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"Driver, please hurry. It doesn't matter if you run the meter or not."
Li Zhezhan sat in the passenger seat, urging the taxi driver impatiently.
Under normal circumstances, taxis should move quickly, and the police station wasn't far.
Yet, after what felt like forever, there was still no sign of it.
If not for the fact that Li Xiang's Aura Sight detected no malice from the driver—and the chaos outside—he might have already taken action.
Outside the window, the streets were in turmoil.
The road was clogged with cars, horns blaring incessantly, the noise pounding against their skulls.
In the distance, police sirens wailed. Within five minutes of getting into the taxi, at least three ambulances and two fire trucks had raced past.
"Relax, I can't fly over this traffic," the driver muttered, glancing around. The noise didn't bother him.
'What, is the whole city gonna explode? Please.'
The new district was under heavy surveillance. Every bird in the sky could be a police scout. It wasn't like the old district—a dump waiting to be demolished.
Finally, the road cleared.
The taxi moved forward again.
Li Xiang turned to look at the taxi trailing behind them, his expression unreadable.
Was the Sun Cult really split into the true Sun Cult and the Dawn Sect, as those three had claimed?
Or was this all an act?
The woman, Pona, had given them a story full of holes—forced explanations, shaky logic…
But Riolu's Aura Sight hadn't detected any malice from her.
That meant there was some truth to it.
'What I don't get is why the Dawn Sect is targeting us. What's the point? Just because we brought Bian Zhen back?'
'No way… Actually, maybe.'
Sometimes, reality was a surreal farce that didn't need logic.
People fought to the death over petty grudges all the time.
Li Xiang sighed, staring at the sky. From this angle, he couldn't see Corviknight—but if something happened, it would send a Substitute down as a warning.
'If only Corviknight were smaller, its scouting ability would be better…'
Ugh. Damn Sun Cult. Can't even take a vacation without running into these lunatics. If I were stronger, I'd crush them head-on. No matter which "cult" they belong to.'
Li Xiang absentmindedly pinched Torracat's ear. The feline glanced up but stayed alert, its tufted fur twitching as it sensed hostility around them.
Meanwhile, Riolu kept its Aura Sight active, scanning their surroundings.
It was exhausting for them, but right now, exhaustion was better than never getting tired again.
Speaking of which— Why were those three Sun Cultists following them to the police station?
To prove the Dawn Sect was behind everything?
'Couldn't they have just told the Snow Cult that earlier?'
'Whatever. Just get to the station.'
According to Li Zhezhan, Xu Dongran had already arranged everything—including their escort to Snowpoint City.
The taxi continued forward. The driver, seeing their urgency, took a shortcut—leading them onto a ring road flanked by empty fields.
Yet, even here, they hit traffic.
A long line of cars stretched ahead, completely gridlocked.
"Since when does Laya City have this many cars?" Li Zhezhan frowned. Even Qingcheng's traffic was better than this backwater.
"Tourist season, boss. This time of year, visitors outnumber locals two to one."
The driver flashed a grin. "Don't let the size fool you—Laya's got some fun spots."
He started listing local attractions, but—
"Rrrgh!"
Riolu suddenly growled, its golden eyes flaring with blue light as it whipped around, staring diagonally behind the car!
Li Xiang tensed, following its gaze—
A beat-up van, windows tinted black, was driving too close to the taxi carrying the Sun Cultists.
Worse— The surrounding cars had vanished.
The previously jam-packed road was now eerily empty, as if an accident had blocked traffic far behind them.
The cars ahead had already driven off.
Danger.
"Riolu!"
Riolu barked urgently, shoving Li Xiang's arm.
Torracat's eyes narrowed, claws flexing as it prepared to attack through the window!
Inside the car, the sudden commotion startled the driver— But before he could react, Li Xiang shouted:
"Step on it! Carjackers! NOW!"
The driver blinked— The van accelerated, pulling up beside them.
No windows rolled down, yet an oppressive force slammed into the taxi, freezing everyone inside—Li Xiang, Torracat, even the snarling Riolu.
Then, a bloodshot eye pressed against the van's darkened window, accompanied by the sound of giggling.
An invisible wave engulfed the taxi.
First, the Pokémon.
Even Frogadier, camouflaged, closed its eyes, collapsing into sleep.
Then the driver.
His tense body went slack. With mechanical precision, he locked all the doors, trapping Li Xiang as he tried to escape.
Next, Li Zhezhan and Mrs. Yin—their frantic attempts to grab the wheel stopped.
They sat back, blank-faced, like puppets.
Li Xiang's mind fogged. His body refused to obey.
No…!
Biting his tongue, he forced himself into the Three-Blind Perception state, fighting off the mental invasion, but he knew he couldn't hold out long.
'Can't reach the handbrake. Driver's controlled. Can't release Pokémon. That laughing is suppressing them.'
With trembling hands, he recalled all three Pokémon into their balls, then emptied his pink tin of strawberry cookies, stuffing every Poké Ball inside—including his parents'.
Then, bracing himself, he inhaled—
EXHALE. STRIKE.
CRACK!
Li Xiang shattered the window beside Mrs. Yin, ignoring the glass shards embedding into his gloves.
He shoved the tin outside, then—
"SCREEE—!!"
A piercing whistle tore from his lips as the tin tumbled onto the roadside.
A shadow swooped down, snatching it mid-air. Li Xiang's lips twitched into a relieved smile—
Then froze.
His expression stiffened, his body locking into place. The taxi fell silent.
Four blank-eyed passengers, staring ahead.
Under the van's control, the taxi veered off-course, heading out of the city.
.....
Above.
Corviknight had noticed the van's approach.
It dove to attack, but before it got close, a sinister giggle echoed in its mind.
Its vision blurred.
No—!
Corviknight pulled up, barely escaping the mental assault.
'That van is dangerous.'
It glared at the vehicle, debating a reckless charge.
Then— CRASH.
The sound of breaking glass.
A familiar pink tin tumbled out of the taxi- Strawberry cookies.
A weak whistle followed.
'The emergency signal.'
Corviknight's instincts kicked in.
It split off a shadowy clone, sending it diving for the tin while the real body stayed high, tracking the taxi.
The clone snatched the tin, stuffed it into the pouch on Corviknight's back, then vanished.
Now—
'Follow. Find out where they're taking him. Dammit!'
Corviknight's crimson eyes burned.
'Last night's fears… came true. Stay calm. Li Xiang's life depends on you, but you can't fight alone.'
'Need backup. Rangers. Police. Association.'
It struggled to recall the symbols Li Xiang had taught it, the words drilled into its mind.
"Caw… Nine-life… Back-box…"
Its voice was rough, but each attempt stoked its fury hotter.
"HELP! DANGER! HELP! DANGER!"
Its screeches ripped through the sky, laced with rage.
I will save him. No matter what!
"SKREEE—!!"