As the police officers' footsteps gradually faded, the hospital room suddenly became quiet.
Delacroix then noticed that Emilie and her Luxray were still in the room.
The blonde Gym Leader was staring thoughtfully out the window.
"Emilie Gym Leader?" Delacroix asked tentatively, "Is there anything else?"
Emilie turned around, and Luxray immediately moved alertly to the door of the room, pricking up its ears to ensure no one was approaching.
Her expression was mysterious, and she lowered her voice, "Delacroix, do you... still have the ambition to regain the Champion title?"
Delacroix was slightly startled, then gave a bitter smile, "So direct?"
He looked at his bandaged right hand: "Of course I want to, but now that I don't even have a mega evolution stone, I really don't have the confidence to compete in the short term."
Emilie's eyes suddenly lit up, and she quickly walked to the bedside.
Luxray gently wagged its tail, releasing a subtle current to form an electrostatic field.
"Dragon Country," she whispered the words, almost inaudibly, "There are large quantities of mega evolution stones there."
Delacroix frowned deeply: "I know nothing about Dragon Country—the language, culture, rules... And why would they give me such a precious mega evolution stone?"
"That's not a problem," Emilie said, suddenly pulling out a gilded business card from her trench coat's inner pocket and respectfully handing it to Delacroix with both hands, her movements like those of a devout believer.
"As long as you are willing to join the life god Religion and believe in the life god, the great, benevolent, and omnipotent God will arrange everything for you."
Delacroix was quite surprised, looking incredulously at the Parisian Gym Leader before him: "life god Religion, you... you are a believer?"
Emilie's expression became exceptionally serious, and she gently placed the business card on the nightstand: "The life god Religion is far more powerful than you imagine. We hold the key to truth."
She pointed to the leaf-encircled symbol on the business card, "Consider it. The church can provide you with all the resources you need."
Delacroix couldn't help but feel a chill.
These powerful trainers had always only trusted themselves and their Pokemon.
Although he wasn't very familiar with Emilie, he had heard that this Parisian Gym Leader was an Electric-type expert known for her rationality, and now she was actually believing in a religion...
Moreover, Paris, unlike Dragon Country, only had one Gym Leader, so Emilie's actual status in France was even higher than some of the Four Heavenly Kings.
Looking at her demeanor, it seemed she was not just an ordinary believer, which truly made it difficult for him to accept for a moment.
"I... need time to consider," Delacroix replied cautiously.
Emilie showed a knowing smile, but this smile made Delacroix uncomfortable: "Of course, no rush."
She gently stroked Luxray's head, "Keep the business card. Contact me anytime you've thought it through."
She turned and walked towards the door, with Luxray following closely behind. Just as she was about to leave, Emilie suddenly turned back: "Oh, and the person who attacked the building last night... if you meet him again, remember to inform the church. We are very interested in that 'special' Pokemon."
Delacroix's heart tightened, but Emilie had already left the room with Luxray, leaving only a faint scent of static electricity.
This Luxray was likely ensuring there were no surveillance cameras or recording devices around.
The room returned to silence once more.
Delacroix gazed at the gilded business card on the bedside table, the sunlight shining on it, reflecting an eerie glow.
"life god Religion..." he murmured to himself, turning to look out the window.
The sky over Paris was still blue, but he suddenly felt that this city hid too many secrets unknown to him, a former Champion.
On the other side, Emilie walked out of Delacroix's hospital room, Luxray quietly following behind her.
She had a thoughtful expression, her fingers gently caressing the remaining gilded business cards in her trench coat pocket.
With a 'ding', the elevator doors opened on the first floor.
When she had gone up earlier, she had noticed that the corridor of what was originally a normal ward area was now crowded with black patients—elderly people, women, and even more young and strong men wrapped in bandages.
Nurses were incredibly busy, pushing medical carts and struggling to move through the crowd.
"Strange..." Emilie frowned, but it was only a slight frown; she didn't care about these things.
Just then, a thin figure suddenly stumbled into her from the side.
"Ow!"
A black boy fell to the ground, looking extremely weak.
He was wearing an old T-shirt that was clearly too big for him, and his exposed wrists were alarmingly thin.
Emilie was about to get angry, but she froze the moment she saw the boy's face clearly.
"You're, Thomas?" she exclaimed in surprise.
The boy looked up, and on his dirty little face, those eyes immediately made Emilie recognize him—wasn't this the black child who used to follow Chen Kai?
She had a deep impression of the Dragon Countryman named Chen Kai and his Hydrapple, so she naturally remembered this translator who followed Chen Kai.
She had once tried to get Chen Kai to understand the life god Religion and praise life together, but for some reason, after she gave Chen Kai the business card, Chen Kai never contacted her.
If she knew that Chen Kai, not understanding French, had thrown the business card away as soon as he returned to the hotel, she would definitely be very angry!
Thomas, however, looked blankly at the well-dressed blonde woman in front of him, clearly not remembering where he had seen her.
His lips were chapped, and his eyes were unfocused; he looked as if he hadn't eaten properly for a long time.
"Here, have something to eat first." Emilie took out a bread and a bottle of water from her bag, squatted down, and handed them to Thomas.
The boy hesitated for a moment, but ultimately couldn't resist the temptation of the food. He shared a portion with the Rattata beside him, then devoured the rest.
Emilie patiently waited for him to finish before gently asking, "What happened? What are you doing here?"
After a meal, Thomas regained some energy and recognized Emilie.
Thomas wiped his mouth, and encountering someone somewhat familiar, he poured out all the hardships of the past few days: "It's all those bastards from Nisus Company! They couldn't find the gang leader... so they went after the underlings!"
He clenched his fists, "My brother and most of the brothers in the gang were beaten and sent to the hospital..."
Emilie nodded thoughtfully.
The CEO she had just seen in the ward, although she couldn't directly call him a beast in human clothing, he certainly didn't look like a good person.
"So you don't have enough money for medical expenses now?" She immediately saw through Thomas's predicament.
Thomas lowered his head, his voice choked: "I sold my phone and all my valuables... but it's still far from enough..."
Emilie's lips curved slightly upward, almost imperceptibly.
She gently patted Thomas's shoulder: "I do know a place that can help you."
Thomas suddenly looked up, his eyes gleaming with hope: "Really? Where is it?"
"The life god Religion." Emilie's voice suddenly became ethereal and sacred. She pulled a gilded business card from her pocket, and sunlight streamed through the window onto it, reflecting a strange light. "The church specifically helps lost lambs like you."
Thomas took the business card, confused, and turned over the exquisite leaf emblem on it.
Emilie continued in a highly infectious voice: "As long as you join the life god Religion, not only can your brother's medical expenses be covered, but you will also receive the blessing of the gods."
When she mentioned the words "gods," a strange light flickered in her eyes.
Thomas's eyes suddenly widened: "Will the church really help me?"
"Of course." Emilie smiled mysteriously, "Life is the most precious gift in the world. The life god teaches us that every life is worth cherishing and saving."
Her eyes were full of devotion: "Seeing young lives threatened, the kind God's heart aches."
Thomas hesitated again; the education he had received since childhood made him not quite believe in things like gods: "Then do I need to do anything?"
Emilie showed a loving smile: "Just go to the address on the business card with a devout heart. The gods will open their doors for you and bring hope of life to your brother."
"R-really?" Thomas stammered, still not quite believing that such a good thing as a free lunch would fall from the sky.
Emilie felt a slight displeasure; this kid still didn't believe her.
After a moment of thought, she decided to change her strategy.
She took out her phone and opened a news article: "Look at this."
The screen prominently displayed the headline: "Nisus Company Building Suffers Mysterious Collapse, French Government Launches Emergency Investigation."
Thomas's eyes widened.
"You think this is a coincidence?" Emilie lowered her voice, "Let me tell you directly, Nisus Company is basically finished. In a few days, you'll see related reports in the news. God's eyes watch everything; evildoers will eventually be punished, and good people will receive the favor of the gods. This is the law of heaven!"
Thomas stared at the business card, his doubt gradually replaced by hesitation.
"The address is on it." Emilie turned gracefully, "Remember, the gods will not abandon any suffering life."
As she walked out of the hospital, sunlight fell on Emilie's golden hair.
She looked back at the hospital window and whispered, "Another seed has been sown, now just waiting for it to blossom and bear fruit."
