Soon after, Zhao Mingzhu finished printing the documents and took Chen Kai to the Plant Department.
Bai Zhaoxing continued to be busy in his office.
According to Zhao Mingzhu, her uncle was working on a crucial research publication, and if all went well, he could be promoted to Section Chief.
Chen Kai teased, "Zhao Jie, are you that afraid of that Section Chief?"
"Of course! Section Chief Hu is notoriously lecherous! He's rich and well-connected; a girl from the institute was even fired because of him previously."
Chen Kai scrutinized Zhao Mingzhu again, looking at her disheveled appearance, and retorted, "Emm... how should I put this? Section Chief Hu might be after your beauty, but it's somewhat possible."
Zhao Mingzhu fumed, "What did you say? You're very rude!"
"I'm one of the Four Beauties of the Kyoto Pokemon Research Institute."
Thinking that he still needed her to lead the way, Chen Kai said against his will, "Alright, alright, you are one of the Four Beauties."
Zhao Mingzhu crossed her arms and said, "This is about right. I always feel like Section Chief Hu is looking at me pervertedly, just like just now!"
Chen Kai could only complain inwardly.
Is it possible, perhaps, that he was looking at you angrily because you entered without knocking?
As the two chatted, they arrived at the entrance of the Plant Department.
The Plant Department was not as simple as Bai Zhaoxing's office; this office was filled with green plants.
There were also many people in the office. Zhao Mingzhu led Chen Kai to a woman and said,
"Qian Jie, this is Old Bai's nephew from our department. He has some questions he'd like to ask you."
The middle-aged woman named Qian Jie was tending to a potted plant. Hearing someone call her, she turned her head.
"Oh! It's Xiao Zhao. What's wrong with this young man?"
Chen Kai politely stepped forward and greeted, "Hello, Qian Jie. I'd like to ask if you've heard of the legendary seasoning?"
"The legendary seasoning?" Qian Jie stood up and began to think.
"The legendary seasoning... I think I've seen it somewhere. Let me think for a moment!"
Just like that, Chen Kai waited for a full 5 minutes, and Qian Jie was still thinking.
"Young man! I'm sorry, I can't recall where I saw it right now, but I definitely saw related literature somewhere. How about this, let's exchange contact information, and I'll tell you when I remember," Qian Jie said kindly.
Chen Kai hadn't expected to find relevant information at the Kyoto Pokemon Research Institute, so having some clues already exceeded his expectations.
He thanked her, "Okay, okay. Thank you so much, Qian Jie!"
The two added each other on WeChat. Chen Kai saw that his uncle was still busy, so he went home by himself.
—
At this time, in a storage room at the Research Institute, Section Chief Hu bowed and handed a document to a blond masked person.
The document was a photocopy of 'Research on the Restoration of Fragmented Ancient Pokemon'.
The blond masked person opened it and glanced at it, confirming the document was fine, and said in a hoarse voice, "Very good, the money has been transferred to your Swiss card as usual."
Section Chief Hu cautiously asked, "Vine, about helping me smuggle out of the country."
The masked person, codenamed 'Vine', said, "Do what you're supposed to do tomorrow, and we will naturally take you out of the country."
After speaking, 'Vine' released a Ditto from a Poké Ball. The Ditto attached itself to 'Vine', transforming into the appearance of a Research Institute security guard, and walked out of the storage room.
Before leaving, she didn't forget to remind Section Chief Hu, "Do what you're supposed to do; we won't treat you unfairly."
Section Chief Hu quickly nodded and bowed, "Okay, okay, thank you, Vine."
After 'Vine' left, he straightened his back, a look of joy appearing on his face.
He had long wanted to leave Dragon Country.
He didn't have much scientific research talent; he spent money, pulled strings, and accumulated seniority to barely become a Section Chief at the Kyoto Pokemon Research Institute.
If a person had virtue but no talent, that would be one thing, but the key was that he was a person with neither virtue nor talent.
He was proficient in eating, drinking, whoring, and gambling; his Section Chief's salary was simply not enough for him to spend.
So when a foreign spy organization approached him, both sides hit it off immediately.
He sold information from the institute, and the organization gave him a handsome reward.
But as he sold more and more intelligence, the Dragon Country's internal investigations were closing in on him, so he was anxious to smuggle himself out of Dragon Country.
The spy organization happened to have an important mission that required infiltrating the Kyoto Bai family to steal an important item. He took the risk and agreed; as long as he completed it, the organization promised to help him smuggle out.
On the other side, 'Vine' easily left the Research Institute by transforming. After passing a traffic light outside the Research Institute, she slipped into a corner and changed her appearance again, becoming an ordinary middle-aged Dragon Country woman.
She casually pulled out a phone and dialed a number.
It rang 5 times before the call connected.
She announced her name, "I'm 'Vine'. My arrangements here are almost done. How about yours?"
An impatient voice came from the other end of the phone, saying only, "Just mind your own business," before hanging up.
'Vine' looked at the phone in her hand and cursed, "F**k."
The next morning, Chen Kai uncharacteristically woke up early.
As soon as he reached the living room, he saw Iron Bundle fiddling with crystal beads on the table, but as soon as it saw Chen Kai, for some reason, it took the crystal ball back into its Poké Ball.
Chen Kai scratched his head, deciding to ignore it for now. He had bought several unique crystal balls online, and when they arrived, it would surely be captivated.
After a simple breakfast, he packed his things, taking the special clothing Iron Leaves had given him, just in case.
Following the address, he arrived at a park located in the suburbs of Kyoto.
What should have been a place for elderly people to exercise was today surrounded by all sorts of people. Besides a few reporters with cameras, the only commonality among the others was that they all carried Pokemon, and most of them were Dragon-type Pokemon.
Chen Kai was a little puzzled. "Emm... why are they all gathering in a park?"
Could it be that the Bai family's gate is behind this park?
No one answered Chen Kai's questions for the time being. He looked around in the crowd and spotted Bai Yuchun and Ye Gai.
However, they seemed to be busy, with several reporters surrounding them for interviews, so Chen Kai didn't go up to disturb them.
Seeing Chun Jie and Ye Gai, he knew he wasn't in the wrong place. Chen Kai relaxed and looked around; his grandfather should also be here, so he decided to look for him.
But before he could find his grandfather, Chen Kai actually saw Section Chief Hu, accompanied by two strong men in black suits and a young man.
The young man had a Charmander with him and was likely the same age as Chen Kai, both about to enter their second year of high school; he was probably Section Chief Hu's grandson.
Section Chief Hu had asked his uncle for help precisely for his grandson to participate in this competition.
However, for some reason, Chen Kai always felt that there was a certain disconnect between the Charmander and Section Chief Hu's grandson, it didn't feel natural.