After obtaining the crucial information, Zhao Zheng's eyes gleamed with excitement and cunning. However, he wasn't carried away by joy and made no move to harm Xiao Wu.
He knew full well that now wasn't the time to act against Xiao Wu. If something happened to Xiao Wu at this critical moment, it would inevitably alert the enemy and arouse Dr. Chu Feng's suspicion. That would not only render the secret he'd worked so hard to uncover worthless but also land him in serious trouble.
Zhao Zheng took a deep breath, struggling to calm his inner excitement as he slowly stood up. He cast one last glance at Xiao Wu, still fast asleep, then quietly left the room.
On his way back, Zhao Zheng's mind raced. He repeatedly pondered the secret he'd extracted from Xiao Wu—life energy detected in a batch of energy cubes. This discovery both thrilled and troubled him.
What vexed him more was that the person who brought those energy cubes seemed to be from the Search Team. The Search Team was the Alliance's enforcement arm, no pushover by any means.
"Dammit, why did it have to be the Search Team?" Zhao Zheng muttered under his breath. He knew well that dealing with the Search Team was like skinning a tiger—one misstep and he'd be torn to pieces.
Yet the allure of this secret was too great for Zhao Zheng to simply give up. As he walked, he racked his brains for a countermeasure.
"Maybe I can approach it from another angle, investigate discreetly, and avoid a direct confrontation with the Search Team at all costs," he murmured to himself.
Back at his residence, Zhao Zheng sat in a chair, brow furrowed. He began meticulously sorting through the leads and connections he had, trying to find a way to gather more information about the life energy while skillfully sidestepping the Search Team's attention.
"No matter what, I have to uncover this secret, even if the road is fraught with obstacles," Zhao Zheng vowed silently, his eyes revealing determination and resolve. He understood that this was a pivotal opportunity for him to become a天王级 trainer, one he couldn't afford to miss.
Meanwhile, Wen Qi, focused on keeping a low profile, had no idea danger was creeping closer.
Wen Qi would never have guessed that despite all his caution, he'd still caught someone's eye. Nor did Dr. Chu Feng anticipate that a moment of soft-heartedness would bring him trouble. But those were stories for another day.
Zhao Zheng, not swept away by the excitement, went to the hospital to forge a medical certificate, claiming he'd been there for a checkup that day. Of course, the organization handled these documents—with their formidable resources, forging a certificate was a breeze.
Zhao Zheng even brought back some medicine, playing the part to perfection. Now that he knew this big secret, he had to tread carefully; the bigger the matter, the more steady and methodical he needed to be.
Soon, the day of Wen Qi's exam approached.
That morning, Wen Qi planned to set out two days early, spending one day traveling and one day resting.
For this trip, Wen Qi didn't intend to ride his Gogoat. Though Gogoat was comfortable and reasonably fast, riding it to Evergreen City wasn't feasible.
Spring Flower City and Evergreen City were thousands of kilometers apart. Even with Gogoat's speed, the winding roads and various obstacles would take a day or two to cover. That would definitely make Wen Qi miss the exam. Aware of this, he decided to take a flight from the city.
These aircraft were fast, arriving in two to three hours, and quite comfortable. The only downside was the cost—twenty to thirty thousand for the fare, something most people couldn't justify.
At this moment, Wen Qi longed for a Pokémon that could carry him through the air. He glanced at the Pidgeotto in his mini-world. It had been doing well, reaching level 30. With a bit more effort, once it evolved into a Pidgeot, it could fly him around.
But that wasn't an option now, so he had to take the flight. Besides, Wen Qi had never been on one, so this was a chance to experience it. With flying Pokémon like Pidgeotto and Dragonair, he wasn't worried about accidents.
Though Pidgeotto couldn't lift him, Dragonair could, but Dragonair was too conspicuous. Flying with it would draw too much attention and invite envy, which didn't suit Wen Qi's low-key nature. Better to avoid it if possible.
Wen Qi quickly packed his things and prepared to leave.
Before departing, he specifically found Wen Hua and his sister, telling them he'd be away for a few days and asking them to watch the house.
He also advised, "If any problems come up, just ask Scyther, the Pidgeot family, or the Poliwrath family for help. I've already told them; they'll handle it."
As usual, Wen Qi left the Sandslash family for Wen Hua and his sister to use. After everything was arranged, he left with Scizor and the others.
Wen Qi soon rode Gogoat to the city center, arrived at the airport, and quickly bought a ticket. The frequent traffic between Spring Flower City and Evergreen City meant flights every half hour, so tickets were easy to get.
He only brought a space backpack to conceal his mini-world, carrying little, and passed security smoothly. The airport allowed passengers to bring weaker Pokémon on board, so Wen Qi occasionally saw girls boarding with cute Pokémon.
Entering the airport, he saw the massive aircraft—the first time he'd encountered such a colossal flying machine in the Pokémon world.
The aircraft had a unique, sci-fi design. Its main body featured extremely smooth lines, like a giant bird, crafted from sturdy yet lightweight special alloys. The exterior was painted with vibrant patterns of various Pokémon, colorful and eye-catching. The wide cabin doors made it easy for passengers and their Pokémon to board.
Once inside, Wen Qi found the seats spacious and comfortable, each equipped with a dedicated Pokémon area to ensure their safety and comfort during the flight. The large, clear windows allowed passengers to enjoy the scenery outside, occasionally spotting wild Pokémon soaring freely in the sky.
Shortly after Wen Qi sat down, the aircraft took off. He noticed its powerful engine and smooth, quiet flight, with almost no turbulence, as if strolling leisurely among the clouds.
He also observed the other passengers, many of whom were reading books on breeders, likely heading to Evergreen City for the exam. Most probably weren't aiming for advanced certifications but for beginner or intermediate levels.
Though beginner and intermediate exams could be taken in Spring Flower City, many preferred the big city, where the Breeders' Association was more prestigious, making a successful certification there more valuable and sought after.