In the southern seas of Unova, islands are scattered like the stars. In the anime, setting out from here leads you to the Decolore Islands.

However, Hikaru wasn’t headed for those islands, but for Liberty Garden, the island closest to Unova.

Liberty Garden is now a tourist spot; without a ticket you can’t enter. Fortunately, he had already gotten the Liberty Pass back in Nacrene City. “Pass” here is really just the admission ticket.

Liberty Garden—home to the lighthouse that shines the light of liberty, an island that prays for humans and Pokémon to live free and coexist in peace.

The garden island isn’t large. Roughly two hundred years ago, a great tycoon bought the island and hid a Victini here, locking it in an underground chamber.

Now, this place has become a memorial park centered on its ancient lighthouse.

In both the games and the manga, Victini was coveted by Team Plasma. They tried to capture it, but were beaten soundly by the protagonist and fled in disgrace, as they should.

As for why it shows up in the movies—well, the unspeakable “earthquake” caused much of Team Plasma’s plotline to be erased in the physical sense. A strike from the higher-dimensional narrative layer.

“Still, I remember the Plasma grunts saying whoever caught Victini would suffer a fate as cruel as its own. Not that grunt chatter is worth dissecting… but that ‘cruel fate’ probably just means ‘you’ll be targeted’ and ‘you’ll be locked away.'”

Whether Liberty Garden’s Victini or the one from the Kingdom of the Vale, their fates were the same—though the latter had a wider range of activity.

“Victini—a mysterious Pokémon whose tiny body brims with power. People and Pokémon who touch that energy are filled with strength and can perform far beyond normal.”

“It’s said that whoever gains this Pokémon will win any battle—in other words, an invincible power.”

“Because of that, people seeking to use its power to achieve their goals are endless, and huge conflicts follow.”

Hikaru’s goal was very clear—but not to seize Victini. He was here for V-create.

And, along the way, to grant this Victini true freedom.

Being locked in a lightless basement and left to play with outdated toys—dreadfully boring. But…

Hikaru felt Victini would get along very well with “a certain friend” of his.

That Mew who lives in the Tree of Beginning is lacking such a friend.

Victini, and… that ever-rambunctious Hoopa—both would make perfect playmates for the lonely Mew.

And with three of them, you’ve got an exploration team right there, don’t you?

“Mew, Victini, and Hoopa—the Mythical Expedition Team, huh?”

“Heh, just imagining those three together, they’d definitely stir up glorious chaos.”

Since Victini’s storyline is a distribution-only side plot and doesn’t affect the heroes’ main path, whether Victini is here or not won’t change Unova’s future war.

“Let Victini remain the legend of Liberty Garden.”

The door of the Liberty lighthouse was locked—naturally. Below it were three more iron doors, rusted shut by time. In the distribution quest, Plasma goons brute-forced them open.

Hikaru, of course, didn’t need to go through that trouble.

“Ah, so you heard the fairy tale about the Victory Pokémon and came here too?”

“But there shouldn’t be anything beneath that door.”

“If it really existed, the folks playing card games here wouldn’t be losing.”

Just as Hikaru was examining the door, a lazy, devil-may-care voice came from the side.

A “magician” dressed like an Arabian storyteller struck up conversation. His trademark turban and cape made him look like he’d stepped out of an old tale from some far-off kingdom.

A short distance away stood his table, covered in playing cards, and a number of tourists were milling around, drawn in.

[Festival Quest: The Story of Liberty Garden!]

[Description: Will you set Victini free or embark on a new journey with it? It’s all up to you. You may even defeat a powerful unknown foe!]

[Rewards: Release Orbs ×15, Weather Sensor ×1 (specific), Chance Power (new: Release Power unlocked), Prism Star (special gem).]

Hikaru: “A flip-the-card game?”

“Yes indeed. Care for a round, kid?”

The magician wore a faintly mischievous smile. Even though his hair and part of his face were covered, it was still obvious he was very handsome—handsome with a hint of danger.

“Argh, wrong guess!”

Tourists’ groans sounded one after another. The magician laughed. “Then the next card.”

“Which one matches this? Alright—guess.”

Magic Cards—a Pokémon-world playing card deck similar to standard poker.

“Looks like even on Liberty Garden, victory hasn’t smiled on you lot,” the magician sighed at the latest round of wailing—though he couldn’t hide the upward curl of his lips.

“Thanks for your patronage. Come again.”

Hikaru: “So it’s business.”

The magician shrugged. “A magician’s gotta eat.”

“So—want to try? First time’s only 100. Great bargain. If you win, your prize doubles.”

“100 becomes 200, 200 becomes 400, 400 becomes 800—each correct guess doubles the pot again.”

“The next card that matches is…”

The magician drew out the last word. Hikaru studied the spread of Pokémon Playing Cards laid out before him, their faces carrying all kinds of numbers.

A short pause, then Hikaru pointed.

“Poliwag—2.”

“…?” The magician’s eyes flashed. He flipped the card and exclaimed with theatrical praise, “Your luck’s not bad!”

“You hit on your first flip. Continue?”

Hikaru: “Of course. But let me ask: you know the Liberty Garden legend well?”

“Everyone here knows the story of the Victory Pokémon,” the magician said, shaking his head. “You think if you keep winning, that Pokémon will appear?”

“People have broken into the basement before.” He pointed at the locked iron doors. “They’re rusty, but the locks aren’t tough. Still, nothing was found inside.”

“As for me, I’m not especially interested in the Victory Pokémon. Sure, winning forever would be nice—but if it’s gambling, it’s only interesting because you can lose as well as win.”

“Ahaha… kid, are you thinking the Victory Pokémon is watching us right now? Or have you found solid proof it exists?”

Hikaru: “As for proof, I’ve got some. But—let’s win first.”

Second flip, third flip, fourth flip!

“Igglybuff—6, Poliwag—3, Pikachu—1!”

As Hikaru’s flipping pace quickened, the magician’s once-playful expression turned serious.

What the hell?

He was stunned—and, refusing to believe it, kept dealing. Yet Hikaru’s choices kept being right. Every time.

The magician’s face soured. He drew a deep breath.

“My turn—draw!”

The art-style suddenly shifted into Yu-Gi-Oh!. The magician got dead serious.

“I wager the honor of a gambler!”

“What honor does a gambler even have?” Hikaru couldn’t help retorting. Eyes fixed on a card, he said, “Elekid—3!”

The magician’s gaze sharpened; a finger twitched—then he laughed. “Victory can’t always favor the same person!”

“Wrong! This one is Wobbuffet—7!”

Hikaru shook his head. “Not necessarily.”

He pointed at the card in the magician’s hand. “Look again.”

“No matter how I look—” the magician scoffed, but then his face froze.

“What—how did it become Elekid—3?!”

It clearly wasn’t this card…

Hikaru: “Clearly not that card—isn’t that what you were thinking?”

“?!”

The magician’s face turned grave.

“You’re cheating.”

“On the contrary, you cheated first—with a very subtle technique, befitting a ‘magician,'” Hikaru said, palms up. “Palming a card in your sleeve and swapping instantly is a classic cheat—but to get it so even bystanders can’t see? That takes the hand speed of a thirty-year singleton.”

“Kh!” The magician blushed bright red—then asked, baffled, “Fine, I cheated first. But why did my card become your card?”

“I should have palmed that one away.”

Hikaru: “Oh? Then check again.”

The magician glanced down, pupils shrinking.

Elekid—3 had become the palmed Wobbuffet—7.

“So things have slipped beyond common sense, huh?”

Seeing the “confusion status” take hold, Hikaru smiled lightly. “What’s stronger than stage magic? Magic—the sorcerous kind.”

“Magic… what? A magician?” The magician looked like he’d just seen a ghost.

Could this be real?

Sure, there are “magicians” in this world.

But their “magic,” to be frank, is just “potion craft.” They’re more like alchemists than wizards.

And the rest are just psychics.

As a Dark-type specialist, he could completely shut down those cheater psychics’ tricks. Moves like Trick are not allowed to work at his table.

“I don’t believe in your ‘magic.'”

“But it is magic,” Hikaru mused, hand on chin. “Sometimes magic is just a Pokémon move with the same principles.”

“Though I didn’t use a Pokémon.”

“Mm.” The magician knew Hikaru was telling the truth. If his opponent had sent out a Pokémon, he would’ve sensed it.

He had the strength to know.

Magician: “Gambling harms both self and others… You win. Twelve consecutive flips. The prize money is—”

Hikaru held out his hand. “409,600.”

Smack! The magician slapped his own forehead.

“Ahem… I don’t have that much cash on me,” he rubbed his brow. “Give me a minute—I’ll have someone wire it.”

Who walks around with four hundred thousand on them?!

Even as a veteran gambler, he wouldn’t carry that much!

And this month’s salary…

Ahem! This isn’t gambling—it’s risk investment! The returns will come someday!

He immediately messaged someone with the ID [连击之武] to send him funds.

Borrow 40W for a bit!

Hikaru: “If you don’t have the cash, an IOU is fine. But I’ll ask a favor.”

“When I go into the basement, pretend you didn’t see. Mr. Yuezhi.”

“?” The magician blinked—then looked incredulous. “How did you see through my disguise?”

Hikaru was speechless.

Because I’ve seen your manga look, obviously. I’m not as face-blind as Ash!

He offered some flattery. “Your styling is that cool, and you’re that handsome—anyone could recognize you from half a face.”

“Ah, now I’m embarrassed.” Grimsley chuckled and flicked his hair with airy flair.

“So you really plan to use psychic power to get inside, huh? You have them, don’t you—powerful Psychic-type Pokémon? When you showed up, the Dark types I’m carrying started trembling.”

“That doesn’t happen often. Dark beats Psychic, after all. What kind of psychic could make them feel threatened?”

Hikaru: “To be called ‘troublesome’ by an Elite Four’s Pokémon—we’re honored.”

Grimsley raised an eyebrow.

“Before you head downstairs, how about a battle with me first?”

“That gambling run really got under my skin.”

“Victini appears only to Trainers it deems worth following. And how do you earn its approval? A Pokémon battle. Let me see whether your victory can draw out that legendary Pokémon.”

“Sure,” Hikaru said, glancing at the crowd. “I’ll trouble you to cover my trail afterward.”

“And… does this count as an Elite Four match?”

Grimsley blinked, then smirked. “Fine! Beat me here and I’ll light the lamp for you in the League’s tower directly.”

“But only if you’ve actually got what it takes.”

“Come—Bisharp!”

Grimsley’s ace was also Bisharp—this was before anyone had discovered Kingambit.

Even Paldea’s Top Champion Geeta uses Bisharp as the anchor of her team.

No denying “the steel general” ruled the scene for quite a while—especially in Gen VI. Paired with Defiant, it was every Intimidate user’s nightmare.

It hits the field and bellows, “You dare Intimidate me? How presumptuous!”

Defiant pops for +2, erasing Intimidate while giving it a boost, and then Knock Off slaps the opponent in the face—carry an item and that 65 BP becomes a 1.5×-amped hammer.

With STAB and item removal, that 65 effectively spikes to a terrifying 146!

Hikaru: “Your turn—Lilligant!”

“Doré~”

A Hisuian Lilligant stepped onto the field, and Grimsley’s gaze was immediately caught. As a Dark-type master, he saw at a glance she was Fighting-type.

“Beautiful! But this isn’t a Contest stage—beauty alone won’t help you!”

“Bisharp, use—”

“…Huh? What’s wrong?”

Grimsley noticed his Bisharp staring blankly at the opponent. After a long look, it suddenly snarled in anger—yet there was nerves and dread in its voice!

“Ah… could you be…” Hikaru’s eyes flickered.

He’d met many Bisharp in Unova—but this reaction was a first.

Which meant—

Hikaru chuckled.

“You’re the one whose Leader’s Crest got bitten off by my adorable water dragon, aren’t you?”

“My apologies.”

“Well then—let me offer a sincere bow with Victory Dance!”

(End of Chapter)

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