" Dad ... Dad ..."
Jubilife City, Dawn who just hung up is a bit flustered; she, who grew up pampered, has never faced something like this.
"Mother, no, can't contacting Mother."
Dawn takes a deep breath and immediately squashes the thought of contacting her mother Damn.
Dad has been kidnapped by an evil organization, so contacting Mom would be useless and just add one more worried person.
Moreover, they have named her and told her to head to Professor Rowan's Research Laboratory.
contacting Miss Cynthia!!
Dawn locks in her ideology and immediately calls Cynthia. Her journey so far has seen Destiny's encounters with Cynthia several times.
And Cynthia indeed believes in Dawn a lot, treats this junior with care, and even gave Dawn her private contact info.
The call connects shortly after dialing.
"Is that Dawn?" Cynthia's magnetic, composed voice comes through.
"Yes, Miss Cynthia, my Dad has been kidnapped!"
Dawn's tone is urgent; obviously she's flustered, though she forces herself to stay calm, after all she's only sixteen.
And she was always protected by her Dad, so she hasn't faced many dangers.
"Calm down, Dawn. Who kidnapped Mr. Berlitz? Team Galactic?"
What bold people to kidnap Berlitz? But after thinking, it seems only Team Galactic fits.
"No, not Team Galactic, Miss Cynthia, they said they're Team Rocket."
Dawn also knows Team Galactic; she's met several of their members on her journey.
But she recalls clearly that those people claimed to belong to their own organization.
"Team Rocket?!"
Cynthia's eyes narrow, her mood shifting.
So Team Rocket has indeed landed in Sinnoh Region?
"I understand, Dawn, are you still in Jubilife City? I'll head there immediately; you wouldn't act rashly."
"Yes, Miss Cynthia, they're now at Professor Rowan's Research Laboratory."
Dawn nods.
"Okay, I'm coming now; it should take about two hours."
"Mm hm."
Dawn ends the call and looks toward Sandgem Town.
Complex thoughts swirl in her mind; she recalls what dad said, that he did this for her...
Miss Cynthia will arrive in about two hours, but will Team Rocket's villain wait? What torment awaits her Dad?
Thinking of this, Dawn grows anxious, then she resolves herself.
It's just evil organization after all; no matter what, she cannot watch her Dad suffer!
"Garchomp!"
Dawn throws out her Garchomp and soars toward Sandgem Town.
And Professor Rowan's Research Laboratory.
"Would you like some food, guys?"
Damian glances at Berlitz and Professor Rowan, as they steam a bubbling pot of hot ramen, and asks.
Professor Rowan twitchs; how to respond? He can't sense any urgency from Damian and the three.
In fact Berlitz had Dawn notice Cynthia, right?
"Aren't you afraid?"
Finally Professor Rowan can't help asking Damian.
"Afraid of what?"
Damian slurps a mouthful of hot ramen, pretending to be puzzled.
"Dawn will definitely contact Champion Cynthia, and Champion Cynthia will probably bring people over soon."
Professor Rowan says this.
"Wouldn't that be perfect? I haven't talked to Cynthia in a while; might as well do a new couple shoot."
Damian smiles brightly; it's a turf of Cynthia, so why not chat with her more?
Caitlin says nothing.
"Huh?"
Professor Rowan is puzzled, while Berlitz's mood sinks and she freezes.
"Wait—are you the one who did couples photos with Champion Cynthia?!"
Berlitz exclaims; no wonder he felt Damian familiar.
Cynthia's couple shoot had caused a sensation across Sinnoh Region; many people mourned, since Champion Cynthia is their pride and dream, both beautiful and strong.
"That's right, Mr. Berlitz; isn't it a good match?"
"…Indeed."
Berlitz is stunned, but under Damian's gaze she nods from the heart.
Match? Just by the photos, yes; handsome man and beautiful woman.
But once you know their identities, is it really a match?
Caitlin's cold gaze sweeps Berlitz, making Berlitz shrink; so cold!
"Actually you don't need to fear so much; we Team Rocket are not like those filthy evil organizations; we have high Ideals and Goals, as long as you cooperate, you'll be fine."
Damian wipes his mouth with a napkin, speaking slowly to the two scholars.
"Moreover, coming to Sinnoh Region is a blessing for your region; what will you do about those insane world‑destroying Team Galactic? How will your Sinnoh Region handle it itself?"
Damian's words refer to Team Galactic, a classic extreme faction.
They believe the world's soul is imperfect, that a world with a "soul" is beyond saving, and that people with a "soul" are incomplete Pokémon.
Cyrus wants to use Dialga and Palkia to destroy the current world and create a new world without a "soul."
This is pure extreme madness!
Lysandre of Team Flare also sought to destroy the world, but at least he had reasons.
Team Flare was originally led by Lysandre as a charitable organization; they helped people in need for free.
But Lysandre ultimately went mad under the pressure from shameless parasites and adopted an ideology to wipe out humans.
Cyrus is different: he's emotionally cold, highly intelligent, and inherently believes he is superior; he sees those with a "soul" as incomplete.
Even subordinates in Team Galactic are tools, not complete Pokémon.
In short, Cyrus lives in his own world, trying to create a "perfect world."
"..."
Professor Rowan and Berlitz fall silent; to them, Team Galactic is a threat they can't fully grasp; Champion Cynthia can handle it, right?
Damian is tired of explaining; many regions think this way.
Steven and Wallace initially didn't take Team Magma or Team Aqua seriously, but later showed that if they're left unchecked, Primal Kyogre and Primal Groudon awaken and cause huge trouble.
Team Galactic is the same; no one in Sinnoh can guess their plot or know Cyrus's goals with the time‑space gods.
And Cyrus may really succeed.
Damian feels trapped inside the Research Laboratory, so everyone heads outside to get some sun.
Damian lies back on a lounge chair, basking in the sun.
A dozen minutes later.
"Dad!" Dawn arrives as promised.
"Dawn! Didn't I tell you not to come?"
Berlitz feels both fear and gratitude; he understands why Dawn would appear here.
"Don't worry, Dad; I will rescue you!"
Berlitz assures dad; she thought Team Rocket would be many, but only three are here, so Berlitz believes she can manage; she's a strong trainer now!
"Oh? Lady Dawn is very confident."
Damian raises an eyebrow, sizing Dawn up.
Her appearance matches his impression: blue hair, a white knit cap, fair features, tall and slender, wearing a dress, black knee‑high stockings with a line between white thighs and the skirt—beautiful.
She's Berlitz's heiress; Dawn's poise is elegant and restrained.
At the same time, strength is great too.
Damian looks at Dawn with her Garchomp and Emperor Naboo, their aura strong.
"Evil Team Rocket! Why would you kidnap my Dad and Professor Rowan!"
Dawn holds back her mood and interrogates Damian.
"This is what your family owes us."
"Impossible! Nonsense!"
Dawn does not believe it; Team Rocket is Kanto's evil organization, while her House of Berlitz has always been in Sinnoh Region; how could they be connected?
"Not convinced? Ask your Dad."
Damian shrugs.
Dawn gazes at her Dad, Berlitz; he notices Berlitz's look, opens his mouth but says nothing, only nods at Berlitz.
"Rayquaza Capture Plan—your House of Berlitz was indeed at fault for that plan.
But in Berlitz's view, those who participated back then are already imprisoned, effectively paying their debt.
Yet Team Rocket won't let go, but what can he do?
Seeing that Dad has no rebuttal, Dawn begins to understand that this may indeed be the case?
"Professor Rowan is truly innocent, but don't worry, I won't hurt Professor Rowan, but your Dad…"
"keh‑keh‑keh ~~~"
Shiny Gengar floats out from the shadows, wearing an evil grin, its claws lightly sliding across Berlitz's face.
Dawn's face drains of color.
"Please don't hurt my Dad!"
Dawn blurts out.
"No problem at all, of course, no problem; I've heard you're Berlitz's prodigy girl in the trainer field, never appearing before."
Damian speaks slowly.
Dawn tightens her lips, not sure what he intends.
"Let's make a deal: if you agree, I'll release Mr. Berlitz immediately, and I promise I won't pursue anyone in House Berlitz besides those involved back then."
"What deal?"
Although not fully informed, Dawn responds.
"In Trainer terms, I have three people here; you may pick one to challenge, and as long as you win, we'll leave immediately."
"But if you lose…"
Damian's sentence ends with an implied threat.
Dawn feels intense pressure, staring at the three before her.
Damian, Caitlin, Zinnia!
Any of them would be tough to deal with; Dawn knows she must win!
"I am recognized by Miss Cynthia as a Trainer!"
Dawn tightens her grip on a Poké Ball, determination in her eyes.
She will win!
~~
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