Early the next morning, Xu Li packed his supplies, took the Obsidian Fieldlands map given by the Professor, and prepared to set off for the Black Obsidian Field.
Yesterday, Paras, knowing it had cried while hugging a pillar, was too ashamed to come out of its Poké Ball.
The Professor had a temporary matter and needed to stay in Jubilife Village; otherwise, he would have gone to the Black Obsidian Field with Xu Li.
Since Professor Laventon had been notified in advance, a convoy was already waiting at the main entrance of Jubilife Village.
Seeing Xu Li approach without wearing the Investigation Team uniform, a Galaxy Team guard, wearing a straw hat and a red cold-weather suit, came forward to inquire.
"Are you Master Xu Li?"
Xu Li nodded, showed the badge from the Professor, and after the guard confirmed it, he let Xu Li get into the vehicle.
The Galaxy Team's vehicle was powered by a Rapidash and three Ponyta in front of it. These Pokémon ran at an astonishing speed; it was said that an adult Rapidash could traverse the entire Hisui region in just a day and a half.
Under this power, the carriage was much larger than a typical car, almost the capacity of a minivan.
There were already several people in investigator uniforms inside the car, originally divided into two groups chatting with each other, but they fell silent when they saw Xu Li get in.
Then, they began to whisper again, but Xu Li could still hear them.
"Is he the one?"
"Seems so, he's the only one not wearing a uniform."
"That's right, I was there when he caught the Pokémon at the training ground."
"Who's going? It's confirmed to be him."
"Confirmed to be me?" Xu Li wondered inwardly, but he acted as if he hadn't heard anything, found a resting spot away from the two groups, and sat down.
During his month in Jubilife Village, Xu Li had not failed to learn about the internal situation of the Galaxy Team's Investigation Team.
The Investigation Team was created by Galaxy Team leader Magamu. As the basic combat personnel of the Galaxy Team, they were mainly responsible for the Galaxy Team's external investigations, resource exploration, and currently one of their main tasks was to complete Professor Laventon's Pokédex.
Within the Investigation Team, investigators were divided from zero-star to five-star investigators, not the nine-star or even full-star limit in the game.
Perhaps that was a limit only the game's protagonist could break through. The group of investigators at the training ground, whom Xu Li found very weak, were basically zero-star or one-star rookies.
Even though they were rookies, the fact that Xu Li, an outsider, easily recaptured the Hisuian starters that these investigators were helpless against, caused much criticism within the Galaxy Team towards the Investigation Team.
However, it's not surprising that the Galaxy Team had reservations about the Investigation Team; the attitude and quality of the Galaxy Team Investigation Team were indeed lacking. Xu Li's easy recapture of the starters in front of the Investigation Team was just one manifestation of the Investigation Team's long-standing inadequacy.
Perhaps because Jubilife Village had become much safer over the years, as the village's basic combat unit, members of the Investigation Team did not focus on investigating Pokémon or training themselves. Instead, some Investigation Team members used the convenience of their status to do many things detrimental to the unity of Jubilife Village.
Furthermore, perhaps because Magamu was the founder of the Investigation Team, his traditional views led to a pervasive "seniority culture" within the Investigation Team, where subordinates absolutely had to obey superiors, along with many cumbersome rules, making it difficult for low-level investigators relying on the Investigation Team to grow.
And when low-level investigators finally endured to become high-level investigators and "seniors," they would then vent the hardships and grievances they had suffered onto the low-level investigators.
As the saying goes, "The suffering I endured, you must also endure; it's the rule."
This long-standing atmosphere caused severe internal friction and low efficiency within the Investigation Team.
But from Xu Li's observation, the seniority culture in other parts of the Galaxy Team was not as strong, which confused Xu Li. Since they were all created by Magamu, what was different?
During his month living in Jubilife Village, Professor Laventon often complained to Xu Li about how inefficient the Investigation Team was, and that only Ming Yao and a few others in the entire Investigation Team were genuinely working hard on investigations.
After Xu Li demonstrated his abilities, Professor Laventon gave him many benefits and didn't mind that Xu Li didn't join the Investigation Team. He simply no longer trusted this Investigation Team much and wanted to open up other channels for Pokédex research.
Soon, the guard confirmed the number of people, and the convoy started.
An Investigation Team member came out, walked straight towards Xu Li, crossed his arms, and with a stern expression, dropped an unquestionable statement:
"You're Xu Li, right? I heard you're very strong. How about a competition with our Investigation Team? We'll see who catches the most Pokémon on the way to the Black Obsidian Field."
"Whoever loses has to unconditionally give one of their Pokémon to the other party. What do you say?"
"I heard you have a Growlithe? And the Professor also gave you an Oshawott? And there's another Pokémon I haven't seen."
Upon hearing this, Xu Li instantly became enraged. Being threatened with his own Pokémon, he stood up, turned, and with a swift leg movement, kicked the investigator directly in the stomach.
Xu Li's physical fitness had improved significantly over the past month. The investigator was sent flying over a meter by the kick, his stomach visibly caved in. He rolled on the ground, his mouth agape, but he couldn't speak.
Xu Li looked at the wailing Investigation Team member on the ground and spat, "Not good."
"If you don't cherish your Pokémon, then release them quickly."
"Next time, it won't just be this kick."
Upon seeing Xu Li make a move, the Investigation Team members immediately surrounded him. One of them threw a punch, aiming to attack Xu Li, but Xu Li dodged it and then kicked him in the hip bone, sending him sprawling to the ground. It seemed he wouldn't be able to stand for at least a month.
"You, you."
"What 'you'? The Investigation Team should just do their job."
Professor Laventon had told Xu Li that if he encountered the Investigation Team, he should set an example as an investigator.
An example? Yes, he could set one, but only for investigators like Ming Yao, whose conscience hadn't been corrupted, not for this group.
Xu Li had provided significant progress for Professor Laventon's Pokédex. The investigation progress he reported over the past month alone surpassed four or five years of the Investigation Team's progress. Xu Li had plenty of confidence in scolding these Investigation Team members.
Xu Li had no intention of joining the Investigation Team, so he naturally didn't care about their attitude. Anyway, Professor Laventon's standing in the Galaxy Team was not low, and other members of the Galaxy Team might even applaud when they saw this lazy Investigation Team get a taste of their own medicine.
Although Xu Li didn't like Magamu, Magamu wasn't a fool either. He truly didn't understand why Magamu didn't reorganize this Investigation Team.
Xu Li knelt down and pressed on the investigator lying on the ground, twisting his shoulder, almost dislocating his arm, and asked, "Speak, who told you to provoke me, or else the pain won't stop here."
"Ah… ah I… we don't… know, it's… a merchant."
A merchant? Wang Luo? Xu Li released the investigator.
"Alright, now scram."
Seeing Xu Li's ruthlessness, the remaining Investigation Team members glared at him with angry eyes, but didn't dare to make a move. They moved the two injured investigators to the edge of the carriage and scurried away from Xu Li's sight.
Both the Investigation Team and Xu Li restrained themselves from using Pokémon to prevent the situation from escalating. Using Pokémon to directly attack "their own people" in such a place would result in severe punishment.
The convoy was still moving.
But despite the significant commotion inside, the guards driving outside seemed oblivious, showing no reaction.
————
After a two to three hour drive, the vehicles arrived at the Black Obsidian Field Camp in Black Obsidian Field.
The layout of the Field Camp was no different from the Beach Camp in Cobalt Coastlands. Both had tents set up throughout the camp, with crafting areas for making items, specialized medical tents for restoring Pokémon's HP, and item shops.
Xu Li was the first to get out of the car, followed by the Investigation Team members, one after another. The two investigators injured by Xu Li did not get out, apparently intending to return directly with the car.
Xu Li asked the guard driving the car,
"Hello, what is the round-trip mode for this base? How do I return?"
The guard looked at the Investigation Team's injuries, then at Xu Li with admiration. Other departments also had strong opinions about the Investigation Team's behavior.
"It depends on the number of investigators at the base. If there are many, a vehicle will make a round trip every three days, with the route being from Jubilife Village to the base in the morning and from the base to Jubilife Village in the evening. If there are few investigators, it's one round trip per week."
"So, does this base have many or few investigators?"
"Judging by the number of tents in use, it has many, sir."
"Good, thank you."
Xu Li walked to an unoccupied tent. There was a nameplate on the tent door; flipping it over would indicate that the tent was occupied.
After flipping the tent over, Xu Li did not enter but walked directly to the exit of the Field Camp.
Ahead was Grandview Slope, and to the left was Horseshoe Plains.
He took a deep breath, and the scent of grass filled his nostrils.
It was springtime, and soft grass carpeted the ground, dotted with new green sprouts. Looking ahead, there were only distant mountains and an immense expanse of field between them.
Xu Li released his Pokémon and walked with them on the grass.
"Go left, let's go, Horseshoe Plains."
"Axew~"