Chapter 409: I

Huo La sighed inwardly, indeed, trying to get past a top researcher like Futu with a casual, off‑hand excuse was simply impossible.

He reined in some of his casualness, spoke slowly, and shifted the topic: "Do you know that Paipa wants to change this world?"

The remark left Futu stunned; clearly he hadn't expected Huo La to change the subject so abruptly.

He glanced toward the inner room and could vaguely see Paipa being gently tugged by the ear by Aolin, whose tone was helpless yet tinged with regret: "I know."

"That child has been kind‑hearted since youth; seeing this chaotic world, a fierce frustration has been building inside, and he's far from satisfied."

Futu's gaze gradually dimmed, his tone full of helplessness: "But come to think of it, aside from those who control the world and sit in high positions, who is truly satisfied with the current world?"

"Then why don't you rebel?" Huo La pressed, his tone carrying a hint of puzzlement.

"Rebel?" Futu seemed to hear something absurd, gave a wry smile, and retorted, "Rebel against what? With our power, opposing the forces that command Divine Beasts and dominate a region would be courting death."

He paused, his eyes softening a bit, bearing the ties of fatherhood and husbandry: "I'm no longer a young man like you; the youthful zeal has faded, and the unrealistic ideals and drive have been worn down."

"Now I have children and a family; being able to work steadily under the Explorer Team's oversight, doing what I can within my limits, and protecting those around me—that's already the furthest I can go."

Huo La stared at the suddenly candid Futu, momentarily stunned.

The gentle, slightly timid man before him was a far cry from the spirited, daring scholar he remembered.

But on second thought, weren't Futu's words also the truth?

After he returned to this world, didn't he also deliberately avoid former friends and relatives, lacking even the courage to call his parents?

In the end, it's just fear of the world's uncertainty, fearing that his presence might bring unpredictable danger to those he cares about.

"Then tell me, how exactly did you learn about the key that opens Paradise?" Futu curbed his earlier wistfulness, his tone turning serious again, steering the conversation back to the core.

Huo La pondered briefly, still offering no direct answer, and instead asked again: "Since you've known what the key is for a long time, why haven't you been looking for it?"

"Who says we're not searching?" Before Futu could speak, a cold, bone‑chilling voice came from outside the door, bearing an oppressive weight that brooked no objection.

Before the words finished, Spinel's silhouette appeared at the doorway, stepping in with steady strides, and a low pressure instantly enveloped the entire laboratory.

Seeing Spinel's sudden arrival, Futu's complexion shifted sharply, a flash of unmistakable shock flashing in his eyes.

Huo La faced away from Spinel, his fingertips barely tightening, a hint of astonishment crossing his eyes, yet he remained seated steadily, neither standing nor turning his head, masking his emotions without a ripple.

Spinel walked straight behind Huo La, pressing his palm heavily on the shoulder—light in force but exuding immense Deterrent Power—and said in a flat, chilling tone: "I'd like to speak privately with Lei Yi and borrow this space of yours."

Futu's heart tightened; instinctively he glanced at Huo La, then cast a quick look outside—Paipa was being held tightly by Aolin, his face anxious yet unwilling to step in.

He steadied himself, rose slowly, and offered an excuse to ease the tension: "I'll go check; lunch has been prepared for so long, why isn't it ready yet? Spinel, would you like to stay and have lunch together?"

Spinel shook his head lightly, his gaze fixed on Huo La's silhouette, and said in a tone that allowed no refusal: "No need. I'm only here to clear a doubt for Lei Yi; I'll leave once I'm done."

Spinel sat directly opposite Huo La, leaning slightly forward, his gaze burning into him; after a moment he let out a low chuckle, his tone laced with amusement and certainty: "Lei Yi… for now, let's call you Lei Yi. I never expected you to actually return."

Huo La heard that and felt his heart drop—those seemingly dangling words instantly made him realize his identity had been recognized.

He sighed inwardly; indeed, members of the Rainbow Rocket Team must have secret communications and intelligence sharing.

Seeing Huo La still silent and expression unchanged, Spinel stopped beating around the bush, his tone suddenly heavy as he said directly: "You just asked why we don't look for the key—it's not that we don't look; we simply can't obtain it."

"First, the Black Rayquaza." He paused, his fingertips lightly tapping the table, and continued slowly, "Aside from the one recorded in the Hisui Era as having fallen and perished, the most recent one was the partner of Luxius—one of the three founders of the Explorer Team over a hundred years ago—the Black Rayquaza."

"Unfortunately, after Luxius passed away, that Black Rayquaza vanished into thin air, with no trace; no one knows where it went, nor whether it's still alive."

As Spinel spoke, the image of that black‑red‑haired youth involuntarily resurfaced in his mind; his eyes flickered, he shook his head lightly, and continued: "As for that Terapagos… it's already dead."

"What!" Huo La finally couldn't hide his shock, shouting aloud.

Spinel merely watched his flustered demeanor and continued on his own: "A Pokémon that became extinct due to tectonic shifts, the last of its kind, which simply starved itself after its master died… This script is so absurd it makes one want to vomit."

As if even he couldn't accept the fact, he slammed his palm onto the table, a brooding fury welling up in his eyes.

Seeming to notice his own lapse, Spinel inhaled deeply, suppressing the surge of anger, his expression returning to a gloomy calm, then fixed his gaze back on Huo La, his tone carrying a hint of certainty: "Fortunately you're here; this stalemate finally seems to have a turning point."

Huo La's brows knit, his expression wary, and he asked in a low voice: "What do you intend to do?"

Spinel rose slowly, the oppressive aura around him growing denser, and he looked down on Huo La, his tone flat yet bearing an undeniable authority: "Do what I should have done long ago."

Having said that, he said no more, turned, and walked toward the doorway.

At the doorway, his steps faltered slightly, and without turning his head he left a line: "Take a good rest today; I've approved your application to join the Explorer Team. Tomorrow, I'll assign you your first mission."

When the words faded, his figure vanished at the doorway, leaving Huo La alone seated, brows still furrowed.