"Team Galactic, it really is you!"
Cynthia had heard of the evil organization Team Galactic that operated in the Sinnoh region. She hadn't expected the long-abandoned Fuego Ironworks to have become their secret factory at some point.
Mars and Jupiter wore grim expressions. They didn't know why the Champion of the Sinnoh region, Cynthia, was here, but it seemed she had obtained information about their secret factory from somewhere.
Could there be a traitor? They were doubtful but wouldn't be foolish enough to ask Cynthia.
"Activate the emergency weapon! We'll buy some time. Hurry up!"
Jupiter communicated through a walkie-talkie to Saturn, who was stationed inside the factory. They knew they weren't a match for Cynthia but had to delay her to give Saturn time to transfer the data and research materials.
Because Cynthia's attack was too sudden, Team Galactic was completely unprepared and had to engage in battle hastily. From the factory building protected by the two executives, various weapon-equipped aircraft continuously launched attacks on Cynthia. All the Golbats in the factory that could fight were sent to attack.
The leader Cyrus was not here, so they couldn't be too cautious. Cynthia's strength was evident from her two previous Draco Meteor. Moreover, the research here was crucial to Team Galactic's grand plan and could not be lost.
"Come out, Togekiss! Garchomp, attack with full force!"
Cynthia summoned Togekiss and jumped onto its back, allowing Garchomp to fight with all its might.
The sky was filled with attacks and falling aircraft, with participating Golbats fainting and dropping from mid-air. One nearly fell on Lin Jiu, who had infiltrated the factory.
The ground was littered with fainted Golbats, tempting Lin Jiu to finish them off, but he knew what was more important. He quietly approached the building previously protected by the two Team Galactic executives. It was their protection that allowed Lin Jiu to pinpoint the correct location within the massive Fuego Ironworks.
Lin Jiu's stealth skills were nearly nonexistent, but the intense battle between Team Galactic and Cynthia drew all attention away. Saturn inside the factory was busy transferring and destroying data, so no one noticed Lin Jiu. Although it was called a battle, it was Garchomp crushing the opposition single-handedly! The numerous aircraft and constant interference from Mars and Jupiter only temporarily delayed Cynthia.
[Hint: You have killed a Team Galactic Grunt]
[World Source gained 0.01% (Reward Boosted)]
[Your talent "Soul Condensation" activated, permanently increasing a portion of soul power. Current soul power has not reached the display threshold.]
[Hint: You have killed a Team Galactic Researcher]
[World Source gained 0.02% (Reward Boosted)]
[Your talent "Soul Condensation" activated, permanently increasing a portion of soul power. Current soul power has not reached the display threshold.]
...
Lin Jiu eliminated the remaining Team Galactic grunts and researchers. In the Pokémon world, even with the boosted rewards, killing these people was equivalent to defeating a single Caterpie.
"Who are you?"
Team Galactic's scientist Saturn, the one who created the Red Chain, was shocked and angry to see a stranger in the factory.
He had already destroyed the data, and all that was left was to transfer the items and personnel. He hadn't expected someone to break in at the crucial moment.
"Good thing I made it in time!"
Lin Jiu felt relieved but didn't slow down, swiftly decapitating Saturn. He didn't intend to be this gruesome, but he was most familiar with slashing actions.
[Hint: You have killed Team Galactic Executive Saturn]
[World Source gained 6% (Reward Boosted)]
[Your talent "Soul Condensation" activated, permanently increasing a portion of soul power. Current soul power has not reached the display threshold.]
Killing an executive didn't earn him a treasure chest, and Lin Jiu thought grimly that it must be because Saturn was too weak! He then saw the Red Chain placed on the equipment. It was indeed a semi-finished product, less than half the length of the complete version. Lin Jiu didn't have time to examine it and quickly stored the Red Chain in his storage space before making a swift exit.
The factory still had helicopters for evacuation, but Lin Jiu didn't know how to pilot one. Besides, he didn't want to become a target for Cynthia in the sky!
"Are you evacuated? Please respond, are you evacuated?"
Jupiter struggled to hold out against Cynthia's Garchomp and asked through the factory's communication system.
But there was only silence, with no response. Jupiter and Mars exchanged worried glances, realizing something was wrong. They immediately ordered the remaining Golbats and aircraft to act as cannon fodder to assist their escape.
"How are we going to explain this to the boss now?" Jupiter and Mars fled in disarray, uncertain of how to face Cyrus.
"We have no choice but to report it honestly," Jupiter said helplessly.
It was too late to say anything, and they could only report the situation to Cyrus, who was currently in Celestic Town.
Cyrus, who was out when he received the news of an attempted theft of the Adamant Orb, was also shocked. With the subsequent commotion in Celestic Town, he suspected that someone shared his objective!
However, the news that followed was that both orbs were safe, which gave him some relief. But this information was released only after discussions between Professor Carolina and Cynthia!
When Cyrus felt uneasy and went to the Celestic Town Historical Research Center to inquire with Professor Carolina, he was shocked. Professor Carolina, unaware of Cyrus's true identity, merely thought his reaction was typical of someone deeply concerned with Sinnoh's historical research.
Upon receiving such terrible news, Jupiter reported that Cynthia had somehow learned about their secret factory and destroyed it, with Dr. Saturn likely in grave danger. This news hit Cyrus like a thunderbolt, filling him with such rage that he almost fainted.
After calming down, Cyrus tried to compose himself and went back to the Historical Research Center to inquire about how Cynthia had learned about the Fuego Ironworks.
Through indirect questioning, Cyrus learned that the fake Adamant Orb left by the person who had competed with him for the orbs had the Fuego Ironworks insignia. Cynthia had merely followed this insignia and didn't know it was Team Galactic's secret factory before attacking.
Cyrus only managed to find out that this person was named "Red" and almost fainted again from anger. Not only had this person stolen their plans, but they had also stolen his name!
"What's the situation?"
Cynthia stood outside the Fuego Ironworks as several Officer Jennys and League investigators examined Team Galactic's secret factory.
The investigator responsible for recording said to Cynthia, "It's clear that Team Galactic has been using the Fuego Ironworks as a secret factory for quite some time. They were researching something here, but since the data was destroyed during the transfer, we don't know what it was.
"According to our investigation, during the recent battle, aside from you and Team Galactic, there was another party involved. Some Team Galactic members and researchers, including the important scientist Saturn, were killed by this third party."
"Red..."
Cynthia easily guessed that the person who had infiltrated the factory was Lin Jiu. After deploying a Draco Meteor, and with the appearance of Team Galactic members, Cynthia had determined that Lin Jiu was not one of them. Instead, he had used her to eliminate them, deliberately leading her to this location.
Even knowing this, as the Champion of Sinnoh, Cynthia had to take responsibility for dealing with Team Galactic whenever their presence was discovered.
Lin Jiu took the risk to return to Floaroma Town because the Fuego Ironworks was located to the north of Floaroma Town, while Oreburgh Town was to its southeast. Passing through Floaroma Town was the quickest route to Oreburgh Town!
After passing through Floaroma Town without incident, Lin Jiu hurried along the desolate path towards Oreburgh Town. Due to the terrain of Oreburgh Town, there was no train station there, so he could only go on foot. Even if there was a train, Lin Jiu wouldn't risk falling into a trap!
Upon investigation, he found out that the Contest in Oreburgh Town would be held in ten days. He still had seventeen days left for his mission!
While on his way, Lin Jiu took out the Red Chain to examine it. This was the key to completing his mission.
[Red Chain (Fragment)]
Origin: Pokémon, Sinnoh Region
Quality: Legendary
Type: Consumable Item
Usage Condition: Activate with the power of time and space (Unactivated)
Effect: Activates the power of Arceus contained in the chain, exerting significant suppression on beings created by Arceus. (Complete Red Chain exerts control)
Rating: 530
Description: Can we calmly discuss this now?
Note: Special mission items, cannot be sold, used, or taken out of this world. (Collecting related items will have special effects 3/3)
=====
Lin Jiu deduced that the complete version of the Red Chain should be an epic-level item. The most challenging step was already behind him, and he just hoped that nothing else would go wrong in Oreburgh Town, so the mission would be straightforward.
"I wonder how much time and space power the combined forces of the Adamant Orb and Lustrous Orb can generate!"
Lin Jiu estimated it wouldn't be much. The power of time and space was a rare commodity in Reincarnation Paradise, and if it weren't for the fact that the power of the two orbs came from Arceus, a legendary item wouldn't even come close to involving time and space energy.
Fortunately, the activation of the Red Chain required only a small amount of time and space power to stimulate the Arceus power contained in the red gems of the chain.