Chapter 407: Joining the Exploration Team?

"Are you sure? The first step to saving the world is actually joining the Exploration Team?" Paipa hurried to catch up with Huo La, who was walking ahead, his face full of disbelief and his tone tinged with hesitation.

Huo La was biting into his sandwich, the soft bread enveloping the rich ham and buttery aroma; it must be said that Paipa's skill with sandwiches truly earned the title "Paldea's Best".

He lifted his hand to wipe the crumbs from his mouth corner and said casually, "Didn't you tell me? Jibeiweng is still alive, and the current Exploration Team is fully controlled by him, and your parents are the team's chief scientists."

He paused, turned to Paipa, and his tone grew more resolute: "With such uniquely favorable conditions, why wait to change the world without the Exploration Team's power? Do you really expect that you alone, or I alone, or even the two of us, can single‑handedly save this chaotic world?"

Paipa listened to Huo La's words, his lips moving as if to retort, but upon reflection he had to admit that Huo La was speaking the truth.

Yet the lingering unease in his heart persisted, and he furrowed his brows to ask, "But you... do you really know any information about Paradise, know how to enter Paradise?"

Huo La nodded, then shook his head, saying honestly, "I'm not sure. But this is the only opening we have right now, certainly better than wandering aimlessly."

Paipa looked at his calm demeanor and sighed helplessly, "... I hope what you're saying is true."

He wasn't particularly worried that the Exploration Team would detain them—after all, with his parents as chief scientists, even if there were questioning and risks, at least their lives would be protected.

The two pressed on and soon arrived at Paldea's Zhuoyue Gongsi.

Huo La stared at the towering, majestic building before him, inhaled deeply, and a flash of understanding crossed his eyes: indeed this was the company, and it seemed the Exploration Team's headquarters was right here.

Paipa stepped forward first and whispered a few familiar words to the Exploration Team guard at the door.

The guard glanced up at Huo La, his gaze scrutinizing, then lifted his communicator and reported in a low voice.

After a moment, the guard nodded, stepped aside to open the door, made a "please" gesture, and guided the two inside the building.

The elevator rose smoothly, heading straight to the top floor.

The top floor consisted of a single massive room; the door opened slowly, revealing instruments filling the entire space.

Various screens flickered with a pale blue glow, intricate pipes and wiring intertwined, all converging on a custom seat at the center of the hall.

Seated on the chair was an elderly man with blue‑silver hair, eyes tightly closed, expression serene, as if asleep, surrounded by a faint aura of energy.

Beside the elder stood a young man with teal hair, his demeanor gentle, his gaze falling on the entering Paipa and Huo La, with an inscrutable emotion hidden deep in his eyes, making his thoughts unreadable.

Huo La's eyes swept the scene, instantly recognizing the elder on the seat and the youth beside him.

His gaze lingered only briefly on Jibeiweng in the seat, then immediately turned to Spinel beside him, his eyes heavy and unmoving.

At that moment, Dai Ouqixisi's voice whispered in his mind, with a barely perceptible caution: "Be careful, that guy called Spinel is surrounded by a strong Time and Space aura; he's far from ordinary."

Huo La sighed inwardly; indeed it matched his suspicion—Spinel was the true Rainbow Rocket Team member, a Pawn that Arceus sent to this world.

In fact, the moment he first saw Jibeiweng on the seat, doubt had already arisen.

Members of the Rainbow Rocket Team are all powerful individuals who have achieved domination and fulfilled their lifelong ambitions in their own worlds, while Jibeiweng's wish is to sustain life through Liu Shuo.

Yet the one before them could only survive weakly by the dense network of instruments and pipes delivering energy around his body; such a frail state could not belong to a Rainbow Rocket Team member.

And Dai Ouqixisi's warning fully confirmed his judgment—Spinel was the key figure hidden behind the Exploration Team, truly belonging to the Rainbow Rocket Team.

"Paipa, this person is the one you mentioned, who knows the Paradise clue?" Spinel was the first to speak, his voice low and hoarse, carrying an indescribable gloom as if chilled, his gaze locked onto Huo La, full of scrutiny and inquiry.

Paipa gave a slight nod, turned to Spinel, and, though a bit restrained, introduced earnestly, "Sibu, yes, his name is Lai Yi, and he says he knows the way into Paradise."

As soon as the words finished, Jibeiweng on the seat slowly opened his eyes, his previously drooping head lifted slightly, and his body forced itself to sit up a bit.

Though he appeared frail, with various energy‑conveying tubes attached to his body and his breath somewhat unstable, when he spoke his voice unexpectedly carried a hint of vigor, "Lai Yi... do you truly know how to enter Paradise?"

Huo La met Jibeiweng's gaze, his tone calm and unhurried, and said, "Of course I know."

A flicker of doubt crossed Jibeiweng's eyes, and his tone deepened, "Kid, do you know where this is? The top floor of Zhuoyue Gongsi, the Exploration Team's core stronghold—not a place for you to speak recklessly or fool around."

Huo La shrugged indifferently, his expression calm, and simply said, "The Black Rift Sky Seat, combined with Terapagos—that's the key to entering Paradise."

Paipa beside him was instantly shocked, eyes full of disbelief, his mouth slightly agape, momentarily at a loss for words.

In contrast, Jibeiweng and Spinel, though unable to fully hide their surprise, showed little change in expression, their faces remaining composed.

Jibeiweng's gaze shifted slightly, and his fingertips unconsciously tightened.

Spinel raised an eyebrow faintly, a barely perceptible ripple flashing in his eyes, yet he maintained his original demeanor without outward emotion.

Huo La looked at the two's calm faces and already understood.

After all, one is a guy who entered Paradise years ago and brought Liu Shuo's longevity to the present, the other is a being that rules the world with Liu Shuo; claiming they don't know how to enter Paradise would be almost impossible.

And now they are still trying to find a way into Paradise, clearly the problem lies with those two Pokemon "keys".

That's also why Huo La dared to come.