Looking at the Caterpie around him and his own Caterpie, Mark suddenly realized that he had overlooked something during this time.
He had only thought about cultivating Caterpie's strength and nurturing Caterpie's Heart of Strength, while neglecting Caterpie's education regarding its worldview and values.
Caterpie's idea of selling members of its own tribe did not come from any ill intent, and logically speaking, it was a win-win choice. But taken a step further, it could become very dangerous.
Pokémon's minds were as pure as blank sheets of paper. He had to educate and guide them, or they could easily go astray—just like those out-of-touch "little fairies" who had run rampant online before he transmigrated.
With that in mind, Mark tapped Caterpie on the head and, wearing a somewhat stern expression, explained the relationship between the Caterpie tribe and the Caterpie Territory.
After the Ekans Territory expansion incident, the number of Caterpie in the Caterpie Territory had already dwindled considerably.
It was fine for him to take away a small number of elderly, weak, sick, or disabled Caterpie unsuited to tribal life.
But if they casually sold the Caterpie in the territory to breeding bases, the number of Caterpie in the territory would inevitably continue to decline.
Once the number of Caterpie in the territory fell below a certain threshold, the Caterpie Territory would cease to exist.
As Mark spoke, Caterpie's eyes gradually widened, its face filling with disbelief.
It had truly never considered that doing this could harm the tribe so severely. It had merely seen Mark sell Caterpie for money and wanted to learn from him. It had never expected such serious consequences.
As if he had Detect Caterpie's thoughts, Mark gently patted its head. "Knowing what something is without knowing why it is so—that was also my oversight