Pokémon: Who let him leave Pallet Town?

Chapter 467 Dark-type swarm
"Inside the academy?"

Natsume became curious.

“Yes, inside the academy,” Jiao Zi said softly after a moment’s hesitation.

She subconsciously crossed her hands, which were resting on her knees, her fingertips slightly curled, revealing a hint of distress.

"Many wild Pokémon live in that piece of land."

"Wild Pokémon?" Natsume was taken aback.

What's so hard about this?
I tried to keep wild Pokémon in my enclosure a few times, but they all migrated away after only a few days.

Seeing Jiaozi's delicate brows furrow slightly in distress, her exquisite face conveying the message that "this is not an easy task," Natsume scratched his head.

This is indeed a difficult situation for most people.

After all, the Wild Pokémon Protection Act is in place.

"So, because it's been abandoned for so long, it's become a habitat for Pokémon?" Natsume asked curiously.

"Yes." Jiaozi nodded, her little face tense.

Her ears flushed a very faint pink under Natsume's gaze.

"Moreover, Blueberry Academy was abandoned because this problem was discovered halfway through."

"."

Habitat. All forms of forced removal are strictly prohibited under any circumstances.

Natsume suddenly felt like he was some kind of sucker that Shaka had found for his friend.

"However, there is also some good news." Jiaozi paused.

"What good news?"

"That gentleman seems eager to get rid of this burden, and recently revealed some information."

She straightened her back, and her voice became clearer, as if she wanted to bring some good news.

"Beneath the academy's grounds, an exploration has uncovered a sizable natural ice cave. It is said that the environment inside is unique and contains some rare minerals and energy crystals."

As she spoke, Jiaozi deftly took out the photos from her briefcase.

Her fair fingers held the edge of the photo and solemnly handed it to Natsume.

"If we successfully take over the academy, the ice cave and its resources will naturally belong to us. This may partially offset the value of the development restrictions imposed by the habitat."

Natsume took the photo and examined it closely in the light streaming through the car window.

The photo was taken deep underground.

The first picture is a distant view of the entrance to the ice cave.

The massive ice cracks resemble scars on the earth, and the chill seems to emanate from the photograph.

The second image shows a view deep inside.

Huge icicles support the dome, and the smooth ice walls reflect the cold white beams of searchlights, creating a mesmerizing halo.

The ice layer has a deep blue color, indicating its age and dense structure.

In some corners, strange, snowflake-like clusters of ice crystals condensed, shimmering faintly under the light—this is usually a sign of an unusually rich concentration of ice energy.

Based on his experience, Natsume quickly judged that this was no small ice cave, but a vast underground ice system environment that was ancient, structurally stable, and of considerable size.

The third photo captures a perspective from deeper into the ice cave.

Amidst the crystal-clear ice shards, several nimble figures can be vaguely seen gliding across the ice surface or clinging tightly to the ice wall.

Although the photo is somewhat blurry, the streamlined silhouette, the icy blue fur or reflective shell, and the iconic fin-like or horn-like structures all point to Ice-type Pokémon—such as Snorunt, Seismope, and possibly even traces of Glaceon's activity.

They are like spirits naturally nurtured in the ice cave, blending into this icy world.

However, when Natsume's gaze swept over the fourth photo, his brows furrowed sharply.

This photo was taken at the edge of the ice cave near the entrance, where the light was relatively good.

At the boundary between the ice and the exposed rocks, several figures of different shapes suddenly appeared in the shadows.

They don't have the pure, cold hues of Ice-type Pokémon; instead, they possess a deep, dark color.

A cunning tengu crouched warily on the rock, its ears pricked up, ready to catch any movement.

In the shadows, several pairs of eyes, flashing with an ominous red light, appeared and disappeared, most likely belonging to Murkrow or Nura.

You can even see a Pokémon with a bandana-like thug-like appearance grinning aggressively at the camera. "A Dark-type Pokémon?!" Natsume looked up in surprise, his gaze shooting towards the prodigy like lightning.

"And there's more than one kind? How did they end up at the entrance to the ice cave? And even live among Ice-type Pokémon?"

In Natsume's understanding, Pokémon with bad habits live in groups, mainly concentrated in human cities.

Dark-type Pokémon are among the few that have integrated into human cities in large numbers as stray Pokémon.

Moreover, it has become a specific social structure.

Even if the alliance establishes a protected area, isolates them, and provides them with good food and drink, these guys will all run back to their original territory after enjoying a few good meals for free.

Jiaozi was startled by Natsume's suddenly raised voice, causing her shoulders to twitch almost imperceptibly.

She nodded immediately, her small face showing confusion, her delicate eyebrows slightly furrowed.

“That’s one of the trickiest parts, teacher.”

She turned her head slightly to avoid Natsume's sharp gaze, her fair cheeks flushing slightly.

"Based on our preliminary ecological survey and the information provided by that gentleman, the abandoned building complex on the surface of the academy and the surrounding forest area are inhabited by a rather complex community dominated by various Dark-type Pokémon."

“Wolfhounds, Great Danes, Leopards, Absolu, and even the Splitter Commander have been sighted multiple times. They seem to have made that place their stronghold.”

"and many more?"

Natsume raised an eyebrow strangely and tapped the edge of the photo hard with his fingers, making a soft tapping sound.

"Dark-type Pokémon have a very strong sense of territory and are highly exclusive!"

"It's normal for a single species to live together, but how can a relatively 'stable' community be formed by mixing together so many different types of Dark-type Pokémon with such different habits?"

"How can this be!"

Natsume said that the last time he saw so many different Dark-type Pokémon mixed together was when they were fighting each other in the streets for territory.

This unusual phenomenon was like a cold thorn, piercing Natsume's thoughts.

The fact that Dark-type Pokémon are so "united" in occupying one place is definitely not something that happened naturally.

Natsume's curiosity was completely ignited.

Jiaozi felt an invisible pressure as she looked at Natsume's solemn expression and furrowed brows.

She lowered her eyes, her long eyelashes casting shadows beneath them, and remained silent.

Silence fell over the car for a moment, with only the steady hum of the engine.

Soon, the car drove into downtown Feiyun and stopped in front of a luxury hotel.

Jiaozi took a deep breath, quickly composed herself, and got off the bus first.

With a light and profitable movement, he opened the car door for Natsume.

“Mr. Natsume,” she said, tilting her head slightly, her eyes crinkling, her smile bright.

It was as if the previous conversation had never happened.

"The restaurant reservation is ready. Would you like to dine first?" The voice was deliberately softened, with a hint of anticipation.

"Hmm, that's fine too." Natsume put the photo away, suppressed his doubts, and followed Jiaozi into the lobby.

To reach the restaurant, you need to cross an indoor glass skybridge.

Below the covered bridge is a meticulously arranged tropical garden, with flowing water and lush greenery.

However, as Natsume and Takako walked side by side on the covered bridge, Natsume paused almost imperceptibly.

His sharp gaze swept across the shadows of the garden under the covered bridge and the street corners in the distance.

In the dense shadows of the bushes, a pair of wary, wild eyes flashed by, seemingly belonging to a coyote.

Across the street, deep in the alley, several black crows stood silently on the fire escape ladder like black silhouettes.

Their heads tilted slightly, their gazes seemingly piercing through the glass and landing on the two people.

Further along the sidewalk, a cool leopard, with elegant yet dangerous steps, silently disappeared around the corner.

"Although the stray Pokémon in the city are mainly Dark-type, there seem to be far too many in Unova City?"

Natsume narrowed his eyes slightly.

(End of this chapter)