"Sylas, one of the Four Heavenly Kings from the Southwest region, is also stationed at the Grass Insect Secret Realm. If we want to deal with Jacob, we need someone to hold him off."
Huxley spoke again, his eyes moving across the three people standing before him.
"I'll go," Curly, a Gods Coffin-10 Reserve, said quietly, his voice low and steady.
"You... no. Sylas is a Flying-type Elite. He's fast and hard to pin down. If you go alone, you may not make it back," Huxley said, shaking his head slightly as he looked at Curly. "I'll handle it myself. It will only take ten minutes. Once the job is done, we'll regroup at the meeting point."
Huxley then turned to the Gods Coffin-4 standing beside him. "It's currently 2:57 AM. We have ten minutes to get ready. We move together at 3:07 AM, and we pull back no later than 3:17 AM. Any objections?"
Gods Coffin-4 gave a small nod and opened his mouth to speak, but before he could, Curly cut in again, his tone full of confidence. "Let me take Sylas. He's no match for me. If I decide to leave, he won't be able to stop me — and I promise he won't even get the chance to chase after me."
Huxley raised an eyebrow at Curly's words. He paused for a moment, then let out a short laugh. "Sounds like you've grown a lot stronger these past six months. Fine, since you're so sure of yourself, you take Sylas. The rest of us will go after Jacob."
Gods Coffin-4 listened to the exchange, frowning slightly. "Have you settled it, then? If so, let's move."
"Yes, it's settled. He'll keep Sylas busy, and you and I will handle Jacob," Huxley said with a nod, then glanced toward the Gods Coffin-4 Reserve standing quietly nearby.
The Gods Coffin-4 Reserve hadn't said a single word since the meeting began. He simply stood there in silence, like a shadow with no presence at all — his true identity a complete mystery to everyone around him.
—
Both Gods Coffin-4 and the Gods Coffin-4 Reserve were figures shrouded in mystery.
Gods Coffin-4, known among the group as "Doctor" or "Mad Scientist," had no confirmed identity, though many believed he was a Pokémon researcher or Pokémon Doctor working overseas.
He almost never showed his face in public and rarely took part in the Gods Coffin Organization's internal meetings. He only appeared when something concerning his research came up.
In fact, Pokémon research was the only thing that seemed to hold his interest — especially the subject of artificial Pokémon.
Years earlier, in his pursuit of information on artificial Pokémon, he had wiped out Sylvia's entire family. Her father, Science Granger, known as the father of artificial Pokémon, had died by his hand.
This latest operation had also been set in motion by Gods Coffin-4, who reached out personally to arrange it. Their goal was to capture Jacob — the Pokémon Doctor — alive, and to pry the secret of Gigantamax out of him.
They had spent a long time preparing for this night. The Spring Festival was chosen deliberately, since Jacob would normally not be staying in the Imperial Capital during that time. That meant his guard would be down and the odds of success at their highest.
To make sure the mission went smoothly, Gods Coffin-4 had also brought in Huxley, a local resident, to lend a hand — offering him a reward too tempting to turn down.
—
Deep into the night, everything was still.
After a long, tiring day, the entire Xia family had drifted into a deep sleep. It was around three in the morning, the hour when sleep runs deepest.
Jacob was no different. His chest rose and fell steadily as he slept, completely unaware that danger was drawing closer with every passing second.
Still, Jacob wasn't entirely unprepared. Every night, Darkrai and Gengar — both nocturnal Pokémon — stayed awake to keep watch over the house.
Darkrai, who had been resting quietly, suddenly picked up on something strange. A faint, unfamiliar energy seemed to be approaching, but it was too weak to say for certain what it meant.
Darkrai slipped out from the shadows, ready to leave the room and investigate.
Just then, a Poké Ball inside Jacob's bag trembled, and Iron Valiant appeared in the room.
A Darkrai at quasi-Champion level might not catch every trace of an approaching threat, but an Iron Valiant at Quasi-Master Level could sense it without fail.
The jump from Champion level to Quasi-Master Level marks a huge leap in strength, especially in controlling and sensing energy — refined to its very peak.
Even the smallest shift in energy wouldn't slip past it.
The sudden stir woke Jacob at once.
Rubbing the sleep from his eyes, Jacob looked between Darkrai and Iron Valiant standing in his room. "What time is it... what's going on?"
"Big Brother says strong Pokémon are getting close," Darkrai's voice echoed directly inside Jacob's mind.
The moment he heard that, Jacob was wide awake. He rolled out of bed in an instant and asked in a hushed voice, "Are you sure about that?"
"Yes. Big Brother says they're already close by, and they've slowed down — moving in carefully now. They're definitely here for us."
A wave of alarm and anger crossed Jacob's face.
Whoever these visitors were, they weren't coming with good intentions. Who could it be?
And there were so many people in the house right now. If a fight broke out, any one of them could get caught in the middle of it.
"Darkrai, hide in my shadow for now."
"Got it."
Jacob threw off the blanket and reached for the light switch out of habit, then stopped himself — turning it on now would be a terrible idea. He crept quietly through the dark to his parents' room next door.
"Dad! Mom!"
Jacob eased the door open, moved to the bedside, and called out twice, startling his sleeping parents half out of their wits.
"You—"
"Shh!" Jacob pressed a finger to his lips, motioning for quiet, and whispered, "There are enemies outside. They're already close to the house, and they're strong. Dad, you two need to get up now. Don't turn on any lights. Go wake the others, then head straight for the basement and hide."
Rory sat up immediately at his son's words, brow furrowed with worry. "How many are there? How strong?"
"Dad, there's no time for that — just go wake the others, quickly," Jacob urged.
"Alright. Oh, and Julia's still next door — go wake her up!" his mother added from the other side of the bed.
"Got it, I'll wake Julia. You two get the others up!" Jacob nodded and turned, hurrying off toward Julia's room.
—
Jacob crept to Julia's door and found it locked.
"Open it, Iron Valiant," he said quietly.
Iron Valiant used Psychic, and the door swung open without a sound.
Jacob stepped in quietly and moved toward Julia's bedside.
—