[This feels familiar… Didn't Feng-ge do this bit before?]
[Where even is this? Is he stranded?]
[If there's signal, he's fine. This ain't Robinson Crusoe.]
[Sun position suggests it's near domestic waters. He's close.]
[Glad he's safe. Thought he'd drop into the ocean for sure.]
[Would that be bad?]
[Nah. Feng-ge'd just pull an inflatable raft from his backpack.]
Su Feng twitched. Do you live in my head?
Scanning the endless sea, he pieced it together. Normally,秘境 exits matched their entrances. But the ghost ship drifted—its exit shifted with its location. The "women's restroom" portal had spat them onto this tiny island.
The island itself was barely a speck—a few coconut trees, no Pokémon in sight. Su Feng pulled out Old Xu's phone, enabling real-time tracking. Rescue would come soon.
"Ahhh." He flopped onto the sand, basking in the sun. This秘境 trip had paid off: Gengar's evolution, a Mega Stone…
He held the gleaming gem to the light. "What accessory would Gengar like?"
To his left, Vulpix chased crabs in the sand, leaving tiny paw prints. Combusken meditated beside him. Only Gengar was missing.
"Where's Gengar?"
Panicking, he sat up—until a shadow stirred.
"Gengar? (What's up?)"
She tilted her head, emerging from his shadow.
Su Feng: "…"
Right. New evolution perk.
Gengar waved, sinking back into the shadow—a cozy, spacious hideout she'd just discovered.
An hour later, a military helicopter descended, sand swirling.
Jin, piloting, jerked a thumb backward. "Get in, Su Feng!"
Su Feng boarded, rolling his eyes. "Get in"… I'm not logging into a PC.
"Today's秘境 livestream ends here. Remember: If you enter one, stay put and wait for help. I'm Su Feng, your 'ordinary' Pokémon researcher. See you next time."
"P.S.—When I return, I'll raffle 10 Poké Balls and 3 rare Premier Balls. Don't miss it!"
Ignoring the chat's wails, he ended the stream.
In the helicopter, Su Feng bowed. "Sorry, Jin. Won't ditch you again."
Jin shrugged. "No hard feelings. Just… warn me next time."
After returning empty-handed, he'd expected reprimand. Instead, Old Chen had chuckled. "Su Feng's a free spirit. No one cages that."
Jin had monitored the stream obsessively until Su Feng escaped, then volunteered to retrieve him.
"Anyway," Jin said, "you're back. That's what matters."
Su Feng smiled. The concern was genuine.
After landing, Jin drove him home. Before parting, Su Feng handed him three Luxury Balls.
"These are comfier for Pokémon. To transfer Ponyta, break the Hisui Ball and recapture her. But…" He paused. "The Hisui Ball's unique. Its value isn't in function, but memory."
Jin nodded. He'd never discard it—the weight in his pocket was proof of his bond.
Alone at home, Su Feng arranged 10 Poké Balls on his table. Time to fulfill promises.
"System. Exchange three Premier Balls."
[Error. Premier Balls require special conditions.]
"…What conditions?"
[Buy 10 Poké Balls, get 1 Premier Ball free!]
"Then where's my past bonus?!"
[…Oops. Forgot.]
A white Premier Ball materialized midair.
Su Feng stared. Then, slowly, he laughed—a deep, ominous chuckle.
The System: […Uh-oh.]