Chapter 231
They didn't know exactly what had happened in the Pokémon World, but based on Qiao Ran and the others' previous descriptions, they could roughly guess that there were huge risks there. Even Trainer like Qiao Ran would be in danger of losing his life at any time in that environment.
How could they not worry?
"Something must have happened."
Qiao Ran plopped down on the sofa, picked up the drink on the table, and gulped down a few mouthfuls.
Qiao Ran, Mei, and Lillie were all a little disheveled. Although they weren't exactly in a sorry state, they looked like they had been through something.
"Actually, it's like this..."
After catching his breath, Qiao Ran finally began to recount everything that had happened. This sudden incident had indeed exceeded his expectations, and he also needed to clarify things with Sabrina and Cynthia.
"So... you're just back to rest now, and you still have to go to the Alola Region tomorrow?"
After listening to Qiao Ran's account, Sabrina touched her chin, her brows furrowed tightly.
The situation described by Qiao Ran was beyond her imagination. Things like "space lockdown" and "Ultra Beast" had already touched on areas where her knowledge was blind, not to mention a remote place like the Alola Region. As an actress who often films movies, she only goes there when certain films require location shooting.
In other regions, they might be able to take a trip around the area for promotional purposes, but Alola itself doesn't have many people, and some even live in strange, remote corners. Promotion there wouldn't be of much use, so normal film companies wouldn't consider promoting there.
"Well, tomorrow we're planning to go find another companion and go explore the Alola Region with her. She previously participated in the Alola Region Island Challenge and knows the area very well. Also, her mother lives in Alola now, so if possible, we can also check on her family's situation..."
Qiao Ran pursed his lips, not delving deeper into the topic. Apart from Sabrina, whose situation was rather complicated, everyone present had someone they cared deeply about in the Pokémon World. But to be honest... Qiao Ran couldn't guarantee what would ultimately happen in the current Pokémon World; even the worst-case scenario was possible.
"Like Lillie and the others, she can travel the world with me, so maybe we can meet again tomorrow."
Like Mei, Mei is also a very orthodox Trainer, and before moving to Alola, she was a Kanto of Kanto. She is certainly familiar with Sabrina and Cynthia, and might even be so excited that she cries.
So, none of you are planning to participate in the Competition tomorrow?
Sabrina asked a question, her expression slightly complicated.
She looked into Qiao Ran's eyes, and although Qiao Ran didn't answer immediately, she understood what he was thinking from that look.
"Okay... I understand."
Competition, it's just a Competition.
"We can't participate, so tomorrow's Champion depends on you. You must win it; you can definitely do it."
"Hmm." Sabrina responded absentmindedly to Qiao Ran's words.
There are many things in this world that Heavy Slam than this kind of Competition, such as—everything that is happening right now in the Pokémon World.
But...
Looking at Qiao Ran's face and hearing his words, a strange emotion suddenly welled up in Sabrina's heart. She could only close her eyes and lean weakly against the sofa.
Tomorrow... ah.
She suddenly felt a little tired.
Sabrina suddenly lost interest in continuing the conversation, while Cynthia, who was standing nearby, asked a different question.
"By the way, that child who, like Mei and the Mei, can travel between worlds, what conditions did she use to do that?"
I'd like to hear more details.
The news Qiao Ran brought back made Cynthia even more interested in the current situation of the Pokémon World. Moreover, besides Lillie and Mei, there was actually someone else who could travel through worlds with Qiao Ran, which made her even more curious about how this was done.
"You said before that if you want to travel between worlds, you have to pay a price, and that price is so high that you have to pay it for a lifetime. So what exactly is this price?"
As a scholar, Cynthia wasn't really accepting of Qiao Ran's previous ambiguous answers; she needed a more detailed explanation. Besides, they weren't very familiar with each other back then, so some reservations were understandable. But now, Cynthia wanted to know more.
A cost, by definition, is something that must be paid for.
But what can a person possibly give up?
Life? Or something else entirely?
But what is the reason for this payment?
"This..."
Qiao Ran was stunned for a moment
To be honest, he didn't really want to answer that question. Turning people into Pokémon is indeed a very evil practice, sounding like something out of a villainous organization. He first discovered this through an accident involving Lillie...
"All right."
After considering for a few seconds, Qiao Ran finally gave up struggling. He exchanged glances with Lillie and Mei, and after they all nodded, Qiao Ran told Cynthia and Sabrina in front of him everything.
There's no escaping it now; we have no choice but to face it head-on.
"The price is, in fact, becoming Pokémon."
Qiao Ran took a Poké Ball out of the Spatial Rift and placed it on the table.
"Furthermore, there's a preparatory step required to become Pokémon."
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Some things really need to be discussed openly and frankly. Only by clarifying things can everyone gain a deeper understanding.
However, when Qiao Ran laid everything out on the table and explained everything clearly to Na Sabrina and Cynthia, they were still astonished and stared wide-eyed.
"... You mean... your method is to use Poké Ball to trap humans?"
The two exchanged a glance, their expressions showing a mixture of incomprehension and disbelief.
Poké Ball are actually not as simple as they seem.
The Poké Ball's creation is said to have originated from an accidental experiment by a certain professor, according to textbooks. It was actually discovered by Professor Nishinomori, the founder of Pokémon studies, during an experiment extracting the Rage energy from Primeape.
The story goes like this: A professor, nearing retirement age, mistakenly administered the wrong dosage of medication to his Primeape, causing the vitally weakened Primeape. Perhaps out of survival instinct, the Primeape curled up like a fetus inside the professor's reading glasses case. This incident became the catalyst for the development of the Pokémon Capsule, establishing a method for catching Pokémon. After several improvements, the capsule became the commercially available "Poké Ball," which easily captures Pokémon with a high success rate.
However, this story has not been officially confirmed. Since the original source of information is long lost to history, the reason for the original creation of the Poké Ball remains a subject of much debate, with one theory pointing directly to the Silph Co. in Saffron City, Kanto Region —the largest Poké Ball manufacturer in the Pokémon region.
Despite the various opinions surrounding these claims, the Poké Ball remains one of the most important items in the Pokémon World. No matter how large or bulky Pokémon, it can be contained within a small sphere and carried around. This isn't because the Poké Ball itself possesses this technology, but rather Pokémon themselves have this Ability to be altered.
Just as some Pokémon can Minimize, Pokémon possess potential unimaginable to humans. The Poké Ball's ability to capture Pokémon is not only due to the Poké Ball's uniqueness, but also because Pokémon themselves are unique beings.
This ability is simply impossible for a human to achieve.
Therefore, Poké Ball cannot contain humans, nor can they contain other objects. Although there have been attempts in history to use Poké Ball Poké Ball to contain other Poké Ball Poké Ball, this technique is not practical in general battles. As a result, research on "specializing Poké Ball Poké Ball" ultimately came to nothing and became a thing of the past.
"... No way... it can really fit a person inside, right?"
Before Qiao Ran arrived, Cynthia was still a little sleepy, but after hearing so much explosive news, she suddenly felt wide awake.
No wonder... Qiao Ran said before that this decision would affect her for the rest of her life. It's not a question of whether it's for the rest of her life or not. She must have been under tremendous pressure the moment she made the decision.
"Real."
Qiao Ran glanced at Lillie beside him and asked for her opinion. Lillie shrugged helplessly, indicating that she didn't care.
In order to prove to the two women in front of her that everything they said was true, Lillie had to show them something real.
She reached out and gently tapped the Poké Ball that Qiao Ran had placed on the table.
With just a light touch, a beam of red light shot out from the Poké Ball, enveloping Lillie's body. Then—with a slight flicker, Lillie seemed to transform into light, entering the Poké Ball and disappearing from everyone's sight.
"...!"
This scene unfolded right before everyone's eyes, at an incredibly close distance, making it impossible to fake.
Sabrina witnessed it all. Lillie had truly vanished before her eyes. Even her Psychic couldn't sense her presence, and there was no trace of her using her Psychic at that moment. In other words, it wasn't the effect of Teleport.
This is real... it really got caught and went into the goal!!
"Real."
Cynthia, standing nearby, also froze, muttering to herself in a daze.
A grown person who was just here a moment ago... and they're really gone just like that?
This...
It was rare for Cynthia to show such surprise; it was the first time Qiao Ran had ever seen Cynthia with such an expression, and he never expected it to be at a time like this.
"Therefore, I would never lie to you about something like this."
Qiao Ran never intended to use such information to deceive others, but he also understood that if this information fell into the hands of certain "interested individuals," it would likely cause a lot of unpredictable trouble.
"Bang."
A slight sound was heard, and the Poké Ball on the table opened again, revealing Lillie, who had disappeared earlier, reappearing before everyone.
"... Hello everyone?"
Seemingly noticing the strange looks from those around her, Lillie had to lighten the mood herself. She was slowly accepting becoming a "Pokémon," and besides... it didn't conflict with her own thoughts. She didn't feel she had paid any irreparable price for the life she had now and for all the changes she had made.
The most crucial point is that Qiao Ran has never differentiated between Pokémon and humans. Even though their identities are slightly different, nothing between them has ever changed.
"Actually, I can do it too. Do you want to give it a try?"
Mei chimed in, saying that unlike Lillie, after gaining her Pokémon identity, she made full use of it, sometimes even going so far as to run into Poké Ball to experience what it's like to be Pokémon.
"... Never mind, I already know, so don't bother trying."
Sabrina interrupted Mei's actions. It was already very late, and after experiencing so much at such a late hour, she was completely numb. All she wanted to know was the reason behind it all and how Qiao Ran had managed to do it.
"So, what's next? If I become Pokémon, can I go to the Pokémon World? Is it because the Pokémon World only allows Pokémon to enter and rejects humans?"
Sabrina looked at Qiao Ran and asked her question.
Tonight's conversation is far from over.
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