LRAB Chapter 126 The King of Plasma Clusters
Chapter 126 The King of Plasma Clusters
Chapter 126 The King of Plasma Clusters
Unrestrained words echoed in the cramped room, yet the detective continued his eloquent speech, each word dissecting the man before him like a scalpel—
"You're wearing different styles of bracelets on your left and right wrists: a classic gold square ring bracelet and a modern black track-shaped bracelet. Does this mean your aesthetic encompasses both ancient and modern, East and West, and that you like this mixed-style fashion? No, not at all. In terms of clothing, you're a complete minimalist; otherwise, you wouldn't be wearing a black undershirt with a white long-sleeved shirt."
Azure couldn't help but look at the green-haired youth's clothes and found that the detective's words were true: although this outfit suited N very well, and the two unique bracelets could even serve as small visual highlights, it certainly didn't look like something that someone would put together in one go according to their own aesthetic sense.
"So why are you wearing these two bracelets? It's because they are important gifts from two people you cherish, and you place them on your wrists in equal positions. Who are these two people? You once said that you only have Douzi as a decent friend, so the gift-giver doesn't seem like a friend to you. Yet these bracelets are clearly gifts from peers—the only explanation is that they are gifts from two sisters. As for why not an older brother or younger brother…"
Hugo shrugged: "Perhaps this argument is a bit arbitrary, but generally only female relatives would give jewelry as gifts; brothers would tend to give more practical things."
Although the detective was discussing his family affairs without restraint, N felt a sense of orderly beauty in the face of solid evidence and logic, as if he were witnessing a magnificent building being erected before him.
He couldn't help but ask a question himself—
“But… how did you figure out that Barbena and Holina are not related to me by blood? Even I only found out about this at last year’s ceremony.”
"A ceremony?" Hugo raised an eyebrow, but quickly adjusted his expression and continued to explain—
"Your surname, Halmonia Gropius, is a rare compound surname, containing the names of the two founding brothers of the ancient United States dynasty. Only the descendants of heroes are entitled to bear this surname. Combined with the Plasma Group's act of elevating you to a divine status, it is not difficult for us to deduce the meaning behind it."
“My father said that I am a descendant of those two heroes…” N murmured, looking dazed.
"It's possible that you are the lost heir of the ancient kingdom. But whether it's true or not, it makes it impossible for your two sisters to be related to you by blood. Because an heir with the same bloodline would diminish the value of you as the chosen one, thus affecting Team Plasma's plan to create heroes. With the shrewdness of the person in charge behind you, it's impossible that they wouldn't have thought of this."
Hugo lightly pressed his forehead, continuing to scrutinize the person before him from head to toe—
“I didn’t understand the significance of that star-ring-like ornament on your chest before, but after talking to you, I realized it’s the token of the ‘King of the Plasma Group,’ right? As an emperor, one must have proof, and those two blue and yellow star rings are the symbol of plasma—”
"emperor?"
This time, it was Azure's turn to be confused after watching the psychological profiling presentation for so long. She couldn't help but ask the detective, "Isn't N the prince of Team Plasma? Didn't you say before that there was an emperor behind him who controlled everything? How come this emperor has become N himself?"
"Now it seems that this metaphor is indeed inappropriate. The one who manipulates the prince can be the king, but what should the one who uses the king as a pawn be called? Azure, our reasoning must advance constantly as information is updated. The so-called prince, once he has undergone some kind of 'ritual,' is no longer the same, just like an elf's evolution; he will transform into some nobler form."
The detective shook his head at his assistant and said, "N learned about his sisters' origins during a certain ceremony, and his father also revealed the secret of his bloodline. What kind of ceremony do you think it was?"
"Could it be... a coronation ceremony?"
Azure stared wide-eyed at the ridiculously young "King of Plasma Group".
N slowly nodded, acknowledging his identity.
"When a gas is at high temperature, electrons detach from atoms. After they separate and recombine, they mix to form plasma. This is the origin of your organization's name. The most common plasmas in nature are lightning and flame, which can be represented by blue and yellow respectively. It also alludes to the black dragon Zekrom, which has electric properties, and Reshiram, which has fire properties. It's quite an ingenious design."
While staring at the pendant on N's chest, Hugo tapped the table aimlessly with his fingers.
"Speaking of the relationship with Team Plasma, let's not even mention those dirty deeds involving alleged crimes. N should fully agree with Team Plasma's views on Pokémon liberation, right? You didn't have any place to put Poké Balls on you, and after riding Heartbat, you released it back into the wild. You must have thought that such Poké Balls were a symbol of oppression, right?"
With a flick of his wrist, a Poké Ball grew larger and appeared in the detective's palm. The detective looked at N provocatively.
The red Poké Ball was empty. Chimchar, which should have been inside, was peeking out from the far side of the room, next to Piplup, who looked deep in thought.
N shook his head with a self-deprecating laugh: "I never thought I would say these things to someone I just met. I haven't even mentioned it to Douzi."
"I've heard that people are often most open and honest when facing their enemies," the detective said with feigned flippancy. "That's why villains often die from talking too much."
The green-haired youth sighed softly, but smiled and raised his head, his eyes filled with determination.
"When I was young, I lived with a group of Pokémon who had been hurt, abused, and abandoned by humans. From then on, I was filled with hatred for the human species. Perhaps influenced by my father, I began to want to change the world—if it is as cold as ice, I will smash that ice; if it is as raging as fire, I will blow out that flame; if it is as filthy as mud, I will become a clear stream to cleanse this darkness."
“The world isn’t always like that…” Azure couldn’t help but retort, “Kind people still make up the majority.”
“Yes, that’s right.” The king of the Plasma Group, a man named N, nodded generously.
"In this journey of less than a year, I have experienced a lot and met all kinds of trainers. I have also begun to understand that the world is not as dark as I used to imagine. There are people who fight alongside Pokémon and challenge their limits, people who live with them and pursue art, and people who simply play and laugh with their Pokémon. They live happily together, supporting each other and moving forward together... However, after witnessing all of this, I still can't help but ask myself, is this really okay?"
"Isn't this better?" The assistant frowned, unable to understand N's words.
"Aren't we living peacefully, understanding each other, and happily with Pokémon right now? Why do you still want to launch a liberation movement and separate trainers from their Pokémon?"
This is precisely what Azur Lane finds most perplexing about Group Plasma. Now that the girl is facing the leader of the rebel organization, she naturally has to voice these questions.
Upon hearing the question from the blue-haired youth, the smile on his face vanished, replaced by a hint of sadness.
Hugo noticed that N's fists were slightly clenched, indicating that he was not at ease. The silence was like the calm before a volcano erupts.
After a long silence, N spoke.
He didn't roar in anger, nor did he raise his voice in excitement; he simply spoke in a soft, gentle tone, like a refreshing breeze.
"But all that you've described is nothing more than a peace built on pity, an understanding between servants and masters, and a pleasant life at the cost of freedom. In this sweet abyss, the more complacent and satisfied the trainers and their Pokémon are, the wider the rifts of inequality will widen until they become irreparable."