Cain did not hesitate at all and directly gave an affirmative answer.
It was not because he was speaking without basis, but because within his plan there truly existed a way to help both of them return. Moreover, once back in the Pokémon world, they would also be reused by Cain.
Two people with such outstanding strength, if they were not going to be utilized, Cain would not have bothered devising such an elaborate plan to take them back.
If the person Brad had brought today had been more than one, Cain would have considered it a bit more, but since it was only Catherine, Cain felt it was just ideal.
Were not Will and Irene, those two members of the Sacred Church who also possessed Spatial Stones, already there?
Moreover, too many members of the Sacred Church had entered all at once. Cain did not believe they had no way to return. In fact, now that the spatial blockade had disappeared, Cain, relying solely on the ability of the Unown, could leave this continent. However, finding the exact direction of the Pokémon world within the vast and chaotic unknown spatial flow was not an easy task.
In short, Cain had a method to take them back.
Of course, the best situation would be to do it quietly, without attracting anyone's attention.
Catherine held Cain's gaze for a moment and saw in his eyes an overwhelming confidence. Added to the intimidating effect of that powerful Darkrai beside him, she understood that she no longer had the right to choose. From the moment Cain appeared before her, she had completely lost the ability to decide.
She did not expect Brad to venerate Cain so much.
Brad alone was already someone she could not deal with, and now there was also Cain, who seemed even stronger.
If she tried to regret it, she would surely end up suffering the combined and fierce attack of both of them.
Like Brad, Catherine had also failed to keep all of her Pokémon. Only a few remained in her possession. Although she had managed to save her storage space, she could not preserve all of her Pokémon.
Before Brad obtained Hydreigon, the difference in strength between the two of them was not very great. But after obtaining it and quickly adapting to it, Catherine acknowledged that she was no longer his match.
Precisely that extremely generous act of giving away a finished Hydreigon, a pseudo-legendary of champion level, was one of the reasons why Catherine and Brad decided to come together to see Cain.
"Huff..."
Catherine exhaled deeply. Although the meeting with Cain had been very different from what she had imagined, and he was much younger than expected, she could not deny that Cain had intimidated her more than enough from the very beginning.
And precisely because he was so young, his potential became even more evident.
She had already prepared herself mentally before coming. Now, with no option at all, lowering her head was not something difficult to accept, especially with that prior preparation.
"Boss!" Catherine lowered her head.
In the face of absolute strength, any small trick or hidden thought became unnecessary, especially in a situation where there was no alternative.
Cain observed Catherine, who no longer dared to look at him directly, and felt a slight satisfaction. A subordinate capable of correctly evaluating the situation was often better than an impulsive and brainless one.
He had been lucky. By accepting Catherine, he now had two competent and prudent subordinates.
"Do not resist," Cain's voice sounded again.
He extended his hand and slowly placed it on Catherine's head. Only after implanting a psychic seed could he trust her. Cain, who was very distrustful by nature, did not consider that a flaw.
Feeling the warmth of his palm on her head, Catherine's body trembled slightly. She vaguely sensed what was about to happen, but having already made her decision, she showed no intention of resisting.
Not sensing any opposition, Cain easily implanted a psychic seed into her mind.
"Huh?"
Midway through the process, Cain let out a soft sound of surprise, as if he had discovered something unexpected. However, he set it aside for the moment, since his main objective was to complete the implantation.
At that moment, the subordination was truly sealed.
"Brad will explain to you what concerns the psychic seed. Now I need to know your strength," Cain said.
"Yes!" Catherine replied.
She did not know why, but she felt that a subtle connection had arisen between her and Cain, as if the relationship of master and subordinate had been definitively established.
Catherine threw two more Poké Balls, summoning two Pokémon. The instant they appeared, Cain scanned their data.
One was an Azumarill of the Water/Fairy type at level 82, and the other an Arbok at level 81. In terms of levels, both were quite decent, although in terms of quality and degree of training, they had clearly already reached the peak of their potential.
The first threshold of the champion level no longer had much to do with them. Having reached that point was already something notable. In contrast, that Bellossom still had room for growth.
From Cain's point of view, Arbok was quite mediocre, with no particularly outstanding characteristics.
Of course, that was under Cain's standards. For ordinary people, that Arbok would be an unattainable existence for an entire lifetime.
Azumarill, on the other hand, did catch his attention a bit more. An Azumarill with the Huge Power ability could display advantages that were by no means simple.
Steven's Mega Mawile had already made Lance suffer quite a lot.
However, living in this place, they obviously knew nothing about the Fairy type. Once back in the Pokémon world, the true potential of that Azumarill with the Huge Power ability should fully manifest.
Overall, Catherine was comparable to Brad before obtaining Hydreigon. Perhaps a bit weaker, but the difference was not large, and they could face each other.
But when adding Hydreigon, the gap became evident.
"Not bad. Since I rewarded Brad with a Hydreigon, it wouldn't be right to be stingy with you. However, Hydreigon is too rare, so you'll have to make do a bit. This Meganium will be your gift."
Cain took a Poké Ball out of his pocket.
That Meganium had been obtained from the member of the Sacred Church named Jacob, along with his Leafeon.
(End of chapter)