While Kael was hesitating, he looked at Cain again. He did not know why, but now his rejection toward Cain was no longer so great.
Perhaps it was because Cain had shown him his "sincerity" in advance.
However, in Kael's heart, his final insistence still remained.
"Tell me your identity."
Cain looked at Kael's expression, as if he wanted to devour him, and knew that this was his final bottom line, as well as his last obsession. If he could not make him let go of that obsession, even an auxiliary-type psychic seed would be useless, and it might even provoke a strong backlash.
After hesitating for a moment, Cain said, "I know you are very curious about why I know so many things. You are also curious about why, in the current League, you have never heard any information about me."
"That is because I am not a person from the same era as you. Or rather, I am not a person of this era."
"Because of some accidents and some special methods, I appeared here. But it will not be long before I return. Even if you take me to the Dragon's Den, I will not bring any impact to your family."
It sounded very absurd, but when Kael saw Cain's current sincere gaze, he could feel that the person in front of him was not lying.
It was an absurd feeling, but precisely because of that, what Cain said could be true.
"Whew... So that was it."
Cain looked at Kael and was a little surprised to see that his ability to accept it was so high.
But Cain did not know that the information Kael had imagined on his own had a great difference from what he had said.
In Kael's mind, if he was not a person of this era, then it was very likely that Cain came from some period in the past. After all, if the legend of the Dragon of the Underworld was truly traced back, it belonged to an extremely remote past.
There were so many mysterious things in the Pokémon world that crossing time and space did not seem like something especially difficult to accept.
In total, there were only two possible periods: the past and the future. That he unconsciously thought Cain came from the past was not strange either.
Thus, a curious misunderstanding was born.
"Since that is the case, I will take you to the Dragon's Den!"
After saying this, Kael summoned a Charizard and rushed directly toward the direction where the Dragon's Den was located.
Cain nodded, withdrew Lucario and Venusaur, and then nodded toward Gardevoir. Psychic power wrapped around both of them, and using Teleport, they chased after Kael.
When they appeared again, they were beside the lake of the Blackthorn City Gym, looking from afar at a dark hole in the mountain wall.
The last time he came, Cain had barely approached before someone stopped him. But this time, with Kael, the young patriarch of the Drako family, guiding him, no one stepped forward to stop him again.
The two crossed the surface of the lake without obstruction, and even when they reached the entrance of the Dragon's Den, they faced no impediment.
Perceiving Cain's doubts, Kael explained, "The Dragon's Den is divided into an outer den and an inner den. Although there are also people guarding before entering the Dragon's Den, when they see me, they will not block our way. The true test will be when we enter the inner den."
"When that time comes, there will be an elder protecting that place. If he detects any abnormality, not only will you be in trouble; even I will probably risk being locked up."
"So now you understand why I insisted that you tell me your identity before letting you enter."
"If you are someone with hostility toward my family, even if I guide you and vouch for you, you will not be able to enter. Moreover, the elder guarding the Dragon's Den is my family's true final force. His strength is not something that can be compared with mine."
If you now have some hidden objective or some unspeakable intention, I advise you to choose to leave now. There is still time.
Kael gave Cain a final warning, or rather, a reminder.
Cain shrugged, neither confirming nor denying anything.
They had already come this far, was he going to go back? If that so-called elder really was so strong, Cain felt that he also had enough confidence and ability to escape.
Seeing that Cain had no intention of retreating, Kael did not try to persuade him again either.
After entering the Dragon's Den, Kael advanced with familiarity. He made many turns among complex caves, and soon led Cain through the so-called outer den.
With that terrain full of twists and turns, Cain felt that even if he had psychic power, entering on his own would require enormous effort, much less for ordinary people.
The defensive awareness of the Drako family was quite good.
Very soon, the two once again arrived at the entrance of a cave.
"Inside is the final passage. The elder is here guarding..."
Kael had not even finished speaking when Cain directly lifted his foot and entered.
Seeing that Cain was so decisive, Kael said nothing more.
He did not realize that, although he had known Cain for less than a day, and even before, they had nearly faced each other with tension, now, without realizing it, he was standing from Cain's perspective and helping him consider things.
More or less, the psychic seed in his mind was still exerting a certain influence on him.
"Ah, Kael, lad, you came again."
An elder dressed completely in white appeared when the two had advanced halfway.
He was an old man whose hair was completely gray.
However, when the elder saw Cain beside Kael, he frowned.
"And this is...?"
"Elder, this is my... friend. I want to take him to the Dragon's Den." Kael took a step forward and explained.
"Elder," Cain also greeted him very humbly.
Hearing Kael's words, the elder's expression stiffened.
(End of chapter)