"Ka—Kah—"
Haunter stuck its tongue out and pressed its face against the helicopter window, squishing its entire face flat.
It almost covered the entire window.
Vulpix had to peer through the small gap Haunter left to catch a glimpse of the lush, green mountains below. It was the first time it had seen the world from this perspective.
Seeing that Haunter wasn't attempting to float outside the helicopter, Johan felt relieved. At least this time it wouldn't be like the bus ride incident, where Haunter almost got blown away.
Soon, the helicopter landed on an open field.
As Johan stepped out, he saw Steven waiting there with his shiny Metang and Lairon.
"Johan."
"What happened?" Johan asked.
He distinctly remembered that the construction on the Verdant Tunnel had been halted by Joseph.
The Verdant Tunnel project was a major undertaking by Devon Corporation, aiming to connect Rustboro City and Verdanturf Town. If the tunnel were completed, it would significantly benefit the development of Verdanturf Town and the residents of both cities.
However, the environmental damage and impact on local wild Pokémon were substantial.
As Steven explained, Johan learned that although Devon Corporation had initially stopped the project and began withdrawing equipment, the Verdant Tunnel was a highly sought-after project. Even if Devon didn't continue, other companies would eagerly take over, potentially causing even more environmental damage.
Thus, Devon Corporation decided to continue the project, but this time they aimed to minimize environmental damage as much as possible and even restore some of the affected areas at their own expense.
"So… The feared disturbance among wild Pokémon has already begun?" Johan asked.
"Yes." Steven nodded, his face filled with concern.
He led Johan toward the construction site, where a group of wild Pokémon had taken over the area.
If it were any other company, they might have already used forceful measures to clear out the Pokémon. Worse yet, they might even have contacted Pokémon Hunters to capture and sell off these wild Pokémon to avoid future complications.
Considering Johan's experience as a Pokémon psychologist who could calm even rampaging Pokémon, Steven hoped he could find a way to pacify these wild Pokémon.
Otherwise…
Switching contractors could lead to even greater harm to the Pokémon.
Johan sighed.
Pacifying these wild Pokémon might not be too difficult, but once one group is calmed, another would inevitably take its place as long as the construction continued. This was bound to be a recurring problem.
"Steven."
"Hmm?"
"Is it possible… that Devon could establish an ecological zone and relocate these wild Pokémon there?" Johan suggested.
Steven gave Johan a surprised look.
"That's exactly what my father is planning."
Hearing this, Johan felt a wave of understanding wash over him.
Of course, Joseph Stone wasn't a self-made billionaire for nothing; he wouldn't overlook such a solution.
As for the money…
For Devon Corporation, that wasn't a major concern.
Although it meant relocating these wild Pokémon to a new habitat, it was far better than having them fight for survival with others in unfamiliar territories.
"However, before that, pacifying them remains the priority," Steven noted.
Only by calming them could they communicate and attempt to relocate them to an ecological zone.
Johan and Steven approached, and Johan quickly spotted the leader of the wild Pokémon—a Breloom standing with its arms crossed, eyes narrowed and exuding an imposing aura.
Breloom, a Grass/Fighting-type Pokémon, had deceptively short arms that could extend with incredible speed during attacks, rivaling the best boxers in skill.
The Shroomish, Gloom, Oddish, Jumpluff, and Paras standing behind it all seemed to follow Breloom's lead.
Johan was quite familiar with Breloom. Especially with its Poison Heal ability combined with a Toxic Orb, it was a rather "meta" strategy when first discovered. Of course, its Spore move and Technician ability were also formidable.
"Breee!"
Noticing Johan and Steven approaching, Breloom took a battle stance, ready to strike if they got any closer.
"Haunter, try to communicate."
"Ka-kah~ Kah-kah~"
Haunter floated forward with a mischievous grin, licking its lips.
Breloom shuddered involuntarily.
"Bree! Bree!" (What are you planning?! Don't come any closer!)
"Ka-kah Kah-kah~" (Hehe, let's talk. What would it take for you to stop fighting?)
"Bree!" (Defeat me in battle!)
In the wild, Pokémon often settled disputes over territory with their fists.
"Ka-kah! Ka-kah!" (Alright, alright—)
"Bree!" (Not you! Go back!)
Breloom's gaze shifted past Haunter, who made it uneasy.
It ignored the hefty Metang and Lairon; those two were clearly strong.
Nor did it consider the muscular Machokes and Gurdurrs, which were clearly too much.
But then Breloom's eyes lit up as it locked onto its target.
"Bree!" (You!)
"Oowu?"
The Vulpix in Johan's arms blinked in confusion, looking at the Breloom pointing at it.
Breloom scratched its head, looking a bit embarrassed. It didn't enjoy challenging weaker opponents.
But for the sake of its companions, it had to choose the opponent it had the most confidence in defeating.
It was for the greater good!
"Ka-kah?"
Haunter frowned.
Who are you choosing?
But before Haunter could interject, Johan agreed.
"Alright."
Even as Steven shot him a questioning look, Johan calmly explained, "If we can't respect even their first request, how are we supposed to negotiate with them?"
He turned to Vulpix with a gentle smile.
"Remember what we practiced?"
"Oowu…"
Vulpix responded nervously.
"Don't worry. Just listen to my commands, and don't stress," Johan assured it.
"If we lose, we'll have Haunter put them all to sleep and take them away!"
Steven, Haunter, and Breloom: "???"
"Oowu!"
Encouraged by Johan's look, Vulpix's expression turned serious, and it nodded firmly.
With a soft patter, Vulpix hopped out of Johan's arms.
The sky began to sprinkle light snow, and the temperature gradually dropped.
"Is that… the Snow Warning ability?" Steven murmured.
Breloom, which had initially underestimated Vulpix, immediately felt the chill.
It began to realize that perhaps this little Pokémon wouldn't be such an easy opponent.
"Vulpix, use Charm."
"Oowu~"
Standing on its hind legs, Vulpix playfully fluttered its paws and batted its eyes at Breloom.
"Bree… Bree…"
Breloom froze, a blush spreading across its cheeks, nearly causing it to lose the will to fight. Meanwhile, several of the wild Pokémon behind it had their eyes turned into hearts.
"Icy Wind," Johan instructed calmly, fully aware of the effectiveness of Vulpix's cuteness.
"Oowu—"
Taking advantage of Breloom's daze, Vulpix opened its mouth, releasing a gust of cold air mixed with the falling snowflakes.
In an instant, Breloom was enveloped in the frigid air, its body frosting over slightly.
For a Grass-type like Breloom, Ice-type moves were a considerable threat.
However, the biting cold was enough to snap Breloom out of Vulpix's cuteness. Its eyes sharpened in determination.
With a sudden leap, Breloom dodged to the side, avoiding the icy stream, and its fists glowed with a white light.
In one swift movement, Breloom lunged forward, aiming a punch straight at Vulpix.
The sound of the punch slicing through the air rapidly approached Vulpix's ears.
At the last moment, Breloom changed its technique, dodging again to avoid a potential counter, and its fist began to glow with dark red energy.
A Force Palm attack!
"Don't panic. Use Confusion!" Johan's timely command cut through Vulpix's panic.
Vulpix's eyes shimmered with a faint glow.
"Oowu!!"
Just as Breloom's punch was inches away, a burst of psychic energy exploded from Vulpix.
Bang!!
The powerful telekinetic force lifted Breloom off its feet.
Haunter shrank back slightly.
It was a scene all too familiar.
Psychic-type moves were just as threatening to Breloom's Fighting-type nature.
Even so, Breloom struggled to its feet, preparing for another attack.
Bang!!
Another blast of Confusion knocked Breloom down.
Vulpix maintained its stern expression.
It remembered what Haunter had taught—it wasn't over until the opponent was down!
Then came a third hit, followed by a fourth…
Vulpix seemed to enter a trance.
Bang!!
Bang!!
"Yikes," Haunter gasped.
See? I told you not to choose Vulpix, right?
"Vulpix, that's enough!" Johan called out quickly.
Seeing the shivering Breloom, still under the relentless psychic pressure, Johan intervened.
"Oowu?"
Vulpix tilted its head in confusion.
That's it?
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Powerstones?
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