"Father... Father..."
In Jubilife City, Platinum had already lost her composure after hanging up the phone. She had grown up sheltered, and she had never faced something like this before.
"Mother... No, I cannot contact Mother."
Platinum took a deep breath and immediately pushed away the thought of contacting her mother. Her father had been kidnapped by Team Rocket. Even if she contacted her mother, it would be useless and would only make one more person worry.
Furthermore, the person on the phone had already named her and told her to go to Professor Rowan's research laboratory.
Contact Cynthia!!
Platinum quickly confirmed her plan. She immediately called Cynthia. During her journey, whether by chance or fate, she had run into Cynthia several times. Also, Cynthia truly thought highly of Platinum. She took good care of her junior and had even given Platinum her private contact information.
The call went through and connected after a short moment.
"Is that you, Platinum?" Cynthia's calm voice came through.
"Yes, Miss Cynthia. My father has been kidnapped!"
Platinum's tone was very urgent. It was clear that she was panicking. Although she forced herself to stay calm, she was, after all, only a sixteen-year-old girl. She had also been protected very well by her father before this, so she had not really experienced the darker side of the world.
"Calm down, Platinum. Who kidnapped Mr. Berlitz? Was it Team Galactic?" Cynthia's brows drew together slightly as she asked while trying to calm Platinum down.
Who was so bold? Who would actually dare to kidnap even Mr. Berlitz? But after thinking about it, Team Galactic was the first name that came to mind.
"No, it was not Team Galactic, Miss Cynthia. He said they were from Team Rocket."
Platinum also knew about Team Galactic. She had met members of Team Galactic several times during her travels. But she remembered it clearly. The person on the phone had said the name of their organization himself.
"Team Rocket?!"
The look in Cynthia's eyes changed. Her emotions stirred instantly. So, Team Rocket really had come to the Sinnoh region after all?
"I understand. Platinum, are you still in Jubilife City? I will head there right now. Do not do anything reckless."
"Yes, Miss Cynthia. They are at Professor Rowan's research lab right now."
Platinum nodded.
"Good. I am going there now. It will take about two hours."
"Okay."
After ending the call, Platinum looked in the direction of Sandgem Town. Her heart was full of mixed feelings. She thought about what Mr. Berlitz had said on the phone. He did it for her sake...
Cynthia still needed two hours to arrive. But would Team Rocket really wait? What kind of suffering would her father go through in that time? As soon as she thought about this, Platinum felt even more anxious. Then, she made a decision. It was just Team Rocket. No matter what happened, she could not stand by and watch her father suffer!
"Garchomp!"
Platinum sent out her Garchomp and climbed onto it. Then, she flew toward Sandgem Town.
Meanwhile, at Professor Rowan's research laboratory.
"You two, do you want some?"
Damian looked at the boiling, fragrant instant noodles and asked Mr. Berlitz and Professor Rowan.
Professor Rowan's face twitched. He truly could not see any sense of urgency at all from Damian and his two companions.
Speaking of which, Mr. Berlitz had already told Platinum to contact Cynthia, right?
"Aren't you afraid?" In the end, Professor Rowan could not help but ask Damian.
"Afraid of what?" Damian took a bite of the hot instant noodles and pretended to be confused.
"Platinum will definitely contact Champion Cynthia. I'm afraid Champion Cynthia will bring people here very soon," Professor Rowan said.
"Isn't that perfect? I haven't seen Cynthia in a while anyway. It's a good time to take a new set of couple's photos."
Damian smiled brightly. Since he had come to Cynthia's territory, how could he not have a proper talk with her?
Caitlin stayed silent and said nothing.
"?"
Professor Rowan did not understand what was happening. On the other hand, Mr. Berlitz, who had been in a low mood, was shocked.
"Wait! You are the person who took those couple's photos with Champion Cynthia?!"
Mr. Berlitz shouted. No wonder Damian looked familiar. When Cynthia's couple's photos were first released, they caused a huge sensation throughout the Sinnoh region. Countless people were devastated. After all, Champion Cynthia was Sinnoh's pride and the girl of many people's dreams. She was beautiful and strong!
"That's right, Mr. Berlitz. Don't we look like a good match?" Damian asked with a smile.
"...Indeed."
Mr. Berlitz's tone was full of surprise. But under Damian's gaze, he still followed his instincts and nodded.
Just looking at the photos, they did look like a good match. A handsome man and a beautiful woman. But once you knew who both sides really were, how could they possibly be a match?
Caitlin's cold eyes swept over Mr. Berlitz. It made him shrink back without understanding why. It was so cold!
"Actually, you do not need to be so afraid. Team Rocket is very different from trashy groups like Team Galactic. We have higher goals. As long as you cooperate well, you will be fine."
Damian used a napkin to wipe his mouth. He spoke slowly and calmly to the two scholars.
"Besides, our arrival in Sinnoh is actually a good thing for your region. With those lunatics in Team Galactic who want to destroy the world, how would Sinnoh deal with them on its own?"
What Damian was talking about was, of course, Team Galactic.
Team Galactic was a classic extremist group led by a deeply obsessed man. They believed that the "heart" was an imperfect thing. They believed that this world, filled with "hearts," was beyond saving. They believed that people with "hearts" were incomplete living things.
Then, Cyrus wanted to use Dialga and Palkia to destroy the current world. He wanted to create a completely new, ideal world without "hearts." This was nothing but obsessive extremism.
Although Lysandre from Team Flare also wanted to destroy the world, at least Lysandre had a reason he could explain. Team Flare had originally been a non-profit charity group under Lysandre's leadership. They helped people in trouble for free. But in the end, Lysandre was driven completely insane by shameless people who only took and never gave anything back. Because of that, he came up with the idea of destroying those humans.
But Cyrus was different. Because he was naturally cold toward emotions and had a very high IQ, he naturally believed he was better than others. He believed that people with "hearts" were incomplete. Even the members of Team Galactic were just tools in his eyes. They were useless, incomplete creatures. To put it simply, Cyrus was a person trapped in his own world. He self-righteously tried to create a "perfect world."
"..."
Professor Rowan and Mr. Berlitz both remained silent. Obviously, in their eyes, Team Galactic was something Champion Cynthia could handle. In their view, Team Galactic did not pose much of a threat.
Damian was too lazy to explain this. In fact, many people in the region felt the same way. It was just like how Steven and Wallace did not take Team Magma or Team Aqua seriously at the beginning. But it was proven later that if Team Magma and Team Aqua had really been allowed to do whatever they wanted, the awakening of Primal Kyogre and Primal Groudon would have caused enormous damage.
And Team Galactic was the same. Right now, no one in Sinnoh could guess Team Galactic's true plan. No one knew Cyrus's goal was those two gods of time and space. And Cyrus really could have succeeded.
Damian felt that staying inside the research lab was too stifling. So, the group went outside. Damian took out a lounge chair and relaxed under the sun.
About fifteen minutes later.
"Father!"
Platinum arrived as expected.
"Platinum! Didn't I tell you not to come?"
At this moment, Mr. Berlitz felt both fear and warmth. He certainly understood why Platinum had come here.
"Don't worry, Father. I will save you!"
Platinum made her promise to Mr. Berlitz. Originally, she had thought there would be many Team Rocket members here. But with only three people, Platinum felt she could win. She was a very strong Trainer now!
"Oh? Miss Platinum is very confident."
Damian raised an eyebrow. He looked at Platinum from head to toe.
She was almost exactly like the one in his memory. She had blue hair and a white knit hat. Her features were delicate, and her bearing was graceful. She wore a dress with black stockings above the knee, giving her a refined and elegant look.
At the same time, her strength was also impressive. Damian looked at the Garchomp and Empoleon in front of Platinum. Their energy was very strong.
"Team Rocket! Why did you kidnap my father and Professor Rowan?"
Platinum held back her emotions and questioned Damian directly.
"This is what your family owes us."
"Impossible! You are talking nonsense!"
Platinum did not believe it at all. Team Rocket was an organization from Kanto, while the Berlitz family had always been in Sinnoh. How could they possibly have a conflict with Team Rocket?
"You don't believe it? Go ahead and ask your father." Damian shrugged.
Platinum looked at her father. Mr. Berlitz noticed her look. He opened his mouth, but in the end he still said nothing. He only shook his head at Platinum. The matter of the Rayquaza Capture Plan was indeed the Berlitz family's fault. But in Mr. Berlitz's view, the people involved back then were already in prison. That had been their punishment.
But clearly, Team Rocket would not let it go.
Since Mr. Berlitz did not argue, Platinum also understood. Maybe there really was such a thing.
"Professor Rowan was dragged into this by accident. But don't worry, I will not hurt Professor Rowan. As for your father..."
"Kekeke~"
A Shiny Gengar floated out of the shadows with a nasty grin. Its claws moved lightly across Mr. Berlitz's face. Platinum's face instantly turned pale.
"Please do not hurt my father!"
The daughter of the Berlitz family spoke up quickly.
"No problem. Of course there's no problem, Miss Platinum. I have also heard that you are a rare genius in the Berlitz family when it comes to battling."
Damian spoke slowly. Platinum bit her lip. She did not know what Damian was about to say.
"Let's make a deal. If you agree, I will release Mr. Berlitz right away. Also, I promise I will not go after the other members of the Berlitz family who had nothing to do with that matter back then."
"What deal?"
Even though she still did not know the details, Platinum still answered at this point.
"We will do it the Trainer way. I have three people here. You can pick one to challenge. If you win, we will leave right now."
"But if you lose..."
Damian stopped there, but the meaning was already clear. Platinum immediately felt a heavy pressure. She looked at the three people in front of her: Damian, Caitlin, and Zinnia. No matter which one she picked, all of them looked difficult to deal with. All of them looked very strong.
But Platinum knew she had to win!
"I am a Trainer recognized even by Miss Cynthia!"
Platinum gripped the Poké Ball in her hand. Her gaze became firm. She would win!
---------------
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