Chapter 1238: Territorial Dispute

Such a pure Pokémon.

Porygon-Z sighed inexplicably; it had been a long time since it had encountered such a simple, unspoiled specimen.

The subsequent arrivals — Eelektross, Togekiss, and that bunch led by Arcanine — which one of them isn't cunning as a ghost?

Compared to them, Buizel is like a caveman.

No, wait.

It really is a "caveman"!

Porygon-Z looked at Braviary and Electivire, who were still deep in thought; the former was hard to read, but it was certain the latter definitely hadn't understood.

It's just that its temperament displays more mildly than Buizel's, making it appear less savage.

But is there a possibility that it's just stupid!

Ferocity doesn't equal stupidity; Hydreigon has already proven that.

This guy...

Couldn't have been whipped stupid by Hydreigon's tail, right?

Porygon-Z still remembered Haxorus's furious Iron Tail; that move truly had maxed-out power — whoever took it would get a concussion.

"Pali?"

It looked at the last suspected smart-egg, Braviary; this big lion seemed to finally be able to understand what was just said.

Just still somewhat incredulous.

Braviary lowered its head, gazing intently at Baimu, who was currently taming Buizel; the strange feeling in its heart grew heavier, its brutal nature urging it to just eat him and be done with it, while a sliver of rationality stopped it from doing so.

"Roar..."

It forcibly twisted its massive head away, refusing to look at Baimu.

The silently observing Porygon-Z blinked, genuinely curious about these guys' origins.

If they really are the ancient Ho-Oh Honor Guard... then wouldn't that mean they haven't experienced the Burned Tower incident?

But if they haven't experienced it, how would they react to a Trainer with a similar experience?

"Anyway, you remember, stay quiet."

Baimu, just like when he taught Loudred, told Buizel not to breathe randomly.

Of course, the reasons for their breathing were different.

Loudred generally couldn't control its volume, or did it when insulted or wanting to prank, while Buizel's was purely anger.

It gets angry too easily; its destructive desire is extraordinarily strong — everything it finds displeasing, it can't help but want to destroy.

Being able to hold back now is because it craves the food Baimu gives.

Once satisfied, this method mostly won't work much anymore.

As for moving it with genuine affection...

That takes time.

Baimu doesn't have that much idle time to waste on Buizel right now, even though people doing bad things are often very patient.

Wanting to toss Buizel in front of Suicune to savor its dumbfounded expression — at least have to wait until the Eight Masters.

Buizel's performance also severed Baimu's thought of bringing it back to Platinum Mountain as a permanent resident.

Nature is a Pokémon's bottom color.

He doesn't want Buizel to lose its "self," but he also isn't prepared to send a "Gian" back to Platinum Mountain's wild Pokémon.

Therefore, what Baimu is preparing to do now is make Buizel drop its hostility toward humans, so that after he leaves, there's no need to worry about any trouble arising.

Feeding Buizel a few more Rainbow Pokéblocks, Baimu turned his gaze to Braviary.

The other party didn't seem too willing to look at him.

Baimu: "?"

What's the situation?

We were chatting fine, why are you striking this pose?

Porygon-Z said: "Probably still doesn't quite believe your words."

"... Whatever."

Baimu wasn't obsessed with making Braviary believe him; "Anyway, I've said everything that needed saying; believe it or not is up to you. My requirement is only one — peace in Sector Zero."

As he spoke these words, his gaze roamed among the ancient Ho-Oh Honor Guard.

Buizel wasn't listening at all; Electivire listened quite seriously but had little reaction, just lowering its slender neck and tilting its head slightly.

Only Braviary let out a low growl.

"Awoo!"

"It says if you can deal with the future Swords of Justice, everything's negotiable." Porygon-Z translated.

Baimu nodded, "Can do. Then you all come back for now."

Not giving the three Pokémon time to react, red light simultaneously flew out, recalling them into their balls.

According to Yeci's original plan, the ancient Ho-Oh Honor Guard would be relocated elsewhere after capture, while the future Swords of Justice would remain in Sector Zero.

But now that all six have been caught, perhaps there's no need for that trouble.

Bang bang bang!

Three crisp sounds.

Escavalier, Ferrothorn, and Aggron appeared; they first observed the surrounding environment, and upon confirming they were still in Sector Zero, they all looked at Baimu in unison.

"I need you to stop the series of actions you've been taking against the ancient Ho-Oh Honor Guard."

He said straight to the point: "If you disagree, I'll seal you in Poké Balls for a very long time."

For high-IQ Pokémon, he has always liked to lay out the stakes directly.

For the Future Sacred Swordsmen, this rhetoric was no different from a threat.

Their electronic eyes flickered; they did not respond.

Baimu said, "If you still refuse to communicate, I will take it that you have chosen the latter."

He made a move to raise the Poke Ball in his hand.

The surrounding Bastiodon and other Pokemon also stepped forward in unison, making the Future Sacred Swordsmen understand they had nowhere left to retreat.

Finally, Bastiodon stepped forward and emitted a low electronic sound.

"Dururu~~~!"

"It says the Ancient Roaring Moon Guard are the root of the chaos, why stop them."

Seeing Baimu raise an eyebrow, Porygon2 instantly understood his meaning and told Bastiodon that from a human standpoint, the root of the chaos was not only the Ancient Roaring Moon Guard; they were too.

Compared to the Ancient Roaring Moon Guard, whose personalities all differed, the Future Sacred Swordsmen were uniformly stolid; when Bastiodon spoke the other two did not move a muscle, only their electronic eyes flickered.

They were more like robots than Miraidon.

And to Porygon2's words, Bastiodon's answer was——

"The Ancient Roaring Moon Guard occupied too large a territory; after the Paldea League relocated ordinary wild Pokemon, they inevitably invaded their space."

"They drove away the intruders, causing more and more wild Pokemon to flee to places where other Paradox Pokemon lived, leading the entire Area Zero to become chaotic."

"As long as the Ancient Roaring Moon Guard are driven away and their territory freed, the remaining wild Pokemon and Paradox Pokemon can continue to coexist peacefully."

Baimu froze for a moment after hearing this.

He had never heard Futou AI or anyone mention these things.

He had Porygon Phone contact Professor Futou at the Fourth Observation Station, and verbally called Aoki from the rear.

After both sides confirmed, they reached a conclusion——

The Paldea League failed to properly verify the relocation site.

They thought it was unclaimed territory; in reality it belonged to one of the Ancient Roaring Moon Guard.

Resulting in, not long after the relocation was complete, ordinary wild Pokemon choosing to flee elsewhere out of fear of the Ancient Roaring Moon Guard.

Thus triggering the disturbance.

League personnel and Professor Futou observed and deemed this a normal natural phenomenon.

Wild Pokemon migrating elsewhere would inevitably startle the Pokemon originally living there, and both sides would engage in struggles to divide new territories.

This is the law of nature.

Professor Futou was busy developing Terastal energy, researchers at the various observation stations were busy studying Paradox Pokemon; almost no one paid special attention to struggles between wild Pokemon.

But unexpectedly the Future Sacred Swordsmen took great exception to this, pointing their spearhead at the Ancient Roaring Moon Guard who occupied too much territory——

Borrowing human hands.

Since the matter originated from them, they should handle everything properly.

The Future Sacred Swordsmen's plan nearly succeeded.

Who knew a Cheng Yaojin would suddenly appear halfway; while solving the Ancient Roaring Moon Guard, he incidentally solved them too.

The Future Sacred Swordsmen did not anticipate this.

"It was my oversight."

Professor Futou sighed, "Ever since focusing on Terastal energy, my attention to Paradox Pokemon has decreased considerably."

Aoki said nothing, fingers dancing rapidly on his phone screen; it looked like he was sending a message to Yeci or someone.

Baimu laughed heartily, "If it's just this, the problem is easily solved."

He raised his hand and released the Ancient Roaring Moon Guard.

Bang bang bang!

Three colossi landed, seeing the relatively petite Future Sacred Swordsmen.

As the saying goes, enemies meet with eyes especially red.

Great Tusk immediately let out a furious roar, "Roar!!"

"You come back."

Baimu covered his forehead and swiftly recalled it into its ball.

Seeing this, Flutter Mane and Sandy Shocks dispersed the raging flames enveloping their bodies and the electric currents of dark clouds around their necks.

The vigilant Future Sacred Swordsmen also relaxed.

He said, "Communication is one of the best ways to solve problems; I already know your conflict, so next……"

Baimu first informed the Ancient Roaring Moon Guard that many wild Pokemon would live in their territory from now on, and they must not drive them away at will.

Flutter Mane and Sandy Shocks both were not too willing to agree; they liked quiet solitude.

"This is not a request, it is an order."

He said crisply, "If you cannot do it, then your territory from now on is this."

He shook the Poke Ball.

The not-too-bright Sandy Shocks became unhappy, but before it could speak, Flutter Mane knocked it behind her and immediately began to bargain.

Territory equated to their usual activity range; the scope could be reduced, but there must be no other Pokemon's presence.

Porygon2 relayed this; Baimu looked at the Future Sacred Swordsmen awaiting their opinion.

Bastiodon's head rotated eerily, as if thinking.

"Dururu~~!"

"Reduce by how much?"

"Let's go on-site to confirm."

Baimu was a man of action; calling Dendra and Clavell, he prepared to go inspect the Ancient Roaring Moon Guard's territory.

Since both Milletown and Gultown had run off.

He could only ride the Three-Headed Evil Dragon.

A group of Pokémon and three people set off in a grand procession toward the territory of the Raging Thunder Drum, the nearest one.

Before it was driven away by the Future Sacred Swordsman, it liked living beside a high waterfall, because the sound of water striking rock resembled thunder.

Upon arrival, the party saw, to their astonishment, a strange creature that looked very much like a Magneton, but with an extremely long magnet at its lower end, seemingly using it as legs to walk.

— Sandy Shocks, one of the Ancient Paradox Pokémon.

After the Raging Thunder Drum left, it had effectively become the new master here.

"Roar!!"

The Raging Thunder Drum was very angry.

But before it could launch an attack on Sandy Shocks, the latter fled in a puff of smoke.

Ancient Pokémon are certainly ferocious, yet they also know to flee quickly when facing an enemy they cannot beat.

Immediately, using Baimu and Porygon2 as intermediary bridges, the Future Sacred Swordsman began demarcating territory for the Raging Thunder Drum.

The Pokémon on both sides naturally did not understand those twists and turns.

The transaction was forced to proceed entirely under Baimu's overbearing pressure. In other words, both sides reluctantly gave ground.

There was not much quarreling.

Baimu quickly finished demarcating the Raging Thunder Drum's new territory, "It's basically like this. From now on only this area belongs to you. Outside Pokémon don't come in, you can't drive them away."

"Roar..."

The Raging Thunder Drum was angry and aggrieved, with a touch of bewilderment.

This forced Baimu to pull out a few Thunder Stones he had collected during past travels from inside Gengar's belly.

Burying them underground as beacons for the boundary demarcation.

Watching its new territory reduced to less than a fraction of its former size, the Raging Thunder Drum was very unwilling yet forced to accept it.

Leaving it at the waterfall, the group and Pokémon proceeded in other directions.

The next one is the Surging Water.

Its territory and the Raging Thunder Drum's are both at the bottom of the middle layer; they can be said to be adjacent.

Even unexpectedly easy to handle — just restrict its activity range to places shrouded in mist like small lakes and streams.

This area normally doesn't have wild Pokémon visiting, and the Surging Water likewise rarely comes out.

The Future Sacred Swordsmen mainly targeted it because its temper is too bad; it is especially easy to provoke.

Using it as a spark to draw the other two's attention is comparatively simple.

The Raging Thunder Drum would also work, but unfortunately it is strangely dense, occasionally not quite understanding their provocations.

"You are not allowed out of the mist!"

"Roar!"

"I said not allowed means not allowed!"

"Roar!!"

"Flatten it!"

Numerous Pokémon swarmed forward together.

Pippa and Peony watched this scene with strange expressions, "Can it really take that in?"

"As long as Roaring Moon listens."

Baimu looked at Roaring Moon with a beaming smile.

This big lion remained silent, forcibly suppressing the urge to rush to Surging Water's aid, until it began to scream miserably, whereupon he let out a low roar, "Awoo!!"

"Stop."

Baimu spoke.

The Great Beast and other Pokémon immediately ceased their torment of Surging Water.

Surging Water, rage rushing to its head, rose to retaliate, but was pinned down by Roaring Moon who leapt over.

"Awoo!!"

"Roar..."

The high-pitched lion's roar and the deep dragon's howl formed a stark contrast.

Without a doubt, the only one who can control Surging Water is big brother Roaring Moon; the bond between the three is no less than the genuine article.

Leaving Surging Water in the lake once more.

The group headed for Roaring Moon's territory — a place higher than the upper layer, where many caves and gentle slopes are located.

Seeing the wild Pokémon living here, Baimu instantly understood the true root cause.

"It's you, the cause of the conflict."

"Awoo..."

Roaring Moon's territory is larger than both Surging Water's and Raging Thunder Drum's, and coincidentally the League also settled ordinary wild Pokémon here, away from the Paradox Pokémon.

Only they didn't expect that the seemingly safest place actually harbored a big fellow.

The Howling Tail found the Pokémon that had previously ostracized it here.

"Yiya!"

It excitedly ran over; those Pokémon fled in terror, not giving it any space to show off at all.

When it comes down to it, everyone avoids it because it has a violent temper, randomly roaring and shouting.

Not because Howling Tail thinks they look down on it.

That they dislike it is true.

"Huh? A dream demon? How cute! So big——"

Peony suddenly noticed a dream demon in the corner, and just as she revealed a happy smile, her voice cut off abruptly.

Whose dream demon has red spines on its head, the whites of its eyes red as if soaked in blood, and yellow pupils?

Another absurd Pokémon!

Peony felt quite stifled in her heart.