As for what had happened to Yu Heguang and his companions...
Chen Mo had no intention of making it public.
After all...
If certain parts of the story were revealed as they truly were, it would inevitably spark endless controversy.
Having stood at the center of countless online storms ever since he began introducing Pokémon to the world...
Chen Mo understood this better than anyone.
The internet nowadays...
Contained every kind of person imaginable.
Therefore...
His plan was to organize the truth, make a few necessary edits, submit it to the authorities as the official conclusion of the case...
And then have it sealed away.
As for why it needed editing...
The main reason involved the fact that Yu Heguang's spirit still existed.
If that detail were submitted without alteration...
It would almost certainly invite countless unnecessary complications.
Besides...
Neither Manaphy nor Yu Heguang wished to be disturbed by bored humans driven by ambition.
"Lord Chen Mo."
"Please accept this."
Standing on the beach...
Manaphy, much like Gengar at home, suddenly produced a sky-blue seashell from some mysterious four-dimensional space.
Bathed in the moonlight...
The shell shimmered with an unusual glow.
"This is...?"
Chen Mo accepted the shell.
The moment it touched his hand...
He could feel a mysterious power sleeping within it.
Manaphy smiled.
"It's nothing dangerous."
"In the previous world, the Water Folk wished to be able to contact me during certain festivals."
"So I created this shell for that purpose."
"The Water Folk..."
Turning the shell over in his hand...
Chen Mo asked curiously,
"So this is something specifically meant for Water Folk to use?"
"In principle, yes."
"But..."
"The Aura you possess is an incredibly versatile power."
"So you're perfectly capable of using this shell as well."
Following Manaphy's instructions...
Chen Mo released his Aura.
Wrapped in the Aura's energy...
The shell's appearance remained completely unchanged.
Yet...
Holding it in his hand...
Chen Mo could clearly feel something inside the shell beginning to change.
It actually worked!?
Honestly...
He hadn't expected much.
After all...
Manaphy didn't know the truth.
But Chen Mo did.
The Aura he possessed was merely the budget version gifted by the system.
Nothing like the miraculous Aura wielded by true Aura Guardians in the original series.
Its applications were extremely limited.
Just as Chen Mo was feeling a little disappointed...
He suddenly realized something.
This was supposed to be a communication device.
Yet...
Manaphy showed no reaction whatsoever.
It simply floated calmly in the air...
As if waiting for something.
Did it fail after all?
Just as Chen Mo was about to ask...
Manaphy explained first.
"Lord Chen Mo..."
"Messages sent through the shell aren't delivered instantly."
"And..."
"My true body is still inside the temple."
"So it'll take a little while before the message reaches me."
"...Your true body?"
Chen Mo blinked.
He looked Manaphy up and down in surprise.
"Don't tell me..."
"I'm terribly sorry."
An apologetic expression spread across Manaphy's face.
"Ordinarily..."
"If I'm thanking someone..."
"My true body should come personally."
"But..."
"I'm far too worried about Heguang."
"Maintaining the stability of his spirit requires both the temple and my true body."
"So..."
"It's alright."
Chen Mo waved his hand.
"There wasn't any need for you to come personally just to thank me in the first place."
He wasn't so petty.
Instead...
He couldn't help marveling at just how considerate Manaphy was.
Throughout their entire interaction...
Chen Mo had felt completely at ease.
"I've received it."
Manaphy blinked.
Clearly...
Its true body had already responded.
"Lord Chen Mo..."
"If anything happens in the future..."
"You may contact me at any time using this shell."
"I will do everything within my power to assist you."
"I swear it in the name of Manaphy."
Such a solemn promise...
Instantly caused Chen Mo's opinion of Manaphy to soar.
There was no doubt about it.
In this era...
The promise of a Legendary Pokémon...
Was simply too valuable.
Not just for Chen Mo...
But for the entire nation.
Coming to Crescent Moon Town really was the right decision.
After collecting his thoughts...
Chen Mo looked at Manaphy seriously.
"This might be a little sudden..."
"But I really do have something I'd like to ask of you."
"Of course."
"Please go ahead."
Chen Mo glanced toward the ocean.
The primary reason he'd traveled south...
Was still the Aura Trial mentioned by the system.
Ever since reaching the coastline...
He had been able to vaguely sense...
That the trial lay somewhere out at sea.
Earlier today...
While aboard the funeral ship...
That sensation had become much clearer.
This time...
He could already pinpoint the direction.
Although the feeling remained faint...
The search area had narrowed dramatically.
Which meant...
It was finally time to set sail again.
After all...
Everything concerning Crescent Moon Town had already been resolved.
And staying in town any longer wouldn't help him encounter any new Pokémon.
Heading out to sea...
Was now the perfect choice.
However...
There were still a few preparations to make.
The first...
And most important...
Was transportation.
Namely...
A proper ship.
Secondly...
He needed a Water-type Pokémon capable of carrying people.
Magikarp's situation was unique.
Besides...
No one knew how long they would end up drifting across the sea.
Having a rideable Water Pokémon would make dealing with unexpected situations far easier.
Originally...
Had he not met Manaphy...
Chen Mo would probably have spent some time searching for an appropriate Water Pokémon to catch.
But...
After seeing that entire herd of Lapras during the day...
He'd already made up his mind.
Among all rideable Pokémon...
None were more suited to a long ocean voyage...
Than Lapras.
"Certainly."
"Of course that's no problem."
After hearing Chen Mo's request...
Manaphy readily agreed.
"Although the method I use to summon Lapras isn't something you can replicate..."
"Long ago..."
"I knew a human researcher."
"Based on the characteristics of the Lapras species..."
"She developed a special whistle capable of calling them."
"I can have it delivered to you tonight."
Lapras possessed an extremely unique method of communication.
Using calls even faster than radar...
They transmitted information about ocean temperatures and currents from one sea to another.
In other words...
Anyone capable of imitating their calls...
Could summon Lapras from virtually anywhere.
Of course...
Doing so wasn't easy.
Lapras were nothing like the Pidove flock they'd encountered in Greenfield City.
Chen Mo still remembered the original anime.
Ash and his friends had once met a female researcher dedicated to studying Lapras calls.
She was remarkably capable.
Using Lanturn's ultrasonic waves...
She could locate nearby Lapras.
Yet even she admitted...
That Lapras vocalizations contained countless mysteries.
Despite years of research...
The most she'd managed was allowing Lanturn to locate nearby herds.
Therefore...
Anyone capable of creating a whistle that could summon Lapras...
Was unquestionably extraordinary.
And the fact that Manaphy happened to know such a person...
Once again demonstrated its unbelievably powerful social network.
It can pull out any treasure imaginable...
It's basically Doraemon with a four-dimensional pocket...
Chen Mo couldn't help thinking.
At that very moment...
A cold snort sounded inside his mind.
"So sorry that I'm so incompetent."
Marshadow spoke expressionlessly.
Without thinking...
Chen Mo replied,
"In my heart..."
"There's only one Doraemon."
"And that's Marshadow-emon."
"I told you!"
"Stop giving me these ridiculous nicknames!"
After throwing out that final complaint...
Marshadow fell silent.
But...
Chen Mo could already tell from its tone...
That the lingering annoyance had almost completely disappeared.
A faint smile tugged at his lips.
He might not possess Manaphy's maxed-out social skills...
But when it came to comforting Marshadow...
He was fairly experienced.
Unaware of the silent exchange between the two...
Manaphy glanced toward the inn.
After a moment's thought...
It looked back at Chen Mo.
"Lord Chen Mo..."
"Based on what I've observed..."
"It seems you've deliberately avoided revealing Jirachi's existence during your previous broadcasts."
"And you've also been hiding the Cocoon of Slumber."
"In my opinion..."
"That was absolutely the correct decision."
"But now..."
"Jirachi has awakened ahead of schedule."
"I think..."
"You should carefully consider what comes next."
"After all..."
"Although Jirachi's wish-granting ability isn't quite as omnipotent as the legends claim..."
"To humans..."
"It remains an incredibly tempting power."
Inside the inn...
Although the comet fragments continuously replenished its energy...
Jirachi had still exhausted itself after granting so many wishes.
Its stamina had never been particularly impressive.
After playing with Pikachu and the others for a while...
Sleepiness inevitably overtook it.
"...Chen Mo..."
"Still isn't back yet..."
Jirachi stared longingly at the room's door.
It wanted to wait until Chen Mo returned before sleeping.
But...
As drowsiness swept over it like an incoming tide...
Even Jirachi couldn't resist.
Eventually...
After Pikachu, Gible, and the others persuaded it...
Jirachi reluctantly agreed to take just a tiny nap.
"When Chen Mo comes back..."
"You have to wake Jirachi up, okay?"
"Gengar!"
(Don't worry! Teacher Gengar will definitely wake you!)
"Pika pika~"
(Get some rest.
Chen Mo isn't going anywhere.
When you wake up...
You'll definitely see him again.)
"Gible!"
(That's right!
We'll wake you!)
Trusting its companions completely...
Jirachi immediately fell asleep.
Gengar thoughtfully tucked the blanket over it.
The three Pokémon stood guard beside the bed like loyal sentries...
Patiently waiting for Chen Mo's return.
However...
Time slowly passed.
The clock struck midnight.
The invincible Teacher Gengar...
Was the first to fall.
"Pika pika..."
(You're supposed to be a Ghost-type...)
Pikachu sighed helplessly.
It quietly yawned...
Only to have Gible immediately notice.
"Pika...!"
(Don't worry...
I'll hold out!)
Another half hour passed.
The battle-hardened Pikachu finally closed its eyes.
Looking at its two dependable big brothers...
Gible clenched its tiny fists.
Can't either of you be reliable for once!?
The little shark sighed.
It couldn't fall asleep.
Jirachi trusted them so much.
It had to protect that trust.
I can do this!
Eventually...
Even Pidgeotto—the family's usual night watchman—drifted off to sleep.
Only Gible...
Absol...
And the Magikarp inside the large aquarium...
Remained awake.
Magikarp looked at Absol...
Who silently stayed beside the exhausted Gible with obvious concern.
Then it looked at the determined little shark...
Still stubbornly fighting sleep for Jirachi's sake.
Its memories drifted back...
To a very distant past.
Lugia.
A name from long ago.
Magikarp could no longer remember exactly when it had happened.
Only...
That it had been a very, very long time ago.
Back then...
It had been young.
Lost.
Utterly alone.
Terrified of the future.
One day...
It encountered a mysterious Pokémon revered by both humans and Pokémon alike as the Sage of the Sea.
Guided by that being...
Magikarp learned of the existence of one called...
Lugia.
A being that might solve its problem.
Thus...
It embarked upon a long journey in search of Lugia.
It no longer remembered what hardships it had endured along the way.
It remembered only one thing.
It had succeeded.
It had found...
That silver radiance shining beneath the sea.
The being worshipped throughout the world as...
The God of the Sea.
After hearing Magikarp's request...
Lugia...
Had granted its wish.
Click.
The soft sound of the door opening echoed through the room.
Pulled from its memories...
Magikarp turned toward the entrance.
Chen Mo quietly stepped inside.
After only a few steps...
He immediately saw the three Pokémon sprawled across the large bed.
Gengar.
Pikachu.
And Jirachi.
"...Gible..."
Seeing Chen Mo finally return...
The little shark instantly shook off all its exhaustion.
It hurried to its feet...
Ready to wake Jirachi—
Only to have Chen Mo quickly stop it.
Facing Gible's puzzled expression...
Chen Mo smiled gently.
"Jirachi asked you to wake it after I came back, didn't it?"
"Gible!?"
The little shark's eyes widened in shock.
Had his Trainer gone out for one trip...
...and come back able to read minds!?
"It's not mind reading."
Lowering his voice...
Chen Mo looked at the sleeping Jirachi, curled into a tiny ball like a fallen star.
Then he said softly,
"Have you forgotten?"
"The night you came home..."
"You'd just finished a difficult battle with Xiaochuan's Nidorino."
"You were exhausted."
"But when we got home..."
"You still insisted on waiting until all of us went to sleep together."
"You..."
"And Jirachi..."
"Are both far too easy to read."
Always afraid...
That the happiness you'd only just found...
Would disappear like smoke...
The moment you closed your eyes.
And because of that...
The two of you...
Only made people want to cherish you even more.
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