By the time Chen Mo returned to the campsite, dawn was already approaching.
After seeing that Chen Mo was heading back, Ah Hui and Brother Yi had already started preparing breakfast.
A simple bowl of hot porridge and a burning campfire made Chen Mo—who had been soaked by rain and then ridden back through the wind on Pidgeotto's back—feel especially warm.
Yet while enjoying that warmth, Chen Mo couldn't help recalling what Electabuzz had said before leaving.
Electabuzz had rejected Chen Mo's invitation.
It wasn't because Electabuzz still held prejudice against Chen Mo as a human.
Rather, Electabuzz believed it was a Pokémon striving toward becoming the strongest. But from Chen Mo, it did not feel a heart that pursued ultimate strength.
Although Chen Mo treated Pokémon very well, Electabuzz didn't believe that a human like Chen Mo suited it.
So in the end, Electabuzz declined Chen Mo's proposal.
After agreeing with Pikachu to meet again someday—once both of them had grown stronger—for a promised battle, Electabuzz left Chen Mo's sight alone.
When Trainers choose Pokémon, Pokémon also choose Trainers that suit them.
Chen Mo understood that no one could gain the following of every Pokémon—not even himself.
So he accepted Electabuzz's departure.
After all, although Chen Mo wanted to grow stronger alongside Pokémon, if it came to becoming the strongest in the world, dedicating everything to that goal…
That kind of resolve was something he simply didn't have.
"Ahh, so comfortable~"
"Pika~"
After eating their fill, Chen Mo and the Pokémon lay comfortably beside the campfire, enjoying a moment of rest after a busy night.
Looking at Pikachu, Pidgeotto, and Haunter around him, Chen Mo's lips curved into a smile.
The ones who suit you best are always the best.
Just then—
Footsteps approached from the side. Ah Hui hurried over holding a tablet.
"Mo-ge, I really couldn't tell which one it was, so I gathered all the places in the country named Tianchi. Take a look and see which one matches best."
"That fast? Let me see."
Ah Hui's voice pulled Chen Mo out of his thoughts about Electabuzz.
He sat up, took the tablet, and began carefully scrolling through it.
Since Suicune had directly shown him an image in his mind, Chen Mo quickly identified the matching location.
Taibai Mountain, Tianchi Lake.
"It's actually here…"
Ah Hui muttered.
Taibai Mountain had been a famous mountain since ancient times, so Ah Hui naturally knew about it. And Tianchi Lake there was a well-known tourist attraction.
Before Pokémon appeared in the world, Ah Hui—who loved camping—had even traveled there once.
Noticing Ah Hui's expression change, Chen Mo said slowly,
"Ah Hui, Entei won't stay in one place forever. It's already been half a month. I think there's a high chance it's already left."
Hearing the subtle reminder, Ah Hui sighed softly.
"Mo-ge, I understand what you're saying. I'm not that foolish. I wouldn't just rush to Taibai Mountain to look for Entei."
"Good."
Chen Mo nodded.
A piece of information from half a month ago wasn't enough reason for Chen Mo to accompany Ah Hui all the way north searching for Entei.
That would be too irrational.
As for why Entei appeared at Taibai Mountain's Tianchi, Chen Mo had his own theory.
In the Pokémon world, Entei was classified as the Volcano Pokémon.
The meaning was obvious—this legendary Pokémon had a deep connection with volcanoes.
Aside from the story that the Legendary Beasts were revived by Ho-Oh, there was another legend in the Pokémon world:
Entei is born whenever a volcano erupts.
Whether that was true or not, Chen Mo didn't know.
First, the original works never clearly showed it.
Second, theoretically Ho-Oh only revived three Legendary Beasts.
But one thing was certain—
Entei had a strong connection with volcanoes.
And Taibai Mountain happened to be a dormant volcano.
Chen Mo felt this was a crucial clue.
Suicune had said it was patrolling the country's major water regions.
Perhaps Entei was doing something similar—patrolling volcanoes across the country, or even the entire world.
After figuring that out, Chen Mo decided to report the information to Professor Zhou and the others.
Maybe they could track Entei's new whereabouts.
That would at least be better than blindly searching Taibai Mountain.
Outer edge of Evergreen Forest.
A figure pushed through the grass, moving forward with difficult steps.
The wounds on his body still throbbed with pain.
But as the only survivor of the poacher group, the poacher leader felt as if Lady Luck was smiling on him today.
He had escaped.
He had escaped from beneath that terrifying three-headed dragon's eyes!
Thinking about the devastating beam the monster had fired from its mouth, the middle-aged man felt immensely fortunate.
Although the idiots who followed him were all dead—
As long as he survived, everything could start again.
Evergreen Forest could never be entered again.
And honestly, the country itself wasn't very suitable for poachers anymore.
The poacher leader calculated silently.
Previously he had earned a large fortune hunting "magical beasts."
That money would be enough to start over abroad.
Closer… closer…
About several hundred meters ahead stood an abandoned reception lodge, where the poacher group had parked a vehicle earlier.
There were also medical supplies inside.
As long as he reached that place—
Suddenly—
The man felt something trip his foot.
However, being extremely cautious in the forest, he didn't fall immediately. He staggered but quickly stabilized himself.
Then he noticed a rope stretched across the ground.
A trap!
Before he could react—
An orange-yellow figure burst from the grass and bit down on his right hand just as he tried to draw his gun.
"AAAAAAAH!!!"
Intense pain shot through him.
The man felt like his hand had been bitten clean off.
Looking at the fluffy dog-like creature with fierce eyes, the man instantly realized—
This was one of those magical beasts.
But wait—
Why was a magical beast guarding a human trap?!
Although confused, he still struggled to draw the shotgun at his waist with his left hand.
However—
Before he could act—
Several figures burst out from both sides of the grass.
Their movements were clean and professional.
They instantly subdued the man.
"Don't move!"
"Stay still!"
Looking at the black gun barrels pointed at his head and the police badges on their uniforms, the man felt despair.
Why…
Why were there so many heavily armed police officers waiting here?!
Just to catch a single poacher?!
Was that really necessary?!
Nearby—
The dog Pokémon that had bitten him had already run to a young woman in a black uniform with a police badge.
It rubbed affectionately against her leg.
"Alright, alright. You definitely get credit for this one."
The young woman rubbed the orange dog Pokémon's fluffy head.
Then she stood up and walked slowly toward the poacher.
After glancing at the shotgun nearby, her tone turned icy cold.
"Illegal poacher."
"You are under arrest!" 🚓
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