Nova is very quick to check the Gazette's classifieds and assorted signs posted around town to see if there are any vacated spaces on the edge of town looking for a buyer. He's got a decent enough cash surplus since he wasn't paying any board at the Haus. He also reaches out to Lucien with a similar inquiry about "off the beaten path" spaces, just in case.
New builds are going up all the time in Frontier Town – not with quite so much aplomb as when Ignatius' real estate ventures were ripening, but still to the point that cheap new-builds are available on the west side of town. There's also a real
shack of a property further out west, on the trail to Obstinea, which would be both less conspicuous and more
vulnerable.
"There is one thing... Just for the time being, you understand."
Lucien tells Nova about a disused 'hunting lodge' of sorts to the south of town, along the Silver, which he technically owns. He's willing to hand over a set of spare keys, and won't charge anything, but makes it clear this would be a temporary solution.
but relies on Mav's help to identify all of the rescued Blaguarro citizens and works to reunite them with friends and family in town.
Mav is appreciative of Steven's help since the dodrio does seem to be overworked trying to corral all the rescued prisoners.
By now, many Shadow-infected citizens have reintegrated into Blaguarro, Frontier Town, and smaller communities like Lucky Rock, Relampago and so on. While they continue to struggle with their condition, it is at least, merely that – a
condition. They are living their lives, rehabilitated to the best of their communities' ability, with common-sense prescriptions to avoid alcohol and stress. There's much hope that investigations into Radiance will result in further treatment.
(The Shadow-infected wildren in Cipher's compound remain a troubling concern, as do the Cipher goons and less-stable or unsavoury Shadow victims, but for the most part, they remain in multiple carceral facilities.)
Tala sees the opportunity to start rebuilding Blaguarro Town and discusses what being a Ranger could bring for the town with Ayda.
Ayda would be glad to have Tala on the ranger roster, and begins shadowing her – treating the transitional period in Blaguarro as a kind of apprenticeship. They get along.
She also tells Sinopa about what happened and suggests that she remain on high alert in case Alexander tries to attack the HQ to make another attempt on the Admins.
The HQ remains well-guarded. Sinopa is confident that she would detect intruders before they even entered Pueblo Hideout, and is capable of sealing off parts of the dungeon entirely.
"This Alexander can wield whatsoever power he likes – nobody gets through my defences. I'll have the rift toss him out like a sack of trash."
There is the slightest hint of trepidation in her voice.
Bellatrix is more than happy to help in any further interrogation of both the Admins and the retrieved Frontier Town guards.
The Wayfarers have already learned a great deal. Is there anything specific to press for?
Koa pays a visit to Lucien and provides a description of Alex Xander to him, and advises that wanted posters should to be made and warnings provided not to approach under any circumstances and stay far away. After lingering for an awkward moment, he also tells Lucien he's a good mon and thanks him for all his help.
Lucien orders wanted posters made for Alex-Xander, and asks Nathaniel at the
Gazette to publish public interest articles to try and warn people of the threat the hydra represents.
"Well, I... I'm not sure what to say. That's very kind of you to say. I only try my best, that's all."
He's never effusive, but Lucien's smile is enough to tell that he deeply appreciates Koa's affirmation.
Silver dropped his overconfidence (a smidge) to ask Morris why he and the others chose that way of living and what kind of relationship they have with their leader, Hawthorne.
"Nuffink even mattered back in the old days. Before the likes of most of the imps, really. But it used to be that imps just nicked stuff for good eatin' and fun, and like, pranked people. Cos' it's funny. All them stick-butts'd be pissed, but so wot? Nobody really cared. Was that way forever and ever, but not no more."
It appears that the Impidimp of the northern Soja' were always a nuisance to local settlers, going back generations, but until the last decade or so they were no more than that – a nuisance. Morris is as paranoid and theatrical as ever behind bars, rattling his cuffs with wild, furtive glances about. But he talks.
"Towns just got bigger 'n' bigger. Taking more for 'emselves. Always more. They took all the bits of the rivers and the good soil and all that, you know, wot grows stuff. Took all the dungeon shit. They was gonna get us and ours too. But the Big Boss was gonna change all that. Make it so that the Fiends'd be on top forever and ever and EVER!"
There's a dangerous, animal hunger in the Morgrem's shrill voice. This was a clan under pressure from the creeping growth of civilisation, and when it came down to it, they'd flocked to a charismatic strong-'mon.
"Big Boss Hawthorne is the ssstrrrooOONGEST Fiend wot ever lived! Nobody'd ever stab HIM in the back, get me? Yoo can come for old Morris, but wot-ever you shoot the Big Boss wiv, you're FUCKED when he hits back, gyahahah!"
The notorious Grimmsnarl Hawthorne.
"Yoo's gonna get what's comin' to ya!" shrieks the greasy-haired goblin.
"Yoo think you can just do us in like that? Think again, shit-suckers!"
After letting him stew in jail for a little while, Archie pays a visit to Dakim, looking to at least attempt to extract more information out of the Darmanitan. He is friendly, but persistent, jokingly telling Dakim that the fastest way for the Cipher Admin to get the Dewott out of his fur is to give him some of the information he’s looking for. His questions start out fairly general.
“What’s your ultimate goal, here? Power, sure, but power to do what?”
"I will answers your questions, boy."
Dakim is stoic, proud, and overbearingly masculine. He stands as upright as his body permits, and stares ahead like a streetlamp, unflinching.
"My goal is to be the mightiest being who ever lived, and to savour the rewards of that strength. As for what the rest of Cipher hunger for, I could hardly care less. The Syndicate has no unifying code or ideology. It is simply made up of those ambitious enough to thrive where others merely survive, or perish."
“What is it Cipher offers that attracts so many followers? What did they offer you, Dakim?”
"It is child's play to recruit the desperados of Orre. They would debase themselves for no more than a paycheck and the chance to bully scared residents shoulder-to-shoulder.
"I was offered nothing. I demanded my own place at their table, and was given it."
“Why go through all this effort to create more and more Shadow Pokemon, if you’re already the dominant power back on your home world?”
"We do not rule Earth, boy. Not yet. We are strong, but we are not stronger than the entire world against us at once. We spread in shadows, growing strong there, until there is enough shadow to drown the light."
Eventually, he starts drilling in to more specific topics, focusing on the Terminals and the Admins.
“Do you guys have a hierarchy, or is it just, Nascour at the top and the rest of you vaguely underneath him?”
He scoffs.
"There are those that memorise their petty ranks and numbers. It is meaningless babble. There are those strong enough to serve, those strong enough to command, and the strongest of these to rule... so long as he remains so."
In other words, Dakim never paid attention to the command structure of the Syndicate, but one did exist.
“Was one of you specifically in charge of Terminal Two? … Was it Ein?”
"Ein was responsible for the building, yes. It matters little."
“You mentioned a couple other names: Gorigan, Ardos, and Eldes. But you didn’t say anything about them.” He adds teasingly, “Should I fear them like I should fear Nascour?”
"No."
He doesn't feel a need to elaborate.
Archie gets a strong feeling that of these names, only Nascour is indispensably important.
“Is there a specific reason Eremus Fault and Black Water Depths were chosen to house your bases?”
"They are a wellspring of Shadow energy. The scientists could force their way into your world through Shadow Dungeons. Although Black Water Depths is but a paltry pond compared to the great sea that is Eremus Fault."
“Any way I can convince you to tell me what species I should be on the lookout for, when it comes to your colleagues?”
"I will not give you that advantage," rumbles the Darmanitan, sternly. He will not be persuaded on this.
When Archie finally goes to leave, he stops at the doorway, and turns to ask the Darmanitan one final question:
“What happened to Seth’s Eevees? Where are they now?”
He shrugs.
"So far as I know, they remain on Earth. In one of our desert bases, no doubt. Enough of this. I must meditate, and you must chase shadows."
