Chapter 53: Altaria is Adorable

Even though Supervisor Che kept insisting that the five combat personnel and the driver would not interfere with him, Qian Lin still found it a bit difficult to accept.

It wasn't that he looked down on these individuals; he believed that anyone sent by the higher-ups to protect him must be an elite, absolute standouts among their peers. But as the saying goes, no matter how powerful humans are, they are still just human and can never compare to Pokémon.

Swablu and Growlithe might not be a match for these five, considering they were surely equipped with some unspoken weaponry. However, if faced with Pangoro, Qian Lin was confident that Pangoro could easily kill all five of them.

As for this vehicle, while it looked like a heavy-duty armored car, whether it could withstand a full-force attack from Pangoro remained a question mark.

When Qian Lin voiced his thoughts to Supervisor Che, the supervisor wore a very resolute expression. "Even if they can't help you fight, they can still buy you time when you need to escape. Their existence isn't solely meant for defeating the enemy."

Hearing this, Qian Lin fell silent, and his expression toward the six men instantly changed.

Perhaps sensing his thoughts, Supervisor Che revealed a candid smile, patted Qian Lin's shoulder, and comforted him, "Don't put too much psychological pressure on yourself. In fact, everyone here has already prepared themselves, including myself."

"If one day I need to do the same, I will rush to the front without a moment's hesitation." A smile lingered on Supervisor Che's face as he spoke, yet behind that smile, Qian Lin could perceive an unyielding willpower.

He knew Supervisor Che was not joking.

With that in mind, Qian Lin looked at the six people before him: one driver, five combatants.

He took a deep breath. "I understand."

He chose to accept. For those who have already made up their minds, acceptance is the best response.

However, he still had one small question: "What about their families..."

"Rest assured," Supervisor Che directly interrupted Qian Lin. "They have children. Even the youngest among them has a two-year-old child... Leaving behind offspring while moving forward ourselves is something we prepared for long ago."

Always ready.

Qian Lin let out a long sigh. "It seems I really need to give some serious thought to what comes next."

"You should have thought of that long ago." Supervisor Che laughed heartily and gave Qian Lin's back a push. "Go on, they've been waiting for you since morning. All the supplies are in the truck, and we can set off at any time."

"Let's wait a moment for Swablu. She's on her way back and should be here in a few minutes." Qian Lin slowly walked toward the six—well, let's call them soldiers.

As he approached the six soldiers, before he could even speak, the soldier on the far right shouted first, "Attention!"

Everyone snapped into a neat formation, their gazes burning straight ahead.

The lead soldier stared with unwavering determination, his voice exceptionally loud and clear: "First Special Squad, First Platoon of the Special Detachment, 6 personnel assigned, 6 personnel present. Awaiting your instructions."

Qian Lin: "..."

He felt like his entire wavelength was completely out of sync with these six people.

How on earth was he supposed to respond to this?

Qian Lin dug his heels into the ground, seized by the urge to carve out a castle and crawl inside it.

Fortunately, right as he was dying of embarrassment and wanted to flee, Supervisor Che spoke up first. "Don't be nervous. They won't act like this during the mission, it's just that sometimes... well, it's hard to describe, so you understand."

With that, Supervisor Che looked at the six men, and his tone shifted instantly. "All personnel, listen up!"

Snap—

A crisp, uniform response rang out, as if the six men tightened their stance even further, their entire bodies rigid like steel.

"Get in the vehicle."

"Sir!" the six replied in unison.

The next second, the leader opened the door, stepped aside, and starting from the second person, they boarded the vehicle one by one. Until the very last person was inside, the leader leaped into the vehicle and pulled the door shut with his right hand.

Then, Qian Lin blinked, and the engine roared to life.

This sound was way heavier than any sports car or off-road vehicle...

"The six of them got into the vehicle even faster than I could by myself..." Qian Lin muttered subconsciously.

"Normal," Supervisor Che laughed. "Racing against time is our requirement. If it takes more than five seconds for six people to board, it's an insult to us."

On that point alone, Qian Lin truly admired them.

"Chirrup~"

Just as Qian Lin was wondering if he should strike up a conversation, Swablu's crisp chirp drifted down from the sky.

Before he even had time to look up, Swablu, now the size of two fists, plunged straight down and crashed fiercely into Qian Lin's arms, rubbing back and forth coquettishly.

Reaching out to catch Swablu, Qian Lin smiled. "Welcome back, Swablu. Did you have fun playing with Milotic?"

Swablu raised her head, her cheeks slightly flushed, but her tone brimming with pride: "Chirp chirp chirp!"
(っ•̀ω•́)っ
I learned a brand new move!

Qian Lin was stunned for a second, then broke into an even brighter smile.

He stroked Swablu's head, his tone pampering and indulgent. "Alright, alright, Swablu is the most amazing."

"Chirp!"
ᕦ(･ㅂ･)ᕤ

So cute... cough, cough.

Anyway, Swablu had learned a new move, while Growlithe and Pangoro were already resting inside their Poké Balls. Everyone was fully prepared.

"Let's set off, then."

Just as Qian Lin lifted his foot to open the door and climb aboard, Supervisor Che grabbed him and, amidst Qian Lin's bewildered expression, shoved him toward the other side of the vehicle.

Not the front passenger seat, but simply entering from the opposite side.

In short, Supervisor Che's message was: from now on, always get into the vehicle from the right side and stop fighting the soldiers for their door.

Fine. Though he didn't quite understand why, Qian Lin respected the rule.

There wasn't much else to say. After giving a few instructions to the driver, Supervisor Che stepped aside. The driver started the engine and drove right out of the Pokémon Research Institute.

Just like last time, police cars escorted them all the way. Once they crossed the quarantine line, the trailing vehicles pulled over, and everyone got out, raising their hands in a salute as Qian Lin's vehicle drove away into the distance.

Actually, everything else was fine, but... sitting in the back row with a soldier to his left, a soldier to his right, and two more soldiers seated directly in front of him on the left and right—with every single one of them staring straight ahead in rigid solemnity—was a different story.

Aside from the driver, nobody moved a muscle, sitting as still as statues.

Trapped right in the middle, Qian Lin hugged Swablu and shivered slightly.

The atmosphere was... far too oppressive.

Even Swablu looked bewildered.

No, this wasn't riding in a car; this felt like serving a prison sentence.

"Cough." Qian Lin gave a dry cough. The next instant, besides the platoon leader in the front passenger seat and the driver, the other four soldiers turned their heads toward him in unison, as if silently asking, 'Do you require anything?'

Qian Lin instinctively shrank back, lifting Swablu as a shield in front of him, and weakly said, "Um... guys? Could we relax just a little bit? The atmosphere is so serious, I'm kind of..."

Uncomfortable... but he didn't dare say it out loud.

Chirp? (￣(∞)￣)