The Alliance investigators never expected that the last missing person they had been searching for with so much manpower… would simply walk into the camp at the secret realm entrance on his own.
After a brief round of questioning, Oliver was escorted into a small wooden cabin.
The room was simple—two chairs and a rough wooden table. Sitting on one of the chairs was a middle-aged woman with her hair tied back in a ponytail.
It was Zhu Qianwei, the Gym Leader of Chang'an.
After bringing Team One back earlier, she had grown increasingly curious about who exactly this Oliver was. Acting on instinct, she had ordered her subordinates to investigate his background.
Tracking him wasn't difficult.
He had taken the same high-speed train as Tian Xin, and among the passengers entering the secret realm, there was only one person named Oliver.
What she found shocked her.
According to the records, this eighteen-year-old boy was the very same researcher who had published the Milotic evolution paper that had shaken the entire internet not long ago.
A recognized prodigy in Pokémon research.
Yet according to the files, Oliver should only own a Milotic. The Kirlia could be explained—it was likely hatched from an Alliance reward Egg.
But that Decidueye?
That was something the records could not explain at all.
So the moment Oliver appeared at the camp, Zhu Qianwei had him brought here immediately. Her intuition told her that this boy was carrying far more secrets than he appeared to.
She spoke first.
"Oliver. Native of Rong City in the Southwest Zone. Currently studying at Rong City No. 1 High School. Author of the Milotic evolution thesis that caused a nationwide sensation. Known as a rising genius in Xia Kingdom's Pokémon research field."
She looked straight at him.
"Am I correct?"
This was a standard interrogation tactic—laying out all known information to apply psychological pressure.
"Yes," Oliver replied calmly.
Anyone who had been pulled into a secret realm would inevitably be investigated. And an eighteen-year-old high school student skipping school to appear in another province was, frankly, suspicious no matter how one looked at it.
Oliver had anticipated this long ago. His excuses were already prepared.
Seeing no visible reaction on his face, Zhu Qianwei felt a hint of disappointment.
She continued,
"First of all, I regret that you were accidentally pulled into the secret realm. Fortunately, you're safe. This is a routine inquiry—may I ask why, as a high school student from Rong City, you came to Chang'an at this time?"
Oliver smiled casually.
"Thank you for your concern. To be honest, as you know, I'm more focused on Pokémon research. I recently had a new inspiration, so I came out specifically to gather some materials."
Zhu Qianwei raised an eyebrow.
"So… does that mean you'll be releasing another research result soon?"
"Haha, that one I'll have to keep confidential for now."
She nodded, then changed the topic.
"One more thing. Our people reported seeing you inside the secret realm. You were accompanied by a Decidueye with Gym-level strength, and at the time, you didn't seem eager to leave. Can you explain that?"
Oliver suddenly looked enlightened.
"Oh, that. I was terrified when I got dragged in. Later, I ran into danger and was lucky enough to be saved by that Decidueye. After that, I thought—since so many people were pulled into the realm, I couldn't be the only one in trouble. So I begged it again and again until it agreed to help me rescue others."
Zhu Qianwei stared at him.
"So the Decidueye isn't your Pokémon?"
"Nope. If you go back into the realm now, you might still run into it."
She paused briefly, then asked,
"The Pokémon in this secret realm were extremely aggressive before, but suddenly returned to normal later. Do you know why?"
"I really don't," Oliver replied honestly.
Seeing the doubt in her eyes, he added,
"I'm telling the truth. If you don't believe me, you can ask the people who were rescued—I saved quite a few of them."
Zhu Qianwei turned to the investigator who had escorted Oliver in. The man stepped out and soon returned.
"It's confirmed. Multiple rescued civilians reported that he helped them escape."
Hearing this, several people in the room exchanged looks.
Could it be… that he was genuinely just a good person?
Zhu Qianwei stood up and smiled.
"My apologies. Alliance regulations require routine questioning. I hope you won't take offense."
Oliver stood as well.
"No problem. If that's all, may I leave?"
"Of course." She paused, then added warmly,
"By the way, I'm Zhu Qianwei, the Gym Leader of Chang'an. Before entering the secret realm, Tian Xin repeatedly asked me to make sure you were rescued."
Oliver was genuinely surprised.
"You know Senior Tian?"
"I practically watched her grow up."
After Oliver left and closed the door behind him, one of the investigators spoke hesitantly.
"Gym Leader Zhu… everything he said makes sense, but it still feels… strange."
Zhu Qianwei replied calmly,
"That's enough. I'll report this matter to headquarters. Leave it at that."
She understood perfectly well.
How did Oliver convince a Gym-level Pokémon to cooperate?
Pokémon could understand humans, but humans rarely understood Pokémon—especially strangers.
Perhaps Oliver possessed a unique ability to communicate with Pokémon.
She chose not to pursue it.
Everyone had secrets, and for Tian Xin's sake, she was willing to let this one go.
Stepping into the blue spatial passage, a flash of light swallowed Oliver whole.
In the next instant, he was back in the real world.
The empty field from before had completely transformed. Massive barricades now surrounded the secret realm entrance, with a single guarded gate leading outside.
Dozens of Alliance investigators stood watch. Beyond the gate were rows of temporary prefab buildings—currently serving as offices and rest areas. In the future, this place would likely develop into a bustling market, much like the area outside the Green Forest Secret Realm.
The air here wasn't as fresh as inside the secret realm, but returning still gave Oliver a strong sense of coming home.
Before he could dwell on it, a familiar voice shouted from afar.
"Oliver!"
He turned around.
It was Tian Xin.
"Senior Tian… you didn't wait outside the secret realm for a whole day and night, did you?"
Strictly speaking, the secret realm had appeared in the morning. It was already noon of the next day.
Seeing Oliver emerge safely, the emotions Tian Xin had barely suppressed surged up again.
"Do you even know what you were doing?! I'm a third-year university student—did I need you to save me?! Do you think my Pokémon are weak?!"
Her eyes reddened as tears welled up.
Oliver understood her completely.
Someone risked their life to save you, vanished into danger, and then… everyone else came back. Even the dead were found.
Except him.
No news. No body. As if he had simply disappeared.
That kind of torment… was unimaginable.
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