After leaving the police station, the girl kept thanking Oliver as they walked.
They had already exchanged some basic information while giving their statements, and after coming out, they chatted a bit more.
Her name was Tian Xin, a third-year student at Chang'an University. She had just returned from challenging the Chengdu Gym, and unfortunately had her wallet stolen on the train.
Oliver looked surprised.
"You beat a Gym? Gym Leaders usually have at least Gym-level Pokémon."
Tian Xin smiled and explained, "Not exactly. For interns like us, once the Gym Leader knows our status, they usually send out a much weaker Pokémon for the battle."
That kind of common knowledge was something most people only learned after entering university, so Tian Xin wasn't surprised that Oliver didn't know.
"I see."
"By the way, Junior Oliver," Tian Xin asked curiously, "aren't you still in your third year of high school? Shouldn't you be attending classes? Why did you suddenly come to Chang'an?"
"I took leave from school," Oliver replied. "I wanted to travel a bit and gain some experience."
Tian Xin looked at him with admiration.
"You're amazing. Still in high school, yet you dare to travel alone. And you even have a Kirlia—such a rare Pokémon. Since it's already evolved once, it should be at least Intermediate-level, right?"
"Yes."
"That's incredible," she said enviously. "Training an Intermediate Pokémon before even graduating high school…"
She suddenly brightened up.
"Since you're traveling in Chang'an anyway, how about I be your guide? Consider it my way of repaying you for helping me get my wallet back. Besides, the wallet didn't just have important items—it also had the food money I prepared for my Eevee. You really saved me big time!"
"Senior Tian, don't you need to go back to school and report in?"
"This trip was our final task for the semester," Tian Xin explained. "We just need to obtain at least one Gym Badge. I already got the Chengdu Gym Badge, so even if I don't attend classes for a while, it's fine."
Oliver thought about it. He had taken a full week off—wasn't the extra time meant for exploring Chang'an anyway?
Traveling wasn't only about secret realms and Pokémon training.
Seeing new landscapes, learning about local culture, and meeting different people—these were all part of the meaning of travel.
"Alright," Oliver nodded. "Then I'll be in your care for the next few days."
They exchanged contact details, agreed to visit scenic spots together the next day, and Oliver headed straight to the hotel he had already booked.
A moonless night, dark and silent.
Mu Xue, the current Water-type Heavenly King of Xia Country, had been waiting outside Chengdu No.1 High School for a long time. Eventually, even the old security guard locked the school gates, yet Oliver still didn't appear.
"Damn it!" Mu Xue's temples throbbed. "I waited this long—what on earth is that guy doing?"
"Did I miss him? Maybe he already left earlier?" She frowned. "Forget it. I'll just go to his place."
Using the address she had obtained earlier, Mu Xue found the apartment Oliver used to live in.
She looked up—the lights were on.
Did I really miss him?
Am I getting rusty after not fighting for so long?
She knocked gently on the door. No response.
"Not home? Then why are the lights on?"
She knocked again. Still nothing.
At that moment, a shadow silently crept closer down the hallway.
"Who's there?" Mu Xue spun around sharply—
—and met a pair of blood-red eyes, spinning in a hypnotic spiral.
Hypnosis!
Thud!
Mu Xue's body collapsed softly in front of the door.
Only then did Oliver's apartment door slowly open. Two men in black uniforms stepped out.
"Well? Did she pass out?"
"Even regular Pokémon go down from my move, let alone a human."
"This woman came looking so late at night—she must be close to Oliver. Once she wakes up, interrogate her and find out where he went."
"And after that?" one of them licked his lips. "That figure… maybe—"
"Do whatever you want," the other replied casually. "Just clean it up properly. Don't leave traces for the Alliance."
"Relax. I've never failed."
"Have you?"
A cold voice suddenly echoed through the hallway.
Both men jerked their heads down.
The woman who had been lying unconscious on the ground had vanished.
"Come out—Muk, Weezing, Beedrill!"
"Gengar, Machamp, Cofagrigus!"
They hurriedly released Pokémon suited for close-quarters combat, turning around—
The woman in sunglasses stood there, completely unharmed.
Beside her stood a Slowbro.
But unlike ordinary Slowbro, its eyes were sharp and alert, radiating an overwhelming pressure.
"Damn it! Didn't you say it was fine?!"
"I—I don't know!" the man panicked. "Even Veteran-level Pokémon go down when hit by Gengar's Hypnosis! This woman's a monster!"
Mu Xue spoke calmly, her voice icy.
"Looks like you've said your last words. Now… die."
The moment her words fell—
A terrifying wave of Psychic energy burst from Slowbro.
In an instant, every Pokémon the two men had released collapsed, losing all combat ability.
Their own brains were shredded by the violent psychic shock.
As one of the Four Heavenly Kings, Mu Xue naturally took her personal safety seriously.
Earlier, Gengar's Hypnosis had only seemed to work—she had been protected by Safeguard, immune to all status conditions.
Pretending to pass out was simply to see what they were plotting.
She glanced at the lifeless bodies on the floor, then turned toward Oliver's former apartment.
The room was nearly empty, furniture gone, dust covering the floor.
"Interesting," she murmured. "So he moved."
She took out her phone and made a call.
"I've found people from that organization. I've already dealt with them—just two small fry."
The voice on the other end was as cold as ever.
"Received. Location. Cleanup team will arrive shortly."
After Mu Xue reported the address, the voice asked, "You went to see him?"
"What, not allowed?" Mu Xue replied lightly. "Shouldn't you be more concerned that he's been targeted by that organization? He's the Alliance's new-generation research prodigy."
There was a two-second silence.
"The Heavenly King Tournament is still some time away," the voice finally said. "Since you're already there, stay around for a few more days."
Click.
Mu Xue lowered her phone, eyes thoughtful.
"The more I look into you, the more curious I get," she muttered.
"Just who are you, Oliver… to make the Alliance assign me to protect you personally?"
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