Chapter 237: The Second Partner

The next morning, Huo La was still fighting side by side with his old partners in a dream when a gentle knock at the door woke him.

"Huo La, wake up, it's time to set out!" Xiao Zhao's voice echoed through the door panel, with a hint of excitement.

Huo La rubbed his sleepy eyes, got up, finished washing up, and stepped out of his house.

Outside, a red sun had just risen from the eastern horizon, its golden glow spilling over the roofs of Zhuqing Village; the morning mist had not yet fully cleared, and the air was filled with fresh scent of grass and trees.

"So early," Huo La yawned, and the Fireball Mouse on his shoulder stretched lazily, its little head bobbing, clearly still not fully rested.

Xiao Zhao changed into the same outfit as yesterday, a faint smile on his face; at his feet, the Water Otter was clutching its shell, also yawning, rubbing its eyes with tiny paws, looking endearingly clumsy.

"Not early at all, Star Moon Squad Leader is already waiting for us below the Galaxy Team building," Xiao Zhao said, pulling Huo La's arm and heading toward the village center.

The two hurried to the foot of the Galaxy Team Headquarters, where Xingyue was already standing, still with an unsmiling, stern expression, his blue short hair looking especially crisp in the morning light.

She scanned Huo La and Xiao Zhao with a serious tone: "Today is your first official day joining the Galaxy Team; I need to personally assess your investigative abilities and responsiveness."

"Yes!" Huo La and Xiao Zhao replied in unison, and the Fireball Mouse and Water Otter, as if sensing the atmosphere, immediately straightened their small bodies.

"Very good." Xingyue nodded, getting straight to the point, "Today's core mission is to go to the Obsidian Fieldlands to capture your second partner and bring it back safely to Zhuqing Village."

"Eh? What?" Huo La was clearly stunned by the words and reflexively asked back.

"Hm?" Xingyue raised an eyebrow, a rare hint of surprise on his face, "Did I not make myself clear enough?"

"No, very clear!" Huo La quickly waved his hand.

"Then why are you so surprised?" Xingyue's gaze carried a hint of scrutiny.

"I just didn't expect that the first official task would be to capture a new partner," Huo La explained, while quickly calculating in his mind.

Xingyue gave him a glance and, unusually, added a few more explanations: "Although you belong to the Investigation Corps and do not engage in active hunting of Pokemon, the Hisui Region's environment is far more complex than you imagine. The Investigation Corps must regularly venture deep into the wild, encountering various unknown Pokemon; among them there may be gentle Natures, but also many volatile, aggressive individuals."

"Having more and stronger partners not only safeguards your own safety but also enables you to protect Zhuqing Village's peace when danger arises."

She paused, her tone growing heavier: "In Hisui, the most direct and quickest way to obtain partners is to capture them. That is the basic rule of survival."

"So, do you have any more questions?"

"No!" Huo La replied immediately in a low voice.

Xingyue's words struck like a bolt of thunder, instantly waking Huo La.

He suddenly realized that, after three years of being transported to this world, he had been viewing this two‑thousand‑year‑old Hisui through the lens of a future peaceful era.

In this era, civilization had not yet fully blossomed; its ideas and values differed sharply from later ages.

Besides a few Pokemon revered as Divine Beasts or auspicious omens, most were either food or tools—truly disposable implements—not the equal partners of later times.

The Galaxy Team may appear to be a scientific expedition organization, but its essence is also to survive and explore this land, naturally adhering to the era's rules.

"Since there are no issues, you may set out." Xingyue turned, pointing toward the direction outside the village, "Dr. Laventon went ahead to the Obsidian Fieldlands last night to survey the terrain; he will wait there to teach you the cautions and techniques for capturing Pokemon."

After speaking, she walked into the Galaxy Team Building on her own, leaving Huo La and Xiao Zhao standing where they were.

Xiao Zhao looked at Huo La, eyes mixing anticipation and unease: "Huo La, shall we go now?"

Huo La inhaled deeply, gazing toward the mist‑shrouded direction of the Obsidian Fieldlands, his expression hardening.

He patted the Fireball Mouse on his shoulder, then glanced at the Water Otter by Xiao Zhao's feet: "Let's go! This is not only our first official mission but also a chance to earn a new partner; we must complete it splendidly!"

Both pairs—people and their two Pokemon—quickly walked toward the Obsidian Fieldlands; in the morning mist, their figures gradually receded.

"Got it? Capturing Pokemon is neither simply hard nor simply easy," Dr. Laventon crouched, picking up a Pokeball from the ground that contained a freshly caught Spiny Tail Bug, "The key is to understand the Pokemon's habits, choose the right moment, and avoid brute force."

Huo La immediately nodded: "Understood!" For him, capturing Pokemon was never a difficult matter.

Dr. Laventon turned his head toward Xiao Zhao, his tone softened: "And you, Xiao Zhao? Did you hear everything clearly?"

Xiao Zhao quickly nodded, cheeks faintly flushed, eyes earnest: "Yes! Heard clearly; we must first observe the Pokemon's condition and not disturb them arbitrarily."

"Very good." Dr. Laventon stood, pulled a heavy cloth sack from his backpack, and handed it to them, "Inside are fifty Pokeballs I crafted myself; split them—twenty‑five each."

He paused, adding: "Before sunset, you may freely capture nearby, without limit on species or quantity. When evening returns, keep the one you wish to make your second partner; hand the remaining Pokeballs to me."

"Can't I keep them all?" Huo La blurted out instinctively, calculating how many more Pokemon he could catch, perhaps selecting the most promising.

Dr. Laventon gave him a look, a knowing smile curling his lips: "If you have enough energy to feed and train them, ensuring each receives proper care, I have no objection."

"However, I must remind you," he continued, tone serious, "Although the Galaxy Team's Investigation Corps isn't as specialized as the Security Corps or Hunting Corps, it still demands high personal skill and partner synergy. Rather than over‑extending, focus on cultivating one or two core partners so they truly prove useful in field investigations."

"Hey, I'm just kidding," Huo La shrugged, taking the twenty‑five Pokeballs from Dr. Laventon and carefully placing them into his pack, "Training partners can't be rushed; I still need time to study their habits."

In his heart he knew Dr. Laventon was right.

Now he must train the Fireball Mouse, adapt to the Hisui environment, and search for clues about the Time‑Space Dual Gods, leaving no energy to tend dozens of Pokemon at once.

Rather than chase quantity, it's wiser to honestly limit oneself to six, as later generations do, and focus on intensive training.

"Alright, now that everything's clear, each of you act on your own," Dr. Laventon clapped his hands, "Gather here at dusk; one final reminder—though the Obsidian Fieldlands appear tranquil, deep within lie many volatile Wild Pokemon, even dangerous groups. Do not stray too far from Dazhi Slope; safety first."

"Got it, Dr. Laventon!" Huo La and Xiao Zhao replied in unison.