Today was only the opening ceremony.
The actual competition would not begin until tomorrow.
That meant Oliver and the others did not need to enter the competition secret realm yet.
The Qinglin Secret Realm was known as the least dangerous secret realm near Chengdu. According to prior assessments, the strongest Pokémon confirmed inside was a low-tier Advanced Sceptile.
After learning this, many contestants finally breathed a sigh of relief. Any trainer confident enough to compete had at least mid-tier Intermediate Pokémon—so as long as they didn't run into Sceptile, survival was virtually guaranteed.
At this moment, just at the entrance alone, four League investigators were stationed on guard duty, not to mention the additional patrols surrounding the area.
Because the Qinglin Secret Realm had been temporarily sealed, the nearby market—normally bustling with vendors selling rare resources—was completely deserted.
"Make sure this place is locked down tonight. Tomorrow, students from all those schools will be entering. Nothing can go wrong."
"Relax. My younger brother is competing tomorrow. I'll be watching this place like a hawk—nothing's getting in."
"Oh? Your family produced a talented one, huh."
"Of course. He says when he grows up, he wants to become a League investigator like me."
"Not bad. That kid's got a future."
At that moment, a cold gust of wind swept through the area.
One of the investigators shivered.
"I'm going to the restroom. Keep an eye on things."
"Go ahead."
After he left, another investigator rubbed his hands together.
"Still chilly at night."
"Enough. Tomorrow we'll be inside the secret realm protecting the students. Once we're in there, it'll be comfortable."
For reasons no one could quite explain—perhaps because of Celebi—the Qinglin Secret Realm remained springlike all year round. The climate was mild, the air fresh. It was practically a paradise.
"By the way," one investigator said, "if students are entering tomorrow, shouldn't someone already be inside setting up monitoring devices?"
"Don't overthink it. You think we can guess what the higher-ups are planning? Just do your job."
Just then, the investigator who had gone to the restroom returned.
"Back."
"Yeah."
He pressed down the brim of his cap, exposing only his mouth.
The other three didn't notice anything strange.
They continued chatting, while the returning investigator silently moved behind them. Under the lights, his shadow stretched unnaturally long.
Without warning—
A pair of crimson eyes opened inside the shadow.
From within the darkness, a round, deep-purple Pokémon slowly rose, its grin silent and twisted.
A Gengar.
The other three investigators noticed nothing at all.
Suddenly, the returning investigator spoke from behind them.
"What's that?"
The three turned around instinctively—
—and met a pair of glowing red eyes, spirals rotating hypnotically within them.
Not good!
The same thought flashed through all three minds.
Their pupils dulled, expressions empty.
This was a variant application of Hypnosis—one that truly plunged the target into deep mental control.
From the shadows, two more figures stepped out.
One of them moved stiffly, eyes vacant—the real investigator who had gone to the restroom earlier.
The one speaking before had been an impostor.
"All done?" the other man asked calmly.
"My Gengar can hypnotize even Champion-level Pokémon," the man replied confidently.
Gengar stared at the four investigators, now standing like puppets, and licked its lips greedily.
It had been a long time since it tasted humans.
"Don't touch these four. Tomorrow, when the students enter, I'll let you feast properly."
Gengar suppressed its urge and slipped back into the man's shadow. Compared to adults, children tasted far better.
The man spoke coldly to the four investigators:
"Nothing happened tonight. Everything is normal."
The four replied in unison, voices hollow:
"Yes."
The two mysterious men exchanged mocking smiles and stepped into the secret realm passage behind them—unsure whether they were laughing at the League's weak defenses or at how effortless this mission had been.
Moments after they left, the four investigators shuddered simultaneously.
"Wait… what were we talking about just now?"
"I think… you were saying your brother is competing tomorrow."
None of them had the slightest memory of what had just occurred.
"Secure the entrance!"
A commanding voice suddenly rang out from ahead.
The four looked up in shock—then immediately straightened and saluted.
"Champion Mu Xue!"
At Oliver's home.
Qinglin Secret Realm had been the first secret realm Oliver ever entered, and it was also where an old friend of his lived—Celebi.
For him, this place was filled with memories.
"I didn't expect the competition realm to be Qinglin. Maybe I can catch up with Celebi while I'm there."
Oliver grinned to himself.
If Celebi could even boost Garchomp's potential a bit, that'd be perfect.
As he was plotting how to shamelessly exploit Celebi tomorrow, a childish voice suddenly echoed in his mind.
"Oliver, there are two groups fighting inside the secret realm."
Speak of the devil…
Oliver complained instinctively,
"Why are you telling me people are fighting? What does that have to do with me?"
Celebi snorted.
"They were talking about you. I was being nice by warning you. If you don't appreciate it, forget it."
"Because of me?" Oliver's expression sharpened.
"Alright, alright, calm down. Tell me exactly what happened."
"Hmph. I heard the first two people who entered say they were waiting to kidnap you when you came in tomorrow. Then another group rushed in to arrest them. The leader of that group was a woman… I think they called the first group something like the Creation Society."
"What?!"
Oliver's face went serious instantly.
The Creation Society—silent for so long—had finally made a move again?
The second group had to be League investigators. And a female leader…
"Was her name Mu Xue?" Oliver asked sharply.
Celebi thought for a moment.
"Yeah, that's what they called her. Also—those two people are Champion-level trainers. Mu Xue's side is already at a disadvantage."
Oliver's pupils contracted.
Without hesitation, he bolted downstairs and sprinted straight toward the Qinglin Secret Realm.
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