Chapter 1280

Half an hour after the match ended.

The entire internet's hot searches were occupied by this world-shocking showdown.

The top hot search—

【Super Dragonite Appears! (Hot)】

Then 【Strongest Dragon-Type Pokémon (Hot)】, 【This Man Is Probably Invincible Under Heaven (Hot)】, and other entries followed in order.

Mixed in among them was even a 【Kanto Shi Ying Venue Collapse, Where Did the Taxpayers' Money Go? (Hot)】

Although this hot search disappeared quickly, the sight of the Shi Ying Alliance venue in ruins will not be erased from the minds of global viewers.

Many Kanto residents felt utterly humiliated, forming groups to file complaints and protests with the Alliance Executive Committee, successfully alarming Dama Lanqi, who launched an investigation into the venue's maintenance over the years.

Dama Lanqi, Chairman of the Alliance Executive Committee. Responsible for managing the Alliance in Kanto, Johto, Hoenn, and Sinnoh, he was called by Xiao Sheng "the greatest person in the Pokémon Alliance."

He gave the investigation results in just two hours.

It turned out that the venue's maintenance and renovation work had been outsourced for years, the contracting company was experienced, and its most famous project was an island named 【Pokémon Garden】.

This amusement park was filled with various giant mechanical Pokémon, but it was destroyed for unknown reasons many years ago.

Last year, the same company was similarly affected by unknown influences, its operations fell into difficulty, and thus it secretly diverted funds meant for venue maintenance.

Of course, it wasn't that they hadn't taken money before, just not as much as this time.

If it weren't for the final super eruption of the Three Evil Dragons, the chance of exposure would have been extremely small. Judging by the usual scale of Alliance conferences and Champion League battles, the setup from five years ago would have been more than sufficient.

Who would have thought...

Even more embarrassing was that when Miss Junsha sent people to demand accountability, the company's local office had already been vacated.

According to the data retrieved from the scene, this company actually belonged to Team Rocket!

Indeed, it was again the source of all evil in Kanto, Team Rocket.

As a large cross-regional "listed" company, it had how many white-glove companies in Kanto.

With Sakaki's connections, you could arrange the Trio of Team Rocket to do odd jobs at the power plant in Lohz, which shows how abundant their social resources are.

Upon learning this, Baimu couldn't help but feel some emotion.

"Can this even be linked to Team Rocket?"

So-called 【Pokémon Garden】, isn't it just the giant mechanical Pokémon island where Ash and co. drifted in the Johto arc?

Bulbasaur's nickname "Lone Wanderer" also came from this episode.

Based on this, it's not hard to guess that the other party embezzled maintenance funds on a large scale to fill the losses from multiple bases destroyed by Queen Leiguanwang.

Wow, thinking this way, Team Rocket simply clashes with his eight characters.

As fellow "Wood" generation ambitious ones, there must be a dragon-and-tiger struggle.

"Should we cause trouble for them?"

The multi-sided phone actively suggested, "The position you mentioned before the match—I checked it out, and it's indeed Team Rocket, with Executive Lance also there."

Baimu: "... Or maybe let the Kanto Alliance handle it themselves."

Seeing the Trainer had no idea of beating a drowning dog, the multi-sided phone lowered its flags and silenced its drums in response.

"Okay."

Strike a snake but don't kill it, and it will cling to the staff; Team Rocket and the Kanto region are too entangled, and wanting to eradicate them completely is not something this outsider can do.

Furthermore, Sakaki must be furious right now; the simple explosion of the Three Evil Dragons likely caused him significant losses.

—Indeed, that is exactly the case.

The vital source of funds cut off, Sakaki, who values wealth as life, went mad smashing his office, his image now nearly indistinguishable from the comic relief in Meowth's fantasy.

This company has an extremely long history, traceable back to the previous generation of Team Rocket, namely the mother of the former leader Sakaki.

Yet he easily squandered it in his hands.

How can Sakaki remain calm about this?

Moreover, it's hard to go find trouble with Baimu, after all, they still haven't been able to research a method to deal with Baimu up to now.

Soft spot?

Both sides have them!

Sakaki believed he had hidden Xiao Yin extremely well, but he couldn't stand his useless son actively going to deliver himself.

Made it so even revenge couldn't be taken.

But swallowing this silent loss, Sakaki really couldn't bear it...

Thus, he suddenly had the idea to contact a certain trio conveniently located in Kanto.

"Musashi, Kojiro, Meowth."

Sakaki, feigning calm, said coldly: "I have a task to assign to you."

The Trio of Team Rocket happened to be eating lunch, with rice grains still on the corners of their mouths, they hastily saluted, "Please command us as you wish, Boss Sakaki (Meow)~"

"Snosss!"

Sure enough, Wooper popped out from the corner, with half a lunchbox in its mouth.

Upon seeing their pathetic state, Sakaki's inner evil fire flared up again.

Fortunately, he is quite deep-minded, his tone low and deep: "This task is very important; I think none but you are fit for it."

Hearing this, the Trio of Team Rocket's eyes gleamed with spirit—none but them?

The boss really thinks highly of them!

"We guarantee to complete the task!"

They shouted grandly with imposing bearing.

But soon, as Sakaki revealed the task content and hung up the phone, the three with stiff expressions lost all excitement.

Lurk near Baimu's side, get on good terms with him...

"I really wouldn't dare!"

"Not to mention we're all this familiar with each other now — we couldn't stay undercover for a second, and just the leverage Baimu holds on them is deadly enough."

Meowth hesitated: "What do we do now, meow?"

Kojiro raised his index finger, "Hey! Why don't we explain the situation to the boss, tell him we and Baimu——"

Smack!

Musashi slapped the back of his head, "Idiot! Wouldn't that be the same as openly announcing we've defected?"

"Not necessarily." Kojiro also knew his suggestion was unreliable, his tone extremely weak.

The Team Rocket trio exchanged a glance, sighing in unison.

They had thought it was a bright path leading to the top executives; what lay before them now was only a road to hell.

"Things have come to this, let's eat first."

"Makes sense."

"Ah! Our lunch was all eaten by Morpeko!"

Amidst Meowth's loud cries and a chaotic clatter, the Team Rocket trio's lunch break passed in the uproar.

——

Pokémon Center rooftop.

Baimu was reviewing the match with Porygon2, the latter quite satisfied with its own performance.

Although it had revealed a powerful trump card, at least it had cleanly and neatly defeated the Shiny Gyarados.

He believed the world, seeing this, would affirm the Porygon species' battle strength.

Hmph~

Mere Rotom, spend your whole life as a phone AI!

We Porygon are going to look to the future, advance into the more popular battle market!

Knock knock knock~

A knocking sound rang out.

"Happy~" A light call came from outside the door.

Porygon Phone flew over to open the door; it was the Pokémon Center's Chansey nurse, holding a tray with several Poké Balls and an inspection report.

Baimu went forward to meet her, "Thanks for your hard work!"

"Happy~"

The Chansey nurse smiled, bowed, and left.

Because there were far too many fans blocking the way after the match, he had no choice but to have the Poké Balls remotely transferred to Nurse Joy, while he himself returned to his lodging to wait.

Currently, his Master Ball tier ranking is fourth place; Lance has dropped from second to third.

Because Rinto entered Master tier earlier than Baimu, and also has the same all-win hidden rating, she was automatically promoted to second.

Dan Di has remained ranked first for ten thousand years.

Below is fifth place Carnet, who beat Daita two days ago; sixth place Chibana, who successfully escaped the Gatekeeper position by defeating Magua.

Seventh place Daita, eighth place……

Champion Dawu!

After squeezing Magua out of Master Ball tier, the Hoenn Champion has finally arrived at the position where he belongs.

Incidentally, Elise is currently eleventh in Hyper Ball tier; Ash just beat Saito to complete his revenge, climbing to thirty-sixth in Hyper Ball tier.

In memory, Ash will play at most three more matches before rising to Master Ball tier.

The opponents are respectively Marnie, Kalos Elite Four Drasna, and Master Ball tier designated Gatekeeper Chibana.

Once Ash defeats them, this season should be completely over, and the Eight Masters will be smoothly held.

"Two months, huh."

Baimu glanced at the time.

The number of battles he can still fight this season is at most two, possibly only one.

Following the tournament organizer's usual practice, his next opponent is either the lower-ranked Champion Dawu or the slightly higher-ranked Rinto.

Daita?

Probably impossible.

Baimu felt it didn't matter who he fought; either way he couldn't surpass Dan Di to become season number one, he could only pin his hopes on the Eight Masters.

The lunch break flew by.

Before the heat between Baimu and Lance's match could ferment to its peak, evening brought another piece of news quietly surfacing.

【Kalos League Publishes Latest Mega Evolution Discovery Report (Hot)】

Inside were recorded, as of now, the unknown Mega Stones excavated from the Kalos Mega Mine.

And among already confirmed Pokémon, there were several more than Baimu knew——

Clefable, Greninja, Chesnaught, Delphox, Malamar, Barbaracle, Starmie!?

The news very thoughtfully included the Pokémon's post-Mega Evolution appearances.

Baimu also got to see many Mega Evolutions he had never seen before.

Among them, Mega Starmie was the most eye-catching.

Because it was simply too abstract.

It gave the impression of a Starmie with overgrown lower limbs, insisting it had Mega Evolved.

What made Baimu even harder to evaluate was.

The article discussed Mega Starmie's physical Attack greatly increasing, its Ability suspected to be 【Yoga Power (?)】, the question mark indicating it awaits verification.

"If you changed it to 'Power of Ultra,' I'd believe it too."

He complained.

Starmie already had Ultraman elements — whether the 'cha' sound during battle, or the core gem flashing and dimming upon defeat, all were close to Ultraman.

Now with elongated legs, plus its drastically increased physical attack, it couldn't help but resemble him even more.

Baimu couldn't help but think of someone: "Xiaxia must be very happy, right?"

Compared to Gyarados, Starmie was actually Xiaxia's signature Pokémon.

"The other few..."

His gaze locked onto the other Mega Evolutions.

Don't know if it's because they weren't eye-familiar, but they didn't feel as stunning as the first time seeing Mega Evolution.

But to say they're ugly — definitely not ugly; he thought Mega Blaziken and Mega Heracross were quite good.

So does Hydreigon have one or not?

Give it one!

Baimu was very expectant; Hydreigon was also a bit expectant, it was also secretly following this news.

If it could have a Mega Evolution, its ace position would be secured, right?

Aggron definitely wouldn't be able to mock it anymore!

Hydreigon always believed the Kaiju's attitude toward it was very bad, yet forgot how it had provoked the other time and again.

The next day.

Baimu returned to Orre.

Just off the plane, he was welcomed by enthusiastic crowds lining the way.

Shanian was among them, yet not by his arrangement, but the fans' spontaneous action.

Beating Carnet and beating Lance brought him very different heat; at least before that period, no one would boast he was world number one.

Now there were.

"How was it?"

"Fine. When Mega Dragonite appeared, I almost thought you were unstable."

The vehicle drove on the crowded road, the two chatting casually.

Hearing him say this, Baimu couldn't help but chuckle lightly.

If he couldn't even beat Lance, what confidence would he have to compete with Ash and Champion Dan Di for world's strongest?

The Simulator would've been opened for nothing!

"Getting close to the Elite Four; what plans do you have next?"

Shanian asked: "Next month Orre Academy can officially recruit its first batch of students."

Baimu said: "Recruit them. But during this period after, I'll probably wander around everywhere."

Shanian: "Why?"

"Find people to battle; every bit of improvement counts."

Baimu replied casually, but actually it was to strive to shorten the Simulator's countdown.

The stronger the opponent, the faster the Simulator's countdown shortens.

Steelix, Porygon2, Shiny Gengar, and Galarian Corsola haven't reached level 90 yet; they probably won't make it in time.

But it's fine; however many can make it count.

Orre's fine in every way, but high-end combat power is really few; only Manju, Batras, and a scant few others satisfy him.

Shanian nodded: "Whatever I can help with, just say the word."

"Don't worry, I won't stand on ceremony with you."

Baimu elbowed him, yet inexplicably a wave of irritable emotion surged in his heart.

It felt like something had happened.

Something happened at Platinum Silver Mountain?

He hurried back, but discovered no situation; Taodailang was very well-behaved, and the Regigigas and Jirachi in the basement showed no signs of waking.

The Terapagos turned to stone...

Since leaving Paldea, it hasn't reacted.

Why exactly?

Baimu pondered without solution, and this irritable emotion persisted for a whole week along with the competition's related heat.

The Pokémon naturally sensed it; these past few days they were all extra well-behaved; Aggron, Blissey and other Pokémon also asked him the reason.

But Baimu himself couldn't explain it.

"It's like something important happened, but I didn't notice it."

His puzzlement continued into the second week.

An acquaintance called.

"Huh? What do you mean your partner was abducted by you yourself? Team Rocket's disguise work? Wait!"

Baimu briefly blanked, then suddenly realized: "I understand!"

The other end of the phone.

The worried Dawn asked in puzzlement: "Understand? Do you know Buizel's whereabouts?"

"Specifics wait till I get to your side to say."

Baimu gave her a reassurance shot: "Relax, your Buizel won't be in danger."

That's right.

How could he have forgotten something this important.

The "Great Spacetime Anomaly" of the journey!

Because Team Rocket from a parallel spacetime obtained the artifact Red Chain, Palkia and Dialga clashed once more, and the aftershocks of their power created multiple spacetime entrances.

Dawn's Buizel was abducted by her parallel-spacetime self, thereby triggering a series of plot events.

His own irritability was definitely closely tied to this point as well!

He lifted the Thousand-Space Wristband from his bosom, tightly linked to Arceus, and murmured, "Is this giving me a side quest?"