After listening to all of Cain's reasoning, Number Four, with his intelligence, understood every detail.
Even so, carrying it out required enormous determination. He even vaguely felt that Cain was leading him by the nose, although that feeling was not entirely clear.
After a long silence, Number Four uttered two words: "What courage!"
However, aside from this method, he could see no other viable way to clear their suspicions. At least this way, everyone would be on equal footing.
Could the church suffer enormous internal conflicts?
What did he care?
As long as something benefited him—past, present, or future—even if it harmed the church, there was no reason for him to care.
After all, it was not his organization.
The church was held together by only two things: benefits and threats, whether of force or some other kind.
A group like that, focused solely on interests, could not possess true cohesion.
Cain knew that Number Four would not refuse. He was already at full draw and could not turn back.
"Let's go!" Number Four said decisively.
He did not even think about resting. They headed straight for Territory Number Six.
The opponent was far weaker than they were, so even with his strength diminished, Number Four would not have too much trouble. Moreover, Cain's Pokémon had not suffered any damage in the battle against Number Two.
This time, Cain also knew that he had to act. He could not always limit himself to letting others fight for him.
In two days, they were to head toward the central mountain of the continent. It was not urgent, but there was no time to spare either.
Under the orders of both trainers, Crobat and Honchkrow accelerated their flight.
In the darkness of the night, both their attire and their Pokémon seemed tailor-made for moving through that environment.
...
Two days later, Cain and Number Four each returned to their respective areas, as if they had never seen each other or done anything together.
By chance, they met again in the air and flew together toward the mountain.
Although it was Cain's first time going there, Bartram's memories gave him a fairly complete understanding of the place.
At that moment, the mountain peak had become the gathering point for the members of the church. Not only were those responsible for the twelve territories present, but also those who remained there, such as the four Eeveelution users, or Will and Irene, who had scarcely left since their arrival.
There were also the somber-faced man in charge of the matter and the relaxed man who seemed detached from everything.
To be honest, although in front of Number Four Cain was already fully Bartram, deep down he felt a constant unease, mainly because of that relaxed man.
Cain did not dare to guarantee that, with his powerful psychic ability, he would not be able to see through his disguise. He was the most dangerous and unpredictable point in all of Cain's plans.
That man was the greatest factor of uncertainty for Cain, even more oppressive than the man in charge of the matter himself.
From Cain's perspective, this trip to the central mountain of the continent was truly an all-or-nothing gamble.
Cain was betting that this man had not paid attention to the somber-faced man's subordinates, and also that Number Four's initial impression would make everyone assume that Cain was Number Three—that is, Bartram. As long as he did nothing out of the ordinary, no one would focus their attention on him.
Whether it was suspicion or attention, the far stronger Number Four would attract both.
Moreover, once the disappearance of those two people was confirmed, all attention would be concentrated on that matter, making Cain even safer.
That was one of the reasons he still needed Number Four: he was a key piece in sowing chaos within the church.
Even if they eventually discovered his identity, Cain was not completely defenseless. Although it was not an absolute guarantee, at least he could ensure his survival.
That was his final safeguard... his last backup plan.
Although this operation was extremely dangerous, Cain had to carry it out, not only for the League, but also for himself.
The church was everywhere. Cain could no longer guarantee one hundred percent the safety of his identity and status within the League. Moreover, he sensed that once they left this place, the church would fully emerge and directly intervene in the Pokémon world.
Even setting all that aside, the church and Cain were irreconcilable enemies. If they wanted to benefit, Cain would make sure to stop them.
And besides... he felt a deep curiosity about what was hidden behind that spatial barrier at the mountain peak, something important enough for the church to make such an effort to obtain as the starting point of its return to the world.
After remaining hidden for so long, the fact that they were now revealing themselves little by little proved the importance of that object.
Added to the vague signals that Cain's Unown had transmitted to him at the beginning, expressing their restless desire for what lay inside, his curiosity only continued to grow.
If he felt curious about what was hidden behind the barrier, then he was compelled to go.
Taking a deep breath, Cain and Number Four descended together onto the central mountain of the continent.
From that moment on, Cain had to focus to the utmost and maintain absolute vigilance to face everything that was to come.
Number Four was also tense, though for different reasons: he feared the consequences of having eliminated Number Two and Number Six together with Cain and having divided up all their possessions.
The division had been clear: Cain took all the resources and materials, while Number Four took all the Pokémon.
At first glance, Number Four seemed to have benefited far more, but Cain had never been interested in those Pokémon; they were a worthless burden to him. Obtaining all the resources and materials was already an immense gain.
Seeing that Cain also took a deep breath, Number Four mistakenly believed that they shared the same concern.
"We've already come this far. Don't get nervous. Let's follow the plan and there won't be any problems," he said to him.
It was not clear whether he was trying to reassure Cain... or himself.
