Pokemon: Spiritual Master

"You three, go clean the first floor."

Aether Foundation Branch Chief Faba looked kind on the surface, but whether in words or actions, he appeared quite arrogant.

And he indeed had capital to be proud.

"Yes, Mr. Faba."

Facing him were two people and one Meowth - subordinates Faba had just recruited yesterday.

Originally, he was only curious about the talking Meowth and planned to study it, but surprisingly these three turned out to be remarkably useful.

No matter what he assigned them to do, they could complete it simply, quickly, and meticulously.

Look, such a large building - cleaning an entire floor only required two people plus one Meowth, saving him countless labor costs that could be used for his more private and secretive research.

Getting a satisfactory response, Faba put his hands behind his back and muttered somewhat indignantly:

"Just a teacher, having some strength doesn't warrant such grandeur..."

Before leaving the room, he suddenly turned around and emphasized:

"Remember, your task scope is only the first floor. Whether it's the second floor, third floor, or the basement below, you're not allowed to enter."

After speaking, before turning to leave he couldn't help muttering: "Though you don't have clearance to enter anyway."

After Faba left, the two people and cat finally looked up.

It was none other than Team Rocket's trio!

After Johan couldn't obtain complete information about the Aether Foundation through the "UB Task Force," he made two preparations.

One was sending the trio to work undercover at the Aether Foundation.

As for how they got in and how they went undercover, Johan didn't care - with the trio's abilities, they had plenty of methods.

Indeed.

Originally, the trio wanted to use the "Sweet Honey" and berries stored from Bewear to earn some funds and build a submarine to secretly infiltrate the Aether Foundation. But before their stall had been open long, they were spotted by Faba and brought back.

Watching Faba's departing direction, Jessie was the first to lose her temper, rolling up her sleeves and cursing:

"What is he?! Daring to badmouth Teacher Johan - if you really faced Teacher Johan, you wouldn't have time to cry!"

"Exactly! Exactly!" James chimed in.

Faba showing disdain for them was one thing, but what was he to dare look down on Teacher Johan?

If not for having a mission and decent wages, they would have beaten him up long ago!

After venting their dissatisfaction, the trio finally observed the first floor of Aether Paradise's largest building.

It was truly large and would definitely take time to clean, but...

"That green-haired guy said not to go to the second floor, third floor, or basement, meow." Meowth rubbed its chin, stating confidently: "I suspect Bewear's child might be on one of those floors, meow!"

"Right!"

Jessie, still not fully cooled down, looked around: "Should we go to the second floor first or the basement?"

"I just saw that guy come up from the basement, acting all secretive..." James said.

"Then let's go to the basement first!" Jessie decided.

As for the security doors requiring ID verification to stop them...

Sorry, doors had never been obstacles for Team Rocket's trio.

Meowth quickly dealt with the security door leading to the dark basement.

The trio sneakily infiltrated.

Meanwhile.

Johan and his group successfully arrived at Aether Paradise. Under butler James's guidance, they came to Lusamine's home located behind Aether Paradise.

At the entrance, they met Faba and Wicke, who seemed to be waiting there.

Wicke was the Aether Foundation's assistant branch chief, with a position similar to Lusamine's secretary, managing Aether Paradise's affairs large and small, like the entire Aether Foundation's head housekeeper.

"Alola, welcome everyone to Aether Paradise." Faba said with a smile.

"Alola, welcome everyone." Wicke also had a face full of smiles.

Seeing the two, Lillie politely bowed: "Thank you both for coming to welcome us."

Wicke smiled gently: "Lillie, everyone, we've been waiting for you."

Faba said with some teasing: "You seem to have not come to Aether Paradise for a long time, Miss Lillie."

Lillie's cheeks reddened slightly, saying somewhat embarrassedly: "Didn't I say not to call me Miss anymore?"

"But Miss is Miss." Faba had his hands behind his back.

"Speaking of which, where is Mother?" Lillie asked.

"Madam has been waiting inside for some time." Wicke said.

Their conversation was just watched silently by Johan and Dr. Burnet, while Sophocles, Mallow and others kept going "wow, wow" in amazement.

Faba couldn't help but curl his lips, lowering his voice to mutter to himself:

"Really rude, ill-mannered bunch of brats, the teacher must be the same..."

Others naturally couldn't hear such muttering, but for Johan with aura abilities, it was like someone badmouthing him right in front of him.

He couldn't help but laugh in anger.

"Teacher Johan, Madam said she's sorry she couldn't greet you personally due to busy affairs, but she asked that if you arrived, you could go directly to the study to find her."

After Wicke finished speaking, she said to Lillie and others:

"Lillie, take your friends to tour Aether Paradise first."

Then she opened the door, making a welcoming gesture to Johan.

Faba curled his lips.

Johan approached, Wicke led Lillie, Dr. Burnet and others away, and Faba's eyes rolled as he immediately pressed his ear to the door, wanting to hear what they'd chat about.

What if it threatened his position?

But listening and listening, Faba realized.

Wait, the people were chatting in the study - listening at the door was useless.

Just as he came to his senses.

Turning his head.

He saw a purple chubby also pressed against the door like him, "eavesdropping."

Hm?

Faba was immediately stunned.

Gen-Gengar?

Gengar also noticed Faba had discovered it, grinning and "friendly" greeting Faba with a wide smile.

"Ka-kaah~ Ψ(｀▽)Ψ"

Then Gengar phased through the door.

As for Faba... he froze in place.

Gengar inside the door winked twice at Johan, who chuckled lightly - everything was understood without words.

Faba?

Johan admitted he was... a talent in research, and among villain scientists, his ability might only be second to Team Plasma's Colress.

His greatest invention was probably participating in Ultra Ball development and the "Type: Null Project"!

Speaking of Type: Null, not many might know it, but its evolved form Silvally was quite well-known - nicknamed "Little Arceus"!

It could change its type at will according to "Memory discs," just like Arceus's plates.

Just creating Pokémon, and copying Arceus to create Pokémon at that, was quite an achievement.

Of course, Faba only participated in the project, not creating it completely independently - how much he contributed was unknown.

Compared to Colress, who could control Kyurem and successively developed "Colress Machines" that could fuse Kyurem with the black and white dragons and merge Necrozma with the sun and moon gods, there was still some gap.

Moreover.

In Johan's view, while Faba had some cunning, his brain didn't really seem like a scientist's.

"Just give him a little lesson." Johan said softly, his mood brightening.

Our Teacher Johan, or rather our Johan family, was famously petty.

Knock knock—

Gently knocking on the study door.

"Please come in."

Pushing the door open.

Lusamine, dressed in a short skirt with tight white pants wrapping her long legs, dressed as usual, sat at her desk busily reviewing something.

She really didn't look like a mother of two children.

Seeing Johan enter, she showed a gentle smile and put down her pen.

"Teacher Johan, sorry for not greeting you personally due to busy affairs."

Speaking, she made a welcoming gesture.

Johan didn't stand on ceremony, sitting across from her.

A Clefable carrying coffee walked in.

"I heard Teacher Johan likes coffee very much? This is our Alola region's specialty, I hope you'll enjoy it."

"Clef~"

Clefable politely placed the coffee in front of Johan.

"Thank you." Johan smiled and thanked Clefable.

"Clef~"

Clefable bowed slightly, also showing friendliness toward Johan.

After delivering coffee, it prepared to leave, then by the door, saw Johan's Gengar.

"Ka-kaah? (tilts head)"

"Clef? (tilts head)"

Gengar seemed to see its "original form," while Clefable seemed to see its "shadow," unconsciously looking down at its own shadow.

Hadn't become sentient...

"President Lusamine, no, I should say Lillie's parent."

After drinking some coffee, Johan got straight to the point:

"Lillie's grades are excellent, especially in theory - almost perfect scores in every subject, but regarding Pokémon..."

Lusamine's expression remained unchanged, maintaining her smile.

"Lillie has been quite resistant to Pokémon since childhood, harboring fear toward Pokémon..."

Before she finished, Johan suddenly interrupted:

"Is that so?"

He looked at Lusamine, his voice becoming more serious as he asked:

"Has Lillie really feared Pokémon since childhood?"

He emphasized the words "since childhood."

Hearing this, Lusamine was stunned. She naturally heard the questioning tone in Johan's voice, but she was more puzzled - could Teacher Johan, as an outsider, understand her daughter better than herself?

But thinking carefully, it seemed...

Lillie didn't fear Pokémon as a child and even raised a Cleffa.

Then... when did Lillie start fearing Pokémon?

Seeing Lusamine's expression, Johan was both angry and amused.

A mother could neglect her child to this extent, truly...

"Teacher Johan." Lusamine suddenly spoke.

"Hm?"

Lusamine pressed her temples with both hands, gently rubbing with a tired expression, saying in a somewhat low voice:

"Could you help me with a favor?"

A favor?

Johan leaned back slightly against the chair back, gesturing:

"Please speak."

"As Aether Foundation President, our Aether Foundation wants to hire you as a special consultant." Lusamine said.

Special consultant?

"This is a 'favor'?" Johan frowned.

He came for a home visit, not job hunting, and certainly not...

How did the topic suddenly change while chatting?

"No, what I mean is..." Lusamine chose her words carefully, "I want to ask Teacher Johan to help me explore Ultra Wormholes and Ultra Space!"

Johan looked up at Lusamine, noticing she showed some obsession and strong persistence.

"Whew—"

Johan breathed out lightly. Before he could speak, Lusamine continued:

"After the UB invasion incident on Poni Island, I realized that perhaps Teacher Johan, you might be the person who could best help me achieve my goal."

"What do you want to do?" Johan frowned, slowly sitting up straight with a serious expression.

Lusamine seemed not to notice his expression change, a curve appearing at the corner of her mouth as she said softly but firmly:

"I want... to enter Ultra Space!"

!!!

"This isn't a joke, President Lusamine." Johan said gravely.

"I know, I understand."

Lusamine looked directly at Johan, saying with certainty: "That's why I want to specially hire you, Teacher Johan. With your strength and ability, if even you can't do it, I think few people in the entire Pokémon world could."

Originally cooperating with Lusamine was actually Team Skull's Guzma.

But comparing Guzma to Teacher Johan?

Being able to put these two names together was somewhat overestimating Guzma.

Especially after witnessing Teacher Johan's strength at Poni Island's Altar of the Sunne and his pacification of the entire UB: Stinger group, Lusamine was full of admiration for such talent.

"Let's talk about it later..." Johan rubbed his temples.

Ultra Space was no joke.

Though the anime's Aether Foundation had indeed developed special protective suits and made further research into Ultra Space and Ultra Wormholes.

But...

The existence of Ultra Megalopolis and Necrozma sleeping in Ultra Space made Johan dare not underestimate Ultra Space.

Lusamine smiled slightly.

"Commission fee... no, deposit - fifty million Pokédollars."

Johan: "..."

He stared wide-eyed at Lusamine.

Come on, are you really testing a public servant like this?

This time.

I must say no to evil money!

"I'll consider it..."

Lusamine's smile grew wider. Just as she was about to speak, Johan raised his hand to stop her.

He said with "difficulty":

"Lillie's parent, let's talk about Lillie's issues first!"

Lusamine came to her senses, opening her mouth but not knowing what to say.

Regarding Ultra Wormholes, Ultra Space, and the Aether Foundation, President Lusamine could talk at length - whether Johan wanted to discuss development or new research, she knew everything inside and out.

But talking about Lillie...

After a long silence, Lusamine sighed lightly.

"Lillie's problem, I remember now. I used to find many people to help her, but..."

She brushed back her scattered hair.

"Actually... not interacting with Pokémon is quite good. In this world, not everyone has to become a Pokémon trainer, right?"

Indeed.

Even in the Pokémon world, not everyone could become a trainer.

But...

"Lillie likes Pokémon." Johan said with a stern face, his words decisive.

"Does she like them?"

Lusamine murmured.

"If she doesn't like them, why would she attend Pokémon School? If she doesn't like them, why would she study Pokémon knowledge so hard? If she doesn't like them... haven't you, as Lillie's mother, asked her whether she likes them and why she's afraid?"

Johan stared into Lusamine's eyes.

Under Johan's gaze, Lusamine weakened and was stunned for a while before responding:

"Teacher Johan, you really are a responsible, earnest, trustworthy good teacher."

After sighing to not lose composure, Lusamine said:

"I asked. Faba said that Lillie and Gladion got lost in the research lab at the time, slept there overnight, and perhaps had nightmares. When they found them the next day, Lillie became..."

"So you still didn't ask." Johan crossed his arms.

"I... they were just children, Faba..."

Johan didn't speak further but directly stood up.

Under Lusamine's puzzled gaze, Johan glanced at her and said:

"I can help Lillie, but facing a child, I need consent from her guardian."

Lusamine looked at Johan. Before she could speak, Johan immediately said:

"Then I'll take it that Ms. Lusamine agrees."

Lusamine: "?"

Johan straightened his clothes, standing up to walk toward the study door.

Looking at Gengar, who was staring at Clefable, he lightly patted its head and said irritably:

"What are you standing there for? Keep up!"

After seeing the parents of Mallow, Lana, and Kiawe, then meeting Lusamine, Johan as a teacher was truly somewhat angry.

"Oh..."

Lusamine behind the desk instinctively shrank her neck, standing up and responding softly.

"Ka-kaah?" Gengar turned its head in confusion, looking at Lusamine and pointing at itself.

Eh? Wasn't Johan calling it?

Then under Johan and Gengar's stunned gazes, Lusamine trotted up, following behind Johan.

"Coming, Teacher Johan, but... where are we going?"

Johan: "?"

Aether Paradise, first floor.

"This is where everyone works." Wicke smiled as she introduced.

"The second floor is the simulation area, home to many Pokémon."

"The third floor is..."

"Eh? Miss Wicke, where does this lead to?" Energetic girl Mallow curiously pointed at the opened door leading to a dark passage in the corner.

"The basement research lab door? How could...?"

Wicke looked surprised.

The basement research lab was classified territory of the Aether Foundation - how could the door be wide open?

Could it be that Faba guy left too hastily and forgot to close the door?

"This, this place..."

Seeing the basement passage, Lillie's expression immediately became unnatural, fear showing in her eyes.

"Lillie, what's wrong?" Attentive Lana noticed Lillie's condition.

"Everyone, this is Aether Paradise's secret..."

Wicke's words weren't finished.

Boom!!!

A loud sound suddenly came from the passage leading to the basement research lab, changing everyone's expressions.

Burnet and Wicke exchanged glances and ran into the passage.

The kids looked at each other, then followed.

Lillie bit her lip, watching everyone go in. After brief hesitation, she gritted her teeth and followed.

"Damn! Damn! Damn bastard! How dare you toy with me, the dignified Aether Foundation Branch Chief!"

Faba patted his somewhat sore neck, looking at Johan and Lusamine leaving together, shouting angrily.

Beep beep!

Suddenly.

An alarm on him went off.

Faba's expression changed.

The research lab!

Taking out his device, switching to the research lab's camera, he just saw Lillie's group entering the basement.

"Oh no!"

Faba immediately couldn't care about his pain, quickly running toward the research lab.

"Hm? Not here?"

Lusamine looked at the empty first floor with some confusion.

Then she smiled apologetically at Johan:

"Teacher Johan, please wait, let me check."

Speaking, she took out her phone and called Faba.

"Faba, help me see where Lillie and the others are touring now?"

"Lu-President Lusamine!" Faba's heavy breathing came through the phone, "They might have gone to the second floor, or possibly the third floor. The monitoring equipment had some problems, I'm rushing to fix it!"

"The second floor?"

Lusamine hung up, looking up toward the second floor direction, saying to Johan:

"Teacher Johan, Lillie and the others might have gone to the second floor..."

But Johan seemed not to hear, walking toward the basement direction.

"Ka-kaah~ Ka-kaah~"

Gengar waved at Lusamine.

"The basement?"

Lusamine was surprisingly "obedient," also following.

Just before Johan and Lusamine headed to the research lab, while they were still sitting and talking in the study.

In basement B2, Faba's exclusive research facility.

Boom!!!

A youth in black tight-fitting clothes with a red fanny pack at his waist and a golden tuft of hair on his forehead, looking somewhat non-mainstream or rebellious, clenched his fist.

Beside him, an Umbreon's Shadow Ball broke the cage mechanism in front.

Click—

Steam rose as the cage slowly opened.

Accompanied by heavy metal collision sounds, a four-legged creature resembling a beast slowly walked out.

Its front feet were like claws, back feet like paws, and fish-like tail made it look quite mismatched.

Most eye-catching was undoubtedly the huge metal helmet on its head with axe-like structures, appearing extremely heavy.

The youth became especially emotional seeing this creature.

"Type: Null!" he shouted loudly.

"Roar..."

A sound came from under the heavy metal mask.

"Sorry, Type: Null, I actually believed Faba's lies!"

Guilt appeared on the youth's face, but he quickly became energetic: "He's not here today, let's leave quickly!"

This youth was none other than Lillie's brother, Lusamine's other child - big brother-in-law Gladion!

"Roar!"

Type: Null approached the youth. Despite looking fierce and menacing, it showed no hostility toward the youth, appearing quite friendly instead.

"Let's go!"

Gladion immediately led Type: Null away - it would be trouble when Faba returned.

However.

When Gladion brought Type: Null and Umbreon to quickly leave the research lab, they happened to encounter Lillie's group who had come down hearing the commotion.

"Gladion?" Wicke looked at the "young master" with confusion.

"Brother?" Lillie was also somewhat surprised.

But the biggest reaction was Gladion himself: "Lillie, why are you here?"

Suddenly, his expression changed dramatically as he stepped in front of Type: Null.

But it was too late.

Seeing Type: Null's fierce appearance, Lillie was struck like lightning, freezing in place with a pale face, trembling all over, her eyes full of deep terror.

"Lillie!"

Seeing Lillie sway and about to fall, nearby Mallow and others immediately surrounded her for support.

"Quick! Call a doctor!" Wicke hurriedly shouted.

Burnet carefully helped Lillie sit on the ground, looking at the self-blaming Gladion, seeming to understand that this Lillie's brother knew why Lillie was like this.

So she asked:

"What's Lillie's condition?"

"How could you bring Lillie to the basement!" Gladion roared angrily.

But his heart was full of self-blame.

He never expected Lillie and the others would suddenly enter the basement research lab and encounter Type: Null, which had become Lillie's "nightmare."

At this time.

"Lillie!"

Lusamine, who had just arrived with Johan, saw Lillie sitting stiffly on the ground with a face full of fear, and hurriedly ran over.

"Madam Lusamine." Wicke respectfully called out.

But Gladion showed hostility, pulling Lillie into his arms and extending his hand to stop Lusamine from approaching.

"Don't come closer!"

"Gladion, you!" Lusamine was somewhat stunned, but still asked: "Gladion, what's wrong with Lillie?"

"What's wrong?" Gladion laughed bitterly, "Isn't it all thanks to Mother?"

"Me?"

Lusamine was even more stunned.

She had just arrived - what did it have to do with her?

"Wasn't it because you indulged Faba, letting him arbitrarily open Ultra Wormholes, causing Lillie to be attacked..."

"Faba... arbitrarily opened Ultra Wormholes?" Lusamine was even more shocked.

Nearby Wicke and Burnet had similar expressions.

Opening Ultra Wormholes?

Gladion roared: "Didn't you want to meet Ultra Beasts? Isn't this what you hoped for? Even if Lillie was attacked by Ultra Beasts, you still wanted to see them - isn't that the kind of person you are?!"

"Gladion!" Lusamine's voice immediately rose.

But Gladion didn't coddle her, shouting even louder:

"She suddenly became unable to touch Pokémon - didn't you find that strange at all?!"

Today, this was the second person to ask her such a question.

Lusamine was stunned.

"No matter how Faba concealed and deceived, have you ever listened to us? Didn't you prefer to believe Faba? Lillie even had to seal her own memories for this, and as her mother, you..."

Gladion vented all the resentment he'd accumulated over the years.

After all, even as her son, he rarely got to see Lusamine normally.

"I, I..." Lusamine's lips trembled.

"Stop with the 'I, I, I' - move aside!"

Johan's irritated voice came as he walked to Lillie's side.

"Who are you?" Gladion frowned, looking at Johan warily.

"Teacher Johan!"

"Teacher Johan came!"

Nearby Mallow and others had been watching a "family drama" and only now noticed Johan had arrived.

"Teacher Johan..." Gladion's eyes slowly widened.

He had heard some rumors about Teacher Johan.

This was a very powerful man!

His usually strong mother Lusamine actually made way when she heard Teacher Johan's irritated words.

"Big broth... ahem, Gladion, there's one thing you got wrong. Lillie's memories weren't self-sealed."

Johan gently held the little girl in front of him.

Being a teacher really broke his heart.

"Not self-sealed?" Gladion and Lusamine showed shocked expressions.

"Though I'm not a psychic, as a psychology teacher, I can only say... what a crude memory alteration method."

Because of Lillie's "breakdown," in her terror, some memory "traces" were completely exposed.

Gladion and Lusamine looked at each other.

"Since you don't know, let me 'show' you."

Johan called softly: "Ninetales."

"Oowoo~"

Ninetales leaped out of its Poké Ball on its own. Understanding Johan's intent, psychic light immediately appeared in its eyes.

Connecting to the Rotom Pokédex, it displayed the scene of Lillie being attacked by Nihilego.

Faba arbitrarily opening Ultra Wormholes, Nihilego appearing, attacking Lillie, being saved by Silvally, Faba erasing Lillie's memories...

"Damn! Damn! Damn!"

Watching the monitor, Faba was sweating profusely. He had just run into the basement research lab and saw this scene on the monitor.

His eyes swept around.

He discovered Team Rocket trio quietly preparing to leave.

"You!"

He sternly stopped the three, shouting somewhat frantically: "Now! Go in and cause destruction! The bigger the commotion, the better! Give me a chance to take Miss Lillie away!"

"Us?"

The trio slowly turned around, pointing at themselves.

Fight whom?

Teacher Johan?

"As long as you can bring Miss Lillie back, I can use Hypno's power again to further erase Miss Lillie's memories!"

Faba muttered his plan like rambling.

"Erase, memories..." Jessie's face darkened as she repeated flatly.

"As long as you cause destruction, I won't pursue your responsibility and will give you special bonuses!"

"Erase, memories..." James also lowered his head, repeating calmly.

"You're..." Meowth gritted its teeth with a dark expression.

"What kind of joke is this?!" ×3

"So~naaan~si~!"

Bear!

Flames seemed to rise from their bodies.

"What do you think we are, bastard!" ×3

Faba looked at them in shock.

"Can't stand it anymore, get him!" Jessie immediately rolled up her sleeves.

"Get him!" James also shouted.

"Beat him to death, meow!" Meowth was first to attack with its special move Fury Swipes!

"Arbok!"

"Weezing!"

"UB01: Symbiont?"

"Ultra Wormholes?"

"Faba!"

Having witnessed the "entire process," Lusamine, Wicke, Gladion and others called out with various expressions.

"Lillie!" Lusamine took Lillie, holding her in her arms, pressing her head against hers, crying and repeating full of guilt: "I'm sorry, I'm sorry Lillie..."

Recovering and facing her memories, Lillie felt Lusamine's embrace.

"Mother..."

"Thank goodness..." Gladion sat on the ground, breathing a sigh of relief.

Seeing Type: Null behind him again, Lillie no longer showed fear, even revealing gratitude and guilt.

If not for her, Silvally wouldn't have been sealed, much less imprisoned by Faba.

While everyone was immersed in joy and gratitude for Lillie's recovery, Johan and Gengar stood aside, stroking their chins and rubbing gently, their expressions... somewhat serious.

"Why... do I think I saw... Colress from the other end of that Ultra Wormhole in Lillie's memory?"

"Ka-kaah~"

Gengar was also somewhat uncertain, hesitantly nodding.

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Powerstones?

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