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That same night, Mo Ye returned to the Tiandu Association headquarters.
As soon as he stepped out of the teleportation room, he saw Xia Chunyu waiting outside.
The slightly stubbled, handsome, and carefree middle-aged man stood with a burly Charizard by his side, his sharp gaze fixed on Mo Ye.
"What are you doing here?"
Mo Ye was momentarily taken aback.
"I've already heard about what happened from Nan Gongmeng. I'm glad you've finally realized the weight of your responsibilities."
Xia Chunyu stepped forward and pulled Mo Ye into a tight embrace, patting his back with visible relief, his expression that of an elder brother watching his younger sibling finally grow up.
"I've always wanted to wake you up, to make you look around more, but I never found the right opportunity. Now, it's good… Mo Ye, come and help me."
Mo Ye frowned slightly and pushed Xia Chunyu away. "I would have done so even without you telling me."
He wasn't used to Xia Chunyu's affection. While the two were rivals as much as friends, this brotherly dynamic made him uncomfortable.
The handsome middle-aged man wasn't offended by the rejection, instead smiling. "That's even better. The old man is waiting for you in his office. Go on."
Mo Ye gave him a look, nodded, and left with his Kingdra, disappearing down the long corridor.
Xia Chunyu watched him go, his smile fading the moment Mo Ye was out of sight.
After a long pause, he gritted his teeth and slammed a fist into the wall, cracking it. "Damn it, if only I had finished sooner—"
"Grrr..." Charizard looked at him with concern.
Champion Xia, as the public knew him, was always smiling, approachable, treating everyone equally—even battling young trainers with full seriousness.
But the Xia Chunyu behind the scenes was just an ordinary middle-aged man, constantly doubting himself, regretting his choices, and hating that he couldn't be stronger.
The title of Champion wasn't as glamorous as it seemed.
"It's fine. I'm fine."
After taking a few deep breaths, Xia Chunyu raised his head, retracting his bruised hand, and gave Charizard a faint smile. "Let's go to the research institute. We can't afford to give anyone else an opening."
Charizard nodded.
The two stepped back into the teleportation room.
...
Office of the Zhu Xia Association President
Mo Ye knocked on the door before entering, finding all the current and former Heavenly Kings / Elite Four members—seven in total—along with President Hei Luo and the secretary-general already present.
This was essentially the highest echelon of Zhu Xia.
Like in the games, the Zhu Xia region had four current Elite Four members:
Hai Yuan (Water-type)
Mei Meng (Fairy-type)
Cheng Xing (Psychic-type)
Lie Huo, the Dragon-type Elite from Longdu
The former members like them had 'officially' all retired, now serving as regional guardians, though the public still didn't make much distinction between them, treating them all the same.
The previous Champion had handed his title to Xia Chunyu and had been traveling ever since, never returning.
"President."
Mo Ye bowed respectfully to Hei Luo, who sat at the head of the room.
Hei Luo nodded. "Take a seat. The meeting begins."
After sitting down, the secretary-general activated a projector, displaying footage from a laboratory.
Rows of cold hospital beds held various individuals—some dead in horrific states, others bisected, and a few lying intact, stripped of clothing.
Among the unharmed were the man and woman Nan Gongmeng had captured and sent to headquarters earlier—one of them a blond foreigner.
Nan Gongmeng's brow furrowed at their ashen skin.
"Preliminary research indicates these individuals have genetic structures vastly different from ours, not found in the Alliance's database. They originate from the same place as the 'Sleepers,'" the secretary-general explained slowly.
Sleepers.
Brought back from the Archipelago region, these were long-dormant beings whose genes and blood types were incompatible with modern humans. Some even had differently positioned organs or minor appendages unseen in contemporary humans.
Researchers had tried everything to wake them but failed.
Cheng Xing had attempted dream infiltration, only to find their minds inactive—no dreams, as if locked in deep, unending slumber.
If not for their vital signs confirming they were alive, they would have been mistaken for corpses.
Officially labeled "Sleepers," everyone knew they were either prehistoric humans… or not from this world at all.
Visitors from other worlds weren't a new concept in a reality already plagued by strange Pokémon.
The precedents set by Guzzlord and Buzzwole were proof enough.
"And the cause of death for those two?" Nan Gong Meng pointed at the screen.
"Organ failure. These individuals had extremely poor adaptability to our environment. After removing their silver protective suits, they rapidly developed multiple illnesses, culminating in systemic organ failure. We couldn't save them."
The secretary-general's voice was soft.
"Couldn't save them?" Nan Gongmeng frowned. "With our current medical technology?"
"Yes."
The secretary-general nodded. "Initial research suggests they died from bacterial infections—beneficial bacteria to us, but lethal to them. Their bodies reacted too slowly to our medications."
"Analysis of their suits revealed they were designed to block harmful bacteria while offering extreme durability, resistance to psychic interference, and even physical enhancement."
He lifted a piece of shredded fabric from a box. "The material is incredibly tough. Our current industrial capabilities can't replicate something this strong yet so thin."
The box was passed around for inspection.
"Additionally, behind their right ears was a small device. According to intel from Miss Nan, it's called a 'universal translator.'"
The screen zoomed in on an object no larger than a green bean.
"It connects to the auditory and vocal nerves—another technology we can't yet decipher."
The secretary-general took a deep breath before displaying images of several abnormally massive Pokémon.
"These Pokémon exhibit extreme deviations from standard physiology, resembling the 'Totem Pokémon' recorded in the Archipelago region but lacking their aura."
Totem Aura, similar to the power of Ultra Beasts, was a force that enhanced abilities.
Next, a massive drilling vehicle appeared.
"We found numerous PokéBalls inside, along with valuable metals and advanced technological artifacts beyond our comprehension—backup silver suits, spatial storage bags, and more translators. The database is still being decoded."
Another click of the remote brought up images of a deactivated weapon and towering stone pillars.
"Finally, the focal point of this meeting—this strange device."
The secretary-general continued, "Its codename is Flower, a machine that uses these pillars to absorb life energy before releasing it through the central bud. Minor exposure strengthens the body, but excessive contact causes cancer and tissue degradation."
"According to decrypted intel, fully harvesting life energy requires a device called an 'Absorption Disk,' but that…"
He looked at Mo Ye.
Mo Ye crossed his arms. "As Suicune instructed, I delivered it to the summit of the Tower of Dawn. When I returned later, the 'egg' was gone."
The key device had vanished.
The room fell silent. Everyone knew what the tower's master, Ho-Oh, had done after receiving the egg.
"If I had to guess, the Tower Master likely returned the harvested life energy and destroyed the device."
Mo Ye stated the absurdity plainly—like draining someone's blood, storing it, then pumping it back in to revive them.
If human biology were that simple, modern medicine wouldn't struggle with incurable diseases.
"...Then we'll set aside the Absorption Disk for now." The secretary-general shifted topics. "Historical records indicate a similar 'Flower' appeared in Western Europe millennia ago, though on a much larger scale. Only fragmented texts remain."
Shen Long frowned. "You're saying this is something from our world?"
"That's one possibility. But research also suggests the ancient device was completely destroyed, its burial site unknown."
The secretary-general shook his head. "Judging by the device's pristine condition and design, along with its activation language, it was likely brought here by them."
These visitors—from who-knows-where—wielding technology far beyond this world's, were conducting horrifying operations in secret.
Had they not been reported and stopped in time, the consequences could have been catastrophic.
Everyone present understood that Zhu Xia's stability and prosperity, its standing among Alliance Regions, relied on its peaceful, thriving populace.
Trainers might wield extraordinary power, but the world's foundation was built by ordinary people and weaker Pokémon.
"The remaining two are still under interrogation, but reports suggest the situation isn't optimistic."
The screen switched to a live feed.
The last man and woman were slamming their heads against a table, their expressions eerily similar to those of the brainwashed cultists.
"Like the Dawn Sect members, their memories have been altered. When questioned about their origins, how they arrived, or their world, they react like this. So far, we only know they were employed by a high-tech company governed by a council that prioritizes corporate assets above all else."
"The last Sleeper's mind was inaccessible to me, but I'll try with these two. Their mental locks are stronger—forcing them open would burn their brains out."
Cheng Xing, the present Psychic-type Elite Four, spoke calmly. When it came to psychic phenomena, he was the undisputed expert.
President Hei Luo nodded in approval.
The emergency meeting was nearing its end.
"We don't know if more of these individuals are operating here or if they have other allies in Zhu Xia. Thus, for the next few years, all of you will be stationed in major cities. Master-level trainers will also be reassigned."
The secretary-general outlined countermeasures. The incident in Saizhou had put them on high alert—the entire region would remain tense for years.
But there was no choice. Until they understood these outsiders' motives, numbers, and origins, precautions were necessary.
Finally, Li Xiang's photo appeared on the screen.
"Li Xiang, male, 13 years old, from Qingcheng. Currently a junior trainer at Qingcheng No. 1 Middle School. In 2009, with his mother's colleague's assistance, he obtained his starter from the Qingcheng Conservation Base…"
The secretary-general summarized Li Xiang's profile, emphasizing his encounters—first with Buzzwole last New Year, now with these outsiders, each time narrowly escaping death.
Brows furrowed across the room.
"From current observations, it seems to be coincidence. There's no evidence of personal involvement."
The secretary-general paused.
"However, intelligence analysis recommends increased surveillance—"
"Unnecessary. If he's joining the junior training camp, monitor him there. After graduation, assign him to Wudu."
Mo Ye cut in abruptly. "I'll keep an eye on him."
Though phrased as supervision, the favoritism was obvious.
All eyes turned to him—especially Cheng Xing and Nan Gongmeng, who had interacted with Li Xiang before.
"Fast-tracked?" The secretary-general frowned.
"No need. If he qualifies, persuade him to come to Wudu. If not, transfer his mother there."
Mo Ye's tone was flat. "As for his father's company, I'll handle it."
He had reviewed Li Xiang's records.
Nan Gongmeng smirked, whispering to Cheng Xing, "How tyrannical. Not even asking what the kid wants. Ridiculous."
"That's just how blunt men are," Cheng Xing murmured back.
Mo Ye ignored them.
The meeting adjourned.
Everyone dispersed to their duties.