Farm's New Members 111

Farm's New Members +1+1+1

"Whimsicott?"

Whimsicott tilted its head in confusion. It knew Luo Mu was inviting it, but what was a farm?

Luo Mu smiled. "A farm is a place where everyone lives, plays, and works together."

"At the farm, I can guarantee that you won't face threats from the wild like you did today. You'll be able to grow up safely and peacefully. Of course, in return, you'll need to contribute your strength to the farm's development."

Luo Mu had tried his best to make the pros and cons clear. After all, he was not wealthy enough to run a charity. His original purpose in seeking out Grass-type Pokémon had been to support the farm's future development, so naturally, they would need to provide labor.

Serperior could only tend to ordinary crops; it could not make them grow. If it could master Grassy Terrain, that would no longer be a problem.

If Whimsicott and the others chose to join the farm, the remaining work would naturally fall to them.

Whimsicott first glanced at Luo Mu, then at the Serperior beside him, powerful enough that it dared not look directly at it, yet the very one that had saved them. Thinking of the two sleeping Hoppip behind it, hesitation appeared in Whimsicott's eyes.

Freedom made it happy, but the two Hoppip were constantly at risk of being attacked in this unfamiliar land. Could it trade a measure of freedom for safety and stability?

Whimsicott recalled the scene of this human seeming to descend like a god, commanding Serperior to drive back Stunky, as well as the poisoned, weakened Hoppip and the Hoppip now sleeping peacefully.

At that moment, a clear answer emerged in its heart. Strangely enough, it felt no resistance toward that answer at all.

Whether out of gratitude or for the Hoppip's safety, it should accept this invitation.

Once it had made up its mind, Whimsicott no longer had any hesitation or worries. It nodded lightly, entrusting itself and the Hoppip to Luo Mu.

After receiving Whimsicott's answer, Luo Mu's lips curved upward. He took three Poké Balls from his shoulder bag and, under Whimsicott's watchful gaze, lightly tapped the two Hoppip in turn, drawing them inside.

The Poké Ball buttons glowed red. After shaking faintly three times, they gave a crisp chime, signifying that the Hoppip had been bound to their Poké Balls.

Then Luo Mu looked at Whimsicott and raised the Poké Ball in his hand.

Whimsicott blinked, then obediently moved closer and touched the Poké Ball of its own accord. It shook three times as well, and the capture was complete.

"Even though I've experienced it myself, catching Pokémon still makes my heart race," Pepper said enviously, looking at the three shrunken Poké Balls in Luo Mu's hand. Then he suddenly noticed the markings on them and asked in confusion, "Luo Mu, what's that little grass symbol on the Poké Balls?"

Luo Mu paused as he put the Poké Balls back into his shoulder bag, then smiled. "Poké Balls with that symbol mean the Pokémon inside belong to this farm, rather than being battle power I caught for myself."

Pepper nodded as if he understood, though his face remained somewhat blank. But didn't you still catch them yourself?

"Let's go. It'll be dark soon, and getting lost then would be troublesome."

"Okay."

By the time Luo Mu brought Pepper back to the farm, night had completely covered the sky. The temperature had dropped noticeably compared to the daytime, and the gusts of breeze against their skin felt a little chilly.

With almost no lighting, the pitch-black farm resembled a desolate patch of land in a horror movie, making it feel rather eerie.

Luo Mu took out a newly bought, unopened blanket and draped it over Pepper's shoulders, where the tip of his nose had turned slightly red. "This should keep you warm."

Pepper sniffed and carefully felt the warmth brought by the blanket. Those little gestures unexpectedly made his eyes redden.

Luo Mu did not notice anything unusual about Pepper. Instead, he tilted his head, wondering whether what he had just said sounded too much like something a father would say.

A moment later, Luo Mu looked at the old-fashioned wall clock and realized it was nearly nine in the evening.

Pepper had not brought a phone or any means of communication, while Luo Mu's own phone was hanging around Dragonite's neck. Dr. Jacq and Friede were probably frantic with worry because they could not reach him.

After thinking it over, Luo Mu decided to have Swampert accompany him and personally take Pepper home. Serperior had followed him around all day and had already returned to its nest. He could not exactly wake it up again.

Luo Mu said to Pepper, who was standing there, "I'll go get Swampert and have him come with me to take you home. It's so late that the professors must be worried about your safety. We'll have to apologize to them."

Pepper's expression froze, and panic instantly overwhelmed him.

How could he not know whether his parents were home?

If Luo Mu took him back, his lie would definitely be exposed. He did not want that to happen!

Before Pepper could frantically come up with a suitable excuse, Luo Mu pushed open the door, intending to call Swampert, who liked sleeping outside.

Just then, an orange figure descended from the night sky, the violent wind it stirred up sending sand and dust into Luo Mu's mouth.

With Pepper still present, Luo Mu forcibly swallowed the curse that had risen to his lips. Once his sand-blinded eyes recovered, he saw the culprit through bloodshot eyes and instantly exploded. "Dragonite! How many times have I told you? Look below before you land, and land a little more like a lady!!"

"Bwoo~"

Dragonite looked innocently at Luo Mu, indicating that Luo Mu had happened to open the door just as she was landing, which was why this accident had occurred.

Dragonite then gently set the large box she had been carrying on the ground. She wrapped Luo Mu in her arms with both paws and happily rubbed against him.

"..."

After Dragonite's string of moves, even the greatest anger had vanished. Not to mention her round, soft belly—it felt like lying on the finest mattress just by leaning against it. Its healing power was off the charts.

Rationality +1+1+1+1+1.

Luo Mu felt as though all the exhaustion from the day had been completely healed at that moment. Once Dragonite released him, he followed the light spilling from the house and looked at the box she had brought back. Just one glance at the logo printed on it made his heart ache.

Silph Co., a highly renowned company in this world. Its headquarters were located in Saffron City in the Kanto region, and many items used by Pokémon were manufactured and sold by them.

"Bwoo~"

Dragonite handed Luo Mu the phone hanging around her neck, signaling for him to check its contents.

"Let me see."

Luo Mu took the phone and saw that the battery indicator in the upper-right corner of its cracked screen was already low. He quickly began scrolling through it.

A moment later, Luo Mu's expression visibly darkened. He raised his head and shouted furiously at the sky, "You've got some nerve, Kofu!!!"