Watching Li Guanjun's retreating figure, a lookout, who had been pretending to be a passerby and lingering around the Champion's command post, took out his phone and made a call.
"Report, Li Guanjun has departed. Judging by the direction, he should be heading to the Wilderness Area."
"Understood. You can return to collect your reward once the mission is complete."
After hanging up, the person on the other end of the phone murmured, "It's time for me to enter the fray. I wonder if that child can handle it."
.......
Meanwhile, after Li Guanjun's subordinate arranged for the window repairs, he turned to his two companions and said, "You two continue to manage the Champion's office as usual. I'll accompany Li Guanjun to the Water-type Wilderness Area."
"Just you and Li Guanjun? Do we need to call the security team to go with you?"
"They're just a bunch of despicable bandits. Don't you know how strong the Champion is?"
As the two spoke, the subordinate also took out a Poké Ball for a League-approved riding Pokémon, threw it out the window, and a large bird Pokémon, Braviary, appeared.
Riding Braviary, he chased after Li Guanjun's figure. Li Guanjun didn't speed up but waited for his subordinate to catch up.
"Xing Ken, is it just you who came?" Li Guanjun asked, looking at the subordinate who had caught up.
Xing Ken nodded and replied, "Yes, Li Guanjun. I told them to stay behind and stabilize other matters in the Champion's office first."
"Very good, Xing Ken, you're still as meticulous as ever."
This man, named Yu Xingken, is a top student who graduated from the Huaguo Criminal Investigation Academy. He excels with Ghost-type Pokémon and has solved numerous criminal cases involving Pokémon being commanded to commit crimes.
The two continued to converse during their flight on their riding Pokémon.
As a skilled criminal investigator, Xing Ken was very interested in such analysis and deduction, so he asked, "Li Guanjun, why is it that merely mentioning the name of the Zhang family's patriarch made you seem to see through everything and rush to the Wilderness Area so eagerly?"
Li Guanjun had no intention of hiding anything and retorted, "His family's heir is also in the Wilderness Area, so why would his father help conceal the dangerous situation in the Wilderness Area, allowing his own child to be deeply embroiled? This doesn't make sense."
Xing Ken nodded, remaining silent, and continued to listen to Li Guanjun's analysis.
Li Guanjun looked straight ahead and elaborated, "Moreover, the strangest thing is the Zhang family's approach. Instead of immediately contacting the League for rescue, they chose to challenge me, the Champion, to cover up the crisis in the Wilderness Area. Furthermore, they used their absolute strength to consecutively defeat eight of the strongest Elite Four Trainers within four days, making the news in Huaguo all about Zhang Lei Yuan's battle with me for the Champion title."
Xing Ken sorted out the relationships and shared his insights with Li Guanjun: "The Zhang family's swift defeat of eight of the strongest Elite Four Trainers was to show their strength and gain the opportunity to challenge you, to attract your attention, and ultimately to allow their family to gain corresponding benefits in the Wilderness Area?!"
Li Guanjun looked admiringly at the subordinate he had carefully cultivated. He continued his analysis, "If my hypothesis is correct, then both the Water Blade Gang and the Zhang family have, without prior agreement, used their own methods to obstruct the League from obtaining specific information about the Wilderness Area. And the League remains unaware of how these two factions are clashing within the Wilderness Area."
Xing Ken posed the most critical question: "Then, Li Guanjun, what could the Zhang family and the Water Blade Gang be contending for in the Wilderness Area?"
"Combining the information fed back by the Elite Four Trainers sent by the League to investigate, in the Water-type Wilderness Area, Dark-type Pokémon have higher potential and develop faster. From this, it can be inferred... there should be a Dark-type legendary Pokémon in the Water-type Wilderness Area, and the Dark Pulse it releases is affecting the Wilderness Area," Li Guanjun stated his opinion.
Xing Ken, after recovering from his Earthquake-like shock, applied his fundamental investigative skills from his daily criminal investigation work. He quickly connected all the information, making everything seem logical.
After much thought, Xing Ken also offered another insight: "Li Guanjun, I believe that if both sides fight, and the Zhang family wins, they will not only receive praise domestically, but the League also won't be able to demand any benefits they gain. If they lose, even if the Zhang family doesn't gain benefits, resisting an external enemy will still earn them domestic praise, and the League might even compensate them for their losses."
Li Guanjun nodded noncommittally, highly agreeing with Xing Ken's analysis.
He replied, "Indeed, I must say Zhang Lei Yuan has a great plan. He puts his son in danger, then goes to rescue him, likely defeating the external enemy while capturing the legendary Pokémon, gaining benefits from the League, and receiving praise domestically. How interesting. I'm increasingly looking forward to battling him; his foresight is profound. However, since I already know everything, I must act as the fisherman, benefiting from your conflict."
As he spoke, he recalled his niece's urgent tone when asking for help, knowing that she had an excellent relationship with Zhang Heng. He then frowned and said, "I hope the Zhang family doesn't mess up. If the safety of the Zhang family heir cannot be guaranteed, Huaguo would lose an invaluable Pokémon medical talent, someone who could potentially lead generations and expand the medical field in the future..."
.......
Inside the Water Tower's isolated space,
After Mudkip successfully used Shell Smash, Zhang Heng began a comprehensive and meticulous examination of Mudkip, from head to tail, not missing a single detail.
He checked if Mudkip's eyes were clear and bright, if its gills were breathing normally, and if its scales were intact. After a thorough examination, Zhang Heng finally confirmed that Mudkip was very healthy, with no abnormalities whatsoever.
With joy evident on his face, Zhang Heng temporarily forgot the surrounding dangers and played with Mudkip to his heart's content. He gently teased Mudkip, watching it run and jump happily, occasionally making "Gura Gura" sounds, as if expressing its excitement to its owner.
However, this relaxed and pleasant atmosphere did not last long; the harsh reality once again enveloped Zhang Heng. This was a confined space with only a single entrance, like a giant urn.
At this moment, Zhang Heng knew that the Water Blade Gang was watching menacingly at the sole entrance and exit, ready to rush in at any moment. Thinking of this, Zhang Heng's nerves immediately tensed up, and he maintained a state of high alert, not daring to relax in the slightest.
Buzz—
Suddenly, a low and prolonged sound came from the Water Tower. Zhang Heng and the Pokémon standing in this space could feel the powerful Water-type energy spreading out like ripples.
Just then, a faint "creak" entered everyone's ears. Following the sound, they saw the ancient wooden door at the entrance of the Water Tower, which was originally tightly shut and painted with striking red lacquer, slowly opening at an extremely slow pace.
A gap about the size of a fist gradually appeared in the middle of the door. Through this narrow crack, a faint blue light could be seen flickering inside.