Chapter 1474: The Ace's Source

"Everyone, he is my guest."

The moment Denis arrived, he seized the initiative.

Whereupon everyone in the tavern retracted their wary gazes, and the boss behind the counter quietly lowered the weapon in his hand.

Denis looked at Baimu, who was sitting at ease before the counter, swiftly glanced at the Dorbalto beside him, and politely extended his hand: "You are Qingmu?"

"Correct. I have long admired your name, Mr. Denis."

Baimu shook hands with him, "I apologize for the sudden intrusion, but there are indeed some matters I wish to consult you on."

Denis fell silent for a moment, then cast his gaze toward the tavern boss.

The tavern boss understood and pressed a switch under the counter; after a faint mechanical click, the wall in the corner inexplicably turned into a door.

Clearly, this was a secret room.

"Please!"

Denis raised his hand in invitation.

The three entered in turn; inside there were not many furnishings, only a simple structure resembling a bar counter.

The door shut with a click and then locked dead.

Denis said apologetically: "Sorry, my identity is rather sensitive, so sometimes I have no choice but to be cautious."

"Understandable."

Baimu nodded and sat down opposite the middle-aged man before him.

Albert, who had accompanied them, did not sit with them, but stood to the side like a waiter, head bowed, eyes closed, as if on standby.

He knew very little about this man; he had only learned from Shanian that Albert held multiple posts — not only Denis's secretary, but also butler, bodyguard, and so on.

Baimu withdrew his gaze, and just as he was about to speak, Denis spoke first.

"I presume you have come for Long He?"

"Long He?"

Baimu was startled.

In his impression, Long He had never revealed his origins to the Rescue Organization, until later when he found the Curse Doll in the underground arena did he formally reveal his identity as a Dragon Tamer.

Denis would actually link him to Long He?

"You don't know him?"

Denis frowned.

Baimu shook his head: "I merely find it strange why you would know."

"..."

Denis's expression relaxed, and he said leisurely: "Since you were able to obtain my contact information, I naturally could investigate some things about you."

Without a doubt, he had asked the International Police to look into Baimu's background, and the Rotom Phone had also given a warning.

Only they never expected that all of it was fabricated.

The Rotom Phone had chosen an identity too well; Dragon Tamers are inherently the most mysterious branch of humanity in the outside world, and even the International Police cannot fully know their internal members.

Currently known are only those Dragon Tamers who have come out to travel; for the convenience of entering and leaving towns, they register their information so Officer Jenny won't regard them as suspicious persons.

Denis explained further: "Very early on we were speculating about Mr. Long He's origins; after making contact with the International Police, we also conducted a certain degree of investigation. The result we speculated was: Dragon Tamer."

Worldwide, a Trainer who decades ago could possess a pile of powerful Dragon Pokemon — the possibility of being a Dragon Tamer is extremely high.

But Dragon Tamers also have different clans, with traces in all corners of the world, and most live in seclusion, difficult to investigate.

Therefore the inquiry into the mystery of Long He's origins was temporarily shelved, waiting for another opportunity after Orre is liberated.

Unexpectedly, decades later a Dragon Tamer from a hidden land would take the initiative to come knocking, and even obtained his phone number by some unknown method; Denis could not help but link him to Long He.

"Long He is my ancestor."

Baimu said without batting an eye.

Although he was unclear what the other party had imagined on his own, it seemed many things no longer required him to fabricate stories to deceive.

Denis showed an as-expected expression, then sighed regretfully: "Although I don't know what you plan this time, I have a piece of not-so-good news to tell you — Mr. Long He... passed away many years ago."

"..."

Baimu sorrowed on cue.

Denis took a deep breath: "If you need, I can take you to see his memorial mound, and those who once formed a bond with him."

Lidi, right?

He recalled this founder of the Rescue Organization who, with Long He's help, escaped the underground mines of Huang Tie Town's lower levels.

Since acting requires playing the full act, Baimu naturally would not refuse Denis's invitation.

In a flash the three left the tavern, boarding Denis's luxury sedan and heading toward Lidi's current residence.

As the first leader of the Rescue Organization, Lidi deeply understands the principle of great seclusion hiding in the city; he lives in a standalone building in the middle layer, his public identity being the chairman of a corporation.

Baimu's acting was good; after deceiving Denis, he successfully deceived Lidi as well.

Everyone went together to mourn at Long He's fake tomb; of course, at this moment Lidi did not know the corpse the Curse Doll gave him was fake.

He recounted Long He's experiences and past with great enthusiasm.

Under the expectant gazes of the two, Baimu spoke the words they hoped for: "Can I join the Rescue Organization?"

"Of course!"

Denis couldn't be happier to have a Dragon Tamer's assistance join.

The Rescue Organization severely lacks qualified combat strength; he, lurking inside the Shadow Squad, knows very well that it would take considerable manpower and resources to completely liberate Orre.

Baimu's joining, and perhaps subsequent Dragon Tamers, could all become important links in that.

"If you want to investigate more about Long He, you can go to Huang Tie Town." Denis said softly: "I can arrange a convenient identity for you to operate under."

Baimu looked at him in surprise: "You trust me just like that?"

"I believe the descendants of Long He would not consort with petty villains." Denis smiled.

The situation went surprisingly smoothly — or perhaps the rescue organization truly lacked talent — and Baimu obtained a position called Special Investigator.

Simply put, he could act throughout Huang Tie Town under the guise of the Silicon Beryllium City Hall.

And the Silicon Beryllium City Hall was undoubtedly the brocade robe the Shadow Squad wore facing the outside world.

"So have you decided what you want to do with this identity?"

The Polygon Phone raised the question.

In its view, with Baimu's current strength, he could completely sweep through the entire Shadow Squad single-handedly.

However, considering the world they were currently in was the past, they could not act so crudely.

Carelessly changing the past would affect the future; this had already been proven on Eguigui — Boruo, who should have died a violent death, not only survived under Baimu's influence, but his descendants also became the town head of Beishang Township.

Don't think the Shadow Squad's destruction had little to do with Baimu; who knows what strange things might happen afterward.

You must know that his initial encounters with many Pokemon were all related to the environment of Aulay at that time.

Baimu responded, "I have a bit of a plan."

In this era that was excessively similar to the future, there was truly little he could do.

"Let's go, we're going to find the giant monster."

He quietly left Silicon Beryllium City, faced the boundless desert, and mounted Milldon's back.

The Polygon Phone asked in bewilderment: "Find Bossgodora? How to find it?"

"You'll know."

Baimu lightly patted Milldon's neck; the mechanical giant lizard cheerfully advanced in the guided direction — it had no real demands of the environment, being able to carry a person and gallop across the land was enough.

——

Huang Tie Town.

At this time the mining stronghold still maintained its savage posture.

The glow of the setting sun illuminated countless rust-stained iron-sheet houses; these main buildings were dark and dull in color, like mold spots on the earth.

Baimu rode Milldon standing on a high cliff, gazing into the distance at the familiar "hometown."

"I'm afraid I won't be able to hold back."

It was fine when he was in Silicon Beryllium City before, but now returning to Huang Tie Town, he really wanted to violently beat certain people and things here.

Polygon Phone: "Restrain yourself, for the sake of the already perfect future."

"You're right."

Baimu worked to calm his mood.

For the past Huang Tie Town he basically had no fond memories; the few there were, were related to Chenghong and the others.

This rotten place he just wanted to tear down in one go and be done with it.

If only it were a parallel world.

He sighed.

After recalling Milldon, he pulled out a hover motorcycle he hadn't ridden in a long time from the Shiny Gengar's belly, and dusted its exterior a bit.

"You're already a Special Investigator and still this cautious?"

"Mainly too much trouble."

Baimu knew all too well how many brainless people Huang Tie Town had.

He used to think they were stupid; now he understood they felt they had no future, so they simply "lived in the moment" and went wildly mad.

After Huang Tie Town was thoroughly transformed, they naturally slowly settled down.

Environment influences people — significantly proven.

Baimu rode the hover motorcycle into Huang Tie Town; the familiar narrow streets and the sneaky glances cast from all around gave him an inexplicable sense of long-lost familiarity.

But he didn't want this feeling at all.

Thanks to the motorcycle under him, no thugs like in Qinggang blocked the way along the route, and he arrived very smoothly at the Town Hall — the town head's faction's base.

Someone was already waiting at the gate; at first sight of him they thought he was a member of some organization and nearly drove him away with words.

Fortunately his companion had sharp eyes, well aware that people from other organizations in Huang Tie Town wouldn't dare ride up so openly, and stepped forward with an ingratiating face to ask: "You are..."

"Special Investigator."

Baimu understood he deliberately didn't say the second half, and glanced at this person.

The man immediately became even more servile, nodding and bowing: "Welcome, Special Investigator! Welcome, welcome! The town head has been waiting for you for a long time!"

Obviously Denis's side had sent word in advance.

Baimu casually handed the hover motorcycle to another person and strode into the Town Hall.

Come to think of it, he seemed to have only met this town head once, and that was at the Pokemon Auction; because Shanian and Awu united with him to seize a large number of Pokemon, the town head had to return to Silicon Beryllium City to report to superiors.

Result: he went and never returned.

"So fat."

The Polygon Phone gave its evaluation.

Baimu chatted idly with the middle-aged fatty before him without changing expression, ignoring the other's exaggerated physique of at least three hundred jin.

During the conversation, the town head tried openly and covertly to ask his purpose for coming.

Baimu completely didn't play along, only saying he had business to attend to, and declined the other's banquet invitation. Staying long with these worms made him nauseous, let alone eating together.

The town head instantly wore a very regretful look, and tried to arrange lodging for him, but was refused again.

"I have a place to stay, no need to trouble yourself."

Baimu rose and took his leave.

Outside the sky had darkened; it was time to do some things he wanted to do.

The mayor's face darkened at the repeated rejections, but he had no way to deal with Baimu — a Special Investigator was, in a sense, his equal in rank.

And the moment Baimu left, he immediately sent men to tail him, but they lost him the instant they stepped out of the town hall doors.

"Are you kidding me?"

"..."

The tailing personnel shrank their necks, like a few listless Dudus.

Who could imagine this Special Investigator could pull off a great transformation of a living person right before their eyes? They couldn't very well tell the mayor the other party vanished like a ghost in an instant, could they?

The mayor cursed his useless subordinates viciously, yet still puzzled over Baimu's purpose in coming here.

Could it be his own affairs had been exposed?

His expression flickered between dark and clear, caught in hesitation.

Meanwhile.

Baimu had already arrived before a casino. "River Club... should be here."

"Bossgodora is here?"

The Rotom Phone looked around curiously with its camera.

He shook his head. "Hard to say, I only know it might be here."

Without a doubt, Baimu had come to investigate the process by which Bossgodora ended up in the mine.

Back then Cang Zhi Lang told him that Bossgodora's previous Trainer lost money at the River Club's casino, and unable to repay the debt, pawned the Pokemon to the River Club.

But back then it was still a Kikodora — how did it end up in the mine?

Although he could directly ask Bossgodora to get to the bottom of it, Baimu felt since he had the chance, he might as well witness it with his own eyes.

The casino's decor had a strong Guandu style — tatami, folding screens, and wooden gambling tables, all present. The moment Baimu stepped through the main door, a lackey approached to ask if he had a familiar dealer.

He replied casually and exchanged for a few more chips, his gaze drifting among the many gamblers.

Unfortunately, no suspicious target was found for the time being.

Could that person have already been sent away?

Baimu remembered Cang Zhi Lang said that person, unable to pay the gambling debt, left Huang Tie Town through the mayor's channels.

A man who had gambled away his entire net worth and life — how did he get involved with the mayor?

He was genuinely curious.

Baimu quietly left the River Club's casino and headed for the mine where he first encountered the Ultra Beast. Fortunately his memory was good; he hadn't forgotten the exact location.

Unfortunately, still nothing gained.

"... Forget it, I'll stop here for today. Tomorrow I'll think of a way using this skin I'm wearing." Baimu decided to give up.

For the night's lodging, he chose the villa the Flowing Sand Team provided for Master Liu Ge.

Back when he was neighbors with Master Liu Ge, he discovered this person basically never returned home, usually choosing to rest in the office.

After all, as an undercover agent who saved the organization, she didn't trust many things about the Flowing Sand Team.

Baimu didn't care. With the Rotom Phone he could detect hidden cameras — there was simply no way to capture him on film.

The air between his mouth and nose was long-lost dry air; Bossgodora and the other Pokemon all felt quite amazed.

Especially Blissey, Hydreigon, and Mawile — these few veterans. They were the earliest to follow Baimu, and knew especially clearly what Huang Tie Town used to be like.

Mawile also never forgot — after arriving at Huang Tie Town, the first meal Baimu gave it was a burger combo from a burger joint in the Dungeon.

Too nostalgic!

Compared to Baimu, who was full of ill feeling, the Pokemon were filled entirely with warm memories.

The Trainer had never treated them badly.

In the dead of night, the Rotom Phone couldn't help asking Bossgodora. Compared to the Trainer who wanted to find answers himself, it leaned more toward the examiner feeding the question.

However, Bossgodora couldn't say why.

"Gu... roar?"

It suddenly felt that segment of memory was very blurry, unable to recall it.