Julian carefully stowed away a dozen Drago grass, a rare pnt that could heal or strengthen a Dragon-type Pokémon's essehese herbs were so precious they were usually sold by the leaf.

  Each Drago grass had about eight to ten leaves, and a single leaf could go for around 30 to 40 million. Finding these in a regur market was nearly impossible—they were usually only seen in top au houses.

  Julian hadn't expected to find a small patch o grass here. The pnts were hidden exceptionally well; without the Dowsing Mae, who would've thought an unremarkable mountain ravine would hide them—and in such quantity, too.

  While Drago grass' primary use was to restore missing Dragon esse could also help boost a Dragon-type's affinity. However, this effect was retively minor.

  For Julian's Dragonite, with its exceptionally strong Dragon essehese would be little more than snacks unless it was araordinary Dragon-type treasure.

  "It's probably time to leave the secret realm"

  ting today, Julian had been in this advanced-level secret realm for 28 days. The limit for staying in such a pce was 30 days. Exceeding this time would result iies proportional to the extra time spent inside.

  Of course, if you did on time, either you were already dead, or you had chosen to live in the secret realm permaly.

  The first case didn't need discussing.

  For the sed case, unless you could hide exceptionally well, you'd eventually be discovered by the periodic patrol teams sent by the realm's administrators.

  Every year, quite a few people tired of society would choose to live i realms.

  But these people usually stayed in low- or intermediate-level realms, where the risks weren't too high.

  Only promi or talerainers could enter high-level realms, so why would anyone give up a good life just to hide away here?

  If you o stay long-term in a realm to push your limits, the Trainer Association could uand that.

  You'd just o apply for permission to live in a high-level realm and could stay there indefinitely, if they approved.

  Julian's current position was about half a day's journey from the realm's exit. After leaving, he po take a day off and then head back to school.

  "Meta!!"

  "Dra!!"

  Just as Julian nning his steps, Metagross and Dragonite suddenly let out warning roars and instantly positiohemselves between him and the perceived threat.

  Following their gaze, Julian saw a Fearow swiftly approag. About thirty meters away, it stopped, and a figure leaped down from its back.

  When Julian saw who it was, his eyes narrowed slightly.

  This person wasn't here with good iions.

  "Such a vast realm, yet you mao find me. Don't tell me it's a ce—Alex."

  The visitor was her than Alex, whom Julian had previously defeated, stripping him of his spot oeam.

  Judging by the expression on Alex's face, it was clear he'd e for him, though Julian couldn't uand how he'd found him.

  Advanced-level secret realms covered vast areas, often as rge as aire province, and with few people entering, it seemed improbable for Alex to find him purely by ce.

  Julian was certain he'd used some method to track him down.

  Alex's seemingly calm gaze betrayed a deep rese.

  Though he came from an average background, Alex had been exceptionally lucky, receiving guidance from skilled individuals along the way. This had allowed him, despite his humble ins, to bee the freshman representative during his first year and maintain that status through his third year.

  In both his freshman and sophomore years, he had made the school team, though he hadn't qualified to pete. By his third year, however, his skills had soared, and he became the sed-stro oeam, earning a spot to pete.

  Winning the uy league for Imperial Uy would have granted him rewards that could push his abilities to new heights, perhaps even to the level of ae trainer.

  Yet, Julian had taken this spot from him—a defeat made all the worse by the fact that Julian had won it fair and square, demonstrating absolute strength.

  'The freshman representative had beatehird year representative.'

  'A noble family's prodigy had bested a hardw talent from humble beginnings.'

  During that time, he'd bee a "celebrity" on campus.

  Even the members of the "Civilian Society," a group he had founded, had lost faith in him despite their cims of support. Alex khey no longer believed in him.

  The Walker family was one of Drakoria's top families and was nearly untouchable. But that didn't mean no other family brudges against them.

  The rger the family, the more resources they trolled, whiaturally meant fewer resources for everyone else.

  For years, the Walker family had trolled more than half of Drakoria's Steel-type resources, while other Steel-type s split the remaining half based on their influence.

  This monopolistic hold had long stirred rese among other Steel-type families, though none dared openly challehe Walker family's power.

  Some families had thought they could wait until John, Julian's grandfather, passed away. At that point, the Walker family's top-level power would be limited to Julian's father, Jake, who would be uo guard such a vast amount of resources alone.

  But then came Julian—a rising star with an incredible gift for training Pokémon, ued since his debut. His Metagross had proven itself a true powerhouse.

  As Julian's grandfather often said, "My grandson has the potential of a champion."

  Julian's Metagross had defeated an Artio, single-handedly quelled a Pokémon Riot in a intermediate-level secret realm, and crushed Alex, the former top third-year, in battle.

  Each of these feats firmed to the Steel-type families that Julian indeed had the potential of a champion and was growing rapidly. This filled them with dread.

  At his pace, they feared they wouldn't even have the ce to wait for John to pass on; Julian might soon bee the John—or even surpass him.

  Thus, a pn began to take shape amoaiype families.

  However, any mistake in this pn would undoubtedly provoke John's crazy retaliation. Therefore, they couldn't directly involve any of their own people in carrying it out.

  And then Alex caught their attention.

  A on-born prodigy, a peak pseudo-Elite level trainer, skilled in multiple types—and, most importantly, someone who already bore a grudge against Julian. He had reason to take drastic a, and if he failed, they had tingens to hahe fallout.

  After some discreet tact, they reached out to Alex, promising him a range of entig rewards. He agreed to their proposal.

  The intricate web of es between noble families meant that when Juliaered the secret realm, someone had already made subtle arras that would allow Alex to track him. This was how Alex mao locate Julian within su enormous secret realm.

  He had also waited until the final days of the exploration window, calg that after over twenty days in the realm, Julian's Pokémon would have experienumerous battles.

  Even with the use of healing items, their overall physical state would be somewhat worn down from their peak dition.

  It n crafted with meticulous precision.