c138: Old Friend "Xiao Wang"
"Master Lin, we've confirmed their identities."
Just as Chen Xiaoxiao and Master Lin stepped down from the container truck, Xiaotian walked over, handing over a Pokédex.
"Oh? These are registered trainers under the Alliance?" Lin Yi raised a brow as he scrolled through the data.
"Correct. All have valid licenses. Nothing suspicious in their public records," Xiaotian confirmed with a nod.
"Let's go speak to them directly," Lin Yi said, glancing at Chen Xiaoxiao and gesturing toward the detained poaching gang.
As they approached the prisoners, Lin Yi locked eyes with Brother Dong, the leader.
"The struggle is over. So tell me are you going to talk, or should I let someone else get the answers?"
"Hah!" Brother Dong spat on the ground, laughing bitterly. "Do what you want! I won't give you a damn thing."
He stared defiantly, but it was clear he knew the game was up. Whether he confessed or not, the people behind him would be exposed eventually. But if he talked willingly, those higher-ups might target his family. Keeping silent was all he had left.
Lin Yi wasn't surprised.
"Mina, contact Xiao Wang to assist with the interrogation. Xiaotian, have the truck's tire repaired we'll need it mobile."
Lin Yi didn't bother pressuring Dong any further. In this world, the Pokémon League had many effective, ethical methods of obtaining the truth especially through trained psychics.
"Understood, Master Lin!"
Both Mina and Xiaotian responded immediately. Despite the signal jamming still in effect in the area, Lin Yi's League-certified Pokédex used secure psychic relays to contact League intelligence.
"Message sent. Xiao Wang's reply he'll be here in ten minutes," Mina reported after a moment.
"Perfect. Xiaoxiao, let's wait."
"No problem," Chen Xiaoxiao nodded.
Even with her telepathy and her Psychic Pokémon, Chen Xiaoxiao knew she couldn't extract specifics like names, locations, or passwords. Telepathy could detect lies, not pull information directly.
Lin Yi glanced at the sky. It was already nearing 6 p.m., and twilight was setting in.
"Let's hope the situation hasn't leaked yet."
He looked toward the nearby residential buildings, concerned.
"Don't worry," Chen Xiaoxiao said reassuringly. "Gardevoir has been monitoring the minds of everyone within range. No sign of collaborators or eavesdroppers. As long as the signal remains cut off, the outside world shouldn't know yet."
Lin Yi's serious expression softened. "Haha, well done. You always think ahead."
Just then, a familiar Aerodactyl appeared in the distance, descending from the dusky sky.
"There he is my old friend Xiao Wang, from the Huaxia Intelligence Department. You can trust him."
Lin Yi smiled toward Chen Xiaoxiao as the fossil Pokémon landed.
Chen Xiaoxiao raised an eyebrow. Aerodactyl… intelligence… Xiao Wang?
She felt a flicker of recognition.
Sure enough, as Xiao Wang jumped off the Aerodactyl, he grinned when he spotted her.
"Chen Xiaoxiao! What a coincidence!"
"Xiao Wang!" she laughed. "Long time no see."
It clicked now this was the same Xiao Wang who'd helped investigate the Japanese trainer incident in Baodao, using his Hypno to extract intel.
Small world indeed.
"You two know each other?" Lin Yi asked, surprised.
"There's a bit of a story," Xiao Wang replied with a chuckle. "I was assisting Prosecutor Leng Hao back then. Thanks to that case, I got my promotion."
Chen Xiaoxiao nodded, smiling. It had been an intense operation, but they'd pulled through.
Lin Yi listened quietly. He'd heard of the Kenting Incident a high-level, classified case involving foreign trainers. As a first-tier Gym Leader, he was privy to some intelligence, though not all the details.
"All right," Xiao Wang said after the greetings. "Let's get down to business. What's the situation here?"
"Confirmed poaching gang," Lin Yi replied. "We've captured the whole team. We need you to verify their background, affiliations, and whether they're operating additional bases."
"Poachers, huh?" Xiao Wang's eyes narrowed. "And right here in Guancheng? That's bold. Right under your jurisdiction."
Guancheng, a new first-tier city, sat between Shencheng and Guangdong—an urban hub under tight security.
"To think they'd set up shop here… That's daring."
"It's on me," Lin Yi muttered with a hint of guilt.
"Let's not dwell on that," Xiao Wang quickly said. "We'll uncover everything. Time to work. Hypno come out!"
A Poké Ball clicked open, and a Hypno appeared, holding its signature pendulum.
"Who's the primary target?"
"That one," Lin Yi pointed to Brother Dong, who sat chained, his eyes cold but resigned.
"Let's begin. Hypno Hypnosis."
As Hypno began to swing its pendulum in a slow arc, waves of special psychic energy not just visual emanated through the air. Hypno didn't require the target to look at the ring; the Psi-wave frequency was enough to induce a trance.
Sure enough, even though Brother Dong turned his head, his eyelids drooped. His expression slackened.
"Who is your leader?" Xiao Wang asked calmly.
"I… am the leader," Brother Dong murmured, voice flat and emotionless.
"Who do you report to?"
"Prince."
The name made Xiao Wang pause. "Prince who?"
"Prince Hui."
Silence.
Xiao Wang glanced at Lin Yi. The Gym Leader shook his head he'd never heard of the name.
Chen Xiaoxiao, however, froze internally.
On the surface, she remained calm but inside, a storm was raging.
Prince Hui?!
That name…
How the hell did Prince Hui, of all people, end up a Pokémon Hunter in this life?
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