Not long after Tong Hua and the others ventured beneath the quicksand, they still had not reappeared, nor had any teachers arrived.
A handful of the sharper students had already begun to guess what was going on.
"Could it be that beneath this quicksand-"
Meanwhile, in the control center at the very center of the Practical Training Hall's roof...
Several teachers were watching the students' every move through concealed cameras throughout the hall to ensure their safety.
"There are a few promising students this year.
"They might just become the rising stars of our evil organization, the School Group!"
A male teacher in a green uniform, dressed like a Boy Scout, was indulging in his theatrical fantasies in front of the monitors.
"Mr. Jia Busi, that's enough-"
A female teacher dressed just like him was too exasperated to comment. She could only give his ear a hard pinch to bring him to his senses.
"What evil organization? Isn't it just the two of us?"
"Ah! Ow, ow, ow! Qing An, let go!"
These two were teachers at the Pokémon Ranger School who specialized in teaching students hunting techniques.
They were also the people in charge of the Practical Training Hall.
"But this year's students do seem to be performing much better than last year's."
Qing An let go and studied the screens intently.
"They actually found that hidden stage you misappropriated funds to build this quickly."
Jia Busi indignantly straightened his collar, which had been pulled askew, and corrected Qing An.
"I didn't misappropriate anything. I told you about it, didn't I?"
"You only told me after you'd already done it!"
Qing An reached for Jia Busi's soft earlobe again, but he ducked out of the way.
"Besides, finding it doesn't matter. There's absolutely no way they'll clear my hidden