Chapter 456: It Turns Out to Be a Tsundere

Chapter 456: It Turns Out to Be a Tsundere



The distance from Gold City to Leaf Port was not short, but Jinghe wasn't in a rush. He spent time on the cruise ship with the little ones, eating, drinking, and having fun.

While on board, Jinghe purchased some specialty products from the Kanto region, intending to bring them back for Ai Guan Shi and Shuang Nai Xian.

After spending a considerable amount of money and satisfying their appetites, Jinghe, accompanied by Gramps and Ice Nine-Tailed, made their way to the deck.

Surprisingly, the deck was teeming with tourists, all gathered at the railing, gazing out into the distance.

"Are we almost there?"

"Just ahead, at the Sting Jellyfish Sea."

Sting Jellyfish Sea?

"The Sting Jellyfish Sea is a special area in some of the Kanto region's shipping lanes, known as a gathering place for Sting Jellyfish. If we're lucky, we might see a large group of Sting Jellyfish Lotad!"

Lotad immediately transformed into an "encyclopedia" and began explaining to Jinghe.

A gathering place for Sting Jellyfish?

Jinghe's expression became slightly peculiar.

In reality, Sting Jellyfish, as a Pokemon, do not favor large-scale communal living. Their high dietary requirements mean that when they gather in large numbers, it can lead to a significant reduction in the population of ordinary fish in that particular area.

However, there are exceptions.

One such exception is during their mating season.

During this time, Sting Jellyfish become more dangerous, exhibiting stronger territorial instincts. Moreover, conflicts are inevitable during the mating process, causing waves to surge.

Jinghe thought to himself that as long as they didn't encounter a giant Sting Jellyfish, there shouldn't be any issues.

The Pokemon League's shipping lanes were meticulously planned after numerous tests and trials, avoiding any overly dangerous areas, ensuring a relatively safe journey.

Furthermore, the large cruise ship they were on had a high safety factor, and since they were following a coastal route, there was little chance of encountering powerful wild Pokemon.

Even if they did, it was unlikely that the ship's hull would be damaged.

The sailors on board were also well-prepared and not to be trifled with.

Therefore, the tourists had no need to worry about their safety and were instead eagerly anticipating the appearance of the Sting Jellyfish.

"Look! Sting Jellyfish!"

Someone exclaimed, pointing at the distant sea.

Two red, agate-like objects emerged on the surface, accompanied by ripples spreading across the water.

As one Sting Jellyfish appeared, more and more of them gradually surfaced, clustering together like a vast agate gemstone. In the sunlight, they refracted dazzling rainbow hues, creating a captivating sight against the shimmering waves.

"Gengai."

Gramps leaned on the railing, opening his mouth slightly and sighing softly.

So many 'agates,' Jinghe thought, his face twitching slightly as he glanced at Gramps, but he remained silent, for he, too, had the same thought.

As the number of gathered Sting Jellyfish increased, the sea gradually became turbulent, with half-meter-high waves crashing against the ship's cabin, emitting faint, dull sounds.

However, apart from the noise, there was no significant impact on the entire cruise ship.

At least, those on the deck, like Jinghe, didn't sense any changes.

"What's that!"

Suddenly, beyond the Sting Jellyfish Sea, a white line appeared, cutting through the waves at a decent speed. Upon closer inspection, it turned out to be the snow-white fin of a fish.

With the appearance of this fin, the Sting Jellyfish seemed to become agitated, and the waves grew more turbulent.

Abruptly, dark clouds gathered in the sky, blocking the sunlight and dimming the surrounding light.

The next second,

The "fin" burst out of the water, revealing a blue Tyrannical Carp with crimson eyes!

"Roar!!!"

A fierce roar echoed, followed by towering waves.

Immediately after, several more Tyrannical Carp leaped out of the water, thickening the surrounding mist.

Thunder rumbled in the dark clouds.

Torrential rain poured down in an instant.

The Sting Jellyfish, startled by the sudden appearance of the Tyrannical Carp, glowed brighter, their agate-like gems turning crimson, emitting invisible ripples.

It seemed that a battle between the Sting Jellyfish and Tyrannical Carp was about to erupt.

"Ladies and gentlemen, the wind and waves on the deck are picking up. Please return to your cabins quickly!"

Noticing the commotion, many tourists had already rushed back to their cabins at the first sign of the sudden downpour.

However, some tourists were slower to react, and their clothes were quickly drenched by the heavy rain.

The sailors on the deck remained calm, loudly urging the tourists to return to their cabins.

"Sir, please leave the deck and return to your cabin immediately. The wind and waves are about to intensify," said a well-built sailor in a uniform, politely addressing Jinghe.

"Gengai~ (￣з￣)σ"

Hey! Let the battle begin!

Gramps, always eager for excitement, leaned on the railing, cheering.

Nine-Tailed's eyes glowed faintly, and an invisible membrane formed above them, shielding them from the rain.

The sailor, noticing the presence of Gramps and Ice Nine-Tailed, likely recognized Jinghe as a capable trainer, but he still offered a polite reminder out of duty.

Jinghe patted Gramps on the forehead and then, with his hat in hand, smiled at the sailor, saying, "Alright, let's go in."

However, before leaving, he asked, "Excuse me, do the wild Sting Jellyfish and wild Tyrannical Carps often fight here?"

Seeing that most of the tourists on the deck had already left, and considering Gramps and Ice Nine-Tailed's apparent strength, there probably wasn't much need to worry about the weather. So, he explained,

"No, this used to be the Sting Jellyfish Sea, and you'd hardly see a Tyrannical Carp in a year."

After a brief pause, he continued,

"But I don't know when it started; the appearance of Tyrannical Carps became more frequent, and they often fought with the Sting Jellyfish, seemingly over territorial disputes."

As an experienced sailor, the burly man offered his conjecture.

"I think it might be because the ultrasonic waves released when the Sting Jellyfish gather irritate the Tyrannical Carps that are originally in more distant waters."

It was a reasonable explanation.

Jinghe nodded and smiled, "Thank you."

"You're welcome."

Then, he led Gramps and Ice Nine-Tailed back into the cabin.

The cruise ship was large enough, and the distance was far enough that even if the Sting Jellyfish and Tyrannical Carps fought, they couldn't possibly overturn the ship.

At most, the ship might sway a little more, and the deck would be washed by heavy rain and seawater.

Upon entering the cabin, many curious tourists were still peering out the windows, watching the distant commotion.

However, the rising mist and heavy rain reduced visibility, making it hard to see clearly, and soon the tourists gave up, turning to other activities.

"Bop—!!"

At that moment, amidst the sound of the wind, rain, and waves, a faint voice could be heard.

The other tourists didn't pay much attention, but Jinghe's thoughts stirred. He turned to Gramps.

Gramps also happened to be looking at him.

His mouth opened slightly, and he took a deep breath, causing his entire body to swell with a "whoosh," then swaying from side to side. He imitated the appearance of a Poffin perfectly.

"Puff—"

Jinghe, who had been wondering how Poffin had boarded the ship, saw Gramps' transformation and immediately stopped thinking about it.

He narrowed his eyes slightly.

Wave Guide!

Buzz—

The wave guide power spread out, and a radar-like image appeared.

He saw that outside, the wind and rain were intense, and on the sea, the Sting Jellyfish and Tyrannical Carps were fighting, while Poffin, at that moment, was on the deck above the cabin, "resisting" the wind and rain, looking like a balloon with its feet holding a microphone and its hands paddling as if swimming, but the stronger the wind blew, the further it was carried away.

Jinghe couldn't help but smile at Poffin's swimming posture, which was somewhat similar to Gramps'.

However, Poffin was clearly not used to such wind and rain, and the more its body inflated, the easier it seemed to be blown away.

Poffin floundered in mid-air for a while before finally giving up, deflating like a punctured balloon and being blown away by the wind.

"Bop—li—"

But it wasn't simply blown away by the wind; it circled in the air and was blown towards the sea where the Tyrannical Carps and Sting Jellyfish were.

Tornado.

"Gengai?" Gramps scratched his head and looked at Jinghe.

Jinghe sighed softly, turned, and headed back towards the deck.

"Sir, it's best not to go out now," one of the two sailors standing at the closed deck door said.

"Sorry, there's...cough, my Pokemon was blown away by the wind," Jinghe explained.

"Gengai~"

Before he could finish explaining, Gramps poked his head in from outside the door and waved at Jinghe.

Jinghe's eyes twitched slightly.

His Pokemon was blown away by the wind?

In this kind of weather, if it couldn't swim...

The two sailors exchanged glances, "Sir, the wind and waves are strong outside. We'll send someone to help, but..."

Jinghe smiled faintly and said, "No need."

As he opened the door, the wind and rain threatened to pour in, but fortunately, Gramps hovered at the entrance, blocking it.

Jinghe held his hat and recalled Ice Nine-Tailed, then threw out a Poke Ball.

"Wuu~~"

In a red light, Swift Dragon appeared at the door, further blocking the wind and rain.

Gramps and Swift Dragon stood side by side, forming a nearly impenetrable wall against the wind and rain.

Swift Dragon seemed to enjoy the strong wind and rain, patting its belly and showing a cheerful expression.

It flapped its wings slightly, dispersing the wind and rain in front of it, and Jinghe, standing behind it, took out a set of armor and quickly attached it to its back.

Then, he climbed onto Swift Dragon's back.

"Wuu~~"

Swift Dragon let out an excited cry, flapped its wings again, and flew towards the direction where Poffin had been blown away.

Gramps grabbed onto the tip of Swift Dragon's tail, grinning, and waved at the two astonished sailors standing at the door.

"Gengai~~"

Jinghe, riding on Swift Dragon's back, couldn't help but think, surely they wouldn't be struck by lightning?

Swift Dragon's flight created an airflow that blocked the wind and rain, so there was no need to worry about getting wet.

"Roar!!!"

"Roar!!!"

The closer they got to the area where the Sting Jellyfish and Tyrannical Carps were clashing, the louder the roars of the Tyrannical Carps became, and the wind and rain intensified.

Even on the sea's surface, several massive whirlpools appeared, churning the wind and waves.

"Hmm?"

Swift Dragon flew while turning its head, curiously observing the battle between the Tyrannical Carps and the Sting Jellyfish.

Boom!

The thunder in the dark clouds above grew louder.

Jinghe's expression turned serious, and she quickly patted Swift Dragon's neck, signaling it to hurry up before they got struck by lightning.

"Wuu~"

Swift Dragon retracted its neck, searching for Poffin's whereabouts.

"Gengai! (Д)"

Gramps had sharp eyes, and he immediately spotted the pink little Poffin caught in a whirlpool.

"Bop~ ε=ε=ε=ε=(﹏)"

It was spinning around in the whirlpool.

"Wuu~"

Swift Dragon flapped its wings and flew straight into the whirlpool, dispersing the massive vortex.

"Bop~"

Without the whirlpool's force, Poffin flailed its limbs in the air, but soon it felt a tight grip around its body, as if something had embraced it.

It cautiously opened its eyes.

To its surprise, it found Jinghe smiling at it.

Its eyes immediately teared up, and it clung tightly to Jinghe's clothes.

"Bop!! ()"

This time, it was truly frightened and refused to let go.

However, in Jinghe's opinion, with its "luck," even if it had been swept away by the whirlpool, nothing terrible would have happened. Instead, it was the Sting Jellyfish and Tyrannical Carps in the area that would have suffered.

After all, this pink little demon could sleep outside an airplane.

Of course, it was still a bit startled.

"It's okay, it's okay," Jinghe said, patting Poffin's round little head.

Putting aside other things, as a Balloon Pokemon, Poffin's weight was much lighter than it appeared.

Whether held or stroked, it felt more comfortable than expected.

Its body wasn't entirely smooth; it had a fine layer of fur like Mew, giving it a soft texture.

"Roar!!!"

Perhaps because the whirlpool was disrupted, the Tyrannical Carps below noticed Swift Dragon's presence and roared fearlessly.

"Gengai~"

But just as one of the Tyrannical Carps was about to shoot a water jet from its mouth, its vision blurred, and a purple-skinned, oddly smiling little Poffin appeared before it.

It made a mischievous face at the Tyrannical Carp.

Then, a flash of blue lightning appeared in its palm, and a powerful attack was unleashed.

Boom!!

A crackling arc of electricity flashed, and the Tyrannical Carp fell to the water's surface.

The other wild Tyrannical Carps saw this, their eyes turning red and their expressions becoming more ferocious. They roared at Gramps.

Gramps showed no fear and even turned around, sticking out its tongue at the Tyrannical Carps.

"Roar!!!"

The Tyrannical Carps were enraged.

Gramps didn't linger.

It quickly left.

Jinghe laughed, shaking her head and patting Swift Dragon, signaling it to follow.

But Swift Dragon looked down, a thoughtful expression on its face.

"What's wrong?" Jinghe asked, noticing its demeanor.

"Wuu~~"

Swift Dragon flapped its wings, and a gust of wind suddenly appeared beside it, becoming turbulent and fierce.

White light shone on its wings, and more and more wind gathered, forming white arc-shaped energy currents within the massive airflow. They howled towards the Tyrannical Carps below, who were preparing their attacks.

In an instant, the whirlwinds around them dissipated.

The sea surged with even larger waves, which were whipped up by the strong winds and spun in the air. Even the clouds in the sky were stirred and spun by the airflow.

"This is..."

Jinghe's face showed surprise.

"Gale?"

Had Swift Dragon learned the move Gale? In her Pokedex, the move Gale appeared in Swift Dragon's moveset.

【Gale: Flying-type move, Power: 110, Uses a strong wind to sweep away the opponent, sometimes causing confusion.】

The Gale move was powerful, but its accuracy was only 70.

However, the accuracy of the Gale move was also weather-dependent.

On clear or sunny days, the accuracy was only 50%.

But on rainy or stormy days, it was almost 100% accurate, like a thunderbolt.

Swift Dragon previously knew only the Flying-type moves Feather Rest and Air Slash, and it was surprising that it learned Gale in this situation.

"Wuu~"

Swift Dragon also seemed delighted.

The Gale move swept through, and the Tyrannical Carps were immediately caught in the massive wind and waves, lifted into the air. When the airflow dissipated, they fell back into the sea with a splash.

The dark clouds in the sky gradually dispersed.

The seawater fell like heavy rain.

A ray of sunlight shone on Swift Dragon, Jinghe, and Poffin.

"Bop, Bop~"

Poffin rubbed its eyes, blinking at the falling sunlight, feeling like it was...

A spotlight on stage!

"Bop!"

Poffin picked up a small microphone and wanted to sing.

But before it could speak, Jinghe covered its mouth.

"Bop."

A muffled sound came from Jinghe's palm, and it blinked at Jinghe, wanting to get angry but finding it hard to muster the anger.

"Haha—"

Seeing its confused expression, Jinghe couldn't help but laugh. After a chuckle, he released his hand and stuffed an Energy Cube into its mouth.

"Bop! (´･ω･`)"

The rain cleared, and Swift Dragon carried Jinghe back to the cruise ship.

The tourists didn't know what had happened outside, but the sailors had all witnessed it and looked at Jinghe with admiration.

Sailors on the high seas revered the strong, and the power displayed by Jinghe and Swift Dragon was enough to command their respect.

After that, nothing major happened on the journey.

Leaf Town.

The sea breeze blew gently, carrying a hint of the ocean's salty scent.

"Well, what do you say? Want to give it some thought?"

Away from the crowd, Jinghe asked the plump little guy in front of him.

Poffin turned its head, hands on hips, and without answering, pouted.

"Bop. ()"

"Alright then." Jinghe's smile remained unchanged.

But as soon as he turned around, Poffin followed obediently with the microphone in hand, and when he stopped, Poffin stopped too.

When he turned back, Poffin turned away and pouted.

It seemed to be saying, "I'm not following you; I'm just going the same way."

Clearly, it was still "angry" because Jinghe hadn't let it sing in front of so many "spectators" on the cruise ship.

Perhaps feeling that Jinghe's gaze was too penetrating, it even glared at him fiercely.

Jinghe shook his head and didn't say anything. He walked forward and, after a slight struggle, hugged Poffin close to his chest.

Then, without hesitation, he pinched its soft face, molding it into various strange shapes.

The sensation was surprisingly pleasant.

"

Poffin made an angry face again but didn't struggle.

Jinghe chuckled, "I just realized how strong your tsundere attribute is."

Cafe, a new resident singer?

"Jinghe?"

Dr. Komoku's Research Facility.

As he opened the door, Dr. Komoku saw Jinghe standing at the entrance, holding a Poffin that was fast asleep and snoring.

"Gengai~~"

A Gramps squeezed past the door, greeting Jinghe with a cheerful wave.

"Dr. Komoku, sorry for the intrusion," Jinghe smiled.

"Not at all, not at all," Dr. Komoku responded, quickly making room for Jinghe to enter.

The sky was already darkening, and the sun was just a fading tail, so Dr. Komoku was surprised to see Jinghe at this hour.

"It's a bit messy in here, but don't mind it, haha—"

Looking at the disarray on the floor and desk, Dr. Komoku scratched his head awkwardly.

Jinghe, of course, didn't say anything; after all, he had seen much worse, like Professor Daku's research facility.

As his student, Dr. Komoku had also learned the "essence" of this.

"Professor Jinghe?"

At that moment, a girl of about ten years old ran up to Jinghe and Dr. Komoku, her eyes full of admiration.

"This is Crystal, my temporary assistant," Dr. Komoku introduced.

Jinghe's hair, a look of realization crossing his face.

The girl in front of him seemed familiar, and now he understood why—it was Crystal.

Crystal was Crystal's nickname, or the Chinese translation of her name, corresponding to the game versions Gold, Silver, and Crystal, represented by Akane, Little Silver, and Crystal.

In the future, Professor Daku would assess her talent as "Capture Expert," and she would indeed prove to be quite skilled in capturing Pokemon.

Of course, compared to the unreasonable Houndoom, she still had a ways to go.

What puzzled Jinghe was that Crystal, being from Kagami City, should theoretically still be training her Poke Ball throwing skills at Leibo Mountain at this time.

Why was she at Dr. Komoku's research facility?

Shouldn't she be at Professor Daku's research facility? As for why Crystal was looking at Jinghe with such admiration, Jinghe had a guess.

Crystal loved the Pokemon Academy, but due to certain reasons, she couldn't attend. Perhaps it was because Jinghe was a relatively well-known teacher at the Pokemon Academy that she paid more attention to him.

"Hello, Crystal," Jinghe greeted her with a smile.

Hearing the name "Crystal," Crystal blushed slightly.

"Professor Jinghe, I'll show you the way!" Crystal quickly composed herself and said.

"Where to?"

Jinghe was taken aback.

"The Pokemon that arrived at the research facility a couple of days ago," Crystal said matter-of-factly.

Dr. Komoku laughed, "Crystal, I haven't had a chance to tell Jinghe about it yet."

Then, turning to Jinghe with a hint of apology, he said, "Jinghe, I was hoping you could take a look at a few Pokemon for me..."

---

PS: Finally discharged from the hospital! I'll take a few days to adjust and gradually resume regular updates.

(End of Chapter)

Chapter end