The second location was a snow mountain.
Yekaterina had Jynx and Tropius search around, and confirmed that there was no Ice Stone vein in that place.
Finally, the two headed towards the third location.
The second location was not far from the third, as both were located within a snow mountain range.
The endless snow mountains stretched as far as the eye could see.
“The Qingyun Mountains actually have snow mountains of this scale; that guy's map wasn't complete.” Lu Li looked annoyed.
Yekaterina remained calm, “That's normal. Elite-level Pidgeot probably wouldn't be able to fly over this snow mountain range.”
Hearing this, Lu Li asked worriedly, “Dragonite should be fine, right?”
Yekaterina didn't speak, but instead turned her gaze to Dragonite.
“Roar~”
Dragonite roared and shook its head, indicating it couldn't do it.
“Dragonite means that this place is too cold, it can't last too long, and can't take us across this snow mountain range.” Jynx translated from the side.
Yekaterina didn't speak, but looked down at the map in her hand.
The map in the tablet wasn't complete; this area was just a white blank.
At first, Yekaterina thought this white area was an ice field, but now it seemed it was just a snow mountain range.
Dragonite, with its four-times weakness to ice, could fly very high, but couldn't break through the atmosphere. Since this area was already at a high altitude, coupled with extremely cold temperatures,
it was normal for Dragonite not to be able to fly for too long in such an environment.
“The location you marked should be in the center of the snow mountain. To prevent accidents, how about I send you back first? I'll go alone with Dragonite.” Yekaterina said to Lu Li.
It wasn't that she thought Lu Li was a burden, but she didn't want to delay Lu Li's college entrance exam.
Lu Li's miraculous surveying skills had already proven his value in the secret realm.
Most importantly, Yekaterina also felt that there was the highest probability of finding a Haxorus in this snow mountain range.
Lu Li nodded in agreement.
He couldn't abandon the college entrance exam to help Yekaterina, and besides, whether he was there for the next adventure or not, it would be the same.
“Then I'll have to trouble you.” Lu Li said.
Yekaterina said very sincerely, “My intuition tells me that I will have great gains in this snow mountain range, so you have already fulfilled your promise.”
Lu Li just smiled and didn't speak.
The more sincere Yekaterina appeared, the more uneasy he felt.
The only fortunate thing was that although he had a little conscience, it definitely wasn't much.
Just like that, Yekaterina sent Lu Li out of the secret realm.
And to keep her promise, Yekaterina accompanied Lu Li for a stroll in the market.
In fact, as Yekaterina said, there was nothing to be found in this market.
After a fruitless stroll, Lu Li came to terms with it.
Those things that had no direct effect on Pokémon, even if trainers saw them, they probably wouldn't take them, let alone exchange them for anything.
What he had thought before was completely wishful thinking.
The depressed Lu Li was sent home by Yekaterina.
When he arrived home, the time outside was already 12 o'clock at night.
“I wish you success in the college entrance exam. I hope we meet again after your regional competition.”
After Yekaterina finished speaking, she rode Dragonite and disappeared into the night.
Lu Li sighed.
Beauty is precious, love is more valuable, but for the sake of immortality, both can be discarded!
Lu Li didn't go back to his bedroom to rest, but went to the underground alchemy room.
It wasn't until noon that Lu Li came out of the basement.
Just as Lu Li arrived in the yard and was about to go to the orchard, he ran into Wei, who was bringing Ekko in.
“I saw you had something to do in the basement, so I didn't disturb you. I specially went to pick up Ekko.” Wei said with a smile after seeing Lu Li.
Lu Li nodded.
“Hello, Lu Li, long time no see.” Ekko smiled heartily and said, “I'm here for the interview.”
“Let's sit down and talk.”
Lu Li pointed to the sofa and said.
Ekko nodded quickly, then sat upright on the sofa.
Originally, Ekko didn't dare to sit, after all, he was quite dirty.
The Wildfire Gang's source of income mainly relied on scavenging garbage, and it was normal for Ekko, who spent years in garbage dumps, to be dirty.
“I heard you're planning to build a ranch and need trustworthy people to help?” Ekko asked nervously.
Lu Li nodded, then said with a serious expression, “What I want is not a hired worker.”
“Wei has already told me.” Ekko nodded.
Ekko said with utmost seriousness, “As long as the conditions you give are okay, I am willing to sell myself to you.”
“Tell me your conditions.” Lu Li handed the initiative to Ekko.
Ekko said seriously, “I want to support my younger siblings.”
Lu Li: “I can provide job opportunities for your younger siblings who have the ability to act, and also give them the opportunity to become trainers.”
“Then what is the price?” Ekko asked.
“Loyalty to me.”
“Like vassals in ancient times.”
Lu Li nodded.
Ekko complained helplessly, “You're even more ruthless than those families who provide sponsorship.”
Lu Li didn't speak.
After a moment, Ekko took a heavy breath, and then said solemnly, “I agree.”
Seeing that Ekko had already agreed, Lu Li quickly entered the role and said directly, “You can move your Wildfire Gang to Golden Rooster Village. By the way, how many teenagers in your Wildfire Gang are almost 16 years old?”
“There are 4 who are almost 16 years old.” Ekko said.
Lu Li asked again, “What about trainers?”
Ekko: “They left…”
Hearing this, Lu Li frowned. If he remembered correctly, there should be two trainers in the Wildfire Gang besides Ekko, after all, Ekko brought back a Grimer Pokémon egg.
Ekko explained, “They left the Wildfire Gang to travel after becoming trainers.”
Hearing this, Lu Li frowned.
“So many years have passed, many children in your Wildfire Gang should have gone out to travel, but none of them have returned?” Lu Li couldn't help but ask.
“None.”
Ekko shook his head with a bitter face.
The room fell silent again.
Lu Li didn't know how to speak.
Because this question was rather awkward. Over the years, teenagers in the Wildfire Gang had gone out to travel every year, but none of them had returned.
There were only two possible outcomes.
The first was no return, which meant an accident happened.
In this world, eight out of ten self-taught trainers who go out to travel don't come back.
The second was no return, which meant ingratitude.
Those teenagers who became trainers wanted to separate themselves from the Wildfire Gang, so…
Lu Li was more inclined towards the former.
After all, this was a modern society, even if a person was wasteful, it should be no problem to make a phone call back during the trip to ask, right?
No news meant only the possibility of an accident.
“So was it an accident? I remember you should have a mobile phone, right? Hasn't anyone called back?” Lu Li couldn't help but ask.
Ekko, lying weakly on the sofa, said softly, “I don't know, but I'd rather they despise their past and don't want to call back.”
Wei analyzed from the side, “Could it be because they don't have communication tools?”
“There are public telephones in the Kyushu region, every city, even small towns have public telephones.” Lu Li rolled his eyes at Wei speechlessly.
