had just swallowed.
"...Mom! I’m still a child! Could you be more mindful of what you say?!"
"Mindful of what?"
Elesa tilted her head, her innocent expression utterly flawless.
"I meant that your father would be helping me organize tomorrow’s itinerary. What were you imagining?"
Miori hid her face behind her cup and released an exceptionally humiliated groan.
[VIP Chat Group]
[Alder]: In all my years, I have heard countless Trainers declare, "I want to change the world." But what most of them truly mean is, "I want the world to operate according to my beliefs." Miori is different. She said, "I want both sides to understand each other."
[Wallace]: Miori’s ideal sounds simple, but accomplishing it would be far more difficult than catching a Legendary Pokémon. If she succeeds, she’ll change the very foundation of the world.
[N]: Mutual understanding...
[Ash]: N?! Are you the N from the video?!
[Gary]: This guy appeared once before and then stopped saying anything. It seems Miori’s ideal finally drew him out again.
[N]: Yes. I agree with part of what Miori said. I have encountered many Trainers who regard Pokémon as nothing more than tools. But some Trainers truly do treat Pokémon as partners, just as she does.
[Bianca]: Looking at it that way... you’re conflicted too, aren’t you?
[N]: I don’t know. I once believed that the path I followed was correct. But Miori’s appearance has made me wonder—perhaps what I saw wasn’t the whole world.
[Ghetsis]: N, do not allow yourself to be deceived.
[Ghetsis]: The girl named Miori certainly speaks movingly, but you must not forget—she is a Trainer. From the very beginning, she has stood on humanity’s side.
[Alder]: Ghetsis? The livestream has already definitively exposed how you manipulated N, yet you still dare to appear and mislead him with more empty words?
[Ghetsis]: I am merely reminding N of something. You know better than anyone what kind of world you witnessed throughout your childhood.
[Ghetsis]: No matter how beautiful Miori’s ideal may sound, it cannot change humanity’s greed.
[Dawn]: Aaaah, everything this man says makes me so angry!
[Iris]: @Ghetsis, just wait and see! Miori will definitely prove that you’re wrong!
[N]: ...
The video continued playing.
Dragonspiral Tower—the oldest tower in the entire Unova region, without exception.
At that moment, the area surrounding the tower was densely packed with people.
More precisely—
It was densely packed with Team Plasma members.
At a rough estimate, more than a hundred people were stationed around the outer perimeter alone, without even counting the patrol units constantly moving inside.
"Isn’t this a little too many people?"
Miori stared at the enormous gathering.
"Don’t worry."
Asher rotated one wrist.
"Your father will carve a path through them. You can charge directly inside."
"Wait, wait, wait!"
Miori hurriedly grabbed the hem of Asher’s coat.
"Dad, I want to prove to Team Plasma that my beliefs are right! Let me resolve this myself!"
Hearing this, Asher lowered the Poké Ball he had been holding.
"Fine. Then how do you intend to get inside?"
The corner of Miori’s mouth rose.
She took her signature sunglasses from her pocket and placed them on the bridge of her nose.
"Through the front entrance, of course."
Seeing her appearance, Asher smiled as well.
"Fine. I’ll remain outside. If you encounter danger, just shout, ’Daddy, save me!’"
"Could we choose something else?"
Miori’s expression immediately collapsed.
"That signal is far too embarrassing."
"No."
Asher patted Miori’s shoulder.
"Go. Shout if you’re in danger. No matter how far away you are, I’ll hear you."
Miori stared at her father’s face, which clearly declared, I’ve already decided, and arguing will accomplish nothing.
She took a deep breath.
"Fine. I’m going."
Miori turned around, adjusted her sunglasses, and strode toward Dragonspiral Tower’s main entrance.
After she had walked approximately a hundred paces, the Team Plasma members stationed along the outer perimeter noticed her.
Several instinctively raised their Poké Balls.
However, once they saw her face clearly, they began hesitating.
That black-haired girl wearing sunglasses...
Hadn’t they seen her somewhere before?
"What are all of you standing around for?"
Miori’s voice abruptly rose as she switched back to Shiny Shinyko’s distinctive tone.
"First Operations Team—assemble!"
The instant her command rang out, more than a dozen members stationed on the left snapped to attention.
The bald member was the first to rush over, his eyes already beginning to redden.
"Deputy Captain! You’re still alive!"
"When you ordered us to retreat last time, we all thought that enormous yellow cat had..."
"I’m fine."
Miori patted his shoulder.
"That large cat and I fought for three days and three nights without determining a victor. In the end, I conquered it through the sheer force of my charisma."
The bald member nodded with complete seriousness.
"I understand now! Deputy Captain, you’re incredible!"
The bespectacled member approached while hugging a folder to his chest.
"Deputy Captain, while you were away, we continued following the training plan you left behind. Our branch has the highest training attendance rate in the entire organization!"
"Good. Very good."
Miori nodded.
"Today, every member of the First Operations Team will follow my command."
"Yes, Deputy Captain!"
More than a dozen members answered in perfect unison.