Chapter 457: Cooperation

Neimu Boshi points at the unconscious team members on the ground, then turns with a bright smile toward Bike: "Aren't you going to step in and stop them?"

Bike gives a faint smile at the words, gently shakes her head, showing no intention of intervening.

Neimu Boshi laughs instantly at the sight, strides a few steps to her side, reaches out to pinch her cheek, but as his hand nears, Bike calmly lifts her hand and gently brushes it away.

"Be serious; the surveillance everywhere is still running," Bike whispers as a reminder.

This affectionate, familiar gesture leaves Huo La and the other two with shocked faces, unable to immediately grasp the nature of their relationship.

Neimu Boshi smiles and explains, "Let me introduce you: this is Bike, deputy division chief of the Aether Foundation, well‑meaning, and on our side."

"It's not a matter of taking sides," Bike says with a light smile, her gaze sweeping the group, accurately calling out names, "Huo La, Paipa, Bilan."

Huo La is not surprised that their identities are known, but finds Bike's calm, friendly demeanor rather unexpected.

Neimu Boshi restrains his smile, adopts a serious tone, and asks, "Why did this matter require your personal presence? Your purpose in coming here can't be just to capture me, can it?"

Bike slowly nods, her expression darkening a bit, "Gladio and Lillie's whereabouts are becoming impossible for me to conceal, and Zha'aobo's secret research is about to conclude."

Upon hearing this, Neimu Boshi's relaxed expression vanishes completely, his tone tightening, "And how is Professor Kukui's situation?"

Bike says, "Kukui took Gladio away from the hideout, apparently to complete a circuit of the islands." Her gaze lands on Huo La, and she continues, "Ash is heading out with Lillie, presumably to meet up with your companions."

Paipa and Bilan look shocked, while Huo La remains calm and composed.

The Aether Foundation's influence spreads across all of Alola; their covert island infiltration was bound to be discovered sooner or later, so there is little surprise.

Meanwhile, inside the abandoned Alola Team Rocket base, a fierce battle has erupted.

"Probopass, use Double Payback!" Musashi quickly issues the battle command, then anxiously turns his head and urges, "Meow Meow, how much longer until it's ready?"

Meow Meow buries her head in the tangled devices before her, unable to look up, and hurriedly replies, "Meow! Almost done, just a moment!"

"Gyarados, use Dragon Pulse!" Kojiro quickly commands his Pokemon to counter, sweat already beading on his forehead, "If this keeps up, we won't hold out much longer; the opponent has far too many people."

"Just hold on a bit longer, Meow! You always slack off and never train properly, now it's hard for you, right!"

"Ugh! We're an evil organization; training is such a hassle, does it have anything to do with us?" Musashi dodges the opponent's attack while retorting, "Probopass, use Mirror Coat!"

"Exactly! Musashi is right!" Kojiro agrees, "As an evil organization, staying under someone else's roof and temporarily keeping a low profile is just a stopgap! Gyarados, use Twister and sweep them all away!"

Meow Meow still keeps her head down, fingers flicking rapidly over the device, sweat beads on her forehead, with no time to answer, yet she dares not slow her motions for fear of delaying progress.

Inside the arena, Probopass's Mirror Coat and Gyarados's Twister cooperate, barely holding back the opponent's assault, but the enemy's numbers are vast, and the faces of the two men and Meow Meow grow increasingly grim.

Elsewhere, inside Neimu Boshi's cottage, the atmosphere is already unlike the earlier lightness.

Neimu Boshi lifts his teacup, takes a gentle sip, and casually asks, "So, you came here in person—are you planning to betray the Aether Foundation and seek cooperation with the League?"

Bike slowly sets down her teacup, fingertips gently rubbing the rim, gives a slight shake of her head, and in a calm tone says, "I'm not the one betraying the Aether Foundation; it's Lusamine and Zha'aobo who have long abandoned the Foundation's original purpose and betrayed Alola. All I'm doing is trying to set things right and stop them from further wrongdoing."

"What a pity," Neimu Boshi waves his hand, his tone tinged with helplessness, "You've come to the wrong person. I'm just a researcher; I'm not interested in your power struggles or choosing sides, and I can't help you at all."

Bike shows no sign of disappointment, merely says calmly, "I know you don't want to get involved, so the real person I'm looking for on this trip is Huo La."

These words cause Neimu Boshi to freeze, then he turns to look at Huo La beside him, his eyes full of puzzlement as he scrutinizes him up and down, as if meeting the boy for the first time.

What ability does this seemingly ordinary kid possess that makes Bike specifically seek him out as a hope to turn the tide?

Bike sees through her doubt and slowly explains, "You must have been in Alola so long that you're cut off from outside news, which is why you don't know how formidable Huo La is."

She says this, lifts her hand, and summons a Rotom Phone that flies out of her pocket, emitting a faint blue glow.

Almost simultaneously, the Rotom Phone in Neimu Boshi's pocket also flies out automatically; the two blue lights draw near, gently colliding, and begin rapid data synchronization.

Neimu Boshi hurriedly picks up his Rotom Phone, his gaze fixed on the screen as he carefully scans the synchronized information.

At first, her expression was somewhat casual, but as she watched, her complexion gradually changed—from confusion to surprise, and finally her eyes flashed with brilliance as she couldn't help exclaiming, "Impressive, truly impressive! I never expected this kid to have such great capability!"

Huo La stands nearby, his demeanor still calm, showing no ripple in response to Neimu Boshi's praise, as if the shocking data on the screen had nothing to do with him.

"You said early on that you possessed such god‑level power; not even a GS Ball, even if you wanted to dominate a region, wouldn't be a problem!" Neimu Boshi laughs, puts down his Rotom Phone, his eyes full of admiration, his tone tinged with teasing.

Huo La lightly shrugs, his expression still unruffled, and says calmly, "Doctor, stop joking. I'm not interested in ruling a region or controlling an area; my sole purpose is to restore the world to its former state."

Bike hears this, slowly nods, "It's precisely because you have no ambition to dominate the world that I came to seek cooperation with you. If you had even a hint of ambition, no matter how strong you are, I would never take that risk."