Is the food outside expensive?
No, it's not.
In regions with extremely advanced agriculture and abundant economic crops, they have long been pursuing higher quality food.
Some grains that don't meet their standards but are suitable for Ore are imported at very low prices.
So when Shanren learned that Baimu wanted to gather the stray branches of Wild Pokémon and pay for their food out of his own pocket, he once complained about why he didn't discuss it with him.
So much money wasted!
However, while acquisition prices are low, self-sufficiency is another matter.
Which place relies entirely on others for their food? Shanren didn't want to see such a place being choked.
But who made Ore's land so barren?
Now with these two capable people brought by Baimu, Shanren naturally cherishes them immensely, and even when he left, he had no reaction to his greetings, wholeheartedly discussing Ore's future development with the Balza siblings.
Hoopa listened until his eyes blurred, sneaked behind him, and when he got on his motorbike heading to the arena, suddenly played a Facehugger scare.
"Xiaobai—"
"Why are you... never mind, it's fine to follow."
Baimu pulled it off his face and, seeing it pleadingly putting its hands together, thought for a moment and didn't chase it away.
"Heeheehee~"
Hoopa, getting his wish, leaped into the sidecar, only for an Altered-color Gengar to suddenly emerge from the shadows, its plump, barrel-shaped body immediately squeezing him into the corner.
"Heh heh heh!"
Gengar laughed eerily at Hoopa, whose face it distorted by squeezing.
Hoopa wasn't annoyed. He immediately opened a Golden Ring under Gengar, causing it to fall into it and reappear above the Hoverbike, sitting on Baimu's helmet which he had just put on.
Gengar looked bewildered, then leaned down to smile friendly at the Trainer.
Hoopa squinted his eyes in a humorous fashion, covering his mouth, and giggled: "Hee hee hee hee~ Gengar, still too young! Can't compete with Hoopa!"
Baimu: "..."
These two troublemakers!
"Hold on tight! If you fall off, I'm not responsible!" He shoved Gengar back into the sidecar, where the two Pokémon were jostled about but stopped their antics.
On the way.
The two Pokémon enjoyed the street scenes of Pyrite Town while sharing donuts Mei Yali made last night, perfectly demonstrating harmonious relations.
Arriving at the entrance of Pyrite Arena.
Cheng Hong and the others, including Ayana, had been waiting for quite some time, and upon seeing his Hoverbike, they immediately approached.
"Boss!"
"Baimu, you're finally here!"
"We agreed to meet at 1:30 in the afternoon, and it's just 1:00 now. Are you all this free?" Baimu didn't quite understand the daily work routine of the Rainbow Team.
Since they've taken over the responsibilities of the police department, patrolling the streets every day? No need to handle resident disputes?
How can Pyrite Town be this harmonious!
Otsuka lounged back with his hands crossed behind his head, lazily laughing: "Didn't I tell you this morning? Everyone's been assigned under you, Huo Wu calls this the Special Service Team."
Baimu said nothing, watching him silently.
Perhaps sensing the subtle killing intent, Otsuka quickly put his arms down and became serious.
Hoopa hiding with Gengar behind Baimu chuckled secretly, finding this idiot very amusing.
And regarding the Special Service Team.
It wasn't Ayana or Shanren's doing.
Just as Otsuka said, it came from the little girl Huo Wu, whom he had once captured.
She and Terry were promoted to acting vice presidents of the Rainbow Team, and after the assessment period, they might lose the acting status.
Ayana softly said, "Currently, the Rainbow Team's personnel structure is starting to become excessive. The people you see at headquarters are just a small subset; actually, the entire Pyrite Town has four branches: east, south, west, and north, and there are more people there."
"Excessive..."
Baimu didn't expect that the scale of the Rainbow Team was even larger than he imagined.
Of course, it's also his fault, always thinking about doing other things without intending to understand the current state of the group in detail.
Mainly because he mentioned it to Shanren at noon, and Shanren responded perfunctorily, saying they would talk about it later. What does "talk about it later" mean? Can a president who just occupies a position without doing anything truly lead the people?
Uh.
It seems they actually can!
The members of the Rainbow Team mainly come from the Rescue Organization and the Quicksand Team during his management of the three main streets. Although it isn't full of factions, there is a growing awareness of distinguishing between ourselves and others.
As someone with a very high status on both sides, Baimu, even as a mascot, reassures everyone more than a leader favoring either side.
Since Ayana stepped down as vice president, with Huo Wu and Terry acting, the Rainbow Team has not only remained peaceful internally but has become more stable from top to bottom.
However, the factions have become more apparent...
"Forget it, let's go in first."
He intends to get the arena and mountain areas on track before considering the team's issues. Things must be done one step at a time; there's no rushing.
Cheng Hong and the others agreed, curiously glancing at Hoopa, only thinking it was a new Pokémon the boss had captured, and didn't think much of it.
Inside the arena.
The number of people was slightly less than during the day, visibly divided into two groups.
One group around Ying Yuan, and another around Ying Ma and Kendall, with the latter having more people.
Baimu asked, "Has a decision been made?"
"Yes."
Ying Yuan nodded: "Those around me decided, like Ying Ma and myself, to travel to other regions to broaden their horizons. Of course, before leaving, they hope Baimu the boss can give some guidance.
"The people on Kendall's side chose to stay, take on the status of formal students under your guidance, and a portion... have opted to leave the arena."
Leave?