The entire venue fell silent instantly.
Everyone watched the scene in stunned silence.
In broad daylight and under the watchful eyes of the public, someone actually dared to assault a police officer?
Officer Jenny reacted incredibly fast; the moment she was kicked, she used a standard grappling move to pin Fumino Huang firmly to the ground.
"You are under arrest! You have the right to remain silent, but anything you say can and will be used against you in a court of law!"
With a sharp 'click,' cold handcuffs locked around Fumino Huang's wrists.
Only then did the sharp pain and the cold sensation snap Fumino Huang out of his hypnotic state.
"Ah? Wait! Officer Jenny! It wasn't me! I... I don't know what happened!" Fumino Huang was completely bewildered. Seeing the way people looked at him like he was a madman and looking at Officer Jenny's face full of stern law enforcement, he was scared out of his wits.
"Save it for the station." Officer Jenny didn't listen to his explanation at all, briskly lifting him off the ground and dragging him toward the exit of the square.
Watching Fumino Huang being dragged away like a dead dog while incoherently shouting about being framed, Jiang Han took a sip of the juice on the table, feeling exceptionally refreshed.
A fly had been cleaned up just like that.
Moreover, it was personally cleaned up by the League's maintainer of order.
This feeling was truly a bit wonderful.
Looking at the smirking Inkay beside him, Jiang Han couldn't help but marvel that this little fellow was indeed quite black-bellied.
Jiang Han had only ordered it to make Fumino Huang act like a hooligan toward Officer Jenny, but Inkay did one better and directly controlled him to deliver a kick!
Jiang Han and Inkay glanced at each other, feeling a sense of being birds of a feather for some reason.
He turned his gaze back to the "Wenye electric three delicacies noodles" stall in the distance, which was currently in total chaos because their young master had been arrested.
A cold light flashed in Jiang Han's eyes.
The Wen Ye Family... the target of this mission happens to be you!
Just then, his gaze locked onto a figure.
In the crowd, that person seemed to carry a vacuum of tranquility around him; the surrounding clamor couldn't disturb him in the slightest.
Dressed in a well-tailored brown suit, his hair meticulously styled with wax, he held a glass of brightly colored juice that looked expensive at a glance.
It was Jiang Han's superior, Laic.
Jiang Han walked over inconspicuously. Their eyes met without any redundant pleasantries; Laic simply gave a slight nod, signaling him to follow.
They walked to a relatively secluded corner. Laic took a sip of his juice, his gaze indifferent as he watched the bustling scene on the central stage in the distance.
"Members of the Wen Ye Family usually keep a low profile and act secretively. They are only easiest to find on days like the Food Festival when they need to make public appearances for promotion." Laic's voice was flat, as if he were stating a matter that had nothing to do with him.
"Is there anything special about those electric three delicacies noodles?" Jiang Han asked, recalling Fumino Huang's smug, petty face.
Laic glanced at him, seemingly a bit surprised that he would ask in such detail.
"Publicly, they claim it can permanently improve the Electric-type aptitude of Pokémon. It's considered a rare treasure ingredient."
"Really?" Jiang Han's heart stirred. If it really had such an effect, the value of that secret recipe would be immeasurable.
"Fake." There was a hint of mockery in Laic's voice. "Team Rockets' technical department analyzed it long ago; it has no effect on improving aptitude at all. However, it can indeed quickly replenish the energy consumed by Electric-type Pokémon, and its effect is a few notches better than the pokéblocks on the market."
Jiang Han understood instantly.
"In other words, the biggest selling point of this thing is actually the taste?"
"Exactly." Laic nodded. "Violet Company invested massive resources to develop dozens of substitutes, but not a single food item could surpass it in taste.
For those Trainers who aren't short on money, giving their Pokémon partners the best taste is a pursuit in itself.
Therefore, we must get our hands on this secret recipe."
While they were talking, the host on the Food Court's central stage shouted the next name in a high-pitched voice:
"Next, let us welcome the representative of the Wen Ye Family, Mr. Wen Ye Bai, with warm applause to introduce their signature delicacy—electric three delicacies noodles!"
Jiang Han and Laic both turned their gazes toward the stage.
A young man wearing a white chef's uniform, looking quite presentable, stepped onto the stage with an arrogant smile exactly like Fumino Huang's.
He picked up the microphone and began to boast incessantly about the miraculous effects and long history of the electric three delicacies noodles, his words filled with disdain for other shops.
Watching the eloquent Wen Ye Bai on stage and then looking at the audience below who were being incited into a state of longing, Jiang Han only felt it was ironic.
These people would never know how many dirty deals and how much impending bloodshed were hidden behind this feast.
Wen Ye Bai's promotion lasted for over ten minutes before he finally bowed and left the stage amidst a round of applause.
"Follow him." Laic casually tossed his juice cup into a trash can, his tone brook no argument.
Like drops of ink blending into water, the two of them noiselessly joined the flow of people, tailing Wen Ye Bai from a distance.
That guy seemed to still be immersed in the pleasure of being the center of attention, humming a little tune as he walked toward a secluded alley behind the Food Court without any guard.
That area was the temporary rest area for the staff.
The moment Wen Ye Bai turned into the alley, a dark figure flashed out from the side, accurately striking the back of his neck with a hand-chop.
Wen Ye Bai didn't even make a sound before his body slumped down limply.
Jiang Han caught him in stride, dragging him like a sack as he and Laic quickly disappeared into the depths of the alley... "Splash!"
A handful of ice-cold water was splashed onto his face. Wen Ye Bai shuddered and woke up with a start.
He found himself tied to a tree with a rag stuffed in his mouth. They were in a dim little grove, and the distant clamor of the Food Court made the silence here feel even more eerie.
Two masked dark figures stood before him. The taller one was unhurriedly wiping his fingers.
"Mmph! Mmph-mmph!" Wen Ye Bai struggled violently, his eyes filled with terror and rage.
Jiang Han stepped forward and ripped the rag out of his mouth.
"Who are you people! Do you know who I am? I'm telling you, the Wen Ye Family will never let you off! You're dead!"
Having just woken up, Wen Ye Bai screamed at the top of his lungs, trying to use his family's name to scare them off.
Laic didn't even seem to want to talk to him; he simply stepped forward and grabbed his left hand.
"Crack!"
The crisp sound of a bone snapping rang out in the silent woods, sounding exceptionally piercing.
"Aah—!"
Wen Ye Bai's shout instantly turned into a shrill scream. His index finger was twisted at a bizarre angle, and the intense pain caused his entire face to contort, cold sweat instantly drenching his back.
"I'll only ask once." Laic's voice was cold and devoid of any emotion. "Where is the Wen Ye Family's headquarters? Where is the production factory for the electric three delicacies noodles?"
"I... I'll talk... I'll talk!"
Wen Ye Bai completely broke down. The fear of death and the unbearable pain left him unable to harbor even a hint of resistance.
"In... in the dense forest to the west of Mauville City. That's the family's private territory, and it's also... also the place where the noodles are produced!"
"Very good." Laic let go of his hand.
Wen Ye Bai panted heavily, tears and snot streaming down his face. Looking at the two devils before him, he pleaded while trembling:
"I've told you everything... I beg you, let me go... I promise I won't say a word about this..."
Laic didn't answer; he just turned his gaze toward Jiang Han.
This was a test.