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

Chapter 95 Mission Completion, Return Journey

The intense atmosphere of the battle slowly cooled down in the cave of terror.

Albert carefully sealed the shriveled "immortal peach," which no longer emitted any energy fluctuations, into a specially made multi-layered isolation containment box and affixed it with the highest-level hazard label.

"I will personally escort it back to the branch and initiate the highest-level sealing procedure." His expression was serious. "This kind of Pokémon must not have another chance to disrupt the world."

Zhang Jianying nodded, her gaze returning to the toy ball in her hand.

He gently pressed the switch, a red light flashed, and the Evil Bump reappeared at his feet.

The little guy seemed to have recovered a lot, looking around with starry eyes before finally looking at Zhang Jianying.

"We're about to leave Beishang Township."

Zhang Jianying crouched down to look it in the eye, her voice gentle, "Is there anything you want to do here, or any place you want to say goodbye to?"

Upon hearing this, Ergui turned to look at the depths of the cave, at that small corner piled with stones.

It gazed at it silently for a few seconds, then slowly shook its head.

Ergui stepped forward and bowed deeply to the simple tomb and the stone that served as the tombstone.

"Boni".

There is no heavy sorrow, no lingering attachment, only a lightness and relief that comes from weathering the storm and finally being able to let go.

It turned around, ran briskly back to Zhang Jianying's side, and took the initiative to grab his trouser leg.

Zhang Jianying smiled, reached out and rubbed the big leaf on its head. Egui Peng squinted its starry eyes and gently rubbed against his palm.

"Let's go home," he said.

The pre-dawn mist had not yet dissipated when the three returned to the center of Beishang Township.

The village remained asleep, with only the lights of the Pokémon Center burning all night. Nurse Joy was curious about the unfamiliar Pokémon, Urgot, but her professional instincts prevented her from asking further questions; she immediately began treating it.

Under the warm, therapeutic light, the exhausted Pokémon fell into a deep sleep. Zhang Jianying and Albert also took a short rest in the rest area.

Danyu stayed with them until dawn.

When she escorted Danyu back to the entrance of the Xuexia Mansion, the girl's face showed a sense of relief at having completed her mission, as well as a faint trace of reluctance.

"We really owe you all this time."

Danyu solemnly said, "Not only have we uncovered the truth of history, but we have also completely resolved the hidden dangers. Grandpa said that once the villagers have calmed down, we will officially revise the village's legends and establish a real memorial site for Evil Phantom and its trainer."

She paused, then suddenly remembered something and said jokingly, "Speaking of which, it's fortunate that my younger brother Wu Li didn't find out about this."

That kid has been obsessed with all sorts of ghost stories since he was little, especially the tales of the "ghost mountain" and "evil spirits" in the village.

-

"If he knew that the real ghost was such a cute little guy like Ergui, and that so much had happened, given his impulsive and stubborn nature, who knows what kind of trouble he would cause—lately, I've felt he's been acting mysteriously, like he's going through a rebellious phase."

Upon hearing this, Albert adjusted his glasses and replied seriously, "Most disobedient little boys are simply not beaten enough. Well, I mean, they lack proper guidance and experience."

He laughed at himself after he finished speaking and shook his head.

Danyu was amused, and the atmosphere lightened considerably. After exchanging farewells, Zhang Jianying and Albert turned and left for the dock.

Beishang Township gradually awakens in the morning light, with wisps of smoke rising from the chimneys.

The ancient village is slowly digesting its history, which was overturned and reshaped overnight, and moving towards a new future.

The passenger ship returning to Niangguang City cut through the azure waves.

Stepping into this modern and vibrant port city again, I felt as if I had returned to another world.

The tranquility of Ghost Mountain, the hustle and bustle of the festival, and the intensity of the battle all seemed to be blown away by the sea breeze, settling into a vivid and colorful page in memory.

Back in that familiar safe house, Albert immediately began compiling a report, preparing to give a detailed account to Interpol headquarters.

Zhang Jianying was packing his belongings in the outer room, preparing to return to Sinnoh.

In addition to the necessary equipment, he also planned to go to the largest food market in Niangguang City to purchase some specialty products from the Padiya region.

I was thinking of letting my friends in Sinnoh try it when I got back, and maybe I could use it to try making some new Power Cubes.

-

Just as he tossed his bags into Gengar's Shadow Cube and walked out of the market, the Pokédex in his pocket beeped.

Caller ID: Piper.

Zhang Jianying answered the call with some surprise.

"Mr. Zhang! Where are you now?" Framepa's voice came through the encyclopedia, carrying his usual seriousness and a hint of excitement.

"In Niangguang City, near the entrance of a shopping mall by the port," Zhang Jianying replied.

"Great! Please wait there for a moment, I'll be right there! I have something to give you and Mr. Albert!" Piper spoke quickly and then hung up the phone.

Zhang Jianying raised an eyebrow, put away the Pokédex, and simply sat on a bench, watching the children and Pokémon playing in the park while waiting.

Not long after, about twenty minutes later, two familiar yet somewhat unexpected figures appeared at the park entrance.

Pipa was still dressed in his usual practical clothes, looking travel-worn but in good spirits, his eyes shining brightly. Beside him was a girl.

The girl has healthy tan skin, a neat short ponytail, and a stylish and cool hairstyle.

She was wearing the uniform jacket of Padia Academy, radiating vitality and confidence, and was talking to Pipa with great interest, gesturing with her hands and feet in a fighting style.

"Mr. Zhang!"

Piper saw Zhang Jianying on the bench, quickened his pace, and walked over, beads of sweat on his forehead. He took the bottled water Zhang Jianying offered, thanked him, and took several large gulps before calming his breathing.

"Let me introduce you," Pipa said, turning to the girl beside him. "This is Nemo, the student council president of our Padia Academy."

She is extremely passionate about Pokémon battles and is currently challenging the gyms in the Padilla region in preparation for her Champion Tournament trip.

"Hello! You must be the amazing Sinnoh trainer Pipa was talking about!"

Nemo immediately stepped forward, her eyes sparkling, her smile as radiant as the sun over Padida.

"I heard from Pipa about what you guys did in the Fiery Desert! That was so cool! So, are you free now? Let's have a Pokémon battle! Let me see what Sinnoh trainers are capable of!"

Almost as soon as she finished speaking, her hand reached for the Poké Ball at her waist, looking ready to battle at any moment.

Zhang Jianying's lips twitched as he watched Nemo's overwhelming passion for the battle.

Unfortunately, Ash isn't here.

Zhang Jianying silently complained to himself, otherwise, if these two met, it would definitely be like dry wood meeting a raging fire.

He shook his head and gave Nemo a slightly apologetic smile: "I'm sorry, Nemo. We just came back from a mission, and my teammates are resting and not feeling well."

Seeing the disappointed look on Nemo's face, Zhang Jianying added, "If there's a chance in the future, I'd be happy to battle you. After all, battling powerful trainers is an important way to improve oneself."

"It's a deal!"

Nemo's fighting spirit was immediately rekindled. She held out her hand, "Then next time we meet, we must have a fight!"

"Definitely." Zhang Jianying shook hands with her and could feel the firm strength emanating from her palm.

Piper then found an opportunity to explain his purpose: "Mr. Zhang, I've come to give this to you."

He carefully took out two small cloth bags, each sealed in a transparent bag, from his large backpack. Each bag contained tiny seeds of various colors that emitted a faint luster.

"This is—" Zhang Jianying took it.

"The plant seeds of the secret seasoning."

Piper's face beamed with pride and satisfaction. "With the help of the college's ecology lab, we've successfully made the sweetener and sourener plants produce fertile seeds! Although the scale is still small and the growth cycle may take longer than in the wild, it means that we won't have to risk going out into the wild to find them anymore, and we can now reliably obtain a portion of the seasonings!"

He pointed to one of the bags: "This contains half of each type of seed, for you. Please give the other half to Mr. Albert. Thank you for your previous help; this is just a small token of my appreciation."

"Dishes made with them may be slightly less effective than those made with fully mature wild top-grade Pokémon, but they still provide excellent nourishment and support for Pokémon."

Looking at the seeds in his hand, and then at the hopeful light in Pipa's eyes, Zhang Jianying was genuinely happy for him. "That's wonderful, Pipa. Your Mastiff godfather will definitely get better."

Pipa nodded vigorously, his eyes filled with determination. "With Nemo's help, we've found a clue to the third secret seasoning! We'll be able to set off soon! The Mastiff Godfather's condition has been getting better and better lately!"

"Congratulations."

Zhang Jianying sincerely wished, "Once the Mastiff Godfather has fully recovered, you are welcome to travel to Sinnoh. I believe it will be a great source of culinary inspiration."

"I will definitely go!"

Pipa promised, then glanced somewhat sheepishly at Nemo beside her, who was again looking around for potential opponents.

"That Nemo is more proactive. We need to hurry and prepare supplies for our next expedition. Mr. Zhang, thank you again! Have a safe journey back to Sinnoh!"

Before he could finish speaking, Nemo, who was eager to find someone to spar with, grabbed his arm and dragged him away. "Hurry up, Pipa! I just saw there seemed to be an impromptu battle tournament in the square over there! Let's go see if there are any good guys!"

Papa could only turn around and wave to Zhang Jianying with a mixture of helplessness and gratitude before disappearing into the crowd.

Zhang Jianying looked in the direction they left, smiled, and carefully put the seeds away.

When Zhang Jianying returned to the safe house, she found that there was an extra person inside.

"Um!"

-

It was the capable Interpol female captain from when they handled the Hong Hong Desert incident. She was sitting in the living room, talking quietly with Albert, who had just come out of the communications room.

Upon seeing Zhang Jianying return, the female captain stood up and gave him a crisp salute, her face displaying a serious, businesslike demeanor, yet also a hint of barely perceptible admiration.

"Mr. Zhang Jianying, I have come on orders to deliver the rewards for this mission and, on behalf of the Padiya branch, to express my sincere gratitude for your outstanding contributions and cooperation in this mission."

Her voice was clear and strong.

She placed a small, simple metal box with a precise lock on the table.

"Your actions directly exposed the truth of history, prevented a potential crisis, and assisted in the containment of highly dangerous special individuals. This is a reward issued by headquarters based on the assessment of your contributions."

"Is the mission complete?" Zhang Jianying asked Albert.

Albert nodded, adjusted his glasses, and smiled. "We just received news from headquarters. The main network of the cross-border poaching gang has been dismantled by us and our colleagues in various locations, and the remaining members are being pursued. Although Hunter J has temporarily escaped, he has been severely weakened, and his activities have essentially ceased in the short term. The Kitakami Township incident has been successfully resolved, and our joint mission is officially over."

He pointed to the small box on the table. "That's what you deserve. I hope we'll have the opportunity to work together again in the future."

Zhang Jianying smiled and said, "Definitely."

The female captain nodded again, and without further pleasantries, decisively took her leave.

After seeing the captain off, Zhang Jianying handed one of the seed bags given to him by Papa to Albert and explained the situation.

Albert took it and carefully put it away: "A wonderful gift. Once I've finished my follow-up reports and containment work, I'll go and lend a hand to the kids in Pipana. He's had a tough time."

The time to say goodbye has come.

Zhang Jianying finished packing all the luggage and patted Albert's partner, Thunder Beast's, fluffy neck, which was slightly static. "Next time we meet, I hope to see you looking even more majestic."

"Aww."

The Thunder Beast gently nuzzled his hand and let out a low growl as a farewell.

Albert escorted him all the way to the port, watching him and his Pokémon board the passenger ship returning to Sinnoh before waving goodbye and turning away.

Inside the cabin, the sea gently swayed.

Zhang Jianying opened the small metal box.

The box is lined with black velvet, and a transparent sphere with iridescent colors—a crystal bead—is fixed in the center.

In the small compartment next to it, there was a set of eighteen crystal fragments of different attributes and colors, neatly arranged.

"The Crystal Bead, and a whole set of high-quality fragments—tsk, Interpol is really generous."

Zhang Jianying picked up the crystal-clear pearl and examined it under the light.

Although outside of Padia, the bead itself is more of a symbol.

"Unfortunately, without the resonance of the special energy of the Padiya region, it's impossible to perform Tai Crystallization in other areas. Otherwise, it would have given us another interesting trump card at the Alliance Conference."

He thought with some regret.

Who knows what kind of monsters will appear in the league matches? Darko doesn't even know if he's caught Shydorran. It's always good to have another way to enhance your character.

His gaze inadvertently drifted to the side.

The evil spirit, holding a thorny vine staff, pointed at a basic manual on elemental counters and magically put on four masks in turn, teasing the curious ice goose.

The little penguin stared blankly at the complex attribute restraint table, bewildered by the changes in attribute aura brought about by the different masks of the Evil Spirit, flapping its little wings and making confused cries.

As Zhang Jianying watched this scene, his eyes slowly brightened. A thought flashed through his mind like lightning.

Yeah! Other Pokémon can't crystallize too much in Sinnoh, but—

My Evil Spirit doesn't need to rely on the special energy of the Pardia!

Its crystallization stems from its profound connection with the four magical masks!

A bright, sunny smile slowly bloomed on Zhang Jianying's face.

"It seems I've accidentally become a 'divine beast man' too."

He carefully put away the crystal bead and the fragments.

Although other companions may not need it for the time being, the high-quality fragments themselves are an excellent and rare collectible.

The passenger ship cut through the waves under the cover of night and sailed steadily toward Sinnoh.

Inside the specially ordered, enormous cabin, Gardevoir was immersed in meditation. Kitakami Goro's experience of using [Foresight] in reverse had given it an even higher level of mastery over its superpowers.

Torterra quietly lay on the window, photosynthesizing with the help of moonlight, while Gengar hid in the shadows, munching on a hidden snack.

Greatsword Demon was intently wiping his foot blades, while Pot Pot and Ice Goose were already snoring softly under the tree on the earthen platform.

The newly evolved Salamence, having just fought another battle, lazily coiled in a corner of the room, its blood-red wings folded, its breathing steady, and the unique dark red markings on its body gleaming slightly under the night light.

The newly joined Eguilan perched by the porthole, its starry eyes fixed on the boundless sea and starry sky outside. Its orange-like face reflected the moonlight, yearning for a new land and a new life.

Zhang Jianying leaned against the headboard, toying with the Taijing Bead in his hand. His gaze swept over his roommates, who had very different personalities but were all incredibly reliable, and he smiled gently.