Maki had also noticed the tension between Lusamine and Lillie. In fact, their strained relationship existed in both the games and the anime.
However, as an outsider, Maki felt it would be inappropriate to meddle in their family affairs so easily—especially considering he was currently on their turf.
Once Lillie had left, Lusamine finally took a seat directly across from Maki.
Her golden hair was identical to Lillie's. In terms of looks, both Lillie and her brother were fortunate to have inherited some of Lusamine's striking features. But perhaps due to impeccable skincare, there wasn't a single trace of aging on Lusamine's face. One could easily believe she was Lillie's older sister rather than her mother.
"That Whimsicott is yours, isn't it? It's absolutely adorable!" Lusamine's eyes lit up as she gazed at the Pokémon beside Maki, smiling warmly.
"Whim~" Whimsicott placed its hands on its hips, pleased that someone had finally acknowledged its charm. That little girl earlier had actually been afraid of it—what a lack of taste!
However, Whimsicott couldn't shake the feeling that Lusamine's gaze was somewhat unsettling. It couldn't quite explain why.
"Alola. You must be President Lusamine of the Aether Foundation."
Maki greeted Lusamine without any hint of reservation.
A flicker of surprise crossed Lusamine's eyes. From his attire, she had assumed Maki was from the Kanto region. Wicke had once traveled there, and everything about Maki—his clothes, equipment—was clearly of Kanto origin.
"Alola. I'm surprised you're familiar with the customs of the Alola region."
"Well… I'm not from Alola, but I do know a bit about it."
"Including the Aether Foundation?"
"I've heard of it."
"I don't recall the Aether Foundation being particularly well-known in Kanto." Lusamine smiled slightly as she observed Maki.
Rather than answering immediately, Maki responded with a question of his own.
"What are your thoughts on Ultra Beasts, President Lusamine?"
Lusamine paused for a moment, first surprised that Maki even knew about Ultra Beasts, and then taken aback by the nature of his question.
Yet, her expression remained as sweet as ever.
"Ultra Beasts are such rare and precious Pokémon. Naturally, they should be protected by the Aether Foundation. After all, that's our mission."
To anyone familiar with the Aether Foundation, these words would sound perfectly normal. But to Maki, there was something unnerving about them.
This version of Lusamine seemed to align more closely with her depiction in the games. That was a little unsettling—but also exactly what Maki wanted.
If Lusamine were merely a benevolent Pokémon conservationist, she would be of no use to him or Team Rocket. But if she had other ambitions…
"As expected of the Aether Foundation's president. Your perspective is quite different from us ordinary folk."
"By the way, since you've been asking me questions all this time, may I ask you one?"
"Of course. Go ahead."
Lusamine suddenly found herself unable to fully read the boy before her. He knew about the Aether Foundation, yet he remained unnervingly calm in front of her.
And the questions he asked—very interesting indeed.
"Have you seen anything unusual inside an Ultra Wormhole? Perhaps a special Pokémon, or even a person?"
"Well, I did encounter a Pokémon."
"Oh? What did it look like?" Lusamine's eyes brightened with curiosity. She wasn't worried about being deceived—when it came to Ultra Wormholes and Ultra Beasts, she considered herself the foremost expert.
"It was an abnormally large Pokémon. Its arms resembled bamboo, and its body had plant-like characteristics. However, I believe it belonged to the Steel and Flying types."
Lusamine nodded. The Aether Foundation had records of Celesteela, and Maki's description matched them exactly.
"Now, for my next question—where did you encounter this Pokémon? Or rather, where did you enter the Ultra Wormhole?"
This was what Lusamine truly wanted to know. If Maki had described a completely unknown Pokémon, she would have dismissed him as a liar. But since he had accurately depicted Celesteela, she had no choice but to take him seriously.
"The Kanto region."
"Kanto…?"
Lusamine's smile faltered for a moment. If it had been in Alola, she could have understood. But Kanto? That was far too distant. The two regions had only recently established formal ties. Trying to capture Ultra Beasts there was nearly impossible.
Moreover, according to Wicke, Kanto was home to a powerful underground organization known as Team Rocket.
In Alola, the Aether Foundation was the dominant force. But Lusamine was well aware that in terms of sheer power, the Aether Foundation was no match for Team Rocket, which could challenge even the Pokémon League in Kanto.
If she sent people there and stirred up trouble, she would have to deal not only with the League but also with Team Rocket. That was not a fight she wanted to pick.
Lusamine's expression darkened slightly. Was this boy toying with her, knowing all this?
Maki watched her change in expression and easily guessed her thoughts. He continued nonchalantly:
"I did encounter the Pokémon in Kanto. And that's also where I was sucked into an Ultra Wormhole."
Judging from Maki's expression, Lusamine didn't think he was lying. She had no choice but to accept it with a reluctant nod.
"So you were pulled into an Ultra Wormhole from Kanto and ended up here?"
"No. This is actually my second Ultra Wormhole trip."
Maki shrugged. Most people struggled to encounter an Ultra Wormhole even once. Yet, in just a few days, he had been pulled in multiple times.
The first time had sent him from Kanto to Alola. The second time had dropped him right in the middle of the Aether Foundation.
"Hm?"
Lusamine hadn't expected anyone to be unlucky—or lucky—enough to get caught in an Ultra Wormhole twice.
"The first time, I landed on an uninhabited island. There was a mysterious ruin there. For some reason, another Ultra Wormhole opened up and sent me here."
"An uninhabited island?"
"Well, not exactly uninhabited. There was one other person there."
Lusamine rested her chin on her hand, intrigued. She had no idea what revelations awaited her next.
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