Chapter 31: The Missing Heavenly King

The Orange Blossom Forest had been placed under emergency lockdown.

Hu Yang learned of this just as he was preparing to take Toxic Rose into the forest for battle training. But when he arrived at the entrance, he found warning signs and police tape already set up. Several Officer Jennys stood guard, engaged in conversation with a dark-haired, blue-eyed, bronze-skinned girl.

“…That’s how it happened. Those Ghost-type Pokémon could reappear at any moment…” Officer Jenny reported truthfully.

The girl frowned and asked, “Who experienced this incident?”

“Many people. Besides us, there were teachers and students from the Pokémon Junior Academy,” Officer Jenny replied.

“I need more information…” the girl said.

Hu Yang didn’t stay to hear more; he recognized the girl’s identity. She was Phoebe, one of the Hoenn League’s Elite Four, the Ghost-type master, rumored to possess the ability to communicate with Ghost-type Pokémon. In the games, her grandparents lived at Mt. Pyre, guardians of the Vermilion and Indigo Orbs.

“It seems the Hoenn League is taking this very seriously,” Hu Yang thought to himself. For an ordinary incident, the League would typically send investigators first, but this time, they had dispatched one of the Elite Four. That alone showed the gravity of the matter in Orange Blossom Forest.

However, less than ten minutes after Hu Yang returned to the school, he saw the Ghost-type Elite again.

Phoebe had come to the school to question the survivors of that night’s event. Yet, despite speaking with many, she uncovered nothing. The answers were all the same: “I saw some Ghost-type Pokémon glowing blue,” or, “I don’t remember what happened; they just vanished before my eyes.”

Phoebe pressed further, “Did you hear any strange sounds?”

But the answer remained no.

Phoebe furrowed her brows, puzzled. She had examined the massive fissure, dozens of meters long, that ran through the forest floor.

A phenomenon like that couldn’t have occurred without a single sound during battle. And for a Pokémon to unleash such destructive force—it must possess terrifying power!

Judging from the mark, the fissure had clearly been created in a single strike. That meant the Pokémon only used one move. Even their most experienced, well-trained Pokémon couldn’t split the earth so wide with a single attack.

If there was a Trainer behind it, then just how powerful was that Trainer?

Phoebe dared not imagine.

According to Officer Jenny’s report, the fissure was likely related to the disappearance of the Ghost-type Pokémon, and it was probably the work of whoever created it that drove them away.

“Miss Phoebe, this is the teacher who dispelled the Ghost-type Pokémon’s illusions,” Officer Jenny said, entering and interrupting Phoebe’s thoughts.

Phoebe looked over and saw a very young child—barely ten by appearance. She was momentarily surprised, but as an Elite, she possessed not only great strength but also high emotional intelligence. A child who could become a teacher must be exceptionally gifted.

She quickly composed herself and greeted him politely, “Hello.”

Seeing her expression, Hu Yang expected her to question his age, as others had, but she didn’t. This earned her a few points in his estimation.

“It seems this Ghost-type Elite is quite tactful,” Hu Yang thought, returning her greeting with equal courtesy. “Hello.”

Phoebe said, “Could you describe in detail what happened that night?”

“Of course.” Hu Yang organized his thoughts and recounted his experience, omitting any mention of the Ancient Braviary.

“I encountered a group of Litwick and Lampent. Just as they attacked me, a large Gengar appeared and drove them off.”

He deliberately mentioned the Dominant Gengar, hoping to resolve the forest’s hidden danger quickly; otherwise, he couldn’t train there in peace.

Gengar.

Phoebe’s eyes lit up at the name—finally, some new information.

“That Gengar led me to an old, Western-style manor. It told me it had sealed those Ghost-type Pokémon there,” Hu Yang continued.

“But not long ago, those Ghost-types hypnotized it and escaped. After saying that, Gengar sent me out.”

“Manor… Gengar… seal…” Phoebe’s brows knitted at these words, a half-buried rumor surfacing in her mind. She recalled that when the League was first founded, there had been a large-scale human disappearance. The first Ghost-type Elite was dispatched, and although the matter was resolved, that Elite vanished from the League, never to be seen again.

She remembered that in the League’s archives, the case was titled “The Missing Elite.” That predecessor, too, had a Gengar.

A chill ran through Phoebe’s heart.

She had to report this to the Hoenn League immediately.

But first, she had another question. “Besides the Gengar, did you hear any strange sounds that night?”

“What?” Hu Yang was caught off guard.

“I mean the sounds of battle. You’ve seen the fissure in the forest, haven’t you?”

Hu Yang fell silent—his silly bird had caused that. But he couldn’t say so and feigned ignorance. “I didn’t hear anything.”

Phoebe’s frown deepened. “Thank you for your information. Officer Jenny, I’ll leave things here to you.”

She needed to report this to the Hoenn League at once.

“Yes, Miss Phoebe!” Officer Jenny saluted as Phoebe departed.

Hu Yang also left.

Winter break was approaching, and he needed to book tickets to Autumn Leaf Town in advance. Otherwise, when the flood of Trainers returning home began, tickets would sell out.

The Hoenn region was surrounded by sea, and Orange Blossom City had no port. He would have to transfer at Canaz City, take a passenger ship from the northwest coast, and head to Autumn Leaf Town.

He had already planned it out: first, spend a few days in Autumn Leaf Town battling, then take Toxic Rose, Ancient Braviary, and Gengar to Mt. Chimney’s cable car for a hot spring vacation in Flare Town.

Hopefully, by the time he returned in spring, the Hoenn League would have resolved the manor incident.