Watching Qiao Ran and the others head toward their room, Eve still seemed a little reluctant to go back.
"Then come by again later. Vulpix is already tired, and she needs to rest."
Qiao Ran glanced at Vulpix lying in his arms. Her breathing had gradually steadied, and she seemed to have already drifted off to sleep. He was definitely going to take her back so she could get a good rest.
"Mm, then I'll wander around outside. Ah—if I'd signed up for the exhibition match before, I definitely could've won the championship too."
Eve rubbed her wig and headed in the opposite direction from Qiao Ran, while he made his way through the long corridor toward his room.
Before long, Qiao Ran arrived at the door with Vulpix in his arms. He opened it and went in first, with Dianxi quietly following behind him.
Suddenly, Dianxi called out from behind him, stopping Qiao Ran as he walked ahead, then quietly shut the door.
"Wait, big brother... no, Master, please wait a moment."
"What is it?" Qiao Ran turned back at her in confusion. He had no idea what Dianxi wanted to say.
"This."
Dianxi extended the hands she had hidden behind her back. Three Poké Balls lay quietly in her palms.
"While Master was competing, I went and did a few things too. These are all Flying-type Pokémon... With these, it'll reach one hundred..."
Seeing that Qiao Ran had not spoken for a long time, Dianxi lowered her head and timidly dared not look into his eyes. "M-Master doesn't like them? I acted on my own..."
She wanted to be useful, so... she would do anything.
"No... You did very well. Very well!" Qiao Ran was genuinely surprised when he saw the Poké Balls. According to his original plan, he probably would not have begun catching Pokémon until tomorrow.
"That's great, Dianxi. We can complete another mission! Today... no, right now!"
Holding the Poké Balls in his hand, Qiao Ran could not help getting excited.
"Then... Master, can you hug me?"
"Hm? But... don't we do that every night..." Qiao Ran was a little confused.
"It's different! This is... different from that."
Dianxi tried to explain, but the more she explained, the redder her cheeks became.
"Alright, no need to explain. I understand."
Qiao Ran gave a helpless smile, bent down slightly, and pulled her tightly into his arms.
"..." For that instant, Dianxi felt as though she had stopped breathing for a second.
This feeling...
However, neither of them noticed that Vulpix, lying on the bed, had quietly opened one eye. She stared unblinkingly in their direction, her face carrying a trace of curiosity and confusion...
040: The Meaning of Understanding Each Other
What... is it?
Vulpix did not understand what was happening before her, but she suddenly felt as though she had lost something important. Ever since she was born, she had been with Qiao Ran, so she had always taken it for granted that she treated Qiao Ran well, and Qiao Ran treated her well.
Yet as time passed, some things had gradually begun to change.
"..."
Vulpix remained lying on the bed without making a sound, merely watching the scene before her in silence. Still, everything that happened today left a mark in her heart. Some things were changing, and she herself... was learning and understanding more things.
Vulpix rested on the bed while Eve was still wandering around outside. She would probably return before lunch. To keep Eve from noticing anything unusual, Qiao Ran could only leave Dianxi in the real world while he went alone to Pokémon Pioneer Land.
This time, he had not gone there to summon a new companion. He simply wanted to visit Suicune.
After all, Qiao Ran felt that summoning a new companion was better done when everyone was present. That way, the newcomer would feel more like part of their family.
Besides, Qiao Ran felt that he had really neglected Suicune lately. He had brought Dianxi and Vulpix aboard the ship, but not her. In the end, even the sleeping spot he had originally reserved for her had been taken by Eve.
She had only recently come to Qiao Ran's side. She was the one who needed care the most.
"Sorry... Suicune. I left you here alone again."
"Ahwooo—"
Qiao Ran sat on the grass while Suicune lay beside him, watching the small river flowing before them.
Qiao Ran was somewhat helpless too. Suicune's identity was simply too special. Even if he wanted her to participate in battle, he could not possibly send her out in front of a crowd of spectators.
"As long as I get the chance, I'll let you fight."
"Ah."
Suicune nodded lightly, though her gaze remained fixed on her reflection in the water.
She was not afraid of solitude. As the embodiment of the north wind, she had always lived apart from others. No matter how lonely she was, she would never feel uncomfortable because of it.
But she also liked the feeling of being needed by her Master... Qiao Ran was the only one besides Lady Ho-Oh who made Suicune feel that way.
"Don't worry, don't worry. I'll let you fight. When have I ever lied to you? Wait... wait! Don't lick my neck, hahahahaha!"
Before he knew it, Suicune had pounced on Qiao Ran and pinned him to the grass, licking his neck with her tongue. She did not know how to express affection, so she could only use this simple, primitive method.
"It tickles..."
Qiao Ran finally managed to escape Suicune's licking hell. It really was itchy, but he did not dislike this kind of interaction. After all, the fact that Suicune would do something like this meant that she was in a pretty good mood.
"Suicune, when you can take human form in the future, I'll take you outside more often too. Sometimes, the human world and the Pokémon world are still different. Only by experiencing different lives can we perhaps understand each other better... That's how it is with Vulpix and Dianxi... and it'll be the same for you."
Lying on the grass, Qiao Ran gradually seemed to understand the true meaning of taking human form. This special transformation was a bridge that brought them closer together.
No matter how close humans and Pokémon became, there had always been a decisive barrier between them. But once that barrier was broken, everything would change. Pokémon would better understand human habits and lives, while humans would consider Pokémon from more perspectives.
At the very least, Qiao Ran had always treated his Pokémon as his best friends, as living people, rather than tools for victory.
They would live together, eat and sleep together, sleep in the same bed. There would be no difference.
"Ah."
Suicune nodded, indicating that she understood what Qiao Ran meant. Still, she was not desperately eager to take human form, because she loved this body of hers—the body Lady Ho-Oh had bestowed upon her. It carried a different meaning for her as well.
Besides, she could already do most things a human body could do quite well.
Like cooking or doing laundry.
She could even control water and wind, washing and drying clothes in one smooth process. She was practically a terrifying biological washing machine.
"Alright, it's about time for me to head out. Otherwise, a certain noisy girl is definitely going to start looking for me."
Qiao Ran summoned Rotom to check the time, then bade Suicune farewell and left. It was already noon. If he did not return soon, there would probably be trouble.
After all, Qiao Ran did not plan to let anyone else know he had this ability.
Back in the real world, Qiao Ran opened the door and came out of the bathroom. He looked around the room and saw that Eve was not there, which made him quietly sigh in relief.
But then his gaze fell on the two girls on the bed. Vulpix and Dianxi were both looking at each other, and there seemed to be something odd in their eyes.
"Did... something happen?"
Qiao Ran scratched his head in confusion. Could something have happened while he was gone?
"No, nothing happened."
"Mm... nothing."
However, to Qiao Ran's surprise, both Vulpix and Dianxi flatly denied that anything had happened. As though they had reached some kind of silent agreement, they both shut their mouths.
"...??"
Seeing them like this only filled Qiao Ran's face with even more question marks. He stepped forward, wanting to ask what was going on.
"Um—"
But just as he was about to speak, urgent knocking came from the door.
With a helpless expression, Qiao Ran turned and went to open it.
"Stop knocking, stop knocking. Do you have to be so loud..."
Qiao Ran thought it was Eve knocking, but when he opened the door, the one standing there was actually Smoochum, leaning against the wall and panting heavily.
Smoochum's once-lustrous golden hair had become filthy, and her body was covered in injuries.
"Smoochu, smoochu, smoochuu!!"
The moment she saw Qiao Ran, Smoochum cried out urgently, her face full of panic.
"...?" Qiao Ran had no idea what she was saying. Other than his own Pokémon, he could not understand Pokémon language.
However, the two girls behind him both had the ability to translate.
"She... just said... Eve... Eve was taken away! Only she... managed to escape! Hurry and save Eve..."
Dianxi's expression changed slightly.
"What?!" Qiao Ran's eyes widened as well.
Someone had actually been abducted on this ship?!
And they had managed to take Eve away... That girl was not weak at all!
Passing Photographer.jpg
041: Pursuit
Honestly, if he had heard about this for no reason, Qiao Ran would definitely have questioned whether it was true. Anyone capable of taking Eve away had to be extremely strong, and they also had to meet two conditions at once: not alerting anyone else on the ship, and ending the battle quickly. Qiao Ran did not believe there just happened to be someone on this ship who could accomplish all that.
But when the battered Smoochum appeared before him, even if he did not want to believe it, he had to.
"Where was she taken?"
Qiao Ran began to panic. Part of it came from his concern for Eve, while another part came from her special identity. If she was taken away, then his lead to finding Mei would be completely cut off!
No matter which reason it was, Qiao Ran had to set out and bring her back.
"Smoochu, smoochu!"
Smoochum pointed in one direction, then showed a pained expression and collapsed directly to the floor.
"Damn... she passed out. What did she say?" Qiao Ran looked toward Dianxi behind him.
"She said it was on the deck... After Eve was kidnapped, the abductors took her onto a speedboat and escaped... They went in the direction opposite to where the ship is traveling..."
Dianxi translated cautiously, repeating what Smoochum had said.
"A speedboat..." Qiao Ran's heart skipped a beat. Clearly, this had been a planned kidnapping. They had even prepared an escape vehicle.
"Dianxi, stay here and take care of Smoochum for now."
"Master... I..." Dianxi was confused. Why was he leaving her behind? Her strength could clearly be of greater use.
"Sorry, this battle might take place at sea, so it would be disadvantageous for you. You should stay here." Qiao Ran spoke quickly as he opened the door.
"Vulpix, come with me first."
"Awwooo." Vulpix leaped down from the bed and was picked up onto Qiao Ran's shoulder.
"Alright, we're leaving now. If we don't hurry, we might not be able to find them."
Qiao Ran anxiously left the room with Vulpix. Before leaving, however, Vulpix quietly turned back and cast a smug glance at Dianxi, who was still standing there.
Dianxi could only glare back with gritted teeth. Since this was Master's arrangement, there was nothing she could do. Besides, Qiao Ran was right. Fighting at sea was far too disadvantageous for her... If she was not careful, she might fall directly into the ocean.
Qiao Ran sprinted through the ship's cabins, climbed countless staircases, and finally reached the deck level.
"The direction opposite the ship... is it that way?"
Standing at the edge of the deck against the sea breeze, Qiao Ran narrowed his eyes to confirm the direction. Then he leaped up and vaulted over the railing.
"Oh my god! Someone jumped overboard!"
"Quick, quick, call someone!"
The innocent bystanders nearby were stunned. Though none of them had seen Qiao Ran clearly, they had all plainly seen something vault over the railing—a shape that was undoubtedly human!
They panicked and rushed to call the crew, but when they reached the railing, they were shocked to find a blue, wolf-like creature running across the water hundreds of meters away from the ship.
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