Three days earlier.
Mu Xue received intelligence confirming that two members of the Creation Society had entered Xia Country.
In truth, the Creation Society still had remnants of influence within Xia Country. However, after the devastating purge more than ten years ago, their network had been severely crippled, forcing them to go much deeper underground.
The two operatives had been smuggled in with the help of this remaining network.
As for how the League knew?
Since the League was well aware that the Creation Society still had sleeper agents within Xia Country, it was impossible that they hadn't planted undercover operatives of their own. This information had been delivered at the cost of immense risk—several deep-cover agents had nearly lost their lives to pass it along.
The moment Mu Xue received the report, she immediately thought of Oliver and the upcoming Southwest Inter-School Tournament.
The competition would draw massive crowds, making order difficult to maintain.
If the Creation Society wanted to act, the tournament period would be the perfect opportunity.
Although Mu Xue didn't know how they learned that Oliver would be participating, one thing was certain—they were already here.
Her responsibility was clear:
Neutralize the threat and guarantee the safety of Oliver and his family.
And she absolutely did not believe that these two intruders were ordinary members.
The last time the Creation Society targeted Oliver, they had deployed a quasi-Champion-level trainer.
This time, there was almost certainly at least one Champion-level trainer—possibly two.
Mu Xue prepared for the worst.
After careful planning, she chose a bold strategy:
Lure the snake out of its hole.
Using her authority as a Champion, she ordered the tournament organizers to move the elimination round into a secret realm, then delayed entry until the following day.
Otherwise, why would she—Oliver's primary protector—waste time acting as a ceremonial guest?
From the enemy's perspective, the logic was simple.
If you were sent to abduct Oliver, would you miss this opportunity?
Of course not.
A secret realm was a sealed environment. Once Oliver entered, escape would be nearly impossible.
Inside, there would be only competitors and League rescue teams—no high-level trainers capable of interference.
After succeeding, the kidnappers could simply blend in with the contestants or investigators and exit the realm cleanly.
A chance like that was impossible to resist.
Thus, Mu Xue had long since arranged a dragnet around Qinglin Secret Realm, installing a vast array of concealed surveillance cameras covering every angle within a one-kilometer radius.
Deploying personnel directly would be pointless—Champion-level Pokémon could easily detect them.
Only remote monitoring would work.
Under near-total surveillance, nothing could escape notice.
As expected, in full view of the cameras, the two Creation Society operatives hypnotized four League investigators and slipped into the secret realm.
There was another reason Mu Xue chose the secret realm as the battlefield.
Champion-level battles cause catastrophic collateral damage.
The fight between a Champion Dragonite and Weavile had already proven that.
A secret realm offered vast space—and no risk of civilian casualties or massive economic loss.
To ensure absolute success, Mu Xue personally entered the realm alongside five quasi-Champion trainers and one additional Champion-level trainer.
She deliberately left behind all Veteran-level investigators.
At this level, they would only be liabilities.
One active Champion.
One Champion-level trainer.
Five quasi-Champion trainers.
In Mu Xue's estimation, even if both intruders were Champion-level, this force would be overwhelming.
But reality proved cruel.
Among the five quasi-Champion trainers she brought…
one was a Creation Society sleeper agent embedded within the League.
If the League could plant spies inside the Creation Society, the reverse was only natural.
Seizing the moment, the traitor launched a sudden ambush, critically wounding the League's other Champion-level trainer.
The shock rippled through everyone present.
Even the two Creation Society Champions were stunned.
Mu Xue had revealed the mission objective only shortly before the operation. The traitor hadn't had time to warn them.
Moments earlier, the enemy had been struggling to escape the trap.
In an instant, the balance of power flipped.
The League lost one Champion.
The enemy gained one quasi-Champion.
The scales tipped violently.
Only because Mu Xue herself far exceeded the average Champion could she barely hold the line.
But as the League's quasi-Champion trainers fell one after another, the pressure on her became unbearable.
Defeat was only a matter of time.
"What's the situation now?"
Oliver was being carried by Gardevoir, teleporting nonstop at maximum speed toward Qinglin Secret Realm.
"Mu… Xue… she's… not doing well… barely… holding on…"
Celebi's voice was fragmented.
Oliver knew what that meant.
Their mental link was reaching its limit. It might sever completely at any moment.
"Do whatever you can to stall them. I'm almost there!"
"I'll… try… hurry…"
The connection went silent.
Oliver clenched his teeth.
"Gardevoir, faster!"
Gardevoir closed her eyes and began drawing deeply on the power of the Silver Feather embedded in her crest.
After weeks of recovery, the Silver Feather had nearly returned to full strength.
Soft white light radiated outward.
Her energy regeneration surged visibly, and each teleport covered a much greater distance.
But Gardevoir wasn't satisfied.
She continued pulling harder.
Then—
A soundless fracture echoed within her body.
Under relentless strain, with the Silver Feather's power washing through her again and again, Gardevoir shattered her bottleneck.
Silently, seamlessly—
She stepped into the Veteran rank.
On the empty road, two flashes of light streaked past.
Gardevoir opened her eyes, psychic energy erupting.
Oliver smiled.
"Well done, Gardevoir. Full speed ahead!"
After her breakthrough, teleportation became effortless.
Even carrying Oliver, she crossed the distance at astonishing speed—arriving at the foot of the mountain leading to Qinglin Secret Realm.
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