The contents of Zhuangzi's "Art of Nourishing Life" were not extensively known to Xia Huanao, so he briefly touched upon them before changing the subject. The most important matter now was not theoretical philosophical research, but cleaning up the battlefield.
A place that would use something as outlandish as a "Gross Beast" to guard its entrance could not be a casual operation. Given its research center-like appearance, it was undoubtedly a secret base for some scientific organization. Any discoveries made here, if sold to Meng Tianya, could make him rich, and the information alone should be enough for him to splurge for a considerable period!
With this thought, Xia Huanao had his Two-tailed Monster keep watch over the stitched-together, grotesque Gross Beast, while he and his other Pokémon searched the rooms.
Xia Huanao was well aware that a research facility of this scale couldn't be moved entirely, especially from such an inconvenient location. The entrance within the trees was not suitable for large-scale relocation, making it impossible to move any equipment. While some of these people might have gone mad and decided to dismantle everything for removal, Xia Huanao believed they wouldn't go to such lengths. An organization capable of creating a Gross Beast surely wouldn't be so short on funds that they'd need to haul away these items. Besides, there were many ways to destroy evidence.
Therefore, fueled by various chaotic thoughts, Xia Huanao and his Pokémon meticulously searched everything in the rooms, as if they wanted to dismantle the entire building from ceiling to sewer.
Though this method seemed foolish, and indeed was, its effectiveness was undeniable. Under Xia Huanao and his group's thorough sweep, they finally found a button. Upon pressing it, various walls "revealed their true form," transforming the previously empty rooms into a laboratory.
Xia Huanao felt an urge to curse. "Do you even know what you're designing? A laboratory, do you understand? A twenty-square-meter laboratory, with all the experimental equipment removed, and that bed in the corner, there's not much space left. How is anyone supposed to live here? Is this a joke?"
Xia Huanao merely grumbled a few words in his mind. After all, he was a thief. Thieves only cared about whether there was money in the rooms they broke into; they didn't concern themselves with whether the place was habitable. Otherwise, why would tomb raiders exist in the world?
Xia Huanao rummaged through the research facility's equipment, item by item. Anything that wasn't a large piece of equipment, he took. Things like research notes, research notes, and more research notes...
"Damn it, why is it all research notes? Can't anything else appear?"
"You're dreaming. This is all you can find in a research facility. It seems you won't get rich in one go. Let's just see how much these can sell for," the System remarked, with an air of amused detachment.
Xia Huanao nodded, stuffing all the documents from the research facility into his bag. Then, he turned his attention to the Gross Beast, which was being held by the Two-tailed Monster and receiving slaps.
Xia Huanao watched the Two-tailed Monster slapping with both hands and thought, "You're really going through with this, aren't you? Even now, you're still doing this? Does it really feel that good?"
For a fleeting moment, Xia Huanao felt an impulse to join in, but it was just a passing thought. Ultimately, he did not cross the line of being a human. However, not acting did not mean Xia Huanao relinquished ownership of the sludge on the ground.
Xia Huanao opened his backpack and took out a metal case, fifty centimeters square and over a meter tall, placing it on the ground. The System looked at it with surprise. "What is this thing?"
Xia Huanao replied with a serious expression, "A box, can't you tell?"
"Yes, I know it's a box, but what are you doing with such a box?"
Xia Huanao opened the lid of the box. "Of course, it's for putting in things that are a bit difficult to pack. I can't put everything in my bag, you know, these bags are hard to clean."
He then had the Two-tailed Monster, who was having fun, clean up the puddle of the Gross Beast on the ground and put it all into the box. Afterward, it scanned the entire laboratory again before leaving. Xia Huanao followed the same path back up the ladder to the tree and glanced at the sky. "Time flies a bit fast. I need to hurry back, or it will be quite troublesome."
With that, Xia Huanao stretched his arms and legs and sped back to his RV.
Back in the RV, Xia Huanao looked at the empty road and the empty tree and couldn't help but ask, "Where did my RV go?"
As soon as he finished speaking, the scenery in front of him blurred, and the RV reappeared. Along with the RV, Mew appeared, sitting on top of the RV with a sulky expression. Xia Huanao understood. It turned out Mew had used some means to hide both the vehicle and the people in the tree, which explained why no one had shown up for so long.
"Mew, I'm back. Why are you unhappy here by yourself?"
Mew floated to Xia Huanao's side and pointed to the potted chrysanthemum it was creating nearby. "It's not pretty, not pretty at all. I can't understand why."
Xia Huanao tilted his head. "Well, how should I put it? It might not be pretty because the people who grew it weren't pretty. It has nothing to do with you, Mew."
Xia Huanao's few words quickly resolved Mew's doubts, and he got into the RV to continue their journey with Mew. Originally intending to head south back to Jinghai City, Xia Huanao corrected the RV's direction and set course for Mu Zhishui's experimental base on the outskirts of Linglong City.
With one hand on the steering wheel, Xia Huanao glanced into the rearview mirror. Mew was sitting with Diancie, perhaps discussing matters between young girls. Xia Huanao pulled out his phone and made a call. "Hello, Old Meng? Do you want a meritorious deed?"
Meng Tianya was busy in his office dealing with the "historical issues" left by Xia Huanao. Hearing Xia Huanao mention a meritorious deed, his eyes lit up. "There's such a thing? Then I am truly unworthy."
Xia Huanao tilted his head. "Oh? Unworthy? Then I'll go to Adou. I believe Adou can also handle such a small matter."
Meng Tianya sneered on the other end of the phone. What did he mean, Adou could handle it? You called me personally, so this matter can't be small. "Tell me the location, and I'll be there now..."
...
An hour or two later, Xia Huanao, Meng Tianya, and Mu Zhishui were sitting together in a private room at a specialty restaurant. Meng Tianya looked at the two of them. "So, you didn't really have anything important to discuss, you just wanted to con me into a meal, right? Otherwise, why would you call us all here?"
Xia Huanao shook his head. "You're overthinking it. I'm here to discuss business seriously. Didn't you see I haven't ordered anything yet? Once we start talking about this matter, you won't have the appetite to eat."
With that, Xia Huanao placed the box from his backpack on the floor of the room. "You should have been to the place I mentioned. Have you apprehended those bandits yet?"
Meng Tianya had no interest in dealing with petty thieves. His eyes were fixed on the tightly sealed metal case. "Those things are as they are, easily dealt with. They're just highway robbers, not a major accomplishment. You can just watch the news these days. What's inside your box, though?"
Xia Huanao opened the box. "An artificial Pokémon."
Hearing this, Mu Zhishui, who had been sitting at the table, also became interested. She occasionally researched artificial Pokémon, but besides Arceus, she hadn't made much progress. Now that there was new "research material," how could she not be interested?
Xia Huanao opened the box in front of the two of them. "Take a look."
The two glanced at the Gross Beast inside the box and both frowned. Xia Huanao then closed the box. "See, I told you I was here to discuss matters, and I wouldn't have an appetite for eating once it started."
Meng Tianya was startled by the Gross Beast's appearance. "So, where did this thing come from?"
As soon as he finished speaking, Mu Zhishui stood up and left. She returned a few minutes later. Xia Huanao asked with concern, "Are you alright? Were you too disgusted?"
Mu Zhishui nodded. The Gross Beast, having been cooped up in the case for several hours, was completely unbearable to look at. It was already abstract in appearance, contrary to Mu Zhishui's aesthetic sensibilities, and now it had let itself go completely, making it indescribable.
"Take your time. There are many days ahead."
With that, Xia Huanao told them the specific origin of the Gross Beast and handed over all the materials he had found. "So, this is quite a meritorious deed, isn't it?"
Meng Tianya knew something was wrong halfway through. Looking at the materials, he sighed helplessly. "What kind of meritorious deed is this?"
"Saving the entire Minglong Kingdom, no, a great meritorious deed of saving the entire Lingyao Star! Do you really have no thoughts on this? Do you think I don't know the background of this specialty restaurant? This is the territory of the Four Great Families."
Meng Tianya listened to Xia Huanao's words, considered for a moment, and then gathered all the materials. "Alright, I'll bet on this with you personally. As for the family side, I'll inform them."
Mu Zhishui had also recovered from the intense shock caused by the Gross Beast. "So, you intend to have me continue research on this basis?"
"No, this item's serial number is 1438. I don't know how far this sequence goes, but you can't let all items in this sequence burn their brains out. Also, I'm not entirely at ease with the Four Great Families."
Xia Huanao concisely stated the purpose of inviting Mu Zhishui. Meng Tianya gave him a sideways glance. "You're quite bold, speaking of distrusting us on our own territory."
Xia Huanao spread his hands. "Well, that's how it is in my opinion. Let's call it a day."
Mu Zhishui used her handbag to store the box and then teleported back to the laboratory. Meng Tianya also collected the extensive data and left the private room.
Looking at the private room where he was now alone, Xia Huanao clenched his fist as his hand retreated into his pocket. "I'm sorry, but this time I still choose to be a thief with principles."