Pokémon, Ash is going to become a perfect man from now on.

Kikui was so disheartened by Kikui's words that even Tamabe, who was standing nearby, was moved.

She discovered that although Xiaozhi was an outsider, he understood her situation better than the other team members.

"At first, I just thought that it wasn't a bad thing for the Forest King to become stronger, and the injured were those unrelated members of the investigation team... I really didn't expect that Magamu would directly call the leader over to hold him accountable."

Kikui raised her head and looked at Tamabe with a face full of apology: "Chief... I'm so sorry, I will never do this again!"

"Forget it, it's all in the past. You don't need to worry about it too much. Just take good care of the Forest King from now on." Zhubei shook her head in relief, not intending to delve into it further.

She actually understood Kikui very well. The other party had acted somewhat inconsiderately this time, but if it were her, she might have done the same.

The king I've been taking such good care of has run into trouble, and I don't know how to solve it. In the end, I can only rely on the help of others... This feeling of helplessness is really hard to bear.

Fortunately, whether it's Fire Island or the Deep Forest, Little Intelligence can turn the tide...

"I will!" Kiku nodded hurriedly in agreement. "Then... shall I send the king back to the battlefield?"

"Go ahead... Also, if Team Galactic arrives, try to delay them for a bit," Ash instructed Kiku before she left.

When he turned around, he found Zhu Bei staring straight at him.

"What's wrong?" Ash asked curiously.

"I was just thinking that I should thank you properly," Zhubei said gratefully. "Since I met you, you have really helped me so much. This time, I was able to solve the problem thanks to you."

"It was just a small favor, you don't need to make such a fuss about it."

Given Ash's abilities, calming down these kings was even easier than defeating them; it didn't take him any effort at all.

Furthermore, he wasn't intentionally helping Zhubei.

From beginning to end, all Xiaozhi did was try to keep someone out of danger...

"But helping is helping!" Zhubei insisted for a moment, but her expression quickly dimmed again.

Perhaps she had been feeling quite depressed lately, or perhaps she simply wanted to confide in someone, she began to talk about her own experiences.

"As the leader of the team, I really don't want everyone to see my weaknesses... Sometimes I also struggle with why I'm the one carrying so many burdens and dealing with all sorts of troubles..."

"At this age, I became the leader and didn't have any particular ambitions in leading the Pearl Team. I just felt that we should cherish the customs and land that have been passed down since ancient times... However, I haven't done a good job. People often criticize me for being old-fashioned and outdated, and some have even broken away from the Pearl Team because of it..."

Zhubei talked a lot, while Xiaozhi just listened quietly.

They didn't interrupt to offer advice, nor did they try to comfort them.

The Zhubei he knew was a very strong and independent girl, and she didn't need any interference from him.

Xiao Zhi only needs to be a good listener, giving Zhu Bei an outlet for her emotions.

Sure enough, the girl quickly regained her composure, and when she looked at Ash again, her expression became somewhat embarrassed.

"Sorry, I'm just talking to myself. You must find it annoying."

"No, I quite enjoy chatting with people, especially conversations that are pleasant for both parties," Xiao Zhi said with a smile.

"Was it enjoyable...?" Zhu Bei's expression showed more relief. She had indeed been quite happy just now, being able to speak her mind freely in front of someone and pour out her long-standing pent-up frustrations.

"By the way... will Team Galactic really come?" After composing herself a little, Tamabe changed the subject.

“They will definitely come!” Ash was very certain of this. “Magam says he wants to maintain harmony, but his ambitions are huge… He ultimately wants Team Galactic to take over the entire Xicui. Whether or not we can successfully pacify the raging king, he will definitely send people to gather intelligence.”

"Occupy...the entire Xicui?" Zhubei was initially surprised, but considering Team Galactic's recent establishment of bases in various locations, she felt that Ash might be right...

At that moment, she discovered that Ash had already put on the Cursed Fox Mask.

"what happened?"

"Team Galactic is here, and Kiku is holding them off..." Ash's voice trembled almost imperceptibly. "I'm going to find the Forest King. You should also show up when the time is right... Remember to bring the treasure."

“The treasure…” Watching Ash’s departing figure, Zhubei was slightly lost in thought.

He was clearly capable of calming down the Forest King with his bare hands, yet he sent him to collect the rolling beans that the Forest King loved to eat in order to make the treasure. It was all to pave the way for someone else.

...

At the same time, outside the Giant Tree Battlefield, Kiku was engaged in a heated argument with the Galactic Team's investigation team.

The situation with the Mantis Scyther needs to be investigated thoroughly. They plan to establish a base nearby, and we can't afford to be threatened by such creatures indefinitely.

As for the dangers of the investigation... well, there's Xiao Zhao too. She's the one leading the charge, and the others are just there to monitor her.

"Alright, go if you want... but you'll have to bear the consequences~" Seeing that she couldn't persuade them, Kikui simply stepped aside.

Go ahead and do it if you want to die!

So, the investigation team, with Xiao Guang at the forefront, cautiously ventured deeper into the giant tree battlefield...

"scare!!"

But they hadn't gone more than a few meters when the Forest King, with bloodshot eyes, descended from the sky and carved deep trenches into the ground with the rock axes in his arms!

"How...how scary!" "Help!!"

Several screams followed by a panicked flight as the investigation team members scattered like birds in the wind...

In the end, only the girl was left behind, stunned and speechless.

"I knew it would turn out like this..." The girl shrugged helplessly, clearly having foreseen this outcome.

However… this mantis is really big, even more terrifying than the speaker cricket leader I saw before.

This is definitely not an opponent that can be defeated by battling. We still need to do as Dr. Laben said and try to eliminate this berserk state by remotely feeding it some of its favorite foods.

The question now is, what does it actually like to eat... and does it really have a chance to escape back?

"No problem, I should be fine... right?"

"Young lady, I think there's something seriously wrong with you~" "Pikachu~"

Xiao Zhao was cheering herself up when a leisurely voice suddenly drifted into her ears.

She looked in the direction of the sound and saw a boy wearing a cursed fox mask sitting on a high branch of a tree.

He was holding a dozing Litten in his arms, and the Pikachu on his shoulder gave the girl a familiar feeling... and it had just called her name in its own special 'Pikachu language'!

Could it be him...? The girl involuntarily covered her mouth.

At this moment, Ash was also looking down at the girl with a smile.

Wearing the Team Galactic Investigations uniform, with familiar hair and eye color, and that most iconic catchphrase…

Without a doubt, Xiao Zhao really is Xiao Guang... and it's the same Xiao Guang that I met when I made a last-minute trip to Sinnoh!

"Don't just stand there, you amazing girls from the investigation team," Ash casually reminded them. "The raging king has appeared. Hurry up and go pacify it... We've already prepared the necessary treasures."

“Treasure…”

"Here it is!" Zhu Bei appeared at the opportune moment with a bucket of treasures. "Here, these are all for you."

"Miss Zhubei?"

At that moment, Xiao Zhao... no, Xiao Guang suddenly realized!

Chapter 1108 An Unforgettable Past...

The so-called suppression was just an act... The intelligent young girl quickly realized this.

The Forest King on the other side didn't go berserk at all, or perhaps, like the King of Fire Island, he had been calmed down beforehand and was simply there to act.

So, he was the one who planned all of this in advance...

Xiao Guang couldn't help but look at the boy in the tree, who, like a leaf, quietly fell to the ground.

"At least make a show of it." Xiao Zhi said with a familiar smile, lowering his voice to persuade, "Those guys haven't left yet. If you don't make some noise, you won't be able to explain yourself later."

"That's true~" Xiao Guang wholeheartedly agreed, casually grabbing a set of treasures. "Anyway, we just need to throw them out, right..."

"Wait a minute." Ash raised his hand to stop the girl, and Scizor, understanding, began to make a ruckus.

After a series of earth-shaking, frantic roars, the bored mantis plopped down on the ground, revealing a human-like 'hurry up' expression.

"Oh my, this play is so real!" Xiao Guang couldn't help but chuckle.

"It's already good enough that they're willing to cooperate with your performance, don't be so demanding~"

"No problem, no problem, Mantis, thanks!" Xiao Guang replied casually, forcefully tossing the treasure towards the Forest King.

The praying mantis opened its mouth to catch it, chewed it a few times, and then closed its eyes in satisfaction. Everything was fine.

"Hey, I did it!" Even though it was just acting, the girl was still very happy to be able to interact with such a powerful king.

She excitedly raised her arm in Ash's direction, only to find that he was making the same gesture.

"Ha!" Xiao Guang laughed happily, and a crisp clapping sound followed from the woods.

Yes... that's exactly the feeling!

The long-awaited high-five, which transcended time and space, even made Xiao Guang feel a little unreal... but the excitement in his heart was incredibly clear!

She was finally certain that the boy in front of her wearing the cursed fox mask was the person she had been thinking about all along!

Only he has the ability to arrange everything that is happening now!

"Is that you..." After the high-five, Xiao Guang didn't put his hand down, but instead intertwined his fingers with the other person's.

Her other hand trembled as she raised it, tentatively reaching towards the boy's cheek, wanting to remove the mask that was covering his face...