The Favor of a Big Shot!

"Um... Big Shot, you might not know this, but I actually came into the mountains for a reason." Lu Li looked awkwardly at Annihilape.

With such a top-tier fighter by his side, Lu Li would have felt sorry for himself if he did not make use of it.

He had previously naively assumed that Annihilape might only be Elite-level, but after reading the notebook, Lu Li felt that he might have underestimated the big shot before him.

A hundred years ago, it had already been a Gym Leader-level existence. Over the past century, the Pokémon that had followed that doctor had all died of old age one after another.

Annihilape had survived until now only because it had luckily evolved, and because of its Ghost-type nature.

Pokémon also had lifespan limits. Take Beedrill, for example: its first two stages only lived for ten years, while even its final evolution only had a lifespan of thirty years.

For an insect, that lifespan was already absurdly long, but for Pokémon, it counted as dying young.

Grass-type Pokémon, for instance, tended toward plants, so their lifespans were generally outrageously long. Some could even achieve a different kind of immortality. Besides them, there were Ghost-type Pokémon and Rock-type Pokémon.

In the terms of the Immortal Cultivation World, a Ghost-type Annihilape was basically already a ghost, which was why it had survived until now.

It had been over a hundred years. Even if Annihilape had been a pig, it should have become an Elite Four-level pig by now.

"Anni?"

Annihilape shot Lu Li an impatient glare, as if urging him to get to the point already.

Lu Li explained, "Ahem! I came into the mountains to find a Pokémon Egg for my starter Pokémon."

Annihilape froze for a moment as memories surfaced in its mind once more.

It had not been Doctor Time's starter Pokémon. Its Trainer's starter had been a Charmander, and Charizard had already died over a hundred years ago.

Although Charizard was not a Dragon-type Pokémon, it possessed Dragon-type bloodline. Its lifespan far exceeded that of ordinary Pokémon, and a powerful Charizard could live for tens of thousands of years.

Charizard had died in this Secret Realm. Back then, the enemy they had faced was a vicious Salamence. Their Trainer had said that Salamence possessed the terrifying strength of an Elite Four-level peak.

To cover their retreat, Charizard had chosen to stay behind.

"Anni!"

Annihilape nodded heavily, then turned and leaped down from the Treehouse. This young man still had to fulfill its Trainer's final wish, so it really should grant him such a request.

"What does that mean?" Lu Li stared blankly at the departing Annihilape.

It probably wants me to wait here, right? Could this big shot be going to find a Pokémon Egg for me?

Lu Li's eyes lit up. Suppressing the joy in his heart, he curiously examined the Blue Gem.

After studying it for a long while without finding anything, Lu Li helplessly put away the Blue Gem and took out the Tortoise Shell.

It's time to put some faith in mysticism!

Divination!

Three Ancient Bronze Coins fell onto the wooden planks of the cabin.

A moment later, pale-faced Lu Li picked up the coins from the ground with trembling Hands.

He could not divine the Blue Gem. This thing held a great terror.

However, the divination showed that keeping this thing by his side would bring nothing but benefits.

Two hours later, the big shot returned.

Annihilape held a Green-striped Brown Pokémon Egg in its arms. Under Lu Li's bright-eyed gaze, it stuffed the Pokémon Egg it had been holding into Lu Li's arms.

"Anni~"

Annihilape told Lu Li to hold onto the Pokémon Egg properly.

Lu Li asked curiously, "What kind of Pokémon Egg is this? It can't be Salamence's, can it?"

Thinking of the Salamence he had seen earlier, Lu Li's heart began beating faster.

Upon hearing that, Annihilape rolled its eyes at Lu Li in a remarkably human-like manner.

Salamence's Pokémon Egg? Are you tired of living? That would be the offspring of a Champion-level Pokémon, and besides, it hadn't even laid an egg.

"Anni~"

Annihilape impatiently urged Lu Li to leave, not even bothering to refute his childish guess.

Lu Li also understood that Annihilape was chasing him away. Considering that he had already gained enough benefits, it really was time to leave.

Holding the Pokémon Egg, Lu Li sincerely thanked it. "Thank you, Annihilape."

Setting aside whatever schemes the dead doctor might have had for him, the Annihilape before him had truly treated him well.

Though it had attacked him at the beginning, it had clearly only wanted to test him. More importantly, it was an Elite Four-level big shot.

For someone like him, with no money, power, or background, Annihilape was absolutely a golden thigh. If he could cling to this golden thigh, he might even be able to monopolize this Secret Realm.

After all, the path into this Secret Realm was truly too hidden. Forget ordinary people—even the League would never be able to discover this entrance.

Escorted by Annihilape, Lu Li returned to the Real World.

Turning to look at the Big Tree behind him, Lu Li let out a heavy sigh of relief.

Even if someone passed by this Big Tree, they would never discover that there was a Pokémon Secret Realm Entrance inside it.

"Goodbye, Annihilape."

"I'll come visit you again when I have time." Lu Li waved.

Annihilape also waved impatiently, signaling for Lu Li to hurry up and get lost.

After placing the Pokémon Egg in his hiking backpack, Lu Li turned and left with light steps.

A bird-shaped Pokémon that looked like a statue stood atop the Big Tree from before, calmly watching Lu Li's departing back.

This Pokémon had a pair of tranquil, rippleless eyes, as if they could see through people's hearts and the future.

Using the Branches for leverage, Annihilape jumped to the Pokémon's side.

"Anni~"

(I did as you said. I even helped him out big time last time, so what exactly are you planning, you blockhead?)

There was a hint of confusion in Annihilape's tone.

"Natu~"

(Just do as you're told.)

Natu replied expressionlessly, then vanished directly from the tree trunk.

Watching Natu disappear, Annihilape scratched the back of its head in confusion.

Natu was its only remaining Companion, but Annihilape did not particularly like Natu's personality. If it was a blazing ball of fury, then Natu was a pool of still water.

The Secret Space outside the Secret Realm Entrance, formed through Secret Power, was Natu's work. Annihilape did not understand why Natu wanted to conceal the Pokémon Secret Realm Entrance.

It understood even less why things they could do themselves had to be carried out through human Hands.

Their Trainer's final wish had clearly only been to deliver his research results to the North American Alliance. Natu could easily have done that itself without exposing itself.

After all, it should have been easy for an Elite Four-level Psychic-type Pokémon to leave the Asian League for the North American Alliance, even while carrying a broken box.

Natu possessed the incredible power of Future Sight and could always find the best choice. That was why Annihilape trusted its cautious Companion so much.

By the time Lu Li rushed back Home, it was already eight in the evening.

The day had been incredibly exciting, but Lu Li could not shake the feeling that everything had gone too smoothly and too wonderfully, as if he were the protagonist and someone had arranged it all for him.