"- that's all I can glean from that guy."
It's with mixed feelings that Looker continued listening to Velda's report. For them to actually succeed in locating the fabled Relic Castle was truly a surprise, but what really caught his attention was Velda's description of their mysterious saviour.
A powerful lucario, physical abilities that far surpassed the human limits, his getup that Velda had described, and how the man introduced himself as an Aura Guardian when asked. There's only one man that Looker knew of that fit each and every criteria, and he still cannot decide if this is good news or not.
"I may be overthinking here, but do you think that guy is a Plasma?"
"No, he's not," Looker's answer was immediate and certain. He knew that the certainty in his reply had caught Velda, Skye, and Nova in surprise at how they were staring at him from the other end of the screen and were silently asking him to explain.
He sighed.
"I know that man. There's no way he will affiliate himself with a group like Team Plasma. He's been on the PWL watchlist for a very long time."
"A criminal?" Skye asked, and Looker simply shook his head.
"Not exactly… but it will really depend on how you look at things. What the PWL does know is that this man is part of a secretive and powerful underground group that very few in this world would know. I cannot share anything further about this man because any more information is classified and none of you have the clearance for it."
"Then the group you were talking about?"
"That…" Looker closed his eyes and massaged the temples with his knuckle, already feeling the onset of a migraine incoming. Of all times, why must that troublesome man make an appearance now? And if he's here, then his usual companion wouldn't be too far away.
How troublesome.
Looker quickly weighed his options and eventually came to a decision. The three of them are his agents, also a part of the PWL like he is. One day, they will learn about such secrets, it's simply a matter of time. In that case, learning in advance about the existence of certain secrets shouldn't be too big of a deal.
"Velda, remember what I told you about during our voyage here? That in this world, there exist many strange things and people, people with unexplainable abilities and skills but at the same time so low profile that hardly anybody knows about them?"
"That man is one of them?"
"Yes, that man is classified by the PWL as a level 10 target to keep an eye on. If he is sighted, then any of his sightings are to be reported to the PWL immediately. That man is an Aura Guardian, which I'm sure the three of you would have already known at least a little about regarding that ancient order."
"That's a very old group from Sinnoh, ain't it?"
"You are right, Aura Guardians have their roots in Sinnoh," Looker confirmed. "But that man is not just an Aura Guardian, he's a man who had comprehended the workings of Aura to an unfathomable level such that he could fight pokemon with his bare fists and still win."
"That's… possible?" Skye's disbelief was clear for all to hear. "I mean, I heard rumours that Elite Four Bruno could wrestle with pokemon with his bare hands, but…"
"In front of that man, Bruno might as well be an amateur," Looker scoffed at the notion of comparing Bruno to that man, because in his mind there really wasn't any contest about who's the better practitioner of aura.
"Alright, objectively speaking, on what level would the three of you rank me as a pokemon trainer?"
"You defeated Executive Archer with ease so you are at least Elite Four level, or maybe even Champion level."
"That's right. And that man we are talking about, even I have no idea if I could beat him if we were to truly fight it out for real. That's how powerful he is."
A brief moment of silence fell.
"For real?"
"He's a Champion level threat whose existence is purposefully being very carefully kept under wraps by the PWL. As to why that is the case, it's because he has no loyalties to any League or any region and as such, is seen by the PWL as an unstable factor to look out for," Looker started to explain. "To the PWL, any such trainers with this degree of strength is an unknown threat that could very easily upset the balance of the world. Just imagine it, if a man like that were to suddenly go crazy and do something like what Giovanni tried to do, just how many people in this world will be able to stop him? What kind of price would we have to pay? A Champion level threat, how are you going to stop that short of mobilising another Champion? We only have five Champions at any one time in this world, losing any one of them would be a huge blow in maintaining this delicate balance."
"So the PWL made his identity a secret in order to not incite unnecessary mayhem?"
"That's one reason. What made things so troublesome was the fact that he's a member of an equally powerful underground faction. I cannot tell you anything more about the man, but I can tell you a little about this group if you guys are interested."
"Please, do carry on," Skye said and Looker had no idea if she was being serious or trying to be cheeky with him from the tone of her voice.
"There's a lot of things in this world that we cannot categorise them to either black or white, but for simplicity sake and for the sake of this conversation, let's just assume that everything can be categorised into black or white. "Black" represents the underworld, the side of the world unseen by the public. "White" represents the good of the world, the things that the world knows of and can see," Looker started off before going further with his story. "The PWL is the representation of the "White" side of the world, the official organisation that upholds the international diplomatic relations regarding humans and pokemon and also the entity maintaining the balance that protects our world's peace. The PWL is the first "White" organisation with an international presence. We can all agree on this, am I right?"
Upon seeing the three heads on the opposite side of the screen nodding in understanding, Looker continued.
"Going by that logic, what is the first "Black" organisation that came to your mind which also has an international presence?"
"I would say Team Rocket, because they were the only underground group with influence spanning over more than one region," Nova replied.
"You are correct, but only officially. Officially, Team Rocket was the first terrorist group with an international presence," Looker agreed. "Unofficially, there's another underground group who already had an international presence long before Team Rocket did, but the only reason why the PWL did not take a stance nor any action to deal with them was because even if they are an underground group, they are not a terrorist organisation by strict definitions. They are more like a conglomeration of highly powerful or talented individuals, many of them having their own individual allegiances and motives. These people came from all over the world and their respective skills were the reason why they were invited into the group. That man is one such individual."
"Conglomeration?"
"If PWL represents the world's "White" and Team Rocket is a representation of "Black", then this group can be classified as "Grey", the in-between of good and evil. Despite being an underground organisation they are not necessarily evil because they have done nothing to actively jeopardise the world's peace. Most of the time, they act as mercenaries for hire. However, they are not necessarily good as well, because it's a fact that this group is a favourite spot for many criminals to gather. However, I also cannot deny that historically, in specific periods of time when the world was in very dire circumstances, even the PWL had enlisted their help at certain points to tide over the crisis. The most recent and famous case was the Mt Coronet incident from about two decades ago. Have you guys heard of it?"
"I think it was an earthquake causing a very massive rockslide, killing many people and trapping many others in the process, right?"
"Yes, that's right. That was a serious problem back then because of Mt Coronet's unique terrain and the powerful disruptive magnetic field surrounding the place. Thanks to that, normal rescue techniques and methods just couldn't work, and the place was constantly under threat of recurring landslides or rockslides. To add on, the wild pokemon there were very high strung and stirred into a frenzy due to the fear they felt from that earthquake and it made rescue attempts a highly difficult and dangerous affair. Even Bertha was at her wits' end and she's the best Ground Specialist Sinnoh boasts. If she cannot resolve the situation, then nobody else could."
"But the situation was resolved eventually."
"It's because the Sinnoh League chose to enlist the help of that group I was talking about. In the interest of the number of lives trapped within the mountain and desperately waiting to be saved, they contacted that group for assistance, paying a very massive fee in the process. That group sent out only one man for the job and the situation was resolved in just a few days after he joined in the rescue efforts."
"It's that Aura Guardian."
"Yes, it was him," Looker confirmed Velda's guess. "Aura practitioners are able to sense life around them to a certain degree but none of them managed to learn how to harness it like how that man did. That man could passively sense all life around him with a radius spanning kilometres and that distance can be further stretched when he bothers to make an effort, that's just how good he is. With him around, the Sinnoh League was able to swiftly locate and extract each and every survivor trapped within Mt Coronet back then and the case was closed. Naturally, the man's involvement was kept a secret. It was both his wish and also the Sinnoh League's."
"Sounds like he would make a great Ranger."
"From what I knew he's one of the more sociable and honourable members of that organisation, but not all of them are like him. Some of them are incorrigible criminals and had been persecuted by the PWL at one point or another. That group I am talking about, you can say that they are a mercenary group on a scale and level that to date, even the PWL had not fully understood just how far their influence had reached. As long as you pay the right price, there is nothing that you cannot get from them, be it objects or information. If it comes to the point where the PWL have to wage a war with them, taking down the members belonging to the outer circle of that group is easy enough, but the higher echelons, the inner members who made the core of their group, none of them are easy pickings. The higher echelons of this group don't deal with ordinary events or requests so likewise, to enlist their service you would have to pay a very hefty price that not many in this world can afford to pay."
"How long had that group been around? Actually, are we allowed to know the name of that group?"
Looker took a pause. Technically, there's no concrete rules or laws prohibiting him from informing his three agents about the name of that group but… oh well, whatever.
"Tarot, that's the name of that mercenary group."
"Tarot? As in, Tarot cards? That Tarot?"
"Yes, that Tarot," Looker affirmed. "As for how long they had been around, the PWL traced its roots back to around 400 years ago, that's how ancient that organisation is." Lies, Tarot was founded about a decade after the PWL was formed. "We are not clear as to which region they originated from, but we suspect it to be Unova as it was about the same time the civil war happened that led to the formation of the Five Weapons." Lies, that timing was merely a coincidence when Tarot truly started to make their presence known on the international stage of the underworld. Tarot was founded in Kalos where its leader first decided to build a powerful faction for personal reasons. "We do not know who the leader of the organisation is." Another lie, he knows very well who the enigmatic leader of Tarot is but that is not a secret that he can spill.
"So we really know nothing about them, huh."
"We do know that their core members have a maximum limit of twenty two members, each of them holding onto a title that corresponds to a Tarot card from the Major Arcana. Within Tarot, these inner members are referred to as the "Cards" of their organisation." This is a truth. "We know that the leader holds the title of The Fool, and that their inner members can be replaced if someone more capable shows up to take over their position," A half-truth, he knows for a fact that about a third of these positions had not changed hands ever since the organisation's founding. The inner circle of Tarot is truly an organisation made up of inconceivable heroes and monsters alike, consisting of people and things truly unimaginable by the human mind.
"You know, now that I think about it, if Tarot is as powerful as you make them out to be, why couldn't the PWL just…"
"Enlist them for the job of averting the prophecy?"
"Exactly that."
"Their prices are too damn high. The rescue operation at Mt Coronet forced the Sinnoh League to fork out a few billion to Tarot just for the down payment alone, so can you imagine just what kind of price they will demand if we ask them to save the world? I wouldn't be surprised if they demanded the entire world as payment for saving it."
Lies, the leader of Tarot will never ask for a price to save the world, but he's not supposed to know that.
"Oh I get it now, we are cheap replacements cos these Tarot guys are too damn expensive."
"I guess you can view things that way."
"Damn, that hurts."
"That Aura Guardian had to be one of those "Cards", right? An inner member?"
"He is one of the few Cards of Tarot that we can confirm the identity of. Most of their identities are still shrouded in mystery. If I recall correctly, the card that corresponds to that Aura Guardian is "Justice", the eleventh card."
And his known companion that is usually seen with him is Strength, the eighth card. Those two boast some of the strongest firepower in Tarot and there's nobody that Looker knew of that could take these two on in a battle and win when they are together.
Seriously, what a troublesome pair.
"If a mere inner member is already so powerful, a Champion level trainer, then the leader of Tarot…" Nova trailed off uneasily.
"Shit, you have a point," Skye agreed with a wince.
"The leader of Tarot can only be much more powerful than Justice," Looker agreed because it is the truth. The leader of Tarot is somebody that could possibly bring down even legends themselves, which was the true reason why the PWL was still reluctant to make an enemy out of Tarot despite the questionable nature of the organisation. There's currently no Champion in existence who is capable of that exact same feat.
Not to mention that the PWL was aware that the leader of Tarot possesses a mythical pokemon although they have no idea just which one it is. Not only that, it was rumoured that a select few other members of Tarot possess mythical pokemon too. Looker knows a little more as compared to the PWL, being aware of just which mythical pokemon are in Tarot's possession the last time he checked and also which members possess such pokemon in their team. However, for everyone's sake, that's also not information that he can reveal.
Looker continued to converse with his agents for a little longer before hanging up the call, reminding them to stay safe and not do anything stupid until Unova forces came to assist in the exploration of the fabled Relic Castle now that the actual ruins had been located. Still, statues coming to life… How bizarre, it almost made him want to see it for himself.
Looker shook his head. No, he shouldn't be thinking about that now. He should be doing something to find out why Justice and Strength are here in Unova. These two are not known to frequent this part of the world. Are they here by coincidence or had they been sent here by Fool? Only Fool has the authority to mobilise and hand out tasks to Tarot's Cards without needing to offer any form of remuneration, even if Fool very rarely does that.
If it's the latter, then things might go out of hand if even Fool deemed the situation dire enough to send Justice and Strength here. That's a worrying thing in itself.
Only one way to find out.
Looker took out his phone and started to dial a number from memory. He's unsure if this number is still in use at all, but it's one of the two options he has in reaching out to him.
The call was eventually picked up.
"Who's this?"
Looker closed his eyes and pinched the bridge of his nose when he heard the unmistakable voice of Justice. It seems that he didn't change his number, again.
"It's me," Looker answered. "I heard you met my agents."
"Wait, this voice…" There was a brief pause on the other end of the line before the man howled in laughter. "Oh, it's you! The crybaby!"
Looker facepalmed. He just knew that this would happen.
"The crybaby giving me a call, now that's a surprise! So, still messing around in the PWL? It's about damn time you leave that messy place-"
"You know that's not happening."
"Huh, the crybaby had grown into an even more stubborn crybaby."
"Can you just stop it?" Looker felt his irritation rising and quickly forced his emotions shut before it could affect his mental faculty to think logically. "Why are the both of you here?"
"Whatever are you talking about?"
"Don't play coy with me. Unova is not a place that the both of you like to visit."
"Ah well, if you really want an answer…" The Aura Guardian on the other end of the line purposefully dragged his words but still gave an answer nonetheless when he realised he couldn't tease a reaction out of Looker. "Who else in this world has the authority to order me around?"
"Fool really sent you here?"
"Star made a divination recently and Fool decided that it's better safe than sorry. Seriously, I don't trust that old quack one bit but… even I will admit that his divinations are the real deal. Star wasn't able to divine much, the future's still murky was his exact words, but Unova might be in very big trouble soon, so Fool sent Strength and I here. Don't ask me for more details because seriously, I'm flying in blind like you are. Fool wasn't being very forthcoming and I don't have the answers."
"I guess a thank you in advance is in order. I might have to trouble you when trouble inevitably strikes."
"Eh, no biggie, your little interpol group is still in the infancy stage, can't expect too much from them," the Aura Guardian dismissed Looker's thanks with a carefree tone. "But just between you and I, I think Lovers took on a commission behind our backs that might or might not put Unova in danger. I'm not too sure about that too, you know just how much they love to get their hands on the so-called "good stuff". Anyway, watch your back."
Looker frowned. Lovers, the sixth Card of Tarot, is a notorious thief that always succeeded in stealing what he set his eyes upon. He is so good in his heists that he had made himself a level 10 threat in the eyes of the PWL because there's nothing that he cannot steal given the right motivation and price. It doesn't make any sense why Fool would turn a blind eye to such thievery if Fool decided to send two of Tarot's strongest trainers to secretly help protect Unova from the shadows. Why allow Lovers to steal when it goes against Fool's intended purpose all along?
"I will keep an eye out for him," Looker replied, hesitating for a short moment before asking another question.
"Is Fool…"
"Boss is alright," the Aura Guardian on the other end of the line answered. "Even told me to get your stubborn ass to stop overworking yourself if I ever see you. Boss didn't say anything much before I left for Unova, but it's obvious that Boss still cares about you a great deal."
"Whatever makes Fool happy."
"Boss is still searching for a cure for you, you know?"
"I don't need it."
"It's not a matter of whether you think you need it or not, it's… nevermind, suit yourself. If only there is a cure for me too…"
Looker let out a soft sigh after hearing Justice's words. Back then, who would have thought that things would turn out the way it did?
"Crybaby, you still there?"
"Stop calling me that."
"Oh there you are. Alright, I really gotta go, don't die in the meantime."
The call ended with an audible click before Looker could get another word out, leaving him to his thoughts. A cure… he's beyond saving at this point, there's no need to be fixated on searching for a cure. If anything, he should be the one searching for a cure for Fool.
You are really such a stubborn idiot.
The edges of his lips involuntarily curled into a small smile at the fond memories when he was chastised by Fool for being stubborn and reckless back when he was younger. Those were good times.
Looker stood up from his seat and walked out of his room. There's still things to be done.
There's still a world to be saved.
Character and pokemon list:
Velda Vera, Age: 14, Female, Pokemon Trainer, Member of the International Police
Pokemon on hand:
1) Rapidash (Flamel), male
2) Swampert (Bigblue), male
3) Banette (Dolly), female
4) Flygon (Snap), male
5) Absol (Kelsa), female
6) Charizard (Toothless), male
7) Cradily (Lily), female
8) Espeon (Rena), female
9) Pachirisu (Fuzzy), male
10) Tyranitar (Kratos), male
11) Clefairy (Joy), female
12) Nidoqueen (Ness), female
13) Pangoro (Hulk), male
14) Porygon-Z (Jarvis), genderless
15) Scizor (Archer), male
16) Lapras (Chill), female
17) Gengar (Wacky), male