The Importance of a Local Guide

Suddenly, Dian felt a cool shadow overhead. He looked up and saw a ball of water floating right above his head. Then it burst with a pop.

Splash...

Expressionless, Dian set the equally drenched Hoppip down at his feet, then calmly took out a towel, wiped his face, dried his hair, and tidied it up. Then came a crunch.

He crushed an unripe Berry beneath his foot. "Come on! We're finding that Venonat. Dinner's decided—I'm stewing it! First Bear Grylls gnawed on scorpion meat, and now Dian's making Venonat stew."

That ball of water had clearly been brought over by Venonat using Confusion. This was blatant provocation.

"Mis!"

At the mention of food, Misdreavus immediately perked up.

She flew rapidly around Dian, circling him again and again.

Venonat might not look like it had much meat on it, but it should still make a decent soup.

"Hop hop?"

Hoppip's eyes followed Misdreavus around and around until the whole world seemed to sway. It gave a bewildered cry and flopped onto the grass.

Beedrill brandished its poisonous stingers twice. It wasn't happy about its Trainer getting pranked by another Pokémon either.

Its wings beat rapidly, and it darted off in pursuit.

Since the boss had ordered Venonat soup, it might as well catch the culprit first.

"Mis~ mis~"

Misdreavus hummed happily, pondering what kind of soup would be best.

Spicy? Triple-delicacy? Or should we chop it in half and make spicy triple-delicacy soup?

Unfortunately, Dian and the others searched for ages without finding any trace of that Venonat. It seemed to have mysteriously vanished.

Snap!

Dian broke the branch in his hand, his face expressionless.

"Come on. Back to that tree from before."

He decided to try a different approach and find their previous guide first.

Beneath a tall tree lay