Chương 110: Chapter 110

"Zhongli?"

In the lobby of the research institute, Venti, who was at a critical moment in the finals of a chicken game, noticed Zhongli standing up from the sofa across the room. The old archon, who was about to retire, seemed to have discovered something new and interesting, prompting him to leave.

"Wait for me! Really, when you find something fun, you never bring your friends along~"

Venti's basic skill was multitasking. On one hand, he manipulated the wind element to follow Zhongli, while on the other, he spent more than 50 coins in the final round to search for 5-star orange cards.

Ding!

In the end, Venti was lucky and synthesized two 2-star orange card Pokémon, and he immediately laughed, "Stable~"

"If I win this game, I must have good luck!"

He no longer looked at the game screen in the illustrated book, but instead looked around. Without realizing it, he had followed Zhongli all the way to the deepest part of the forest scene in the ecological zone. The previous forest champion here, Chesnaught, was searching around in an irritable manner. The two archons—fishing buddies—were well acquainted with it.

Even while playing an auto chess game, they could find a way to pay attention to what was happening. The result was just as they expected. When the two leading figures of the research institute, the Jinlan sisters, stepped forward, the forest champion was predictably subdued.

"Is this actually a hidden map?" Venti was intrigued and pointed at a wisp of blue wind.

His ears perked up. It was as if he heard the voice of the wind spirit.

"Turns out the Traveler just entered a cave. Okay, Zhongli, so you've been paying attention to this Traveler too!"

Zhongli remained silent, staring at the large cave entrance under a dark tree hollow. He was the God of Geo, the ruling archon of Liyue, and the ecological zone was within his territory. Therefore, Zhongli could easily rely on his authority to see the cave structure beneath the ground.

Huh?

Zhongli realized that this cave actually connected to the champion Gengar's cave, which Hu Tao and Xiangling had discovered last time. However, the cave now extended into a deeper section. The only way in and out was this very secret and narrow path that only allowed one person at a time.

Zhongli looked further down, but his vision was obstructed. He raised his eyebrows in slight surprise, increasing the power and resonance of the Geo element within himself. However, his sight remained obscured, only providing a vague glimpse of a wider underground world deep below, filled with amber, fossils, and treasures.

So, this was the most secret part of the ecological zone? The biggest secret?

Zhongli let out a laugh. He felt that this cover-up must have been set up by Fang, the nightclub manager. He could forcefully break the restriction, but there was no need. For now, Zhongli had found something more interesting to explore.

He entered the cave, and Venti followed closely behind, saying, "Hey, wait for me!"

Along the way, they saw ghostly flames floating at regular intervals. When Venti saw Zhongli collecting each ghost flame, he couldn't help but ask curiously, "Zhongli, is there something magical about these ghostly flames?"

Zhongli paused, a slight smile on his lips, as he gathered more than twenty clusters of ghost flames. Suddenly, in the dark cave, the flames flickered and merged, forming a ghostly figure: a Pokémon!

"Eh!" Venti widened his eyes in surprise. "Could it be...? Are these ghost flames actually souls? After collecting them, can they form a Ghost-type Pokémon?"

Zhongli opened the illustrated book and clicked on a message written by Takumi in the group chat.

"If there is a companion treasure, there must be a corresponding Pokémon nearby!"

Seeing this text, a light flashed in Venti's mind. Damn it! The Traveler had picked up a keystone, a necessary tool for capturing and containing Spiritomb.

So! As soon as he thought of this, Venti took out his illustrated book and took a picture of Zhongli surrounded by ghost flames, sending it to the group chat:

**Venti:** Zhongli, it's him! Beat him up! He's trying to steal the Traveler's Spiritomb!

**Traveler Lumine:** ???

*(Spiritomb.jpg attached)*

**Venti:** Zhongli, wait, did you just capture a Spiritomb using a keystone?

Seeing this message, Venti's smile froze. Ah?! Lumine had already captured a Spiritomb... Then what was Zhongli doing with these ghost flames and soul structures?!

"Hello, Zhongli..."

To his surprise, the old archon ignored him entirely, his fingers occasionally touching the ghost flames around Spiritomb.

"Does every soul have different emotions?" Zhongli mused aloud. "There are good thoughts and evil thoughts. There is timidity, and there is courage... The Ghost Pokémon born from so many gathered souls—it is truly incredible, filled with the magnificent creative power of the Creator!"

In that moment, Zhongli, illuminated by ghost flames, appeared in Venti's eyes as though he had taken on the mantle of an expert in Pokémon research. Was the soon-to-retire archon planning to switch careers and contribute to the field of Pokémon research? Venti found that highly unlikely.

Feeling that it was getting boring, Venti waved goodbye and returned to the institute to continue playing his games. After all, lounging around suited him better...

...

Soon, Takumi returned from the Hisui region, with Poké Balls filled to the brim in two space backpacks. The research institute had been planned to be vast from the start, with surrounding areas filled with magical saplings growing vibrantly. The outer forest and inner park pattern was now well established. There was plenty of room to bring in two new tribes—the Hisuian Growlithe and the Hisuian Braviary.

Takumi summoned Lanturn and Goodra. "Take care of this new batch of cubs for now," he instructed. "Let the naughty ones fight if needed!"

And from Cresselia, Takumi heard the report about how the previous forest champion's uprising had been handled.

"Well done, Cresselia," he said. "As expected of my Pokémon, convincing others through strength is indeed the correct approach!"

Takumi smiled. Seeing the ongoing conversation in the group chat, he sighed as he noticed Zhongli had gone to Spiritomb's cave.

Zhongli was an enthusiastic hobbyist, but up until now, none of the Pokémon had piqued his interest enough to conduct deeper research. Could this Spiritomb, composed of 108 souls and ghost flames, actually trigger Zhongli's curiosity in Pokémon life science? Could the oldest of the Seven Archons be venturing into the territory of serious Pokémon research?

Takumi was happy to let it happen. If Zhongli entered this field, he'd never be able to escape. The world of Pokémon was vast and boundless, and studying mythical Pokémon across different regions would keep Zhongli occupied for quite some time!

Takumi raised his eyebrows and noticed the group chat's current topic.

**Yoimiya:** Mondstadt friends, Liyue folks, I'm returning to Inazuma soon. We shall meet again!

**Beidou:** Kokomi, I'm taking you back to Inazuma aboard my Death Omen Star.

**Ningguang:** Really... Inazuma's national lockdown order and Vision Hunt Decree... I wonder when they'll end... *(sigh.jpg)*

**Yoimiya:** Woohoo, yes, thinking of returning to Inazuma, I feel like I'm leaving the Pokémon era and entering a desert. I'm desperate, but Inazuma is my home, and Manyo's as well!

**Jean:** Naganohara Yoimiya, if Takumi is the manager of Fang Night Club, he might be able to bypass the Vision Hunt Decree and the lockdown order and spread Pokémon culture in Inazuma, right?

**Kazuha:** Absolutely impossible! The Raiden Shogun... she's too terrifying!

**Hu Tao:** *(picking nose.jpg)* No matter how scary the Raiden Shogun is, can she be scarier than our Geo Archon?

**Xiangling:** *(alpaca shadow.jpg)* I took a picture of the mysterious shadow that appeared in the ecological zone that day. Posting it in the group for protection power!

Is Naganohara Yoimiya really returning to Inazuma?

Yes, Takumi was quite surprised to see Yoimiya in Liyue... But when he learned that she was transporting her fireworks for the Lantern Rite Festival, he understood. Seeing the group chat discussion, Takumi smiled.

Inazuma's situation was indeed unique. Ever since the Khaenri'ah War five hundred years ago, the Raiden Shogun had retreated to the Plane of Euthymia, pondering her philosophy of eternity. The one she left outside was just a puppet running on a predetermined program.

Compared to Miss Catherine from the Adventurers' Guild and Miss Emilia from the Pokémon House Shop, this puppet was fabricated by Ei herself, even giving rise to a consciousness much like a living being's. It was clear that Ei, too, was quite the technical expert.

"In the torrent of the Pokémon Age," Takumi mused, "Inazuma cannot remain an isolated island." Fate had brought Yoimiya to Liyue, making her a messenger who would carry a leaf from the Pokémon Age to Inazuma.

Takumi's grin turned mischievous. "The fallen leaf carries a message: on the other side of the fog and sea lies the nation of rock—Liyue. The Geo Archon has stepped down, leaving his throne empty. The aspiring ones—ah no! The trainers are vying to become new legends!

"Ahem. It conveys something along those lines," Takumi said, chuckling. "Miss Naganohara Yoimiya, you're forced to become my chosen protagonist for the Inazuma mission!"

**Takumi:** Yoimiya, where are you now?

**Yoimiya:** *(Flattered.jpg)* On Beidou's ship, ready to set sail.

Takumi rested his chin in his hand. Since Yoimiya was now the protagonist of the mission, as her "father," he needed to give her some extra help. Cause trouble, big trouble!

With Yoimiya's combat abilities, she could handle Kujou Sara, who was in charge of law enforcement for the Tenryou Commission. But if things escalated into a confrontation with the Shogun herself, or even if the Raiden Shogun decided to intervene...

"One light, one dark... I need to give Yoimiya two trump cards, as amulets," Takumi decided. He then crossed the secret realm gate to the Hisui region.

When he returned, he held a Heavy Ball containing a Ursaluna, unique to the Hisui region—Champion level!

Takumi had long wanted to capture an Ursaluna for the institute. He'd heard from the leader of Team Diamond, Adaman, that Ursaluna could be found in the Crimson Mirelands, so he went directly to capture one.

...

Liyue Port.

The Southern Cross Fleet set sail. On the deck of the flagship Death Omen, Yoimiya waved enthusiastically, tears in her eyes, as she said goodbye to Takumi, who stood on the dock watching them depart.

"I will! I will bring the message of the Pokémon Age to Inazuma!"