Not everyone in the Lin family had been aware of Lin Quan's plan to retaliate against Oliver.
After the arrests, He Sheng personally oversaw the interrogations. Those who had not participated in the scheme and were not involved in any other criminal activity were released. However, anyone even remotely implicated was detained for further investigation.
As a result, the Lin family's upper ranks were almost completely wiped out.
Most of their Pokémon, along with the family's accumulated resources and assets, were confiscated by the Pokémon League and absorbed into League reserves.
Even if a few members were eventually released, the Lin family would never regain its former glory. Worse still, without their power and protection, they would now have to worry about retaliation from enemies they had made over the years.
In practical terms, the Lake City Lin family had ceased to exist.
The news spread through Xia Country at astonishing speed.
Countless families learned overnight that the once-dominant Lin family had collapsed in a single night, its leadership almost entirely arrested. Memories buried for more than a decade resurfaced across the nation.
Was the Pokémon League preparing to repeat the great purge from years ago?
For a time, powerful families everywhere felt uneasy.
In the end, everyone was reminded of one thing:
No matter how influential a family might be, Xia Country ultimately answered to the Pokémon League.
Quancheng University – Faculty Apartments
Hu Zeming sat comfortably in his room, scrolling through online comments filled with people defending him and attacking Oliver. A mocking smile crept onto his face.
"These idiots," he sneered inwardly.
"With just a little guidance, I can make them think whatever I want."
As for Oliver…
"I've researched Pokémon for decades and achieved nothing. Why does a mere eighteen-year-old get all the praise? A so-called genius researcher?"
"Still dancing in the palm of my hand."
Just as he was reveling in his triumph—
Bang!
The door exploded inward.
A group of uniformed officers rushed into the room.
Hu Zeming panicked. He tried to retreat into the bedroom and shut the door, but two officers tackled him to the floor.
"What are you doing?!" he screamed.
"This is my home! You can't just barge in!"
"Don't move," one officer barked.
"We already have sufficient evidence. Cooperate."
"I'm a professor specializing in Pokémon research! You can't treat me like this! Let me go!"
No one listened.
Pokémon League Headquarters
A high-level meeting was underway.
Several senior officials were openly criticizing He Sheng's unauthorized operation.
An elderly man spoke first.
"As a Vice Minister of the Investigation Department, He Sheng acted without authorization and made arrests at will. I propose stripping him of his position."
Another quickly followed.
"Agreed. His actions may provoke major families. Removing him would serve as an explanation to them."
One voice led to another, and soon several people voiced their support.
In truth, the Investigation Department held exceptional authority within the League. Many politicians had long wanted to place their own people into its leadership—but the three vice ministers had always stood united, keeping outsiders at bay.
Now, an opportunity had appeared.
If He Sheng fell, a vice-minister position would open.
Qin Anzhi, seated at the head of the table, swept his gaze across the room. He smiled warmly and spoke.
"There's no need for such anger. He Sheng's actions were indeed improper. However, the Lin family was clearly at fault first. His reaction, while excessive, is understandable."
He paused, then continued calmly.
"I suggest docking He Sheng's salary for six months as punishment. Let this serve as a warning."
Several politicians opened their mouths to object—
But two middle-aged men seated in the corner coughed lightly.
"The Investigation Department knows how to handle its own affairs," one of them said flatly.
"There's no need for further discussion."
The room fell silent.
With the other two vice ministers speaking, continuing to push the issue would only make future cooperation impossible—even if He Sheng were removed.
Qin Anzhi took everything in, still smiling.
"Since there are no objections," he concluded, closing the report in his hands,
"He Sheng will be fined six months' salary. As for Lin Quan and Hu Zeming—both seriously damaged the reputation and safety of a key League researcher. They will be dealt with severely."
The meeting adjourned.
The Next Day
Online sentiment was still overwhelmingly hostile toward Oliver.
Large numbers of people flooded Chengdu No.1 High School, academic forums, and even the official Pokémon League website with insults, demanding that Oliver's awards and recognition be revoked.
Only a small fraction were paid trolls.
Most were simply people swept along by the tide, unable—or unwilling—to think critically.
Then, quietly, a notice appeared on the League's official website.
The noise stopped instantly.
Official League Announcement:
After investigation, the widely circulated accusations of plagiarism against researcher Oliver are confirmed to be false.
The incident was a malicious smear orchestrated by Quancheng University professor Hu Zeming and Lake City's Lin Quan.
The two are suspected of multiple serious crimes, including sexual assault, bribery, fraud, defamation, and attempted murder.
The Pokémon League will never tolerate criminals, nor will it allow its contributors to be wronged.
Attached to the announcement were photographs, detailed evidence, and signed confessions from both Hu Zeming and Lin Quan.
All avenues of rebuttal were cut off.
The internet exploded.
"Damn it, we were tricked! Hu Zeming should rot in jail!"
"Sexual assault? And he was a professor? Disgusting!"
"I believed his lies… Oliver, I'm sorry."
"Oliver, I'm sorry!"
"I said from the beginning that Oliver might have been framed—no one listened!"
Public opinion reversed almost instantly.
Some still stubbornly claimed Hu Zeming had been forced into confessing, but those voices were quickly drowned out.
Because Lin Quan's name appeared in the League's announcement, internet users began digging deeper—exposing the Lin family's long history of abuses in Lake City.
Online discussion became explosive.
Meanwhile, Oliver continued his daily routine.
He went to school.
He trained his Pokémon.
Nothing changed.
Students at Chengdu No.1 High School noticed that Oliver remained exactly the same—calm and composed, unaffected by slander or vindication alike.
Life went on.
And just as the online uproar began to settle, something far more important arrived.
The annual Southwest Inter-School Tournament was about to begin—
Right there in Chengdu.
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