Chapter Forty-Two: I Failed Level Four, My Mind Is in Shambles—Going In Unprepared Is Not the Way (Four Thousand Words, Two Chapters Combined)

Chen Ou was thoroughly enjoying his journey.

Clearly, people like Chen Ou were a rare breed.

Workers, souls of labor, workers who feel like punching someone when they work.

Junzhi was one such worker.

Deep in the forest, along a certain stretch of river, Junzhi and his fellow laborers were hard at work.

Junzhi wiped the sweat from his brow with his thick sleeve. His face was hidden behind a gas mask, and he wore a cumbersome protective suit despite the sweltering heat.

Junzhi felt as though he was on the verge of collapse.

Beside him, one companion lost his balance and fell to the ground, lying there motionless with his chest heaving violently, clearly gasping for breath. The gas mask, however, made breathing difficult.

Yet neither Junzhi nor his companions entertained the idea of removing their masks for a breath of fresh air. Some colleagues had already rotated out for a break, but the workload was so immense that extra rest was out of the question.

Rumor had it that the League’s inspector would soon arrive in Cerulean City. With this sudden incident, the Water Source Company was in a frenzy, dispatching people to clean up. But since the matter was a minor oversight, being discovered would be problematic.

The work itself was not particularly strenuous, though it looked frightening. After careful cleaning, it was simply a polluted section of river. Strangely, however, whenever Pokémon approached, either they rushed forward and died, or retreated desperately, avoiding it entirely.

Thus, the Water Source Company could only send these laborers in for further cleanup. The river was narrow and small, machines couldn't be used, so the miserable workers had to clear it by hand under the blazing sun.

Junzhi gazed at the patch of black-purple sludge, writhing like a living thing, unease stirring in his heart.

He recalled the hundreds of Pokémon that had died here before, and despite the heat, Junzhi shivered—a prickling sensation crept up his back.

——————————

Cerulean City Water Source Company, President’s Office

“Mr. Kangzhi, the cause is still under investigation, and the cleanup is proceeding as normal. We’ve mobilized all pumps and pipes for temporary water transfer,”

A man dressed like a secretary held a file, calmly reporting to a middle-aged man sitting behind the desk.

The middle-aged man, Mr. Kangzhi, lowered his eyes, his gaze deep and unreadable, his face emotionless. The silver strands mingling in his hair and at his temples whispered that he was no longer young. Wrinkles at the corners of his eyes and on his forehead told of the profound marks left by time.

Yet his office was filled with fitness equipment—some designed for humans, others for Pokémon. The most prominent spot on the wall was occupied by a large photograph: a boy and a fierce yet adorable blue crocodile together holding a golden trophy, their faces alight with excitement and joy.

The boy resembled Mr. Kangzhi; it was obvious he was either Kangzhi’s son or another close younger relative.

Kangzhi pondered for a moment, then looked up, offering a warm, gentle smile. “I understand. Thank you for your hard work, Yangyi.”

Yangyi bowed his head. “It’s my duty, Mr. Kangzhi.”

Without changing his expression, Kangzhi said, “Have the workers continue, and quickly. The League’s inspector is said to be arriving in two days. Cerulean City is famous for its water, and as its Water Source Company, we cannot afford any lapse. That stretch of river must be thoroughly cleaned, and the cause fully investigated. You may grant the workers a bonus to expedite completion.”

Yangyi nodded respectfully. “I will. I’ll personally oversee the site this afternoon.”

Kangzhi nodded in satisfaction, smiling. “Good, let’s proceed as planned. It’s tough, but it’s for the reputation of our company.”

Yangyi smiled. “I won’t let the company’s name be tarnished, Mr. Kangzhi!”

Kangzhi waved his hand, signaling Yangyi could leave.

Yangyi understood, bowed slightly, and walked toward the door.

As he grasped the handle, Kangzhi spoke again.

“Yangyi, have the employees keep their mouths shut. This must not leave the company.”

Yangyi paused, not quite understanding the emphasis, then nodded again. “Yes, you can count on me, Mr. Kangzhi.”

“Good, go. I need to rest a bit. Unless it’s urgent, don’t let anyone disturb me.”

Hearing Kangzhi’s gentle tone, Yangyi felt reassured. Without turning back, he softly replied, “Understood.” He opened the door and left.

Behind him, while Kangzhi spoke with a smile, his face was utterly cold and indifferent, devoid of joy.

Ten minutes after Yangyi left, Kangzhi lowered his head in exhaustion and spoke in a muffled voice, “You can come out now.”

A figure appeared by the coffee table—a woman in a white suit, her figure graceful, her dark hair cascading like a waterfall.

She held a cup of tea, drank elegantly, and a seductive smile curled her lips.

“Mr. Kangzhi, you certainly have your methods—deceiving superiors and subordinates alike with practiced skill. It seems I must be very cautious when cooperating with you. Otherwise, I might be sold without even knowing it.”

Her voice was like a wisp of smoke at sunset—ethereal, alluring, with a hint of transcendence.

Yet to Kangzhi, the sound sent chills racing through his heart.

He stared at her coldly, forcing words through clenched teeth.

“I wish I could kill you.”

Each word was heavy, as if stained with blood.

The woman didn’t react, continuing to sip her tea with elegance. At her side, a Froslass had appeared unnoticed.

As if in direct opposition, a Feraligatr burst forth beside Kangzhi, glowering fiercely at the Froslass and the woman.

Both parties maintained tense restraint, their aura confrontation kept tightly in check. It was clear both Feraligatr and Froslass were powerful Pokémon, and Kangzhi and the woman were formidable trainers.

“If I were you, Mr. Kangzhi, I wouldn’t make such foolish moves.” The woman gently set down her cup, her smile soft and beguiling.

“Until our cooperation ends, I don’t think you have the capital to turn against me. After all… I have leverage over you, and you don’t even know who I am. How can you seek revenge?”

Her voice remained gentle, even tinged with laughter, but Kangzhi felt himself deflate like a punctured ball.

Indeed, he had no ground to negotiate with her.

“What is it you want?”

Kangzhi’s tone was angry and bewildered. Perhaps this was an unusual event, but his company encountered three to five unsolvable incidents each year. Why this time, with this female harbinger of calamity?

This time, he truly felt unlucky.

A veteran of commerce, he was powerless against this situation.

In just these few days, white hairs had sprouted at his temples like mushrooms after rain.

“Rest assured, as long as you cooperate, I guarantee your son’s safety. My methods may be dirty, but I wouldn’t break my word. However…”

Her tone shifted, “If you keep trying to bully a weak woman like me, I’ll have to retaliate. I may not be able to strike at you, but I can target your son!”

There was a childlike cruelty in her words; the logic sounded primitive yet was steeped in blood.

Kangzhi trembled with rage, but obviously, he could only keep trembling.

The son he’d had late in life was his greatest treasure; he couldn’t bear to let him suffer even a scratch. Especially from a ruthless woman whose strike would surely be unbearable.

Now, his deep love for his child was the most unyielding shackle. For the first time, this middle-aged man who refused to acknowledge his age showed signs of remarkable weariness.

“I’ll cooperate… Don’t hurt him.”

Kangzhi slumped in his chair, eyes closed, unwilling to let the fatigue in his eyes be seen by the wretched woman before him.

He didn’t know what mistake he’d made to provoke such an adversary.

“Please believe me, I always keep my promises.”

Her voice grew plaintive, sounding pitiful, capable of stirring a man’s protectiveness.

But Kangzhi felt nothing of the sort.

“How could I trust someone who hides their face?”

He spoke with utter disgust.

The woman couldn’t help but laugh behind her hand.

“Mr. Kangzhi, you’re amusing—still trying to uncover my identity at this point? Honestly, I don’t mind letting people see my face. I am, after all, something of a beauty. But wearing a mask is our rule, and I cannot break it.”

She spoke in a coquettish tone.

Kangzhi stared intently at the mask covering her upper face, similar to Froslass’s, as if trying to see through it to his adversary.

The woman seemed tired, glanced at Kangzhi’s furious yet helpless gaze, her smile unchanged. With a slight nod, Froslass waved her arm, and both vanished from Kangzhi’s office.

But Kangzhi knew she hadn’t truly left; she was always watching from some unknown corner, until the matter was resolved.

The office fell silent again. Kangzhi took a deep breath and slumped back in his chair.

Yet deep inside…

He grew ever more curious about what lay beneath that sludge.

——————————

Chen Ou sniffed the air, then drew in a sharp breath.

“Something seems off with the air here.”

Rotom Pokédex promptly emerged from his backpack, sniffed theatrically, then used its sampler to collect some air and began analysis.

One had to admit, Citron’s Rotom Pokédex was incredibly useful. With additional special tools added by Professor Oak and Chen Ou himself, it had become a powerful research instrument.

To Chen Ou, it was like Iron Man’s Jarvis—capable of everything but actual labor.

Soon enough, Rotom Pokédex returned with its analysis.

“Analysis: Trace amounts of Poison-type energy detected, Rotom.”

Chen Ou frowned.

“Are you sure it’s Poison-type energy and not poison gas?”

His question was practical; the danger of poison gas and Poison-type energy were worlds apart.

Poison gas might not be fatal, but Poison-type energy was not something humans could casually come into contact with.

“Absolutely sure. But this Poison-type energy isn’t recorded in the Pokédex, Rotom!”

Luckily, the concentration was low, still within human tolerance.

Yet Chen Ou remained puzzled.

There was no known large population of Poison-type Pokémon nearby. So where was this energy coming from? And Rotom said it wasn’t recorded, meaning it didn’t match any known Poison-type Pokémon. An unknown Poison-type Pokémon?

He’d never heard of such a thing.

All Poison-type Pokémon energies should be cataloged in the League’s database. In emergencies, it would be easy to identify the species and administer first aid.

The League’s Poison-type Pokémon records were quite comprehensive.

But now Rotom claimed it was an unrecorded Poison-type Pokémon.

Chen Ou found himself at a loss. After some thought, he pulled a gas mask from his backpack. He had to admit, the preparation was meticulous—Nanami was truly attentive.

Mask on, Chen Ou said, “Rotom, begin detection. Head toward the area with the highest concentration. Warn me if it reaches unsafe levels for humans.”

“Understood, Rotom! Mission guaranteed, Rotom!”

Rotom Pokédex saluted smartly, then scouted around and started off to Chen Ou’s right.