Chapter 179: New Variables

"Yes, yes, yes, I know, Doctor... Alright, alright, I'll set off this afternoon, I guarantee I'll be there."

Huo La kept agreeing to the phone screen, and after hanging up the video call, he sighed heavily, his face full of helplessness.

"Huo La, what's wrong? Did something happen?" Brock put down the breeding manual in his hand and asked with concern.

"Sigh, Brock, our original plan to go to the Orange Archipelago is afraid it will have to be shelved first." Huo La slumped in the chair, his tone full of laughter and tears. "Professor Oak just called and asked us to go to the Safari Zone immediately."

"Hm? Safari Zone?" Brock frowned, a bit puzzled. "Everything is fine, why go there suddenly?"

Bilan also leaned over and blinked curiously: "Yeah, did something happen there?"

"It's all my fault for showing off before..." Huo La said with a bitter face, his tone full of regret. "The warden of the Safari Zone, Kaiser, also read that paper by Blaine about Super Ancient Pokémon. It just so happened that Ash and the others went there recently and mentioned to Kaiser that I was their partner, and as a result, Kaiser went directly to Professor Oak, saying he had to have me go there, and I couldn't push it away."

"The paper on Super Ancient Pokémon?" Brock frowned thoughtfully. "But what does this have to do with you going to the Safari Zone?"

"It does. Warden Kaiser has a special partner—it's a Dragonair!" Huo La spread his hands and sighed helplessly.

"Dragonair?!" Bilan's eyes instantly lit up, as if stars were flickering in her pupils, and she raised her volume excitedly. "Is it the legendary Dragon-type Pokémon Dragonair? That's a super rare existence! It is said that they not only have super high beauty, but also possess the magical ability to control the weather!"

Huo La glanced at her angrily: "Don't just be excited, we have seen the Super Ancient Dragonite with our own eyes; although Dragonair is rare, it's not enough to make such a fuss..."

"Peh, I haven't seen it!" Bilan retorted unconvinced, her tone full of longing. "By the way, when are we setting off?"

"We?" Huo La was stunned for a moment and looked at her suspiciously. "You are also going with us?"

"Why, is that not allowed?" Bilan raised her eyebrows and said righteously, "I happen to have a lot of questions about Pokémon breeding that I want to take this opportunity to ask Brock, so what's wrong with going together? Besides, that's the Safari Zone! A treasure land where you only have one chance in ten years to go in and catch Pokémon; how could I miss such a good opportunity!"

Huo La turned to look at Brock, his eyes carrying inquiry.

Brock looked helplessly at Bilan's expectant eyes, then at Huo La, and finally sighed and compromised with a smile: "Then let's go together; anyway, we don't have any other urgent matters for now. Huo La, shall we set off this afternoon? I remember there is a shuttle bus from Twinleaf Town directly to the town near the Safari Zone; if we set off in the afternoon, we can arrive by evening."

Seeing this, Huo La could only nod in agreement: "Fine, then it's settled. It just so happens that I can also increase my partners."

Pokémon Center, Huo La's room was quiet.

"Brat, your plan has been disrupted again?" Gengar's lazy voice sounded in the room, carrying a bit of teasing, but also hiding a hint of concern.

Huo La didn't answer, just stared silently at the system panel in his mind that still showed "Upgrading."

After a long while, he slowly raised his hand to rub his swollen eyes, his tone carrying a hint of exhaustion but also incomparable certainty: "Yeah, it's messed up again. However, this just happens to confirm my guess."

"Hm?" Gengar's voice instantly rose, carrying doubt.

"I've always had a feeling that there seems to be an invisible hand pushing everything behind the scenes." Huo La leaned against the head of the bed, his tone solemn.

"An invisible hand?" Gengar's voice also rarely sank, shedding its usual playfulness and adding a bit of solemnity. "Are you saying someone is deliberately guiding your itinerary?"

"Who knows." Huo La chuckled, shook his head, and stopped struggling with this unsolvable problem. "Let's not talk about this. Pack up and get ready to go. Since we can't avoid it, we will know the truth sooner or later; thinking too much now is useless."

His eyes became firm again; no matter what power was controlling things behind the scenes, since he had come, the journey had to continue. If there really was such a hand, then he would know everything sooner or later.

In the evening, the sunset glow spilled over the wilderness, and the three of Huo La got off the direct shuttle bus.

Huo La's face was pale, his shoulders slumped, looking listless.

Brock noticed his state and asked with concern: "Huo La, are you not feeling well?"

"I think I might have caught a cold." Huo La sniffed, his voice laced with exhaustion.

"Your body is too weak." Bilan curled her lips and complained unceremoniously.

Huo La rolled his eyes at her, not even having the strength to refute, just standing there listlessly.

Brock frowned and suggested: "If I had known you were like this, we should have gone directly to the Pokémon Center in Fuchsia City just now. This area already belongs to the Safari Zone, and it's a bit far from the Fuchsia City town area at this time."

"Giddy-up!"

Suddenly, a loud horse neigh accompanied by a clear female voice broke the silence.

"Who are you people? Why are you lingering here in the Pokémon Sanctuary?"

Huo La struggled to look up, only to see a fire shadow galloping from not far away. Before he could see the person clearly, Brock beside him had already rushed out like a gust of wind, blocking the fire shadow's path.

"This beautiful lady!" Brock struck a classic affectionate pose, his tone fanatical. "My name is Brock, a Pokémon Breeder on a journey; please let me breed you!"

Before Huo La could stop him, a scorching flame suddenly sprayed toward Brock. He was instantly wrapped in flames, jumping around in pain, his hair even singed and curled up.

"Rapidash, stop!" The girl on the horse's back hurriedly spoke to stop it. Rapidash immediately restrained its flames and gave a well-behaved snort.

Huo La shook his head helplessly, dragged his heavy body forward, and asked the girl: "Miss, isn't this the Safari Zone? How come it's a Pokémon Sanctuary?"

"Hello, my name is Fu Zi." The girl on the horse nodded to indicate, explaining, "The Safari Zone and the Pokémon Sanctuary are adjacent and connected, but the area you are currently in belongs to the sanctuary range."

Her gaze fell on Huo La, whose face was ugly, and she asked with concern: "I see you look very unwell; did you encounter any trouble?"

"We are Trainers going to the Safari Zone to find Mr. Kaiser." Huo La managed to squeeze out a smile, and just as he finished speaking, before he could say he wanted to borrow a place to rest, his eyes suddenly went black, and his body fell straight down. ===== CHAPTER 180 =====