Chapter 257: The Awakened Doctors, the Great Cavern of Zero!

Just as Luo Mu's gaze on Meng Lei Gu lit up slightly, and he could no longer resist wanting to cross the line and test the softness of its fur, a weak voice rang out from behind them.

"What... is the current situation?"

Luo Mu looked back and saw two doctors in white coats supporting each other as they walked out of Observation Post No. 4.

Their complexions were still a bit pale, but judging from the way they walked, one could tell their wounds had mostly healed — after all, they were already up and about.

The one who spoke was Professor Futu; come to think of it, this was Luo Mu's first time meeting him face to face.

Professor Futu's gaze fell on Luo Mu, who was itching to make a move on Meng Lei Gu, and his expression turned a little strange.

If he hadn't seen wrong just now, Luo Mu was about to go touch Meng Lei Gu, wasn't he?

The scene of that big fellow chasing after them while electrocuting every wild Pokémon that blocked its path into unconsciousness was still fresh in their minds, yet now it stood there obediently without any unusual movement.

Could it be that these Paradox Pokémon also buy into the "might makes right" approach — as long as you beat them into submission, they'll bow their heads and swear fealty?

Dr. Professor Futu fell into deep thought.

Orin, who was fairly familiar with Luo Mu, waved her hand and smiled: "Long time no see, Teacher Luo Mu."

Orin's gaze then fell on the few Pokémon behind Luo Mu, on Meng Lei Gu, and on the battle scars outside.

What was there for her not to understand? It seemed Luo Mu and Champion Brother Qingmu had specifically rushed over to rescue them.

"Dr. Orin, Dr. Professor Futu — Paipa has been unable to reach you for a while and is very anxious. Now that Meng Lei Gu won't release electricity to interfere with the magnetic field anymore, why not take this chance to send him a message?"

Luo Mu felt he was truly wearing his heart out for Paipa's parents. This pair of parents was a bit unreliable, and Paipa was currently in an emotionally sensitive period.

But this time it wasn't that Orin and Professor Futu had deliberately failed to contact Paipa, so he couldn't really say anything — he could only drop a subtle hint as a reminder.

The two exchanged a glance, their expressions shifting slightly. Orin bowed slightly and ran into the observation post to establish contact with the outside world — this sort of thing was better left to the mother.

As for Professor Futu, he came over to Luo Mu's side, sizing up Meng Lei Gu — which for some reason was also staring fixedly at him — with a look of awe, then turned to look at Molu, who had been silent beside Luo Mu the whole time, and said gratefully: "Good thing you were here, otherwise Orin and I might not have made it through these past few days."

"Not at all, anyone would have done the same thing. The doctor flatters me."

Molu looked utterly flattered, his cheeks even flushing a little red.

Professor Futu patted his shoulder with a smile, already considering in his mind giving Molu some perks later — trying to get him promoted, for instance, converting him from a research intern to a full-time researcher as a token of gratitude, provided his basic competence was up to par.

"Dr. Professor Futu, where's Brother Brother Qingmu?"

Luo Mu peered behind Professor Futu and found that Brother Qingmu hadn't come out, and even the Florges was nowhere to be seen.

Professor Futu replied: "When we woke up we found him asleep. The Florges told us not to wake him — it seems Champion Brother Qingmu is extremely exhausted, and the Florges is using its flower fragrance to help him enter deep sleep."

Luo Mu nodded lightly: "... I understand. That's for the best."

It wasn't easy to get a chance to rest — better let Brother Brother Qingmu keep sleeping.

Molu was called into the observation post by Orin; apparently the strong magnetic field environment caused by Meng Lei Gu earlier had damaged some of the equipment, and she needed an assistant to help with repairs.

Professor Futu, on the other hand, stayed outside and, under Luo Mu's arrangement, came face to face with Meng Lei Gu, which had been waiting for a long time.

In practice Meng Lei Gu was still just an attending Pokémon — the main communication was still handled by Luo Mu, since Luo Mu already knew what Meng Lei Gu wanted.

"Mm, regarding Meng Lei Gu — to be frank, I'm a bit confused."

Professor Futu gently rubbed the bridge of his nose. As a doctor, Professor Futu's observational skills were undoubtedly excellent, and now he could faintly tell that Meng Lei Gu seemed different from the Paradox Pokémon in his existing understanding.

Although he wasn't very interested in Paradox Pokémon like Meng Lei Gu, it was no exaggeration to say that the current dynamic between Meng Lei Gu and Luo Mu was exactly the dream he and Orin shared —

Letting these Paradox Pokémon, which existed only in the Zero Zone, adapt to this world and achieve a coexistence with modern humans and Pokémon on par with theirs.

But most of the Paradox Pokémon currently in the Zero Zone didn't meet this condition. Iron Thorns could, perhaps, but that was only on the surface — when threatened, Iron Thorns would still choose to attack, and its destructive power was no less than that of a modern Tyranitar.

Sure enough, they'd still have to find new Paradox Pokémon.

Luo Mu paused for a moment in thought, and his voice interrupted Professor Futu's train of thought: "Dr. Professor Futu, it's normal for you to be confused. Right now you're not the only one in a confused state — Meng Lei Gu, for instance."

"I'll be blunt — Doctor, where did you and your wife go when you encountered Meng Lei Gu?"

After a stretch of silence, Professor Futu said softly: "If I told you I don't know either, would you believe me?"

Luo Mu nodded lightly: "... I believe you. There's no need for you to lie, Doctor."

Professor Futu's gaze drifted into the distance, as if recalling his own memories: "At the time, Orin and I were building a research station at the very bottom of the Zero Zone. While constructing the elevator, we discovered that beneath the lowest level of the Zero Zone, there was an enormous cavern."

"Orin and I called it the Great Cavern of Zero. The interior of the cavern seemed to contain extremely dense Tera energy — even the rocks and terrain showed signs of Tera crystallization."

"The Great Cavern of Zero."

Luo Mu silently chewed on those words over and over. It seemed this was the follow-up story to the Zhu Zi game's DLC.

"Just as we were about to explore the surroundings of the Great Cavern, the scene before our eyes spun, and in the blink of an eye we appeared on an unfamiliar stretch of land, with unfamiliar plants."

"By the time Orin and I, who had fallen into a state of shock, came to our senses, we hadn't even managed to make any observations before we came face to face with this Meng Lei Gu beside you."

"What happened next you already know — we inexplicably appeared around Observation Post No. 3, were hit by the debris of the observation post building that Meng Lei Gu had destroyed, and then were chased by it all the way to Observation Post No. 4."

Luo Mu glanced at Meng Lei Gu's innocent face and said in a low voice: "Dr. Professor Futu... regarding Meng Lei Gu, the matter is actually quite simple. The reason it chased you and didn't destroy Observation Post No. 4 is simply that it wants to go home."

"Because just from meeting you, it was forced to a strange land — uneasy, and at the same time desperate to return."

Professor Futu said: "... Regarding this matter, I'm very sorry, but at least for now we can't do it. That inexplicable phenomenon of spatial — even temporal — transfer still needs time to study."

(End of Chapter)