Chapter 282: Love and Understanding

The next day.

The sunlight was brilliant.

Baimu went to the New Water Fleet research institute early in the morning, only to learn from a Water Fleet member at the door that the professor wasn't in.

"He said he went to test the Porygon drones, he might be back in the afternoon. Is there something you need him for?"

"I got a Porygon from him yesterday, so I wanted to ask him about a few things." He answered the man's question with great calm, and politely declined the other's invitation to join the New Water Fleet.

Whether it was because the team had a recruitment quota, that Water Fleet member was extremely enthusiastic.

"Really not joining? Great benefits! How about we have a Pokémon battle?"

"We can negotiate anything, handsome!"

"Saving the ocean is a great cause!"

Baimu had already walked a hundred meters away, yet the man was still standing in place shouting.

Seeing the other party so full of vigor, he increasingly felt that he might have misunderstood the New Water Fleet. Although criminal organizations recruiting new blood didn't necessarily have to hide, seeing someone and being so eager to absorb them in...

... it all felt a bit like a Pokémon fanatics' club.

Baimu walked along the road, sent a message to Professor Akihabara, but saw no sign of a reply, so he simply returned to the Pokémon Center.

Compared to yesterday's lively scene.

Today's Pokémon Center was much quieter, undoubtedly because those travelers who had specifically come for the beach bonfire gathering had left.

Since the professor wasn't in, Baimu simply threw himself back into learning Dragon Rush, and into communicating smoothly with his newly joined partner Porygon, to avoid being looked down on for his IQ once it evolved.

In fact.

Aggron and Dreepy learning Dragon Rush could proceed entirely on their own, not really needing Baimu the trainer's involvement.

beqege.

But not long ago the latter had come across an article published on the PokéBlog by Professor Kukui — "On the Benefits of Trainers in Pokémon Learning Moves."

It clearly depicted how much faster a Pokémon progressed with a trainer present cheering them on or training alongside them, versus how fast they progressed without a trainer training alongside them, ultimately reaching the conclusion—

That a trainer practicing alongside them, as long as the method was proper, would not only not affect the Pokémon's efficiency in learning moves, but could significantly improve it.

Looking at it this way, when Pikachu was learning Iron Tail, Ash going crazy doing push-ups beside it wasn't just not laughable, but rather something beneficial to learning moves, worth emulating.

"Come on, I believe in you."

Baimu patted Aggron's arm, then rubbed Dreepy's head.

Same procedure as yesterday — by enduring Dragon-type energy attacks to sense and stimulate the body into producing Dragon-type energy, as long as the horn could light up, Dragon Rush would be more than half complete.

"Roar~"

Aggron nodded. As the ace, it didn't want to lose to its underling Dreepy; being far behind the latter in progress was somewhat humiliating to it.

The wild Aggron watched eagerly from the side, looking a bit at a loss. "Gugrow?"

"Don't rush, your job comes later. Just rest a bit for now. Have you been feeling cooped up in the ball too long?" Baimu raised his hand and stroked its head.

Compared to the big monster, this one's size was rather "mini" — Baimu only needed to reach out to touch its face, unlike when petting the big monster, where if it didn't lower its head, he'd probably have to stretch a bit.

"Gugrow..."

The wild Aggron shook its head. Staying in the Luxury Ball was quite comfortable — otherwise, how could even Team Rocket's Meowth have almost become addicted to it?

Baimu withdrew his gaze, clapped his hands at Dreepy as a reminder. "Alright, let's start practicing!"

"Mo Nao!"

Dreepy let out a loud cry, and following the trainer's instructions, condensed a fist-sized ball of indigo Dragon flame in its mouth, spraying it onto the Aggron in front of it.

Boom!

The small fireball exploded, but Aggron's face showed little change in expression. It closed its eyes and silently felt it out.

Baimu watched from the side, deliberated for a few seconds, then said to Dreepy: "Give me a fireball too, try it. The power should be the same as what Aggron felt.

"Mo Nao?"

The latter couldn't understand his meaning for a moment. After he explained in detail, it showed a hesitant expression. "Mo Nao..."

The little fellow had been here for so long, yet had never attacked its trainer — biting hands and heads didn't count.

"It's fine, don't underestimate my endurance, okay? Just this much power."

Baimu replied with a smile, then said to Aggron, who had opened its eyes at some point and was quite worried: "Prepare for the worst. A strong body is the reliance that lets me keep going forward with you all.

"Besides, when I was on your back fighting those Dark Pokémon earlier, was the shockwave I took any less? Didn't I come out just fine?"

He deliberately flexed his muscles.

Hearing the trainer's explanation, Aggron's expression finally eased. It couldn't help raising both claws and giving Baimu a big hug. "Gugrow~"

It absolutely did not want to see anything happen to its trainer, and hoped that it could, just as it had once been loved and protected, turn around and protect the person it cared about most.

Territory was important, but Baimu was more important.

Without territory, it could still be taken; but without Baimu... it couldn't imagine that day ever coming.

"Relax, relax. Why are you becoming like a Chansey, hugging people whenever your emotions get intense?" The latter laughed, wrapping his arms around Aggron and gently patting its back.

Fortunately his arm span was long enough, otherwise it would be hilarious if he couldn't even reach its back.

"Mo Nao! Mo Nao!"

Sensing it was being left out, Dreepy desperately squeezed itself between them. The wild Aggron watched from the side, but couldn't quite understand the deep bond between the two.

But it also had its own regret — if only this human could settle near its territory, yesterday's meal was really delicious~

Continuing the practice.

This time Baimu joined in as well, taking turns with Aggron to endure the indigo flames Dreepy breathed out.

At first it really hurt, like being stabbed hard with a knife on the body. He couldn't help thinking why he had nothing better to do than seek suffering for himself, but it got much better once he got used to it.

Being sprayed again and again, he suddenly understood why Professor Kukui always liked to personally experience Pokémon attacks.

Because every time one of those fireballs hit his body, when he looked at Dreepy's expression, he could always sense the emotions it was trying to convey.

From worry and hesitation to trust and resolve—this was a sight one could hardly see while standing behind or beside a Pokémon.

What kind of expression would one's own Pokémon show during battle?

Fear? Cowering? Or full of confidence, unshakable?

"Understanding Pokémon, getting close to Pokémon, cherishing Pokémon—that is the true essence of the Trainer profession."

The famous words Professor Oak had once said on a television program suddenly surfaced in Baimu's mind, and the dragon flames striking his body suddenly turned into a clump of glittering energy, lingering before his eyes.

In an instant.

He turned his head to look at Bossgodora; the latter, steady as a mountain, likewise shifted his gaze over.

"Bring it on!"

"Gugou!"

The two each charged toward the other, and without the slightest hesitation collided together!

Baimu was violently sent flying, yet nimbly twisted his body and landed on the ground. When he looked up, a smile surfaced in Bossgodora's azure-blue eyes, and his sharp twin horns—indeed his entire head—were cloaked in a layer of blue light.

"You did it."

He couldn't help but laugh as well.