Fang Yuan arrived in the Sinnoh Region on the second day.
The Psychic Banquet was still going on.
Psychics from all over were eagerly exchanging and discussing their training experiences.
Meanwhile, the Relic Conquer Team's trio, Satoru, Arashi, and Caitlin, were also planning when to explore the relics again.
As for Fang Yuan...
Although he managed to sneak into the cruise banquet with the Goldenrod Gym's invitation, no one recognized him, and he had no presence. However, this suited Fang Yuan just fine—he preferred to stay in his room and train his superpower.
That's what he said, but the reality was...
"One whole night... and still no success?" Nastina came in with a calm face and left Fang Yuan's room just as calmly.
Although she appeared calm, her gaze was filled with discontent and doubt.
Is it too late to sever the mentor-student relationship now...
"Damn."
After Nastina left, Fang Yuan felt underestimated. He turned to look at the Eevee beside him and asked, "Is there any way to make my meditation succeed quickly?"
"Bwoo."
Eevee rolled its eyes and shook its head, implying that one must first comprehend the basics on their own before a Pokémon can aid in training.
"Forget it, asking you is pointless. I'll ask Mewtwo later," Fang Yuan shook his head.
Eevee: (｡◕ˇεˇ◕｡) Bwoo!!
On the bed, Eevee suddenly jumped up. It didn't like what Fang Yuan just said. It stood on the pillow, furrowing its brow and began to contemplate seriously how to make Fang Yuan succeed in meditation quickly.
A moment later.
Eevee's eyes dimmed, and then it showed the expression of a salted fish, its body slumping down, and it rolled back into the quilt.
It couldn't be bothered to think anymore. You'd better go ask Mewtwo.
The reverse psychology didn't work.
"..." Fang Yuan was speechless at the sight, feeling let down by the unanticipated expectation.
"Never mind, I can't rush it. Let's go invite Nastina to join us for breakfast," he sighed.
Fang Yuan shook his head; next, he needed to teach Nastina a very precious quality—"patience."
If Nastina couldn't learn this precious quality, how many more disdainful looks would he endure later when he learned Teleport, transforming into a doll, creating a Different Space, and using Future Sight from her?
"Bwoo!!" Mentioning breakfast, Eevee wasn't sleepy anymore.
......
"Damn it, damn it, damn it—"
Meanwhile.
In another room on the cruise ship.
Having sent Hirona off early in the morning, Caitlin started throwing a tantrum in her room.
She would have much rather challenged Hirona to a battle than explore relics, but Hirona had a lecture on Sinnoh mythology to attend today, so a battle would have to wait until next time.
Being rejected by Hirona wasn't the reason Caitlin was angry; she was furious because she got turned down by Satoru again when she and Satoru were discussing the Relic Conquer Team's administration.
Satoru solemnly stated that if Caitlin could provide key information on the relics' exploration... he would definitely consider it, but for now, forget it.
"What's the big deal," Caitlin instinctively wanted to press the "leave group chat" button.
But then, "knock knock knock," she heard someone at the door.
"Shi Lan, is that you? Come in," Caitlin put down her phone and sat on the bed, still in a huff.
No, she couldn't leave yet. No matter what, she had to defeat that Three-in-one iron lump and then, capture it.
She wanted to see if three Pokémon combined still counted as one Pokémon, and if it could fit into a single Poké Ball.
"Miss, the family has sent news," the butler Shi Lan entered and spoke respectfully.
"What's the matter?" Caitlin looked up.
Her family was currently the largest psychic family in the world, with a history tracing back 2500 years, immensely influential.
All of her knowledge and skills were passed down through the family.
"The master and madam have heard about the situation here and want you to handle a matter," said Shi Lan. "It's important."
"I understand..." Caitlin fell silent for a moment, then used her superpower to isolate the room and said, "Tell me, does it concern these Supernatural Relics?"
"No, the master and madam aren't too concerned about these Supernatural Relics."
"It's about Miss Nastina."
"After hearing that Miss Nastina of the Goldenrod Gym has returned to normal and appeared here, they specifically contacted Mr. Chengping from the Goldenrod Gym to confirm. Now, Miss Nastina can indeed control her tremendous Superpower Talent as stably as you can, young lady."
"The lord and lady would like you to invite Miss Nastina to visit the United Region."
"Impossible." Caitlin stood up. "I refuse to invite that rude person over."
"Don't be capricious, young miss. This matter is important. It's also a promise made by the family and Nastina's father in earlier years..." Shi Lan said helplessly.
"It concerns whether you can gain the approval of Zekrom or Zekrom."
On hearing this, Caitlin fell silent again.
Legend has it that 2,500 years ago, the United Region was founded by a pair of twins and a Divine Dragon.
But eventually, due to the brothers' differing goals, their conflict widened, ultimately leading to war. The Divine Dragon also split into the truth-bearer Zekrom and the ideal-bearer Zekrom.
In the protracted war, finally realizing their mistakes, the twin heroes ended the conflict, and the United Region returned to peace. However, the dragons of truth and ideals, exhausted, transformed into Dragon Stones and descended into slumber.
Not until countless years later, when the twins' descendants reignited the flames of war, did the outraged Zekrom and Zekrom awaken. They used their crisscrossing flames and Lightning to burn the United Region to the ground.
Caitlin's family is an ancient one from the United Region, having witnessed it all.
Afterward, because of the dragons' disaster, her family moved to other regions until the United Region was rebuilt and flourished once again—only then did Caitlin's family return.
It could be said that the United Region is the ancestral land of Caitlin's family, and this is also why Caitlin went alone to the United to temper herself and take on the role of one of the Four Heavenly Kings of the United.
Caitlin's family is well aware of the strength of the Black and White Dragon but also knows that, unlike other Legendary Pokémon, they are willing to help Trainers.
Now, as the family prophecy indicates, the revival of the Black and White Dragon is imminent, and they will become active again in the United Region. Caitlin's family's goal is to earn the approval of one of the Legendary Dragons.
Of course, when the Legendary Dragon awakens, the humans coveting the dragon won't just include Caitlin's family. Ambitious individuals and ancient forces will all emerge, and Caitlin's family hopes to be fully prepared.
In the ancient lands of Caitlin's family, a Mysterious Stone Tablet has been passed down. This is only known to the core members of the family, but to activate the tablet, the cooperation of two Humans with strong Superpower is required, along with a special Secret Technique. Caitlin has already met the standard, but the other person has yet to appear.
Nastina is the person Caitlin's family has chosen. They hope to leverage Nastina's power to help Caitlin control the tablet, which would greatly enhance her strength, making her the strongest King and possibly even the future United Champion.
"Psychics are the ones closest to both truth and ideals and are most likely to earn the Legendary Dragon's approval. With your own strength, young miss, you are still unable to take down the family's inherited Tablet. But with Miss Nastina's help, you would be able to control the tablet, enhance your power, and become the Trainer most likely to be approved by the Legendary Dragon."
"I have absolutely no interest in gaining their approval—" Caitlin shook her head. Whatever Zekrom or Zekrom, she didn't like them.
"We can't let the Legendary Dragon fall into the hands of those with ambition..." Shi Lan forced a smile. Caitlin's family had long foreseen the upcoming disasters in the United Region due to the appearance of the Legendary Dragon. Therefore, securing the dragon's approval beforehand was of the utmost importance.
The United Region in recent years... is indeed rife with undercurrents.
"Moreover, this is something you promised the lord and lady long ago..." Shi Lan said helplessly.
"So annoying." Caitlin clenched the bedsheet.
She had a feeling that the Trainer who would gain the approval of both Legendary Dragons would not be her. This was all futile; why wouldn't her parents believe that?
Instead of trying to gain the approval of the Legendary Dragons, it would be better to plan how to subdue that Three-in-one chunk of metal.
......
In the end, Caitlin, accompanied by Shi Lan, came to the door of Nastina's room, intending to invite this rumored Psychic girl with astonishing talent to visit her ancestral home in the United Region.
However, before Caitlin and Shi Lan could knock, the door opened on its own.
Caitlin and Shi Lan silently watched Fang Yuan and Nastina come out of the room.
"Is he your boyfriend?" Caitlin asked with a slightly mocking tone.
"Absolutely not." Nastina said with a straight face.
"Then, is he the butler?"
"I don't need such a thing," said Nastina.
Shi Lan: ...
"This..." Fang Yuan had a headache. How did coming to invite Nastina for breakfast end up encountering Caitlin? This must be his first meeting with her.
"Miss Caitlin, didn't Miss Hilona tell you about me?" Fang Yuan said with a resigned smile, looking at Caitlin.
"You... you know her?" Caitlin was startled when Fang Yuan mentioned Hilona.
More than that, they had a pleasant chat on the cruise yesterday, Hilona even sold out this best friend of hers. Meanwhile, Nastina thought to herself.
"Miss Hilona has helped me a lot and is also a worthy opponent," Fang Yuan introduced himself. "My name is Fang Yuan, from the Shinnoh Region, and I am a Psychic of the Heart Source Style."
Caitlin fell silent, uttering an "Oh" before showing no interest in Fang Yuan.
Heart Source Style... Fang Yuan... Hmm, never heard of it.
Hilona hadn't mentioned it to her either; it seemed like Fang Yuan was just boasting about himself.
"Miss Nastina, actually, our young miss has some matters she would like to discuss with you..." At this moment, Caitlin's butler Shi Lan reminded her, urging to get to the actual business, Miss Caitlin.