Chen Kai neatly tidied his desk, carefully placing essential items and his notebook full of secrets into the innermost layer of his bookshelf, then prepared to head to school for registration.
Nowadays, it was extremely convenient for him to go out; he only needed his phone and three items: a green spherical gem, an orange conical gem, and a cyan square steel block, making him incredibly light.
Just as he was about to leave, the TV Xiao Mei was watching happened to switch to the news channel and had not been turned off, so the morning news broadcast clearly reached Chen Kai's ears:
...Latest news from this station. The president of Luminisus Tech Company, a well-known French enterprise, has been confirmed missing for several days. Police preliminary investigations show that his disappearance time highly coincides with the company's recent application for bankruptcy protection, suggesting a possible connection. However, no specific clues or ransom information have been found yet. This station will continue to follow the progress of this event...
Chen Kai's steps paused slightly at the door, "Luminisus Tech?"
He vaguely remembered hearing that name while in France, but he hadn't delved into it much.
A president missing, a company bankrupt—this sounded like trouble from another distant world, seeming both remote and irrelevant compared to his current affairs.
He gently shook his head, didn't think any more about it, and bent down to tie his shoelaces.
Just then, two "lively" scenes were unfolding simultaneously outside his home.
Chen Ba was seen leisurely walking from the other side of the hill, accompanied by the energetic village chief from next door.
The two seemed to have just finished a lively discussion, and Chen Ba's voice, tinged with the excitement of planning, clearly carried over:
...Yes, old brother, I truly think this has potential! The hillside area of Zining Mountain is pleasant and large enough. I'm thinking of leasing the whole thing! You really need to help me with the procedures...
Yes, I'll set up a large ecological ranch, raising Miltank, Wooloo, and the like. Maybe later we can even introduce some unique foreign breeds...
Perhaps in the future, it could even develop into a tourist attraction, bringing in business for your villagers to run homestays and agritourism!
On the other side, Chen Ma was also striding quickly from the bottom of the hill, holding a tape measure, followed by two people carrying blueprints who clearly looked like decorators.
She gestured as she spoke: "...Yes, master, that wall over there, I plan to knock it down and put in a large floor-to-ceiling window so the living room will be brighter! And the backyard, that needs to be repaved, and it would be best to build a shed, our Pokemon are tall...
Use good quality materials, so they don't get damaged by strong winds...
His parents were clearly immersed in their respective future plans: one intended to lease a mountain to develop a ranch, and the other planned to renovate the house, both making quite a stir.
Listening to his parents' "grand plans" coming from two directions, Chen Kai only felt that the house was particularly busy today.
Although he was somewhat curious about his parents' renovated home, he didn't dwell on it too much.
He tied his shoelaces, straightened up, and shouted loudly to both sides: "Dad, Mom, I'm going to school to register!"
"Oh, okay, be careful on the way!" Chen Ma replied briefly, her attention quickly returning to the blueprints.
Chen Ba also waved from afar, indicating he understood.
Only the village chief found it a bit strange; he remembered Chen Kai and his daughter Wang Yi were classmates, so why wasn't he in Rong City for the competition?
However, Miraidon was already waiting at the door, and seeing Chen Kai emerge, it immediately carried him away in a flash.
On the way, Chen Kai sent a message to Grandma Ju.
Last time in Capital, Chen Kai added Grandma Ju's Green Bubble; this time on his phone, he didn't elaborate, only roughly mentioning that he had important matters to discuss.
However, Grandma Ju seemed to be busy with affairs, neither replying to the message nor answering the phone, so Chen Kai could only wait for her response.
Before long, Miraidon had carried Chen Kai to Zining High School.
Chen Kai walked into the classroom of Class 1, Grade 11; it was empty.
Desks and chairs were neatly arranged, and the duty roster from before the holiday was still on the blackboard, permeated with a quiet atmosphere as if the holiday hadn't ended.
Chen Kai turned and walked towards the teachers' office.
He pushed open the office door; it was also silent inside, as it was class time.
None of the teachers for their class were there, but fortunately, a teacher from another class was present.
This teacher told Chen Kai that most of the teachers from Class 1, Grade 11, had gone to Rong City, and even the teachers and students from Class 1, Grade 12, had gone too.
After all, this was the Sichuan Province High School League, and Qu County was almost entirely represented by Zining High School this time. This was the first time since the school's establishment that they had participated in such a large competition, so almost everyone who could go went.
However, the teacher also informed Chen Kai that the principal had not gone.
After thanking him, Chen Kai walked towards the principal's office.
He knocked on the door, and sure enough, only the kind-faced, white-haired old principal remained in charge of the school.
The old principal was wearing his reading glasses, calmly reading a document.
"Hello, Principal."
Chen Kai greeted respectfully.
"Oh? Is it Chen Kai, my student?" The old principal looked up, pushed up his glasses, and said with a smile:
"You're back to register? Ah, look, there's hardly anyone left in the school. Everyone's gone to Rong City to see the world. My old bones can't handle the hassle, so I'm staying home to watch the place."
He looked at Chen Kai with gentle eyes and continued:
"But it's good you're back now; the competition isn't completely over yet. If you hurry over now, you should still make it in time to participate in some events and see the skill level of your peers from other regions. This is a rare opportunity."
Saying this, the old principal enthusiastically stood up, took his jacket from the back of his chair, and said:
"How do you plan to get to Rong City? Why don't I drive you? The school doesn't have much going on right now anyway."
Chen Kai was startled; how could he let an old principal, old enough to be his grandfather, drive him on a long trip!?
He quickly waved his hands repeatedly, backing away and saying: "No need, no need! Principal, you're too kind! I have a Cyclizar and a driver's license, I'll be in Rong City very quickly! Really! I won't trouble you!"
With that, Chen Kai quickly exited the principal's office.
However, just as he exited the principal's office and the door was about to close, Chen Kai's movement paused ever so slightly.
His gaze was like lightning, sharply sweeping over the seemingly empty corner behind the principal. His brows furrowed slightly, and a hint of surprise and realization flashed in his eyes.
Just now, he had continuously sensed an extremely powerful yet perfectly restrained energy fluctuation pervading that air—chilly, ethereal, yet carrying the unique majesty of a Dragon-type.
That type combination...it was clearly Dragon and Ghost-type! And this power level was extremely high, surely a very high-level Pokemon.
Thus, the answer was almost self-evident—Dragapult!
After all, it couldn't possibly be Giratina, could it?
Chen Kai calmly withdrew his gaze and gently closed the door.
He couldn't help but have a new understanding of this old principal, who always wore a kind smile and seemed approachable.
When this old principal was young, he must have been a formidable figure who dominated the scene!
Inside the principal's office, the old principal did not immediately sit back down.
He looked at the closed door, and the amiable smile on his face gradually transformed into a meaningful, intrigued expression.
He didn't turn around, but spoke softly to the air behind him, as if to himself: "He...noticed you just now?"
The space behind him rippled like water, and a slender-bodied, Dragon and Ghost-type Pokemon—Dragapult—with two small Dreepy on its head and covered in a gray-green carapace, slowly revealed itself.
Its slender eyes looked towards the door, nodded, and let out a low, ethereal hum.
"Oh? Indeed..." Upon receiving confirmation, the old principal showed no surprise. Instead, he stroked the white beard on his chin, and his eyes gleamed with gratification and joy:
"Remarkable, truly remarkable... It seems a true dragon is about to emerge from my small Zining High School?"
"Talented people emerge from generation to generation, each leading the way for centuries..." He smiled as he sat back in his chair, lamenting to his old companion beside him:
"Just watch, old friend, this child... will probably grow into a great figure beyond our imagination in the future."
Dragapult let out an affirmative hum, its figure slowly merging back into the air, as if it had never appeared.
In the principal's office, only the old principal's joyful and expectant chuckle remained.
At this moment, Chen Kai had just walked out of the school gate when he felt his phone vibrate.
His heart leaped with joy, thinking it was a message from Grandma Ju.
But when he looked, it was from Huang Mao:
Kai Ge, team in danger, return quickly!