Elf: Re-employment of retired champion of Padiya

Chapter 813 Ma Jiamu's Suspicion

Compared to the Pearl Settlement and the Diamond Settlement, which can only be called settlements.

Zhuqing Village is large enough to qualify as a "town".

at this time.

Standing before Luo Mu was a settlement that was larger than the settlements of the Pearl Team and the Vajra Team, and was beginning to take shape as a town.

A towering log fence tightly encircled it, forming a solid defensive line; the top of the fence was sharpened, gleaming with a cold, hard luster.

The main gate is wide and heavy, reinforced with sturdy wood and metal components, with watchtowers on both sides where vigilant team members in Galactic uniforms are on duty.

Looking inside through the open main gate, you can see that the interior is not a chaotic cluster of tents, but rather a relatively well-planned street.

The streets are lined with wooden houses, which, though simple in style, are quite sturdy. The roofs are covered with thick thatch or wooden planks, and wisps of smoke rise from the chimneys, exuding a strong sense of daily life.

Further away, some larger buildings can be vaguely seen, which are probably the headquarters, workshops or some kind of gathering place of Team Galactic.

Although Zhuqing Village still retains the ruggedness and simplicity of its pioneering era, its orderly layout, relatively complete fortifications, and significantly larger population clearly demonstrate its essential difference from the settlements of the Pearl Team and the Vajra Team.

It can only be said that the village formed by outsiders from various places such as Johto and Galar is more advanced than the "natives" of Sinnoh who came earlier but have integrated into the local culture.

The air was filled with the smells of wood, smoke, and the bustling atmosphere typical of human settlements.

The faint sounds of blacksmithing, conversations, and Pokémon calls could be heard mingling together, creating a vivid picture of everyday life.

As King Lei Guan gazed at Zhuqing Village, a look of nostalgia flashed in his eyes, and he felt as if he had lived through another world.

Looking back, it seems that I also started to gradually establish connections with humans from such a village.

Seeing a similar scene again now, I can't help but sigh.

"Alright, you can go in now."

Berila, who had taken the initiative to speak with the guard, turned back at this moment and indicated that Luo Mu could enter Zhuqing Village with him.

"it is good."

Luo Mu nodded slightly, exchanged a glance with the Queen of the Crane, and each carrying Shami and Victini, they walked into the village of Zhuqing under the curious gaze of the guards.

"The place we are walking on now is called Huayuan Road, which is the main road of Zhuqing Village. Hmm, I don't quite understand what the so-called 'main road' means. The designers' ideas are really unique."

"In short, all you need to know is that we can go straight from Flower Garden Road to the location of the organization that manages this Zhuqing Village, the headquarters of Team Galaxy."

Berryla skillfully introduced the environment of Zhuqing Village to Luo Mu.

Easy-buy stalls, barbershops, photo studios, general stores, craft shops, clothing stores selling all kinds of clothes, and even canteens.

"That's a canteen called 'Yu Man Ting.' Their taro cakes are really good. You can try them after you're done."

Standing in front of a place called "Water Vein Bridge," Berryla enthusiastically recommended it.

"I'll give it a try if I have the chance." Luo Mu nodded slightly, acknowledging Berryla's recommendation.

Luo Mu glanced at the Water Vein Bridge. He remembered that before he transmigrated, some netizens had researched and concluded that the geographical location of Zhuqing Village was actually the future location of Water Vein City, not Zhuqing City, because of this bridge.

His gaze fell on the "Yu Man Ting" canteen, a hint of curiosity flickering in his eyes.

In the game, the protagonist I control often eats "Yomantei," and I can finally try it myself.

However, not now.

Luo Mu asked casually, "By the way, are there any reliable trading points in Zhuqing Village?"

"I've collected a lot of materials and herbs in the wild that I need to sell, and I also want to see if there's anything I need to buy."

Berry was completely unaware that Luo Mu's questioning, from his own perspective, was highly purposeful.

After a moment's thought, she said, "Although Zhuqing Village often has merchants from different places setting up stalls, if we're talking about the most reliable one, I think it should be the Ginkgo Merchants Association."

"Compared to those traveling merchants who work alone, the Ginkgo Merchant Guild not only sells a wider variety of goods, but also has the advantage of being able to provide more goods than other merchants."

"More importantly, the Ginkgo Merchant Guild has a deep cooperative relationship with our Galaxy Team. Unlike other traveling merchants who are elusive, they also have their own shops in this Zhuqing Village."

"If you want to take a look around, head in that direction and you'll see the Ginkgo Merchant Guild's shop."

Berry pointed in a direction behind her.

After Luo Mu indicated that he had remembered, she clapped her hands and urged, "Alright, it's almost time."

"It will be sunset soon, and the captains of the Pearl Team and the Kong Team should have arrived by now. Let's head to the Galaxy Team headquarters first."

"Boss Ma Jiamu wants to see you."

Galaxy Team Headquarters.

In a quiet room.

Four people were sitting around a square wooden table.

This is the scene that Luo Mu saw after opening the door.

Two of the four were acquaintances of Luo Mu.

One of them was Zhu Bei, whom he hadn't seen for several days. She gave Luo Mu a sly smile and quietly waved to him.

The other was Gang Shi, who also sat in a very unrestrained posture. He raised his chin at Luo Mu and looked at him with a meaningful gaze.

As for the other two, Luo Mu was meeting them for the first time.

One of them was a short-haired woman with sharp eyes and a very serious demeanor, wearing a Team Galactic investigator's uniform.

Her appearance is very similar to that of the leader of the modern Galactic Team, Akatsuki. Their relationship is likely similar to that of Bellila and Daiba, that of ancestor and descendant.

—She is Xingyue, the head of the investigation team of the Galaxy Team.

The last one sat in the main seat.

He wore a dark kimono embroidered with delicate cloud patterns, over which he wore a rather dignified overcoat. He was about middle-aged, with strong facial features and a meticulously trimmed black mustache above his lips.

His eyes, sharp as an eagle's, were now fixed unabashedly on Luo Mu, filled with scrutiny, suspicion, and the natural oppressive feeling of someone long accustomed to a position of power.

Without a doubt, the owner of this extremely aggressive gaze is none other than Ma Jiamu, the leader of Team Galaxy.

As soon as Luo Mu entered the room, Zhu Bei, who had greeted him, couldn't help but speak first, her tone both familiar and playful: "Luo Mu! You've finally arrived! Thanks to you for everything on Blowing Fire Island!"

Before she could finish speaking, Gang Shi interrupted her, his voice loud and direct: "Hey, little girl from the Pearl Team, can't you have some sense of order? I was the one who greeted him first, so if we're catching up, shouldn't I go first?"

"That's why you don't know how to cherish the precious time bestowed by the Great Lord Sinnoh."

"Huh?" Zhubei immediately glared at Gangshi, unconvinced: "Luo Mu has been with our Pearl Team from the very beginning! In terms of friendship, of course we are the ones who are closer!"

"You, the newcomer, should step aside, okay?" "Even though I possess the magnanimity bestowed upon me by the Great Lord Sinnoh, I still need to clarify the order of importance with you members of the Kongo Team!"

"Nonsense! I was the one who introduced him to the leader of the Nianmei tribe. It is this introduction that is truly valuable!"

"That's nothing! I even gave him a Poké Ball! And a Divine Blessing."

"I……"

The two of them started bickering over a trivial matter—who was closer to Luo Mu—in front of Ma Jiamu, Xingyue, and Luo Mu himself, completely forgetting the occasion.

Just then, Ma Jiamu, who was sitting in the main seat, frowned and his face darkened.

He coughed loudly: "Cough cough!"

The voice wasn't loud, but it carried an undeniable authority, instantly calming Pearl and Gangshi, who were arguing heatedly.

They fell silent at the same time, and sat up straight, somewhat embarrassed.

I almost forgot that I still have important business to attend to.

Ma Jiamu's gaze swept over the two of them, carrying a hint of obvious displeasure, before finally settling on Luo Mu, his scrutinizing gaze becoming even more intense.

To be frank, he was suspicious of Luo Mu.

However, no matter how much we doubt it, we still need to get the important things done.

He stood up, stroking his beard with his left hand, and making a "please" gesture to Luo Mu with his right.

"Since you could make Gangshi and Zhubei quarrel, it seems you are the 'hero' who has passed the test of the 'God of Will' and is entrusted with a mission."

"Please have a seat, and we can talk more later."

Ma Jiamu's tone inexplicably carried a deeper meaning.

Luo Mu didn't care about any of that. He took Shemi from the arms of the Queen of the Brilliant Crown standing behind him and sat down without any hesitation.

Seeing him sit down, Ma Jiamu's gaze immediately fell on Xingyue, who had not spoken a word beside him.

Xingyue, who had been sitting upright, received the signal and stood up with a serious expression.

"First, please allow me to introduce myself."

"I am Xingyue, the head of the Galaxy Team's investigation team and the person in charge of this meeting."

"Then, let's begin today's meeting with the theme of the 'Space-Time Rift' on Mount Tianguan."

Xingyue's style of doing things seemed quite decisive and efficient. Without saying a single word of nonsense, she directly began to advance the meeting's process.

Gangshi rested his chin on his hand and muttered, "While it's good that we don't waste time, this kind of impersonal hosting style still makes me feel very uncomfortable."

In this respect, pearl shells rarely share the same opinion as diamonds.

She fanned herself a few times with her palm, her face full of agreement, "If it's too serious, the atmosphere immediately becomes tense."

The two of them were like students whispering to each other in class. Luo Mu, caught between them, was under the scrutinizing gaze of Ma Jiamu, making him feel extremely uncomfortable.

—Although I was already mentally prepared for the other person to be suspicious, being watched like this all the time is still very annoying.

Is this man really the ancestor of Dr. Yamanashi, who was old-fashioned and serious but had excellent character?
However, Luo Mu soon stopped paying attention to Ma Jiamu's gaze.

—Because what Xingyue was saying caught his attention.

If Xingyue was talking about what Luo Mu knew from the beginning, the origin of the spacetime rift that he learned from Granny Xipu.

But as the story progressed, what Xingyue said gave him a sudden jolt.

"Currently, based on the information gathered and coordinated by our Galaxy Team, along with the information provided by the Pearl Team and the Kong Team, we have reached a rather unfavorable conclusion."

"Ever since that wave, most likely originating from the 'God of Will,' declared that His trial possessed the power of those who passed, swept across the verdant land."

"The anomalies within the time rift targeted the descendants of ten Pokémon almost simultaneously—the kings and queens cared for by Team Kongo and Team Pearl—"

"The king, still in a berserk state, remains unchanged, but the 'Forest King,' which was successfully subdued, has fallen back into a berserk state, rendering the subduing efforts through the 'Treasure Guardian' largely ineffective."

At this point, Xingyue paused, her calm gaze falling on Luo Mu.

"But this 'hero,' Mr. Luo Mu, not only successfully quelled the rampaging 'Terrace King,' but also found a way to avoid it repeatedly falling into a berserk state."

"Therefore, I personally suggest that we entrust him with quelling the anger of the remaining nine kings and queens and averting greater destruction."

"Based on this, they went to Wisdom Lake and Heart-to-Heart Lake to undergo two other tests."

"."

That concludes Xingyue's remarks.

As she sat down again, the gazes of the four people in the quiet room all fell on Luo Mu.

Needless to say, Zhu Bei and Gang Shi already have an extremely high level of trust in Luo Mu.

Xingyue simply gave a rational account, making the best possible choices, without mixing any of her personal subjective emotions into her speech.

Only Ma Jiamu, who had been listening with his arms crossed, looked at Luo Mu with scrutiny and undisguised suspicion after hearing the report.

Ma Jiamu slowly stood up, placed his hands on the table, leaned forward slightly, and his scrutinizing gaze pressed down on Luo Mu as if it were a physical object.

His deep voice echoed in the quiet room, filled with undisguised suspicion: "Isn't all of this a bit too 'coincidental,' Mr. Luo Mu?"

He paused deliberately, his gaze sweeping over the pearl and the diamond, before finally locking onto Luo Mu.

"You, a person of unknown origin, who seems to have appeared out of thin air on this land. After your appearance, you first easily gained the trust of their Pearl Team, then made contact with the Kong Team, and even quickly passed the test of the God of Will - you know, that test has troubled all of us for a long time."

"Then, just as you pass the test, the vibrations spread throughout Xicui."

"As luck would have it, the changes occurred at the same time."

"The 'Forest King,' who had already been subdued, went berserk once more, and the other kings and queens followed suit, escalating the crisis dramatically."

"And yet, at this very moment, only you—this newest arrival, whose background and origins are shrouded in mystery—successfully quelled the 'King of the Terrace'."

“Every single thing seems to have been arranged, as if it were deliberately put on for us to see, to build your reliability as a ‘hero’ who has passed the test and is carrying the mission.”

Ma Jiamu's mustache trembled slightly as he spoke sternly, his eyes sharp as knives.

"This makes me wonder if all this trouble is just a play you orchestrated? First, you create a crisis that no one can solve, then you appear as a 'savior' to gain trust, power, or... something else you don't want to tell anyone?"

"If you want us to trust you, you must prove your innocence."

His voice wasn't loud, but every word was piercing, laying bare the worst suspicions, instantly lowering the atmosphere in the room to freezing point.

(End of this chapter)