In truth, at the outset of task allocation, Zhou Zhiwen's team was originally tasked with the heavy responsibility of delving deep into Senke for a search. However, the municipal bureau, out of deep concern for the villagers' safety, made a wise decision: first, have all team members assist the villagers in driving away the Pokémon lurking around the village, then split up to complete their original missions.
In every corner of the village, the team members previously assigned to guard duties were busily patrolling, their eyes sharp as eagles, ever vigilant against any potential danger. Meanwhile, those responsible for venturing into the forest set off on their exploratory path, carrying their mission with determination to uncover the secrets hidden deep within the woods.
As time passed, the midday sun bathed the land, and the entire village basked in warm light. The old village chief, filled with gratitude, prepared a hearty lunch for the search team to honor their selfless contributions. After the meal, Zhou Zhiwen gathered the team for a brief briefing. He instructed everyone to conduct a thorough check of the village once more, ensuring no corner where Pokémon might hide was overlooked. In two hours, they would assemble and set out on their journey into the forest.
During this short break, Zhou Zhiwen took the opportunity to have a secret meeting with Wen Qi. The two went to a corner of the village, away from prying eyes. With a grave expression, Zhou Zhiwen said to Wen Qi, "Mr. Wen, this issue in Chunhua Forest seems far more serious than we imagined. For your safety, I suggest you return to the city for now to avoid the heat. This place is full of unknowns and dangers."
Wen Qi, however, smiled faintly and replied calmly, "Captain Zhou, no need to worry. My current strength is enough to handle most situations. As long as I don't encounter multiple Gym-level Pokémon at once, I should be fine." He paused, then continued, "Besides, my farm is right here, and I'm part of this village. How could I just walk away when trouble arises?"
Zhou Zhiwen fell into thought after hearing this. He knew Wen Qi was no pushover, and as the financial backer behind their dealings, he truly didn't want Wen Qi caught in unnecessary danger. But Wen Qi's words made sense—as long as he didn't face exceptionally powerful foes, he could likely manage. So, Zhou Zhiwen stopped insisting on Wen Qi leaving. Instead, he made another request: "Boss Wen, though our relationship shouldn't be exposed, I'd still like to buy some mid-tier perfect Energy Cubes from you. Our search team heading into the forest might encounter all sorts of dangers, and only better Energy Cubes can quickly replenish energy and boost stamina."
After a brief thought, Wen Qi readily agreed to Zhou Zhiwen's request. Based on the attribute needs Zhou Zhiwen provided, he prepared about fifty Energy Cubes for each type. Though this was the maximum he could spare, he was willing to sell them to Zhou Zhiwen at half price. Zhou Zhiwen was deeply grateful. After chatting with Wen Qi about the current situation for a while, he hurriedly left. He knew their relationship had to stay secret to better protect each other.
Wen Qi watched Zhou Zhiwen's retreating figure, silently praying for his safe return. He knew his own strength wasn't yet enough to contend with powerful Pokémon, so he chose to stay at the farm and await good news.
Soon, Zhou Zhiwen assembled with his team. They asked Zhang Yang about the village inspection. Zhang Yang reported, "Captain, we just did a rough sweep of the village. We found a few traces of Pokémon here and there, but they're all weak, mostly common ones like Rattata. These can basically be handled by the village patrol, and with a dedicated search team coming later for a thorough check, we didn't deal with them much since we have other tasks. The village is pretty much safe now."
Zhou Zhiwen nodded in understanding. He knew it was unrealistic to completely drive away all Pokémon in such a short time. The situation was already much better than before, and they could now focus on their next mission. After bidding farewell to the village chief, Zhou Zhiwen led his team out of the village and headed toward the depths of the forest. They split into two groups: one stayed behind to patrol and provide support in the surrounding area, while the other bravely ventured deep into the forest to uncover the secrets hidden within the dense woods. If they could handle it themselves, they would; otherwise, they'd wait for backup.
The search brigade also had a force directly under the brigade commander—a team of twenty elite trainers, some of whom possessed Gym-level Pokémon. This was why the brigade commander held such sway; with this power in hand, only the mayor and the Gym Leader in the city could outrank him.
Chunhua Forest appeared calm on the surface, but beneath it, currents ran deep. In this vast forest, a Venusaur had earned its place as the forest's overlord through extraordinary strength and battle records. Not only was it massive and imposing, but it also possessed awe-inspiring combat abilities. However, as time passed, this Venusaur had entered its twilight years, and its strength seemed to be waning. This stirred the ambitions of other powerful Pokémon, who eagerly sought to challenge its dominance. Yet, they all knew that even in its old age, the Venusaur's Champion-level strength was not something they, as sub-Champions, could easily challenge. They could only bide their time, waiting for an opportunity to defeat this overlord.
Though aged, the Venusaur's deterrent power remained; its very presence was a strong warning to other Pokémon. The overlord Venusaur's territory included, besides itself as the strongest, two sub-Champion Venusaur, four or five Gym-level Venusaur, and over a dozen Elite-level Venusaur. There were also some Venusaur limited by their potential, unable to break through to Elite, numbering around twenty or so. Finally, there were about forty to fifty Ivysaur and seventy to eighty Bulbasaur. The overlord Venusaur's clan totaled nearly two hundred Pokémon. Not only were they numerous, but their strength was formidable. Even if the overlord Venusaur eventually died, with its current power, the clan could still potentially retain its position as forest overlord. This strength made the Venusaur not just a guardian but a leader in the forest, guiding other Pokémon to coexist harmoniously and maintain the forest's peace and balance. It was thanks to this Venusaur that Chunhua Forest had enjoyed years of tranquility.
However, half a year ago, on a sunny day, something astonishing happened deep in Chunhua Forest. That day, the overlord Venusaur was patrolling its territory, its steps steady and powerful, each one exuding immense strength and authority. Its deep gaze and composed demeanor made all creatures feel its presence and power.