Chapter 51: Masked Child? A New Continuous Task!

Huo La rose slowly, walked toward the bench in the rest area, and sat gently opposite Bilan. At that moment she had already closed the yellowed notebook, her fingertips still lingering on the cover illustration; she lifted her eyes only when she heard a sound, her gaze calm and unruffled.

"Did you ask Professor Oak to find out my background?" Bilan said first, her voice still carrying a hint of coolness, yet without any trace of offended displeasure, as if she had long expected this scene.

Huo La did not deny, nodded calmly: "The Doctor told me about last year's transport truck, and also about the origin of the Totodile."

He paused, looking at the complex emotion flashing in Bilan's eyes, and added, "I don't intend to probe your past; it's just that I met a 'fellow townsfolk' and had a good battle, so curiosity is inevitable."

Bilan was silent for a few seconds, her fingers unconsciously rubbing the notebook edge, then she spoke softly: "He wasn't wrong; I did intercept the transport truck back then. At that time I always felt that as long as I could snag Pokemon and get stronger early, I could find the person I was looking for sooner."

She didn't elaborate on who she was looking for, and Huo La didn't press—he could see this was a matter Bilan was reluctant to touch.

The rest area fell quiet, only the occasional fountain sound from outside the window and Nurse Joy's gentle voice from the Pokemon Center.

After a moment, Bilan suddenly looked at Huo La, her gaze a bit more serious: "Your tactics just now were impressive, especially the step where you used Poison Powder to pollute the water surface and shattered the Floating Board. If I hadn't been too careless, I wouldn't have lost so quickly."

"Your Squirtle is also strong," Huo La replied objectively, "The Rain Dish ability combined with Rain Dance gives endurance far beyond ordinary Water-type Pokemon; if the battle drags on, the outcome would be hard to predict."

Hearing this, Bilan's mouth finally curled a faint smile, like ice just beginning to melt in a cold winter, a hint of warmth in the chill: "Seems you really understand Pokemon synergy... Rocket Team's Huo La."

"The Rocket Team" three words hit Huo La's ears like chilled steel; his heart sank sharply, his fingertips clenched unconsciously, yet his face remained calm, even with a hint of puzzlement: "What Rocket Team? I don't understand what you're saying."

"Heh." Bilan chuckled softly, her gaze sweeping the corner of the rest area, tone light, "A Meowth that follows you in the morning and can even speak human language—quite a rarity."

Huo La's mind raced instantly.

A speaking Meowth is a hallmark of the Rocket Team; since Bilan saw it, further concealment would only make it more obvious.

He was pondering how to respond, but Bilan broke the silence first: "Don't worry, I won't tell anyone, and if needed I'll help you cover it up."

Saying that, she took half a Silver Kamen from her pocket and gently placed it on the table.

The mask's edge bore intricate patterns; though only half, its craftsmanship was exquisite, exuding a mysterious aura.

Huo La stared at the half mask, his thoughts suddenly stirred—Masked Child!

He recalled the special chapter's record: behind Bilan stood the Masked Man, whose true identity was Mahogany Gym Leader Liu Bo, and it was rumored that Bilan was one of the children he abducted.

But Professor Oak's protection of Bilan, his proactive bail and gifting her a Totodile, clash heavily with that past... Clearly there are hidden facts yet unrevealed.

"You joined the Rocket Team yet show no skill at hiding your intent; your thoughts are written on your face, fearing others won't see your purpose," Bilan's voice pulled his thoughts back, "This is the Kamen of the organization I serve; take it. In future conflicts with the Rocket Team, or when you can't act under your real identity, wearing it will help you avoid many troubles."

Huo La didn't rush to take the mask, lifted his eyes to Bilan, tone scrutinizing: "Why are you helping me? We're just strangers who just fought."

"Very simple." Bilan's gaze became a bit more sincere, "I also need your help—especially the help of a 'Rocket Team member'."

Huo La remained silent, his fingertips lightly tapping the table edge, about to ask what help she needed, when a cold mechanical voice of the System suddenly rang in his mind. He subconsciously rubbed his forehead, sighing inwardly— the System always pops up at times like this to issue a task, leaving him no choice.

Publish Task:

Task Type: Continuous Task

Task Content: Assist Bilan (I)

Task Objective: Accept the Silver Kamen provided by Bilan

Task Time Limit: 1 hour

Task Reward: Half a Silver Kamen, unlock the "Masked Child" related identity

Bilan saw him rubbing his forehead and frowning, thought he was hesitating, was about to say something else, but then saw Huo La reach out and pick up the Silver Kamen on the table.

The cold metal felt against his fingertips, the mask's pattern digging into them; he looked up at Bilan, tone calm: "I accept your condition."

This sudden acceptance made Bilan pause for a moment. She had expected more words, but Huo La was so straightforward. After processing, she nodded: "Fine."

Bilan picked up the notebook again, stood and slipped it into her backpack, then glanced at Huo La: "I'm heading back to Pallet Town tomorrow to handle some matters. As for you... where do you plan to go next?"

"I'm heading to Vermilion City to challenge the Gym there," Huo La also stood, suddenly recalling the contact matter, adding, "Take care on the road. Give me your TrainerID; if I need help later, I can reach you through it."

Bilan spread her hands, tone a bit helpless: "I haven't registered a TrainerID. However... I do have something I want to ask you to help with now."

Huo La paused briefly—he had thought Bilan's request would involve the Rocket Team, not expecting a request so soon. He didn't ask further, simply nodded: "Speak, as long as I can do it."

Bilan's gaze dropped slightly to her empty pocket, her tone unusually embarrassed: "Could you... lend me some League Coins? I just spent all my money on medicine for my Squirtle."

Huo La exchanged 5,000 League Coins at the Pokemon Center and handed them to Bilan, watching her thank him repeatedly, then turn and stride out of the Pokemon Center before sitting back down heavily on the bench.

He picked up the half Silver Kamen on the table, his fingertips repeatedly rubbing the cold pattern, his gaze gradually emptying as he fell into thought.

Masked Man, Masked Child, Bilan, Professor Oak, plus the suddenly emerging System Task... these clues tangled like a knot in his mind. Though he couldn't yet discern their connections, his intuition told him a massive conspiracy lay behind it.

Otherwise the System wouldn't force him into this line using a "Continuous Task" format; after all, the last Continuous Task was literally joining the Rocket Team as an Executive.

"If only I had studied all the Pokemon anime, manga, and game data thoroughly in a past life, memorized them completely!" Huo La muttered in frustration.

He now only knows the surface of Bilan's entanglement with the Masked Man—he remembers the Masked Man's true identity is Liu Bo, but not the real purpose of his abduction of Bilan; he knows Professor Oak is especially protective of Bilan, yet can't guess whether there's a deeper connection between them.

This "knowing a bit but not fully understanding" state makes him more anxious than complete ignorance.

"What are you thinking? Your face is all scrunched up like a twisted rope."

Xiao Gang came carrying a bag of fruit jam, shoved one bottle into Huo La's hand, "Worried about the route to Vermilion City tomorrow? I just borrowed a map from Nurse Joy; from Cerulean City you take Route 3. I heard there are many wild Lada there, perfect for letting Noibat battle a few more times, to fine‑tune its combat rhythm!"

The cold jam's texture pulled Huo La's thoughts back.

He twisted off the cap, took a sip; the fresh sweet aroma eased some anxiety, and he smiled at Xiao Gang: "Nothing much, just pondering the upcoming training plan. Noibat's first battle today, its reaction was decent, but its coordination with my commands wasn't enough; I really need more practice opportunities."

He paused, adding, "Before we set out tomorrow, let's swing by the Pokemon Supplies Shop first, grab some medicine and Energy Cubes; it's always right to stock up in advance."

Xiao Gang immediately nodded: "No problem! I also know a specialty shop that makes decent pre‑made bento, we can pick some up too."

Seeing Xiao Gang's eager expression, Huo La's inner turmoil gradually eased.

It's okay if some things are puzzling for now— as his journey deepens, and with the System's damn "assistance," the people he should meet and secrets to uncover will eventually come to him. Right now the priority isn't to cling to the current mystery, but to use time to boost his and his Pokemon's strength.

After all, only by being strong enough will he have the confidence to protect himself and his partners when a conspiracy arises, and the ability to uncover the truth hidden beneath the surface.