Back at the team, Zhou Zhiwen immediately headed straight for the captain's office.
Jiang Tiansheng, seeing the travel-worn Zhou Zhiwen, first asked a few concerned questions, then eagerly pressed him for the results of this mission.
Zhou Zhiwen held nothing back, recounting everything the Venusaur overlord had said word for word.
After finishing, he stood quietly to the side, waiting for the captain's instructions.
"Alright, I've got it all. This mission was exceptionally well done. Just so happens, a deputy squadron leader in the First Squadron is retiring; go take up the post in a few days."
"I'll relay this to everyone through the system later. Good work, you can head out now."
Hearing about his upcoming promotion, Zhou Zhiwen's anxious heart instantly settled, and he couldn't help but think smugly: Another promotion, not bad at all!
Jiang Tiansheng watched Zhou Zhiwen's retreating figure, sinking into deep thought.
From Zhou Zhiwen's account, he also caught the Venusaur overlord's implication, which seemed to say:
Whether the Bulbasaur is still there or not, don't come again. I have backing too, and I'm not someone to be pushed around.
After a moment's thought, Jiang Tiansheng reported the matter to the Southwest Regional Alliance headquarters, sharing his speculations with his superiors.
The reply came back: Let it be for now; don't pursue it further. Stability is the priority at the moment.
After all, if it were just the overlord of Chunhua Forest, the Alliance wouldn't be afraid, but the threat in Changqing Forest was something they had to take seriously.
If it really sparked a major upheaval, headquarters couldn't bear the consequences.
In the current situation, maintaining mutual understanding and keeping the peace was the best outcome.
Though the mission yielded no substantial gains, headquarters still rewarded Jiang Tiansheng with the chance to exchange for a property fragment once.
Even though this reward required points to redeem, it still filled Jiang Tiansheng with joy, his heart sweet as honey.
He mused that later he could exchange for a Dragon Essence fragment, which might help his Pokémon break through to the Champion level.
Though the hope was slim, it would at least build up some foundation. With enough accumulated strength, his Pokémon might one day achieve a breakthrough through steady growth.
But if Jiang Tiansheng knew that his subordinate Zhou Zhiwen had easily obtained one, he'd probably be green with envy.
Of course, Zhou Zhiwen would keep that tightly under wraps, and even if he let it slip, Wen Qi would never admit it.
Back in his office, Zhou Zhiwen hadn't been there long before the team's system notification announced his promotion.
Once the news of Zhou Zhiwen's promotion was posted on the team system, the office erupted like a bomb.
Team members flocked joyfully to Zhou Zhiwen's office, each face beaming with genuine smiles.
"Captain Zhou, congratulations! You truly deserve it!"
A young team member waved his hands excitedly, his eyes full of admiration.
"Yeah, Captain Zhou, you'll have to look out for us from now on!"
Another member quickly chimed in, his tone dripping with flattery.
Everyone spoke at once, leaving Zhou Zhiwen overwhelmed, but his heart was bursting with happiness.
The perks of promotion were quite tempting: a significant salary increase, more allowances and subsidies, and access to greater resources and authority.
Plus, the danger level of future missions would be relatively lower, making Zhou Zhiwen feel more secure about his work and life ahead, as if a bright path was unfolding before him.
Deputy Captain Zhang Yang, meanwhile, was as excited as a child.
He kept rubbing his hands together, his face blooming like a flower, silently calculating:
With Captain Zhou promoted, there's a vacancy in the team. Could I have a chance to move up too?
Thinking this, he couldn't contain his excitement and sidled up to Zhou Zhiwen, saying with a smile:
"Captain Zhou, with your promotion, there's an opening in the team. What about me..."
Before he could finish, Zhou Zhiwen patted his shoulder and said:
"Zhang Yang, keep up the good work. Opportunities always come to those who are prepared."
Zhang Yang nodded repeatedly at that, as if he could already see the bright prospect of his own promotion, his eyes sparkling with hope.
The entire office was filled with laughter and chatter. Everyone was genuinely happy for Zhou Zhiwen's promotion, and they all felt a sense of anticipation and hope for their own futures.
But then, a team member suddenly asked:
"Captain Zhou, what about the energy cube benefits from now on?"
When the team member brought up the energy cube benefits, the smile on Zhou Zhiwen's face instantly froze. His brow furrowed slightly as he fell into a dilemma.
To give or not to give? It had become a real headache.
If he gave them out, with a hundred people in the Second Squadron, the current stock of energy cubes was far from enough.
But if he didn't, having just been promoted, the team members were looking at him with eager expectations. It would make him seem too stingy, ignoring everyone's feelings right after his promotion, and his prestige in the team would likely take a big hit.
Inside Zhou Zhiwen's mind, two little figures seemed to be arguing fiercely.
One said: "Don't give them. There's a limited supply, and you can't satisfy everyone anyway. It'll just cause more trouble."
The other countered: "You have to give them. You can't let the team down. It's about your image and their trust in you."
He silently calculated, beads of sweat gradually forming on his forehead, glistening like crystal pearls under the light.
Time ticked by, and the team members' gazes, like blazing flames, were all fixed on him, adding immense pressure, as if a mountain was weighing on his heart.
Zhou Zhiwen took a deep breath, trying to calm himself.
After much deliberation, he felt he couldn't make a hasty decision.
He thought of Wen Qi. Maybe he could first sound out Wen Qi to see if the energy cube supply could be increased.
Even if he made no profit, as long as he could solve the immediate problem and maintain good relations with his team, it would be worth it.
Zhou Zhiwen cleared his throat and said to the expectant team members:
"Everyone, don't rush. I know you're all concerned about the energy cube benefits.
I'm working on it. For now, I plan to discuss it with a certain senior breeder to see if we can increase the quantity.
I promise you all, I'll do my best to fight for it, even if I have to plead with that senior breeder multiple times to make sure you're satisfied. But it'll take some time, so please be patient."
The team members, though not getting an immediate answer, saw Zhou Zhiwen's proactive attitude and quieted down for the moment.
Yet the heavy stone in Zhou Zhiwen's heart hadn't lifted. He knew that the upcoming conversation with Wen Qi was crucial.
If he couldn't successfully increase the quantity, how would he face the hopeful gazes of his team members?
With a heart full of worry, he hurried out of the office, striding quickly toward Wen Qi's location.
Along the way, his mind was in turmoil, like fifteen buckets drawing water—seven up and eight down—constantly rehearsing scenarios of his talk with Wen Qi, as if this were a battle that would decide his fate.