Chapter 1266

Reshiram's suggestion hit the nail on the head. After some thought, Su Hao agreed; the top priority was to gather clues and catch the tail of the troublemaker.

Since the problem of withering crops had already appeared, the scene Flabébé had transmitted would surely play out at some point in the future.

Yveltal was still safely tucked away in the Life and Death Secret Realm without any movement. The secret realm was extremely stable, and its power had not leaked out; the troublemaker was someone else.

"Tsk, why can't there be a single day of peace?"

After complaining about his own busy life, Su Hao honestly chose to turn and head toward the orchard, planning to stock up on some goods before setting off.

The deep parts of Viridian Forest had fertile soil and rich life energy; the quality of the tree fruit grown here was very high. Since he had finally come, he couldn't miss this harvest.

He also had to be mindful of Viridian Forest's affairs; after all, both the consciousness of Viridian Forest and those cute Pokémon were wholeheartedly good to him.

If something happened to Viridian Forest, its consciousness would suffer or even die, and the Pokémon would be displaced. Displaced Pokémon would have no choice but to attack the cities built around the forest, because everyone wanted to survive.

To prevent things from evolving to that extent, he had to investigate.

On the outskirts of Viridian Forest, one of the several teams that had accepted the temporary commission issued by the surrounding cities—"Investigate the range and coordinates of crop withering around Viridian Forest"—encountered an unusual Pokémon beside a withered vegetable field.

That Pokémon was covered in white fur, while the areas without fur were a grayish-blue hue. It was about a meter tall, with a slender build, and a long, bow-like horn extending from the side of its head, upon which pitch-black Dark-type energy gathered.

This was the disaster Pokémon, Absol, a magical beast once called the Disaster Beast. Legend had it that wherever it appeared, landslides, tsunamis, earthquakes, or locust plagues would inevitably follow.

Humans feared its existence, believing it to be a magical beast that brought disaster; they were wary of it and drove it away.

After technology developed, these ignorant perceptions were dispelled. Trained Trainers all knew Absol's true ability and understood that it was not a being that brought disaster.

However, prejudice is prejudice because its deep-rooted nature cannot be ignored, and most of the people in the team He Shiyun was currently in were like this.

They were not official Trainers, just a group of people acting to make money. There was nothing wrong with that; the now-matured He Shiyun could well understand their situation.

Life required money, and to make money, one had to accept missions and explore the dangerous wilderness.

So for most people in this team, this operation was a job.

"It's the Disaster Beast! Sure enough, the withering of the crops is a disaster brought by the Disaster Beast!"

"This is a fierce beast that brings disaster. If we catch it and turn it in, we'll get the mission reward!"

"Everyone, let's go together!"

The uncles and aunties who had been particularly caring and kind-faced toward her just moments ago were now commanding their only one or two Pokémon to launch a siege on the Absol standing on the rotting leaves.

The kindness in their eyes had vanished, replaced by a craving for money, with the thirty-thousand reward for turning in the clue mission echoing in their minds.

Their knowledge of Pokémon was pitifully scarce; they only knew that the Pokémon before them was the existence rumored to be a Disaster Beast, and that catching it would earn them a bounty.

"Hushi?"

A worried cry reached her ears. He Shiyun, with a heavy expression, looked up and found Rillaboom looking at her with concern.

Rillaboom showed hesitation, seemingly waiting for He Shiyun's command.

As long as she gave the order, Rillaboom would join the

battlefield to help He Shiyun complete the mission and achieve her Elite-level Trainer certification.

He Shiyun thought it over repeatedly, but in the end, she let her hands fall powerlessly and said dejectedly, "No, I can't stop either side."

Whether it was the Absol that clearly wanted them to stop advancing and even leave this place, or these explorer uncles and aunties struggling for the reward, she couldn't stop either of them.

Helping them attack the Absol was challenging her own principles, while helping the Absol stop them was cutting off their livelihood.

In the end, so much time had passed, and she still hadn't made any progress.

Back then, she had been defeated by that genius who now seemed dazzlingly bright, and she had made up her mind to discard her inconvenient, pretty clothes to train, but at a moment like this, she was still indecisive.

He Shiyun smiled bitterly: "Let's... observe for now."

Absol did not give He Shiyun the chance to observe. It revealed its previously restrained aura, showing off the full momentum of a late-stage Professional-level. In these outskirts of Viridian Forest, such a powerful Pokémon shouldn't have appeared. Its Night Slash was lethal with every strike, and in a short while, it defeated all the explorers' Pokémon.

Absol's red pupils quietly watched the terrified explorers. Its gaze was full of pressure and deterrence, with a sorrow hidden deep in its eyes.

It was saddened that these people were blinded by greed, ignoring its warnings and wanting to push forward, even launching attacks.

"Ahhhhh, don't come over here!"

Someone took the lead, let out a cry of fear, recalled their Pokémon, and scrambled away in the direction they had come from.

Others followed suit, completely ignoring He Shiyun. In a few breaths, they scattered like birds and beasts, perfectly illustrating the saying "when disaster strikes, everyone flies their own way." The uncles and aunties who had been so kind to He Shiyun didn't even look at her.

Absol's gaze turned to He Shiyun again. Rillaboom immediately blocked her path and let out a threatening sound, but Rillaboom had no confidence in its heart.

It was only at the late-stage Elite-level; dealing with an Absol that was a whole major stage higher than itself... it felt like a tall order.

But no matter what, it had to bite the bullet and protect its Trainer.

"Soru..."

Absol stepped on the withered leaves, making a sound of immense pressure. This was the final warning. If this human remained stubborn, although it was very unwilling, it would have to use force.

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