Chapter 249: Brother Brother Qingmu's Life Philosophy

"General, one serving of piping-hot Chili-Crane Lao Gan Ma Grilled Rice Ball." Taking a seat at the counter beside Brother Brother Qingmu, Luo Mu placed his order with the head chef of Treasure Canteen.

Glancing down to see that the customer was Luo Mu, General's eyes lit up: "Isn't this the trainer who had his Luxio buzz and zap Brother Brother Qingmu's Staraptor unconscious? Have you come to challenge Brother Brother Qingmu's gym again today?"

Buried in his food, Brother Brother Qingmu replied weakly: "Today's matter is worse than a gym challenge."

General froze, glanced back and forth between the two, and offered an awkward laugh: "Hahaha, then you two chat; I won't get involved."

With that, General turned back to preparing dishes; he felt these two were about to discuss something very heavy, and it was better not to listen.

Setting down his spoon, Brother Brother Qingmu looked at Luo Mu with a calm expression: "You've come."

Luo Mu nodded: "I've come."

Brother Brother Qingmu added: "You shouldn't have come."

"... Why?"

"Because your arrival means my unpaid overtime is about to begin."

"..."

Luo Mu wore an indescribable expression; Geeta couldn't possibly be that shady, could she? When commissioning him before, she had readily paid the reward.

As a mature member of society, Brother Brother Qingmu, who could simply judge another's thoughts from their expression, saw exactly what Luo Mu was thinking and said indifferently: "This is the helplessness of entering the workforce; sometimes one must satisfy a superior's whims. Since the Chairwoman didn't mention it, we must consciously refrain from asking for overtime pay."

"Life is always full of compromises and helplessness; only thus can one stabilize in the workplace. I can understand that a child like you, without life pressures, doesn't grasp these matters."

Luo Mu: "..."

No, having once received the blessing of 996, I completely understand your thinking, Brother Brother Qingmu; we are the people in this world who can understand each other best.

Moreover, the person who dragged you into this unexpected overtime... is probably me and Arven.

Having completely jumped out of the 996 vicious cycle, Luo Mu felt guilty but didn't know how to comfort Brother Brother Qingmu, so he could only remain silent for now.

Brother Brother Qingmu also ate silently, occasionally emitting sounds of chew, chew... swallow, swallow.

Once the grilled rice ball Luo Mu ordered was ready, Brother Brother Qingmu finished his meal, wiped his mouth, cleared the table, then picked up his briefcase, took out a roll of maps from within, and entered work mode.

"Luo Mu, just continue eating; to ensure high-efficiency search and rescue, I will explain the plan after entering the Paldea Great Crater."

Gnawing on the grilled rice ball, his cheeks moving constantly, Luo Mu merely nodded in response.

Brother Brother Qingmu spoke slowly: "The great crater in central Paldea is called the Paldea Great Crater, but it now has an officially named title—Area Zero. Area Zero has upper, middle, and lower layers; the deeper one goes, the more dangerous it becomes."

"During an escort mission several months ago, I escorted the two Professors and their accompanying researchers to Research Station 3; they should now be constructing Research Station 4 in the lower regions beneath Station 3."

"The environment of Area Zero is intricate and complex, far more so than this Mesagoza, but fortunately, thanks to the efforts of past explorers, there is now a slightly safer and simpler route downward."

Brother Brother Qingmu drew a route on the map of Area Zero with the fountain pen in his hand.

"After entering the upper layer of Area Zero through the Zero Gate, we will follow this line toward Research Station 1, and proceeding along the path left by predecessors, continue down to Research Station 3."

"The journey will be very long; prepare for a protracted battle. Have you purchased sufficient supplies?... No, it seems I worried unnecessarily."

General's gaze fell upon the old, large backpack at Luo Mu's feet, stuffed full of items; a trace of surprise flashed in Emperor Yan Di's eyes—it seemed Luo Mu had prepared quite adequately.

While listening earnestly to Brother Brother Qingmu, Luo Mu finished his delicious grilled rice ball, picked up his backpack, and showed Brother Brother Qingmu supplies like potions and dried rations; he had often traveled in the wild before, so all necessary preparations were already made.

"In that case, once I prepare a few things, let's depart."

Brother Brother Qingmu sighed, lifted his head, and stared straight at the soft lighting of Treasure Canteen, as if lamenting his peaceful life that was about to vanish.

It had been hard enough recently to finish overtime work before ten o'clock at night.

Brother Brother Qingmu's preparations were full of efficiency; he was never one to slack off, insisting on doing everything well; in Brother Brother Qingmu's words, this was the necessary self-cultivation of a working professional.

Brother Brother Qingmu usually walked to work, and occasionally for long trips he rode his Tropius—having a Staraptor or Braviary carry an adult was still somewhat difficult.

As for how Kukui once rode a Braviary across the sea, Luo Mu could only say that a super Alolan could hang from a Braviary's talons with one hand, but Brother Brother Qingmu, whose body had been drained by overtime to the point of looking like he might suffer sudden death at any moment, was incapable of such a feat.

Casting his gaze toward the steep cliff not far away, Luo Mu, riding on his Dragonite, turned his head to look at Brother Brother Qingmu riding beside him on the Tropius and asked curiously: "Must we go to the Zero Gate? Would it not be more efficient to have Dragonite and Tropius increase their flight altitude and plunge directly into Area Zero from above?"

Brother Brother Qingmu shook his head: "That won't work; the clouds shrouding the top of the great crater seem to possess some effect that causes both humans and Pokémon to lose their sense of direction. Few flying Pokémon can break through there; most instead lose their direction until exhausted, plummet into the interior of the great crater, and dash themselves to pieces."

"Only the Zero Gate sits at precisely the altitude that allows safe entry into Area Zero; going there is the most prudent decision."

Luo Mu nodded thoughtfully; these were pieces of knowledge that had not appeared in the game. If he had been a bit more arrogant, he might have charged straight in from high altitude and encountered a crisis.

The experience accumulated by predecessors was truly useful.

Brother Brother Qingmu indeed knew the Paldea Great Crater and Area Zero extremely well; he was not only the Normal-type Gym Leader of Mesagoza but also the Paldea League's Flying-type Elite Four member.

Luo Mu suspected that one of the reasons Geeta had arranged for Brother Brother Qingmu to serve as the Gym Leader in Mesagoza was likely to keep constant watch over the conditions inside the Paldea Great Crater, ensuring reliable combat strength guarded this place.

Under Brother Brother Qingmu's guidance, the two soon arrived near the Zero Gate; Brother Brother Qingmu did not recall his Tropius, signaling for Luo Mu and Dragonite to follow him.

After passing through a somewhat dim tunnel, the two arrived before a building filled with an aged atmosphere.

The building was constructed halfway up the mountain; League staff members came and went frequently, their expressions tense, seemingly affected by the loss of contact from below.

Brother Brother Qingmu skillfully bypassed these staff members, leading Luo Mu into the brightly lit building; occasionally, staff members would greet Brother Brother Qingmu, and he politely responded to each.

This, too, was the composure and emotional intelligence of a working professional.

(End of Chapter)