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Mira suddenly fell silent. When Cynthia tried to draw her into conversation, Mira's answers were clipped, brief, polite, and clearly intended to end the exchange as quickly as possible.
The sudden shift left Luther baffled. During their battle just an hour ago, Mira had been the picture of vitality, even taking the initiative to suggest they team up. But the moment Cynthia stepped onto the scene, the girl had retreated into a shell.
It wasn't nervousness. Luther could tell Mira was holding something back, and it was as if she wanted to speak but stopped herself.
Cynthia noticed it as well. She praised Mira briefly, then left the gym with Luther.
Outside, two young people wearing caps saw Mira and ran over. Mira made a subtle hand gesture toward them, and they immediately stopped.
"Perhaps we'll meet again, if luck allows." Mira said.
She didn't want to exchange contact information with Luther or Cynthia, which made Cynthia feel regretful.
"Next time we meet..." Mira looked directly at Luther, her voice dropping to a soft, haunting murmur. "Please, go easy on me."
Then, without waiting for a response, she turned and vanished toward the two men waiting in the distance.
"So she even has bodyguards? Whose young miss is out having fun this time?" Cynthia couldn't help but take a few extra looks.
Luther, however, frowned.
When Mira asked him to go easy on her, she was extremely serious, and she was not joking around.
It was as if she could predict the future, knowing for certain that she would end up facing him one day.
The feeling was eerie, making Luther's thoughts wander uncontrollably.
"Well, that's seven badges down," Cynthia said, breaking his train of thought. "Only one more until the Lily of the Valley Conference. Since you're determined to speedrun the rest of the circuit, there are a few towns near Sun Heart City you could hit. It would be a good chance to polish your second team lineup."
Luther shook his head. "With the Pokémon I've caught so far, I can't put together a second full tournament lineup. I can only rotate a few Pokémon in and try to integrate them into my battle system."
"Tonight I plan to call Diantha. The checkup report for Mismagius should be out by now. Hopefully, everything is fine. If so, Mismagius can rejoin the team."
The thought of a healthy Mismagius returning to the lineup filled Luther with confidence for the Lily of the Valley Conference.
—
Mira walked with her head lowered, staring at her toes. The two members of the Hodgepodge Organization wanted to remind her that walking like that was dangerous. However, Mira ignored them completely, so they could only escort her carefully as they moved on.
Because of the earlier incident, security checks around Sun Heart City had been intensified. The inspections at the exits were extremely strict.
The fake identities prepared by the Hodgepodge Organization worked. Everyone passed the inspection without incident. Only after they were far away from Sun Heart City did the two members finally breathe a sigh of relief.
"I thought we had been abandoned by the organization, that no one was looking out for us anymore."
The man who had followed Luther and Cynthia that day took off his cap and spoke with lingering fear.
The Pokémon League's response had been too fast that day. They had been locked inside Sun Heart City, and their old identities were easy to trace, which effectively trapped them there.
Mira had come specifically today to deliver new identity cards to them.
"Mira San, let's hurry back to the base," One of them urged.
Mira looked up at the darkening sky and reached out to pluck a drooping leaf. "You two go ahead. I want to stay a little longer."
Her words stunned the two of them. After a moment, they glanced at her pale neck and asked hesitantly, "Your pendant..."
"I returned it to Evergreen."
The middle-aged man who had followed Luther realized something first. Cold sweat poured down his back.
"You weren't sent by the organization to save us?"
"Pu'an, I still remember—I was only fifteen when I joined the Hodgepodge Organization. You were the first one to acknowledge my identity back then."
"No one believed that a fifteen-year-old girl had the strength to teach them how to battle. You were the one who helped me get started."
"You took care of me, helped me adapt in that kind of environment, and taught me how to avoid coming into contact with any core secrets."
Mira turned around and placed the leaf in her hand into Pu'an's palm.
"For every cause, there is an effect. I've repaid you."
She then looked to the side, where the other Hodgepodge Organization member—who had already realized what was happening—was trembling.
"You're lucky. You latched onto Pu'an's leg."
Pu'an's lips trembled. Looking at Mira's smiling face, he covered his face with shaking hands.
"People who leave the organization never end well…"
"I know. Back then there were twenty-eight leaders. One of them refused to continue helping them—so he disappeared."
Pu'an shouted, "That was a leader, and even he ended up like that! You—"
Mira smiled. "Precisely because he was a leader, he was guaranteed to die. But I'm not."
"Mira has grown up. From the orphanage to the Hodgepodge Organization—this entire journey left me dazed for a long time. I waited and waited, until the Hodgepodge Organization finally reached its weakest point. After helping Evergreen complete the last thing, I'll leave."
Mira looked at the Sun Heart Badge in her hand and revealed a faint smile.
"I've always hoped to challenge Cynthia head-on, but when I actually saw her this afternoon, I realized I couldn't even bring myself to say the word challenge."
"The stage of a Pokémon battle should be pure. In my current state, I'm not qualified to say those words."
"Puan, do you think I'm a good teacher?"
Puan was taken aback. "Of course you are! Everyone Evergreen can make use of these past three years was trained by you."
Mira let out a dry, bitter laugh as she spoke. "That's a pretty heavy sin."
The more useful she was to the Hodgepodge Organization, the more she would have to repay in the end.
Mira waved at Puan. "The organization has already assumed you've been captured. You can't go back anymore. Take your fake identities and leave."
"Evergreen deceived you back then. He set you up, put you in danger, and then stepped in personally to save you!" Puan decided to reveal the biggest secret he had been holding back.
Mira turned around. Her pale-golden hair fell like a waterfall, and her smile was dazzling.
"I know. I found out not long ago. That's why there's still karma left between Evergreen and me."
Mira knew better than anyone that she was guilty.
She hadn't had the courage to refuse the Hodgepodge Organization. Afraid of death, she had chosen compromise—selfish through and through.
But she truly wanted to live.
She had endured so much suffering for the chance to stand on the greatest stage and display her talent.
Sitting deep within the dense forest, Mira replayed all eighteen years of her life in her mind, as she often did.
She had imagined countless times what her life would be like if she had never met Evergreen.
When she met Luther, she finally found the answer.
"I envy people who get every step right. I want a life like that, too." She sighed emotionally, then stood up and stretched.
"You've worked hard, following me all this way."
Mira's words caused a dark shadow among the trees behind her to shift slightly.
"You're still impressive, Teacher."
The shadow seemed to admit defeat. It dropped to the ground and stepped in front of Mira.
"What about Puan and the others?" Mira asked.
"My only target is you. I'll report their whereabouts together later."
A Beedrill's stinger pressed against Mira's throat.
"You crossed the line. Reporting that they couldn't be rescued while secretly releasing them, this is not something the organization allows."
Mira smiled and tossed three Poké Balls onto the ground. "So you're planning to kill me?"
"My mission is only to track you. But you're too strong, Teacher, I have to be cautious." The shadow patted Mira's two pockets, then felt around her belt.
"If you're still worried, I can take off my clothes and let you check properly," Mira said calmly.
The hand stretched toward her froze midair. He wanted to keep going, but his body suddenly wouldn't move.
Slowly, he shifted his gaze toward the Beedrill.
Behind it floated an enormous dark silhouette, with crimson eyes, a split mouth twisted into a vicious grin. Mira gently brushed aside the Beedrill's long stinger and pushed the shadow's hand away.
"As long as I'm in the wild, I never put Gengar back into its Poké Ball. Looks like you really wanted to touch… what a pity."
"You're not qualified. Who gave you the confidence to track me alone… Evergreen?" Mira sneered. "That's seriously underestimating me. I'll have to go ask him about it later."
Using nearby vines, she bound the shadow's entire body tightly. Watching his eyes widen in terror, Mira smiled.
"I won't kill anyone. That's my bottom line, you can rest easy."
Mira leaned close to the shadow's ear and softly spoke a single name.
The shadow trembled violently, struggling in despair. It seemed that the name Luther was truly terrifying.
(End of Chapter)
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