Chapter 5: Cynthia
"Good morning, everyone! This is Sinnoh News, bringing you the latest updates!
Just yesterday, the Celestic Town Museum was invaded by an unknown thief, who attempted to steal our precious Adamant Orb in broad daylight.
Thanks to the joint efforts of the public and the guards, we successfully safeguarded our Adamant Orb. However, the audacious thief managed to escape. We urge anyone with information to report it promptly!
The Adamant Orb is an invaluable treasure of our Sinnoh region, embodying our rich history..."
Alongside the news anchor's report, surveillance footage from the Celestic Town Museum was shown. It depicted a man, tightly wrapped in clothing, smashing the display case holding the Adamant Orb, attempting to steal it.
However, due to the interference of visitors and the timely arrival of guards, the thief had to throw the Adamant Orb away to make his escape. While everyone was busy protecting the orb, the thief hurriedly fled the scene.
In his room, Lin Jiu saw this news report. He chuckled as he touched his nose, then took out the Adamant Orb, nearly as large as his head, from his storage space to inspect it.
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[Adamant Orb]
Origin: Pokémon, Sinnoh Region
Quality: Legendary
Type: Accessory
Durability: 63/100
Equip Requirement: Dialga
Equip Effect: +30 to all attributes (enhances Dragon-type, Steel-type, and time-based skills by 20%)
Rating: 530 (Extreme Legendary Item)
Description: "See the brilliance flowing on its surface? That's the power of the deity of time!"
Note: Special mission items, non-tradable, non-usable, cannot be taken out of this world. (Gathering related items will produce miraculous effects 1/3)
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The Adamant Orb, as an accessory, had a very singular effect, but everyone knew that in Reincarnation Paradise, the more singular an equipment's effect, the stronger it was! The Adamant Orb met this criterion perfectly, and the 30-point all-attribute boost made Lin Jiu envious.
Unfortunately, he couldn't take it with him, and even if he could, he couldn't use it. After all, he wasn't Dialga!
Yesterday, Lin Jiu had disguised himself and visited a small accessory factory in Celestic Town, claiming to be an out-of-town tourist who admired the museum's Adamant Orb. He requested a one-to-one replica as a souvenir!
He also provided blueprints for the Lustrous Orb, having a one-to-one fake made, with some internal designs as specified.
Lin Jiu didn't tell the factory workers that it was the Lustrous Orb; they just thought it was a custom ball, as few had seen the Lustrous Orb stored in the Sinnoh Research Lab, unlike the widely known Adamant Orb.
Next, it was simple. After scouting the museum and understanding its layout, the events of yesterday unfolded. Using his storage space, Lin Jiu swapped the real Adamant Orb with the fake one.
This could have been done discreetly, without anyone noticing, but Lin Jiu chose to stage a rough robbery, deliberately replacing the real item.
On one hand, this alerted researchers like Professor Carolina to guard the Lustrous Orb more closely. On the other hand, leaving the fake Adamant Orb ensured they would likely transfer the Adamant Orb to the Sinnoh Research Lab for safekeeping with the Lustrous Orb.
If there wasn't an opportunity, Lin Jiu would create one! He immediately set off, heading to Sinnoh Town in advance.
...
[You have killed a Weedle]
[Gained World Source 0.01% (reward increased), current World Source 12.26%.]
[Your talent 'Soul Condensation' activated, permanently increasing a portion of soul power, current soul power not sufficient to display.]
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Lin Jiu had already arrived in Sinnoh Town, honing his gathering skills in the nearby forest. After the Kricketune, Lin Jiu killed Weedle and Caterpie, and their evolved forms Kakuna and Metapod. The first kills of the former also yielded 1% World Source, while the latter, like Kricketune, gave 2%. Subsequent kills are only valued at 0.01% and 0.2%!
Gradually becoming adept at hunting and equipped with the Focus Energy skill, Lin Jiu found it easy to kill these low-level Bug-type Pokémon. However, facing evolved forms like Kakuna and Beedrill required quite an effort!
For those trainers, these Pokémon, which hardly move and possess minimal combat power, were only capable of tackling and hardening themselves.
However, this hardening ability made it difficult for Lin Jiu to inflict much damage. Fortunately, they weren't very fast; otherwise, a tackle could have cost Lin Jiu half his life. He wasn't some kind of super rookie!
After much effort, and with the aid of Focus Energy, Lin Jiu finally managed to take down a Kakuna. Using the same method, he then eliminated a Beedrill. Although exhausted, Lin Jiu saw hope in achieving 100% World Source. While Pokémon like Kricketune posed a fatal threat, dealing with a Kakuna was just tiring but not particularly dangerous!
Every Pokémon is indeed the world's darling. Even a Kakuna is worth 0.2%; defeating five hundred of them would yield 100% World Source. In a small forest with hundreds of Caterpies, this seemed feasible.
However, Lin Jiu decisively gave up, leaving World Source to fate. He retracted his statement about low danger, finding it too nerve-wracking. After savoring success, he faced another Beedrill, which halfway through the battle evolved into a Beedrill! Once more, he brushed with death.
Understanding Reincarnation Paradise's situation and the benefits of World Source, Lin Jiu couldn't help but desire more. After narrowly escaping death two or three times, he calmed down completely, recognizing that greed was inevitable, but survival was paramount.
Realizing this in time, Lin Jiu fully focused on perfecting the Red Chain plan.
"Fortune favors the prepared, but greed loses the truth!"
Lin Jiu collected himself and arrived at the ruins park near Sinnoh Town. He sighed at the words on the broken stone tablet before him. This sigh was self-directed, unrelated to the ruins, as he couldn't understand the tablet's text.
"Interesting words, a form of exclamation different from haiku?"
"Hey..."
Lin Jiu heard someone addressing him and turned, ready to draw his weapon. Upon seeing the person, surprise flashed across his face, followed by a look of "shock": "Champion Cynthia?"
Cynthia smiled gently and nodded, noting Lin Jiu's surprise. Such reactions were common upon meeting her.
"Can you understand the writing on the tablet?"
Cynthia asked softly, touching the uneven stone surface.
"No," Lin Jiu shook his head honestly.
"All life meets other life, and what will it create... that's the content of the text. Are you a trainer as well?"
Cynthia translated the stone tablet's text and then asked.
"No, I'm just a regular traveler. I've always wanted to see the ruins and the Sinnoh Research Lab, so I asked my companion to wait while I visit the lab!"
Lin Jiu replied calmly with a hint of regret.
"I see... I'm heading to the lab too. Shall we go together?"
Cynthia invited.
After some thought, Lin Jiu nodded and accompanied Cynthia to the Sinnoh Research Lab. Honestly, he was surprised to see the Sinnoh Champion here. However, considering the recent attempt to steal the Adamant Orb, it made sense for her to come.
While Cynthia's presence didn't hinder his plans and might even help, Lin Jiu preferred to avoid any assistance from her, as it posed a huge threat to his escape post-theft.
If any flaw was discovered, her Garchomp's Dragon Rush would spell his doom! He couldn't fight or escape her.
"What's your name?"
Cynthia asked, breaking the silence.
"Red. Just call me Red," Lin Jiu gave a name, observing her reaction, indicating that this world had no Red.
Cynthia's question snapped Lin Jiu out of his thoughts, easing the atmosphere. Using his anime knowledge, Lin Jiu spoke about the features of various regions, enhancing his traveler persona's credibility, while Cynthia amiably shared her insights on mythological studies.
This world seemed bigger than depicted in the anime. The Sinnoh Ruins, originally behind the research lab in the anime, were now some distance away from the Sinnoh Town Historical Research Lab. However, they soon arrived at the lab's entrance, where an Officer Jenny and others were guarding something.
"What is that?"
"The Adamant Orb. A few days ago, it was almost stolen. Thankfully, the attempt failed, and it must now be safely kept in the lab, no longer suitable for public display!"
Cynthia explained, assuming Lin Jiu hadn't followed recent news, as the failed theft wasn't widely reported.
"Hey there, Cynthia, you're back too! Who's this next to you?"
Professor Carolina noticed Cynthia's arrival and walked over to greet her.
"Grandma, this is Red, a traveler!"
Cynthia introduced Lin Jiu, and then she turned to him and said, "This is my grandmother, the director of the Historical Research Institute!"
"Hello! In this situation, I think it's best if I leave for now, so I don't get in your way," Lin Jiu said, glancing at the curious crowd being kept outside. According to his original plan, he would have been among them, but he hadn't expected to meet Cynthia.
"It's fine!"
Professor Karolina smiled.
Lin Jiu insisted, "No, it's alright. I just wanted to see what the Historical Research Institute looked like. I should go meet up with my companion. We'll meet again sometime!"
"Goodbye then!"
Cynthia waved with a smile.
Lin Jiu turned and took two steps before pressing the detonator in his pocket. All the Pokedollar he had obtained from treasure chests, aside from what he used for food and lodging, had been spent on purchasing explosives on the black market. Though the explosives bought from the black market weren't very powerful and carried the risk of being tracked, fortunately, the ones Lin Jiu bought were low-tech and inexpensive, making the purchase relatively safe.
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