Chapter 406: I'll Personally Drill Into Your Brain and Ask!

"It should be." Green solemnly nodded, slowly began, "The notes record that Researcher Xiao Zhao first embarked on the path of researcher and Trainer, guided by a 'future person'."

"Moreover, this future person was also the hero who saved the Hisui Region—only after quelling Hisui's crisis, he returned to his original world."

"Could this person be Huo La?" Professor Oak jerked his head up, his eyes full of urgency, his tone carrying a hint of probing.

"Hard to say." Green gently shook his head, his tone sincere, "Perhaps due to some concern, Xiao Zhao's notes do not record this person's specific name, only calling him the 'future guide'."

He paused, then added, "But Xiao Zhao himself is a core member of the Hisui Galaxy Team, and the Hisui Galaxy Team is the predecessor of today's Sinnoh Galaxy Team. Perhaps the Galaxy Team's internal files contain more records about this person."

Hearing this, Professor Oak's spirit instantly revived, his fatigue vanished, and he immediately turned to Professor Elm, his tone urgent: "Elm, is Chi Ri of the Galaxy Team still being detained by our League?"

Professor Elm was startled for a moment, then recovered, nodded: "Oh, you mean Chi Ri of our world, right? Yes, he's still here. Come to think of it, he was rescued by Red, and thereafter has been kept under the League's watch."

Professor Oak instantly understood, his eyes dazzling, hurriedly looked at Green, his tone full of impatience: "Let's go, let's go, let's go, take the notes, we're going to see Chi Ri right now! Maybe we can get some clues from his mouth!"

As soon as the words finished, he clutched the document bag and hurried out of the lab, his steps a few paces faster than usual, completely free of the earlier fatigue and dejection.

Green watched Professor Oak's eager silhouette, helplessly letting out a soft sigh.

The usually steady grandfather, rarely so impatient, then gave Professor Elm a brief farewell, and briskly kept pace with Professor Oak, heading together toward the place where Chi Ri is detained.

The Pokemon League's detention area was not the dark, damp cell one might imagine; instead it resembled a tidy apartment building, each "cell" an independent room, with League members stationed at the doors year-round, guard duty strict.

The guarding League member, seeing Professor Oak and Green stride forward, immediately straightened, respectfully speaking: "Professor Oak, what brings you here today?"

Professor Oak kept moving, his tone edged with unmistakable urgency: "I've come to see Chi Ri; I have some important matters to ask him."

The guard's gaze inadvertently swept behind Professor Oak, where a silent old woman stood; though slightly stooped, she exuded an aura of authority.

"Damu, how could you dare leave your laboratory today?" the old woman's voice rose slowly, hoarse yet underpinned by undeniable confidence.

Professor Oak turned upon hearing the voice, saw the newcomer, and his tone softened slightly: "Kikuko, I've come to ask something; it's related to Huo La."

As soon as the words "Huo La" left his mouth, Kikuko's complexion changed instantly; her normally steady gaze lit up, her steps quickened, and she hurried a few steps to Damu's side, her voice trembling with unmasked urgency: "Really? Damu, you have news about my grandson?"

Professor Oak looked at her eager demeanor, gave a gentle nod, and said gravely: "At present it's only speculation; the specifics can only be confirmed after we see Chi Ri."

"Chi Ri..." Kikuko inhaled deeply, suppressing her excitement, turned to the guard at the door, her tone leaving no room for objection, "Open the door, we need to see him."

As one of the League's few remaining elite forces, the League, considering her age, no longer sends her to the front lines but assigns her to guard these specially classified prisoners, both safe and providing her a relatively stable situation.

The guard dared not delay, immediately produced the key, opened the door to the room holding Chi Ri, and stepped aside to signal the others to enter.

Chi Ri was originally lying on the bed, daydreaming, his gaze vacant, looking listless.

Suddenly hearing the door turn, he slightly furrowed his brow, raised his eyes with mild puzzlement; but when he saw the people entering, his previously lazy expression instantly tightened, his face gradually turning solemn.

"What?" Chi Ri slowly sat up, his back against the headboard, his voice low and icy, with a hint of sarcasm, "So the League finally can't stand it any longer and wants to cut me open?"

Professor Oak and Kikuko arrived together, with Green following behind; such a procession could not be mere idle chatter.

Professor Oak did not reply to his remark, merely lifted his chin and signaled Green to hand over the document bag.

Chi Ri's confusion deepened, he reached out, took the documents, slowly pulled out the notes inside, and turned the pages carefully one by one.

After finishing the last page, he looked up at Professor Oak, his tone bearing a hint of surprise: "These are the private notes of Researcher Xiao Zhao, an ancestor of the Galaxy Team from the Hisui era; how did you obtain this?"

Professor Oak still did not answer his question, his tone urgent yet solemn: "Is everything recorded in this notebook true? Also, do you know what name the 'future person' in the notes actually goes by?"

Chi Ri caught the tension and urgency in Professor Oak's eyes, suddenly let out a low laugh, his tone tinged with amusement: "Oh? It seems you doubt the identity of this future person, even searching for him? I could tell you, but—what benefit would it bring me to know or not know?"

Professor Oak heard this, and his brows instantly knit.

He only then realized that his own impatience had made his intention too obvious, giving Chi Ri a foothold.

He was about to speak to negotiate terms, when Kikuko spoke first, her voice icy and cutting, without a hint of warmth: "If you know, say it now. I'm not as easygoing as Damu, and I have no time to bargain. If you dare conceal even a single word, I'll have my Ghost-type Pokemon drill into your brain and ask!"

As she spoke, a faint Ghost-type energy began to emanate around Kikuko, her aura chilling, and even Chi Ri's amused glint faded slightly.