Nicole's presence in the exploration team completely disrupted Julian's plan to leave the Ruin. He was worried that if he left, she might encounter danger and end up dead inside.
So Julian had no choice but to stay.
While the city and lake areas of the Ruin housed powerful Pokémon, the exploration team could still handle them.
Only the area around the Ancient Giant Tree was truly dangerous for them.
With Gengar's absolute invisibility and Nicole acting as an "inside agent," Julian had already figured out the strength of the trainers in the exploration team.
Norman, a peak Pseudo-Champion-level trainer specializing in Psychic-types, was naturally the strongest.
And since the opponent specialized in Psychic-types, Julian didn't dare get too close to the team, lest their Pokémon sense his presence.
---
Ten days later, the exploration team was resting in a hotel.
Professor Oliver, sorting through their recent findings, couldn't help but marvel:
"The technology in this city is at least eighty years ahead of ours."
"Even the most basic computer and phone chips here have processing power ten times greater than our top-tier models."
"Once we bring this tech back, Drakoria will undoubtedly become the world's leading technological power!"
At this, Professor Oliver's expression grew visibly excited.
Drakoria already had one more Champion than Celestria. If they also achieved total technological dominance, their position as the world's top nation would be unshakable.
"Professor, you're right—once we get out, we'll be national heroes!" one of his students said, his face flushed red with excitement.
Professor Oliver had taken on five students in total, and all five had accompanied him to this expedition.
The most accomplished among them was naturally Nicole—winning the Lugia Award at such a young age. The other four though hadn't won any significant awards.
Moreover, Nicole was his only female disciple and also his final apprentice, so Professor Oliver was especially fond of her.
On this expedition, the other four students had begged Professor Oliver to take them, but Nicole was the only one he had personally insisted to bring.
"It's a pity that we haven't found any information on the three key technologies so far. That man covered his tracks too well—he didn't leave anything behind," someone grumbled bitterly.
Nicole's expression didn't change, but she felt slightly awkward inside—after all, that man was her boyfriend.
"It doesn't matter," Professor Oliver said calmly. "As long as that person is a Drakorian trainer, those three technologies will resurface eventually."
He was very pragmatic about it; after all, everyone had their own motives. The fact that the first explorer had left most of the tech intact for them was already a blessing.
At this moment, Norman walked over. "Professor, I'd like to go take a look at that forest over there."
Professor Oliver frowned slightly. "But we haven't finished exploring this city yet."
In the forty-some days they had been here, most of the city had already been explored. What remained would take about ten more days to finish.
"We can finish the rest after coming back from the forest," Norman said calmly.
The city held nothing that could improve his strength, but that towering giant tree had caught his attention the moment he entered this Ruin.
Any experienced trainer knew there would almost certainly be rare treasures around such a colossal tree.
If it hadn't been for protecting Professor Oliver and the others, Norman would have gone there long ago.
Now, after more than forty days, his patience had finally run out.
And he wasn't the only one. The other five trainers with him felt the same way.
For researchers like Professor Oliver, the city naturally held the greatest appeal, and their gains over the past weeks had indeed been substantial.
But the advancement of technology meant little to trainers—technological progress didn't directly make a trainer stronger.
For trainers to grow stronger, they needed to pour resources into their Pokémon.
Especially for someone like Norman, already at the peak of Pseudo-Champion level—ordinary resources were useless for his main team. Only rare resources could make a difference.
That giant tree was likely to hold such treasures—perhaps even Ultimate-tier ones.
Norman had been stuck at the peak of Pseudo-Champion-level for years. With a bit of luck, this might be his chance to reach the Champion-tier.
Professor Oliver could already sense the impatience in Norman's tone.
"No. We'll only go elsewhere once we've fully explored this city."
Before Professor Oliver could even say something, his eldest disciple spoke up—his tone bordering on rudeness.
In this Ruin expedition, while Norman, a peak Pseudo-Champion trainer, was technically the team's leader, the one truly calling the shots was Professor Oliver.
The six trainers, including Norman, were essentially hired as bodyguards.
Scholars like Professor Oliver held higher priority during Ruin explorations—unlike in Secret Realms, where trainers took precedence.
Many scholars had a certain bluntness about them, and Professor Oliver's eldest disciple was clearly one of those people. His words carried no hidden meaning—just pure logic.
But to Norman, it sounded something like: "You follow our orders. We decide where you go."
"What did you just say?"
Norman's gaze sharpened, his Pseudo-Champion aura flaring. The man's face instantly went pale.
At Norman's level, he had certainly killed his fair share of people and Pokémon. For a scholar who devoted himself to research, being stared down like that made fear inevitable.
"If you don't agree, I'll just head to the forest myself. This city isn't dangerous anyway—you'll be fine without me," Norman said coldly.
Over the past forty days, they'd only encountered wild Pokémon up to mid-stage Elite level—hardly a threat, even without Norman's intervention.
So the city didn't seem to pose much danger.
Even if he left, the chances of anything happening to the others were very low.
The other five trainers exchanged uneasy glances. They also wanted to leave with Norman. If he went alone, it would mean he could hog all the benefits—and if he found something valuable, they certainly wouldn't get a share.
"Professor Oliver, since even Elite Norman says so, why don't we go check out the forest first? We've already explored most of the city. The rest can be finished after we come back."
"With such a massive tree, aren't you curious too, Professor?"
The research team wasn't just composed of Pokémon scholars like Professor Oliver. Botanists and biologists were also part of the group.
"Professor Oliver, I think we should go take a look," one of the botanists chimed in eagerly.
During the city exploration, their expertise had been of little use, but in a forest, it would be different. And a tree that enormous—they had never seen anything like it.
There might even be new varieties of Berries in the forest.
"And who knows, we might even find new species of Pokémon there."
That last point struck a chord with Professor Oliver.
From the information they had gathered in the city, they had learned about a Pokémon called Duraludon.
But they hadn't actually seen any in the city—it was possible they lived in the forest.
*****
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