After parting with Spheal, the sun was about to set, and the lingering glow of the sunset slanted across the beach.
Xu Li, full and satisfied, was about to look for a place to rest for the night, but someone found him first.
Xu Li looked at the woman who ran up to him, about fifteen years old, with a delicate face, shoulder-length hair, dressed in red, wearing a straw hat, white leg warmers and wooden clogs, and a square emblem embroidered on her chest.
The woman cautiously glanced at Axew and Growlithe, then spoke:
"Um… hello, I am Haruna of the Galaxy Team's Security Corps, responsible for guarding the Galaxy Team's Cobalt Coastlands beach camp."
"Just now, we noticed a large gathering of Pokémon on the beach. We observed dozens of Spheal and Sealeo, as well as the King of the Beach, Walrein, and we saw you involved. If possible, could you tell us what happened?"
"Hello, my name is Xu Li. I was just having a party with the Spheal, and it's over now."
"A party, a party?" Haruna was somewhat incredulous.
In the impression of Haruna and most Hisui residents, Pokémon were terrifying creatures, and having a party with Pokémon was unheard of.
"Yes, the Spheal are all very friendly."
Haruna, stationed in the Cobalt Coastlands, knew about the Spheal tribe; although they weren't afraid of humans, they didn't really bother with them either.
Haruna had also heard stories of Investigation Team members coming to the Cobalt Coastlands being chased by Sealeo and narrowly escaping death.
Thinking of this, Haruna looked at Xu Li with a somewhat admiring gaze; this was someone who could form a friendship with the Spheal tribe.
At this moment, Xu Li spoke, "Um, can I visit your camp?"
Haruna seemed to remember something, patted her Head and said, "Ah, yes, yes, we'd be delighted. The Professor heard about the situation here and asked me to invite you to the camp."
"Then let's go."
Following Haruna on the way to the beach camp, there were many uphill paths, and the terrain gradually became higher, passing many Pokémon.
A Skitty curiously peeked out from the grass, watching the group on the path. When Xu Li turned his Head and met Skitty's gaze, it immediately shyly hid back in the grass.
He also saw an Aipom hanging from a tree, its tail wrapped around the branch, grinning at Xu Li.
Finally, they arrived at the beach camp, where tents stood on the elevated flat ground.
The most striking feature was a flag fluttering in the wind, embroidered with the same pattern as on Haruna's chest, which must be the Galaxy Team's emblem.
As Xu Li walked up, a middle-aged man approached him. He had dark skin, wore a purple and white headscarf that seemed to have a frog pattern, and a clean white lab coat in a researcher's style. He extended his hand to Xu Li.
"You must be the young friend who recently participated in the Spheal group activity, everyone calls me Professor Laventon."
Xu Li shook hands with Professor Laventon and replied, "Hello, Professor Laventon, my name is Xu Li."
"I'll get straight to the point. I am dedicated to studying Pokémon ecology and want to create something called a Pokédex, which requires collecting data on various Pokémon. I just saw you, young friend Xu Li, in the Spheal group, and you seemed quite familiar with them, so I wanted to ask you about various information regarding Spheal."
"Of course, young friend, if you need anything, you can also ask me. We will pay you!"
At this moment, Professor Laventon finally noticed Axew and Growlithe by Xu Li's feet and exclaimed in surprise, "Ah, Pokémon I haven't seen before, and this Growlithe, a very rare Pokémon! Young friend, you truly bring me many surprises. May I collect data on these Pokémon?"
Xu Li was a bit dazed by Professor Laventon's enthusiasm, and after a moment of stunned, he replied:
"This child is Axew, and I can tell you some Pokémon data, but I need to rest. A day of traveling has made me very tired."
"I see, there's no rush. Young friend, would you like to return to Jubilife Village with us to rest? There's a better resting environment there."
"Alright, thank you for the trouble."
Immediately, Xu Li got into the convoy heading back to Jubilife Village.
This eagerness to take Xu Li back to Jubilife Village, if Xu Li hadn't played the game, he would have thought they were taking him to Myanmar to get rich.
On the convoy to Jubilife Village, Professor Laventon, during his casual chat with Xu Li, was amazed by Xu Li's understanding and familiarity with Pokémon.
After about three hours of driving, it was completely dark, and Xu Li arrived at Jubilife Village, where Professor Laventon arranged a guest room for him to rest and also sent him food.
Although this residence lacked a lively atmosphere, it was fully equipped with amenities, including a tatami mat, a mirror, a bathing area, and even a stove, which made Xu Li, who had been living in caves for several days in the wild, very satisfied.
After cleaning himself and washing Axew, Growlithe, and Paras clean—Growlithe was a bit afraid of water, so it took some effort—Xu Li lay down on the tatami mat.
Growlithe lay down beside his Head, emitting warm heat, Axew was sprawled on his stomach, and Paras was curiously looking around the room.
Xu Li opened the system and checked the achievement rewards.
[Defeat 10 Pokémon]
[Obtain Ability: Keen Eye]
[Keen Eye]
[Increases dynamic vision, allows observation of tiny targets, prevents accuracy reduction from opponent's skills, ignores target's evasion rate ability changes]
[Catch a Head Pokémon]
[Obtain Ability: Agile Body]
[Agile Body]
[Slightly improves physical fitness, greatly enhances body flexibility, improves body control]
These rewards are enhancement-based.
[Friendship of the Spheal Family]
[Obtained Trait: Water Affinity +1]
Friendship of the Spheal Family? How is this Family defined? Does it need a Head Pokémon? Or is a Family group enough?
[Water Affinity]
[Initial affection of Water-type Pokémon towards you increases, and you are less likely to incur hostility from Water-type Pokémon]
Xu Li felt his eyes clear, looking at the ceiling. Details he hadn't noticed before suddenly became apparent, and at the same time, he felt a surge of power transforming his body.
Lying on the bed, feeling the changes in his body, drowsiness gradually crept in.
Xu Li spent his first peaceful night in Hisui.
————
The next day, the clock on the wall showed eight o'clock. Xu Li was woken up by Professor Laventon's knocking.
Early in the morning, Professor Laventon eagerly pulled Xu Li, who had finished washing up, to input data into the Pokédex.
Walking on the way to Professor Laventon's office, since he had returned too late the previous day and it was dark, this was Xu Li's first time seeing the full view of Jubilife Village.
It was almost all small bungalows, neatly arranged either horizontally or vertically, with shops seemingly lining one side of the road.
Although it was early morning, many people were already up and active.
There were merchant caravans transporting goods to Jubilife Village, people pickling vegetables, shopping in stores, and in the distance, large tracts of farmland could be seen, where people were already tilling the land.
After truly arriving in Hisui, Xu Li realized that the Hisui region was much larger in reality than in the game. Jubilife Village was also much larger in scale than in the game, with more people and more lively.
Following Professor Laventon to the Galaxy Team Headquarters, the most conspicuous and massive building in Jubilife Village, a huge Galaxy Team emblem was above the main gate, overlooked by Magikarp statues on the rooftops on either side.
Just as they were about to enter the Galaxy Team Headquarters, a girl in an apron suddenly ran up, saying as she ran:
"Professor, it's bad! The three Pokémon sent over yesterday for research subjects have all escaped into the training grounds! Several Investigation Team members tried to catch them, but couldn't!"