The smell of sulfur in the air grew heavier and heavier as he sensed that roar.
Jiang Han's brow furrowed. He knew in his heart that they had likely stumbled into the territory of a powerful Fire-type pokémon.
He glanced back at the group of researchers behind him; they were all looking around curiously with flashlights, completely unaware of the danger.
"Detour!" Jiang Han issued the instruction in a low voice. It wasn't loud, but it carried an undeniable sense of command.
With such a group of burdens, it was better to avoid trouble than to cause it. Avoiding unnecessary complications was the primary task.
Jiro understood immediately and directed the team to follow Jiang Han's lead, turning down another fork in the path.
This path was even deeper. A dark mass of things hung from the rock ceiling above. As the flashlight beam swept across, countless pairs of red eyes suddenly snapped open.
"Screech, screech!"
It was a swarm of Zubat!
A young member of the team had clearly never seen such a scene. Terrified, his foot slipped, and the detection instrument in his hand fell to the ground with a sharp "clatter."
That sound was like lighting a powder keg.
"Buzz—"
The entire Zubat swarm rioted instantly, like a black tide sweeping over everyone. Piercing ultrasonic waves echoed within the narrow cave, making eardrums ache.
"Ah! Oh my god!"
"Quick! Protect the instruments!"
The research team fell into a panic. Jiro and two other members hurriedly commanded their Pokémon to prepare for battle, but against such a number of Zubat, their Pokémon seemed like a drop in the bucket.
There was no flicker of emotion in the eyes behind Jiang Han's mask; he simply felt that these people were a real nuisance.
"Sneasel!"
He didn't even look back, simply calling out the name calmly.
A black shadow darted out from beside him, moving so fast its form was almost a blur.
Cold light flashed, followed by a series of faint cutting sounds in the air.
Sneasel was like an elegant dancer of the dark night, weaving through the swarm. Every swing of its sharp claws precisely took the life of a Zubat.
There were no redundant movements, not a single shred of wasted energy—only ultimate efficiency and cold slaughter.
In just a few dozen seconds, the Zubat swarm that had been so aggressive just moments ago was now scattered across the ground.
The remaining few were scared out of their wits, fleeing deeper into the cave with terrified shrieks.
The whole process was so fast that Jiro and the others barely had time to react.
They stared blankly at the floor covered in Zubat, then looked at Sneasel, who had returned to Jiang Han's side with its usual cold posture. Their throats bobbed as they swallowed instinctively.
Is this the strength of a Team Rocket Executive?
Defeating one pokémon was nothing, but resolving an entire swarm like cutting through melons and vegetables—and doing it so effortlessly—completely reset their understanding.
Jiro looked at Jiang Han's back, the awe in his eyes deepening.
This lord was not only powerful but also cold-hearted, decisive in slaughter, and utterly efficient.
"Keep up," Jiang Han's voice rang out again, still flat.
The team continued forward. This time, no one dared to be careless; they all followed behind Jiang Han, not even daring to breathe loudly.
Finally, after taking a few turns, the team successfully arrived at the designated survey site.
This was a relatively open area. Various strange ores were embedded in the rock walls, shimmering with multicolored light under the flashlights.
"This is it!" Jiro said excitedly, checking the map.
The researchers immediately got to work. They skillfully took various professional tools from their cases, tapping on the rock walls to collect samples.
Jiang Han didn't bother with them; his mission was to ensure security.
He began to carefully inspect the surrounding environment.
This location was remote; logically, few Trainers would appear here. However, Granite Cave attracted more than just Trainers; it also drew a specific group—stone enthusiasts.
Jiang Han had heard of these people. To find uniquely shaped stones, they could appear in any corner of the world.
Their obsession was sometimes even greater than that of Trainers. With Team Rockets conducting a survey here, it would be quite a hassle if they were spotted by this group.
He patrolled while keeping an eye on the ground beneath his feet.
Suddenly, his foot stepped on something hard.
Jiang Han bent down to pick it up and found a crescent-shaped stone. Its surface was smooth and cold to the touch.
He turned it over in his hand. Aside from its strange shape, it seemed no different from an ordinary roadside pebble.
He couldn't understand why anyone would like such a thing.
Jiang Han felt puzzled, completely unable to grasp the joy of those stone enthusiasts.
However, on second thought, this thing might fetch a good price in the eyes of those people.
Thinking that even small gains were worth keeping, he casually put the Moon Stone into his space ring.
Just then, a faint but rhythmic "thump... thump-thump..." sound came from the other side of the cave.
The sound was strange. It didn't sound like pokémon footsteps; it was more like something striking rock.
People from Team Magma?
Alarm bells rang in Jiang Han's mind.
Laic's intelligence had mentioned that Team Magma might appear here.
Like Team Rockets, they might also have a strong interest in special ores and geological structures.
Or was it some blind Trainer? Or a specific kind of pokémon?
Jiang Han did not hesitate. Moving like a shadow, he crept silently toward the source of the sound.
His movements were very light, like a cat walking in the dark, without making the slightest noise.
Rounding a massive stalactite, the scene ahead made him pause slightly.
He saw a youth with his back turned, holding a small miner's pick, striking the rock wall in front of him one blow at a time.
The youth was wearing a well-tailored suit. The style was sophisticated and clearly expensive.
But now, this expensive suit was covered in dust and dirt, and his hair was messy, making him look disheveled and completely out of place in such attire.
A wealthy young master coming to mine in a suit?
Jiang Han found it somewhat comical.
However, when his gaze fell beside the youth, his pupils suddenly constricted.
Beside the youth's feet, a blue pokémon floated quietly.
It had a single large red eye and three claws extending from its underside, which were firmly gripping fallen rocks on the ground, helping the youth move them.
Beldum!
A Pseudo-legendary Pokémon!
And judging by its luster and aura, it was clearly a Beldum that had been exceptionally well-raised!
Someone who could use a Pseudo-legendary as a starter pokémon and was so passionate about digging for stones...
In the entire Hoenn region, Jiang Han could only think of one person.
The one from Devon Corporation, with a fanatical obsession for stones, the future hoenn champion—Steven!
Why would he be here?
Jiang Han's mind raced.
Granite Cave was indeed a place Steven frequented, but for them to run into each other like this?
However, looking at Steven's disheveled state and his focused mining, Jiang Han felt a bit amused.
This future Champion currently looked more like an idle, mining-addicted youth who was neglecting his proper duties.
Jiang Han did not reveal himself immediately. Instead, he hid in the shadows, observing quietly.
Steven seemed completely immersed in his own world. Every strike of the pick was cautious, as if he were carving a peerless work of art.
"Thud!"
As his final strike fell, a stone embedded with beautiful patterns was knocked loose intact.
"So beautiful!" Steven cradled the stone, a look of obsession on his face. He carefully wiped the dust off with his sleeve as if he were treating a lover.
"Beldum, look! The bedding structure of this stone is simply nature's masterpiece!" he said excitedly to his pokémon.
Beldum's red eye flashed, seemingly responding to him.
Watching this scene, Jiang Han's mouth couldn't help but twitch.
He really is a stone maniac.
He was preparing to quietly retreat, as it was better to avoid unnecessary trouble.
But just then, after Steven carefully stowed the stone away, his gaze inadvertently swept over the spot where Jiang Han had been standing.
"Huh?"
He let out a light sound of surprise and then walked straight over.
Jiang Han's heart tightened. Had he been discovered? Impossible. With his stealth abilities, how could he be spotted by a miner?
Steven walked to the spot where Jiang Han had picked up the crescent-shaped stone. He crouched down, searching the ground carefully with a look of confusion and frustration.
"Strange, I clearly remember there being a very beautiful crescent-shaped stone here. Where did it go?"
He muttered to himself while shining his flashlight back and forth on the ground, as if searching for some peerless treasure.
Jiang Han subconsciously touched his space ring.
So the ordinary stone he had just casually picked up was actually a treasure to this future Champion?
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