: Just One Reason

"Report! Support personnel: 150 police officers, 26 elite trainers, 4 senior trainers, 1 gym leader, totaling 181 people. Please provide instructions!"

Outside the First Emperor's Mausoleum, the capable Miss Officer Jenny saluted and reported to the temporary commander, Zhu Lan.

Zhu Lan surveyed the area, roughly confirming the distribution of personnel, and gave the following instructions:

"Block all entrances and exits, organize the defenses, and prepare for battle!"

At the sound of the order, mobilization was carried out swiftly.

Unlike the police officers who stood in neat rows waiting for orders, the recruit trainers, who were in small groups of two or three, were more casual and scattered in different locations.

The head of the Anming Hall was responsible for organizing and arranging for medical personnel to enter and take their positions.

Several medical vehicles pulled up one after another, and the girls led the Chanseys out of the vehicles, pushing medical supplies, and set up a temporary first aid station.

Behind them, various instruments are piled up.

Professor Oak stood in front of the computer connected by various cables, his hands tapping on the keyboard, his eyes quickly scanning the various data displayed on it.

Suddenly, he paused, his pupils involuntarily contracted, and after a moment's hesitation, he picked up the computer and strode toward Bai Zhou, who was organizing equipment.

His lips parted slightly several times, as if he wanted to say something but then stopped.

"Professor Oak, what's wrong?"

Bai Zhou stopped what he was doing, brushed the dust off his hands, and looked at the doctor, whose face was unusually pale, with a puzzled expression.

Professor Oak took a deep breath, looked directly into Shiraishu's eyes, and said firmly:

"Bai Zhou, you cannot go to the alternate dimension of the First Emperor's Mausoleum."

"Hmm? Doctor, as I just explained, Gastly is the native Pokémon there, and it can take me in."

As Bai Zhou spoke slowly and deliberately, Gastly leaped out of his shadow, floated in front of Professor Oak, and nodded firmly.

"Crack!"

"No, that's not it. I just updated the detection data! The abnormal ghost-type energy has been at a critical point for an extended period, causing extreme instability in the alternate dimension itself! It could collapse at any moment!"

At this point, Professor Oak paused, organizing his thoughts for a moment.

"This means that once you enter, if the space collapses while you're inside... you could very well be trapped forever in the chaotic rifts of space!"

"Is there a possibility they'll just return directly?"

Bai Zhou's tone was unexpectedly calm, even carrying a hint of relaxed questioning.

He knew, of course, how dangerous it was to get lost in the spatial rift, but he couldn't give up so easily because of this setback.

The closer he got to the First Emperor's Mausoleum, the more he could feel the pain of those Ghost-type Pokémon in the alternate dimension, which were already on the verge of going berserk.

Moreover, he had encountered even more dangerous things when he was saving the previous world, and he did not back down then, let alone now.

Moreover, he has experience in this kind of thing and possesses superhuman abilities to locate time and space. The possibility of him getting lost cannot be said to be nonexistent, but it can only be said to be very small.

"How did you know...?"

Professor Oak was clearly surprised by Shiraishu's unexpected answer, but after realizing what had happened, his attitude remained firm.

"But that's only a very small possibility! I won't let you go in and take that risk!"

As a doctor in the alliance and the main person in charge of the Ghost-type energy tide incident, he should logically support Bai Zhou, since it concerns him and the safety of a city.

But he couldn't do it. He couldn't bring himself to let someone who had nothing to do with the matter take on the danger and responsibility, even if it would have been better to do so.

Not to mention, Bai Zhou was a junior he greatly admired.

"Bai Zhou, you are not the one responsible for this. You cannot go, and there is no reason for you to go. I cannot sacrifice your interests for the interests of the majority; that's scientifically sound but unethical!"

My interests...

Having received so much care from you, how could I possibly back down now that you need me?

Besides, only Gastly can travel to the Imperial Mausoleum's alternate dimension, and only my super-effective power can heal the affected Pokémon.

More importantly, this directly concerns Gastly's safety, and he cannot simply ignore it.

Just one reason.

Hey little A, I have a task for you.

"Little A's Assistant reminds you: Enter the alternate dimension of the First Emperor's Mausoleum to resolve the Ghost-type energy tide problem and heal all the affected Ghost-type Pokémon—tell me, who is the savior!"

"Reward: 300 BP points, Energy Cube crafting technology upgraded to Lv.3"

"Doctor, I understand your concerns, but I also have reasons why I have to go."

Bai Zhou's words revealed his seriousness, and then he looked at Gastly.

"As you know, Gastly is my family. I can't just ignore the Ghost-type energy tide, for its sake and for my own."

"Gah... (Father...)"

Gastly stared blankly at the white boat, its huge eyes filled with waves, the color of which had faded somewhat.

(ㄒ^ㄒ)

"you……"

Professor Oak was speechless for a moment; he knew he couldn't stop Shiraishu.

After letting out a helpless sigh, his shoulders slumped slightly, and finally, he uttered a heavy entrustment.

"Come back safely."

"I assure you."

Bai Zhou nodded solemnly.

Just then, a clear, bell-like voice rang out from beside me.

"I'll go with you."

The white boat followed the sound and found Zhu Lan.

"Miss Zhulan? When did you...?"

"When Gastly emerges from your shadow."

A faint smile appeared on Zhu Lan's lips.

The white boat remained silent.

That means they've been eavesdropping the whole time!

"Miss Zhulan, you really don't need to come with me to that other dimension. It's very dangerous..."

"Mr. Bai Zhou, you accompanied me to the other dimension last time. This time, it's my turn to accompany you. I said I would protect you."

Zhu Lan interrupted Bai Zhou halfway through his sentence, staring at him with a piercing gaze.

I really don't need your protection!

Now Bai Zhou understood Professor Oak's feelings just now—the feeling of wanting to stop it but not knowing how to stop it.

Professor Oak's gaze swept back and forth between the two, his expression somewhat suspicious.

Could there really be something going on between these two?

Is the recent rumor about Zhu Lan true?

That kid Bai Zhou...

Speaking of Qinglu, he's about the same age as Baizhou and still doesn't know how to find a girlfriend. I'm still waiting to hold my great-grandchild.

Professor Oak dismissed all distractions and completely gave up on trying to persuade them; these two were beyond the comprehension of an old man like him.

However, with Zhu Lan by his side, Bai Zhou's safety factor is indeed improved considerably.

Sigh, we need to hurry up and manufacture a space anchoring device to fix the anchor point, otherwise it will be bad if something really happens.

"Hey...you guys...be careful."

With that in mind, Professor Oak said something to the two of them and then plunged into the pile of instruments to develop the space anchor device.

Bai Zhou, with the still tearful Gastly tucked under his arm, tentatively asked Zhu Lan:

"Then...shall we set off?"