Chapter 241: Investigation Mission, the Rampaging Pokemon

"Huo La, well done." Ma Jia Mu leaned on his wooden staff, standing in the center of the second‑floor loft hall, his two sideburns slightly upturned, his gaze at Huo La full of praise, "When Dr. Laventon brought back the Pokeballs you captured yesterday, even I was a bit surprised—capturing so many Pokemon on your first official mission, the efficiency is high."

Beside them, Xingyue also unusually nodded, his face still expressionless, but his tone added a few words of affirmation: "Indeed well done, better than I expected."

Huo La felt a surge of joy and hurriedly asked, "So that means I've passed the first mission assessment?"

"Of course." Xingyue nodded, his tone crisp, "You have officially passed the assessment and become a qualified member of the Galaxy Team Investigation Corps. Moreover, the Pokemon you captured yesterday will be exchanged for Pokémon credits as a reward for this mission."

"Huh? Money to take?" Huo La's eyes lit up instantly; he had just been fretting over the savings spent on learning skills, and now this would make up for it—a timely rain.

"That's natural." Dr. Laventon's voice came from the doorway as he pushed it open, holding a thick logbook, "Joining the Galaxy Team, you receive a fixed monthly stipend, and completing missions brings extra rewards—that's the Galaxy Team's rule."

"Dr. Laventon." Huo La quickly greeted.

Ma Jia Mu looked at Dr. Laventon, "Have you finished handling those Pokemon?"

"Hmm, all taken care of." Dr. Laventon pushed his ugly hat back, smiling, "The edible Pokemon have been given to the village cook, the ones usable as tools I've kept some of, and the rest with little value I've released in a safe area of the Obsidian Fieldlands. There are also a few with good potential, like Meowth and Pikachu, set aside for later supplementation."

When Huo La heard "edible Pokemon," a slight discomfort rose in him—he was accustomed to the modern era's equal coexistence with Pokemon, and found it hard to fully adapt to this era's "survival of the fittest" rule.

But he also knew this was the norm in the Hisui Region two thousand years ago, a necessity for survival, so he said nothing more, merely nodding silently.

"By the way, Huo La," Dr. Laventon changed the subject, his gaze landing on him, eyes full of curiosity, "Now you should show us your second partner, right? Yesterday you really whetted both me and Xiao Zhao's appetite."

Ma Jia Mu and Xingyue simultaneously looked at Huo La, clearly also interested in the Pokemon he had chosen.

Huo La scanned the three, stopped teasing, pulled the single prepared Pokeball from his pocket, gently pressed the switch: "Come out, Eevee!"

A flash of Red Light passed, the petite Eevee leapt from the Pokeball and landed steadily at Huo La's feet.

It blinked its curious, dark shiny eyes, surveying the three before it, its cream‑colored neck fur swaying lightly, looking both cute and endearing.

"Oh! It's actually Eevee!" Dr. Laventon's eyes lit up, immediately crouching, carefully leaning in to observe, afraid to startle it, "This is a rare species! Eevee is seldom seen in the Obsidian Fieldlands, your luck is unbelievable!"

Eevee cautiously shrank back toward Huo La's feet, and only relaxed a bit after feeling Huo La gently pat its head.

"Indeed, just luck—I happened upon it in the thickets deep within Dazhi Slope," Huo La explained with a smile, omitting the detail that Eevee had been surrounded by Pikachu at the time.

"Eevee is a fine partner," Ma Jia Mu also nodded in affirmation, his tone solemn, "It holds many evolutionary possibilities, limitless potential; nurture it well, and it will become a capable aide in the future."

After speaking, he turned his head toward Xingyue, his gaze giving a subtle cue.

Huo La felt a stir, immediately looking at Xingyue, knowing the main event was about to begin—a new mission should be issued.

Xingyue understood Ma Jia Mu's meaning, stepped forward, pulled a rolled beast‑skin map from her bosom, spread it on the table: "Since you've become an official member, and you arrived today, there's a mission for you to undertake."

Her fingertip landed on a spot on the map, continuing, "Recently villagers reported that at Jiaolu Gaogang there seems to be a Pokemon of abnormal size, even showing aggression toward passersby. Go check it, capture it, and bring it back for study."

Before the words finished, Xingyue added, "If necessary, you may choose to kill it."

"Jiaolu Gaogang... suddenly aggressive Pokemon..." Huo La whispered, repeating the mission's key info, his fingertips unconsciously rubbing the Pokeball in his pocket, quickly calculating inside.

Jiaolu Gaogang is a highland on the edge of the Obsidian Fieldlands, named for the herd of Mysterious Horn Deer that reside there year‑round; normally it's a relatively safe area, but now an anomaly has appeared... its cause unknown.

He looked up at Xingyue, his voice deep, and nodded, "I will guarantee mission completion!"

Dr. Laventon then stood, walked over and patted Huo La's shoulder, his tone much lighter, "Relax, no need to be so serious. This mission is mainly to familiarize you with the formal investigation process, not a life‑or‑death test."

Shifting tone, his voice became solemn again, "But safety first; today you're the sole executor of this mission. If you encounter danger you can't resolve, don't force it—return directly, even if the mission is incomplete, that's fine."

"Hm? Me alone?" Huo La froze for a moment, instinctively looking toward the doorway, "What about Xiao Zhao? Isn't she coming with me?"

"Xiao Zhao left early, following her father Kato into the mountains to gather herbs," Dr. Laventon adjusted his hat, explaining, "The village's supply of healing medicine is critically low; her father, as the village apothecary, must collect rare herbs deep in the mountains, estimated to take three to four days to return."

"Understood." He inhaled deeply, his gaze firm again, "Since I'm alone, I'll be even more careful."

"That's right." Ma Jia Mu nodded satisfied, leaning on his staff, adding, "Before departure, remember to get some healing medicine and insect repellent powder from the supply depot; the Obsidian Fieldlands' afternoons often fog, and Jiaolu Gaogang's terrain is complex—bringing these will reduce trouble."

"Alright." Huo La replied, his eyes scanning the beast‑skin map on the table, committing Jiaolu Gaogang's location to memory.

Xingyue then handed over a small leather backpack: "Inside are basic investigation tools—the Pokédex record board, range‑measuring rope, and five spare Pokeballs."

"I'll go prepare first and set out as soon as possible." Huo La secured the backpack, giving the three a slight nod.

"Go, go, the earlier you go the earlier you return." Dr. Laventon waved, "By the way, if you encounter a herd of Mysterious Horn Deer at Jiaolu Gaogang, try not to disturb them; Mysterious Horn Deer are gentle, but become aggressive when protecting their young, and their evolved form, the Mysterious Horn Deer, is said to release space‑warping spiritual energy—handle with caution."

"Got it." Huo La responded, turning toward the loft exit.

Huo La first went to the supply depot to collect healing medicine and insect repellent powder, then left the Galaxy Team Building; the sun was perfect, and many villagers were already busy on the stone tablet roads of Zhuqing Village.

Just as he reached the village entrance, he saw Wang Luo standing beside a crude wagon on a nearby open space, haggling with villagers.

Wang Luo seemed to notice his gaze, looked up, a knowing smile curling his lips, and raised the Wooden Plaque he held toward him.

Huo La didn't linger, merely gave a slight nod and quickened his steps, leaving Zhuqing Village.

Wang Luo, the man whose memory‑targeted Arceus, now that he's appeared, won't leave easily.

He has no time to spar with him now; the urgent priority is to complete the investigation mission and improve his strength—anything else without power is pointless to discuss.