Heijin Coal Mine.
Crystal-like stones were embedded everywhere, even at the top of the rock walls.
Therefore, one needed to be careful of their head while walking, especially Li Wei, who was already quite tall.
Li Wei had already sent out his Pokemon to investigate everywhere.
Dragapult was the first to shake its head.
"Grulu~"
Dragapult did not sense any Ghost-type energy within this cave.
Based on this, a Rift to the Spirit World could probably be ruled out.
Li Wei wondered, besides the Spirit World, could there be a possibility of the Reverse World, where the 'Platnium Dragon' Giratina lived?
But judging from the reactions of Dragapult and Drakloak, this probability was also low.
Arcanine and Lucario had not found anything yet either.
As soon as they heard that Steven had an idea, Li Wei and Piao Tai's attention shifted to him.
Steven put away his glasses, his gaze fixed on the mirror-like stone that reflected his face.
"Have you heard of the Reflection Cave in the Kalos region?"
Piao Tai's eyes were full of confusion, "Reflection Cave?"
Li Wei nodded slightly, "I think I've heard of it."
Li Wei did indeed vaguely remember the name Reflection Cave, but it was just an impression.
Steven explained, "Based on the current conclusion, this is the same as the reflection stone inside the Reflection Cave near Soro City."
reflection stone? Li Wei pondered, lightly stroking his chin.
Piao Tai pressed on, "reflection stone? Is there anything special about it?"
Steven, uncharacteristically, made a joke, "Does being able to serve as a full-length mirror for girls count?"
Piao Tai's tense nerves immediately relaxed, and his gloved fist clenched.
"Mr. Steven Stone, this is no time for jokes!"
Even Lucario was almost knocked off balance by Steven.
Steven said softly, "Piao Tai, I know you are worried, but being tense doesn't help."
Steven had noticed early on that Piao Tai was very tense.
With people missing, Steven was also worried.
But he believed that being tense was not conducive to the search efforts.
"Piao Tai, sometimes the more eager you are, the more likely you are to miss clues right in front of you."
Piao Tai took a deep breath, relaxing slightly, "Thank you for your guidance, Mr. Steven Stone."
Steven smiled, "It's not guidance. Based on the current conclusion, the reflection stone doesn't have any special qualities."
Steven had been to the Kalos region and studied the Reflection Cave and reflection stone.
Steven shined his flashlight around the cave, the beam sweeping over the mirror-like crystal stones.
"The stones inside Reflection Cave are different from common crystals and gems; their surface is like a mirror, hence they are called reflection stones."
"And just as I said, the reflection stone only serves as a full-length mirror. Perhaps it has other uses, but we haven't discovered them yet."
Through visual inspection and touch, Steven could only draw this conclusion for now.
This place, like the Reflection Cave in Kalos, was also a Reflection Cave.
Piao Tai looked at Steven with some bewilderment.
"Then why are people disappearing here? There have already been three."
Steven's expression on his face suddenly became serious.
"That's the answer we need to keep searching for. I'll be staying here for this period."
Piao Tai, wearing a hard hat, stood at attention and bowed to Steven.
"Thank you very much!"
Li Wei added, "The good news is, there should be no Rift to the Spirit World here."
Li Wei gently stroked Drakloak, whose head was resting on his shoulder.
"Drakloak and Dragapult both said there's no Ghost-type energy here, so even if they disappeared, they shouldn't have been swallowed into the Spirit World."
Steven nodded slightly, "That's indeed good news. So it can be done this way."
In a word: humanity's development of Pokemon is far less than 1%!
This also indirectly showed Li Wei's understanding of Pokemon and his active thinking.
Steven was increasingly able to understand why Qinglv and Lance held Li Wei in such high regard.
Steven suggested, "How about we search together?"
Li Wei nodded, "Alright."
Although Li Wei had also been searching around just now, he was just doing a cursory look, mainly relying on Arcanine and the others.
"Come back for now, Drakloak, Dragapult."
Li Wei recalled the mother and child, Dragapult and Drakloak, into their Luxury Balls.
Since no Ghost-type energy was sensed, they wouldn't be needed for now.
The Reflection Cave was actually quite large, with branching paths.
Li Wei was able to find his way back to the starting point thanks to Lucario's Aura sensing.
In front were Arcanine and Metagross, beside him was Lucario.
Li Wei, Steven, and Piao Tai began to explore the Reflection Cave together.
Standing at a three-way intersection, Li Wei tapped the rock wall.
"Do you think this was dug out by Steelix or Onix?"
Steven mused, "I lean towards it being here originally, but the reason for its appearance… I don't know yet."
No matter how extensive Steven's knowledge base was, it couldn't change the fact that he had just arrived here.
Piao Tai shook his head, "I did think that, but I haven't found any traces of Onix or other Pokemon moving."
Steven suggested, "How about we split up? There are exactly three branching paths."
Li Wei turned to look at him, "I wonder if you've seen horror movies?"
Steven looked bewildered, "Horror movies?"
Li Wei said eerily, "Those who split up always end up dead."
Steven gave a stiff smile, "Then let's go together."
From Steven's laughter, Li Wei sensed his will to survive.
Piao Tai sighed, "So Mr. Steven Stone gets scared too."
"..."
Clearly, Piao Tai's will to survive was not high.
After Li Wei and the others entered one of the branching paths,
One of the reflection stones at the intersection rippled like water…
"Kohkin?!"
Metagross, who had been using its psychic powers to detect energy changes in the surroundings, immediately turned its head.
Lucario suddenly turned around.
(Something's happening!)
"Beep, beep, beep…"
Steven's energy detector also reacted.
Glancing at the detector, Steven said loudly, "Go back, there's a reaction at the intersection!"
The three people and their Pokemon quickly retreated.
Steven ran, his eyes fixed on the energy detector's readings.
The energy detector's reaction grew more and more intense.
"Beep, beep, beep…"
Arcanine ran ahead, leading the way.
The moment Li Wei and the others ran out of the branching path, they saw an unbelievable scene.
The surface of the reflection stone rippled like water, and two figures appeared inside!
"Piao Tai and Donggua?"
Inside the reflection stone,
Piao Tai's father, Donggua, the Gym Leader of the Canalave Gym, affectionately put his arm around Piao Tai's shoulder, and the two laughed heartily together.
Li Wei, Steven, and Piao Tai stared at each other in bewilderment.
Arcanine's head darted back and forth between Piao Tai beside them and Piao Tai inside the reflection stone.
!!!∑(ﾟДﾟノ)ノ
Piao Tai clutched his head, scratching his ears and temples.
"Impossible, absolutely impossible!"
Steven was momentarily at a loss.
"What… what's going on?"
Piao Tai declared self-righteously, "My relationship with my father could absolutely not be this good!"
"..."
What kind of family drama is this?!
ヽ(｀Д´)ﾉ ︵ ┻━┻ ┻━┻