Poachers, an organization almost all Pokémon enthusiasts deeply resent.
Their targets are not only wild Pokémon but also rare Pokémon captured by people.
In China, once poachers are discovered, there is zero tolerance, and they are immediately subjected to the most severe punishment.
However, in other countries, poachers have always been rampant.
Mu Li was not dealing with poachers for the first time.
The technology company he previously attacked housed an unknown number of poaching teams.
Ironically, the financial backers behind these poachers were usually large foreign companies.
For example, large auction houses, biotechnology companies, and so on.
Mu Li just didn't expect to encounter poachers even when he was traveling.
At the same time, dozens of kilometers away, a lead-grey sky pressed heavily on the undulating white wilderness.
Deep within this seemingly lifeless ice field, a poacher's lair, the Ice Fang Organization, lay dormant.
The Ice Fang Organization is a world-renowned poacher organization; they not only possess a powerful financial chain but also have extremely powerful modern military equipment.
Rather than calling them a poacher organization, it would be more accurate to call them a well-known mercenary organization.
As long as they are paid, they can appear anywhere in the world, helping any country or organization wage war.
But no one knew that the headquarters of the Ice Fang Organization was established near the Arctic Circle, a military base built relying on a huge glacial ice cave.
The entrance to the base was cleverly disguised as a giant ice crevice; if one didn't enter for exploration, no one would discover that a military base was hidden beneath this glacier.
Heavy alloy gates were embedded in the solid ice, and after entering, there was the main passage, with automatic monitoring equipment and short-barreled cannons hidden behind the alloy passage at regular intervals.
Inside and outside the base, flying drones were constantly scanning, and infrared scanners on the walls were also working 24 hours a day to prevent invisible Pokémon from entering.
This place could basically be called a military fortress.
Inside the fortress, a man codenamed Ice Axe stood in front of the huge curved screen in the center of the command room.
The screen was divided into dozens of frames, displaying real-time dynamics from all parts of the base, inside and out.
The images showed patrol teams outside, as well as empty base passages, with occasional patrolling soldiers appearing, and various Pokémon imprisoned in the base, currently cowering in their cages, and in the most central image, a very large Avalugg lay weakly on the ground.
His body was covered with various tubes, and his originally crystal-clear body was scarred everywhere.
Unknown tubes constantly drew energy from him, and his body couldn't even maintain a standing position; he could only lie on the ground.
An Avalugg in this state should have been a overlord of a region, but where was his overlord's prestige now?
His body was bound by mysterious chains, and his limbs were fitted with four rings, tightly trapping him.
Ice Axe was burly, wearing a special white polar combat suit, with a roaring bear head insignia carved on his epaulets.
He had a hideous scar on his face, stretching from his temple to his jaw.
"This Avalugg is almost at its limit; extract enough energy, but don't kill him. If he dies, he won't be worth anything." Ice Axe sneered, then changed the subject, "Have you found that Articuno yet?"
"Yes, Leader! That Articuno, along with that group of Ice-type Pokémon, has disappeared." A cold response came from his subordinate on the communication channel, "We suspect they are hiding beneath the ice, and it will take some time to find them."
"What a bunch of good-for-nothings, they can't even catch an Articuno." Ice Axe snorted, "Hurry up and find him."
About five kilometers from the Ice Fang base, beneath a huge ice rock sheltered from the wind, Mu Li and Empoleon were looking in the direction of the Ice Fang base.
"Is that it?" Mu Li frowned; clearly, from the outside, it looked like an ordinary glacier, with nothing noteworthy.
"We found it before; our companions were captured inside." Empoleon confirmed.
Gardevoir's figure appeared beside Mu Li: "That should be the Ice Fang Organization's base. I just performed a psychic scan, but my psychic power has difficulty penetrating the outer defenses."
Mu Li frowned: "A militarized war camp? As expected of one of the world's top mercenary organizations; just a camp, yet the defensive equipment is so complete."
"Invisibility probably won't allow us to get close." Gardevoir looked straight ahead, her gaze seemingly piercing several kilometers, directly seeing the Ice Fang Organization's gate, "They definitely have basic infrared displays, and additionally, energy detection devices are hidden in the ground; once any Pokémon uses Dig or other skills to pass through, they will be detected by the instruments."
Mu Li couldn't help but frown.
"Besides that, a large number of Magnezone and Magneton are floating in the sky; their radar covers 24 hours, so the sky is also out of the question." Gardevoir analyzed.
"What a tight defense, can't go up, no way to go underground…" Mu Li couldn't help but exclaim, "It seems getting in won't be easy."
"However, our goal is to infiltrate as much as possible and conduct a rescue. Everything else can be discussed after all the Pokémon are safe." Mu Li instructed.
The next second, Ditto, who was originally in his backpack, suddenly appeared and attached itself to Mu Li's body.
After a period of squirming, Mu Li's appearance completely changed, turning into an unfamiliar man, also wearing the special white combat uniform of the Ice Fang Organization's outdoor patrol team.
"It's just…" Mu Li suddenly found himself in a predicament; he currently didn't have any Ice-type Pokémon.
According to his plan, he would first pretend to be a member of the Ice Fang Organization, capture an Ice-type Pokémon, and blend into the base.
If he didn't have an Ice-type Pokémon, walking in like this would be too abrupt and easily arouse suspicion from others.
Empoleon had not yet left: "Let me help you get in."
"This…" Mu Li was somewhat stunned, "Are you sure? This is very dangerous."
Empoleon nodded and said, "To rescue our companions, this sacrifice is nothing."
Towards Mu Li, Empoleon seemed to have full confidence in him, a confidence that perhaps stemmed from Articuno.
Seeing Empoleon's resolve, Mu Li nodded: "Remember our goal, and proceed according to the plan."