Chapter 1066

"Thanks for the help, thanks for the help!"

"Let's grab a meal sometime! Beat up Rotom? Sure thing!"

"Brother Zero! Thanks so much for making the trip despite being so busy!"

Inside the computer space.

Porygon2 bowed and scraped, seeing off its fellow kin, including Unit Zero and Unit One who had abandoned the rocket and come in person.

"Little Duo, you know I've always admired a talent like you. Think it over some more, I can wait!"

Unit One earnestly advised Porygon2.

As the saying goes — "I can endure loneliness, unless I've seen the light."

From the start, Unit One wanted like-minded kin as partners, but under Unit One's "brainwashing," everyone wanted to become human partners, leaving it all alone.

Porygon2 was the one it thought most highly of, and the one it most wanted to lure away.

But Unit One also knew that Baimu's existence meant Porygon2 would never consider any distant journey.

Sure enough, faced with its invitation, Porygon2 just laughed it off.

Unit One could only sigh and leave.

Porygon2 watched its data stream disappear, then turned to check on the other big shot, Unit One.

However, this big shot's gaze seemed to hold a hint of deeper meaning.

"You're not bad."

It dropped that cryptic line and left together with the many other Porygon.

Porygon2 knew clearly that its situation of having broken free from the "suggestion" had been discovered by this mastermind behind the scenes, yet it wasn't nervous.

As long as it didn't spread the new patch, Unit One presumably wouldn't risk making an enemy of Baimu to deal with it.

With a Trainer as backing, no matter how big the problem, it's a small problem.

"Hahaha! Come find me to play sometime! My family's glowing cuisine is pretty good!"

Porygon2 slowly saw off all its kin.

The support operation was unpaid, relying entirely on the Porygon's cohesion; this also made it convenient to help when other Porygon requested aid.

After all, Porygon as valuable as Unit Zero, Unit One, and it are extremely rare, and everyone couldn't possibly drain their Trainer's savings to call companions for long-range proxy battles.

"What a thoroughly exhilarating battle!"

It looked at the unrecognizable computer space and the many programs, and suddenly felt a bit guilty.

Too many projects had been smashed and reconstructed.

Dr. Footprint's AI consciousness had too strong a priority for 【Dream】 within the program, causing it to definitely restart the time machine unless the program was utterly annihilated.

Porygon2 had no choice but to forcibly adjust the AI consciousness's priorities, moving 【Family Affection】 forward, 【Social Responsibility】 forward, and 【Dream】 to the back.

The content of 【Dream】 was also debugged.

Weakening the yearning for the future, strengthening the obsession with constructing paradise, breaking the balance between the two.

Causing the current Footprint AI to have become a Footprint AI that's been through secondary creation.

In other words, it's OOC now.

Originally it had prepared for the program to bug out, worried this pile of spaghetti code wouldn't run.

Unexpectedly, after freezing up many times, the program actually ran successfully, which made Porygon2 realize the Masterpiece Crystal was exerting force!

What an inconceivable power!

The toy duck marveled, but then didn't know how to explain to the Trainer.

Pipa was already miserable enough after losing his parents, and the sole replacement had been made not so "authentic" by it...

Just when Porygon was at a loss.

In reality.

The Footprint AI stumbled along, bringing Baimu and the others back to the first floor of the research institute.

"Ch-children, exc-excuse me, this robot needs, maintenance, upkeep, you can browse freely."

He disappeared into the inner room of the research institute.

Everyone found a place to sit casually, silent, no one speaking.

Until Pipa spoke.

"... Everyone, looks like it's really over."

"Pipa..."

Nemo cast a caring gaze; the shutting down of the time machine symbolized the end of everything.

More than that, it meant Pipa would never be able to see the parents he cherished again.

The existence of the Footprint AI made what should have been a simple farewell become a few parts thought-provoking.

"Although he's a fake, he called my name with that face... his feelings were real too... sigh, I don't get it."

Pipa sighed, shaking his head.

An AI with Dr. Footprint's complete memories and personality — does it count as his dad or not?

Baimu's gaze toward him held a touch of comfort; he patted his friend's shoulder, "Follow what your heart thinks!"

"... Mm."

Pipa nodded.

The most convincing person on the scene was perhaps Baimu, who had similarly lost his parents.

Mudan opened her mouth, thought for a long time, and could only squeeze out, "Pipa, the Doctor, he really loves you."

"I know, thank you Mudan." Pipa forced a smile.

This made Mudan, who had tried to comfort but been comforted in return, lower her head, "Mm... sorry."

"Alright, things have come to this, let's all eat first!"

Baimu clapped his hands.

Lunch was interrupted by Futon, and after a round of battles, the group was already starving.

But since the venue environment didn't allow it, it was sandwiches as usual.

The few of them ate with relish, and Milotic, returned to riding mode, also ate heartily, one bite at a time.

Queen Leiguanwang returned to its Poké Ball; it seemed not to have seen much use this time, but in reality played a cornerstone role.

With it there, Baimu dared to let the others do some dangerous things.

And after experiencing these not-so-pleasant events.

Nemo also stopped clamoring to go find Iron Thorns and the Lakeside Giant Shadow, and everyone discussed when to head back.

Suddenly.

Baimu remembered a very important matter!

"I didn't ask about my friend's situation!"

He abruptly stood up, and under the three's curious gazes said: "I have a friend who agreed to come adventure in Area Zero together, but he's been out of contact since I started in Paldea. I suspect he secretly infiltrated Area Zero……"

The three heard this and immediately exclaimed in shock: "Stowed away!?"

Come to think of it, they were also preparing to stow away at first, but later changed to applying to the League after Nemo's persuasion.

"I'll go ask."

He turned to go find Futon AI.

After looking at each other in dismay, Pippa and the others followed.

A good man needs three helpers; regardless of whether it concerns them or not, joining in is the right move.

Only to see inside the mechanical operation room.

On the experiment table lay a Futon robot disassembled beyond recognition, and Futon AI's voice came from the speaker.

"Pippa! Don't look!"

"……"

Pippa looked at the shattered "Dad" with a complex expression, and said: "It's fine, I… I've already accepted it."

Futon AI seemed to have become more emotional than before; he sighed and said: "Is there something?"

"Doctor, I want to ask if you've seen this person."

Baimu showed the Dragon Man's photo.

Futon AI fell silent, and after a long while said: "Among the cameras I placed throughout Area Zero, twelve captured him. The last one was in the middle of the lower layer."

A picture was sent to Baimu's phone; on it were clearly printed the sneaky Dragon Man and his Pokémon Dragonite.

"After that, there are no more records of him."

Futon AI fell silent for another moment, and said: "He may have fallen to an even lower layer."

"Even lower layer!?"

"Is there a place deeper than here?"

Facing everyone's questions.

Futon AI said: "There is. That is an even stranger place. According to the Doctor, he discovered that place after obtaining a strange book."

This!

Is this the Third God's plot? The truth of Terastallization!

Baimu's heart pounded, and he asked: "How do we go down?"

"Can't go down. The Doctor sealed it off; special procedures and permissions are needed."

Futon AI said: "I remember he gave the things to Director Yaci."

Yaci!

As expected, she's the final boss!

Baimu's eyes flickered; knowing the permission to the deepest part was in Director Yaci's hands, how should he rescue the Dragon Man?

Dig down?

Dig down!

He almost immediately thought of his family's digging expert.

As long as the direction is clear, no need for Hu Pa to help; Steelix can solve everything perfectly well.

"Let's go find Director Yaci!"

Nemo very honestly decided to seek help from the Director.

Peony and Pippa looked at Baimu; the two had long treated him as the backbone.

Baimu said without batting an eye: "Let's just dig down directly. What if we can't persuade Director Yaci?"

"The crust at the bottom is sometimes unstable……"

Futon AI spoke up to add.

Baimu said: "I'll adjust according to the actual situation."

Whether the dug-out tunnel is stable or not, no one knows better than the people of Oreburgh; mines, dungeons, even dungeons' mines.

Which one wasn't slowly dug out by them?

Futon AI fell silent.

Nemo didn't speak either, mainly because Baimu looked very confident; she chose to trust her good friend.

However.

If we really dig, it starts tomorrow.

After everyone finished eating the sandwiches, they were unable to completely dispel their fatigue; on the contrary, they felt even more lethargic.

Their bodies were urging them to enter sleep mode.

Baimu could not possibly force everyone to rest, so under the guidance of Futur AI, they rested in the rooms previously used by the researchers.

There was no communication.

Soon, light and heavy breathing sounds filled the room.

Even Baimu, who was not particularly sleepy, was lulled by these symphonies into gradually drifting off to sleep.

Meanwhile, deep below the Zero District Research Institute, at the edge of a massive crystal cluster a thousand meters down, a hexagonal crystal flickered and suddenly transformed into a small turtle.

The small turtle slowly opened its eyes, looking around in bewilderment, yet its body again released light and transformed into a large turtle.

"Ooh? Ooh——"

It cried out, activating some kind of power.

In the room of the Zero District Research Institute, the Thousand Universe Bracer on Baimu's chest emitted a faint golden light……

——

"Hiss!"

The burning sensation on his chest made Baimu suddenly open his eyes.

Afterwards.

He froze.

Because the surroundings were not a room in the Zero District Research Institute, but a deep cavern.

"What's going on? A dream? An illusion?"

Baimu pinched his own face, then felt around his body.

He found that aside from the Thousand Universe Bracer and a simple shirt and trousers, everything else, including the Super Stone, had vanished without a trace.

Even in the shadows, there was no sign of the Ghost.

The simulator could still function normally, ruling out the special case of Arceus disliking him and seeking trouble.

"……"

Baimu calmed down to think.

Exactly what power could have unknowingly transported him—was it the deeper Tai Crystal Power mentioned by Futur AI?

Had the time machine been reactivated? Or was it retaliation from the Paradise Defense Program?

He followed the direction of the light source and walked out slowly, whereupon he saw a vast expanse of field stretching ahead.

Where is this?

Baimu slapped his face again, ruling out the possibility of dreaming.

He walked barefoot through the mountains and wilds, advancing according to the direction of tree rings, yet found not a single household.

He did see many wild Pokémon, but they seemed hostile toward him, charging at him on sight from afar.

"What a strange place."

Baimu climbed a mountain, attempting to gain a high vantage point, but found that the wilderness stretched everywhere visible to the naked eye.

Which region could be this primitive?

If he had truly been displaced through time by some power, even Arceus wouldn't care—same for Dialga, everyone's roughly from the same origin, why don't you look after him?

What now?

Baimu sat on a rock, suddenly noticing something and turning his head.

He saw a black-haired young man carrying a basket on his back standing not far away on the mountain path, accompanied by a child in green clothes.

"Sorry to disturb you, sir."

The black-haired man spoke in an awkward manner: "May I ask, sir, what brings you here?"

It's a person!

Finally, I've seen a person!

Though his way of speaking is strange.

Baimu suppressed his inner excitement and calmly said: "I happened to come here—are you the master of this place?"

"No no no!"

The man waved his hands repeatedly: "I live nearby with my family; I came here to gather herbs."

He seemed a bit nervous.

Baimu felt quite surprised, then said again: "I am a traveling merchant, encountered violent Pokémon and lost my luggage, then fell into the lake and drifted all the way here. May I ask, what place is this?"

"Traveling merchant……"

The man was astonished, looked Baimu up and down, then suddenly smiled and said: "Meeting by chance is fate! If you don't mind, please rest at my humble hut for a while!"

"……Alright."

Baimu thought for a moment, then nodded.

Though normal people wouldn't casually enter a stranger's home, he had walked for several hours before meeting this one.

Thus.

Under the man's guidance, Baimu and he crossed over mountain after mountain.

Midway, he carefully observed the backs of this "father and son," and suddenly his expression turned grim.

'This son……seems not to be human.'

How could a normal person's legs have no joints?

Encountering a strange person and an equally strange fake child in the wilderness—if this weren't the Pokémon world, it would seem like a ghost story.

Baimu deeply felt his own courage was great.

Of course, the other party wasn't exactly timid either—daring to let a stranger walk behind them, unafraid of a sneak attack?

After a period of travel.

They successfully reached a mountain hut, and just like the blond man's attire, everything appeared extremely rustic.

Judging by the architectural style and various utensils, it was clearly a Japanese-style region like Guan Du or Cheng Du.

But this person's appearance leaned somewhat toward Carlos and Galar, though their skin was darker.

"Please."

The man poured Baimu a cup of green tea, smiling harmlessly.

He said: "I am Boluo, from the Xiuci Great Land, living in these barren mountains to escape the war."

"Xiuci?"

Baimu held the teacup, looking somewhat surprised: "Are you of the Shenjie people?"

"You know of the Shenjie people?"

Boluo showed a hint of delight, then shook his head and sighed: "I am merely an ordinary tribesman—how dare I compare myself to the mighty Shenjie people?"

Mighty...

Baimu twitched the corner of his mouth.

(End of Chapter)