Chapter 107: Flame Emperor: Big Brother is Using Cheats to Carry Me, I Am Playing Fair

"Name."

"Zhu Suihan."

"Gender."

"Hey, don't go too far. I remember you were there when I went to the reserve depot to pick up supplies."

The young Officer Jenny covered her mouth and chuckled, "So you were planning to double-cross them from the very start."

"Don't worry, you're in an office now, not an interrogation room. Anyway, as long as there are no major issues, we're fine. Tea or coffee?"

"Three coffees, please, boss."

As soon as Zhu Suihan's phone rang, Officer Jenny felt her entire spirit sharpen instantly.

The Burned Tower had completely collapsed, and it was caused by her own prized student? And he was calling to ask if she could help him smooth things over?

Fine, fine. So that's how you want to play, is it?

Have you forgotten which academy you just graduated from!

Jenny quickly contacted the Pokémon Center in Ecruteak City, and Officer Jenny Law also called the investigation department to find out what exactly had happened.

After clarifying the situation, the two seasoned veterans sat in silence for a while, unable to process it.

Never mind, let's just arrest him for now.

Throwing that white-haired monkey in jail was genuinely for his own protection!

"So, what on earth happened in Ecruteak City?"

Zhu Suihan and Lapras took a sip of their coffee, spiked with Milcery’s cream, and both wore expressions that said, "This tastes truly excellent."

"Mily!"

As expected, my cream is the most delicious!

"That's true. As the initiator of the illusion, it's normal that you didn't know what was happening outside," Jenny explained. "Just after you triggered a certain mechanism, a massive fire appeared at the site of the Burned Tower. More than half the people in Ecruteak City could see it."

"The fire department arrived, and the Gym Leader came too. I heard Leader Morty even used his clairvoyance, but he didn't see anything unusual."

"And then..."

Jenny glanced around and felt reassured.

"And then, the citizens of Ecruteak City were subjected to a public execution."

Zhu Suihan’s expression shifted: "What I saw inside the illusion was broadcast outside as well?"

"Although 'broadcast' is a strange word to use, that is exactly what happened. All the citizens of Ecruteak City saw the truth within the flames."

Jenny’s tone was complex: "The truth hidden in history, the truth about why Ho-Oh abandoned Ecruteak City."

Who knew that such a thing had happened back then? Rumor had it that when the video reached the Kanto League, the top brass were all in an uproar.

"By the way, when I came to, what was the identity of that old man kneeling on the ground?"

Jenny handed over a file: "This is his background."

Zhu Suihan flipped through it and read it aloud to Lapras and Milcery.

"Not that old codger, but a descendant of a different sect. His family had been sweeping the Burned Tower for generations. They likely had no idea what had actually occurred."

How to put it? When the cruel truth was revealed to the world, the fact that the old man didn't drop dead on the spot meant his mental fortitude was already maxed out.

"By the way, can I see the footage recorded by the citizens outside?"

Jenny nodded, operated her computer, and transmitted the video file to the projector.

"We have to thank Leader Morty for this. If it weren't for him realizing his clairvoyance was useless and promptly calling in recording equipment, even if the video had been saved, it wouldn't have been this clear."

Zhu Suihan watched the video intently, and then a bizarre expression appeared on his face. The Lapras and Milcery beside him didn't look much better.

"Woo?"

That looks like us?

"Mily."

Yes, Big Sister, that is us, but our appearance seems to be blocked by something; we can't see our true faces.

"It's better that we can't see them."

Zhu Suihan reminded the two little ones, though his expression remained strange.

The white-haired monkey remembered clearly that when he went to grab that ringleader, he had casually thrown his frying pan aside.

If what he experienced wasn't a true illusion, but rather a journey through time under the immense power of Ho-Oh, then this was a massive problem.

Who knows when someone might dig up an antique from somewhere, look at the logo, and discover it's a frying pan manufactured by some company.

Upon checking the serial number, they might find it was a model sold only recently, yet a geological age test would prove it was a genuine antique, not something planted by a prankster.

This would genuinely overload the brains of historians.

What was this? Changing history, or did that ancient plotline spawn a separate parallel universe?

If that were the case, he should have said a few more words to those three little light orbs and snatched a job under Ho-Oh.

Going straight to find Arceus would have been even more interesting.

The journey north is long and arduous.

If you reach the summit of Mt. Coronet and call the true name of that Being, you three remember to put in a good word for me.

The major television series "Journey to the North" is currently a hit.

"So, can I go now?"

The outside world was a bit too dangerous; Zhu Suihan decided to return to the academy to hide for a few days, at least until this current storm blew over.

If this were a game dungeon, Zhu Suihan felt he had acquired a very rare passive skill.

Unique Passive: Historical Disruptor.
Effect (Epic): When the enemy is a creature from Ecruteak City, damage dealt is doubled.

"Go? How could you possibly leave?"

Jenny looked at the white-haired monkey strangely: "You don't really think you're off the hook, do you? There's a whole series of follow-up events that require your presence."

"What else could possibly require me? Don't tell me it's to pay for damages!"

"I actually heard you made a lot of money, so if it's just paying for damages, you could leave right now."

Jenny pointed at the empty office: "Don't you think there are too few people here?"

"You're like that student who, when the teacher has clearly dismissed the class, suddenly has a brain fart and stands up to remind the teacher they haven't assigned homework yet."

Jenny looked helpless: "Not only has the local police force been deployed, but the seniors from the academy have also been sent out, and even teachers on vacation were called back with a single phone call."

Are you kidding? This is a historical site related to Ho-Oh, and a manifested version at that.

At a time like this, the League would never let the white-haired one run away. What if he was the only one who accidentally triggered the key conditions?

After all, the Burned Tower had been reduced to ashes. If not for Morty’s exceptional capabilities, the League wouldn't even have gotten second-hand news.

Want to leave?

I’d like to see who dares to let you go!

"So, the situation is exactly as I described."

Jenny spread her hands: "I heard the Dean thinks very highly of your individual abilities, but in this situation, let alone two deans, even if there were two more, no one would dare let you leave."

The white-haired one was furious: "Can't I just walk out myself?"

"Is there a possibility that you simply can't walk out of the police station? You don't really think I'm the only one watching you, do you?"

Jenny smiled again: "Would you like a refill on your coffee? We also have donuts that replenish energy; they taste quite good."

White-haired one: ...

The phone rang, and Zhu Suihan answered it without looking.

"Hello?"

Lance’s tone was relaxed and cheerful: "Well done. It seems you won't need me to catch you in the future; you have never disappointed me when it comes to making trouble."

"You knew I was nabbed and you didn't come to bail me out!"

"Although I am heading to Ecruteak City, I really can't get you out of this one. Just wait for your doom."

Lance chuckled: "By the way, a word of advice: don't sleep too soundly lately."

Zhu Suihan’s mouth twitched: "It shouldn't be that bad, surely? Are the people from Team Dark actually coming?"

"I've already caught several on my end, but the elders of the clan say they are likely decoys. I don't know the situation elsewhere."

Lance said: "I can't guarantee they haven't reached Ecruteak City yet, so be careful. Don't let yourself get tripped up by those real villains."

"That makes sense. Thanks."

"Don't mention it. By the way, the elders in the clan asked me why everyone’s strength has improved so much. I told them we had an epiphany on our trip."

Zhu Suihan nodded. The implication of that last sentence was that Lance was telling him to be careful and, preferably, find a way to control that special ability.

If he ever let it slip, let's just say the only people who wouldn't be interested would be the ones found in a graveyard.

Zhu Suihan lived a life of coffee and donuts in the police station. A while later, his phone rang again. He picked it up and realized it was a message from Bugsy.

[The situation has changed. I’m planning to come over and join the fun. You really are something, Suihan. It seems all the big news lately has something to do with you.]

As if I wanted that.

The white-haired one shook his head and continued drinking his coffee.

Team Dark was also coming to pad the numbers and set the mood; things here were getting more and more complicated.

Meanwhile, on a high mountain outside Ecruteak City, three figures that most people seeking legends could never hope to find gathered together, looking toward the police station.

The Guardians of Ho-Oh, the Legendary Beasts.

Although they were a guard unit, they usually worked separately, and it was normal for them not to be in contact for long periods.

But this time, they had gathered together—not because their master, Ho-Oh, had any issues, but because it concerned them personally.

The dust around Entei grew thick, and he looked at Suicune and Raikou with profound meaning.

[I do not seem to sense that our Master has chosen a new trial-taker. Does this have anything to do with you two?]

The implication was, which one of you secretly issued an admission ticket? And it was the kind where the school acceptance letter was sent out before the exam process had even begun.

[Not you?] x2

As soon as Suicune and Raikou finished speaking, the situation fell into an eerie silence. The three beasts looked at each other, feeling that the matter was beyond their imagination.

They hadn't sensed any new trial quota granted by their Master, and it wasn't one of the three brothers messing around.

So the question arises: how did that white-haired brat manage to trigger the Burned Tower ruins and carry out a series of actions?

There was a problem, and it wasn't a problem they could fathom.

[I can confirm that the individual does not bear the power mark left by our Master, Ho-Oh.]

Entei ignored the distance, his eyes fixed on the white-haired monkey, who was cutting open a donut and having Milcery rub some cream inside as a filling.

Suicune and Raikou also looked over. When the three brothers saw that face, the process of that desperate life fading away inexplicably surfaced in their minds.

Along with that figure wielding a frying pan, with partners firing at full power beside him.

Raikou let out a low growl, thunder rumbling on its back.

[This has nothing to do with us. We are merely influenced by the obsessions of the past.]