Getting on Track

Another day had passed, bringing Zeno one day closer to returning to Littleroot Research Lab. Although the issues at Clamperl Marine Ranch had long since been resolved, he still came by from time to time to check on things.

The villagers already knew how to care for the Clamperl, and people often came to help. Since these Clamperl had come from Lilycove City Ocean Park, they were all very friendly toward humans and did not resist the villagers approaching them at all.

"Zeno, are you still worried about these Clamperl? Don't worry. With us aunties keeping an eye on them, nothing will happen. Go take care of your own business!"

The women of the fishing village were excellent swimmers too, but most of them had to stay home to look after their children, so they rarely came out. Aunt Guixiang was preparing food for the Pokémon near Reef Hut when she saw Zeno arrive and immediately greeted him.

"I've really troubled you, Auntie."

"It's nothing, nothing. That little monkey Xiao Hai has gone out, and I was just sitting around at home with nothing to do. Thanks to you, Zeno, not only did you teach us how to make Pokémon food, you even found us work."

"As long as you like it. I only came to check on the Clamperl. I'll be leaving in a couple of days, so I'll have to trouble everyone from then on."

"Ah, Zeno, are you going back to school?"

"Yes. My teacher only gave me three months of leave, and it's almost over."

"Without realizing it, you've already been back for three months. Don't worry, we'll definitely take good care of this ranch."

Seeing that Zeno was about to go underwater, Aunt Guixiang did not keep him talking any longer. She merely gave him a few reminders and told him to be careful.

Zeno was delighted to see the Clamperl in pairs. He randomly checked several of them and found that they were all healthy.

To his surprise, some Clamperl had already begun producing pearls. These pearls were not very round yet and looked rather ordinary in quality. Zeno knew that pearl formation was a long process that could not be rushed, but at least there was hope now.

Besides the Clamperl, Zeno also spotted several Huntail and Gorebyss. He knew a little about both kinds of Pokémon as well.

When researchers first discovered them among Clamperl populations, they had assumed the species shared a symbiotic relationship, like Mantyke and Remoraid. That was why their Pokédex numbers had been placed next to each other.

Later, during experiments, researchers discovered that both Huntail and Gorebyss eggs could hatch into Clamperl, completely overturning their earlier conclusion. Yet no matter how they experimented, they could not find a way to evolve Clamperl, even though Huntail and Gorebyss clearly existed. For decades, this had remained one of Hoenn's unsolved mysteries.

Until a few years ago, a genius researcher suddenly emerged and solved the puzzle that had troubled everyone for so many years. The two key items were the Deep Sea Tooth and Deep Sea Scale, dropped by Huntail and Gorebyss respectively. People had actually tried them before, but nobody had considered anything so complicated: not only did Clamperl need to hold those items, they also had to be traded through communication.

Inspired by that researcher's work, people later discovered quite a few new evolution methods. Zeno had only heard bits and pieces of gossip about that genius researcher and did not know much. The League also seemed intent on keeping the researcher's identity secret.

Zeno had never seen them before and was curious, so he asked an Alomomola about them before finally understanding.

It turned out they lived in the deep-sea area next door and had been coming over to look around from time to time these past few days. Sometimes, they even helped chase off Pokémon that wanted to cause trouble.

Zeno guessed that they saw these Clamperl as their juniors and came over because they wanted to protect them. That was good too. They posed no threat to anyone, and the ranch had gained several bodyguards for free.

After observing for a while, Zeno was about to leave when he suddenly spotted two familiar Clamperl. He recognized them as the pair originally sent to Littleroot Research Lab. Seeing how sweet they were together, he felt quite accomplished and decided to chat with them about how they had been doing.

"Do you two still remember me?"

"Clam!"

"Clam, clam~"

"It's good that you remember. How have you been lately?"

The female Clamperl gently clamped Zeno's hand, signaling for him to follow her. Their home was not far away, and they soon arrived. The two Clamperl carefully pushed aside the grass, revealing an egg lying inside.

Zeno was incredibly excited when he saw the egg in the nest of grass. He hurriedly asked, "Is this your child?"

The two Clamperl nodded. Zeno had already known the answer deep down, but he could not help confirming it with them. Once they gave him an affirmative answer, he burst into laughter.

Though Zeno wanted to touch the egg, he held himself back, afraid that he might accidentally startle it. The Clamperl couple saw what he was thinking and indicated that it was fine, telling him to go ahead and touch it.

Perhaps because it had always been underwater, the egg felt cool to the touch. The sensation of touching a Pokémon Egg felt very novel to Zeno. Although he already had a Wingull egg, it had been inside the incubator the whole time, so he had never been able to touch it.

After chatting with the two of them for a while, Zeno took another look around before heading back. He did not take the Clamperl egg with him. Although bringing it up would let him care for it more carefully, Zeno felt it would be better for it to remain with its parents and hatch naturally.

Today's visit had brought many discoveries. Not only had the Clamperl begun producing pearls, but the ranch had also welcomed a brand-new life. These two signs showed that Clamperl Marine Ranch was on track now, and Zeno could finally rest easy.

As soon as Zeno returned home, he began packing his things. He had not brought much with him when he first came back, but now that he was leaving, his belongings had somehow multiplied.

It was not until dusk that Uncle Kam finally returned. Zeno told him that he would be heading back to Littleroot Research Lab the day after tomorrow. Kam knew Zeno had been granted three months of leave, but he had not expected the time to pass so quickly, so he was briefly stunned.

"Got it. I'll drive you to Lilycove City the day after tomorrow. Pack your things ahead of time. Don't leave it until the last minute and end up in a panic."

"I've already packed everything. I won't."

"Bring the clothes you wear most often too, so you won't have to buy more later. Tomorrow, I'll get you some local specialties to bring for everyone to try."

"Uncle Kam really thinks of everything."

Zeno was about to travel far away again, and Kam found that his feelings were just as complicated as before. He was proud of Zeno, yet also worried that he might not have enough to eat or warm clothes to wear outside.

When Xiao Hai had gone away on a long trip before, Dazhuang had been the same way. He often came to Kam to pour his heart out, and Kam had laughed at him then. Who would have thought he would end up the same way now? Maybe this was what people called an old father's heart.