Chapter 402: Sandwich Master Paipa

Seeing Zhen Yi Fa successfully captured, the young man let out a long sigh of relief, braced himself and stood up, brushed the dust off his butt, then reached out to pat the two heads of the Hen La Jiao beside him and said a few soothing words, before briskly walking toward Huo La.

"Thank the heavens, this place actually still has people; thanks to you, I finally got saved."

Huo La squinted and sized him up, already certain in his mind that this person was Paipa. Yet he kept a calm exterior, pretended to know nothing, and flipped off the back of KenTaiLuo, leaping down.

"Who are you, and how did you end up here?"

"Me?" Paipa pointed at his own nose, looking at him with a surprised expression, "You don't recognize me?"

Huo La raised an eyebrow: "You're famous?"

"I am the sole son of AoLin and Doctor Futu, Paipa! The greatest Sandwich Master in the Paldea Region!" he said, proudly lifting his chin.

"Oh? Sandwich Master?" Huo La's eyes flickered, and he subconsciously swallowed, "Anything to eat?"

Although his backpack still contained some Hisui‑brought rice‑ball rations, the moment he heard the word "sandwich," his stomach rebelliously craved it.

"That must be there," Paipa patted the backpack behind him, "You saved my life; as repayment, I'll treat you to a sandwich I made myself."

The two of them sat down on the ground right there.

Miao Wa Hua maintained Flash illumination nearby, while Da Zui Fu and Hen La Jiao stood left and right on guard, so for the moment there was no need to worry about being disturbed by Wild Pokemon.

Paipa handed a sandwich to Huo La, took a big bite himself, and his face instantly showed a satisfied, happy expression. After chewing a few bites, he suddenly remembered something and looked at Huo La: "By the way, Lei Yi, how did you end up in the Paldea Giant Pit?"

Huo La didn't rush to answer, first taking a big bite of the sandwich.

Lei Yi was the false name he gave Paipa.

The soft bread, infused with egg‑and‑cream aroma, burst in his mouth, but the next second a fierce, domineering spiciness shot straight to the top of his head, choking him so he froze. He slowly swallowed the food, taking a long time before exhaling a deep breath, and tears involuntarily welled up at the corners of his eyes.

Paipa stared in shock, his face astonished: "No way? My sandwich is good, but not so good that it makes you cry, right?" Huo La set the remaining sandwich aside, his voice hoarse: "... added too much spice."

"Huh? Sorry, sorry, I didn't know you can't handle spice." Paipa quickly scratched his head and apologized, "Hen La Jiao's peppers are indeed spicy, but they're really fragrant..."

Huo La wiped the tears at the corner of his eye caused by the spice, then leisurely asked back: "What, this Paldea Giant Pit, ordinary people can't come?"

Paipa first nodded, then shook his head: "It was fine originally. But ever since the Expedition Team took control of the Paldea Region, they have explicitly banned anyone from entering the Giant Pit on their own."

"Hmm?" Huo La furrowed his brows, looked up at the still distant pit mouth, then at Paipa, "And you? Since they forbid entry, how did you get in?"

When Huo La asked that, Paipa puffed out his chest and, with a proud expression, replied: "Of course I snuck in quietly."

"Sneaked in?" Huo La nodded, "What a coincidence, I did too."

Paipa immediately leaned in with delight: "You also came looking for the legendary treasure?"

"The legendary treasure?" Huo La felt a slight stir inside, but shook his head outwardly, "No, I just came in to look around. Having finished, I'm about to leave."

Paipa stared at him with a doubtful expression: "Are you serious?" Huo La took another bite of the sandwich, swallowed slowly, then said: "Why would I lie? Didn't you see me heading straight for the exit?"

Paipa looked up at the distant pit mouth, glanced at Huo La, and finally gave a wilted shake of his head: "Fine... When you go out, can you take me with you?"

Huo La squinted at him: "You came down yourself, can't get out on your own?"

"I originally thought I could." Paipa gave an awkward smile, "But that Pokemon scared me just now, and I knew I couldn't."

"Not looking for the treasure anymore?" Paipa shook his head like a rattle drum: "No, no, life is more important."

Huo La nodded lightly: "Since life is that important, what right do I have to take you with me?"

Paipa froze on the spot, then with an incredulous face said: "No way, Lei Yi, you have no compassion at all."

Huo La spread his hands, stood up directly, showing with his actions that he truly had none.

Seeing Paipa panic, he quickly shouted: "I know a secret passage! I came down from there! The normal exit is fully guarded by the Expedition Team, you can't just walk out!"

Huo La halted his steps, turned to look at Paipa, was silent for a few seconds, then slowly said: "Fine, Sandwich Master Paipa, you've convinced me."

The two followed the spiral staircase upward, and after a short while they reached near the cave entrance.

Paipa led Huo La around to a hidden pile of rubble, brushed aside the tangled stones, and a narrow winding path suddenly appeared before them.

Carefully threading the path for a moment, the two finally stepped out of the dim Paldea Giant Pit and saw daylight again.

Huo La inhaled two breaths of fresh outside air; the warm sunlight bathed him, dispelling the chill from the pit's depths, and a hint of nostalgia rose in his eyes—this was the atmosphere of the future world he hadn't seen for nearly four years.

Instinctively he pulled out his phone; the moment the screen lit up, the signal bars filled completely, no longer the single weak bar he had in the pit.

"I'm back," Huo La whispered in his heart, his fingertips rubbing the phone screen, quietly encouraging himself, the fatigue in his eyes fading a bit, replaced by a steadier resolve.

Paipa, shielding his eyes from the glaring sun, squinted to adjust for a moment, then turned to Huo La and enthusiastically said: "Hey, Lei Yi, want to come over to my place? It's not far."

Huo La raised his eyebrows slightly, looked at him with some doubt, after a moment of silence nodded: "Alright. By the way, do you have a computer there? I need to use it."

Paipa immediately pounded his chest and replied: "Of course we have one! Come on, tonight I'll personally make you a ham‑butter sandwich, guaranteed not spicy, perfect for your taste!"

Saying that, he stepped forward first, pointed toward the nearby direction, indicating Huo La to follow.