Pokémon: I have no choice but to do this old thing?

Chapter 105 Aftershocks by the Lake

The chaos at Lake Lizhi gradually subsided. On the scorched grass, several Pokémon rolled their eyes. Their trainers, those Team Galactic grunts, had already been subdued and handcuffed, and were squatting dejectedly to one side.

Cynthia walked to a relatively intact clearing by the lake, took out her communicator, and calmly reported the situation to the League. Her voice was steady and clear, and she explained the course of events, the people involved, the status of Arknom, and Team Galactic's possible objectives one by one.

Not far away, the "handsome guy" was also grimacing as he leaned against a tree trunk, trying to contact Interpol for help. Although his wounds were not fatal, he looked quite disheveled.

Zhang Jianying turned and walked towards the handsome man.

"Give."

He took out a Vitality Cube from his first-aid kit and handed it over, saying, "Use it on your bad frog first."

"This—is too valuable!" The handsome man was stunned for a moment. Energy Cubes, which can instantly heal a dying Pokémon, are quite expensive on the market.

"Now is not the time to be polite." Without waiting for a reply, Zhang Jianying shoved the energy block into his hand, then squatted down and began to examine the handsome man's wounds.

Most of the injuries were abrasions and bruises, the most serious being a gash on the left arm caused by an energy splatter. The bleeding had stopped, but the flesh was turned inside out, which looked frightening.

"Bear with it."

Zhang Jianying deftly retrieved the disinfectant spray and bandages. His waveguide power allowed him to assess the injury with exceptional accuracy; he completed the disinfection, medication application, and bandaging in one smooth motion, his technique even surpassing that of some nurses.

"Hiss—thank you, investigator."

The handsome man inhaled sharply, looked at his neatly bandaged arm, and sincerely thanked him.

Zhang Jianying nodded at the station, "Earth platform, [Green Grass Field]."

"Tutai."

The earth-platform tortoise nodded steadily and lightly trod the ground with its four feet.

A soft, emerald-green light rippled outwards from beneath its feet, covering most of the lakeside area. The fresh scent of grass dispelled some of the burnt smell, and gentle grass-type energy seeped into the bodies of injured people and Pokémon, soothing pain and promoting wound healing.

The handsome man let out a long sigh of relief, feeling much less tired and aching. He released the wicked frog and fed it the Vitality Block.

Purple light flowed around the bad frog, and its injuries healed at a visible speed. It soon opened its eyes, and although it was still a little weak, it was fine.

"Croak—" It looked gratefully at Zhang Jianying and the earth turtle.

Zhang Jianying waved his hand, indicating that there was no need to be polite. He turned around and walked towards Cynthia, who was helping a swimming ring weasel whose hind leg was trapped under rubble.

The champion was crouching on the ground, carefully moving the stones. Her movements were gentle, her long golden hair slipping down her shoulders, and her profile looked exceptionally soft in the lakeside shimmer. The swimming ring weasel was trembling in pain, but gradually calmed down under her gentle comforting.

Zhang Jianying walked over and silently handed over the medicine and bandages.

Neither of them spoke, yet their movements were remarkably smooth. Cynthia held the ferret's hind legs steady, while Zhang Jianying cleaned the wounds, applied medicine, and bandaged it. The ferret was initially a little scared, but it quickly realized that the two humans were helping it, so it quietly allowed itself to be handled, even nuzzling Cynthia's palm with its little head.

"Alright, it'll recover after a few days of rest." Cynthia gently rubbed the head of the swim ring weasel and carried it to a clean patch of grass.

They continued to treat other injured wild Pokémon.

The man suddenly became agitated again when he passed by Darkstar's second-in-command, who had been thrown under a tree by Gengar and was still tightly bound by vines.

His abdominal wound was still bleeding, and his face was pale from blood loss, but his eyes were frighteningly fanatical.

"You—you understand nothing!"

He screamed hoarsely, his voice distorted by pain, "Emotions! Bonds! Heart! These are all weaknesses!"

It is the root cause of world chaos!

He stared intently at Zhang Jianying and Xilona, ​​as if they were some incomprehensible monsters.

"The Red Sun is right! Only by creating a new world without hearts can we eliminate strife, suffering, and..."

How tragic! You fools, blinded by your emotions, are actually upholding this filthy old order!

Zhang Jianying paused, frowning in annoyance.

In Mewtwo's reverse use of [future prediction], he saw the so-called "new world" in a parallel universe.

O

A deathly stillness, a gray-white expanse, devoid of color, sound, and the rhythm of life. All humans and Pokémon are like exquisite puppets, alive yet as if dead.

That was a scene he would never allow to be repeated in this world.

"Gengar." His voice turned cold. "Take him away and calm him down. He's too noisy."

"Eye-ga~" Gengar floated over with a wicked grin, grabbed the vine with its short arms, and dragged the still-shouting second-in-command towards the distant woods like a sack.

"Roar—!!!"

A roar of fury and pain suddenly exploded from the side!

Zhang Jianying and Cynthia turned their heads at the same time.

It's a Salamence.

Its massive body trembled slightly, and its scarlet eyes were fixed on the second-in-command who was being dragged away, the anger inside almost solidifying!

Its chest heaved violently, and the irregular patterns on its sky-blue scales shimmered with an eerie red light.

Salamence recognized this person!

Back in the Dark Star organization's secret base, this was the person who orchestrated those inhumane experiments, leaving indelible painful memories on him and countless Pokémon!

"Salamander—"

Zhang Jianying strode forward and gently pressed down on Salamence's lowered head. He gently channeled his Aura, attempting to soothe its turbulent emotions and pain.

But the Salamence's breathing remained heavy, and its eyes were bloodshot. The memory of being imprisoned, dissected, and forcibly injected with experimental fluids, watching its kind writhe and die in the experiments, gnawed at its sanity like a venomous snake.

It wanted to tear that scum to shreds, to burn him to ashes with the most ferocious dragon breath, and to completely erase that dark memory, along with the source of that darkness, from this world.

It doesn't want to cause trouble for the trainer.

Zhang Jianying silently comforted Bao Feilong, knowing full well what was going on, but—

"Little guy."

At that moment, Cynthia also came over.

She gently raised her hand and placed her palm on the other cheek of the Salamence.

"Look at me."

Her voice was soft, yet it possessed a strange power that could penetrate the frenzy.

Salamence's crimson eyes darted around, meeting Cynthia's calm gray eyes.

There was no pity in it, only a deep pool of understanding and permission.

Cynthia tiptoed slightly, leaned close to Salamence's ear, and whispered a few words in a volume only the two of them could hear.

Zhang Jianying only saw the Flying Dragon's eyes widen suddenly, and then the rage within them receded like a tide, replaced by an astonishingly bright light.

Excitement, anticipation, and a touch of eagerness.

"Roar—?"

The Salamence growled, its tone questioning.

Cynthia smiled and nodded, then withdrew her hand and took a step back.

"Go," she said, her voice returning to normal. "Remember, as long as you don't kill anyone. The rest—it's up to you."

Cynthia paused, looked at Zhang Jianying, and a sly glint flashed in her gray eyes.

"If anything goes wrong, I'll take responsibility."

Zhang Jianying:

He looked at Salamence, who had suddenly transformed from a crazed female demon into an excited little chicken, and then at Cynthia, who had an expression that said, "I don't know anything, but I'm doing good deeds." He was speechless for a moment.

Salamence received "permission," and the entire dragon changed.

It excitedly flicked its tail, exhaling two puffs of hot air from its nostrils, then strutted along with its strong limbs, its swaggering gait reckless, chasing after Gengar and the dragged second-in-command, rushing into the distant grove.

Zhang Jianying looked at Cynthia knowingly: "You—"

Cynthia gracefully tidied her wind-blown hair and smiled slightly.

"It's nothing. Appropriate communication and persuasion are permissible for heinous criminals who show no remorse. After all, we also need to give Pokémon an opportunity to express their legitimate emotions."

Cynthia's words were understated.

Wow, what a great concept of "communication" and "persuasive education"! He wholeheartedly agrees.

If there weren't other people around, I would have used some less gentle methods to pry all the secrets about Dark Star and Team Galactic from this madman's mouth, and then quietly let Salamence kill him.

Do you really think he's the kind of inflexible, rule-abiding gentleman who only knows how to follow the rules?

Mercy to the wicked is cruelty to the kind. He had long understood this principle.

The two tacitly stopped paying attention to the faint screams coming from the grove.

They turned around and continued their work on rescuing wild Pokémon.

Soon after, support teams from the alliance and Interpol finally arrived.

A professional medical team quickly took over the treatment of the injured, and various advanced medical equipment and medicines were unloaded from the vehicle, allowing the injured Pokémon to receive more proper care.

Cynthia turned to look at the figure beside her who was staring blankly at the petrified Pokémon. She smiled gently and patted his shoulder lightly.

"No need to worry, J has been captured. The Alliance's technical department will crack her technology, and all the stone statues we collected before will be properly disposed of."

Zhang Jianying felt relieved and nodded.

At this moment, the older Interpol officer, Officer Jenny, helped the "handsome guy," who had regained some of his energy, to the two of them.

"Champion, Investigator," Officer Jenny saluted them solemnly. "Thank you for your timely assistance and valiant efforts. The severity of the Lake of Determination incident far exceeded our expectations; without you two, the consequences would have been unimaginable."

She looked at Zhang Jianying: "Investigator, in view of your performance and role in this operation, after an emergency review within the organization, it has been decided to promote you to a higher level of authority. The relevant documents and new credentials will be delivered to you as soon as possible."

Zhang Jianying was taken aback.

He subconsciously glanced at the "handsome guy" next to him.

The man was secretly winking at him, his face beaming with smug satisfaction.

He immediately understood.

The "handsome guy" took most of the credit for himself. This passionate Interpol agent was expressing his gratitude and recognition in his own way.

A warm feeling welled up in Zhang Jianying's heart, but he shook his head.

"Officer Jenny, I cannot accept this award."

He spoke sincerely: "The success of this operation in thwarting the Galaxy Team and Dark Star's conspiracy and protecting Arknom was mainly due to the timely arrival of the Champion and the desperate resistance of my senior, 'Senior.' I just happened to be nearby and did what I could. The credit shouldn't go to me."

Upon hearing this, the "handsome guy" exclaimed, "Hey buddy, what nonsense are you talking about!"

He's right.

Cynthia suddenly spoke, interrupting the "handsome guy's" words.

She looked at Zhang Jianying, her gray eyes filled with approval.

How to distribute the credit is a matter for later.

She turned to Officer Jenny: "Officer Jenny, regarding the commendation, it can be handled according to the actual situation and the rules and procedures."

I believe the alliance and Interpol will make a fair judgment.

Officer Jenny looked at the three people before her: the young investigator who was deferring the credit, the colleague who was anxiously scratching his head, and the champion who had delivered the decisive blow. A relieved smile appeared on her face.

She was actually very clear about all these intricacies.

This colleague, nicknamed "Handsome Guy," is exceptionally capable and passionate about justice, but he's also too impulsive and careless in his actions, causing his career to fluctuate wildly. It's precisely this kind of colleague that makes him all the more valuable.

This young investigator is highly capable, upright, and has a limitless future.

"I understand." Officer Jenny saluted again. "I will relay everyone's opinions back to us. Now, we will take care of the cleanup. Champion, you can rest assured. Several of the Elite Four have already been dispatched and will do their utmost to track down Team Galactic and Dark Star."

Cynthia nodded.

Officer Jenny gave the "handsome guy" a few more instructions to take care of his injuries, then directed her subordinates to capture the Team Galactic members.

The second-in-command, who had been "communicated" to the point of mental confusion, along with Hunter J, who was bound like a dumpling, and her Salamence, were all put on a special transport plane.

The bustling lakeside gradually returned to calm.

All that remains are the lingering smoke of battle, the dried-up lakebed, and the busy cleanup crew.

Cynthia walked to Zhang Jianying's side and stood beside him, watching the slowly setting sun.

The lake breeze ruffled her golden hair, carrying a cool sensation.

"What are your plans for the future?" she asked softly.

Looking at the clouds on the horizon dyed golden-red, Zhang Jianying replied, "Three badges are still needed. I should continue challenging the remaining gyms and then prepare for the League Conference."

Cynthia nodded: "With your current strength, passing the preliminary rounds of the tournament shouldn't be a problem. However, your opponents in the tournament won't hold back like they do in gym battles."

"I know," Zhang Jianying smiled.

Cynthia was silent for a moment, then suddenly said, "I can't spare the time right now. The threat from the Sun and Team Galactic is imminent, and I have to follow up personally. However—"

She turned to look at Zhang Jianying, the afterglow of the setting sun dancing in her gray eyes.

"Once this matter is settled, I plan to spend a few days in a scenic area. It's very quiet there, and the scenery is quite nice."

She paused, a slight smile playing on her lips.

"Would you be welcome to visit me?"

Zhang Jianying's heart skipped a beat, but he nodded without hesitation: "Of course! You're welcome anytime!"

After saying that, he added seriously, "However, we must be careful when dealing with the Galaxy team."

Cynthia smiled freely, a smile that shone brightly in the setting sun.

"Don't worry. I'm the champion."

She walked toward the waiting warrior eagle and gracefully leaped onto its back.

"Then, see you at the Alliance Conference—or maybe even sooner."

The warrior eagle spread its wings, carrying that golden figure, soaring into the sky and quickly merging into the magnificent sunset.

Zhang Jianying stood there, gazing in the direction she had disappeared, remaining motionless for a long time.

He only snapped out of his daze when Gardevoir gently tugged at his sleeve.

He took a deep breath.

The lingering worry and sense of urgency in his heart, stemming from his memories of the parallel world, did not disappear after Arknom was rescued; on the contrary, it became even clearer.

The blazing sun still lurks in the shadows, and the conspiracy of the red chains continues.

Zhenxing took away some of Arknom's energy —

"I don't care what Chi Ri has been through or what hardships he has endured." Zhang Jianying clenched his fist.

"If you make a mistake, you must admit it. If you are punished, you must stand up straight. No matter what you experience, it is never an excuse to do evil."

"The will of an individual should never supersede that of any other."

He turned and walked toward the Pokémon that were waiting for him.

The setting sun cast long shadows of them onto the scarred lakeside land that was slowly recovering.

The road ahead is long, but as long as he has these companions by his side, he has nothing to fear.