chsdbacks Chapter 248 Bamboo Orchid: Why is this person so annoying?!
Chapter 248 Bamboo Orchid: Why is this person so annoying?!
Chapter 248 Bamboo Orchid: Why is this person so annoying?!
In the damp, shady spot, the air is filled with a moisture that the skin can clearly feel.
The rotten wood lay scattered, its bottom filled with grayish-brown swamp water; dark green ferns emerged from the cracks in the fallen tree trunk, their curled buds covered with glistening down; and beneath the buds, the humus layer was like a water-soaked sponge, its surface covered with a translucent grayish-white mycelium, and one could even faintly hear gurgling sounds coming from somewhere underground.
This damp, cold, and fungal environment is the most "wetland" zone that the Great Wetlands have provided for the Zeshu tree.
When Ze Shu arrived here, he couldn't help but twitch the corner of his mouth.
There's no other reason than that this place is indeed far too "wetland," even more so than the Trial Sands. It seems the Alliance has put in a lot of effort to maintain this unique environment.
But the sticky creatures he released felt very comfortable in this environment.
The grayish-brown swamp water was splashed with layers of flowers, which hopped and explored this new area like pink slimes, their "sticky" and cheerful sounds constantly reaching Ze Shu's ears.
Even the later-arriving Saga and Saga, upon seeing the environment, immediately abandoned Saga and, amidst Saga's resentful puffed-up cheeks, vigorously hopped and explored the area.
Although the sticky girls didn't make such a fuss, their eerie green eyes were filled with surprise and satisfaction.
They were content with a slightly damp new habitat, knowing it was only temporary and they could endure it.
But this new habitat was completely unexpected for them...
This couldn't be better!
"sticky.."
"Around sunrise and sunset each day, someone will come to deliver your meals. Remember to make sure the sticky babies don't miss their meals."
"Sticky, sticky, sticky!"
Upon hearing this, the leader, Nianmeier, turned to look at Zeshu with eyes full of emotion, and rubbed Zeshu's hand with its slippery tentacles.
They were enemies at first, but after this Ze Shu forcibly became their "leader," it treated them so well and found them such a wonderful habitat...
When have these "gloomy" creatures of the Red Lotus Wetland ever received such good treatment?
"I'm satisfied."
Ze Shu smiled and nodded.
After all, these Goomys and Goodies were all inside his Poké Balls; in other words, they were all Pokémon he had captured.
Just like the Tauros that Ash caught.
Then Ze Shu thought of something and gave some instructions:
"But don't be fooled by how comfortable this place is; it probably doesn't have the iron you need for your evolution."
"If they were to evolve, at least those Gooo who don't have shells would probably lose their shells..."
Ze Shu tapped the steel snail shell on the head of the head, Nian Mei'er, with his knuckles, making a tinkling sound.
But he also saw the bewildered look on the leader Nianmei'er's face as she listened to him speak.
That's true, this old-fashioned, stubborn girl wouldn't know anything about these things.
Ze Shu then said, "So, if you want to keep this shell during evolution, hold off for now. I'll think of a way. At the very least, I can take you back to Xicui to evolve."
"Of course, if you don't care about the shell, you can still evolve. It can also be a test to see if you shelled Goodies still have shells after evolving into Goodra in this modern era."
Although the leader, Nianmei'er, couldn't understand, she still agreed in a daze.
"Alright, that's enough talking." Ze Shu patted its head. "Go and rest."
The "sticky" sounds that the group of Gooobo had been making while frolicking had subsided considerably. This was not a bad thing, but a good sign. It meant that these little guys, who had been corrupted by the Mountain Queen's frenzied scales, were gradually regaining their "quiet" nature as Gooobo.
The leader, Nianmei'er, rubbed against Zeshu's hand again, leaving a clump of slime, before going to rest. Zeshu also slowly walked out of this area designated as "Nianmei'er Wetland".
Upon stepping outside, they saw Dr. Yamanashi with a noisy bird perched on his shoulder, his face serious but now showing surprise.
"Ze Shu, these shelled sticky babies..."
Ze Shu succinctly replied, "Yes. Just like my Growlithe."
Upon hearing this, Dr. Yamanashi's mustache twitched, and a wisp of white hair, which had appeared sparse when Hizawa first met him, drifted down and was caught by the noisy bird.
But Dr. Yamanashi didn't care about any of that.
He stared intently at Ze Shu, his voice trembling slightly, a rare occurrence for him.
"Could you...could you..."
Logically speaking, Professor Yamanashi, a highly respected Pokémon professor, wouldn't show such an excited and indescribable expression.
Undoubtedly, these "Steel Dragon" sticky treasures, which Ze Shu brought from Xi Cui and which are now almost extinct in modern times, are unparalleled treasures in the research community.
No matter which Pokémon professor were to face this, they would be just as excited.
"I've reminded them of their feeding times. Dr. Yamanashi, you might need to check on their health while they're being fed, since they... have been in an abnormal condition and need constant attention. I can't stay here all the time."
Ze Shu thought for a moment and then said this. He absolutely trusted Dr. Yamanashi, who was standing before him.
Upon hearing this, Dr. Yamanashi was delighted, but his expression turned serious as he said earnestly, "I will do my utmost to provide them with the best... everything! To ensure these sticky babies grow up healthy..."
Ze Shu blinked, then smiled and said, "Dr. Yamanashi, I hope this request won't cause you to work so hard that you won't even have a retirement life? I heard that Dr. Mustard in Shinwa Town is about your age and has long since retired from research."
Dr. Yamanashi laughed and said, "If this is the only price I'll pay, I'm quite willing to accept it."
"The cost of retirement"
At this moment, the noisy bird chirped, and then used its beak to pluck a tuft of white hair from beside Dr. Yamanashi's head.
The noisy bird, revealing its smugness, flapped its colorful wings and hurriedly carried away the white hair in its beak.
The only noise in the air was the incessant chirping of birds, "Payment~Payment."
Dr. Yamanashi watched silently as the noisy bird flew away, seemingly used to it.
Zeshu glanced at Dr. Yamanashi's bald patch on the side of his hair.
He sighed, "It's my fault."
If he hadn't entrusted the noisy bird to Professor Yamanashi and had kept it himself, his hair would probably be a little thinner.
Dr. Yamanashi sighed, "What a tragic fate."
As you leave the "Grimer Wetlands" area, you'll see the Sinnoh Champion standing outside.
"Now that you've settled the Sticky Babies, can you tell me what you meant by 'something we need to work on together'?" Ze Shu asked her.
But Zhu Lan simply turned around and said, "Follow me."
Ze Shu had no choice but to follow.
An hour later.
Nohara City.
Zeki watched as she studied the Sinnoh champion in front of the ice cream truck for almost half an hour, gradually growing impatient. She studied it for how long, and Zeki waited for just as long.
In the end, Ze Shu completely lost patience and directly intervened, buying both of the ice creams that Zhu Lan was having trouble choosing from!
Walking down the street with two tubs of ice cream, Ze Shu was somewhat speechless.
"Is this the issue you're referring to that needs to be resolved?"
"No, that's not it."
As Zhu Lan spoke, she extended her fair palm toward Ze Shu.
Ze Shu looked at her empty palm: "What are you trying to show me? I don't see anything."
Zhu Lan retorted angrily, "I meant give me an ice cream!"
Ze Shu: "Oh."
But he did not take any action.
"I bought the ice cream. I'll eat two. If you want to buy more, go buy them yourself."
Bamboo Orchid: ? ? ?
She gritted her teeth, a rare occurrence for her, and opened her mouth, but could not refute them.
Why is this investigator so annoying?!
Is he really that bored? Absolutely! Such disrespect for his superior... this investigator needs more work!
As evening fell, the setting sun painted the occasional puddles in the vast wetlands a dusky hue.
Zhu Lan happily ate the ice cream that Ze Shu had given her—she had stood in front of the ice cream truck for three hours, and Ze Shu had finally had no choice but to buy it for her at his own expense.
Ze Shu stood beside him with his arms crossed and a chubby six-tailed fox on his shoulder. He said speechlessly, "So, I've been with you all day. What's the matter?"
Zhu Lan looked at the central road of the vast wetland before her and said:
"Right now, this large wetland in the 'Hunting Zone' is closed, and trainers are not allowed to 'hunt' here. The place I've chosen is the only way to enter this large wetland without going through the main gate."
Upon hearing this, Ze Shu asked, "So someone will be coming?"
Zhu Lan was enjoying her ice cream, about to nod and say something, when suddenly she frowned, then smiled and said:
"They're here."
As soon as the words were spoken, the pool, tinged with the twilight, rippled, reflecting the figures of four people dressed in black leather jackets. They moved swiftly, and as soon as they entered the wetland, they dispersed in four directions without saying a word.
Ze Shu raised an eyebrow: "Poachers?"
Cynthia shook her head and said, "No, I'm a proper Pokémon hunter."
As she spoke, different sounds simultaneously emanated from the four directions where the four "serious Pokémon hunters" had dispersed: dragon roars, the cracking of bone clubs, the sound of wind breaking, and the wailing of ghosts.
And the screams and cries of the Pokémon hunters.
They screamed and cried out as they were driven back into Zeju's sight, the Pokémon beside them only remaining for a short while.
The rock on the surface of a rocky body, covered in wounds, was smashed by the roar of a Garchomp, revealing its endangered state.
A crow's head was struck by Lucario's Bone Club, its wing snapped instantly, and it sank into the damp mud of the Great Wetlands.
There was only one Grimer, one Sharptooth Cage, and one Windball left to put up a last-ditch fight, but the Windball was about to succumb to the Rockruff's "Shadow Sneak Attack" and was swaying around like a deflated balloon.
"Who?! Who's lying in ambush?!"
A Pokémon hunter exclaimed in surprise.
But his companion's body began to tremble inexplicably.
"This Pokémon... damn it! It's... it's the Sinnoh Champion! How could I be so unlucky..."
Shouting, while his companions provided cover, the Pokémon hunter suddenly grabbed the claw of a Dartball that had floated beside him, yelling anxiously, "Take me away! They can't hold out much longer!"
The "they" clearly refers to his Pokémon hunter buddies.
These words startled his companions, but even though the Wind Ball had been flattened by the Flower Rock Monster, it did indeed float much faster, rising high into the sky in an instant. His companions, watching this, gritted their teeth and angrily exclaimed, "That cowardly coward!"
That being said, if they were given the choice to be the one running away, even a second of hesitation would be disrespectful to themselves.
Ze Shu looked at the Windball, which was struggling to rise and full of survival instinct, and its Pokémon Hunter Trainer, chuckled, and casually said, "Vulpix, Ice Beam, aim and shoot."
"Ooh, oh my!"
The six tails on his shoulder were startled, then looked left and right but couldn't find their target. Only after Ze Shu pointed their faces at the sky did their fluffy tails curl up, condensing ice energy, and a thicker beam of frozen light burst out!
Although the Six-Tails is a bit slow in combat, it has been raised so well by Sawaki that it has a lot of energy stored in its body. In other words, it's a "foolish kid, but strong."
This single beam of frozen light sent the wind-borne ball flying into an ice explosion.
The surface of the Windball formed a huge block of ice, which, along with the Pokémon Hunter Trainer, slammed vertically to the ground. With a "thud," it was knocked unconscious and its Vulpix was frozen point by point by Sawaki's command.
While Zeju finished his task, Cyndaquil's Garchomp, Lucario, Venusaur, and Togekiss had already wiped out the remaining three Pokémon hunters in a swift and decisive manner.
This battle scene...—
In one word: brutal.
Despite the Pokémon hunters' pleas for mercy, Cynthia simply let Garchomp's minions beat them unconscious without any mercy, which was completely inconsistent with her usual elegant demeanor.
Seeing the strange look in Ze Shu's eyes, Zhu Lan smiled and said:
"When dealing with these Pokémon hunters who walk the line between right and wrong, they might do anything in desperation. So the only solution is to beat them until they are powerless to resist. This is a lesson you investigators have learned."
Ze Shu crossed his arms and said, "It seems that Zhu Lan is quite skilled in her work."
And it's also quite obvious that what Cynthia was referring to as "the matter to be resolved with him" wasn't about these four little Pokémon hunters, even though these four Pokémon hunters were quite strong.
After all, he didn't need to lift a finger here; the Sinnoh Champion could handle it all by herself. She had already laid out a "net of heaven and earth," so even the Gale Ball couldn't escape while Togekiss was wielding wind blades in the air.
It seems that the reason the Sinnoh champion kept everyone in suspense was because of this confidence.
But after hearing what Zeki said, Cynthia rubbed her forehead with a slightly troubled expression: "This is the seventh batch of Pokémon hunters I have personally subdued this month."
Ze Shu raised an eyebrow: "The seventh batch?"
Zhu Lan: "Mm."
Her Lucario skillfully bound the four Pokémon hunters together and then carried them stacked on her shoulders.
"I received advance warning that a group of Pokémon hunters would be coming to this wetland, so I chose to ambush them here, and sure enough," Cynthia shrugged, "they even showed up."
"And this is the twenty-third batch of Pokémon hunters captured by our Sinnoh League."
Ze Shu asked in surprise, "So many? Why?"
Zhu Lan glanced at Ze Shu with amusement and sighed, "It's all because our Special Class Investigator Ze Shu is too capable."
Ze Shu: ?
What does his competence have to do with the proliferation of Pokémon hunters?
Don't think that just because you're a Sinnoh champion, you can slander people without any evidence!
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