Chapter 1020

Meroka saw Mudan and, hearing her words, immediately stood up, saying joyfully:

"You are——"

"Who I am isn't important; what matters is, do you still acknowledge this rule?"

Mudan spoke decisively, yet she did not look the other party in the eye.

It wasn't shyness, but unwillingness to bear it.

This posture left Meroka stunned and speechless.

A ball of anger surged in her heart; she had countless questions she wanted answered, and countless words she wanted to say to the person before her.

But when Meroka lowered her head and saw Tan Xiaoshi, and saw Baimu, Kelaweier, and the bewildered Kousha beside her.

Saw the Heavenly Star Team members helping each other to their feet.

"Boss!"

"Boss!"

The few subordinates closest to her, and the ones she was normally closest with, looked at her expectantly.

Meroka clenched her fist, then let it go powerlessly, panting slightly as she murmured: "It's over... ah..."

She sharply drew a breath, made a decision in her heart, and said: "Tell me your name."

Speaking just as rudely as ever.

Hearing this infinitely familiar tone, Mudan pursed her lips and stammered:

"... Mudan."

Meroka was satisfied.

She fished a fiery red round badge from her pocket and threw it to Baimu, "Since you're the one who beat me, this goes to you! Champion!"

When the giant Giant Steel Snake appeared and easily suppressed everyone, she could hardly fail to recognize this currently red-hot Champion.

"Hm?"

Baimu caught it casually.

This Heavenly Star Team is like a dojo; you get a badge for winning?

Meroka didn't explain, waving her hand to summon the team members who had finished cleaning up the mess, "Everyone! Let's go!"

The bedraggled Heavenly Star Team members left together.

Tan Xiaoshi looked at Meroka's retreating figure, then at Nie Kai who was holding his ground, expression anxious.

Suddenly.

"Tan Jiro! We're leaving!"

Meroka's voice carried from afar.

"Pop!"

Tan Xiaoshi hesitated no longer, hurrying after her.

Though she hadn't managed to bring Meroka back to school, staying by her side wasn't bad either.

Kousha frowned; he had heard the Heavenly Star Team came to Deep Bowl Town to cause trouble, which was why he ran over.

Waste of time!

He turned and left dejectedly, arriving silently, leaving silently.

Baimu turned to ask Mudan: "You're not chasing? You're the Heavenly Star Team's real boss, right?"

"This..."

Mudan found it hard to articulate the predicament she faced.

Returning from overseas studies only to discover the Heavenly Star Team hadn't disbanded but instead become the campus tyrant, with news that the new principal planned to expel the Heavenly Star Team members who had been chronically truant.

She felt she couldn't stand by and do nothing, so she personally planned 【Operation Stardust】, wanting to disband the Heavenly Star Team with her own hands.

But this matter was more difficult than imagined.

The Heavenly Star Team was her treasure, the "home" that left her with countless memories; how could she possibly wish for the Heavenly Star Team to disband?

Unwillingness, confusion, and a sense of crisis stirred her thoughts into chaos; only after a long time did she steel her resolve, preparing to take out those five intimate partners one by one.

Now seeing Meroka defeated by Baimu, rather than by her hand, besides the distress, Mudan also breathed a sigh of relief deep in her heart.

Viewed this way it's a bit self-deceptive, but she indeed felt fortunate for it.

However.

Besides Meroka, the Heavenly Star Team still had four other bosses.

Mudan summoned her courage and said: "Champion! Could you please——"

"Can't."

Baimu refused decisively.

He came to Paldea to understand the school's operations, obtain the Terastal Orb to master Terastallization, collect secret recipes, and unveil the mysteries of Area Zero.

Opening a side quest isn't necessary.

Bullying minors wouldn't look good if it got out.

Besides, the Academy Director is right there; handing it to him isn't better?

He said to the dejected Mudan: "Judging by your look, you were planning to follow that whatever rule, defeat the five bosses, and disband the Heavenly Star Team?"

"... Yes."

Mudan adjusted her glasses awkwardly.

"The reason? You think the Heavenly Star Team has deteriorated?"

Baimu asked Mudan with his mouth, but his gaze looked toward Kelaweier, who called himself Nie Kai.

Kelaweier coughed twice hastily.

Nothing is more embarrassing than having one's confident disguise exposed.

Peony said: "There's also this reason, mainly I heard they've been skipping class for too long, Principal Klarweil is preparing to expel them."

"Oh? Is that so?"

Baimu continued to look at Klarweil.

Klarweil continued to cough.

Peony's eyes showed doubt as she asked: "Who is this?"

"My name is Nie Kai."

Klarweil spoke first: "I also have quite a few grudges with the Tianxing Team, well, that's it!"

Baimu remained silent.

But since Klarweil personally came in disguise to investigate the situation, it proves he doesn't intend to do as Peony said, directly expelling the Tianxing Team members.

"Why not find them openly and persuade them to disband?"

He asked again: "You're at least the real boss, don't you even have this bit of prestige?"

Peony shook her head gloomily: "I suggested this long ago, but no one accepted it. Moreover, we are companions, I will only ask everyone, not command everyone... the team's rules are like this."

"Rules."

Klarweil spoke: "Meaning defeat them one by one, based on the rules, they will obediently listen?"

Peony said confidently: "Yes, must follow the rules."

Baimu and Klarweil exchanged a glance.

"In that case... Champion, why not lend a hand?"

The latter coughed twice, saying: "I've heard the Tianxing Team leaders are all extraordinarily strong, handing it all to Peony alone is too heavy in every sense."

Baimu countered: "Why don't you intervene?"

Klarweil fell silent.

He actually had prepared to act, but in the end, his age placed here, how could he resist a group of youngsters?

Ordinary students might not necessarily be able to handle the Tianxing Team.

Nimo might perhaps be capable of this position.

However...

Klarweil glanced at the team badge in Baimu's hand, silently producing a Taijing Pearl.

"Please, Champion, I wish to offer this as payment."

"No matter what you say—"

Baimu caught sight of the Taijing Pearl, his tone suddenly shifting: "But having said that, although there's suspicion of bullying the weak with strength, the Tianxing Team's act of occupying roads to establish bases is truly harmful."

Peony broke into a sweat.

Is the Champion being too realistic?

She also knows this kind of thing is inherently about forcing others and shifting one's own responsibility, so she obediently kept quiet.

For ordinary students, she might perhaps hack the Alliance system to give some reward.

For the Champion, there truly isn't anything presentable to offer.

Klarweil said: "Troublesome."

"Just a small matter."

Baimu played with the Taijing Pearl, responding satisfactorily.

I thought at least I'd need to enter school to get this thing, not bad, not bad.

He looked again at Peony, saying: "Since I've taken charge of this matter, how do you plan to proceed?"

"I, I will think of a way to support you, Champion!"

Peony thought carefully: "For example, information about other teams, what attributes the leaders excel in, and their personalities."

Baimu shook his head: "Besides location, I have no interest in the others, and I think you need to communicate face-to-face with them again, clarifying pros and cons and your thoughts."

From Peony and Meloke's earlier conversation, it's clear a misunderstanding must have arisen between them.

Why bother?

Has the situation reached a point where communication is impossible?

How to deal with the Tianxing Team entirely depends on Klarweil's plan.

Has he already clarified the truth from the beginning, and what kind of view does he hold toward the Tianxing Team?

Simply defeating those five leaders cannot solve the problem.

In the end, we still must rely on communication.

"..."

Peony lowered her head, unknown what she was thinking.

Baimu also didn't urge her, letting her weigh things, he patted the hard body of the Great Steel Snake.

"Snort~"

The Great Steel Snake lowered its head, its huge skull extremely broad.

Klarweil praised: "As expected of the Champion's Pokémon, mighty and extraordinary!"

"Overpraised."

Baimu humbly nodded, leapt onto its head.

Peony seeing this, gritted her teeth and said: "Good! I'll go find Meloke now!"

"I'll give you a ride."

He reached out, pulling Peony and Klarweil up, the three riding together still didn't feel crowded.

The giant Steelix let out a low roar and rose up, flying toward Wang Liangsi's squad base.

——

Inside the base.

Meloka returned with her team members, her heart burning with towering rage.

The real boss has returned.

She even revealed her true face.

She didn't come to catch up with everyone, but showed up at their door wanting to use the rules to make them step down.

Just like last time, when she hoped the Star Team would disband.

But what made Meloka angry was that she offered no explanation for her long disappearance, didn't catch up with everyone at all, and straight away demanded they disband.

Aren't we companions?

Why?

Why doesn't she even dare look into her eyes?

"Boss." Someone stepped forward, wanting to comfort her.

Meloka snapped, "Don't call me Boss! I'm not the Boss anymore! Didn't you see I already lost, that I have to step down?"

The Star Team members were stunned. "Th-then our Fire Squad, is it going to disband?"

"Disband? Who told you that? I only stepped down, but the Star Team will never disband!"

Meloka huffed, "Do you think we're the kind of obedient kids who disband just because someone tells us to?"

The Star Team members let out a breath of relief.

If the Fire Squad really disbanded like that, they'd be truly screwed.

The few people who had caused trouble for Baimu earlier were pushed forward and denounced for their previous lousy behavior.

If it weren't for those guys, they never would have provoked the Champion!

Those few shrank their heads, not daring to speak.

The unsupervised, idle days after joining the Star Team had indeed made them a bit carried away.

Meloka frowned and said, "This isn't entirely your fault, but you do have problems! You'll be punished! For the next month, all sanitation duties are handed over to you!"

"Yes..."

They didn't dare voice any objection.

Wang Liangsi's squad grew lively again, clearing the blocking walls under Meloka's orders.

Meloka found an open space, deliberated repeatedly, and decided to tell the others about this matter.

The Peony Association would come looking for her, and would definitely go looking for the others too.

Then she could just ask them directly and get to the bottom of it!

Just now, with outsiders like Baimu present, plus the fact she'd genuinely been beaten senseless, that was why she hadn't chosen to interrogate them directly.

Suddenly.

A massive shadow fell from the sky above.

Meloka looked up and suddenly saw a giant Steelix that could only be described as an airborne battleship.

Her pupils contracted sharply.

"It's here again!"

Is this an attempt to wipe us out completely?

No, she gave him the team badge, so why is she relentlessly pursuing us?

The Star Team members also grew noisy, their faces showing awe as they looked up.

As the saying goes, dealing with a Trainer often takes only one battle, and overwhelming strength can make doubters convinced heart and soul.

The giant Steelix landed beside Meloka.

Baimu and the other two leaped down, facing the alert killer-style girls, their expressions varied.

"Meloka."

Peony called Meloka's nickname, causing the latter's expression to rapidly soften.

Meloka said, "As expected, it's you, real Boss. Long time no see... no, I should say it's our first meeting, since I only just learned your real name."

Before this, Peony had always used a phone to contact them, connecting everyone with her excellent hacking skills.

The reason for not meeting in person was simply not wanting to go out.

Everyone had been bullied before, understood her very well, so no one minded.

"I'm sorry."

Peony finally met her gaze, took a deep breath, and said, "Disappearing without a trace, then appearing without a trace."

Meloka put her hands behind her back and asked, "Why? Tell me the reason."

"Because... the original incident blew up too big, I was worried everyone would be expelled. So I proposed to the principal at the time that I would bear all responsibility."

These words from Peony were a script she had rehearsed hundreds of times atop the giant Steelix's head.

She didn't want to claim credit before her companions; silently protecting them was what she wanted, but the turn of events forced her to speak these words.

Meloka's pupils shrank slightly; she ran over and grabbed Peony's hands, "You! How could you do this!"

We're companions, we should bear it together.

Peony's pinched hands felt a sharp sting; she didn't pull away, and continued, "The principal was very understanding and gave me the chance to study abroad to let the storm blow over.

"Not long after I left, I heard the news that the principal had resigned, and the dean of discipline and teachers had all been replaced..."

Baimu thought to himself, one listen and you can tell it's Yeci's handiwork.

This League President and Chief Champion, who is also the Chairman of Orange Academy, holds an absurd number of titles.

Mudan said again, "I thought everyone had returned to the school, but after coming back I learned that the Tenhoshi Team hadn't disbanded and was even forcing ordinary students to join, starting to bully others."

Meroko flatly denied, "That's not true!"

"It is."

Mudan said seriously, "I encountered it myself."

Personal experience was irrefutable, and this left Meroko in a complete panic; she had never heard of these things.

Was it the other companions...?

Mudan said further, "And I also heard the news that the new principal decided to make everyone drop out. I didn't want everyone to drop out because of this, so I decided to disband the Tenhoshi Team with my own hands."

"... You did all this for us?"

Meroko pursed her lips.

Mudan turned her head and said, "This is actually just my own wishful thinking, but I really don't want you all to drop out, and I actually don't want the Tenhoshi Team to disband either...

"Everyone in the team are my precious treasures, unforgettable memories of this lifetime."

A person of introverted personality and poor with words, for the sake of protecting her cherished companions, chose to peel open her own chest and reveal her heart for others to see.

If the other party didn't care at all, her behavior would appear extremely ridiculous.

But the Tenhoshi Team.

This team composed of punching bags was able to launch the Tenhoshi Grand Operation precisely because they could empathize with each other.

Meroko fell silent, and while Mudan was uneasy and apprehensive, she took two steps back.

Immediately after.

She made a slightly comical movement, like she was tracing a pentagram, yet doing it very seriously.

"Mudan! Tenhoshi, you've worked hard~! All this time! You've worked hard!"

This is the Tenhoshi Team's exclusive symbol.

For people like them, being able to band together and resist is truly not easy; in order to cheer on their companions, to encourage them, they specially created this body language.

You've worked hard today!

Do your best again tomorrow!

One day, those who bullied them will all be punished!

"..."

Mudan covered her mouth.