In the trees, in the river, and in the grass, all sorts of Pokémon watched curiously as Fang Yan, Gengar, and the others hunted for treasures everywhere.
The following was a complaint from an unidentified Pokémon:
"Hoo, hoo hoo hoo, hoo hoo hoo hoo hoo..."
That whole bunch are nothing but robbers, especially that little purple fatty. He barged into my home and took my things right out of it...
The little fatty's response to this complaint was as follows:
"Gengar."
I 'borrowed' them fair and square.
Fang Yan knew nothing about any of this. Watching the Pokémon gather things everywhere, though the process caused some commotion, he rather liked the feeling. It was like the mountain foraging he had seen in his previous life. Forest foraging in the Pokémon world seemed pretty nice, too?
Still, he reminded Gengar and the others not to take everything. Just a little would do.
They needed to know when to stop.
After saying that, he came to a fallen tree and carefully examined the large trunk lying across his path. There were very clear tooth marks on it. Some kind of Pokémon had probably gnawed it down.
More importantly, the wood was of pretty good quality and suitable for carving.
"Come to think of it, taking a fallen tree home to use shouldn't count as illegal logging, right?"
Unable to decide, Fang Yan took out his phone to ask Officer Jenny.
After sending her a picture and receiving confirmation that it did not, Fang Yan called Dali and the others over.
"Dali, can you and San Li carry this tree back?"
Dali walked over, examined it carefully, then nodded firmly.
"Great. Sorry for the trouble. I'll make you some little toys once you've carried it back."
Fang Yan spoke with a smile.
Hearing that, Dali gave him another thumbs-up.
"Machamp."
Just as the two Machamp were about to lift the tree, Fang Yan heard something.
"Bzz~ Bzz bzz bzz~"
Fang Yan raised his index finger to signal for quiet, then watched closely. He spotted several yellow figures darting through the forest not far away.
"Are those... Combee?"
Looking at the Pokémon shaped like three honeycomb cells, with a wing on either side, Fang Yan recognized them at once.
But a whole swarm of Combee was chasing them. Only when a queen-shaped Pokémon appeared did the pursuing Combee stop, then turn back.
The remaining Queen Bee and several Combee hovered there.
[Queen Bee] [Sex: Female] [Type: Bug, Flying] [Ability: Pressure] [Known moves: Slash, Sweet Scent, Struggle Bug, Poison Sting, Venoshock, Toxic, Air Slash, Confuse Ray, Roost, Aromatic Mist, Attack Order, Defend Order] [Mood: Downcast] [Status: At a loss] [Friendship: 0 (You are complete strangers)] [Description: Possesses great strength. As the colony's second Queen Bee, she was driven out of her original colony.] [Combee] [Sex: Male (3), Female (1)] [Type: Bug, Flying] [Ability: Honey Gather] [Known moves: Gust, Sweet Scent, Bug Bite, Struggle Bug] [Mood: Downcast] [Status: Loyal!] [Friendship: 0 (You have never met)] [Description: Driven out of the colony along with Vespiquen, they are loyal to this Vespiquen.] [You will always be our queen-Combee]
Reading Vespiquen's description, Fang Yan was somewhat shocked. The moves this Vespiquen knew were overwhelmingly powerful.
A colony could not accommodate a second Queen Bee. Perhaps her great strength had provoked wariness, leading to her expulsion.
Fang Yan could not figure it out, but soon stopped dwelling on it. Since the status panel showed that she was at a loss, he instantly came up with a solution that would benefit both sides.
He turned to Gengar and the others and asked, "Do you like honey?"
At that, Gengar's eyes and those of Dali and the others instantly lit up.
Gengar in particular drooled all over the ground.
"Here's the plan. First, I'll go out and talk to them, discuss some terms. If it goes well, that's that. If it doesn't, Gengar, put them all to sleep with Hypnosis, then bring them home."
Hearing Fang Yan's plan, Dali scratched the back of his head.
"Machamp?"
Is that really okay?
"This is what we call courtesy before force. We'll win Pokémon over with reason."
Catching them counts as winning them over, too.
Fang Yan patted his shoulder to show that it was fine.
After all, Fang Yan knew they were at a loss and had nowhere to go. Otherwise, he would not have disturbed them.
Fang Yan nodded to Dali and the others, then turned to Gengar.
He saw that Gengar's eyes were already glowing purple, ready to act.
"Gengar."
Just give in already.
This guy is acting more and more like a little bully.
Fang Yan shook his head helplessly, then walked up to Vespiquen.
"I have a place with lovely surroundings. Would you consider it?"
Smiling, Fang Yan got straight to the point.
"Ves?"
At Fang Yan's appearance, Vespiquen looked wary, white light shining from both hands.
"Peti..."
Sensing Vespiquen's hostility, Petilil grew a little frightened in his arms.
He patted Petilil's little head to reassure the Pokémon that everything was fine, then continued speaking to Vespiquen:
"Since you're at a loss and don't know where to go, why not stay at our place for now? It's much safer than here. Once you've decided, you can leave. How does that sound?"
Vespiquen's eyes still glowed red as she stared at Fang Yan.
Seeing her expression, Fang Yan swallowed.
Did the talks fall through? Damn it...
Just as the atmosphere between the two sides grew increasingly strange and was about to erupt, a soft, sweet voice reached both sides.
"Peti... Petilil..."
Our place... is... is really fun...
Vespiquen lowered her head to look at Petilil in Fang Yan's arms without a word.
Frightened, Petilil burrowed farther into Fang Yan's arms.
Fang Yan sheltered Petilil in his arms and prepared to signal Gengar and the others to act, his hand reaching toward the Poké Ball in his pocket.
Just as Fang Yan was about to tell Gengar and the others to act, Vespiquen nodded.
"Ves."
The tense atmosphere collapsed in an instant, replaced by harmony.
A warm smile returned to Fang Yan's face as he said:
"You can come back with us and take a look first. If you're not satisfied, we can talk about it then."
Vespiquen nodded and flew over to the Combee to explain the matter to them.
Watching Vespiquen fly over with the Combee, Fang Yan patted Petilil's little head in his arms.
"It's all thanks to you, Petilil."
Hearing Fang Yan's praise, Petilil instantly blushed and gave two happy cries.
"Petilil, Petilil."
Dali and San Li crouched down, then lifted the large tree. Fang Yan praised them as well.
Then Fang Yan led the way out of the forest, heading toward the Pokémon Day Care.
Beside him, Gengar floated happily with the basket on his back, while Dali and San Li followed behind carrying the large tree. Vespiquen and the Combee brought up the rear.
In a concealed spot behind Fang Yan, a pair of scarlet eyes kept watching their retreating figures.
Gengar looked back in confusion but found nothing.
"Gengar?"
Why does it feel like someone's watching me?
Gengar was puzzled. Gengar tried to scratch his head. Gengar could not reach it.
"What's wrong, Gengar?"
Fang Yan followed Gengar's gaze but saw nothing.
Gengar shook his head, then continued toward the Pokémon Day Care with the basket on his back.
In that concealed spot, a fox Pokémon sat on its haunches, then rose and headed off into the distance.
Back at the Pokémon Day Care, after directing Dali and the others to set down the tree, Fang Yan took Vespiquen and the others to choose a place.
Vespiquen flew around the Pokémon Day Care's little forest and finally chose the patch of woodland near the lake.
Fang Yan nodded and said, "This is a Pokémon Day Care. Other Pokémon may be boarded here in the future. I'll tell them beforehand not to disturb you. If you see any of the Day Care's Pokémon, don't worry. Just ignore them."
Vespiquen stared at Fang Yan and nodded.
Only after seeing her nod did Fang Yan continue. "If possible, when you make honey, could you share a little with me? Just a little. It doesn't have to be much."
Fang Yan gave her an exceptionally friendly, broad smile. Beside him, Gengar also wore an expectant look and an exceptionally "friendly," broad smile.
Vespiquen stared intently at Fang Yan and Gengar, then glanced at Petilil in his arms before finally nodding. She turned to leave, but Fang Yan called her back.
Turning around, she found Fang Yan and Gengar caught in a tug-of-war.
"Gengar Σ(・Д・")"
My food...
Looking at Gengar, who was now crouched off to the side drawing circles because he had taken some Berries suitable for Vespiquen from the basket, Fang Yan smiled helplessly.
"Gengar, they work hard to make their honey, too. We can't just take it for free."
Gengar looked up at him without a word.
"Go ahead..."
Fang Yan closed his eyes in resignation. At those words, Gengar immediately pounced on him happily, scarlet tongue at the ready.
After pushing Gengar away, Fang Yan wiped the drool from his face, then handed Vespiquen some sweet-tasting Berries.
Having watched it all, Vespiquen calmly accepted the Berries, then turned and left.
Her wings beat much more cheerfully.
Before you continue