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

The "warm hospitality" in the valley lasted for about fifteen minutes, until the masked man went from screaming and howling to weak groans, and finally fainted completely.

Gardevoir shook her slightly sore wrists, and the light from her ice and fire fists gradually faded.

Looking at the masked man on the ground, his clothes tattered and barely recognizable as human, the flames of hatred burning in his eyes gradually subsided, transforming into a sense of relief.

The heavy weight that had been pressing on his heart for so long seemed to have loosened a bit after that punch.

Zhang Jianying walked over and patted Gardevoir on the shoulder.

"Thanks for your hard work."

He said in a low voice, without offering any further words of comfort. Some wounds need time to heal, and this unexpected encounter was just the beginning.

Gardevoir nodded slightly.

Baby Dragon pursed its lips, walked over, poked the masked man with its paw to make sure he was still alive, and then disgustedly wiped itself on the grass next to it.

The Tortoise released the Iron Crawler and Tyranitar from their bonds and used vines to tie them together with Alakazam, piling them to one side.

The Greatsword Demon silently wiped the dust off his foot blades, his fierce aura gradually receding.

Gengar floated over to the ordinary team members who had been knocked unconscious by the Greatsword Ghost, and curiously examined their equipment.

Zhang Jianying walked to the masked man's side, squatted down, and began to skillfully search him.

He first removed the other person's mask, which was mostly broken, revealing the face of an ordinary middle-aged man whose face was swollen like a pig's head. He was unremarkable and the kind of person you would easily lose in a crowd.

Zhang Jianying examined the mask carefully, took a picture of it, and then casually threw it away.

He took the string of sealed Poké Balls from the other person's waist, counted them, and found that there were nine in total, including the three that had already been opened.

Good heavens, it's a full-strength squad. Luckily, we struck first.

Then, he pulled out a bunch of unidentified items and a bracelet inlaid with gemstones from the inside pocket of the other party's damaged protective suit.

Zhang Jianying expands the data perspective.

Key Stone: A stone containing power that allows a Pokémon holding a Mega Stone to Mega Evolve.

Sure enough, Tyranitar has an evolution stone, so there's no reason why its owner wouldn't have a key stone. Hmm, loot +1.

Zhang Jianying held the Mega in his hand, feeling the violent energy contained within it.

He glanced at the unconscious Bangiras not far away and shook his head. This thing might be a treasure to them, but it was currently of no use to him.

However, as a prize and a bargaining chip, this Mega Stone is quite valuable.

After looting the place, Zhang Jianying stood up and dusted off his hands. Next was dealing with the prisoners.

He took out his catalog, hesitated for a moment, and did not directly contact the nearby police force.

The Dark Star organization is a cross-regional criminal group, and the capture of its leaders is a major event. Ordinary local police forces may not be able to handle it properly, and there is also a risk of leaks leading to unnecessary trouble.

Zhang Jianying found a communication code left to him by Gustav in the encrypted contact list of the encyclopedia.

I walked to a relatively quiet spot and dialed the number.

The call was quickly connected, but there was no video on the other end, only a processed, synthesized voice: "Verify identity."

"Introduction to Master Gustav. Code xxx"

Zhang Jianying recited the verification information that Gustav had left for him.

There was a few seconds of silence on the other end, as if they were verifying something.

A moment later, the synthesized voice sounded again: "Identity confirmed. Please state the reason."

"A Dark Star organization executive has been captured near coordinates XX in the Sinnoh region. He was carrying a Tyranitar Mega Stone, and several regular members have been apprehended, all of whom are incapacitated. We request police assistance to take him in, as this executive may possess important intelligence."

Zhang Jian gave a rapid and steady report in English.

The synthesized voice on the other end seemed to pause for a moment.

"Have the Dark Star executives...confirmed their identities?"

"Facial features have been recorded, but further verification is needed. The Pokémon being carried include Alakazam, Tyranitar, and Crawdex. The target is currently unconscious, but vital signs are stable." Zhang Jianying carefully chose his words.

"Understood. Coordinates recorded. Please remain in place and do not contact local police. Headquarters will dispatch personnel to receive you; they are expected to arrive within two hours. Please be careful and keep communication channels open."

"clear."

Communication ended.

Zhang Jianying breathed a sigh of relief. Gustav's connections were indeed reliable, as he had directly contacted Interpol headquarters.

This way, the subsequent handling will be much more professional, and it can also avoid unnecessary complications to the greatest extent.

He briefly informed his companions of the situation, telling them to take a short rest and remain vigilant.

The wait took a little longer than expected.

About two and a half hours later, it was completely dark and night had fallen.

Gengar emerged from the shadows and gestured to indicate that a flying object was approaching.

Soon, a medium-sized aircraft without any markings landed silently on the open ground outside the valley, the wind pressure generated by its rotors causing the grass and trees to bend low.

The hatch opened, and the first person to step out was Ms. Jenny, dressed in Interpol uniform.

Zhang Jianying was somewhat surprised, but quickly understood.

The Officer Jenny family is present in police forces around the world, so it's not surprising that there are Officer Jennys in Interpol. However, this particular officer's demeanor is quite different from that of typical regional Officer Jennys.

He looked much older, with a serious and rigid face.

She was followed by four equally armed criminal police officers.

Officer Jenny's gaze swept quickly across the scene in the valley: the Dark Star team members lying unconscious in disarray, Pokémon tied up in a pile, traces of battle everywhere, and the masked man sprawled among the rubble.

Officer Jenny's lips twitched slightly, but her expression quickly returned to normal.

She walked up to Zhang Jianying and gave a police salute: "Interpol Headquarters, Special Operations Division, Officer Jenny. I've been ordered to receive the target and related personnel and belongings."

Zhang Jianying nodded: "The target, his team members, the sprite, and their belongings are all here."

He handed over the string of Poké Balls and a bunch of unidentified devices.

Officer Jenny took it and handed it to the team members behind her for preliminary inspection and sealing.

She walked over to the masked man and knelt down to examine him.

When he saw the other person's swollen face, which was clearly bruised from being beaten, he frowned slightly.

She stood up, her tone still calm but with a hint of admonition: "Trainer, thank you for your contributions to the fight against crime. However, according to the regulations and the League's basic law, even the most heinous criminals, once incapacitated, should have their basic human rights guaranteed and be subject to legal trial. Excessive punishment may affect subsequent interrogations and is not in accordance with procedural justice."

She paused, looking at Zhang Jianying's unwavering gaze, and added, "I understand you may have personal grudges against him, but please believe that the law will give him the punishment he deserves."

"Officer Jenny, you're absolutely right."

Zhang Jianying readily agreed, her face displaying just the right amount of grief and helplessness.

"We were attacked and forced to fight back. This person was incredibly strong and vicious, refusing to surrender even unto death, making the battle exceptionally fierce. As you can see, my team also paid a heavy price."

The clever Gengar stuck out its tongue, pretending to be about to collapse.

Zhang Jianying stared at Gengar's exaggerated performance, his face stiffening, almost unable to hold back his words: "As for his injuries... sigh, it was probably accidental damage from energy splashing during the battle. After all, I don't have any Fire-type Pokémon in my team, how could I possibly cause Fire-type damage? Don't you think so?"

He shrugged, looking at me with an expression that said, "I'm just as puzzled."

Officer Jenny's eyelids twitched. Did she think she was blind?

But she didn't expose it.

She had already reviewed the information on the masked man on her way here. He was a ruthless and notorious executive in the Dark Star organization, with countless blood on his hands and numerous crimes against Pokémon and trainers.

Seeing his miserable state, Officer Jenny was actually unmoved, and even felt a little like cheering.

But she is a police officer and must uphold the dignity of the law.

"Hmm... friendly fire during combat is unavoidable."

With a stern face, she said dryly, "However, according to procedure, I need a detailed report and an explanation of the situation."

"This report needs to be submitted to the local league champion, Ms. Cynthia, for review and filing. After all, it involves executives of a cross-regional criminal organization, requiring champion-level authorization for confirmation and processing."

Zhang Jianying's heart skipped a beat.

Report to Zhulan?

Oh no, I completely forgot about it!

Before leaving, Zhu Lan repeatedly told her to contact her immediately if she encountered Dark Star or Team Galactic. Not only did she not contact them this time, she also beat them up in such a "unique" way.

He could almost see the ambiguous smile on Zhu Lan's mature and sophisticated face.

Zhang Jianying tried to remain calm and said to Jun Sha, "It's my pleasure, it's my pleasure. I'll compile and submit the report as soon as possible. Do you think it's possible to simplify the process a little? After all, we were also acting bravely and were victims, right? There's no need for too much detail."

He was trying to imply that everyone understood the unspoken agreement and that it was just a formality.

Officer Jenny looked at the somewhat nervous young man, amused inwardly, but her face remained serious: "Procedure is procedure. Champion Cynthia is a meticulous and responsible champion; she needs to understand the whole picture."

She then changed the subject, saying, "The report focuses on the facts and the chain of evidence. As long as some minor discrepancies don't affect the nature of the case, I don't think the alliance will delve too deeply into them."

As she spoke, she glanced meaningfully at the masked man on the ground beside her, who was trying to accuse them of being "a den of snakes and rats."

Zhang Jianying immediately understood and gave a wink to the baby dragon beside him.

The baby dragon had been waiting for this. Upon seeing this, a red light flashed in its eyes, and it raised its little paw and smacked the masked man on the back of the head.

boom!

After the muffled thud, the masked man tilted his head to the side and fell completely silent, not even a faint groan remained.

After doing all this, Baby Dragon casually flicked its claws and slowly strolled back to Zhang Jianying's feet, as if it had just swatted a mosquito.

The other officers: "..."

They silently looked away, pretending they hadn't seen anything.

"cough."

Officer Jenny cleared her throat, trying to make her voice sound normal. "It seems the target's injuries are too severe, and she's unconscious again. In that case, please write the follow-up report truthfully. As for these items, we will seal them up for investigation. If they are confirmed to be unrelated to the case and are your legitimate spoils, they will be returned or you will be rewarded according to regulations."

She paused deliberately on the word "truthfully".

"Understood! I will report the truthfully!"

Zhang Jianying stood at attention, his face beaming with the righteous expression of a "law-abiding good citizen."

Both sides reached an understanding.

Officer Jenny directed her team to lift the unconscious Dark Star members onto the aircraft, pack the Pokémon into a special container, and seal all the items.

The whole process was efficient and rapid.

Before boarding the aircraft, Officer Jenny said, "Thank you again for your contribution, Trainer. Take care. Remember to report as soon as possible." With that, she turned and boarded the plane.

The aircraft silently took off, quickly blended into the night sky, and disappeared.

Silence returned to the valley, leaving only traces of the battle and a faint smell of blood.

Zhang Jianying breathed a sigh of relief.

"Alright, the problem is temporarily resolved."

He said to his companions, "It's getting late, let's find a place to camp nearby. Let's get some rest tonight."

Soon, a campsite was quickly set up in a sheltered clearing in the woods near the valley exit.

The campfire was lit, dispelling the chill of the night in the forest and bringing a touch of warmth and peace of mind.

Gardevoir quietly prepared a simple dinner, her movements still elegant, but she seemed a little distracted, lost in thought.

……

After dinner, fatigue set in, and the campsite gradually quieted down.

Zhang Jianying leaned against a rock, gazing at the campfire, reviewing the day's battle and contemplating the journey ahead.

Just then, Gardevoir, who had been sitting quietly beside him, suddenly raised its head without warning. Its crimson eyes instantly sharpened as it stared intently at the dense darkness beyond the edge of the campfire's glow outside the camp.

Gengar, who was playing "hand shadow play" with its shadow, suddenly stopped, locked onto that direction, and the playful smile on its round face disappeared, replaced by vigilance.

They almost simultaneously sensed an extremely subtle aura that was silently permeating the shadows of that area.

Zhang Jianying immediately became alert, extending his waveguide to follow the gaze of Gardevoir and Gengar, but found nothing unusual.

The only visible sight, both from the waveguide and to the naked eye, is the swaying shadow of the trees and the deep darkness of night.

With a thought, he activated his data vision and scanned the seemingly empty space.

The next moment, a set of information suddenly appeared in the center of his field of vision, startling him:

Darkrai

[Attribute: Evil]

【Characteristic: Nightmare】

Gender: Genderless

[Skills: Evil Pulse, Dark Hole, Deception, Dream Eater...]

[Status: Highly concealed, under observation, no intention to attack]

[Note: Advanced energy detected. Warning: Target is a legendary Pokémon. Please proceed with caution.]

"???"

Darkrai?

How could such a Pokémon appear in this godforsaken place?

Were you just passing by? Or...?

However, judging from the notes in the data perspective, the other party seems to be just observing and has no hostility at the moment.

But that doesn't mean you can relax; the thoughts of legendary Pokémon are notoriously difficult to fathom.

Every single one of them is either a riddle teller or a grumpy old man; heaven knows what this nightmare god is up to.

Gardevoir had already floated slightly, and a faint crescent-shaped light began to gather between its hands. Its mental energy was highly concentrated, locking onto the shadow.

Even the fat Gengar was unusually serious, its massive body lowering slightly, with purplish-black energy subtly flowing across its surface, and its short claws adopting a defensive posture.

If the Pokémon in the shadows makes any unusual move, it will be met with Gardevoir's ready-to-launch Moon Power and Gengar's Toxic.

Darkrai: ...