Magna City Shining Congress – Main Lobby

[Namohysip]

"Your first objective should be to stop talking on their grounds," Mhynt murmured back. "The walls have ears. Surely, a Zoroark would know that."

Still, that he felt it safe enough to speak a little was some assurance. The pine needles on her tail quivered in the same way Owen usually thumped his tail on the ground to think.

"Would you mind meeting us again later?" she asked Gladius. "Perhaps we can speak more freely, if you have a location."

 

[Jackie Cat]

Gladius sniffed. "You think I don't know this place better than the back of my own paw?" he muttered. "But... sure, I guess. The knights' training field will do. We might not have long though, if your plan is going ahead like I think it is. Don't worry, I'm not warning anyone about it."

So, he had an inkling or so about the upcoming coup. At least it would come as a surprise to some, if he was truthful...

 

[Namohysip]

"...We'd need to know dates and times," Mhynt agreed, "and any schematics so we can get good positioning. I agree with halting the endgame... but when and how, and for what long-term outcomes, is still... abstract."

 

[Shadow Serenity]

"I intend to gather enough Radiance and Shadow to journey into the Astral Plains themselves, and wish for the perfect world I dream of.

At this, Kimiko had no response, her mind simply trying to fathom just what his plan was. Just how did he intend to gather a stockpile of Radiance and Shadow...? Surely, he had the Wayfarers in mind for their ability to wield them... but how far would he go, especially should they refuse to help? And what was this Astral Plane, and how would wishing for a solution create an answer? There was only one pokemon Kimiko could think of that granted wishes... But even then, this entire plan seemed like wishful thinking. Clearly, this was a bad idea.

But there was no polite way to say so; all she knew was that there was no chance in hell any of them were going to willingly help. In her mind, she was already preparing for an inevitable confrontation. And from the way Arthur's tone of voice seemed to fall at their less-than-enthusiastic reaction, he wouldn't need to be a psychic to come to the same conclusion. ...But on that note, he was a psychic, so there was no telling if he'd confirmed any of this already. If he could physically control another body - willing or otherwise - reading another's thoughts should be second nature.

"Y-yes, thank you for your time," she managed with an even voice as they began to filter out. "I hope we do get to speak further about this soon."

"You'd better not be seriously considering this shit.

If Kimiko still had eyebrows, she'd have raised them in surprise. "You have to ask?" She turned her head back down the hallway they'd just passed through, as if that would clue him in to what she was thinking...

"Your first objective should be to stop talking on their grounds," Mhynt murmured back. "The walls have ears. Surely, a Zoroark would know that."

"You think I don't know this place better than the back of my own paw?"

...but was beaten to voicing her concerns anyway. But seeing as it was Gladius, that didn't stop her from piling on. "Knowing the layout is one thing. But can you be sure he isn't in your head? Or ours? If he is, then all of this is moot anyway, but better not take that risk. We'll see you on the training grounds."