Binding Game (Please Keep Reading)

[Name]: Pelipper

[Type]: Water, Flying

[Ability]: Keen Eye

[Moves]: Water Gun, Soak, Quick Attack, Air Slash, Tailwind, Wing Attack, Fling, Stockpile, Swallow, Spit Up

[Talent]: Mid-grade

[Recent Turning Point]: Was severely injured by Voltorb's Thunder Shock as punishment for failing to transport Hondew Berries.

Shu Tong looked at Pelipper first, and the ranger did the same.

"Have Pelipper open its beak," the ranger said.

"Is that really necessary?" Sheng Cai asked with a smile.

"It's the rule. Please cooperate with our work, or you won't be allowed into Cloud Mountain," the ranger said sternly.

"Fine, fine."

Once Pelipper opened its huge beak, the ranger carefully checked that it was carrying nothing before moving on to the next one.

"So a ranger's job is this tedious," Qian Kaile said.

"Pelipper can store many things in its beak, so it definitely needs to be checked. I imagine they'll also pay special attention to Pelipper when they come down from the mountain," Shu Tong said.

Sheng Cai could not help glaring at Shu Tong.

That only made Shu Tong more certain that something was going on.

The remaining Zangoose, Linoone, and Furret were easy enough to inspect, but their Pokémon Scripts gave Shu Tong a basic understanding of the scheme behind this.

Linoone and Furret's Pokémon Scripts were almost identical: A Miniature Resource Mystery Realm had appeared in Cloud Mountain. They fought Seviper, the guardian of the Hondew Berry tree, and were severely injured.

This showed that a Mystery Realm had indeed appeared in Cloud Mountain, and it was one centered around a Hondew Berry tree, guarded by a Seviper.

Two Professional Trainers' Pokémon had both been severely injured by that Seviper. It was only a miniature Mystery Realm, yet the Pokémon within were already this powerful.

Still, Zangoose had gained the most.

[Name]: Zangoose

[Type]: Normal

[Ability]: Toxic Boost

[Moves]: Scratch, Quick Attack, Hone Claws, Fury Cutter, Slash

[Talent]: Mid-grade

[Recent Turning Point]: A Miniature Resource Mystery Realm appeared in Cloud Mountain. After battling Seviper, the guardian of the Hondew Berry tree, it was poisoned and triggered its Ability. With its companions' help, it killed Seviper, then ate its gallbladder raw, enhancing its Ability's effect.

After the inspection was complete, Shu Tong watched the two Professional Trainers enter Cloud Mountain.

"Let's go," Shu Tong said.

"We're just leaving like that?" Qian Kaile asked.

"We aren't qualified to enter Cloud Mountain either. What are we still doing here?"

As Shu Tong spoke, he headed back. They only needed to wait by that tree and catch their prey.

Shu Tong had a feeling that those two seemed to have known in advance that a Mystery Realm would appear in Cloud Mountain. As far as he remembered, the country did not yet possess that kind of technology.

Only after a Mystery Realm appeared could its location be detected through energy fluctuations. If there were a way to predict it in advance, many unnecessary losses could be avoided entirely.

"This is so boring. I spent the whole day following you around the woods," Qian Kaile said.

"Looks like it might not be boring anymore," Shu Tong said.

"How so?"

"Look." Shu Tong pointed ahead.

Wu Hongzhen appeared in the woods with Cheng Du and Yang Ke.

Qian Kaile cracked his knuckles and charged straight over. "Hehehe, what are you three doing?"

The moment Wu Hongzhen saw Qian Kaile, his expression soured. "What we're doing is none of your business, Young Master Qian."

Shu Tong walked over as well.

"You two were alone in the woods?" Yang Ke wore the expression of someone who had just heard some juicy gossip.

"What's wrong with the two of us? We came here to beat you up." Qian Kaile released Makuhita as he spoke.

"You think I'm afraid of you?" Cheng Du released Ponyta as well.

Yang Ke's Corphish also readied itself for battle.

Seeing the situation, Wu Hongzhen knew his Persian had not fully recovered. Even together, Cheng Du and Yang Ke were no match for Qian Kaile. In Persian's current condition, it could do nothing against Shu Tong's Weedle.

"We're leaving."

Wu Hongzhen gritted his teeth, turned around, and started back.

"What?" Cheng Du and Yang Ke were both unwilling. Being bullied like this was truly stifling.

But there was nothing they could do. They still had to listen to Wu Hongzhen, and without him, the two of them alone would struggle against Qian Kaile, let alone with Shu Tong there too.

After spitting on the ground, Cheng Du and Yang Ke headed back as well.

"Hey, hey, hey, don't leave! We haven't even fought yet. How about I let Makuhita fight you with one hand tied behind its back?" Qian Kaile shouted.

Wu Hongzhen and the other two nearly coughed up blood from anger.

"What a waste of excitement," Qian Kaile said dejectedly.

"I'll have Weedle tie up Makuhita's hands and make it break free through sheer strength. This training should be effective. For a strength-based Pokémon like Makuhita, control-type moves are its greatest fear. If it can't overcome that weakness, it'll be easy for others to counter it," Shu Tong said.

"A binding game? I like it. Come on, tie me up too. I can test my strength while I'm at it," Qian Kaile said.

Shu Tong looked at Qian Kaile as if he were an idiot. Did all his brains grow into his muscles?

Weedle then bound Makuhita's hands together.

Weedle's String Shot was now extremely tough and packed with dense Bug-type energy. Makuhita's muscles bulged all over as it concentrated all its strength into its arms. It was on the verge of pulling the threads apart, but it still could not break them.

"Damn, this String Shot is that tough?" Qian Kaile said as he looked at Makuhita's bulging veins.

"You still want to try?" Shu Tong asked.

"No. There's no need. I underestimated it." Qian Kaile waved his hand.

Makuhita tried every method it could think of, contorting itself into all kinds of positions. Each time, it felt as if it were just a little short, but it simply could not tear the threads apart.

Only after Makuhita was completely exhausted and sprawled limply on the ground did Weedle go over and bite through the String Shot.

"Interesting, interesting. I feel like Makuhita mobilized every ounce of strength in its body. It might not greatly improve its raw power, but it'll definitely be extremely useful for training how to concentrate strength," Qian Kaile said excitedly.

"Good that you understand," Shu Tong said.

"Come on, give me a try too. Just use fewer threads. I need to train my ability to concentrate strength too," Qian Kaile said.

Shu Tong shook his head helplessly. Do all people who like Fighting-type Pokémon enjoy treating themselves like Pokémon? I remember Bruno, the Fighting-type champion from the anime, and Chuck, the leader of Cianwood Gym. Both were muscleheads, and they were even crazy enough to fight alongside their Pokémon.

"Anyway, I don't understand you muscleheads." With that, Shu Tong had Weedle wrap two strands of String Shot around Qian Kaile.

"Ah, damn. This feels great."

Qian Kaile's face turned bright red as he struck one pose after another, occasionally letting out strange noises.

He used every last ounce of strength he had to break free from the String Shot.

By the time they were completely exhausted, both Qian Kaile and Makuhita were lying on the ground, unable to get back up.