"Mi?"
Lopunny looked at Rockruff leading Max back again, its eyes filled with confusion.
This human…?
"Woof woof!"
Rockruff barked happily, chest puffed out.
This is my Trainer!
Lopunny glanced at Max. After a brief pause, it picked up the Oran Berry he had left on the ground earlier and handed it back to him, expressing a bit of goodwill.
"Mi~"
"Ah… thank you."
Max wasn't entirely sure why he was thanking it, but he still accepted the berry. After thinking for a moment, he added a few more berries and handed them back, looking at Buneary as he said that classic line:
"Here, take them. They're for the kid."
Lopunny looked at Buneary, then at Max, and happily accepted the gift.
Seeing that Lopunny had accepted the berries, Max knew he had been acknowledged. His spirits lifted. He cleared his throat toward the drone and smiled.
"Ahem. There was a little interruption just now. Let me properly introduce them to everyone."
"This little one is called Buneary, a Normal-type Pokémon. It expresses its emotions through the shape of its ears. Usually, only one ear is rolled up. When it's frightened, both ears curl up. When it's alert, both ears stand straight up—and in that state, it can hear even the faintest sound."
"Don't be fooled by its fragile appearance. If it forcibly unrolls its tightly coiled ears, the explosive force can even shatter large rocks! Sometimes, when it jumps using that power, it scares itself instead."
After finishing Buneary's introduction, Max turned the camera toward Lopunny.
"And the one beside Buneary is its parent—and also Buneary's evolved form—"
"I know! She's my waifu!"
The chat instantly chimed in.
"Stop dreaming."
Max's face darkened. "Lopunny. It's also a Normal-type Pokémon, and it's extremely cautious. It moves by hopping lightly. If it senses danger, it wraps its body with the fur at the tips of its ears and immediately leaps away to escape."
"It doesn't like fighting by nature, but when pushed into a corner, it can unleash incredibly destructive kicks. So if you encounter one in the wild, don't get overly excited or chase after it. Otherwise, don't blame me for not warning you when you get kicked."
Lopunny watched Max talk animatedly to the strange flying machine, his expressions changing nonstop. It tilted its head.
"Mi?"
What are you doing?
"Oh—right, business first."
Max snapped back to reality, stopping his argument with the chat. He looked serious as he said, "Rockruff told me you encountered poachers. How far were they from here? Do you know where they are now?"
"Mi mi, mi—"
Hearing this, Lopunny began gesturing rapidly, making a series of "mi mi mi" sounds. Its expression was agitated, and its small hands—normally held close to its chest—stretched outward, trying to indicate distance.
It clearly explained a lot.
Unfortunately, Max didn't understand a single word.
Sometimes he really wondered how Pokémon language worked. It was obviously just one syllable, yet it conveyed such complex meaning.
He couldn't help but curse the system's stinginess in his heart. As a transmigrator, he didn't even get some overpowered cheat—like Viridian Power or something. That ability supposedly let people resonate with a Pokémon's heart, making communication much easier.
But thinking about it again, Viridian Power was a blessing of the Viridian Forest. Not to mention that the Viridian Forest didn't even know him—why would it bless him? Besides, this world didn't even have a Viridian Forest.
Though… maybe in the future, this world would have something like "Greater Khingan Range Power"?
That idea was a little too absurd.
Max shook his head vigorously, forcing the thought away.
After thinking for a moment, he interrupted Lopunny's explanation and decided to use a question-and-answer method instead.
"Wait, let me ask questions. If I'm right, just nod, okay? Otherwise, I really can't understand you."
Lopunny nodded and calmed down, waiting quietly for him to continue.
Max carefully chose his words.
"You encountered poachers, and then… you were worried that we'd run into the same danger, right?"
"Mi."
Lopunny nodded.
"There were several poachers? If there weren't many, nod as many times as there were people."
"Mi, mi."
Two nods.
Two people.
"…And they're heading this way now, which is why you're worried we'll face the same danger?"
Max took a deep breath and asked.
"Mi!"
Lopunny suddenly brightened and nodded repeatedly.
You finally get it!
The chat was already filled with persuasion.
"They're really coming. Streamer, you should run while you still can. Poachers with guns aren't something to mess with."
"There's no need to take this risk. Just tell Floatzel and leave—that's already enough."
"Yeah, yeah, no need to confront outlaws head-on."
"No."
Max shook his head, speaking not only to Lopunny but also to the viewers. "I'm staying."
"I was planning to leave in a few days anyway, but since they're coming, I'll wait right here."
Lopunny froze, then became anxious.
"Mi mi! Mi mi mi…"
They're very dangerous humans! You'll get hurt too!
The chat was equally shocked. A few people who already disliked Max were even delighted.
"Lol, then go die."
"Streamer, rest in peace. I'll burn paper money for you every year."
"What are you people saying?! Instead of helping the Streamer, you're siding with the poachers? Do you even have brains?"
Seeing the chat on the verge of erupting into a flame war, Max quickly cut in.
"I've thought this through. First, I want to help Floatzel and Lopunny's family and ease the tension between humans and Pokémon. Second…" He paused. "I have my own score to settle with those poachers."
"There are only two of them. If we work together, I think we have a chance. There's no need to run."
"Scores? Has the Streamer met those people before?"
"No."
Max shook his head, then picked up Rockruff and showed its hind leg to the camera. The faint scar was still visible.
"When I first met Rockruff, it had a gunshot wound. If it hadn't run into me, I don't know what would've happened."
"So even if it's just to get revenge for Rockruff, I'm staying."
Only then did the chat realize what Rockruff had gone through before meeting Max, and sympathy flooded in.
"Poor Rockruff… Streamer, I support you!"
"I've already passed this info to the police. The wild area is locked down right now, so it'll take a few days for them to arrive. Streamer, stay safe."
"Judging from the scar, it was probably a homemade shotgun. Not as powerful as a standard firearm. With several Pokémon, the Streamer really might stand a chance."
Max looked at Lopunny and extended his hand.
"There are many of us. I'll go talk to Floatzel later and ask for its help. If you're willing, I hope you can help too. With so many Pokémon, as long as we're careful, we might not lose."
Lopunny stared at his outstretched hand, hesitation flickering in its eyes.
It wasn't a Pokémon that liked fighting. Otherwise, it wouldn't have fled immediately without resisting.
"But even if you leave today, will there really be anywhere left to go in the future?" Max said gently. "You can't just keep giving up your territory forever, can you?"
After a long internal struggle, Lopunny finally nodded and reached out, grasping Max's hand.
"…Mi!"
I won't give it up anymore!