Chapter 504: Farewell

"Professor Oak, okay, I understand."

Huo La stared at the video call on the screen, his expression solemn, repeatedly nodding to Professor Oak on the other end, committing every piece of the message to memory.

A moment later, he ended the call, and the gloom in his brows did not lift at all.

Light footsteps sounded behind him; Bilan walked up slowly, and after seeing Huo La's sullen expression, asked, "What happened? You look terrible."

Huo La lifted his eyes to her, suppressed the turmoil within, and whispered, "It's the Rocket Team Trio."

"Huh? What about them?" Bilan asked, her face full of doubt.

"They crashed."

"What!" Bilan instantly covered her mouth, her face shocked, never expecting that just after the great battle in Kalos, the Rocket Team would meet such an accident.

"They're unharmed, a blessing in misfortune," Huo La soothed slightly, then shifted tone, his voice sinking again, "But on the isolated island where they crashed, an unexpected presence has appeared."

Bilan's heart tightened: "What?"

"They encountered a Super Ancient Dragonite on the island."

"Super Ancient Dragonite!"

Bilan's pupils suddenly contracted, and the massive shadow outside the Lighthouse that night flashed through her mind.

That ancient Dragonite, whose size far exceeded any modern Pokémon, its body covered with strange ancient markings, shading the whole sea, left her with a deep shock that remains vivid to this day.

Huo La looked into the distance, his tone serious: "Moreover, the Rocket Team reported that the Super Ancient Dragonite is gravely wounded, currently trapped on the island, calling for help."

"Calling for help?" Bilan's pupils narrowed, her face incredulous.

"Exactly, it's a call for help." Huo La's expression grew even more solemn, his voice heavy as he delivered the crucial news, "According to the information sent back by the Rocket Team Trio, the ones who gravely injured the Super Ancient Dragonite are Shui Wu Tong and Gai Ouka."

"Shui Wu Tong and Gai Ouka?!" Bilan shivered, once again turning pale with shock.

She furrowed her brow in confusion and asked, "Logically, Shui Wu Tong and Gai Ouka have been lingering in the Hoenn Region, constantly balancing against Chi Yan Song and Groudon, with no time to spare. How could they suddenly appear on this secret isolated island and strike the Super Ancient Dragonite so severely?"

Huo La shook his head lightly, his eyes heavy, "These are all the clues we have so far, all coming from the Meow Meow site. The exact reason can only be uncovered when we set foot on the island ourselves."

Bilan was silent for a moment, then quickly steadied herself, her gaze firm: "When do we set out?"

Huo La let out a long sigh, rose at once, his gaze fixed on the distance: "There's no time to waste, the sooner the better. But before we depart, I must speak with BuLaTaNuo Bo Shi, my father, and AZ, to brief them on a few matters."

"Alright." Bilan nodded lightly, turned and acted immediately, "I'll go inform Xiaoyin and Paipa, have them pack right away and be ready to leave at any moment."

"Please, I count on you!" Huo La replied in a deep voice.

"So, you're leaving right now?"

BuLaTaNuo Bo Shi brought a cup of coffee, handed it to Huo La, his tone tinged with a hint of reluctance and emotion.

Huo La took the coffee smoothly and took a light sip.

The bitter taste instantly spread across his tongue, the texture oddly like water brewed from moldy beans, so unpleasant it made him grimace.

Coffee truly tastes best when brewed by oneself; if the world order ever recovers, opening his own café wouldn't be a bad idea.

Setting down the cup, Huo La spoke earnestly, "Yes, Doctor. I can't shake my concern for that Super Ancient Dragonite; back at the Lighthouse, I made a promise with it."

He paused, then added, "Moreover, its injuries are critical, it urgently needs treatment; we can't delay any longer."

BuLaTaNuo Bo Shi nodded slightly, his voice deep as he asked, "Do you know how to enter that Misty Lake Center Island? That sea has been shrouded in mist year-round, ordinary routes can't approach it."

"No problem." Huo La nodded lightly, "The Rocket Team Trio is still trapped on the island and has sent a coordinate signal. Though the signal is intermittent and unstable, the general direction is correct. When the time comes, I'll have Palkia open a Spatial Gate, crossing directly to the sea."

"Hmm…"

BuLaTaNuo Bo Shi had just responded when, before he could continue, a rapid and familiar footstep sounded outside the office.

"Son! You just settled down, and now you have to go again?"

Jie Cheng ran in a small dash, his face full of grievance.

Huo La helplessly placed his hand on his forehead, sighed, "Father, could you stop being so sudden?"

"It's not that I finally get to see you, and before my seat gets warm you want to leave; as a dad I just can't let go." Jie Cheng drooped his brows, looking pitiful.

Huo La raised an eyebrow, deliberately teasing, "Then I'll stay a couple more days, so Mother and the others can wait two more days before handling Kalos matters."

Upon hearing the word "Mother," Jie Cheng's eyes lit up instantly, the earlier grievance vanished, and he hurriedly asked, "Is your mother coming?"

"Yes." Huo La nodded, explaining, "Kalos has been fully liberated; although the League can't spare many troops, it has sent a support squad led by my mother to assist with reconstruction."

"Then that's settled!"

Jie Cheng instantly became spirited, with no lingering reluctance, and waved his hand, "Son, be careful on the road, stay safe! I'll wait here to see when your mother arrives!"

As his words faded, he turned briskly and dashed out of the office like a gust of wind, coming and going in a hurry.

Seeing his father's boundless contrast, Huo La was speechless, completely losing his temper.

BuLaTaNuo Bo Shi also couldn't help but laugh and sigh, "Come to think of it, your father stayed with me for a full five years. Not seeing your mother for five whole years, no wonder he looks like that."

"Just kidding, if you hadn't been staying with me all the time, you might have ended up with a few more brothers and sisters by now."

Huo La chuckled, feeling that BuLaTaNuo Bo Shi's joke might not be entirely unwelcome.

"Huo La." A male voice sounded at the doorway, its tone a bit restrained, not quite matching his stature.