"Wingull, use Brave Bird!"
Just then, a deep voice echoed from afar. A magnificent Wingull soared into the battlefield, eclipsing the sun and intercepting the imminent fatal blow.
"Wingull!"
Wingull flapped its wings, letting out a long cry that dispersed the air currents, forcing Jiang Mo and the others to temporarily halt their assault.
Not far away, a white-haired old man slowly approached them.
Jiang Mo and his group looked closely and realized that the Wingull was not merely a wild Pokemon; it clearly had a close connection with the white-haired old man.
And this Wingull, like the Excadrill, had many stripes on its body.
As Wingull slowly descended, Excadrill also gradually came to its side.
The old man slowly walked towards them, exuding a powerful aura, as if possessing an ineffable majesty.
Jiang Mo's gaze was sharp as he quickly analyzed the situation before him.
The white-haired old man was tall and walked with steady steps, possessing an extraordinary demeanor. He did not seem like an ordinary elder but rather a powerful individual who had experienced countless trials amidst the winds of change.
His deep eyes gleamed with wisdom, as if he could see through everything.
"Who are you?" The old man's voice was low and deep, carrying an invisible pressure.
Jiang Mo smiled slightly and gestured for everyone to stop.
He did not yet understand the old man's background. If he were to rashly become an enemy of this old man now, he would likely not fare well.
Jiang Mo's gaze remained sharp, and he responded calmly, "We are from the North America Alliance, here to find someone."
"Find someone?" The old man raised an eyebrow, a glint flashing in his eyes, and asked, "Who?"
"Dr. Bulano," Jiang Mo replied calmly.
Upon hearing that name, the old man's eyes instantly sharpened, as if the atmosphere of the entire island solidified because of his words.
The old man nodded slightly, seemingly surprised by Jiang Mo's answer, but did not say much.
He looked at the Excadrill and gently waved his hand; Excadrill obediently returned to his Poké Ball, and then he looked at Wingull.
"You've come at a good time. Since that's the case, follow me," the old man said calmly, yet with an unquestionable force.
"This is not the place to talk."
"Follow me."
The old man turned and walked with firm steps towards a certain direction on the island.
Jiang Mo pondered for a moment, then followed his steps.
Lingxi and the others exchanged glances and also followed closely behind.
Along the way, they traversed hidden paths, entering the depths of the island. Gradually, the surrounding jungle began to thin out, and the scenery ahead slowly changed.
As they approached their destination, a low humming sound faintly emanated from beneath the ground.
Finally, they arrived at what appeared to be the entrance to an ordinary rock cave.
The old man raised his hand and pressed a button next to the stone door. The rock wall slowly split open, revealing a passage.
"Come in."
The old man said nothing more and led them into this massive underground base hidden within the mountains.
As the large door slowly closed, Jiang Mo and his team finally entered the underground world.
The sight before them was somewhat shocking—this was not a simple basement, but a vast scientific research facility, filled with various advanced technological devices and experimental equipment.
At this moment, Jiang Mo already had a rough guess about the old man's identity.
A peculiar scent permeated the air, and they could even see some Pokémon placed in various complex research containers, lying quietly there.
"This is..." Lingxi couldn't help but ask softly.
"This is the fruit of my many years of research."
The old man replied calmly, "What you see here is just the tip of the iceberg."
"Then you are..." Chen Jiaxing also reacted at this moment.
"That's right, I am Dr. Bulano, the one you are looking for."
"What!" Lingxi and Bing Meng were both extremely shocked, never expecting that the person they were looking for was right in front of them.
Dr. Bulano ignored their surprise and led them deeper.
In various corners of the underground base, Jiang Mo saw some unusual scientific research facilities. Many Pokémon were placed in transparent glass containers, their bodies covered by a thin film, appearing to be undergoing some kind of experiment or receiving research.
There were also several people who looked like Researchers recording various data. Upon seeing Dr. Bulano, they all stopped what they were doing and greeted him.
Jiang Mo's gaze swept over these instruments one by one, a hint of subtle doubt and contemplation flashing in his eyes.
The environment here was, without a doubt, extremely secluded and highly confidential.
"These..." Jiang Mo's tone became serious, "Are these all experimental subjects?"
The old man looked at him, a complex emotion in his eyes: "Yes, every Pokémon here is the result of many years of research by me and my team."
"These little fellows were originally just ordinary Pokémon, but here, they have gained extraordinary abilities."
Jiang Mo secretly pondered that Dr. Bulano was clearly a rather dangerous existence. Not only did he have outstanding achievements in the field of scientific research, but he also possessed methods of Pokémon control and utilization that were unimaginable to ordinary people.
During the earlier battle with Excadrill and Wingull on the island, he also realized that the power of these Pokémon far exceeded the norm.
"Aren't you afraid that doing this will attract outside attention?"
Lingxi asked, observing the Pokémon trapped in the containers, and softly added, "These Pokémon don't seem like normal experimental subjects at all; there appear to be some abnormal signs."
A hidden glint flashed in Dr. Bulano's eyes, then he revealed a slight smile: "I have been researching Pokémon on Tan Shan Island for twenty years now. My dream is to create the most powerful existence in the world by collecting the genes of various Pokémon!"
"However, after all these years, I still haven't succeeded. At most, I've created some failed clones. Although their strength is Gym Leader Class, they are still too weak, and their lifespan is less than a week."
Jiang Mo calmly looked at him, gradually understanding.
Dr. Bulano's "research" clearly exceeded the normal scope of scientific research; this had already touched upon things at the level of the life domain.
"Dr. Bulano, your Excadrill and Wingull just now don't look like they only have a week's lifespan," Jiang Mo said, looking at him with doubt.
Dr. Bulano smiled and led them towards the core area of the underground base, where there was more Pokémon research data and experimental records.
"Excadrill and Wingull are not complete clones. They were originally my Pokémon; they just underwent a small modification by me. Otherwise, with their aptitude, they would never reach Gym Leader Class."
Dr. Bulano led everyone to a glass jar and said with immense excitement, "This, this is my proudest work..."