Chapter 403: So, from what you

Following Paipa, we occasionally ran into members of the expedition team dressed in uniform—some leaning against the rock wall on guard, some speaking in low voices, and others adjusting monitoring equipment, all with solemn expressions.

Strangely, they ignored the Paipa walking toward them, and even though Huo La followed closely, no one stepped forward to question them, as if the two were merely air.

Following Paipa around two bends, a simple cottage came into view; the moment the door was pushed open, the sensor lights inside lit up automatically, and the warm yellow glow dispelled the surrounding chill, forming a stark contrast to the oppressive atmosphere at the bottom of the Giant Pit.

Paipa casually took off the backpack from his shoulder, tossed it onto the soft sofa, walked straight to the kitchen, quickly grabbed two chilled drinks from the refrigerator, and tossed one to Huo La: "Leiy, sit wherever you like, no need to be formal."

Huo La reached out, his fingertips feeling the bottle's chill, twisted off the cap, and the citrus soda's sweet freshness spread instantly; he took a gulp, the icy liquid sliding down his throat, the accumulated fatigue largely dissipating, and he couldn't help but let out a loud belch.

He looked around the modest cottage, its space small yet kept clean and tidy, with the kitchen, bedroom, and bathroom clearly laid out, no superfluous furnishings, clearly only Paipa lived here.

Huo La set the drink bottle down, his gaze landing on Paipa, his tone calm yet probing: "You invited me here, it can't be just a simple visit, right? What's your purpose?"

Paipa was momentarily stunned, then smiled, pulled a chair over and sat opposite Huo La: "Looks like nothing can hide from you. You're not from Paldea, are you?"

"How do you know?"

"You saw it yourself along the way; the expedition team has set up a tight defensive line across Paldea, even installing an Energy Barrier, so not even ordinary Trainers, let alone Psychic Type Pokemon, can move freely. Yet you slipped into the Giant Pit with ease, indicating you possess some special ability, or that a special Pokemon is assisting you."

"I can tell from the Ivysaur and Zubat by your side that you're not a local Trainer from Paldea—Ivysaur is a signature Pokemon of the Chengdu Region, and your accent is completely different from ours. Moreover, you don't even know me, so you're clearly not from the League or under any regional king."

"So what?"

"Therefore, I need to figure out your purpose, and… whether you've already captured that Legendary Pokémon." Hearing this, Huo La's heart tightened sharply.

He didn't mind the other party trying to learn his background, but the question about the Legendary Pokémon truly made his heart jump.

Obviously, Paipa's infiltration of the Paldea Giant Pit was aimed at that Legendary Pokémon.

After unexpectedly encountering him, the other side immediately suspected that he had gotten there first.

Huo La's gaze also sharpened on Paipa, his mind racing, recalling his original impression of Paipa while comparing it to the current Paldea now controlled by the expedition team, weighing it repeatedly.

In his memory, Paipa clearly grew up in a single‑parent household.

But the person before him just mentioned his parents offhand, and his tone clearly indicated both parents were present.

Moreover, he moves freely through the expedition team's controlled zones without obstruction, making it almost certain that Paipa is either a member of the expedition team himself, or his parents hold senior positions within it.

Given his age, the latter seems far more plausible.

"Huh—" Huo La exhaled, his tone casual as if speaking of something trivial, "I say I'm from two thousand years ago, here to save the world—do you believe me?"

Paipa froze on the spot, clearly not expecting such an outlandish remark; the corner of his mouth twitched uncontrollably, his eyes full of astonishment.

But the next second, as if he suddenly realized something, his eyes lit up, he leaned forward, his tone brimming with certainty: "You really have captured that Legendary Pokémon!"

That remark left Huo La completely stunned; he clearly hadn't expected Paipa's reaction, and instinctively leaned back, furrowing his brows as he retorted, "What Pokemon? When did I ever capture a Legendary Pokémon?"

"It's Terapagos!" Paipa hurried to explain, his tone tinged with urgency, "the special Pokemon of the Paldea Region, also the source of Terastallization, the one that legends say can freely traverse Time and Space! You claim you're from two thousand years ago—if not because of it, what else could you rely on?"

Terapagos!

Huo La heard the name, and instantly the image of that Pokemon flashed in his mind—a body cloaked in deep blue crystals, its back etched with strange patterns, resembling a small land turtle, the very source of all special Paradox Pokemon in the Paldea Giant Pit.

"You're talking about that crystal‑encased turtle?" Huo La blurted out subconsciously, his tone carrying a hint of surprise.

"You really captured it!" Paipa became even more excited, grabbing Huo La's hand, his eyes full of urgency and anticipation, "Huo La, show me quickly! Let me see that Legendary Pokemon!"

Huo La gently shook off his hand, helplessly shook his head, his tone serious: "I truly haven't captured Terapagos; in the Paldea Giant Pit, the only Pokemon I've captured is just a Wingull."

Paipa stared at Huo La with a face full of suspicion, his gaze repeatedly scanning Huo La's face, trying to find any flaw.

But Huo La remained calm throughout, his eyes open and sincere, showing no hint of evasion.

After a long silence, Paipa finally exhaled, his tone still tinged with uncertainty, carefully saying, "You… you really didn't capture it? You're not lying to me?"

"I'm not lying to you." Huo La spread his hands, his tone flat, without any falsehood.

Paipa's excitement instantly faded, replaced by an unmistakable disappointment; he let out a soft sigh, his tone full of regret: "Alas, I thought you had already captured it, even suspected that you deliberately infiltrated the Paldea Giant Pit just to capture that Legendary Pokemon."

"But still, the Pokemon that the expedition team has searched for years without finding—how could it be captured so easily?"

Huo La raised an eyebrow, leaning forward slightly, his tone laced with curiosity: "Oh? From what you're saying, this Pokemon is quite important?"