Chapter 304: Johto, The Pink-Haired Girl Who Looks Sweet But Is Black-Hearted, and the Big-Boobed Cow

Relying on Dragonite's further-improved flight speed, on the morning of the 27th, Dragonite landed in an uninhabited dense forest outside Goldenrod City.

After returning the Dragonite, which had been flying continuously for a long time, to its Poké Ball to rest, Luo Mu directly took Vulpix and Victini with him, walking along a road extending toward Goldenrod City to reach its entrance.

Like the nearby Kanto region, the Johto region boasts a very mild climate; to use a similar analogy, it feels like a countryside village from childhood memories, filled everywhere with traces of nature, where vibrant life grows toward the sun, and the unique scent of fresh grass and earth lingers at the tip of one's nose.

A very pure rural climate.

However, compared to the neighboring Kanto region, Johto's climate feels even more humid.

Morning dew hung on the leaves; Vulpix and Victini, who usually slept lazily until the sun was high in the sky, were very interested in these crystal-clear objects, running excitedly along the slightly damp path.

"Mew!"

Suddenly, Vulpix let out a short, urgent exclamation.

Luo Mu was startled and immediately looked down, only to discover that while carefully observing a dewdrop, Vulpix had accidentally touched it with the tip of its nose; its small nose, sensitive to temperature, had made contact with the slightly cool dewdrop, causing it to cry out in surprise.

With a helpless expression, Luo Mu picked up Vulpix, took out a wet wipe to gently clean the moisture from the tip of its nose, and, adhering to the principle of not wasting, also wiped clean Vulpix's pale blue little paws, which had turned noticeably darker, holding it to prevent it from touching the ground again.

Along the way, due to the presence of Vulpix and Victini, people frequently turned their heads to gaze at them curiously, trying to identify what kind of Pokémon they were.

"Bi mi mi~~!!"

Watching its little companion suffer a setback, Victini laughed without any restraint.

However, given that Ash's journey progress had already reached the Orange Islands by now, Gym Leader Natsume there probably wouldn't casually turn people into dolls anymore.

By the time Luo Mu formally entered the scope of Goldenrod City, it was precisely during the morning rush hour.

On the city's main roads, cyclists sped past, office workers in suits hurried by carrying briefcases, and parents or grandparents taking children to school wore kind and amiable expressions.

Luo Mu remembered that Goldenrod City also housed a maglev train station; the maglev trains, with a maximum speed exceeding 550 kilometers per hour, operated twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week, shuttling between Saffron City and Goldenrod City, making these two highly developed cities strategic partner cities.

It was not until Luo Mu wound his way through twists and turns to stand before a red-roofed building that the owners of those gazes reined in their attention slightly, yet they still dispatched a few people outside to keep watch before reluctantly departing.

How could the little white fox endure such humiliation? It immediately began struggling in Luo Mu's arms, baring its teeth and brandishing its claws, intending to settle the score with Victini.

Although they did not understand what Luo Mu was complaining about, they both felt they detected a certain scent of "human scum" emanating from him.

Seeing the telekinesis of Oranguru obeying commands as smoothly as an arm controlling a hand, Luo Mu was truly envious.

A child pointed excitedly at the Vulpix in Luo Mu's arms and the Victini atop his head, asking his mother what kind of Pokémon they were; the young mother gently clasped the child's hand into her palm, cast an apologetic smile toward Luo Mu, and then lowered her head to whisper instructions to the child not to point at people or Pokémon casually.

Without changing his expression, Luo Mu piled all the blame onto Mewtwo; if not for Mewtwo, perhaps he would still have harbored that sliver of faint fantasy and actually gone to Saffron City to give it a try.

Realizing it was the receptionist at the front desk, Luo Mu shook his head and stated directly, "I am not a Gym Challenger; shouldn't it be possible to directly book a visit to Gym Leader Whitney's Miltank ranch here?"

However, these descriptions did not include the city of Goldenrod.

Originally, he had already checked the information in advance: take the maglev train from Goldenrod City to Saffron City, then go to the Saffron Gym to test whether he possessed any talent for psychic powers, after all, Natsume and her father were already recruiting psychic apprentices.

Upon entering the building, the first thing to meet the eye was a bright lobby; after all, as one of the eight Gyms of the Johto region, it certainly had everything it should.

Located in the western part of the Johto region, Goldenrod City is the largest and most prosperous city in Johto, where the region's most cutting-edge technology and economy are rooted.

If that child had proposed making contact with Vulpix and Victini, in any case, both he himself and the two Pokémon would have been very willing.

Regarding this, Luo Mu raised an eyebrow, silently sighing that the Johto region indeed possessed simple and honest customs; that young mother's method of handling the situation could be described as textbook-level.

He had originally intended to take this opportunity to catch a nap in the resting room, after all, to save time on this trip, he had forcibly ridden Dragonite across half the planet's distance to reach the Johto region.

Unfortunately, Mewtwo had directly nailed shut Luo Mu's possibilities, stating very plainly that he possessed not a shred of psychic talent.

If not for the fact that his itinerary for the past few days was already fully arranged, otherwise Luo Mu would have insisted on experiencing the maglev train and visiting Saffron City no matter what.

"Hello, are you a Gym Challenger? Do you have a reservation?"

Many cities in the Kanto and Johto regions are just like ordinary small villages or little towns; perhaps due to this reason, in the 'Best Wishes' arc of the anime, the new trainer Trip directly mocked Ash, who came from the Kanto region, as a country bumpkin.

Alas, since Vulpix and Victini were making a fuss and clamoring to watch a Gym Battle, helplessly, Luo Mu could only follow the female receptionist to the inner arena where a Gym Challenge was currently taking place.

In the shadows, some figures dressed in black uniforms with a red 'R' mark on their chests, hiding in the street corners and alleys of Goldenrod City, had set their sights on them due to the rarity of Vulpix and Victini, which had never been seen before and could not be found in any data.

Among the gazes, there were curious ones, appreciative ones, and naturally, some filled with malice.

Luo Mu did not know if it was his illusion, but the moment he mentioned visiting the ranch, the attitude of the female receptionist at the front desk became much warmer, even her eyes seeming to sparkle when she spoke.

Standing on the high platform, Luo Mu looked down; at this moment, the battle was at its most intense, with dust filling the arena and the special effects of fierce moves flashing continuously.

Vulpix & Victini: "."

At this moment, a sweet female voice rang out within the lobby.

Purely full-time Champions, Elite Four members, and Gym Leaders are indeed quite rare; for a moment, Luo Mu could only think of Champion Dan Di from the Galar region.

Luo Mu, long accustomed to this, couldn't be bothered to manage the two of them; instead, he observed the surrounding environment with a thoughtful expression.

"Ah, are you a guest here to visit the ranch? Gym Leader Whitney is currently welcoming a challenger's challenge; would you like to wait briefly in the resting room, or go observe the Gym Challenge?"

Goldenrod City's status within the Johto region is akin to Mesagoza in Paldea, Lumiose City in Kalos, Castelia City in Unova, and Saffron City in Kanto.

"Sigh, it's all Mewtwo's fault."

Noticing that fewer people were following him, Luo Mu raised an eyebrow, displayed no abnormal expression, and walked directly into the building before him marked with the sign "Goldenrod City Gym."

After all, as a legendary Psychic-type Pokémon, Luo Mu had no doubts about what Mewtwo said.

Come to think of it, let alone Elite Four members and Champions, even most Gym Leaders have their own main professions; rather, being a Gym Leader is merely a side part-time job.

In Victini's view, wasn't it funny that an Ice-type Vulpix actually got chilled by morning dew?

The pretty girl with pink hair and pink eyes on one side must be Gym Leader Whitney of Goldenrod City; the Pokémon she was commanding was a Da Nai Guan.

Under Whitney's command, the Da Nai Guan first performed a Defense Curl, then curled its body up and began rolling at high speed across the field; that sky-full of dust was the commotion caused by the Da Nai Guan.

On the other side, the challenger was a boy of about eleven or twelve years old, looking utterly ordinary, wearing a vest and shorts; if not for lacking a net, Luo Mu could have identified him as a Bug Catcher.

The boy was about the same age as the current Penny and Hearing Hearing Nimo, but the gap in Trainer strength was enormous.

His Pokémon, unsurprisingly, was a large rat-like Quilava, with fire erupting from the top of its head and its back, a slender body, and dark blue fur.

Quilava is the evolved form of Cyndaquil, one of the starter Pokémon of the Johto region; just from its name, one knows it is a Fire-type Pokémon; by the way, the other two Pokémon are the Grass-type Chikorita and the Water-type Totodile.

Just like in the Paldea region, at the Orange Academy, as long as a student makes a request, the school can provide a choice of one among the Grass-type Sprigatito, the Fire-type Fuecoco, and the Water-type Quaxly.

Similarly, in the Johto region, one can receive a starter Pokémon at various research institutes or breeding houses designated by the League.

Starter Pokémon are not necessarily classified as rare or sought-after; it is merely that their growth curves are smooth, making them suitable for novice Trainers.

Although not every location offers the benefit of choosing any of the three starter Pokémon, different towns provide different Pokémon based on their characteristics; for instance, Azalea Town provides various Bug-type Pokémon.

Things like Caterpie, Wurmple, Venonat, and so on.

Since this young man's Pokémon is a Quilava, he is likely a resident from around New Bark Town; after all, in the Johto region, it is Professor Elm, who built his research institute there, that can stably provide the three starter Pokémon.

Goldenrod City is the third Gym officially recommended for progression in the Johto region, just as the Johto Gym Leader Kabu holds the third slot in the Galar region; once one breaks through the Goldenrod Gym, the path ahead becomes much easier.

Various thoughts flashed through Luo Mu's mind, while down in the arena, the young man and his Quilava made a final desperate attempt to cope with the Miltank's increasingly powerful Rollout—a move too strong to tank directly, where a single hit would mean instant defeat.

The young man's eyes burned with intensity; clenching his right fist, memories of his journey with Quilava floated before his eyes as he hoarsely screamed, "Quilava, unleash your full-power Flamethrower—!"

He believed in the bond between himself and his Pokémon!

"Quil!"

Quilava let out a low growl, brewing scorching flames in its mouth that instantly erupted into a pillar of intense fire, slamming into the high-speed rolling Miltank.

As sparks of fire scattered across the sky, it seemed as though the Flamethrower, fueled by the bond between the young man and Quilava, had actually slowed down Miltank's rolling speed.

"Mew~" "Vic!"

Even the two little ones, Vulpix and Victini, were moved by the young man's passion and his bond with Quilava, unable to resist cheering him on.

At this moment, the battlefield resembled a scene straight out of "They shouted about friendship and bonds and then charged forward," but was that really the case?

Although finding this scene strangely familiar, Luo Mu narrowed his eyes, glanced at the Miltank, and drew a conclusion—

"This Miltank's Ability is Thick Fat."

As soon as Luo Mu's words fell, Miltank's rolling speed suddenly accelerated, as if that momentary sluggishness had been nothing but an illusion.

Under the young man's despairing expression, Miltank broke through the Flamethrower from the unwilling Quilava, slamming heavily into it; the fully stacked Rollout, combined with Quilava's already precarious health and the activation of its Blaze Ability, only made matters worse, directly causing Quilava to faint.

Meanwhile, after exiting its Rollout state, Miltank was completely unharmed; Quilava's Flamethrower hadn't even singed a single hair.

At this moment, the young man thoroughly experienced the cruelty of society.

One must remember that in the game, when challenging Miltank for the first time, its Ability would always be Scrappy, which allows Normal and Fighting-type moves to hit Ghost-type Pokémon.

However, based on this Miltank's appearance, Luo Mu recognized at a glance that its Ability was Thick Fat, not Scrappy or Sap Sipper.

Luo Mu took a deep look at the cheerful pink-haired girl on the field who was smiling while stroking Miltank's head; could it be that all pink-haired characters are black-hearted when cut open?

Having failed the Gym Challenge, the young man could only leave reluctantly, planning to undergo special training before challenging again.

Led by the receptionist girl, Luo Mu also met Whitney, the Gym Leader who had just secured a victory.

At this moment, Whitney was holding a brush, grooming the knotted and dust-covered fur on Miltank's back caused by its Rollout.

Seeing Luo Mu brought over by the receptionist, along with the cute Pokémon he was holding and the one perched on his head—one of which resembled the Vulpix of a friend in Whitney's memory, yet clearly showed differences from a normal Vulpix—Whitney couldn't help but reveal a look of curiosity.

"Sister Asuka, is this person also a challenger here for a Gym Battle?"

The receptionist, whom Whitney called Asuka, shook her head: "No, Whitney, he is a guest who wants to tour the Miltank ranch."

"Oh~?"

Whitney looked somewhat pleasantly surprised.

Although she also loved battling, compared to the Gym Leader's salary, which wasn't particularly high, she needed to find other ways to earn more money to support the training of her many Pokémon.

Fortunately, her family's Miltank ranch was among the largest in Goldenrod City, but naturally, the more customers and money, the better.

In Whitney's eyes, Luo Mu had instantly transformed from a good-looking peer Trainer with two cute Pokémon into a walking fat sheep ready to be sheared.

This didn't mean Whitney intended to scam Luo Mu out of his money; after all, she could guarantee that the quality of the Moomoo Milk and dairy products she sold was among the very best in Goldenrod City.

Whitney enthusiastically asked: "Excuse me, are you here to order Moomoo Milk, or to purchase cheese or ice cream made from one hundred percent Moomoo Milk?"

"If you subscribe for a full year, we have a promotion where we'll give you an extra half-month's worth of Moomoo Milk for free!"

"By the way, the Pokémon you're carrying are quite cute; did your girlfriend entrust them to you?"

Whitney's stream of words burst out like a machine gun, and her enthusiastic sales pitch startled Luo Mu.

Victini and Vulpix, however, were very happy; after all, who wouldn't be delighted when praised for being cute, handsome, or beautiful?

Seeing how the enthusiastic Whitney was almost ready to grab his hand and drag him off to the Miltank ranch...

Luo Mu silently took a few steps back, blinked, and said: "Uh, the Pokémon are my own; and rather than dairy products, I was wondering if your ranch would be willing to sell any Miltank?"

"Let me introduce myself; I am Luo Mu, from the Paldea region, and I currently operate a farm."

Upon hearing Luo Mu's first sentence, Whitney had originally intended to refuse; how could she casually sell off her precious Miltank?

Selling by-products occasionally was one thing, but she hadn't fallen so deep into the money pit as to do that.

But when Luo Mu mentioned the Paldea region, Whitney seemed to recall something; she sized up Luo Mu's appearance and then let out a gasp: "Could you be that person who resolved the crisis in the Orange Islands, single-handedly suppressed the rampaging Fire God, Lei Zhishen, and Ice God with the assistance of Ice Elite Four Member Lorelei, prevented a world-ending catastrophe, and is also a Trainer of the three Legendary Birds!?"

Luo Mu fell silent for a moment, then nodded: "... That would probably be me."

He truly hadn't expected his reputation to be so clearly remembered even by a Gym Leader in the Johto region, given that the anomaly in the Orange Islands had been stopped before it could spread.

However, judging by Whitney's reaction, this would make Luo Mu's upcoming negotiations much easier; after all, a Miltank ranch run by Whitney, who specialized in Normal-types and whose ace was Miltank, sounded extremely reliable.

It seemed Whitney often trained her Miltank in the Rollout move, which made the Moomoo Milk produced by her herd taste richer and sweeter; Luo Mu felt that if he could introduce a few Miltank from Whitney's ranch, they could serve as an example, motivating the lazy Miltank on his own farm, which only ate and slept, to exercise a bit.

"It really is you!"

Whitney's eyes lit up; this was a Trainer even stronger than her goal of becoming an Elite Four Member, one known as a Champion!

Suppressing the urge to rush forward and ask for an autograph, Whitney wore a conflicted expression, her hands hidden behind her back twisting nervously due to her inner struggle.

The words of refusal Whitney had originally intended to speak took a turn: "But... my family's Miltank are generally not for sale; after all, I worry that buyers might not take good care of them, and besides, you aren't a member of the Goldenrod City Miltank Association, are you?"

Here it comes!

Luo Mu's eyes lit up; as long as it wasn't a direct refusal, there was room for negotiation.

As for the Goldenrod City Miltank Association, Luo Mu remembered that when chatting casually with Hanze in Ecruteak Town, the other party had mentioned being a member of said association.

Thinking of this, Luo Mu quickly spoke up: "Regarding Miltank, I am currently raising one, and it was precisely entrusted to my care by a member of your association!"

Having said this, Luo Mu took out a Poké Ball and released a Miltank that, at first glance, one might mistake for having the Thick Fat Ability.

(End of Chapter)