Number Four, upon hearing Cain's bold insinuation, did not immediately refute it. On the contrary, he was able to sense within him that trace of blazing intent.
Beneath the thin psychic layer, the corners of Cain's lips curved into a smile.
Just as he had expected, the people of the Sacred Church were not limited to mere internal scheming. As long as there was sufficient benefit, the members of this organization were capable of doing anything; all they needed beforehand was a bit of courage... and some incitement.
Immediately after, Number Four shouted sternly, "Bartram! How dare you! Do you know what kind of punishment you would receive if I were to report those words to the Lord?"
His attitude was fierce, as if he were coming to collect a debt. If not for the psychic layer, it might even have been possible to clearly see that suppressed, furious gaze, deeply laden with desire.
Cain let out a mocking laugh inwardly. He understood Number Four's intentions perfectly: he was merely taking advantage of the opportunity to stir up trouble and seize the initiative in this operation.
It was true that this proposal had come from Cain, so if they obtained profits, he would naturally take the largest share, or at the very least an equal split.
But from Number Four's point of view, Bartram's strength was clearly inferior to his own. In a cooperation between the two, not only would he resent Bartram taking the larger share, even a fifty-fifty split would seem unfair to him.
He trusted that the "clever" Bartram would understand his message perfectly.
Cain waved his hand casually, making the black robe flutter, and spoke with a faint mockery in his voice: "Enough, stop acting. I can even feel the drool dripping from your mouth. Let's do it this way: I won't ask for too much. From the spoils, I only want forty percent."
Number Four's aura froze slightly. Although Cain's blunt exposure of his thoughts made him feel somewhat embarrassed, obtaining an additional ten percent meant that his outburst had not been in vain.
Even so, he knew very well that a six-four split was already the limit. Otherwise, the other party probably would not even risk acting with him.
And if he acted alone, Number Four had neither the confidence nor the absolute strength to ensure that he could restrain the opponent. If the other managed to escape, what awaited him would be the endless pursuit of the Relaxed Man.
Thinking of that individual's strength, Number Four could not help but shudder. Someone who could confront Pokémon using only his own psychic power was not someone he could afford to provoke.
Although Bartram's strength might not be decisive, at least he could prevent the other from escaping. And if anything truly went wrong, he could always shift most of the responsibility onto him.
After confirming that he would obtain the absolute benefit, Number Four feigned hesitation for a while before finally nodding and accepting Cain's proposal.
However, when Cain left Number Four's residence, beneath the psychic layer his cold smile was extremely intense.
Letting the Sacred Church tear itself apart from within was undoubtedly more amusing than killing them one by one, and it would also reduce the suspicions directed toward him.
As he left the place, Cain saw Brad and Catherine waiting obediently.
Originally, Cain had come prepared to directly eliminate that so-called person in charge of Area Number Four after the test concluded. That was why he had had Brad and Catherine wait outside: the moment the battle erupted, the three of them would enter together and eliminate him as quickly as possible.
However, when the exchange of tests began, Cain changed his mind. Thus, through his psychic power, he ordered Brad and Catherine to continue waiting, with no need to enter.
If this plan truly succeeded, Cain felt that he might be able to completely stir up the waters within the Sacred Church.
"Find a place to rest and familiarize yourselves with your Pokémon. Especially you, Catherine: you need to adapt to that Meganium as soon as possible and strive to have it display a decent combat strength as quickly as you can. In two days, at this same time and in this same place, wait for me here," Cain said.
"Yes!" both of them replied respectfully, nodding before disappearing in a flash.
The reason for the two days was simple: the agreed time between Cain and Number Four was also in two days, since both of them needed a period of preparation.
Three days had already passed since the last Sacred Church gathering, and in four days they would gather again at the summit of the central mountain of the continent. If one person were missing, it would undoubtedly raise suspicions, so they still had two days to cover everything up.
After confirming every detail, Cain left the place.
Before dawn, he returned to the Aura Valley.
Even so, while the sky had yet to brighten, there were already people emerging from their tents with their Pokémon to begin their morning training outside the valley.
Cain's return attracted no one's attention; everyone seemed completely absorbed in their training.
However, he did clearly observe the efforts of one particular person: Malva, the Fire-type Pokémon trainer, Executive of Team Flare, personally selected by Lysandre, who had arrived on the continent together with Diantha.
"No wonder Malva ended up becoming Kalos's number one Elite Four, second only to Diantha. At the very least, her effort surpasses that of anyone else," Cain reflected.
In the past, Lysandre had asked Cain, the deputy leader who always moved in the shadows, to evaluate Malva when he had the time. After all, it had been Cain who originally proposed infiltrating personnel into the Kalos League, and his approval was crucial.
Although Cain had always been mysterious and rarely appeared in Kalos or within Team Flare, Lysandre's trust in him not only failed to diminish, but increased over time.
The so-called "prophecies" that Cain had shown him had gradually been confirmed with the appearance of Groudon and Kyogre. Moreover, Team Flare had discovered in Kalos another existence that was even more mysterious and powerful, aside from Xerneas, the god of life, and Yveltal, the god of destruction.
It was an energy that protected the Kalos region: the Zygarde energy that Cain had spoken of.
All of these discoveries elevated Lysandre's trust in Cain to an extremely high level.
(End of chapter)