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At 9:13 AM, the special aircraft carrying the Pokémon Investigators landed at the dedicated Trainer Association facility in Prairie City, located in Gumont Province.
Senior Stephen was already waiting at the landing zone.
"Chris!" he called out.
"Senior!" Chris responded.
"Welcome aboard!" Stephen extended his hand and bumped fists with Chris.
"I hope you'll guide me well," Chris said respectfully.
"Of course. Before you arrived, the professor specifically mentioned that you'll be working with me from now on." Stephen led Chris inside the facility.
Eliana followed closely behind them.
The Investigators division was affiliated with the Trainer Association, which meant they shared the same facilities. However, under normal circumstances, even if ordinary people entered the Trainer Association building, they wouldn't be able to locate the Investigators' headquarters.
Stephen guided the two of them to the backyard of the Trainer Association. In a remote corner, he opened a hidden door, reached out his hand, and pulled down a lever. Suddenly, a passageway appeared before them, leading downward. Stepping into it felt like entering an underground secret tunnel.
"Now I'm really getting those Investigator vibes," Chris couldn't help commenting.
Stephen smiled. "I had the same feeling when I entered the base for the first time."
"Beep beep." Chris's phone screen lit up.
It was a message from Eliana.
Shiny is mine: Me too.
Chris was speechless.
"Once we enter the base, all mobile phone signals will be blocked," Stephen warned.
Chris glanced back at Eliana.
She silently put away her phone and took out a notebook and pen in advance.
Chris almost forgot that she always carried writing materials with her.
As they descended into the underground base, bright lights illuminated the area. Investigators in black combat uniforms hustled back and forth, attending to their duties.
"All members of Team Lock On Asuka, when we make our move, we'll strike like lightning and wipe them out completely!"
As soon as Chris reached the bottom of the stairs, he heard a commanding voice echo through the hall.
In the center of the large room, a young man was giving a briefing, and more than twenty Pokémon Investigators stood at attention in front of him, listening intently to his instructions.
"Keep your eyes on your respective targets. React immediately if a situation develops. If everything remains quiet, wait patiently for my arrest order! Do not act on your own initiative!"
"Yes, sir!" they responded in unison.
"Dismissed!"
The twenty-plus Pokémon Investigators dispersed immediately. Some were dispatched right away, others went to adjust their Pokémon's Conditions, and the rest prepared various Pokémon items and tools.
"Come on, let me introduce you to someone," Stephen said, bringing Chris over to the young man who had been giving the briefing.
"This is Lucas, a top investigator of China. He's known as one of the four famous arresters of China. You can address him as Captain Lucas."
"Hello, Captain Lucas!" Chris greeted promptly.
"This is my junior," Stephen added.
"I know who you are, Chris. I've admired your reputation for quite some time, and I often see you trending in recent searches." Lucas extended his hand politely and shook Chris's.
Then he looked at Eliana standing behind them.
"And who might this be?"
"Her name is Eliana. She's a newly recruited investigator. For this operation, she's been temporarily assigned to my team," Stephen explained.
Lucas nodded. "I'll see you all later at the combat briefing."
With that, he turned and left. His movements were crisp and efficient. Lucas didn't engage in small talk, despite Chris being both well-connected and currently the hottest Pokémon Breeder in the region.
"Captain Lucas has a stern and no-nonsense personality. If you end up working under him in the future, remember not to speak unnecessarily." Stephen clearly directed this advice toward Eliana.
Chris thought to himself that he could guarantee Eliana wouldn't even speak at all, let alone say anything unnecessary.
"Let's go to the War Department. I'll brief you on this mission there." Stephen led Chris and Eliana through the hall again and into an office area.
The office had many workstations, but only seven or eight people occupied positions, all busily working. The arrival of Chris and Eliana didn't disturb them in the slightest.
Stephen found an empty table and motioned to a War Department clerk to bring three cups of hot water. Then he took out a file and spread it on the table to brief Chris and Eliana about the mission.
"Our target criminal organization this time is called the Asuka Group."
"This is an organization that specifically targets ancient ruins. Currently, they've repeatedly disguised themselves as archaeological associations, both domestic and international, to conduct destructive excavations of ancient sites."
"So far, they've committed two crimes in the Prairie Kingdom and one in China. The case in China is particularly severe."
"According to our investigation, last year the Asuka team impersonated members of the Archaeological Association in the Forest of Abundance. They destructively excavated ruins of the Comet Civilization from thousands of years ago and stole the 'Slumber Cocoon' of the Legendary Pokémon Jirachi—which has the power to grant any wish!"
"Huh?" Chris was taken aback.
Forest of Abundance? Jirachi? Slumber Cocoon?
This was strange... the Slumber Cocoon had been in his possession all this time. Could it be... was the wanted Asuka Group actually after him?
Had he accidentally caught himself in this investigation?
Chris suddenly had the surreal feeling that he might be "the clown in this circus."
"What's wrong?" Stephen noticed Chris's expression change.
"It's nothing. I just recalled the legend about Jirachi. The Asuka Group certainly has big ambitions," Chris said hastily. He didn't dare mention that the Slumber Cocoon was actually in his possession.
Although... he still didn't know when Jirachi would awaken.
"Not only are they ambitious, but they're also extremely vicious," Stephen continued coldly. "After their cover was blown, they engaged in combat with members of the genuine Archaeological Association, resulting in the deaths of two archaeologists and all their Pokémon. Their actions were truly heinous!"
Chris's mind raced.
Their cover was blown? They fought and killed members of the Archaeological Association?
Could it be that those Archaeological Association members he encountered initially weren't from the legitimate association at all, but rather members of the Asuka Group's fake Archaeological Association?
It seemed very possible!
Chris vaguely remembered that those so-called Archaeological Association members didn't appear particularly trustworthy.
And... what kind of legitimate ruins archaeologist would use a drill truck to directly bore through a wall?
"Fortunately, I was one step ahead and removed the Slumber Cocoon before they could get to it. Otherwise, it would have indeed fallen into the Asuka team's hands," Chris murmured to himself.
But... that meant the Asuka team was currently being blamed for something he had done?
Interesting!
"The orders we've received this time are to arrest the entire Asuka Group organization before they leave Chinese territory, and to recover the Slumber Cocoon," Stephen continued.
"If you encounter strong resistance, considering your personal safety, you are authorized to defeat the targets on the spot."
"Do you understand?" Stephen asked firmly.
"Understood," Chris replied confidently.
Eliana nodded vigorously, her head bobbing like she was crushing garlic.
"Good. You two take a break now and wait for the operation to begin."
"Also, junior," Stephen added, looking at Chris, "go change into an Investigator's combat uniform."