Chapter 450: I Will Lead the Rocket Team Personally

In a guestroom of an inn on Poni Island, everyone sat together in one room, and the atmosphere was quiet.

Bilan looked at Huo La first and asked aloud, "Huo La, what's our plan next?"

Huo La slowly scanned everyone and, in a flat tone, said three words: "I don't know."

"I'll go!" Xiaoyin immediately frowned, his tone a little impatient, "You brought us here, and now you say you don't know what to do next?"

"Xiaoyin!" Bilan gently urged.

Prompted by her, Xiaoyin instantly restrained his expression and sulkily fell silent.

Huo La spread his hands and calmly said, "I really didn't know. We only know that Neimu Boshi is in Alola, but we have no clue which island she's on."

"So for now we can only settle down and recuperate; we still have at least about half a month, during which we can slowly search for Neimu Boshi's whereabouts."

"Half a month?" Xiao Gang immediately seized the time point, his gaze narrowing slightly.

Huo La pondered for a moment, then decided not to hide anything further, and said frankly, "I won't keep some things from you. Regarding Liu Bo's scheme, combining the clues given by Professor Oak, plus my own information, I've roughly guessed a few points."

"What? You already guessed it?" Bilan sprang to her feet, face full of astonishment.

Beside them, Xiaoyin's expression instantly grew serious, his face darkening.

Among everyone present, the two of them had the most complicated feelings toward Liu Bo and cared most about his motives.

Huo La said in a deep voice, "Liu Bo's real target is Celebi. He has captured Moltres and Lugia in succession, and deliberately concealed his movements near Gui Pi Zhen; I infer he wants to wait for a chance to capture Celebi. As for what he intends to do after seizing the Legendary Pokémon, I can't figure it out yet."

"Celebi…" Xiao Gang furrowed his brow and blurted, "He wants to use Celebi's power to travel through time?"

"Time travel again?" Paipa, who had been silent, suddenly spoke, his tone full of surprise.

Huo La touched the tip of his nose and said nothing.

Everyone harbors regrets, and time travel is undeniably the most tempting way to mend them; that needs no further explanation, everyone understands.

And he is the one who most often talks about time travel here, so he really doesn't want to say much on this topic.

The room fell silent for a moment.

After a moment, Bilan broke the silence, asking puzzled, "If he wants to travel through time, what does that have to do with us coming to Alola to find Neimu Boshi?"

"The connection is huge," Huo La said confidently, "Neimu Boshi holds a Special Poké Ball, a GS Ball, which is the only item in the world that can reliably capture Celebi."

"What?" Everyone gasped in disbelief, faces full of incredulity.

"That means, then, that as long as we obtain that Poké Ball, we can subdue Celebi?"

"Theoretically, that's correct," Huo La nodded, "but Celebi does not appear at any time; legend says it can only manifest on a Full Moon Night in the ancient Shrine of Li Shu Lin. And the next Full Moon Night is still twenty days away."

"Doing the math, we have at most half a month, and must find Neimu Boshi and get that Special Poké Ball before then."

The room fell into another silence.

After a moment, Xiao Gang was the first to speak, his tone steady as he broke the quiet: "Since things are clear now, the most urgent matter is to replenish our spirits. Let's rest well tonight and regain our strength."

He paused, then continued, "I suggest that tomorrow we split into two teams to investigate Neimu Boshi's whereabouts separately. This division of labor will save the most time and is the fastest way to find her."

Huo La heard that and immediately nodded in agreement, "I have no objection; this arrangement is reasonable."

Xiaoyin and Bilan also had no objections, and each nodded in agreement.

Paipa instantly raised a hand, saying crisply, "Then I'll be on Huo La's team!"

"Alright, then I'll be with Xiaoyin," Xiao Gang arranged, "Bilan, you'll go with Paipa and follow Huo La."

"Huh? No!" Xiaoyin immediately looked up to protest, his tone a bit stubborn, "I want to stay with my sister!"

Bilan, hearing that, glared at him hard, her eyes showing a mix of helplessness and authority.

Xiaoyin, after her glare, instantly lost his resolve, drooping his head and sulkily muttering, "Fine, fine, I get it, I'll do as you say."

In the depths of Gui Pi Zhen, Li Shu Lin grew dense and lush; its interlaced branches and leaves blocked the sky, letting only specks of fragmented light through, the silence broken only by the rustle of wind through leaves, exuding a secret and eerie aura.

Deep in the forest, a simple wooden cabin stood alone, starkly out of place amid the surrounding verdant growth.

Outside the cabin's door, an exaggerated black motorcycle was parked, its sleek lines gleaming with a cold metallic sheen, subtly exuding a deterrent power that warned strangers away.

Inside, the lighting was dim; a man with a shaggy, tangled beard and a small braid tied at the back of his head sat at a battered wooden table, his expression solemn as he spoke on a video call.

In the video, Sakaki's half‑face was hidden in deep shadow, his expression unreadable, only a pair of cold, sharp eyes visible, radiating an uncompromising authority; his voice was low and even: "Bi Xia Si, it's time for you to work."

Bi Xia Si immediately sat upright, steadied his mind, and said respectfully and solemnly, "Banmu Laoda, I have always been ready, never slacking."

"Hmm." Sakaki gave a slight nod, his tone unruffled, "That guy Liu Bo should have already reached you. Next, he will most likely summon Celebi at the Shrine in Li Shu Lin; your chance has arrived."

Bi Xia Si's eyes flashed with a spark, and he quickly replied, "Understood, Banmu Laoda. When Liu Bo summons Celebi, I will seize the opportunity to capture it and bring it back to the Rocket Team myself, never disappointing you."

"Remember your words." Sakaki's tone remained cold; then, shifting his focus, he solemnly warned, "Also, you must be especially careful of a guy named Huo La."

"Huo La…" Bi Xia Si's brow furrowed slightly, his mind rapidly searching for the name, but no memory yielded any trace; it was as if he had never heard it.

Yet he dared not relax, still replying respectfully, his tone earnest, "Understood, Banmu Laoda, I have noted it and will take extra precautions."

As soon as the words finished, the video screen went black instantly; Sakaki had already hung up.

Bi Xia Si slowly set down the Communicator, the solemnity and respect on his face fading instantly, replaced by a hint of disdain and a strong, sinister malice.

He abruptly leaned his chair back, crossed his arms, a playful yet greedy smile curling his lips, and whispered low, "Celebi… heh, it's just a Pokémon that wields the power of time."

Ambition flashed in his eyes, his tone growing even more sinister: "Sakaki, like those previously narrow‑minded guys, isn't much different. The world is already in chaos, full of disorder and opportunity; the Rocket Team should be seizing the chance to expand its power and dominate the world, yet they cling to meaningless foolishness."

"Fine then." Bi Xia Si clenched his fist hard, a resolute glint in his eyes, "Since Sakaki fails to read the times, I'll use this chance to capture Celebi to seize control of the Rocket Team and lead the Rocket Team myself!"