Lance was sitting on the back of his Dragonite, while Cain flew on his Flygon.
It had been a while since anything had outshined his flying mount.
Flygon flew alongside Lance's Dragonite, not even daring to make a sound.
After all, Lance's Dragonite was clearly an Elite-level Pokémon.
Pokémon: Dragonite (Purple)
Gender: Male
Level: 65
Types: Dragon + Flying
Ability: Inner Focus
Held Item: None
Egg Moves: Dragon Breath, Dragon Rush, Water Pulse, Dragon Pulse
Basic Moves: Wing Attack, Hurricane, Fire Punch, Thunder Punch, Roost, Wrap, Thunder Wave, Twister, Dragon Rage, Slam, Agility, Dragon Tail, Aqua Tail, Dragon Rush, Safeguard, Dragon Dance
Learned Moves: Draco Meteor, Icy Wind, Aqua Tail, Fire Punch, Tailwind, Iron Tail, Thunder Punch, Outrage, Ice Punch
TM Moves: Protect, Dragon Claw, Ice Beam, Hyper Beam, Safeguard, Thunder, Earthquake, Fire Blast, Steel Wing, Stone Edge, Surf
These were the details Cain had obtained from the system about Lance's Dragonite.
At level 65, it wasn't just a newly arrived Elite-level Pokémon—it was a well-established one.
Moreover, being a pseudo-legendary, its strength far exceeded that of other Pokémon at the same level.
As long as Lance gave the right commands, his Dragonite could face other Pokémon in the same rank with no trouble, even those at level 70.
Its strength reflected how the new generation of the Pokémon League was beginning to match the old guard, ready to inherit their legacy and responsibilities.
Lance was a clear representative of that new generation.
No wonder Cain's Flygon didn't even dare to make a sound in such a presence.
It was already a bit timid, and in front of a Pokémon so clearly superior in lineage and power, all it could do was remain silent.
"Have you heard of Parfum Palace?" Lance asked seriously from the back of his Dragonite.
"Yes," Cain replied after thinking for a moment. "They say it was built around three hundred years ago by the last kingdom of the Kalos region, intended to help the heirs better understand the essence of the realm."
"I didn't expect you to know so much about Kalos history," Lance said, surprised. "I only learned all that after arriving here and studying for quite a while."
Cain smiled.
"When you travel to another region, you should understand its history and culture. Otherwise, you risk offending some belief or custom unintentionally. Wouldn't that be embarrassing?"
Lance nodded. It seemed like a very reasonable logic.
"Seems like you know more than you let on about what's happening at Parfum Palace. Also, Drasna and Diantha seem to be aware as well," Cain added.
Lance gave a forced, resigned smile.
"One of the tasks assigned to me when I arrived in Kalos was exactly this—Parfum Palace."
He paused to gather his thoughts.
"Parfum Palace is an important symbol in Kalos. Although the old kingdom was overthrown, they didn't eliminate the heirs. On the contrary, they used them to establish a constitutional monarchy that legitimized the new government."
"That's why the palace still holds symbolic value for many. The heirs accepted it... but not all of them."
"A more radical faction, considering themselves the legitimate heirs of the old kingdom, didn't accept that resolution. They've operated in the shadows ever since, as a clandestine organization aiming to restore the kingdom."
"And there's a crucial item kept in Parfum Palace. It's not the first time they've tried to steal it... and it seems this time, it's them again."
Lance's expression turned even more bitter after saying this.
Cain sighed.
"Should we really be interfering in something so internal as this, being researchers from another region?"
"We're already involved," Lance replied dryly. "They called us without hesitation. What else can we do?"
Cain reflected and soon understood Kalos League's strategy.
Conflicts between royal bloodlines were a delicate matter. The local league couldn't take sides openly without causing tension.
After all, both groups—the palace and the rebels—shared the same ancestry.
But if the rebels obtained that key item, Kalos's stability would be at risk.
So the best option was to bring in outsiders like them.
It was a similar situation to the British monarchy in Cain's world: a symbolic institution separated from real political power.
"Well, no helping it. Let's go see what's going on," Cain said with resignation.
"Yes, we'd better hurry. This time it seems more urgent than ever," Lance agreed.
Lance gave his Dragonite a pat on the neck.
It understood immediately, flapped its wings more powerfully, and surged forward.
Cain also signaled Flygon to speed up.
Flygon looked resigned. How could it match the speed of an elite-level Dragonite?
Even so, it obeyed and flew after Lance.
The Battle Chateau wasn't far from Parfum Palace, so after a short but fast flight, they arrived at the place.
Below them stretched a meticulously maintained area of greenery, with elegant architecture at its center: Parfum Palace.
However, the grand plaza in front of the entrance was anything but peaceful.
There were many people gathered.
And several were in the middle of Pokémon battles.
But it wasn't a balanced fight—it was a crushing show of power.
In front of the palace, a well-dressed group had serious and tense expressions, while those facing them, dressed in black, wore cold smiles.
Among the ones in black, Cain spotted several in red suits with strange glasses.
"Team Flare...?" Cain thought, frowning.
Lance didn't hesitate for a second and flew straight into the heart of the conflict.
When Lance's Dragonite arrived, those gathered in the Parfum Palace plaza let out a long sigh of relief. A look of hope appeared on their faces.
(End of chapter)