Poachers

Cynthia nodded, then handed Su Bai's drawings to Garchomp.

Su Bai's drawings were clear and precise, and Garchomp was a Dragon-type Pokémon, so Garchomp understood how to circulate the energy for Dragon Dance almost instantly.

Seeing Garchomp's heightened presence and the red glow on those fins, Cynthia knew these were signs of the boost to Attack and Speed that came from learning Dragon Dance.

Cynthia had never expected that Dragon Dance, which she and Garchomp had failed to master despite trying so many methods, would be learned just like that.

Bai, is there anything you can't do?

Garchomp hadn't expected it either.

Seeing Cynthia and Garchomp both staring at him, Su Bai asked in puzzlement.

"Why are you looking at me like that?"

"Can you tell me how you recognized these drawings?"

Su Bai told Cynthia that the patterns were simply Unown turned around.

Cynthia took a closer look and found that he was right.

It sounded like a very simple little change, but the difficult part was recognizing those slight changes and still translating them correctly.

Cynthia had thought she already had a good grasp of Su Bai's knowledge, but his expertise in ancient writing proved far deeper than she had imagined.

Talent and hard work probably couldn't explain that level of ability.

But Cynthia was smart enough to know that everyone had secrets. If Su Bai didn't tell her, she wouldn't ask.

Besides, secrets were only interesting when you uncovered them yourself.

Over the next stretch of time, Cynthia used the Secret Technique Su Bai had provided to guide Garchomp through practicing Dragon Dance.

Meanwhile, Su Bai guided Pikachu through practicing the Volt Switch recorded on the wall.

Even secret techniques had to follow the basic rules.

Take Groudon, for example. Even if Groudon memorized every secret technique on the wall, Groudon still wouldn't learn Fly.

Time flew as they trained with their Pokémon. Before they knew it, evening had arrived, and Garchomp and Pikachu had more or less mastered their moves. Still, it would be best to stay at the Origin Temple for another night to consolidate their progress.

Fortunately, Cynthia had booked rooms in advance at a hotel the scenic area had built near the Origin Temple.

It was a little expensive, but at least it was right next to the Origin Temple.

That evening, while Su Bai was bathing Pikachu, the system suddenly issued a quest.

[Ding! Host detected staying at the Origin Temple hotel. Special quest unlocked: A Night Tour of the Origin Temple]

[Quest objective: Invite Cynthia to admire the Origin Temple's night scenery]

[Quest reward: Pokémon Breeding and Treatment (proficient)]

Why would you issue a quest like this? Are you a random system or a system for picking up girls?

Inviting a girl into the remote mountain woods to admire the scenery in the middle of the night? What kind of person do you take me for?

Ten minutes later...

Su Bai stood outside Cynthia's room and knocked.

"Cynthia, have you gone to bed?"

The door opened, and Cynthia stood in the doorway, dressed casually and eating a strawberry chocolate ice cream.

"What is it?"

"I'm having a little trouble sleeping. Want to go look at the night scenery?"

Cynthia thought for a moment, then nodded and closed the door.

Half an hour later, the door opened again. Cynthia had changed into a new black sleeveless blouse, and she seemed to have put on some light makeup, too.

They walked along the mountain path beneath the night sky, listening to the Kricketot performances unique to summer nights and gazing at the stars. The scenery had a charm all its own.

Pikachu was lying in Cynthia's arms. Although the Kricketot weren't using Sing, their performance had a mild sleep-inducing effect on Pokémon, and Pikachu was already drifting off.

"How long can you stay in the Dragon Nation?"

"I originally set aside a week, but thanks to your help, everything has gone more smoothly than I imagined."

Cynthia gave Su Bai an appreciative look. Her original plan had been to stay at the Origin Temple for a week. It would have been nice to learn something, but she wouldn't have minded if she didn't.

Now, thanks to Su Bai's help, Garchomp's training had gone so smoothly that Cynthia wasn't sure what to do with the time she had left.

Su Bai thought it over. There was still a month of summer vacation left, and aside from training Pikachu, he didn't really have any plans.

"Why don't I show you around J City for a few days?"

"Sure. I can help you decide on your second Pokémon, too."

Naturally, Su Bai had no objection to Cynthia's offer.

The original owner of his body's parents had been heroes of the Dragon Nation. The nation offered special benefits to the children of fallen heroes, allowing them to receive one Pokémon free of charge from a government-run Pokémon Day Care. Since Pikachu had been left to Su Bai by his mother, he had never used that entitlement.

With Cynthia's help, he would surely be able to choose a good Pokémon.

"Great. I'll show you around for a few days first, then you can come help me pick a Pokémon before you leave."

"Sounds good."

As they talked, they suddenly spotted flames in the distance, followed by several loud booms. Even Pikachu woke with a start.

They were already some distance from the Origin Temple, so the commotion hadn't alerted the experts there.

Besides, the Origin Temple backed onto the mountains, where powerful Pokémon frequently fought over territory.

Su Bai and Cynthia exchanged a glance, then rushed toward the flames.

For the two young people, the few hundred meters passed in almost no time.

They reached a ridge and saw a Growlithe lying covered in wounds in a mountain hollow nearby, surrounded by flames and massive rocks.

Opposite Growlithe stood a Rhyperior, with a vicious-looking man holding a homemade hunting gun behind Rhyperior.

Growlithe struggled several times to get up, but the injuries were too severe to stand.

"Run! Go on, run again!"

The man was clearly a poacher. He pressed his gun against Growlithe's forehead and kicked Growlithe twice in the stomach.

"You little beast, you sure can run. You almost made it to the city. Just be good and come along with me. You'll fetch a fine price. Rhyperior, grab Growlithe!"

According to Kanto legends, the Dragon Nation across the sea was home to a loyal, powerful guardian beast-the Dragon Nation's Arcanine.

Unlike other regions, where Growlithe were controlled exclusively by the Jenny Family and used as police dogs, the Dragon Nation had a large wild Growlithe population. If they hadn't been so expensive to raise, almost every household would have chosen to keep one.

Whether guarding a home, keeping elderly people company, protecting children, or serving as a Trainer's partner, Growlithe were an excellent choice.

Moreover, barring exceptional circumstances, only upright, kindhearted people from the Dragon Nation could command the nation's Growlithe.

After evolving with a Fire Stone, the Dragon Nation's Growlithe became Fire/Dragon-type Arcanine, with higher base stats than ordinary Arcanine.

As a result, the Dragon Nation strictly regulated its native Growlithe, and their prices on the international black market kept climbing.

Rhyperior lumbered over, lifted Growlithe with a massive claw, and tossed Growlithe into a cage.

Though Growlithe desperately wanted to fight back, Rock Wrecker had left Growlithe barely clinging to life. Growlithe could only bare those teeth, lacking even the strength to spit out an Ember.

"That bastard!"

Cynthia started to rush forward to the rescue, but Su Bai caught her.

"Bai, don't stop me!"

"Cynthia, I'm not stopping you. Take a closer look."

The same flames of anger burned in Su Bai's eyes, but he had managed to calm himself in time.

"Look, he's transporting Growlithe in a wheelbarrow. He can't go far, which means he must have a base nearby. If we follow him, we might find other captured Pokémon."

Cynthia thought it over and agreed that he had a point. The two of them quietly followed.