"Doctor, how confident are you about the signal stability system?"
"not sure!"
"Then I choose to go down in person!"
Faced with Dr. Akihabara's confident response, Kashiwagi decided to give up his fantasy of the mini-submarine. It would not be a good thing if he came out again like last time and went down again, and the underwater cave disappeared.
certainly.
There is undoubtedly a certain risk in going to investigate in person, but considering that Lugia's temperament is relatively gentler than other Pokémon and is closer to humans, I think the risk is there, but it won't be particularly great.
Even if a fight were to begin, the Marine team's technical capabilities should at least ensure their safety.
With this in mind, A-Quan led him to the simple dock located at the bottom of the ship, where a small submarine with the appearance of a sharp-toothed fish was quietly parked.
It looks ferocious and cool.
"The Toothfish submarine can accommodate up to ten people. Based on the width and length of the entrance measured by the mini-submarine, they can definitely squeeze in."
Aquan opened the hatch of the submarine and got in first.
Kashiwagi followed closely behind, and the first thing that caught his eye was a narrow passage. But if you take two steps forward, you can see the slightly spacious interior space.
Except for the driver's seat at the front, the rest are filled with soft seats similar to those of a sightseeing coach, surrounded by translucent glass that can see the external environment - no, it is a large screen that transmits camera content to the inside?
He remembered the steel plate with the appearance of the Toothfish that he had seen before coming in, and thought that the advanced technology in the Pokémon world was not yet capable of seeing through metal.
"Ready to set sail!"
Aquan gave orders to the marine team members at the helm.
Immediately.
A buzzing sound was heard, and a slight vibration suddenly came from under the feet. The surrounding water line gradually rose and completely enveloped the submarine, and the bright environment became farther and farther away.
"Are you a little nervous?"
Aquan, who was sitting next to him, asked with a smile.
"A little bit." Kashiwagi nodded. After all, Lugia is one of his missions when traveling. If it is confirmed that the other party is Ou Lei's, the mission will be half completed.
Aquan continued: "If that Lugia came from Ourei, would you try to capture it?"
"Capture? Of course not."
He decisively denied: "Let's not mention whether I have the strength or not. Taking it back forcibly regardless of its opinions, even if the starting point is good, is actually the same as a bad thing."
"That's it..."
"As long as I can communicate with it smoothly, I will try my best to persuade it. Even if Lugia is unwilling in the end, I will have a clear conscience."
Kashiwagi has already considered this aspect.
Perhaps after Shanmin spreads the publicity, some people may place their hope on him, hoping that he can bring back the legendary Pokémon to improve the environment in the Orei region.
But in fact, both he and Shanmin prefer to let the Orei people slowly build up the Orei region one generation after another and create their own homeland by humankind's own strength.
At that time, the Orei people's sense of belonging to the land beneath their feet was beyond words.
It will no longer be a prison where the Shadow Team imprisons the Orei people, but a true home of souls, a place where the Orei people's dreams linger.
The assistance of legendary Pokémon can exist, but it should not give Orei people the mentality of getting something for nothing.
Aquan looked at Kashiwagi who had a calm temperament. Although he had already felt that this big boy was extraordinary, looking at him now, he seemed to be shining like a bright light.
Just like the water phoenix tree she saw when she was young.
Aquan understands that those who have great ideals and ambitions will always emit a dazzling and warm light, guiding all confused people to approach them.
But what she didn't understand was.
There was a night in the distant Ourei region, with trees and trees sparkling with flowers, and stars everywhere.
Countless idealists with great ambitions step into the darkness without hesitation, lighting up the light that symbolizes hope and the future, and finding a better path for everyone.
The light on Kashiwagi's body is just one of them.
——
The submarine headed deeper.
Not long after.
After diving into the trench, they found the mini-submarine parked in front of the underwater cave.
"The destination has been reached."
The marine team member at the helm gave the signal.
"Keep going!" Aquan waved his hand when Kashiwagi nodded.
The Toothfish continued forward, diving into the pitch-black cave. When it reached a certain distance, the surrounding screens suddenly flickered, as if the video signal was unstable.
"Lost contact with the Diga Sea Lion!" the marine team member controlling the signal immediately reminded.
"As expected! Don't stop and keep going!"
Aquan's voice was still calm.
Obviously, a leader's mentality is very important in an unknown environment, especially when fighting against someone from the combat department who is extremely authoritative like Aquan. As long as she remains calm, the marine team members present will not be nervous.
I drove in for two minutes.
The Toothfish encountered a "dead end", but there was no doubt that there was a passable path above them. According to the sonar detection, there was a wide space above.
The submarine quickly rose to the surface, breaking through the water level as expected, and came into a dark cave.
"Oxygen content is sufficient!"
"No toxic substances detected!"
A marine team member loudly reported the results of the system test.
"We've arrived at the cave where Lugia lives."
Aquan was still the first one to get up and walk out.
The captain of the Operations Division is brave in all aspects. He once even sneaked into Team Lava's ship alone to destroy the shackles that imprisoned Kyogre. He is very brave and careful.
Kashiwagi followed her and jumped onto the land.
Even if there is light shining in front, it is still pitch black, privately empty and quiet, the stone on the top is dripping water continuously, making a ticking sound, and standing there, I feel a strange smell inexplicably.
Buzz buzz——
The low hum in his ears made Kashiwagi turn his head and found that the mini-submarine had changed to land cruise mode, and it was obvious that it was going in with it.
Thinking that this guy had a low-pitched speaker for driving away Pokémon, he felt inexplicably relieved.
Under Aquan's instruction, four members of the ten-person team stayed behind on the Sharptooth Fish, leaving no one, including her, to explore forward together.
They each opened the Poké Ball.
Bang bang bang!
A series of white lights flashed, and several large and unpleasant-looking iron-clawed lobsters landed on the ground.
Seeing this, Kashiwagi also released the Galar Sun Coral, tapped its shell twice to wake it up, and let it stay on his shoulder.
"..."
The Galar Sun Coral silently observed its surroundings, then looked at the iron-clawed lobsters around it that didn't look too easy to mess with, and knew that work was about to begin.
The group of people walked towards the depths of the dark cave.
However.
The journey was shorter than expected. At the end of the huge grotto in front of us was a cave entrance that emitted a faint blue light. Judging from the size of the cave entrance, it was enough to accommodate the size of Lugia.
Kashiwagi and Aquan looked at each other and walked forward one after another.
In an instant.
When he stepped into the cave, a cold touch as if passing through a film of water appeared on his hands and face, and at the end of his sight appeared a... huge waterfall?
The bright blue light was emanating from that waterfall, but for some reason the waterfall did not make a rumble, but was very quiet.
When they entered it, a silver phantom slowly emerged from the waterfall.
"Chirp——"
A long whale call sounded.
Everyone opened their eyes wide and refused to miss that beautiful figure, but Kashiwagi showed a strange expression.