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[Akechi addresses the Pearl with his usual calm and poise, disregarding the cloak draped around him. Pay it no mind.]

In light of recent events, I felt it best to inform you all about Umbreon-san. Having spoken to Mightyena-san recently, she informed me that he mapped out the cave system in which we Oran Berries dwell. He actively trains lower ranked members and has played a pivotal part in Pokémon swarms. Evidently, he was an active player in the ordeals with Dondozo and Spiritomb, providing rescue to those in need...

And he volunteered for the good of his guild, not himself.

[He pauses to let that sink in, though his thoughts ripple with an odd air of relief and an undercurrent of distrust toward politicians on the whole.]

Make what you will of that, but I believe that this places him in a position where he could make a fine leader. I've made my vote, but I bear no ill will toward those who favor other candidates.

[...]

That being said, I do believe it may be in our best interest to share our findings amongst each other regarding the recent Wayfinding missions. The lands beyond Death Blood Murder Skull Town are wild, unpredictable, and full of mysteries...

For instance, the temple in the peaks of Heavy Downmoor suggests the area was once far more populated despite the wild winds. I'm quite curious how the rest of the region compares...

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[Cedric raises a feathered eyebrow at that. Whoever Akechi's thinking of, he can't blame him for being vague after what he revealed about Froslass just last month. And with the ease in which they can all communicate through these orbs, who knows who could listen in at any time.]

I know what you mean. I may not have been here for long, but there's already a few here I wouldn't want ordering us around.

Precisely. Malamar's psychic abilities alone are... concerning, given how easily such abilities could be abused.

[And how, if some responses to Guilmon's message are to be believed, have been.]

["Psychic", as Cedric's been gradually learning, covers a wide range of abilities here, from what he considers typical "magic" to the mental probing not unlike these Grumpearls minus the consent. And after what happened to himself with Froslass, it's not hard to wonder just how many Pokémon in power could be exploiting such abilities.]

I'm beginning to suspect it's more common than we think. Personally, I haven't trusted Malamar since his self-assigned welcome party the moment I showed up.

Yes. That certainly soured me on him as well.

[He grumbles out a sigh, expression stern.]

I don't have much patience for authority figures with large egos. Mightyena-san earned my respect by being kind, humble, and accepting. If my world had more authorities like her, it would be a far better place.

[Nod nod.]

I'm quite lucky to have such a king serving my home; he's a good friend of mine. Him and Mightyena are similar in many ways.

[Not that he would have said that about Roland a season or two ago, but details details.]

Some neighbouring kingdoms aren't so lucky; if I can help one little town avoid such a fate, we'll all be better for it.

A benevolent monarch... Quite the rarity outside of fairy tales.

[Then again, with some of the worlds the others hail from, maybe Cedric's world simply is like a fairy tale.]

Democracies are familiar enough to me, but they can easily be exploited or otherwise rigged. I'd vastly prefer such corruption not leak into a new establishment.

[His world? A fairy tale? Noooo.]

Believe you me, I know just how rare it is to have one so considerate and... [Meaningful pause.] forgiving as King Roland.

Nevertheless, you are quite right. No matter the ruling, it can be all too easy for someone to take advantage of the system. [~~What do you mean he's speaking from personal experience you can't prove anything.~~] And we have enough to worry about as it is.

Not to mention, the guilds themselves occasionally encounter friction amongst their leaders.

[He can tell from little things, like the way Mightyena sometimes reacts regarding Ribombee...]

Thus far, the system functions, but every system has its limits.

Yes, that is all too true as well. [Roland never fully got along with King Magnus, for instance.]

Then again, no one really truly agrees on everything, do they? Even friends and siblings have their differences, after all.

[~~What do you mean he's speaking from personal experience you can't prove anyth-~~]

In an ideal arrangement, disagreements are manageable, so long as the leaders share the same priorities.

Indeed. It's when those differences escalate to genuine conflict that it adversely affects the rest of us.

[And it happens so easily. Just one spark, and the powder keg explodes...]

It wouldn't take much. It might not even have to be the leadership. If the right people got angry enough about the discrepancies between the guilds, for instance, it would make quite a scene.

Not that I particularly encourage this, but it is rather obvious which guild is the most privileged.

[He nods. With Akechi's background, it's not surprising that he picks up on potential corruption so easily.]

I can certainly tell you it's not ours.

[On the one hand, he does have bias toward Mightyena. On the other hand, he lives in low tier housing; no one's going to tell him that's privilege.]

Mightyena-san does the best with the resources she has. Perhaps this can be said of the Cheri Berries as well.

[Hmmm, how to put this? This is a public network. Ruffling feathers is... risky.]

But, while I appreciate the resources of the Lum Berries and all that they contribute via the clinic and the Archives, I often question why the resources aren't more evenly distributed amongst the guilds. It carries an unfortunate element of classism in an otherwise idyllic society.

Yes, I'm not particularly fond of one group having exclusive access to what little knowledge we have.

[He hadn't even thought about the clinic, which is even more alarming the longer he considers the implications.]

Even in the wealthiest environments, it is generally good practice to share such luxuries - not that anyone of the outsiders do it on purpose, I'm sure. [Most of them.] But it can give someone a superiority complex, and then they start acting like they deserve more than you, and soon you're getting the hand-me-downs while they steal your things because you can't be "trusted" with them, and-

[Cedric, you like your sister now, calm down.]

...My point is, it's not good for anyone.

Oh, I agree.

[AKechi even chuckles.]

The Archives are somewhat open to the public, yet guild members have access to resources the rest of us lack. Though, I suppose it's somewhat mitigated if you visit with a member of the guild.

Still seems a bit gated to me. What if you don't know anyone to take you?

It's insanely frustrating. Libraries are public resources. To withhold knowledge due to elitism limits the flow of information to a select few.

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