Chapter 695: Disaster Always Lags Behind

Chapter 695: Disaster Always Lags Behind (Combined, Requesting Monthly Votes!)

Champion's Path.

It would be best to complete the Champion's Path before the summer vacation ends. Whether I succeed or not, a spot among the Four Elite should be a safe bet.

Moreover, the development of the island might require a bit of help from the "Champion" status at times.

However, before embarking on the Champion's Path, Jinghe also wanted to make a trip to the Alola Region.

At the very least, he needed to retrieve the Fairy Slate to give Nine-Tails and Forger one final boost.

With this in mind, Jinghe said to Genji:

"Fifteen days."

"Fifteen days? Is that enough?"

Genji thought Jinghe needed these few days to get his Pokémon into their best condition, which wasn't an easy task, especially under the high pressure of the Champion's Path.

"Should be enough, I think."

Jinghe considered it. The four Island Guardians of Alola were known for their peculiar personalities and weren't easy to deal with. But since he was commissioned by Arceus and instructed by Zygarde to retrieve what rightfully belonged to him, the Island Guardians, no matter how temperamental, should return it, right?

If not, he could visit one island per day, which would take four days at most. Time was on his side.

However, Jinghe was also interested in the plants of Alola. It was widely recognized as the least developed and most natural region in the entire Pokémon world. There should be many valuable plants worth transplanting without causing significant environmental damage.

"Alright then", Genji nodded. "We'll also use this time to refine the Champion's Path."

Jinghe's expression was like that of an old man on the subway looking at his phone.

Refine it further?

What, are you guys trying to kill me on the Champion's Path?

Genji didn't explain, just picked up another flower cake and popped it into his mouth, his smile full of meaning, making Jinghe feel uneasy.

"Hey, those are Wormadam?"

Genji, with his sharp eyes, spotted a few "apples" slowly crawling under the tree and recognized them immediately. After all, he was a true Dragon-type Master and wouldn't mistake them for actual apples like Daiya.

Since Genji had noticed the Wormadam, Jinghe took the opportunity to ask:

"Genji, as a Dragon-type Master, do you have any way to get Tart Apples, Sweet Apples, and Honey Apples?"

"You want to evolve the Wormadam?" Genji immediately understood Jinghe's intention.

He paused, then looked puzzled.

"But I understand Tart Apples and Sweet Apples. What's a Honey Apple? A new item?"

Hmm?

Jinghe was taken aback by Genji's reaction.

From Genji's expression, it didn't seem like he was faking it. Jinghe slowly realized the situation.

Could it be that no one knows that Wormadam evolves into Mime Jr. when it enters a Honey Apple?

Jinghe put his hands on his hips and looked up at a 45-degree angle.

This is too hard, too hard!

When others travel to the Pokémon world, they either discover new Eeveelutions and write papers about them or find Mega Evolutions, special evolutions, and the Fairy type, gaining fame and recognition.

He had once aspired to become a Pokémon researcher, not a Trainer.

But unfortunately, whether it was the Eeveelutions or the Fairy type, they had already been discovered. Even Mega Evolution was Dr. Brattain's main research topic, and he had only managed to tag along and get his name on the paper.

Now, could it be that a new special evolution method had finally appeared for him to "discover"?

Wait a minute.

Why would the Rotom Pokédex have information about Mime Jr.?

To be safe, Jinghe asked tentatively, "Genji, do you know about Mime Jr.?"

"Mime Jr.? Yes, I do. What about it? Isn't it one of the evolution forms of Wormadam?"

Jinghe: "..."

Genji continued, "I heard that the research on how Wormadam evolves based on the acidity and sweetness of the apples was proposed by a teacher at the Citrus Academy. I can't remember the name, though."

The acidity and sweetness of apples?

Jinghe felt that the new "research topic" and the research funds he was about to secure were slipping away.

"Teacher Ginia?" he asked.

Teacher Ginia was a biology teacher at the Citrus Academy in the Paldea Region and a well-known researcher, specializing in the ecology of Pokémon and the changes they undergo due to their environment.

"Oh, right, Teacher Ginia. She first discovered the effects of Tart Apples and Sweet Apples, and then found that an apple with a very precise balance of sweetness and acidity, somewhere between the two, could evolve Wormadam into Mime Jr. That's what you mean by 'Honey Apple,' right?"

Jinghe sighed and nodded.

As expected.

In an "open" Pokémon world, it was truly difficult to find a research topic to claim.

However, now that he knew this was a project by Teacher Ginia at the Citrus Academy, Jinghe realized that the person he needed to approach wasn't Genji but the old dean, who had an astonishing network and could be called a "Pokémon socialite."

"Jinghe?"

In the office of the Canalave Pokémon Academy.

The old dean, rarely pinned to the wall by Pandaboss, still had a bruised face. Seeing Jinghe, he looked somewhat surprised.

The change in expression pulled at his wounds, causing him to wince.

Jinghe, who had long become accustomed to such scenes, smiled and said, "Dean, I’d like to ask for your help."

"Hey there", the old dean waved his hand. "When did you become so formal? Just tell me what you need, and I’ll see what I can do."

The old dean had watched Jinghe’s growth with his own eyes. Back when Jinghe was just a new teacher, the dean had personally presented him with his reward after the faculty evaluation.

No one could have predicted that the young teacher, who had just begun to shine in the faculty evaluation, would become a household name in such a short time. He had even shone brightly in several major events, becoming a widely admired figure.

Jinghe’s rise to fame had undoubtedly made the Canalave Pokémon Academy one of the most sought-after Pokémon schools. Even before summer ended, the admissions office was already flooded with applications. The head of admissions, Mijiang, had repeatedly suggested expanding the intake and adding more classes.

This was what they called the "famous teacher effect."

Jinghe’s plan to challenge the "Champion’s Path" had also been discussed among friends within the Hoenn League. If Jinghe became the champion, the old dean would have a lot more confidence when talking to his old friend, the dean of Citrus Academy, Clavel.

After all, one of the Four Heavenly Kings of the Paldea Region, the Dragon-type King Hachi, was a teacher at the Citrus Academy.

Therefore, the old dean always supported Jinghe’s needs wholeheartedly.

"I need some Tart Apples, Sweet Apples, and Honey Apples", Jinghe said straightforwardly.

He added, "The quantity doesn’t matter, and it’s not urgent."

The Wormadam he had were still quite weak, so it was just a matter of being prepared in advance.

"No problem", the old dean replied without hesitation.

He knew about Teacher Ginia’s research at the Citrus Academy, and with his relationship with Dean Clavel, it shouldn’t be difficult.

"Also", Jinghe hesitated for a moment before asking, "Dean, do we have any Combee in the breeding houses?"

This thought had just crossed his mind. The academy had two breeding houses, and some Pokémon could be "borrowed" without the league’s approval.

"Combee?" The old dean was taken aback. "I’m not sure. Do you need Combee? I can ask around."

"Well, it’s not urgent", Jinghe replied.

Combee, like bees, had a strong hive mentality. When a Queen was present, they would serve her exclusively. However, a Queen could only evolve from a female Combee, and the gender ratio in a Combee hive was typically 7 males to 1 female, making it a "many monks, little gruel" situation. Additionally, a hive could only have one Queen, and any new Queen would either be driven away or...

So, the academy either had none or a large group.

The old dean nodded.

After a brief chat, Jinghe took out a box of flower cakes and a box of energy bars and placed them on the table. "Dean, I made some flower cakes for you, and these energy bars are for Pandaboss."

Huff—

Pandaboss, who was standing with its arms crossed, let out a puff of white breath and nodded slightly at Jinghe.

This was the main "task" Jinghe had in mind when he sought out the old dean. He had received a lot of help from the old dean during his time at the Canalave Pokémon Academy. Moreover, the old dean was a regular customer at the café, and according to the café’s manager, he had a top-tier membership card.

So, Jinghe often brought the old dean some snacks and treats.

They weren’t expensive, but the gesture was important.

It was all about reciprocation.

After placing the items, Jinghe left.

"That kid", the old dean couldn’t help but smile. Most people would give gifts before asking for favors, but Jinghe did it the other way around.

He opened the box and took a piece, his eyes lighting up.

"The taste is as good as ever."

However, before the old dean could enjoy it for long, he heard a commotion in the office.

"Stop it! These are mine, old man."

Bang! Bang—

Night fell.

At the café.

"Ai~"

The café’s manager, a Metagross, hummed a tune as she waved her hand. Psychic Power filled the air, and the dough in front of her was kneaded and divided into equal portions, then shaped into different forms.

The Metagross’s brother then placed the shaped dough into the Rotom Oven and took out the freshly baked bread, filling the air with a delicious aroma.

"Ai mai~"

Milcery held a small spatula and added fresh milk to the bread, both inside and out. This way, a simple milk bread was made.

"Sister’s Psychic Power has improved a lot", Jinghe observed, noting the Metagross sister’s skill and showing a hint of surprise.

Mewtwo, wearing an apron, didn’t use Psychic Power but kneaded the dough until it was smooth, then placed it aside to rise.

"Ai~"

The Metagross sister smiled shyly, her eyes forming a crescent.

Seeing her glance at Mewtwo, Jinghe had a good idea of the reason. It seemed Mewtwo was quietly training the Metagross sister, helping her improve her abilities.

For a Psychic-type Pokémon like the Metagross sister, having Mewtwo’s assistance was undoubtedly a great help.

Who knows, maybe Aiguan's sister will shine in this Champion's Path challenge.

Ding-dong—

Jinghe's phone suddenly rang. He put down his book and picked it up, seeing that the caller was Professor Oak.

"Professor Oak?"

He pressed the answer button and greeted him.

"Ha-ha, it's me", Professor Oak's cheerful laugh came through the line. "Jinghe, I heard you're going to Alola?"

"Professor Oak, you're well-informed."

Jinghe had only called Dr. Kukui earlier that day to say he was planning to visit Alola, and now he was getting a call from Professor Oak in the evening.

"Well, that's because I have a cousin who's the principal of a Pokémon Academy in Alola."

"Professor Oak's cousin?"

"Yes, he heard you're coming to Alola and wants you to give a few lectures to the students. They all admire you."

"Me? Give lectures? Isn't it summer vacation at the Alola Pokémon School?" Jinghe was taken aback.

"I'm not sure about the details, but you can check when you get there."

"Alright, I understand."

This was the second person inviting him to a Pokémon school.

The first was Dr. Kukui.

However, he planned to stay in Alola for only a few days, so he wouldn't be able to give many lectures.

"Oh, there's one more thing", Professor Oak added.

"Hmm?"

"I heard there are some peculiar Pokémon in Alola, called 'Ultra Beasts.' If you encounter them, could you collect some Pokédex data for me?"

That was probably the main reason for this call.

Ultra Beasts?

These creatures come from the Ultra Space, an alternate dimension, and they are a unique type of Pokémon. They can enter the Pokémon world through Ultra Wormholes and are extremely dangerous.

"Uh—"

Jinghe was thinking about how to avoid these troubles when he went to Alola.

"Um, Professor Oak, I have another call coming in. I'll hang up for now."

"Thanks, Jinghe." Professor Oak quickly said.

The call ended.

It wasn't that Jinghe was being intentionally rude, but another call was indeed coming in, from Tsubasa.

"Teacher Jinghe, I've arranged the transportation you asked for. It's waiting at the Hau'oli City port on Melemele Island", Tsubasa said straight away.

Alola is different from other regions, which are mostly contiguous landmasses. Alola is primarily composed of islands, so if you want to travel between them, you either fly or take a boat. Therefore, Jinghe had asked Tsubasa to arrange transportation in advance.

But—

"Already?" Jinghe was surprised.

He had only called Tsubasa a short while ago.

Wait a minute.

Jinghe seemed to have an idea and asked, "You guys aren't in Alola, are you?"

"How did you know, Teacher Jinghe? We're currently filming in Alola. I have to say, the scenery here is truly beautiful, especially the beaches."

Jinghe: "."

So the trio was also in Alola?

That meant there was a chance he might run into "True God" in a bear suit.

"Alright, I got it."

He hung up the call again and sank into the sofa.

"Awooo~"

Nine-Tails walked gracefully and curled up in his lap.

This trip to Alola had another purpose: to take Nine-Tails back to its birthplace. The little one must be quite excited.

He gently brushed Nine-Tails' crystal-white fur and muttered to himself:

"Why does it feel like something is going to happen on this trip?"

"No, no, no."

He shook his head decisively.

"As long as I move fast enough, disaster won't catch up with me!"

The sun was shining brightly.

The waves, draped in white lace, caressed the sandy beach repeatedly.

Alola has a warm climate, and the undeveloped islands are rich in resources. Besides the four natural islands, there is also an artificial island at the center where the four islands meet.

Each island in Alola boasts beautiful beaches and unique island festivals, as well as legendary guardian deities.

As a tourist destination, Alola attracts a large number of visitors every year. Sun, sand, and bikinis are the classic attractions of Alola.

In the northwest of Alola is Melemele Island, where the guardian deity is the legendary Tapu Koko.

Melemele Island also has Alola's largest and most bustling city, Hau'oli City.

It's said that because visitors from all over the world first arrive at Hau'oli City on Melemele Island, the city is a melting pot of global influences and is the most developed city in Alola.

It is divided into commercial, beach, and port districts, making it a distinctive seaside city.

On the outskirts of Hau'oli City is the first Pokémon school in Alola, and in the wild, you can often see many Pokémon with Alola characteristics.

At that moment, in Hau'oli City.

Jinghe, who had just arrived in Alola, was dressed in Alola-style beachwear, carrying flip-flops, and wearing a sun hat. At the insistence of his Pokémon, he went to a famous Malasada chain store in Hau'oli City.

Malasada is a specialty of Alola.

His Pokémon couldn't resist these treats.

"Enough, Gengar?"

Jinghe pressed down his sun hat, looking helpless at Gengar, who was dressed in Alola beachwear and wreaking havoc at the counter.

The store clerk watched in surprise, clearly recognizing a big customer.

The counter was finally empty, and Gengar and Machamp, who had somehow emerged from the shadows, reluctantly stopped their antics.

Jinghe gritted his teeth and paid the bill.

"Esteemed customer, in appreciation of your purchase, we present you with this membership card for our Malasada chain. It grants you a 3% discount at all our locations", the clerk said with a beaming smile, handing Jinghe a fancy card.

A 3% discount?

Oh, how generous.

But considering even a small discount is better than nothing, Jinghe took the membership card.

Next, he visited the Pokémon Center to retrieve the key Tsubasa had left for him, then headed straight for Hau'oli City's scenic beach, which was right by the harbor.

The sun was blazing, and the palm trees swayed gently. A few Lapras lazily swam by on the surface, while Gulliver seabirds circled overhead.

Several Alolan Exeggutor marched along the beach, their long necks swaying as they moved. A group of Crabrawler, which had been hiding from the sun in the nearby rocky caves, followed them, waving their fists excitedly as if they were going to knock the "coconuts" off the Exeggutor.

Under a sun umbrella, beach chairs were laid out, and the little Pokémon gathered to enjoy their freshly bought Malasada.

Jinghe leaned back in his chair, his gaze hidden behind his sunglasses as he scanned the beach.

Man, this sand is so white, but really, my mood is even bigger.

"Pity Hiruna isn't here", Jinghe mumbled.

This time, Daiya didn't come with him. It wasn't that Daiya didn't want to, but as one of the Elite Four in the Sinnoh region, he had been away for too long, and Wuson couldn't stand it anymore. A phone call, and Daiya was dragged back.

Not only was Johto preparing for the "Champion's Path", but Sinnoh was also making preparations.

"Once Hiruna finishes her 'Champion's Path,' I'll bring her to Alola for a vacation!" Jinghe decided, feeling a surge of excitement.

After all this preparation, no matter the outcome, a break was in order, right?

Reluctantly pulling his gaze away, he looked at his little Pokémon.

"Finished eating? Once you're done, we'll find a place to stay", Jinghe reminded them.

"Guu~"

Gengar pointed to the nearby waves, indicating that the little ones wanted to play in the water.

"Our island is surrounded by the sea, but you never show this much enthusiasm."

Jinghe couldn't help but comment.

But then he realized that while his island was surrounded by the sea, it didn't have a beach.

After all, it was an island built from Groudon's lava, and a beach would take time to form.

Maybe this time, he could create an artificial beach when he returned?

That way, even if they didn't come to Alola, he could still bring Hiruna to the beach.

"Alright", Jinghe agreed, thinking to himself.

After all, they had been on the plane for most of the day, and the little ones hadn't trained or been allowed to move around much. If they didn't burn off some energy, the wild Pokémon on Melemele Island might suffer tonight.

Though he wanted to get things done quickly, there was no need to rush.

With Jinghe's permission, the little ones cheered and dashed towards the sea.

"Perfect, I'll stretch my legs too."

Inspired by the little ones' enthusiasm, Jinghe stood up with a smile.

"Slow down, Rotom!"

On the blue sea, a small speedboat cut through the waves. Behind it, Jinghe stood on a wakeboard, holding onto the tow rope, using his impressive physical strength to surf the waves while calling out to Rotom, who was driving the speedboat.

"Sure thing, Rotom~"

Rotom sheepishly slowed down the speedboat.

This speedboat was a mode of transportation Tsubasa had prepared for Jinghe.

"Uuu~"

Dratini flapped its tiny wings, skimming the surface of the sea, the wind creating white foam.

Gengar, with his hands behind his head and sunglasses on, floated effortlessly on the water, a rope tied around his stomach, the other end connected to a piece of driftwood that held chilled juice, Malasada, and berries.

When it comes to enjoying life, Gengar was the master.

"Bark~!"

Blastoise's excited bark echoed from the side.

A dark green head bobbed on the surface, its eyes filled with uncontainable excitement.

If you didn't see its flailing limbs underwater, you might think it was a swimming expert!

But Jinghe was still a bit surprised.

No wonder Thicklipuku was called the "Bear Coach." After a few days of training, Blastoise had indeed learned to swim.

However, mastering surfing was still a ways off.

"Watch out for the Lapras!" Jinghe warned.

"Bark!" Blastoise responded confidently.

Lapras, which were extremely rare in other regions, were overprotected in Alola and had become somewhat of a nuisance.

Many Pokémon hunters were enthusiastic about cross-regional Pokémon hunting for this reason.

"Let's head back, Rotom."

"Got it, Rotom!"

Back on the shore, Nine-Tails immediately handed Jinghe a glass of chilled juice. The first sip instantly washed away all the heat and his worries.

Jinghe affectionately ruffled the little one's head.

Turning around, he saw Snivy, Bladeburn, Machamp, and Forger circling a few green coconuts.

Forger pointed out that the coconuts weren't ripe yet, as they were still green.

Snivy mentioned that it had just seen a few Crabrawler knock some coconuts down from the coconut trees, so they should be ripe.

"Gucha~"

Crimson Blade Phantom, Male drew his blade, the sharp hum accompanying his voice.

Whether they're ripe or not, they'll be good to eat once they're roasted.

Bear!!

A flame rose from his blade, making Snivy and Forger change their expressions.

Roasted coconuts?

They had never heard of such a thing. Could roasted coconut water still be drinkable?

"Machamp!"

In the end, Machamp was the most straightforward. He pulled out a stick from somewhere and struck one of the coconuts, causing the green coconut to crack open, and the sweet juice immediately flowed out.

The little ones saw this and eagerly started drinking.

"Hiss!" (I told you they were ripe!)

Snivy placed its hands on its hips, looking proud.

"Chaa~" (It really can be drunk. Green coconuts can be drunk, too. Amazing.)

Forger realized for the first time that green coconuts could also be drunk.

At that moment, it looked at the coconut trees on the beach, which were full of green coconuts, and its eyes sparkled.

Crimson Blade Phantom, Male felt a bit regretful.

Unfortunately, he had wanted to try roasted coconuts.

"Your coconuts..."

Jinghe, Male, who had been silently watching the entire process, spoke up.

Whoosh—

In the next second.

The four Pokémon, in a perfectly synchronized and uniform motion, hid the coconuts behind their backs.

Then, one whistled, one looked up at the sky, and one held a hammer.

Not far away, a few Crabrawler waved their blue fists, looking very angry but helpless.

Jinghe, Male: "..."

"Cough."

He cleared his throat, "I was thinking... if you're not in a hurry, you can wait a bit. Tonight, I'll make some coconut dishes for you."

Upon hearing this, the four little ones looked at him in unison.

Coconut dishes?

Jinghe, Male smiled mysteriously, "Have you ever heard of coconut chicken, coconut rice, coconut jelly, and coconut cake?"

Could there really be such dishes?

Not to trick us out of our coconuts?

The little ones looked at each other.

"Unfortunately, we don't have many coconuts. I think we can only make coconut chicken."

Not enough coconuts?

In the next moment.

The Crabrawler, who had been waving their fists and yelling on the beach, suddenly froze, a strange chill running through their hearts, making them feel an intense "malice."

Then, they saw the four Pokémon, looking very "innocent", walking toward them with smiles.

One with a hammer, one with a sword, one with a stick, and one with a whip.

After the incident, the latest gossip from the tourist beach Pokémon:

Crabrawler 1: "Kah!" (Miserable)

Villains! They are all great villains! Just for a few energy bars, they made us knock down hundreds of coconut trees! My fists are still sore...

Crabrawler 2: "Kah!" (Tears streaming down)

It's all their fault! It's all their fault for giving us so much! Waaah—

At night, in the Hau'oli City Pokémon Center.

"Finally done."

Joy sat down in a chair, sighing deeply, and said to the Pokémon beside her,

"Happiny, Florges, you can rest for a bit."

As she spoke, she sniffed the air, catching a scent she had never smelled before, and her mouth began to water.

After working hard for so long, she felt a pang of hunger for the first time.

"Lucky~"

Happiny and Florges also caught the scent and followed it, with Florges leading the way and Happiny close behind.

"Wait for me!"

Guided by the scent, they soon arrived at the back garden of the Pokémon Center, where they saw

"Don't grab! There are enough coconuts. If they run out, we can cook more!" Jinghe, Male tried to maintain the delicate balance at the picnic table.

Seemingly hearing the commotion, he turned back and saw Joy, Happiny, and Florges at the door.

He immediately invited them with a smile,

"Joy, Happiny, Florges, would you like some? Pokémon-style coconut chicken."

Coconut chicken?

Happiny and Florges immediately moved closer to confirm that the scent was indeed what they had smelled earlier.

"Awooo~"

Nine-Tails obediently handed them utensils.

"Th-thank you!" Joy's stomach rumbled slightly, and her face turned red, but she still accepted the utensils.

Not only is Teacher Jinghe handsome and strong, but he can also cook. Isn't Miss Shizuka too lucky?

"Don't be polite." Jinghe, Male immediately had his little ones make some space.

"I'm going to eat!" Joy clasped her hands together and said with a rosy face.

After a busy afternoon, being able to enjoy such a meal was satisfying.

"It's been worth it." Joy muttered to herself.

But Jinghe, Male caught her words.

"Hmm? Was it busy today?"

"Yes." Joy nodded, blowing on her bowl, "I heard that a strange black hole appeared at the beach around four in the afternoon, and many trainers' Pokémon were injured."

Jinghe, Male was taken aback.

"Black hole? Pokémon?" He probed.

"I don't know. Many people only saw the black hole, and then their Pokémon were mysteriously injured."

"What about now?"

"I heard that the International Police and Jasmine have intervened, and the black hole seems to have disappeared."

Jinghe, Male fell silent.

Then he muttered,

"Sure enough, as long as I'm fast enough, disasters will always be a step behind me!"

(End of Chapter)

Chapter end