I'm popularizing ecology in the Pokémon world.

Given Chen Mu's current fame, almost every volunteer here knows him.

When he arrived, a kind young volunteer anxiously called out to him, "Professor Chen, be careful! That little Eevee is stressed!"

The girl's surprised expression froze on her face the next moment.

"Why……?"

Under everyone's watchful eyes, the little Eevee that had been running around wildly with its fur standing on end just seconds before suddenly nestled into Chen Mu's arms like a fledgling swallow returning to its nest, its eyes brimming with tears.

Chen Mu quickly caught it and frantically tried to comfort Little Eevee.

"Hey? What happened? Don't be afraid, don't be afraid! I'm here, it's all alright now, you're safe here, don't be scared."

Ralts, who usually sits on his shoulder, also used its psychic powers to gently smooth the frizzy fur on Eevee's neck.

"Bu-i... Bu-i..."

"Can't you find your mom and dad? Don't be afraid. They must have taken your mom to get treatment. Once she's cured, she'll be able to run normally and won't have to stay in the nest for long anymore."

"Bu-i?"

"Really, of course it's true! When have I ever lied to you?"

"Eee... Buee!"

"Okay! Once your mother is cured, I'll definitely let Ralts visit your new home."

Before long, Chen Mu successfully dispelled Little Eevee's anxiety through stroking and communication, allowing her to return to her most cheerful self.

The scene left the surrounding volunteers speechless, all amazed.

"Um... was Professor Chen just talking to that Eevee? How can he understand wild Pokémon?"

"Hiss... When did humans learn to understand Eevee's language? Did human evolution not take me with it?"

"As expected of the amazing Professor Chen!"

There are actually several reasons behind this amazing scene—

On one hand, Chen Mu now possesses a rudimentary form of the power of Viridian, which can be considered a preliminary understanding, and naturally he can more keenly perceive the emotions of Pokémon.

On the other hand, he was already very familiar with this little Eevee, and the two could exchange a wealth of information simply through facial expressions, body language, and emotional expressions.

Finally, Ralts's Nen ability also provided assistance.

In short, the reasons are multifaceted.

However, since it would be impossible to explain these things clearly to others in just a few words, Chen Mu could only keep smiling and simply allow everyone to treat him as the amazing Professor Chen.

For a moment, exclamations of amazement rose and fell all around.

After a while, Chen Mu led Little Eevee back to their temporary home.

Shortly after, Misaka Joy, who had just completed her surgery, also arrived.

Accompanying him was Chen Mu's student, Sakura Joey.

Misaka looked relieved as soon as she arrived.

"Phew, that's great!"

I was a little nervous when I heard on the way here that Eevee had gotten all worked up.

I've been using my healing powers too frequently these past two days, and I'm exhausted. I wasn't even sure I could calm them down. Thank goodness you came.

Watching Chen Mu gently stroke Eevee's back, Sakura couldn't help but ask a question she had wanted to ask on the way here.

"Teacher Chen, why didn't you catch this Eevee? I remember you have a hunting license for Viridian Forest. She clearly likes you so much."

Before entering the forest together, Jubei helped Chen Mu complete all the necessary procedures, including a hunting permit for the forest.

Because the Viridian Forest was not valued at the time, hunting licenses were easy to obtain.

The license Chen Mu holds now has probably increased in value hundreds or even thousands of times.

Hearing this, Misaka Joy became curious as well, "Oh right, why don't you capture this little one? Isn't she cute?"

Hearing that everyone seemed to be discussing something related to him, Little Eevee, who was resting on Chen Mu's lap, immediately perked up its ears.

Although its eyes were still closed, the pair of trembling long ears on its head clearly revealed the little guy's thoughts.

At this moment, the tightly closed eyes became a clumsy disguise, an attempt to cover up the truth, and a silly but also cute look.

Chen Mu's hand continued to stroke Little Ibu.

"I really like this little one, but I still hope she can make a choice after she has seen more options and seen more sights."

Since she was born, she has never seen the scenery of her hometown.

Her parents were willing to take such great risks, fight alongside us with all their might, and travel all the way, just to bring her back to her homeland, back to the environment most suitable for her growth.

If I were to take advantage of her timidity upon arriving in an unfamiliar place and simply take her away, it would seem far too despicable.

Chen Mu calmly explained his reasons, his words revealing a hint of regret, yet his resolve remained firm.

This was something he had already thought about all the way to the Quartz Plateau.

He thought: at least let little Ibuki see the mountains and rivers of her hometown before she decides whether she wants to come with him.

Misaka Joy chuckled and joked, "Aren't you afraid this little guy will abandon you after he gets used to life at high altitude?"

Chen Mu smiled and said, "To be honest, I am still a little worried."

But what I fear even more is this: if I never let her smell the scent of her hometown and just ran off with her, what if one day she gets tired of it and complains that I didn't give her a chance to choose? I wouldn't know how to face her.

I think I would have felt incredibly guilty then.

After he said that, the room suddenly became quiet.

Misaka Joy paused for a moment, then said leisurely, "You really are kind... I'm starting to look at you in a new light."

Sakura, puffing out her cheeks, indignantly defended Chen Mu, saying, "Auntie, I told you long ago that Teacher Chen is a very kind person! See? He genuinely cares about and loves Pokémon from the bottom of his heart! What you said before was all a misunderstanding! A misunderstanding!"

The interaction between the two made Chen Mu unable to suppress his curiosity.

"Looking at me with new respect? So how exactly did you perceive me before?"

Chen Mu asked clearly, his tone carrying no hint of accusation, only pure curiosity.

Misaka Joy was caught between Chen Mu and Sakura, unable to break free, so she could only laugh it off.

"Haha, it's nothing. It's just that I saw you always getting entangled with the Rockets. It was just a small misunderstanding. Please don't take it to heart, Mr. Chen."

Chen Mu was certainly not that petty; he just took the opportunity to ask a question.

"So, does Miss Rika really dislike Team Rocket?"

Misaka Joy and Rika are good friends and both work in Nijigasaki City, so it's hard to say whether they influence each other.

Misaka Joy blurted out in surprise.

"Huh? Professor Chen, you even know such secrets? So the rumors about your extensive network and wide social connections online really weren't unfounded."

"..."

Well, although his image was once again spiraling out of control, at least Chen Mu confirmed one thing—

The Rika in this world is probably closer to the image in the manga world!