Pokémon: Who let him leave Pallet Town?

Chapter 116 The Significance of Researchers
Natsume lifted his leg and looked at his trouser leg.

When Wartortle bumped into him, Natsume used his telekinesis to cover his pants.

Surprisingly, the buffering effect was quite good; he barely felt anything.

On the contrary, Wartortle's forehead turned red from the impact.

"Did your Wartortle just evolve? I've heard that some Pokémon become disobedient after evolving."

Xiaogang touched his chin, thinking.

"Could it be...could it be that my Wartortle isn't listening to me anymore?"

Gary held the Poké Ball to his chest, looking as if he had been hurt.

"Uh, that's not what I meant." Xiao Gang waved his hands repeatedly, trying to comfort the other person.

"Sizzle~" A red light flashed.

Wartortle has reappeared.

"Click—" Wartortle rolled its eyes at Shigeru.

It stepped forward, cupped Xiao Mao's face, which was red from being slapped by his tail, and kissed him.

"Warlock, I knew we were the best in the world!"

Overjoyed, Shigeru accepted the "Complete Collection of Poems for Enhancing Pokémon Relationships" handed to him by Natsume, preparing to express his feelings.

"Snapped!"

Xiao Mao's other cheek also swelled up.

The collection of lyrical poems was completely destroyed by Wartortle's water gun.

"Could it be."

Shigeru picked up the Poké Ball thoughtfully, while Wartortle retreated back inside, unwilling to come out.

"Look, none of everyone's Pokémon want to come out!" Misty's voice rang out.

Looking further, the open space was already piled high with Poké Balls.

The Diglett, however, remained calm and collected, each carrying a Poké Ball on their head and returning it to their trainer.

"Uh, thank you?"

The trainers took the Poké Balls from Diglett's head, looking somewhat embarrassed.

Xiao Mao stood up, staring blankly at the scene before him.

"As a reminder, you can explain it from an ecological perspective."

Natsume suddenly put his hand on Shigeru's shoulder.

Xiao Mao was taken aback. He looked at the unfinished dam and then at the groundhogs scattered all over the ground.

"Everyone, listen to me!"

Xiao Mao's voice suddenly became louder.

The trainers, who had been awkwardly looking up at the sky with nothing to do, looked at Gary as if they had seen a savior.

On the other side, Fujiichi tried to whack moles with a small hammer, but he failed and was panting heavily.

When Xiao Mao spoke, he also turned his gaze towards him.

"In the Pokémon world, Diglett is an indicator creature similar to an earthworm, playing an important role in the ecosystem."

"Since they've spoken out, there must be something wrong with them."

As he spoke, Xiao Mao pointed to the dam behind him:
"Once that dam is built, water will be stored there, and countless Pokémon living here will lose their homes."

"That's why our Pokémon don't like to fight Diglett."

"Tap!" Gently, Natsume draped a researcher's lab coat over Shigeru's shoulders.

"?"

Shigeru turned around and looked at Natsume with a strange expression.

"Keep it up! The ecological restoration work in the Kanto region will be entrusted to you from now on. You'll definitely get a PhD in ecology!"

Natsume gave Shigeru a thumbs up.

Xiao Mao was even more confused.

He turned around and saw that Ash and the others were also giving him a thumbs up.

When he turned his head again, all the trainers present gave him a thumbs up.

Don't put heavy responsibilities on his tender shoulders, you bastard!

However, it felt pretty good.
"But! I promised my father's colleagues that they would have clean water to drink!"

Fujiichi's unwilling voice rang out.

At this moment, everyone, including Ash, Gary, and the other trainers present, fell silent.

They were invited by Fujii, and they knew more or less why he was so determined to build a dam here.

Both sides have good intentions, but...
"See? There will always be conflicts between humans and Pokémon." Natsume patted Shoko's head.

"Then what should we do, Mr. Natsume?" Jiaozi looked up at Natsume.

Last time, Natsume said that resolving the conflict between humans and nature, and between humans and Pokémon, is one of the reasons why researchers exist. But Natsume didn't say how to do it.

“Learning, learning without end,” Natsume said, stepping forward.

Under the watchful eyes of everyone, Xiao Mao wanted to say something, but his Adam's apple bobbed, and he didn't know how to start.

He suddenly realized that this situation couldn't be simply divided into black and white, just like fighting against evil forces.

A voice sounded behind Xiao Mao.

"Let me do it."

Her researcher's lab coat was taken away, and when she turned around, she saw that Natsume had draped it over her shoulders.

Countless gazes fell upon him, but Natsume wouldn't say who was right or wrong.

That's meaningless; he's there to solve problems.

Natsume's unhurried voice rang out:
"Diglett, hailed by League scholars as an ecological indicator Pokémon, has made immeasurable contributions to many different ecological environments."

"Generally speaking, areas where gophers are present in large numbers have stable soil and water, fertile land, and abundant groundwater reserves."

Everyone listened attentively, and at this point, Natsume paused for a moment.

Everyone was taken aback, and then turned to look at Fujiichi.

"You mean I don't need to build a reservoir, I can just drill a well and use groundwater?"

A hint of surprise appeared on Fujiichi's face; he hadn't expected Natsume to have a solution that satisfied both his and Natsume's desires.

"The theory is completely valid. You can even negotiate with the Digletts to have them help you dig the bottom of the well, saving costs and leaving a few more wells for the Pokémon here."

"Furthermore, before that, we need to hire specialized researchers to calculate the limits of groundwater extraction that the ecological environment can withstand."

"Forget it, it's too complicated to explain. Let me write you a plan instead."

With that, Natsume waved his hand.

"Thank you very much, Mr. Natsume!" Fujiichi bowed to Natsume.

Natsume nodded to Fujii, then went to Takako's side and looked at the other's little head.

"Do you understand? The more knowledge you have here, the more solutions you'll have when you encounter problems."

“Mr. Natsume, I will work even harder!” Jiaozi nodded solemnly.

Behind him, Shigeru looked at Natsume, who was wearing a researcher's lab coat, his lips slightly parted, his eyes glazed over, seemingly lost in thought.

In the evening, everyone ate at the construction site canteen.

Fujiichi approached Natsume.

"Mr. Natsume, please accept this small token of my appreciation."

Fujiichi handed Natsume a black card with the Master Ball printed on it.

"No need to give it to me, give it to him." Natsume pulled Shigeru over.

"Huh?" Xiao Mao looked completely bewildered, forgetting to chew the little sausage in his mouth.

Natsume's voice followed immediately:

“In the future, Xiao Mao will likely be in charge of the surveying and maintenance of these wells.”

"Hey, hey, hey, don't just hand me such important tasks without my permission!"

Shigeru whispered, but then he saw Natsume take off his researcher's lab coat and put it on himself.

He paused, touching the clothes draped over his body, lost in thought.

In short, I am extremely grateful!

Fujiichi handed the black card to Shigeru, then bowed to Natsume again.

This afternoon, he invited professional surveyors, who found that the groundwater reserves here were quite terrifying, about three times the amount he had originally estimated for the reservoir!
“However, Mr. Natsume.” Fujii looked at Natsume.

"There seem to be too many gophers here."

Fujii recalled that the researcher who came to take measurements in the afternoon mentioned it casually.

"Too many ground squirrels? They should be splitting up soon then," Natsume said without turning his head as he ate his ochazuke.

"Separate families? What's that?" Ash and Gary both turned to look.

“A prodigy.” Natsume glanced at the other person.

The latter understood, immediately put down his bowl and chopsticks, and began to explain.

"Diglett is a social Pokémon. Once its population exceeds a certain limit, some of it will migrate to other places."

“Under normal circumstances, migrating gophers will choose to live in places where they can survive but where the ecology is relatively weak. Within a few years, the place will become full of life.”

"Wow, it even goes to other places to restore ecosystems, this Pokémon is amazing!"

Xiaoxia couldn't help but praise him.

Natsume slurped up the ochazuke in his bowl and nodded in response.

He thought of Kircheid, in the face of ecological inevitability.

A colony of ground squirrels can maintain a stable daily routine.

(End of this chapter)