018 [Qiao Ran's Route] / 019 [Messenger of the North Wind]

"You two really have a great relationship. Anyone can tell you're a happy couple, holding hands the whole time."

"Awwooo."

"Um... your girlfriend's... voice is rather unique."

"...She's joking with you. Don't mind her, don't mind her."

The corner of Qiao Ran's mouth twitched. It seemed Vulpix still had a long way to go before she could speak human language. Every now and then, she would suddenly let out an "awoo."

Also, why was the clerk suddenly looking at him like that? He really wasn't playing any weird p.l.a.y!

"Take a look and see if there are any clothes you like. If you find something, just tell me."

Qiao Ran explained it to Vulpix, and she obediently responded.

However, at that moment, Qiao Ran felt someone tug at the hem of his pants. Looking down, he saw that it was Dianxi.

"What is it?... Ah, that one?"

Dianxi pointed at a pink-and-white dress. It really was beautiful, and its colors suited Dianxi perfectly.

"Sorry... I'd really like to buy it for you, but you haven't taken human form yet, so I don't know what your figure will be like. Let's wait until next time."

Qiao Ran looked helpless. It wasn't that he didn't want to buy it; he simply had no idea what Dianxi's measurements would be. Who knew whether she would end up as a little girl or a mature beauty?

—There was simply too much uncertainty.

"Dian..."

Dianxi looked a little disappointed, but she nodded in understanding. She stared blankly at the dress, her eyes shining with longing.

One day, she would surely be able to wear one too.

Qiao Ran's Route

After spending one final night resting in Longjiang City, Qiao Ran and his Pokémon set out to continue their adventure. Although it had taken quite a while to teach Vulpix how to wear her new clothes after they returned from shopping, Qiao Ran had still rested well that night.

There was a considerable distance from Longjiang City to Hangcheng, and several major cities with Gyms along the way. No matter what, Qiao Ran wanted to visit them.

China was vast and rich in resources, with immense territory, so there was quite a distance between Gym cities as well. If Qiao Ran traveled on foot like Trainers in the Pokémon world, it would probably take him months to reach Hangcheng.

"Taking the train would get us there quickly, but that wouldn't feel like an adventure. Since I've decided to go out adventuring, I should experience the local customs and scenery of different places."

After considering it carefully, Qiao Ran ultimately chose to travel by car. At least then he could stop and look around at places along the way, while training his Pokémon too. This was also the mode of transportation most adventurers chose. Maybe Qiao Ran would even run into other adventurers like himself on the road.

Of course, some people chose to set out on bicycles instead. It exercised the body and reduced carbon emissions—a win-win situation.

"Since we're heading toward Hangcheng, we can visit Jinling and Magic City on the way. I remember my cousin is in Magic City too..."

Planning an adventure route was a troublesome matter, so Qiao Ran sometimes truly envied the simple roads in the Pokémon world. Between two

cities, there was simply one straight road. There were no twists and turns to worry about at all.

If there were too many possible routes, it would drive people with indecisiveness crazy on the road.

"Following this route... hmm, then our first stop will be Jinling. Rotom, help me record it. First Jinling... then Magic City, and finally Hangcheng. As for where we go after that, we'll decide once we get to Hangcheng."

"Okay, Rotom."

As a competent system host, Rotom not only carried the system but also had all the functions of an ordinary phone. She possessed uniquely advantageous capabilities when it came to processing information.

"Master, would you like me to investigate the local delicacies along the route too?"

"No... hmm... Actually, look into them."

Qiao Ran instinctively wanted to refuse, but in the end, he could not resist the temptation of delicious food. Sampling local cuisine along the way was naturally a wonderful idea.

Over the following days, Qiao Ran and his Pokémon traveled by car, stopping and starting along the way. Whenever they arrived in a new city, Qiao Ran would stay for a while, taste the local food, and complete tasks to collect Pioneer Points.

Of course, to save on lodging expenses, whenever he passed through places without Pokémon Centers, Qiao Ran would usually choose to camp in the wilderness. This not only saved him a considerable amount of money for buying little dresses, but also let him get closer to wild Pokémon.

Finally, on the fifth day, when Qiao Ran passed through some unknown little county town, he completed the task of catching one hundred Grass-type and Bug-type Pokémon.

"Phew... I'm exhausted."

After placing the Pokémon he had caught into Pokémon Pioneer Land, Qiao Ran could not help wiping the sweat from his forehead. He had originally thought this task would be completed quickly, but in reality, because they had to travel and handle other matters, they did not have much time to catch Pokémon.

"Too... awes... ome..."

Beside Qiao Ran, the adorable girl in a blue dress smiled as well—she was Qiao Ran's Vulpix. Since she was still unfamiliar with the language, she still spoke in broken, unclear fragments.

However, after changing into brand-new clothes and receiving Dianxi's princess-style etiquette training, Vulpix seemed to have become a completely different person, entirely losing her initial wild and uninhibited nature. Moreover, after understanding certain things, she appeared to have learned what shame was. She no longer did incomprehensible things.

Like squatting on the ground without clothes and lifting her leg to scratch her face...

Whenever Qiao Ran thought of Vulpix's bewildering behavior, his expression would gradually become rather colorful.

Furthermore, during this time, Qiao Ran discovered another very strange thing. At certain special moments... perhaps when she was embarrassed, Vulpix's human form would become unstable. For example, six tails would suddenly grow from behind her and lift up her skirt, or animal ears would appear atop her head.

However, this still required further observation, because it had only happened recently... And when Qiao Ran first saw Vulpix take human form, she had actually looked like this too. But as she gradually became more proficient at taking human form, Qiao Ran had forgotten that Vulpix possessed such a special state.

"This state... seems to be related to intense emotional fluctuations. While in this state, her appearance and combat abilities become closer to those of her Pokémon form... Perhaps calling it semi-humanized would be more appropriate..."

After noticing the abnormality, Rotom gave her analysis, though she could not be entirely certain either. Everything needed further observation.

"Master should give Vulpix more stimulation. Maybe you'll discover even more things."

"W-what do you mean, more stimulation?"

The corner of Qiao Ran's mouth twitched. Why did Rotom's words always make him think of strange things?

"Let's stop talking about that. Our task right now is to collect Pioneer Points. We'll have one hundred soon."

The wholesome Qiao Ran proactively steered the conversation in the proper direction. If they continued, his moral integrity might truly fade away bit by bit. After his Pokémon took human form, he needed time to adapt before slowly sorting out his relationships with them.

Besides, collecting Pioneer Points really was the most urgent matter lately.

Thus, the catching operation continued.

After spending quite some time on it, tonight—Qiao Ran and the others finally completed the task of catching one hundred Pokémon.

After releasing the final Beedrill from its Poké Ball, a spectacular sight began unfolding before them. In the wasteland of Pokémon Pioneer Land, thin, long blades of grass sprouted from the ground, while countless trees rapidly rose from the earth. Before long, they had become a lush forest.

"Is this... changing the world? So-called Pioneer Land means pioneering an entirely new world..."

Qiao Ran stared wide-eyed at everything before him. Not long after the forest appeared, the Grass-type and Bug-type Pokémon he had brought into Pokémon Pioneer Land cheered and entered the forest, as though they had found a place to live.

"That's right. This is the meaning of collecting Pioneer Points, Rotom."

The Rotom Phone floated in front of Qiao Ran and continued.

"Also—

—Master, are you really not going to unlock a new companion? You already have one hundred points, you know~"

Its screen displayed the large words "Draw," with colorful lights flashing around them from time to time.

"Of course I haven't forgotten."

Qiao Ran met Rotom's gaze and reached out, lightly tapping the draw button with his finger.

"Drawing... Drawing..."

Countless streams of data drifted across Rotom's screen. Then, a beam of light descended from the sky, and a pale blue Poké Ball slowly fell within it, landing in Qiao Ran's hand.

Qiao Ran gripped the Poké Ball tightly, his heart beginning to pound violently.

Just which Pokémon was inside?

Messenger of the North Wind

Holding the ball, Qiao Ran felt a special sense of familiarity rise within his heart. He could be certain that this Pokémon was someone who had been with him for a very, very long time. They had experienced adventures across many regions together.

Moreover, it was a blue Dive Ball. Generally speaking, Qiao Ran only used this type of ball for Water-type Pokémon.

Not only did this ball have a distinctive appearance, but when thrown, it also created special effects like blue bubbles, making it especially beautiful. It was a perfect match for Water-type Pokémon. As a Trainer obsessed with Poké Balls, Qiao Ran usually paired his Pokémon with the most suitable ball. Dianxi's ball, for instance, was pink.

Qiao Ran stood there holding the ball for quite a while. In the end, even Dianxi and the others could not stand it anymore and kept urging him from behind.

"Dian, dian."

"Yes, Dianxi is right. Master, stop staring at it and open it already."

"I know, I know. Stop rushing me."

Qiao Ran rolled his eyes helplessly. These girls were truly impatient. Wouldn't waiting a little at a time like this make it feel more ceremonial?

Qiao Ran raised the Dive Ball in his hand. As the switch opened, a figure wrapped in foamy light emerged from the ball.

"Come out—!"

The figure gradually took shape, yet she seemed to be shrouded in mist. Her true appearance slowly emerged from the faint haze.

—She was a blue Pokémon with the form of a wolf.

She had a large jewel-like blue crest on her head. Her purple mane drifted in the breeze like rain clouds in the sky or the aurora of the Arctic. In addition, white streamers like wind floated around her, displaying her light and noble bearing.

If Dianxi was a dignified princess, then she was like an elegant, meticulous older sister—hazy and ethereal, visible yet unattainable.

"Suicune..."

Qiao Ran blankly called out the Pokémon's name.

Suicune, Suicune, messenger of the north wind, purifier of water sources, one of the three legendary beasts revived by Ho-Oh. Her very existence was a living legend.

Moreover, she was one of the Legendary Pokémon who had accompanied Qiao Ran for the longest time. Since the earliest generations of the games, Qiao Ran had never forgotten her. In Pokémon stories, there were also many people who spent their entire lives pursuing Suicune. They exhausted a lifetime merely to catch one glimpse of this legend.

Beautiful and light, kind and elusive, she was a sacred beast who existed in countless people's dreams.

Suicune looked at Qiao Ran, gently nodded, and revealed a soft smile. At a glance, she recognized the identity of the man before her. Then, she let out a clear cry.

"Awoo—"

Suicune's voice echoed throughout Pokémon Pioneer Land, and a strange power rose from beneath Qiao Ran's feet.

"This is..."

Qiao Ran could sense that the entire Pioneer Land seemed to have undergone subtle changes, and the source of those changes was Suicune before him.

Suddenly, Qiao Ran's feet gave way. Before he could react to what was happening, he fell into a place that was soft and wet all around.

"What... happened? Mmph!"

W-what was going on?

Qiao Ran looked around, only to discover in shock that what surrounded him was... water?

He had just been standing on solid ground, hadn't he? How had he suddenly fallen into water?

Qiao Ran could not immediately understand what had happened. It was only after a figure entered the water, lifted him onto her back, and brought him to dry land that he truly understood what changes had occurred in this world.

"Suicune, you..."

Qiao Ran rode atop Suicune's back, stroking her soft purple mane. Before him, a broad river rapidly stretched outward, crossing the wasteland, crossing the forest... extending beyond the limit of their sight, into a place they could not see.

The spot where Qiao Ran had just been standing had been swallowed by the expanding river.

"Awoo."

Suicune's arrival had brought a great amount of clean water to Pioneer Land, completely changing its ecosystem. This place was becoming more and more suitable for life.

"Ama... zing..."

Witnessing all this, Vulpix could only let out a cry of amazement. Watching the miraculous power of these Legendary Pokémon, a little nobody like her could only curl up at the side and shout "666."

"Awoo."

"Huh? No... I'm not amazing. Taking human form... is easy."

Suicune seemed very interested in this "senior" who had already taken human form. However, upon hearing Vulpix's words, Dianxi's expression beside them turned strange.

Taking human form was not easy at all, okay!

Although she knew Vulpix did not mean any harm by saying it, why did it sound so mocking?

It might be easy for you, but it was not easy for other Pokémon at all!

"Master, it seems some special Pokémon can also produce special effects on Pioneer Land."

As the chief analyst and system host, Rotom began analyzing the series of phenomena Suicune had caused. Clearly, Suicune had brought something entirely new to this world.

It was not only the obvious river. Qiao Ran could also feel gentle breezes blowing toward him. This wind was different from before; it seemed more natural and softer.

"Put me down first, Suicune."