Chapter 449: Landing on Alola

"Huo La, aren't you taking an extra two days of rest?" A modified pickup slowly drove out of the Alliance Compound, and Bilan, seated in the vehicle, couldn't help but ask.

"No, I've already rested enough for three days; the situation is urgent now, can't afford to waste time." Huo La took the sandwich Paipa handed over and replied offhand.

For the past three days he remained in the League, chatting leisurely with his relatives while quietly assessing the League's current state, and even held a real training match with Dande.

The result was inevitable; he was thoroughly beaten by Dande, and it made him even more aware of the current landscape crowded with strong individuals.

"But do we really have to go all the way to Alola to find Neimu Boshi?" Paipa took a big bite of his sandwich, his tone full of confusion, "This itinerary is a bit too outlandish, we have no clue at all."

Huo La let out a light sigh, raised his hand and knocked on the metal at the back of the pickup.

In the driver's seat was Xiao Gang, who was behind the wheel.

"Drive steadily," Huo La instructed, "the jolts are making me a bit dizzy."

Co-pilot Xiaoyin, sitting beside, immediately scoffed, his face full of disdain.

Xiao Gang responded with a cheerful smile, "Understood."

Huo La then explained, "Going to see Neimu Boshi is just incidental; the real priority is that some matters must be confirmed with her face-to-face. If we could reach her by phone, I wouldn't need to make a personal trip to Alola."

Red has already transmitted the latest news:

Liu Bo deliberately took a roundabout route, and after several twists, ultimately vanished completely near Gui Pi Zhen in the Chengdu Region. Red is now holding position locally, searching all around for Liu Bo's whereabouts.

After the news reached the League, the higher-ups once considered mobilizing personnel to turn Gui Pi Zhen upside down for a thorough investigation, but Professor Oak intervened with his words, quashing the notion.

The reason Professor Oak intervened was that Huo La had privately brought up the secret of the GS Ball and Liu Bo's true designs.

At that moment, Professor Oak fell into a prolonged silence after hearing, as if recalling dust‑sealed memories; after pondering for a long time, he decided to attempt contacting Neimu Boshi in Alola.

Unfortunately, the communication could never be established, leaving no news.

And precisely because of that, Huo La, Xiaoyin, Xiao Gang, Bilan, and Paipa now embark together, planning a journey to Alola.

"Since the matter is so urgent, why not have Palkia open a portal straight to Alola?" Bilan asked, his face full of confusion.

Huo La helplessly gave her a withering glance, "You never pay any attention to regional news, do you?"

"Huh? What other inside info?" Bilan blinked, his face full of bewilderment.

Paipa set aside his sandwich and explained earnestly, "Alola is already under the complete control of the Aether Foundation. Forget about former Chairman Lusamine for now; the current ruler Zha Ao Bo has employed special technological barriers, tightly sealing off Alola's four main islands together with countless surrounding isles."

"Not to mention forcefully opening a Time and Space portal and barging in, even Pelipper and Wingull—Pokemon adept at crossing seas—cannot pierce that barrier and cannot enter Alola."

"So... we can only resort to smuggling."

"Smuggling?!" Bilan's eyes suddenly lit up, a spark of interest, his face eager to give it a try.

Huo La silently had no words; while others fret at the idea of smuggling, Bilan is unusually excited.

However, one must admit, the Rocket Team Trio's connections are truly wild.

After four years, they still managed to secure such a cross‑sea smuggling channel.

But when Huo La's party finally reached the agreed smuggling location, everyone was stunned on the spot.

"No way... this is the smuggling route you three mentioned?" Huo La ground his teeth, staring at the three pitifully simple small wooden boats before him, his mouth twitching.

"Meow, of course that's correct," Miao Miao said solemnly, "Alola's sky is sealed by a high‑tech barrier; unless the Foundation actively opens it, no Pokemon, no Flying route can get in."

Bilan gave a slight nod; Paipa had already mentioned this to her on the road, so she was aware.

"But while the sky route is blocked, there's a loophole under the sea," Miao Miao continued, "We first drift to Alola's nearby sea by small boat, then dive straight, sneaking onto the island through the underwater tunnels that connect the islands from the deep sea—it's very reliable."

"I'm not opposed to entering from underwater..." Huo La pressed his forehead, a helpless expression, "But can't you get two slightly more reliable boats? These small wooden boats look like they'll fall apart at any moment!"

Miao Miao gave Huo La a sideways glance and bluntly said, "No money."

Huo La was instantly at a loss for words, not knowing how to retort.

In the end, the group simply abandoned the flimsy boats, dispatching three Gyarados to carry them forward, cutting through the waves across the boundless sea.

Two days passed in the blink of an eye.

Night fell, moonlight spilled, at a remote, deserted stretch of coast on Alola's Poni Island, the sewer manhole cover on the ground was gently moved aside.

Miao Miao was the first to stick out his head, cautiously scanning the surroundings, confirming the area was silent and unguarded, then deftly leapt out of the ground.

Following closely, Huo La's party also emerged one by one from the deep, damp sewer, breathing the island's fresh night air.

"Phew—I'm exhausted," Bilan stretched a big yawn, gazing at the bright moonlit sky, muttering, "I just want to find a place to take a proper bath right now."

Huo La said nothing, turned his gaze to the Rocket Team Trio nearby, and calmly asked, "What are your plans now?"

"Heh heh, little brat," Musashi crossed his arms and snorted coldly, his expression tinged with a hint of pride, "We're just a temporary partnership; how could we possibly tell you our plans casually."

Kojiro was considerably more easygoing than Musashi; after a brief thought, he said honestly, "There used to be a Rocket Team base here in Alola; we plan to go there first to try our luck and see if it can still be used."

"Idiot! What are you telling them!" Musashi immediately glared at Kojiro, muttering a low complaint.

Huo La was unfazed, speaking lightly, "Then each of you act on your own. If urgent matters arise later, we'll contact each other. Apart from that, there's nothing else to explain."

After finishing, he didn't linger, stepped directly in a chosen direction and left, without any hesitation.

Xiao Gang, Xiaoyin, Paipa, and Bilan, seeing this, immediately followed his steps, disappearing together into the night.

Only the Rocket Team Trio remained on the spot, eyeing each other, staring face to face.

"No way... they just left like that? This really pisses me off!" Musashi, seething with frustration, said.

"Musashi, calm down," Kojiro quickly soothed, "Everyone being busy on their own is fine, no interference, saves a lot of trouble."

"Meow, that's right," Miao Miao flicked his tide‑soaked tail, stretching lazily with a satisfied expression, "Meow now just wants to find a place to take a good bath, relax comfortably."