Chapter 405: Are All the Things Recorded Here Really True?

Today's Pokemon League has only the Chengdu Region left as its last foothold.

Ironically, Chengdu was originally supposed to be under the Rocket Team's control.

But ever since the Rainbow Rocket Team manifested and swept the world, Sakaki voluntarily abandoned Chengdu, concentrating all forces in the Orange Archipelago, Seven Island and New Island, showing no interest in this hinterland.

And precisely because of that, the League barely managed to get a sliver of breathing room.

At this moment inside the League Headquarters, Professor Oak was clutching his disheveled white hair, his eyes bloodshot, completely lacking the composed scholarly demeanor Huo La remembered, leaving only fatigue and anxiety.

The research lab door was gently pushed open, and Professor Elm entered carrying two cups of hot tea, gently placing one in front of Professor Oak.

"Professor Oak, take a break."

Professor Oak inhaled deeply, glanced up at him, only gesturing for him to set the tea down, then buried himself again among the mountain of data and instruments, continuing his research.

Professor Elm shook his head helplessly: "If you keep pushing yourself nonstop, it won't do much for the current situation. If you wear your body out, that would be the League's real catastrophe."

Professor Oak's hand suddenly froze, the instrument at his fingertips trembling slightly, then he let out a heavy sigh, finally setting aside his research, slowly turning, picking up the hot tea on the table, and sitting down on a nearby chair.

"How's the situation outside?" he sipped the tea, his voice full of fatigue, even his tone a bit hoarse.

"What else can we do," Professor Elm said helplessly, shaking his head, sitting opposite him, his tone heavy, "Those warlords each guard their own territories; the friction with the League hasn't ceased for two years. Each harbors ulterior motives, scheming in secret, yet their powers balance each other, barely sustaining a superficial peace."

Professor Oak set down his cup, sighed again at length, his eyes full of bewilderment and helplessness: "The world's changes are too rapid, catching everyone off guard. In recent years, the turnover of personnel and shifts in stances have become so numerous I can't comprehend, let alone accept."

Professor Elm listened and couldn't help sighing as well, his face full of melancholy.

Since the Rainbow Rocket Team burst onto the scene, sweeping the entire Pokemon World with overwhelming force, many members originally belonging to the League have defected to the villain side, including former the Elite Four members and Regional Champions.

The evil groups that once operated in various regions have now all been absorbed by the Rainbow Rocket Team; within the League, there are even a few former notorious villain leaders, and the situation has long been a tangled mess.

"By the way, news came from Qing Mu over in Paldea," Professor Elm shifted the conversation, his tone growing heavier, "He said a Time-Space Fluctuation was detected in the Paldea Region, but the source is at the Paldea Giant Pit—strictly controlled by the expedition team, making it inconvenient for him to investigate."

"Time-Space Fluctuation?" Professor Oak's eyes flashed with a brief glimmer, as if seizing a sliver of hope, but moments later the light dimmed, leaving only resignation, "The Paldea area's Time and Space are inherently unstable; it breeds many Paradox Pokemon, and the Crystallization Phenomenon is a constant. Fluctuations are commonplace, not necessarily abnormal."

Professor Elm lightly nodded, opened his mouth as if to say more, but seeing Professor Oak finish his tea, stand and return to the workbench, immersing himself in research, the words he had about to utter were swallowed back.

He shook his head helplessly, turned silently, walked to his own workstation, and the entire research lab returned to its prior silence, save for the faint hum of equipment.

In the long corridor outside the research lab, an upright figure strode slowly, steps steady, exuding a hint of seasoned aura.

Xiao Mao, stationed at the lab entrance, looked up at the sound, recognized the newcomer, gave a slight nod, and said with familiar tone: "Brother Green."

Green stopped, raised a hand to pat Xiao Mao's shoulder, his gaze landing on the white coat he wore, a faint smile curling his lips: "Long time no see, Xiao Mao. I didn't expect you'd become a Researcher; that white coat fits you quite well."

Xiao Mao smiled shyly, said nothing more, and got straight to the point, asking: "Brother Green, you're here to see Grandfather, right?"

"Mm." Green nodded lightly, raised his hand and shook the Secret File Bag he held, "There are some new findings over in Sinnoh; I brought them over for Grandfather to see, hoping to find a breakthrough."

Xiao Mao understood, nodded, and without further questions walked to the password panel at the lab entrance, his fingertips swiftly entering a string of numbers, accompanied by a light 'Beep', and the laboratory doors slowly slid open to each side.

"Brother Green, go in; Grandfather and Professor Elm are inside," Green nodded, stepped into the research lab, and the door behind him closed slowly.

Seeing Green enter, Professor Elm halted his actions, lifted his chin, and greeted with a smile: "Green has arrived."

"Yes, Professor Elm." Green gave a slight nod, then raised the Secret File Bag in his hand, his tone grave, "There are new findings over in Sinnoh; I specifically brought them for Grandfather to see."

Upon hearing the words 'new findings,' Professor Oak again halted his research, his gaze shifting from the workbench to first land on Green, then tightly fixed on the bag in his hand, his tone tinged with urgency: "New findings? What are they?"

"Hard to explain, it's odd and puzzling," Green frowned, his tone carrying a hint of doubt.

Professor Oak hurried over, reached out to take the bag, his fingertips trembling subtly.

Professor Elm, equally curious, leaned in, his eyes fixed on the bag, eager to see inside.

Professor Oak swiftly untied the bag's cord, pulled out the documents inside, and turned the pages carefully.

At first his expression remained somewhat calm, but as he read further his eyes brightened, an incredulous glow appearing in his gaze, his breathing becoming slightly rapid.

"This… are all the things written here really true?" he snapped his head up toward Green, his voice full of shock and disbelief.

"It should be true. These are from researchers in the Hisui Region—among the world's earliest researchers, Xiao Zhao's private notes, discoveries the expedition team made in Sinnoh, and also reports sent back by those of us embedded in the expedition team."