Let's Play Pokemon Legends Z-A, Part 19: Centipede Godfather

Our last Rogue Mega Evolution from the previous batch is Mega Mawile, which I face off with Taunie. There's actually nothing particularly clever or special about this one, really -- I like Mega Mawile, but her attacks are very simple, particularly compared to the hectic Mega Barbaracle I fought right before this. Her special attack has her jump out of the arena. That was kind of interesting and a nice little subversion, but ultimately Mega Mawile's attacks are quite easily dodged. It does look impressive, though, a barrage of spherical beams like a carpet bombing... but it moves so slowly and is easy to dodge. 

After beating the Mega Mawile, there is a short scene by Taunie apologizing for the problem that she kind of put all of us into. But she's not sorry about running around and helping people, because that's who she is, and that's what she does. Which... uh... yeah, that's laudable and all, but we have the Kalosian Yakuza breathing down our back wanting to get a one million poke-euro debt because you thought you needed a budget to make TikTok advertisement videos,  so the altruism really rings hollow. 

Lida also thinks so when I return to Hotel Z, muttering that that's just what Taunie does. And it really is kind of inconvenient for her to just completely disappear and go AWOL and not pick up her phone for these past couple of missions, yeah? 

Corbeau takes this time to call us, and dispenses a bit with the theatrics. He tells us that he knows what we've been doing, since he's been watching us. Okay, yakuza man. He gives us our first job, too. Some people in Bleu District has been misbehaving, and he wants us to... correct them. Educate them. Okay, so we are the hired help, then, going there for some intimidation factor.

Naveen and Lida stay behind to try and figure something out while I go and enter the underground world. I arrive at the location that the Rust Syndicate pointed out, and it's a house that was recently rented, and a bunch of troublemakers entered it and is squatting there. It's not a bunch of rival gangsters, though... but a group of Gengar and Gastly! The Syndicate grunt there tells me to get rid of the interlopers, which I oblige. 

It's also a nice way to get Gengar, which normally evolves by trade. I'm not sure if all the trade-exclusive Pokemon will show up in some way or form, but at least Gengar is a nice one to have since he's one of the Pokemon capable of undergoing Mega Evolution. Legends: Arceus was particularly good due to the availability of the entire Pokedex without needing to engage in trading. 

Corbeau shows up at this point to inspect the job, and he's... he's not very tall, which I thought was cute. The client thanks Corbeau, who says that it's the Syndicate's job to look after any citizen who needs help, and notes that despite Quasartico's efforts of setting up the wild zones, some Pokemon still slip through the cracks and cause trouble for people. This trend has caused a lot of Pokemon out of their usual habitats and into humanity's living spaces... and Corbeau notes that he himself was someone who didn't have a place to belong as a kid. 

Surprise sad backstory! And Corbeau's a gangster of the people! It's not a particularly huge surprise that the 'evil team with a badass name' turns out to be not-so-bad after all, but unlike Team Skull, Yell or Star, at least we actually got to see the Rust Syndicate be a bit evil. I mean, they may be friendly to us and is helping people, but they are still going around intimidating people and giving out terrible loans. 

In a nice little cap-off to this scene, a final Gengar shows up and ends up getting adopted by Corbeau's client, who notes that at least some humans and Pokemons should try to live together. 

Corbeau then sends me off to an electrical substation, telling me that I need to take care of some 'undesirable elements'. Which isn't an euphemism for snitches or rival gangsters, but just around 20 or so mega crystals that the Syndicate grunt is too lazy to clean up. The grunt there does raise some question about the nature and how fast these Mega Crystals have been growing all over the place. 

After doing that, Corbeau starts asking me about my role in cleaning up the Rogue Mega Evolved Pokemon. Honestly, he's made it clear that his goons have been stalking me, so there really isn't a point in denying it. But his main point is to ask about "L". I actually respect the game by making sure my character doesn't have an option to act like we know who L is, since to the protagonist of this game he's just some dude that keeps showing up, drops some ominous lines, and struts off. Corbeau gives us some backstory on Lysandre. Corbeau tells us that Lysandre was a wealthy businessman, who helped him a lot when he was an orphaned kid. He lost contact with Lysandre after the incident five years ago (hi, XY!) but if he's alive, Corbeau wants to repay him for everything he's done for him. 

With a grin, Corbeau then says that all of this backstory stuff is just something between the two of us, bringing the interest payment as a potential 'bigger issue' if I don't keep my mouth shut. 

Corbeau then gives me a third job. There's some outsiders causing trouble on their turf, and I need to get rid of them. Okay, is this another community service thing? Of course it is... kind of? In Centrico Plaza, we see two rich adults kind of bullying kids, telling them that "oh, Roselia should use Giga Drain instead of Poison Sting". I have opinions about these scene! These adults are the Society of Battle Connoisseurs, who are meant to be high-falutin' types who tell you that there is only a 'correct' way to battle Pokemon, mm-hmm, just like the twits in real life who tell you that there is only a correct way to appreciate wine, or appreciate coffee, or play golf, or criticize a movie, or everyone else is stupid. Oh, like enjoying a video game, how dare you like a video game and have a good time when you should be criticizing the slightly inferior graphics and be angry at the big corpo just because it's cool to bitch on them now. Ahem. 

Anyway these kind of elitist people also exist, very much so, in the Pokemon genre. The kinds that tell you that you need to really pay attention to EV/IV/nature/moveset, metagame, Smogon brackets, et cetera to really enjoy Pokemon battling. I care more about the dex lore and real-world biological or mythological implications and the story and I find the corny jokes fun, and I don't actually give two whits about the metagame? 

I love that the game portrays these motherfuckers who are bullying children who's just there to have fun to be insufferable twits. However, the specific advice they're giving? The physical/special split? Honestly, that's good advice! The way that they were saying it wasn't even particularly dickish! They really should be going 'oh, your Roselia is non-viable, you should evolve it ASAP and change it to a better Pokemon'. 

Francois and Vivica then challenge me to a fight, and honestly they aren't even being particularly dickish about it. They're just... airheadedly polite. Francois is the first to fight, and... and for a trainer that's supposed to represent the elite in battling, he's kind of lame. He uses Gabite and Sliggoo... and doesn't really get to do much before I crush them. Vivica sends out Aromatisse and Slurpuff... and also get crushed. Again, it'd be something if they used actual tactics!

Vivica and Francois grumble about losing, and consider calling in reinforcements to protect their brand. But Corbeau shows up at this point, telling them that everyone is on edge, and it's hardly a good time to go around troubling the children. It's at this point that Vivica and Francois actually gets rude, turning their nose down on Corbeau for fancying himself a hero of the masses, that he's responsible for sending a 'boor' to humiliate them... and run off. Pussy!

The kids thank Corbeau and head off home, and Corbeau notes that he respects me for being strong but not flaunting that power...  particularly my involvement in calming down the Rogue Mega Evolutions. But our conversation is interrupted by screaming people...

...there's a protest! A riot in front of the Quasartico HQ! A bunch of people is confronting Jett, the CEO of Quasartico, and Taunie is with her for some reason. And you know what? I'm on the side of the protesters at this point! They are yelling at Jett, demanding answers at the constant increases of Wild Zones and the lack of explanation or communication to the public. Apparently the protestors 'did not want to listen to reason'... but I feel like the game could've made the protesters look a bit more violent, honestly, because I really do think their arguments have merit. 

A large dude with a beanie strides up to Corbeau and myself, declaring that he's going to keep his city safe. An admirable goal! But Corbeau mocks him, and then challenges him to a battle while Taunie takes Jett away. Corbeau apparently can't abandon people in trouble, but he's picking the side of Jett and Taunie, and... I dunno. At least we're doing something that's slightly more villainous as we take the side of the big corporation!

The nameless representative sends out a Pinsir. Not even a Mega Pinsir! And Corbeau and I... fight him side by side? Two versus one? Wow, we are being villains! In complete coincidence, my own Scolipede was at the forefront of my party, so both Corbeau and I just send giant centaur-centipedes at a single Pinsir. Well, centipedes feed on other small arthropods, and we just tear through that dude's team of Pinsir, Onix and Glalie. Come on, dude, not even a mega evolution? 

Corbeau mocks the 'defeated villains' who run off, promising to find out the truth behind Quasartico. That's not villainous, Corbeau! Even if Quasartico does turn out to be on the up and up, what they wanted isn't exactly criminal! 

Taunie thanks Corbeau, who handwaves it as something he needed to do to protect his debt and investment. Apparently the Rust Syndicate only deals in favours, not violence. Sure, we're just going to ignore the fact that we sent two giant centipedes to gang up on a protester trying to protect his city. Sure. Corbeau does at least ask Jett if there's any truth to the complaints, and Jett gives a wonderful non-answer that just has her reiterate what Quasartico is doing. And...  you know what? I'm not even mad. This is exactly the kind of answer that a CEO to a company that isn't legally allowed to make statements would say.  

Corbeau walks off, saying that he doesn't want anything bad to happen to the city. Taunie stays to make sure President Jett stays safe, and apparently Vinnie is off doing an errant. Ohh, some mafia bodyguard you are, Vinnie! I return to the hotel, where Naveen and Lida point out that the Rust Syndicate's jobs are just odd jobs and good deeds around the city. Yeah, I'm also slightly disappointed -- if Corbeau wasn't so likeable I would actually be a lot angrier that we get another cool villain team that ended up to be somewhat toothless. 

I go to the Rust Syndicate HQ. Corbeau notes that he is impressed with me, and just like that, he decides to clear all of the interest. I... I really wished that there was something more concrete to 'impress' Corbeau, such as it is -- even if he's not actually evil, I kind of wished that I had to do something more epic, something more drastic, to make him think that I am a 'man of the people' like him. 

Corbeau tells me that he wants to have a proper, no-holds-barred battle with me. Extremely coincidentally (he hacked the system, didn't he) the notification for my promotion march pops up and Corbeau just happens to be my next gym leader promotion match. 

I already have a Challenger's Ticket at this point (I have been farming the battle royale a fair bit for money to buy clothes and mega stones) and so the fight begins immediately at Corbeau's little sand garden. Corbeau says that I must be a strong trainer since I know Lysandre. My possible responses? "Hey, I barely even know the guy" and "Acquainted might be a strong word". Corbeau handwaves the semantics. Corbeau then declares his little world-view, that everyone gets covered with grime as they get through life, but the city needs people that are willing to get their hands dirty to clean up the mess. And to protect Lumiose City, Corbeau will climb all the way to rank A. 

Okay, them's fighting words! Corbeau then... spikes his Pokeball like a volley ball. What the heck! That was so unexpected, and funny!

Corbeau opens up with Arbok, which I face off with my Malamar. Not the biggest challenge, and a couple of Psycho Cuts takes care of the Arbok. Corbeau's next Pokemon is... a GYARADOS! That thing is neither Poison, nor Steel, what the heck, Corbeau? I panic and toss out my Meganium, but Gyarados unleashes a BOUNCE. In addition to looking hilarious, it is also a rare STAB flying attack from Gyarados, and with Gyarados repositioning itself a couple of times with Waterfall, it gets to use Bounce again and takes out my Meganium. Oh! I toss out Slowbro, but I just kept fumbling attacks until Gyarados just knocks the tanky Slowbro out. 

My Hawlucha manages to take out the Gyarados's remaining health, but then the next Pokemon Corbeau summons is Roserade. Roserade unleashes a Sludge Bomb, takes advantage of Hawlucha's longer animation for Flying Press to heal with Synthesis, then takes Hawlucha out with a Giga Drain. Chandelure shows up and takes down the Roserade.

And then Corbeau swaps to Scolipede, and I swap to my own Scolipede. Got to end it with a fight like this, right? Especially since I've been kind of using Scolipede a lot in the playthrough? I have already been spoiled that Scolipede has a new Mega, but I don't know what it looks like. Corbeau mega evolves... and holy shit that is an awesome design. Scolipede gains armour, like, it doesn't exactly look metallic, but it looks like it's made up of the same material that Whirlipede is made up of. Its two horns looks badass, the circular armour pieces look great, and... I like this one a lot. It might be my favourite Mega from this game? 

My Scolipede tries its best with Rock Slide and Megahorn, but the damage from Mega Scolipede is a bit too much for my non-Mega Scolipede to stand up to. I did manage to chip off more than half of Corbeau's Mega Scolipede's health before mine gets taken down... and Chandelure hops back out to finish the job with a Flamethrower. 

Corbeau accepts his defeat in stride, even blaming himself for not being able to let his partner Scolipede shine.

Corbeau notes that I have earned his respect, and have climbed up to Rank C. He gives me the TM for Gunk Shot, gives me a fist-bump... and actually offers me a place in the Rust Syndicate. Hell yeah, I would absolutely love to work for someone who understands the coolness of Scolipede! I actually can say yes, but Corbeau plays it off as a joke and tells me that I belong with Team MZ. Boo, boo I say!

As we cut away to Hotel Z, the team discusses Taunie's debt. Naveen notes that it's unlikely that the Rust Syndicate would show up again, not without severely losing face after their leader's defeat at my hands... but even though I dealt with the interest, Taunie still has the original principal to pay. Which... honestly, I've farmed more than 400K just going around the royale, I could very easily pay Taunie's debt and be done with it. Taunie is apologetic while Lida and Naveen try their best to try and get everything sorted as fast as possible.

But then Corbeau shows up at the hotel! Everyone gets shocked at the idea of a guest coming up, then gets terrified when it's the mafia. Lida begs for a debt deadline extension, but Corbeau then nonchalantly says that he's just there to book a room, which is why most people come to a hotel in the first place, right? Taunie helps Corbeau check in, and Corbeau makes a crack at AZ's immense height (extra funny considering he's a short fellow). Corbeau puts his occupation down as 'handyman' (heh), and gets up the lift to Hotel Z's finest room. 

The next day, Corbeau wakes up after a good night's sleep. He asks for the person in charge of housekeeping, which is Taunie, and he compliments the sheer amount of quality that went into cleaning the room and even food for his pet giant centipede. Corbeau pays his fees... and gives Taunie a humongous tip. Which, of course, is the exact amount that she owes the Rust Syndicate. 'Coincidentally', Phillippe shows up right at that moment to pick up Corbeau and the debt from Taunie, which Taunie is, 'coincidentally' able to pay off immediately. Team MZ breathe a sigh of relief, no more sketchy debts and Lida mutters about the convoluted way that thieves and gangsters need to go about doing things. 

And so, our indebted-to-gangsters arc is over, and it's done in a way that I feel is kind of satisfactory and kind of cute. I feel it's still a bit of a disappointment that the side-quests for the Rust Syndicate is a bit boring and it honestly could've been spread out a bit more alongside other distractions... but I do think that taken as an 'episode' (the way the Canari and Ivor/Gwynn stuff are both episodes) it's all right. I think I enjoyed Corbeau a whole ton as well as he balances being intimidating and being actually a nice man-of-the-people. I felt like the dramatic moments just could be done a lot better, is all. 

Oh, and as a bit of an epilogue to this, AZ finally trots up to the team and gives Naveen and Lida Mega Rings and Mega Stones. Right, they've never mega-evolved their partners! But neither did Taunie, even though she has the other two starters and has been shown to have access to Mega Manectric. Lida and Naveen both are surprised because they aren't strong enough, but AZ notes that he should've given these to them earlier. Too right, we're supposed to be helping clear out the rogue, rampaging berserk mega evolutions!

Naveen then lampshades that Lida's partner Staryu still needs to evolve into Starmie yet. Yeah, I was wondering about that. Naveen also notes that Pokemon can only mega evolve if they can't evolve further, which... is an interesting qualification, but not one I would take as pure gospel. The team then goes off for a fight to test out their new mega evolutions... which we'll do next time! And after I do a bunch of sidequests. 

Random Notes:

• 
  I like that the Gengar-haunted house actually has a cute easter egg... a dusty photograph of Professor Laventon, of all people! 
• I've also been slowly filling up my Pokedex by evolving Pokemon. Mostly focusing on Pokemon that can fill up my Mega-Dex. Banette, Pidgeot, Barbaracle, Ampharos... 
• Friendship is also at least relatively simple to do as well in this game, just going and buying coffee four times. It's annoying that it's taking away my money, though. 
• Taunie going around helping people is really more of an informed attribute thing, isn't it? In a normal Pokemon game it's perhaps not so inexcusable,  but this is a game with sidequests and I did like forty of those. Couldn't a couple of them co-star Taunie, showing that she's also helping Lumiose citizens solve their problems? 
• Lysandre's philanthropic activities didn't come out of nowhere; he actually was noted to be that in XY. We just never see him do it, and it's really only mentioned in Malva's holo-news thing that you could (and I did) go through the entire game without really seeing. 
• More random XY references: Diantha is mentioned to be focusing on her acting career. Yeah, not really making a case of you being a cool champion, yeah? Cynthia and Lance and Leon were going around fixing problems in their respective regions...
• You know what would have been cool and thematic? If the SBC actually appeared as NPC quest-givers earlier in the game, replacing some of the bland side-quest 'battle me, I'll show you barrier moves' or whatever. 
• Other fun stuff in Corbeau's office include an Overqwil-themed giant vase, a lucky (Hisuian?) Sneasel statue, and a bronze mirror shaped like a Bronzor. It actually is the model for Bronzor just placed on a table, and notably Bronzor isn't even in this game! 
• I'm at rank C, and if we count Vinnie as the first 'proper' rank-up match against a non-generic model, then we actually have had a couple of 'gym leaders', haven't we? Vinnie, then Canari, then  Ivor, and now Corbeau? Depending on how they handle rank A, I have maybe two or three more named characters to fight, leading the total to a 'named' batch of gym leaders to be around 6-7... but that number can easily expand depending on whether we count the sidekicks (Tarragon, Gwynn and Phillippe) or the first three or four generic rank-up matches. 
• Corbeau tells me to have all my Pokemon learn Gunk Shot. Considering the Rust Syndicate wants to make the city clean, I'm not sure a move that shoots out garbage is the best thing to be giving out to people there, Corbeau...