After Zhuge Ziyu returned, he looked at the group and managed a weak smile. "Sorry to trouble you all once more — could you help us identify some people?"
As he spoke, a squad of soldiers filed out from the Dark Mystery Zone behind him.
"No problem at all. It's our duty, right, Xiaoze?"
Li Shuqing said with a grin, then nudged Auron Vale with his chin.
Auron Vale sighed internally. He just wanted to go home. Well, so much for that.
"No problem, Uncle Ziyu."
Zhuge Ziyu looked at the two of them, his mouth tugging into anotherbarely smile that came out looking more like a grimace. "Don't worry, it'll be quick."
......
He said "quick," but in the end they were still waiting until three or four in the morning before the Church members finally came out.
The squad of soldiers that had gone in first were there to clear out anyone inside the Dark Mystery Zone.
Since they were afraid criminals might be hiding inside and refuse to come out, they'd sent in the ones who were subject to the Mystery Zone's entry-level cap — Auron Vale's group.
These soldiers would sweep the Dark Mystery Zone clean, apprehend anyone who resisted, and bring them out.
That's how the Church members ended up being brought out.
Auron Vale, Tang Yunqin who had come to keep him company, Fugui, You Yu You, and Yin Hanling — the five of them immediately set about identifying the Church members from the crowd.
Auron Vale hadn't been waiting long before Jace Rowan and Su Tingxi, who had finished their dinner, showed up.
But Auron Vale had sent them away, citing that they needed to drive and needed to rest up.
Still, the remaining few had no such excuse. Besides, they'd said they were worried Auron Vale might miss someone from nervousness, and that they'd be on hand to assist.
And so Auron Vale, Li Shuqing, and the rest stayed there, watching batch after batch emerge from the Dark Mystery Zone.
"Hmph! Lucky bastard!"
As the middle-aged man in the purple robes was led past Auron Vale, he struggled and tried to charge toward Auron Vale again, but the soldiers held him firmly in place.
Though he hadn't landed his final strike, he still hadn't forgotten to throw out a threat.
"Wait and see! This isn't the first time!"
Auron Vale looked at this fellow whose killing intent was on full, unhidden display, and asked with interest.
"Oh? So who paid you this much to come kill me?"
"Hmph! The Pope himself gave the order. I don't know what makes you worthy of catching the great Pope's eye, but I—"
Before the purple-robed man could finish, Zhuge Ziyu waved a hand to signal the soldiers to take him away.
After the man was dragged off, Zhuge Ziyu and Lu Xingguo exchanged a look.
"That doesn't make sense. How did Xiaoze end up on the Pope's radar? He's been so low-key."
"Beats me. Maybe there's a mole. That's your department."
After the silent exchange, Zhuge Ziyu's expression darkened even further.
"Hope this has nothing to do with that bastard."
Zhuge Ziyu thought, his gaze drifting involuntarily toward the Dark Mystery Zone.
"Uncle Ziyu, can we go now?"
Auron Vale felt no panic as he watched the man being led away.
What was there to fear? He had backing.
Within Dragon Kingdom territory, the nation could shield him from high-powered, wide-scale, mass-casualty threats.
Deoxys could protect him from small-scale, targeted, precision threats.
So what was there to worry about? It wasn't like a Legendary was going to show up and solo through Deoxys's defenses to kill Auron Vale in short order.
That was essentially impossible. And even if it did happen, Deoxys, as a Psychic-type, could simply use Teleport to carry Auron Vale to safety.
"There's nothing else. You can head back."
Zhuge Ziyu looked at Auron Vale and the others, clearly exhausted, and nodded. "Is it safe to go straight back to Vantora now?"
His brow creased slightly. "The route's safe, but aren't you going to rest first? It's very late."
Auron Vale smiled. "We'll be fine. The two drivers are well-rested. We'll just sleep in the car — we'll be there before we know it."
Only then did Zhuge Ziyu's brow smooth out. "Alright then. Go on, and take this."
He reached into his bag and pulled out a Poké Ball, handing it to Auron Vale.
"This is Rotom. With him, the car can drive itself halfway — it'll be much safer."
"Okay, thanks, Uncle Ziyu."
Zhuge Ziyu affectionately patted Auron Vale's head. "No problem. Get going."
"Mm!"
Ziyu's gesture left Li Shuqing beside him green with envy. He wanted a head pat too!
Taking action on impulse, Li Shuqing immediately reached a hand toward Auron Vale's head.
"Slap!"
"What do you think you're doing?"
Auron Vale batted Li Shuqing's paw away, eyes narrowed in suspicion.
"Uh — there was, um, a hair on your head. I was just helping you pick it off."
Li Shuqing gave an awkward smile as he explained.
Auron Vale shot him a deeply odd look, then turned and walked briskly away.
"Yikes, this guy's a certified idiot. Whose head doesn't have hair on it? Come on, come on — Mom said you'd catch dumb from hanging around dumbs."
With that, Auron Vale quickened his pace even more.
Fugui and the others, though puzzled, hurried to catch up with him.
After Auron Vale had gone, Zhuge Ziyu looked at Li Shuqing with an amused expression. "He's gone. What about you? What are you going to do?"
Li Shuqing shrugged, totally at ease. "I'll head out tomorrow."
"Alright, then. How about you rest in the military lounge for now? It's safe."
"Sure, thanks."
Li Shuqing said, and thanked Zhuge Ziyu.
"Don't mention it."
Zhuge Ziyu waved him off, then gestured to a nearby soldier to take Li Shuqing to the lounge.
When Auron Vale's group arrived at the spot where Jace Rowan and Su Tingxi were sleeping, the two had already woken up.
The plan from yesterday afternoon had been: they'd go straight to sleep, rest up fully, and as soon as Auron Vale was done, they'd drive back.
The moment the Church members had been dragged out, Fugui had messaged Su Tingxi, and Su Tingxi had woken Jace Rowan up.
"Let's go."
"Yeah, let's go!"
With that, they headed toward the parking area.
Auron Vale looked at the Mini Dragon curled up asleep on his shoulder and couldn't resist stroking her scales.
Mini Dragon squirmed slightly — apparently the unexpected touch wasn't to her liking.
Auron Vale shook his head at Mini Dragon's reaction. Every other Pokémon had gone into their Poké Balls to sleep. Only Mini Dragon refused,refused flatly go into a ball.
It was a good thing Deoxys was around — it had used Psychic powers to create a soundproof barrier for her. Otherwise, given how noisy it was at the Dark Mystery Zone exit, she wouldn't have been able to sleep this peacefully.
———
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