Feng Che retrieved the Inspector Badge from his storage bracer and handed it to the nearby Slowbro. With a flash of Teleport, the Psychic-type delivered the badge directly into Lorelei's hand.
Lorelei inspected the emblem carefully, her eyes lingering on the name "Lance" engraved into the metal.
Lance must place great trust in this young man to hand over his personal League badge, Lorelei thought. I suppose I should do him a favor and let this go.
"What is your name?" Lorelei asked, her tone noticeably softer.
"My name is Feng Che," he replied steadily.
"Yes... I have heard Lance mention that name before," Lorelei stated, her gaze turning sharp again. "I don't care why you are here, but my activities training this Ice Legion must remain a secret. I will have Slowbro place a Psychic Brand on your mind. Should you attempt to leak information about this place, the brand will trigger a mental collapse."
"No problem," Feng Che said, remaining calm.
He submitted to the branding, and only after the mental seal was set did Lorelei's tense expression fully relax.
"You may go. I don't know what draws you to the depths of Icefall Cave, but as a friend of Lance, I will give you a piece of advice: the wild Pokémon deeper in are high-level and ruthless. You are on your own."
She tossed the badge back to Feng Che. "The Pokémon under my direct control will not attack you. However, a large portion of the residents in this cave are feral and harbor a deep hatred for humans. Be careful. And if you see Lance, tell him that everything is proceeding according to the plan—we need him back to take charge of the situation."
Lorelei snapped her fingers, and the Slowbro stepped aside, clearing the path.
"Thank you, Elite Lorelei. I'll take my leave then." Feng Che waved with a smile and vanished into the crystalline tunnels.
The Hall of Mirrors
The passages of Icefall Cave were a dizzying labyrinth. The ice walls were so clear and polished they acted as mirrors, reflecting images back and forth. Walking through the corridors, Feng Che saw thousands of his own reflections staring back at him from every angle.
If not for his psychic abilities and spatial awareness, he would have been hopelessly lost within minutes. As he ventured deeper, he stumbled upon a chilling sight: several trainers were perfectly preserved inside blocks of solid ice.
Curiously, these frozen trainers bore peaceful, satisfied smiles. There was no trace of the panic, pain, or terror one would expect from a sudden icy demise. Their expressions were uncannily serene.
There's something very wrong here, Feng Che thought, his brow furrowing. Being frozen alive doesn't result in such a peaceful look. This has to be the work of a Pokémon with a very specific, perhaps hallucinogenic, ability.
He thought of the Pokémon native to these depths. Jynx were known to use moves like Lovely Kiss to induce a deep sleep or trance before freezing their targets.
"Stay alert, everyone," he whispered to his team. "We're entering the territory of something that wants us to sleep forever."