Pokémon: Who let him leave Pallet Town?

Chapter 239 Suicune and the Poachers

"Once you cross this forest, you'll reach Wakaba Town, and the Skywood Research Institute is located there."

The group walked through the forest.

"My goodness, this forest is huge!"

Xiaoxia rubbed her forehead, feeling a bit overwhelmed.

“Yeah, Natsume-nii, why is Professor Oak’s research institute also in a small town? I always thought that Professor Oak was an exception and that research institutes should be in modern cities.”

Xiao Zhi gestured.

During his travels over the past few months, in addition to Oak's lab, Ash also visited Nishinomori's lab and Uchiha's lab.

Without exception, these research institutes are all located in relatively remote areas.

It's not exactly a remote town, but it's not exactly a prosperous one either.

Moreover, these towns are surrounded by either mountains or the sea.

"That's normal, Ash. The research institute is responsible for breeding and fostering Pokémon, and most of them are located in small towns where there is a free natural environment."

Jiaozi laughed.

During the two months she stayed at Ooki's lab with Natsume, she learned a lot about choosing a location for the lab through observation and experience.

“The forests surrounding Ruoye Town contain many swamps.”

Natsume picked up the conversation and pointed to a small pond-like spot not far away.

"Yes, this place is perfect for breeding Pokémon like Totodile."

Xiao Gang, who was in front, seemed to have thought of something and clapped his hands.

"A baby saw-allergy? What's that?"

Xiao Zhi tilted his head.

"Idiot, the three starter Pokémon given to newcomers in the Johto region are Cyndaquil (Fire-type), Totodile (Water-type), and Chikorita (Grass-type)."

Xiaoxia took out the picture book, which showed the image of a small blue crocodile.

"Oh, so can I get a starter Pokémon here?"

Xiaozhi asked curiously.

"Although you are not a trainer from the Johto region, the Johto and Kanto regions have been deeply intertwined in various aspects over the years due to geographical factors and league policies."

Natsume paused as he spoke:

"It might work?"

"However, you can go to the nearby swamp and maybe find the baby saw-alligator that Dr. Kongmu has released outside."

Natsume suggested.

Natsume discovered cameras and automatic feeders in many places in this forest.

This is most likely the "backyard" of the Skywood Research Institute.

"Alright, Pikachu, let's go!"

Ash waved his hand and ran towards a shimmering body of water that was faintly visible in the distance.

"Hey, Natsume, there's no way you would let a baby tortoise roam so far away, is there?"

Xiaoxia looked at Natsume suspiciously, thinking that he was just teasing the idiot again.

“That’s not necessarily true,” Xiao Gang suddenly said.

"The breeder's manual specifically warns that most baby saw-alligators are very mischievous and love to sneak out."

"Maybe, Ash really can—"

"Ah ah ah ah ah ah ah!"

Before Xiao Gang could finish speaking, Xiao Zhi's scream came from afar.

"What's going on here?"

Xiaoxia looked over curiously.

"Could we really have found the baby saw-tortoise? Natsume, what do you think?"

Xiao Gang wanted to ask Natsume to go check on the situation, but the other party had already disappeared.

"Let's go over there too."

Once everyone realized what had happened, they quickly headed in the direction Ash had left.

Suddenly, fog rolled in all around.

The closer they got to Ash, the thicker the fog became.

In the end, it was so dark you couldn't see your hand in front of your face.

A putrid stench began to fill the air, and the group moved forward cautiously, afraid of accidentally falling into the mud.

"Pikachu—Pikachu!"

A faint voice rang out from Pikachu, and everyone followed the sound to find Ash tumbling into the mud.

His lower body was stuck in the mud, and Pikachu was pulling him hard, but to no avail.

"Xiao Zhi, don't move around. Just keep your hands flat. The more force you use, the faster you'll sink."

Seeing that Xiao Zhi had pulled his hand away, Xiao Gang quickly reminded him.

However, Ash did not pull his hand away to struggle, as everyone thought.

He shook his muddy hands, put them to his mouth, and gestured for everyone to be quiet.

"what happened to him?"

The group of people who were about to step forward hesitated, only to see Xiao Zhi point in a direction within the mist. "What's wrong?" Xiao Xia asked, turning her head to look, only to see a vast expanse of white.

"Does it mean it's too dangerous over there and they don't want us to go?" Xiao Gang guessed.

"No, didn't you see it? It's a Suicune, a Suicune!"

Ash pointed to the center of the swamp and whispered.

"Hmm?" Xiaoxia squinted and looked in that direction for a moment, but still couldn't see anything.

Helpless, Ash could only instruct Misty to retrieve her Pokédex.

Suicune, a legendary Pokémon, is said to be the embodiment of the North Wind and possesses the power to purify polluted water.

"How do you have such good eyesight?!"

Xiaoxia looked at Xiaozhi in astonishment.

She recalled how, back in the Orange Islands, Ash and Natsume could easily see the sky thousands of miles high.

"Because I saw it jump in from the outside." Ash looked at Misty with a puzzled expression.

"Ugh—"

From the center of the white mist came an ethereal call.

In an instant, the white mist dissipated, and everyone could see the situation inside the swamp.

"It's injured?" Xiao Gang exclaimed.

Under the sunlight, the injured Suicune lies in the middle of the swamp, the sewage beneath her turning into clear spring water.

Its neck was injured, its silver-blue fur trembled with the ripples of water, and the surrounding black mud gradually receded.

"Ugh!"

Suijun, who had been resting with his eyes closed, suddenly stood up and looked at everyone with hostility.

"The wound on its neck looks like it was caused by poachers," Ash suddenly said.

The wound was so deep that bone was visible, and a faint red glow could be seen.

"That should be a locator. The poachers might be nearby, or Suicune might have mistaken us for poachers!"

Xiao Zhi continued.

"boom--"

As soon as he finished speaking, a violent torrent of water swept towards Ash.

"Pikachu, get out of the way!"

Ash threw Pikachu aside, and with the help of the Water Gun, Pikachu was swept out of the swamp and escaped.

"Woo-"

Suijun turned to leave, but let out a sob and almost collapsed to the ground.

"Poachers usually use that drug called 'rat', which paralyzes Pokémon's nerves, gradually causing them to lose their ability to move," Ash recalled.

"Wait a minute, when did you become so knowledgeable about these things!"

Xiaoxia looked at Xiaozhi with a surprised expression, as if she were seeing him for the first time.

"Haha, this? The guy with the middle parting explained it to me." Xiao Zhi scratched his head.

"Huh?" The three of them turned around at the same time, looking at Ash with a strange expression.

Why would someone with a middle part know these things?

Speaking of the middle parting hairstyle, what about it?

Looking around, Natsume was nowhere to be seen, and the man with the middle parting had also disappeared at some point.

"Ugh!"

Suicune tried to get up again to escape, but collapsed to the ground in agony.

"No, we have to get Suicune out of here right away, the poachers might be nearby!"

As Xiao Gang spoke, he was about to step forward, but when he saw the vast swamp, he hesitated to take a step.

"Unless Suicune is willing to believe us and walk out of the swamp on its own, we can only wait for a professional rescue team."

Jiaozi frowned.

"Hehehe, don't worry!"

"Generally speaking, if you encounter a Pokémon that has been poached in the wild, you should contact the relevant authorities as soon as possible."

As Ash spoke, he took out his Pokédex.

"I've already made the arrangements, I'll be there soon!"

He put his hands on his hips, puffed out his chest like Pinocchio, and held the picture book up to the crowd.

"There's no signal, how did you contact anyone?" Xia asked, puzzled.

"Huh, why is there no signal!"

Ash flipped the Pokédex over in confusion and found that the Signals section had a big X.

The signal I sent is still spinning in circles.

"Whoosh!"

With a whooshing sound, a large net appeared above everyone's heads in an instant, descending upon them.

"Haha, because we blocked it!"

A wild, loud laugh rang out.

(End of this chapter)