On the trees, in the river, in the grass, various Pokémon were curiously watching Lucas and Gengar rummaging around for treasures.
Below is the complaint of an unknown Pokémon:
"Hoo, Hoothoot, Hoothoot Hoothoot..."
That group of them were practically bandits, especially that little purple fatty; it broke into my home and took my things right out from under my nose...
Regarding this complaint, the fatty's statement was as follows:
"Gengar."
I 'borrowed' it with my strength.
Lucas was unaware of all this, but he watched as several Pokémon picked things here and there. Although the process caused some commotion, he quite liked the feeling. It was similar to the 'mountain-gathering' life he had seen in his previous life; the 'forest-gathering' life in the Pokémon world seemed pretty good, didn't it?
However, he still reminded Gengar and the others not to take everything, just a little bit would suffice.
Know when to stop.
After speaking, he walked over to a fallen large tree and carefully observed the tree lying across his path. There were obvious teeth marks, so it must have been gnawed down by some Pokémon.
The important thing was that the quality of the wood was quite good, suitable for wood carving.
"By the way, if I take this fallen tree back to use, it shouldn't count as illegal logging, right?"
Unsure, Lucas decided to pull out his phone and ask Jenny.
After sending a picture and receiving a negative answer, Lucas called Machamp and the others over.
"Machamp, can you and Machamp carry this large tree back?"
Machamp walked over, scrutinized it, and then nodded affirmatively.
"That's good, thank you. I'll make some small toys for you when we get back."
Lucas said with a smile.
Hearing this, Machamp once again gave a thumbs-up.
"Machamp."
Just as the two Machamp were about to lift the large tree, Lucas heard a slight sound.
"Buzz Buzz buzz buzz"
Lucas held up his index finger, indicating silence, then observed carefully and noticed several yellow figures darting through the forest not far away.
"Is that... Combee?"
Looking at the Pokémon shaped like three honeycomb cells, each with a wing on the side, Lucas recognized them at a glance.
However, there was also a swarm of Combee chasing them from behind, until a queen-shaped Pokémon appeared, and the chasing Combee stopped, then turned back.
The remaining Queen Bee and a few Combee hovered there.
[Vespiquen]
[Gender: Female]
[Type: Bug, Flying]
[Ability: Pressure]
[Moves: Slash, Sweet Scent, Bug Resistance, Poison Sting, Venoshock, Toxic, Air Cutter, Confuse Ray, Roost, Aromatic Mist, Attack Order, Defend Order]
[Mood: Down]
[Status: Confused]
[Friendship: 0 (You are strangers)]
[Introduction: Possessing great strength, as the second Vespiquen of the swarm, she was expelled from her original swarm.]
[Combee]
[Gender: Male (3) Female (1)]
[Type: Bug, Flying]
[Ability: Honey Gather]
[Moves: Gust, Sweet Scent, Bug Bite, Bug Resistance]
[Mood: Down]
[Status: Loyal!]
[Friendship: 0 (You are strangers)]
[Introduction: They were expelled from the swarm with the Vespiquen and are loyal to this Vespiquen.]
[We will always consider you our Queen — Combee]
Seeing the Vespiquen's introduction, Lucas was somewhat surprised. The moves this Vespiquen had mastered were too powerful.
A swarm couldn't accommodate a second Vespiquen, and perhaps it was precisely her formidable strength that aroused jealousy, leading to her expulsion from the swarm.
Lucas was puzzled, but then he stopped thinking about it. Since the status bar showed that she was in a state of confusion, he instantly had a win-win solution.
He turned to Gengar and the others, asking, "Do you like honey?"
Hearing this, Gengar and Machamp's eyes instantly lit up.
Especially Gengar, drool flowed all over the ground.
"I'm telling you, first, I'll go out and talk to them, negotiate terms. If it goes well, no problem. If it doesn't, Gengar, you just hypnotize them all and bring them home."
Hearing Lucas's plan, Machamp scratched the back of his head.
"Machamp?"
Is that really okay?
"We call this 'courtesy before force,' reasoning with Pokémon."
Conquering also means convincing.
Lucas patted his shoulder, indicating that it was fine.
After all, Lucas knew they were in a state of confusion and didn't know where to go; otherwise, Lucas wouldn't have bothered them.
Lucas nodded to Machamp and the others, then turned to Gengar.
He saw that its eyes were already glowing purple, ready to go.
"Gengar."
You guys just give in.
This guy was becoming more and more like a little tyrant.
Lucas shook his head helplessly, then walked up to the Vespiquen.
"I have a place, the environment is beautiful. Would you like to consider it?"
Lucas said with a smile, getting straight to the point.
"Vespiquen?"
The Vespiquen looked at Lucas with vigilance, white light emanating from her two hands.
"Petilil..."
Sensing the Vespiquen's hostility, the Petilil in his arms was a little scared.
He patted Petilil's little head, indicating that it was okay, then continued to speak to the Vespiquen:
"Since you are in a state of confusion and don't know where to go, why don't you come and stay with us first? It's much safer than here. You can leave when you've decided, how about that?"
The Vespiquen's eyes were still glowing red, staring at Lucas.
Looking at the Vespiquen's expression, Lucas swallowed.
Did the negotiation fall apart? Damn it... Just as the atmosphere between the two sides grew increasingly strange and was about to erupt, a soft, cute voice entered both their ears.
"Petilil... Petilil..."
Our place... is... is so much fun...
The Vespiquen lowered her head to look at the Petilil in Lucas's arms, saying nothing.
Petilil was so scared that she burrowed deeper into Lucas's embrace.
Lucas protected Petilil in his arms, ready to signal Gengar and the others to act, his hand reaching for the Poké Ball in his pocket.
Just as Lucas was about to tell Gengar and the others to make a move, the Vespiquen nodded.
"Vespiquen."
The atmosphere of gunpowder smoke collapsed, replaced by a harmonious one.
Lucas's face once again showed a warm smile as he said:
"You can come back with us and take a look first. If you're not satisfied, we can discuss it then."
The Vespiquen nodded, flew over to the few Combee, and began to tell them about the matter.
Watching the Vespiquen fly over with the Combee, Lucas patted the little head of the Petilil in his arms.
"It's all thanks to you, Petilil."
Hearing Lucas praise her, Petilil's face instantly turned red, and she happily chirped twice.
"Petilil Petilil."
Machamp and Machamp squatted down, then lifted the large tree. Lucas also praised them.
Afterward, Lucas walked ahead, heading out of the forest and towards the Breeding House.
Beside him, Gengar was happily floating with a back basket, while Machamp and Machamp followed behind him, carrying a large tree. The Vespiquen and Combee followed even further behind.
In a hidden spot behind Lucas, a pair of scarlet eyes watched their retreating figures.
Gengar looked back in confusion but found nothing.
"Gengar?"
Why do I feel like someone is watching me?
Gengar was confused, Gengar scratched his head, Gengar couldn't reach.
"What's wrong? Gengar?"
Lucas looked in the direction of Gengar's gaze but found nothing.
Gengar shook his head, then continued walking towards the Breeding House with his back basket.
In a hidden place, a fox Pokémon was squatting there. It then stood up and walked away into the distance.
Upon returning to the Breeding House, he instructed Machamp and the others to put the tree down, then took the Vespiquen and the others to choose a spot.
The Vespiquen flew around the small forest of the Breeding House and finally chose the small forest near the Lake.
Lucas nodded and said, "This is our Breeding House. In the future, other Pokémon might be boarded with us. I will tell them in advance not to disturb you. If you see the Pokémon from the Breeding House, don't worry, just ignore them."
The Vespiquen stared at Lucas and nodded.
Seeing the Vespiquen nod, Lucas then continued, "If possible, when you make honey, could you share a little with me? Just a little is fine, not too much."
Lucas showed a super friendly, big smile, and Gengar beside him also showed a super "friendly" big smile, full of anticipation.
The Vespiquen stared intently at Lucas and Gengar, then glanced at the Petilil in his arms before nodding, turning to leave, but was called back by Lucas.
Turning around, she saw Lucas and Gengar pulling at each other.
"Gengar Σ(・Д・)"
My food...
Looking at Gengar, who was squatting nearby drawing circles because he had taken some suitable berries for the Vespiquen from the back basket, Lucas smiled helplessly.
"Gengar, they also worked hard to make the honey; we can't just take it for free."
Gengar looked up at him, not speaking.
"You do it..."
Lucas closed his eyes resignedly, and then Gengar, hearing this, happily pounced on Lucas, with his scarlet Lickitung.
After pushing Gengar away, Lucas wiped the drool from his face, then handed some sweet-tasting berries to the Vespiquen.
The Vespiquen, who had witnessed all this, calmly took the berries and then turned to leave.
The frequency of her wing beats became much more cheerful.