Chapter 43
"Pokémon Hunters? Yes, I already know about that. Officer Jenny contacted me just now. You weren’t hurt, were you?"
Mike shook his head. The Rotom Phone floated quietly beside him.
"I’m fine. I set up an ambush in advance and took them down."
"That’s good. Cynthia called me earlier as well. She said the League will soon begin a large-scale operation against Pokémon Hunters across Sinnoh. Things should return to normal before long."
"Understood. Oh, Professor, Snivy was the one who warned us this time. That gave us enough time to prepare, but she left again after everything was over."
"Snivy... Just let her go."
"All right. I understand."
"Where are you now?"
Mike asked Gengar to bring over the tablet, checked their location, then answered, "We’re already near the place you told us about."
"Good. I hope you find what you’re looking for. Remember to record it and show me afterward."
"I will."
"I won’t keep you any longer. Be careful out there with Gengar and the others."
"Take care of yourself too, Professor."
The call ended.
Mike put away the phone, leaned aside to avoid a Spinarak lowering itself on a thread, and handed the tablet back to Gengar.
Mike and Gengar continued through the thick forest.
The dense canopy blocked most of the sunlight, leaving only scattered patches of light on the ground.
After spending so many days in the wild, Mike had already learned the basics of surviving outdoors.
Most importantly, never wander into the territory of a highly territorial Pokémon colony.
Beedrill, for example.
This was something Mike had only just discovered.
Gengar repeatedly hurled Shadow Balls at the Beedrill swarm ahead, knocking the first few attackers out of the air.
There was no trace of his usual childishness in his crimson eyes as he stared coldly at the swarm.
Mike stood behind him.
Gengar normally behaved like a little kid, but whenever things became serious, he was incredibly dependable.
When the Beedrill still showed no sign of backing down, Gengar tossed Kakuna high into the air.
Dark energy gathered between both his hands before he unleashed a powerful Dark Pulse at the swarm.
The attack completely shattered their formation.
The lead Beedrill’s ruby-red eyes flashed. Its strange mouthparts produced a peculiar buzzing sound.
"We didn’t mean to enter your territory," Mike said as he stepped out from behind Gengar. "We’ll leave immediately if you’ll allow us to pass."
The Beedrill stared at Mike beside Gengar.
After a moment of hesitation, they flew to either side and opened a path.
"Thank you."
Gengar caught Kakuna as he fell from above, then floated beside Mike as they walked through the swarm and out of their territory.
The endless buzzing of the Beedrill’s thin wings filled the air.
Mike would have been lying if he said he wasn’t nervous.
Anyone would panic with an entire swarm of Beedrill pointing those long, sharp lances at them.
Still, Mike kept his expression completely calm.
Only after they had left the territory did he stop and turn back toward the swarm.
He pressed his palms together and bowed.
"Sorry for disturbing you."
"Gar—"
[Sorry for disturbing you!]
Gengar bowed as well with Kakuna in his arms.
Glameow remained inside the carrier and yawned.
None of this had anything to do with her.
The lead Beedrill nodded.
Only then did Mike continue walking.
...
Mike leaned against a nearby tree until the weakness left his legs.
Gengar disappeared for a short while with Kakuna, and by the time they returned, Mike had mostly recovered.
He nodded to Gengar and continued searching for a suitable place to set up camp.
Gengar floated ahead with Kakuna in his arms, occasionally using his thin bamboo staff to knock Acorns loose from trees.
Sometimes he scattered all the leaves covering a Burmy hanging from a branch.
Other times, he mistook the leaves on an Oddish’s head for ordinary grass and smacked them with the staff, frightening the Oddish so badly that it pulled itself from the ground and ran away.
Just as Gengar was enjoying himself, a Berry rolled down a tree trunk and fell toward Mike’s head.
Glameow noticed it first and cried out.
Gengar reacted immediately and swung his arm.
Mike heard a sharp whoosh as a strong gust lifted his hair.
He looked up just in time to see the Berry being launched into the distance by Gengar’s bamboo staff.
Mike shielded his eyes and watched it disappear.
"Home run! Perfect score."
Gengar rested the bamboo staff across Kakuna’s head and blew lightly across it.
While the two of them admired the shot, a heartbroken cry came from above.
Mike looked up.
A Pachirisu stood beside its tree hollow with its arms full of Berries, staring down at them. (This poor thing 😭)
Tears had already gathered in its cute eyes.
’My Berry!’
The moment Gengar saw the pile of Berries in Pachirisu’s arms, his eyes lit up.
He hugged Kakuna and started floating toward it.
Mike quickly grabbed one of his ears and dragged him forward.
Gengar struggled desperately while Mike pulled with all his strength.
’Why is this purple fatty so strong?!’
After finally dragging him far enough away, Mike let go and caught his breath.
"Those Berries belong to Pachirisu. We were already wrong for knocking one away, and now you want to steal the rest? That’s not right."
"Gar—"
[I know I was wrong.]
Gengar chewed the Berry in his hand and admitted his mistake without hesitation.
"Be more careful next time—wait. Where did that Berry come from?!"
Mike stared at Gengar.
The bamboo staff was already tucked behind his backpack. He held Kakuna in one arm and ate the Berry with the other.
"When did you steal that?!"
A miserable sob came from behind them.
Mike immediately began scolding Gengar..
Gengar looked offended.
"Gar!"
[I didn’t steal it! I found it! I found it!]
Seeing Gengar’s sincere expression, Mike wondered whether he had accused him unfairly.
"When did you find it?"
Mike was already preparing to apologize.
"Gar."
[There were lots of them piled beneath that tree, so I picked one up.]
Mike fell silent.
"Then obviously Pachirisu put them there!"
Mike looked at him in frustration.
"People leave their houses beside roads too. Why don’t you pick up one of those?"
"Gar?"
[Can I?]
"You... I... That... Of course not!"
Mike’s face turned red.
This time, he truly was angry!
He took several deep breaths, then carefully explained why Pachirisu might have gathered and stored those Berries.
Gengar was still an obedient child.
After hearing Mike’s explanation, he floated back to Pachirisu.
Pachirisu was still crying miserably.
Gengar took out the Berry and placed it in front of her.
Then he pointed toward an Aipom in the distance.
"Gar—"
[You need to take better care of your Berries. I took this one back from that guy for you, but don’t leave them lying around next time.]
Pachirisu looked at Gengar in confusion and stopped crying.
Then she glanced toward the distant Aipom.
The longer she stared, the more it looked like a terrible villain!
She wiped away her tears and nodded firmly at Gengar.
"Pachi!"
[I understand! Thank you! You’re such a good Pokémon!]
Pachirisu selected two Berries and offered them to Gengar.
[These are for you.]
Gengar grinned, accepted them, and floated back to Mike.
At that moment, Aipom approached Pachirisu and tried to greet her.
It was immediately met with a Discharge.
Aipom: "POMMMM???"
’What did I do?!’
’Why did she shock me the moment I arrived?!’
...
The true culprit returned to Mike’s side and proudly showed him the Berries!
"Gar—"
[Hehe. She even thanked me.]
Mike tugged on his cheeks.
"Don’t do that again, understand?"
Gengar nodded and handed him one of the Berries.
"Gar—"
[She gave this to me. You can have it.]
Mike accepted the Berry, wiped it against Kakuna, then took a bite.
It was sweet and juicy.
Kakuna: "???"
’You too?’
"You gave it to me. Aren’t you eating yours?"
Mike fed a Berry to Glameow, then looked back at Gengar.
"Wait. Where did that honey come from?"
He stared at the honey in Gengar’s hands.
"Hold on..."
Mike’s eyes widened as Gengar happily ate it.
"Don’t tell me you..."
Before he could finish, furious buzzing came from behind them.
Mike and Gengar looked at each other.
Then they turned and ran.
"Bzzz!"
[You fat ghost! You rotten human! Give back our honey!]
[The Beedrill colony will never forgive you!]
[We’re furious!]