Chapter 305: Team Rocket, The Attack, Victini's V-Create!

Luo Mu's Miltank looked even larger than Xiao Xiao Qian's Thick Fat Miltank, not due to differences in frame or bone structure, but simply because it was fattier by a noticeable margin.

The moment she saw Luo Mu's Miltank, Xiao Xiao Qian's eyes instantly sparkled with dazzling brilliance; both its smooth, shiny fur and the fat reserves, which were difficult to accumulate to such an extent, revealed just how well Luo Mu had raised this Miltank.

As an expert on Miltank, Xiao Xiao Qian felt this Miltank might even be able to go toe-to-toe with her own ace!

But to be on the safe side, Xiao Xiao Qian finally asked, "How do you prove that the friend from the Goldenrod Miltank Association you mentioned is actually your friend?"

Stroking the smooth, shiny fur on his Miltank's back, Luo Mu smiled slightly and said, "His name is Hanze; he recently moved to the Paldea region. I can call him right now to get in touch."

With that, under the gaze of Xiao Xiao Qian and Feiniao, Luo Mu dialed Hanze's phone number.

After confirmation from Hanze on the other end of the line, Xiao Xiao Qian finally relaxed and agreed to let Luo Mu select a few Miltank that had been born only a short while ago.

As for the price, considering Luo Mu had saved the Orange Islands neighboring the Johto region, she gave him a twenty percent discount; Miltank that originally cost fifty thousand each now required only forty thousand League Dollars.

Since Xiao Xiao Qian still had to receive another challenger before noon, she immediately led Luo Mu away from the Goldenrod Gym in a hurry, heading toward the suburbs.

After all, the Goldenrod Gym was located in the central district of Goldenrod City, making it impossible to establish a ranch in such an area where land was as precious as gold.

A question mark practically appeared above Luo Mu's head: "Shouldn't this be a trade secret? You're just telling me like this?"

"It is indeed a Vulpix."

Seeing that noon was approaching and the weather had already turned hot, and hearing Luo Mu and Xiao Xiao Qian call her name, the Vulpix poked her head out, blinked her large eyes while pondering for a moment, then blew a very weak Icy Wind directly at Xiao Xiao Qian.

"I don't know if it's my imagination, but the Pokémon in your arms always seems somewhat like a Vulpix to me."

Once they reach adulthood, they can produce about 20 liters of MooMoo Milk daily, which converts to 20,000 milliliters; even if Luo Mu drank his fill, he would consume at most a few hundred milliliters, not to mention that Miltank milk is high in nutrients and calories, and drinking too much would cause one to gain weight and become as bulky as a Miltank.

Sighing and glancing at Xiao Xiao Qian, Luo Mu ultimately said nothing, merely lamenting that the regions of previous generations were still too fraught with peril and suffering.

Arriving at the wooden shed, some Miltank were lying sound asleep in piles of hay; their sizes were obviously smaller than those of Miltank outside, and since they weren't moving, it was difficult for Luo Mu to judge their Abilities based on appearance alone.

"As for the Pokémon on my head, just call it Victini; it comes from the Unova region."

"If you plan to expand your Miltank population later, you could also consider introducing some Tauros; in my case, I usually borrow Tauros from other ranches to let them romance the Miltank."

Thinking that he still wanted to stroll around Goldenrod City and visit the super-large department store there to buy some good items that were inconvenient to purchase in the Paldea region, Luo Mu really didn't want to be disturbed at that time.

"Miltank and Tauros are actually corresponding female and male Pokémon; Miltank are exclusively female, and Tauros are exclusively male, though the difference in their appearances is quite significant, but breeding them poses no problem."

On the way to the suburbs, Xiao Xiao Qian glanced at the Vulpix and Victini in Luo Mu's arms and couldn't help but ask curiously, "Mr. Luo Mu, could you tell me what kind of Pokémon they are?"

"Hmph~" Emitting two snorts, Xiao Xiao Qian nimbly spun around, stuck out her index finger, and waved it: "No matter how well you sell in the Paldea region, it won't affect my sales in the Johto region, right?"

"It doesn't matter; you just need to study according to the book."

Under Xiao Xiao Qian's shocked gaze, Luo Mu agreed with her idea without changing his expression.

After carefully selecting for a while, Luo Mu chose four Miltank that looked excellent in both physique and fur, securing them for a price of 160,000 League Dollars.

Soon, the two arrived before a vast ranch covered in lush green grass.

After all, Xiao Xiao Qian was offering discounts and giving things away; it was no different from doing charity.

Xiao Xiao Qian felt a slight hint of envy toward Luo Mu's experiences.

Luo Mu didn't let Xiao Xiao Qian guess blindly; he weighed the Vulpix in his arms and introduced, "My Vulpix is different from the one you know; she is a regional form that evolved over time in a region called Alola to adapt to the snowy mountain environment."

Maintaining constant vigilance was exhausting, and besides, he didn't want to be attacked the moment he let his guard down; it was better to take the initiative himself, quickly pack them up, and send them to the Goldenrod City Police Station. As for whatever consequences might follow, that was none of Luo Mu's concern; anyway, he would head to the next city after finishing his shopping.

Not to mention that Xiao Xiao Qian had said the sub-adult Miltank Luo Mu could select to take away were housed in a separate wooden shed.

"That's true, but I don't know any special An Mo Shou Fa either."

There were visibly about sixty or seventy Miltank within the ranch; this scale was already quite large, and in Luo Mu's impression, Hanze's ranch had only about thirty Miltank or so.

However, the upper echelons of Team Rocket should have some impression of him due to the incident in the Orange Islands, so they shouldn't be targeting him; therefore, those watching him must be some lowly grunts, or at most squad leaders?

When leaving the Goldenrod Gym, Luo Mu indeed sensed those secretly watching gazes again; upon seeing Xiao Xiao Qian by Luo Mu's side, those lines of sight retracted slightly.

Bidding farewell to Xiao Xiao Qian, who was rushing to accept a Gym Challenge, and carrying four Poké Balls containing the farm's new members, Luo Mu had just left the Miltank ranch when he sensed that cold, staring gaze fixate on him again.

Unlike herself, who had grown up on a ranch since childhood, became a Gym Leader, and managed the ranch simultaneously, having traveled at most within the scope of the Johto and Kanto regions, she had never once seen the scenery of other regions with her own eyes.

"An Alolan Form Vulpix and a Unovan Victini, I see." Xiao Xiao Qian stroked her chin, lost in thought, then immediately broke into a smile: "It seems Mr. Luo Mu has traveled to quite a few regions; how wonderful."

Team Rocket, an evil organization active in Kanto, Johto, and the Sevii Islands, was a notorious criminal syndicate.

To this, Xiao Xiao Qian merely waved her hand and said indifferently, "As long as you take good care of the Miltank, I will be at ease."

Clearly, before transmigrating, Luo Mu would stop buying that brand of milk upon hearing it was diluted with water, yet now he had to dilute the calories and nutrients with a bit of water for the sake of his own figure.

One didn't need to think hard to know that the only ones who could act so recklessly in the Kanto and Johto regions were members of that organization.

Wooden fences enclosed the ranch's space; rather than preventing the Miltank from running out of the ranch area, their greater significance was to let them understand where the boundary between the ranch and the outside world lay, after all, Pokémon were intelligent beings.

Xiao Xiao Qian was like an old mother sending her daughter off to marriage, chattering endlessly to Luo Mu about many tips for raising Miltank as well as some trivia, fearing her Miltank would eat poorly or sleep poorly at Luo Mu's place.

Accepting the four Poké Balls containing the Miltank from Xiao Xiao Qian, and after Luo Mu paid readily, Xiao Xiao Qian smiled and said, "These four children have all mastered the Rollout move; let them use Rollout to roll around the ranch a few times every day to exercise their bodies, then use a special An Mo Shou Fa to massage their acupoints, brush their fur, and keep them in a good mood."

Fortunately, there were quite a few big eaters and drinkers on the farm, but under the supply of 100 liters of MooMoo Milk from five Miltank, there should still be plenty left over; at that time, they could produce dairy products or launch a milk delivery service, broadening their track to continue making money.

Xiao Xiao Qian ran to the corner of the wooden shed and rummaged around, pulling out a dusty book titled "Miltank An Mo Shou Fa"; although it looked a bit unreliable, Luo Mu accepted Xiao Xiao Qian's kindness with gratitude.

"By the way, this counts as my exclusive secret technique; as long as you do as I say, the MooMoo Milk produced by the Miltank will taste even more delicious, and its nutrition will increase significantly as well."

The cool breath exhaled by the Vulpix left Xiao Xiao Qian completely stunned; she remembered... wasn't Vulpix a Fire-type Pokémon?

Why was this cute, white Vulpix before her using an Ice-type move?

After all, Hidden Abilities were relatively rare, and Luo Mu had long been mentally prepared for the impossibility of every Miltank having the Sap Sipper Ability.

However, this plot twist and development were simply too old-fashioned; to be honest, Luo Mu couldn't even muster much interest.

Thinking of this, Luo Mu subtly glanced at the surrounding environment, found a pitch-black alleyway that looked perfectly suitable for being robbed, and walked straight in.

The few individuals who had been following him for a long time, seeing that Luo Mu had finally entered a place easy to act in, exchanged glances, and led by their leader, stepped out directly from the shadows, surrounding the prey in the alley like hunters.

But when they entered the pitch-black alleyway, what they saw was not the panicked expression on Luo Mu's face caused by their appearance.

Having waited for them for several minutes, Luo Mu looked with a smile at the seven people before him wearing black baseball caps and pitch-black uniforms embroidered with a bright red letter 'R' on their chests, and teased, "Has Team Rocket's influence developed so quickly in the Johto region that you can now openly wear uniforms wanted by the League and wander around in broad daylight?"

"I heard that Team Rocket's lowly grunts are basically used as cannon fodder; I didn't believe it before, but now it seems it's true?"

In response to Luo Mu's provocation, several Team Rocket grunts showed expressions of disdain, merely sneering as they took out Poké Balls from their hands; amidst flashing red light, they immediately released over a dozen Pokémon.

They were mostly Zubat, Golbat, Spearow, Grimer, Rattata, Arbok, Koffing, and the like, lacking any novelty whatsoever; what surprised Luo Mu the most was the Drowzee released by the one who was clearly the squad leader.

Psychic-type Pokémon are notoriously absurd; no wonder that fellow could become a squad leader.

Seeing the villains' formidable display, the frightened Vulpix silently buried its head in Luo Mu's arm.

With the Hypno standing before him, the squad leader's heart brimmed with confidence as he spoke coldly to Luo Mu: "If you know what's good for you, hand over those two rare Pokémon beside you, then surrender all the money on your person and the Da Nai Guan you purchased from the Goldenrod City Gym Leader, and we'll let you go."

Luo Mu: "."

Too classic; in every sense of the word, it was.

Seeing Luo Mu remain silent, a flash of impatience crossed the squad leader's face as he said coldly, "You refuse a toast only to drink a penalty; Hypno, use Hypnosis!"

This was their squad's tried-and-true tactic: the others would send out their Pokémon to prevent an unlucky sod like Luo Mu from fighting back or fleeing, then the Hypno would hypnotize the target, forcing them to willingly surrender everything to Team Rocket, after which they would simply erase the victim's memory.

Relying on this smooth little combo, the squad led by this leader maintained performance rankings near the top even in a metropolis like Goldenrod City.

It was just a pity that this time they had run headlong into an immovable object.

There was not even a need to deploy their main forces; Luo Mu's lips parted slightly: "Victini."

"Bi-mi~"

Helplessly, Victini flew up from atop Luo Mu's head, positioning itself before the Hypno holding a pendulum.

As the pendulum in the Hypno's hand began to sway, a mysterious psychic wave spread out, striking Victini, who stood directly in its path, first and foremost.

The Hypno bared a lecherous grin; it could already foresee the future where Victini, controlled by its Hypnosis, would obey its every command.

Yet, contrary to the Hypno's expectations, though enveloped by the psychic waves possessing hypnotic power, Victini showed not a trace of being controlled; instead, looking utterly puzzled, it tilted its head in time with the Hypno's swaying pendulum.

Seeing the blank, bewildered expression on Victini's face, the Hypno instantly boiled over with rage.

Although it knew this immunity resulted from the opponent's superior mental strength, in the Hypno's eyes, Victini's expression at that moment seemed to be asking, "Did you even do anything?"—this was sheer mockery!

"Soli!"

Letting out a sharp, piercing roar, the pendulum in the Hypno's hand ignited with bizarre, colorful light, transforming into a beam that shot straight toward Victini.

A Psychic-type move: Psybeam!

"Supersonic!" "Swift!" "Sludge Bomb!" "Gust!"...

The other Team Rocket grunts also reacted at this moment, shouting commands one after another for their Pokémon to unleash their moves.

In an instant, the entire alleyway was illuminated by a kaleidoscope of colorful move effects.

Facing this, Luo Mu, without so much as changing expression, merely said calmly, "V-Create."

Hearing the command, Victini puckered its mouth high; it had only just mastered this move, and using it was exhausting, you know?

Though complaining inwardly, Victini still obediently acted according to Luo Mu's will.

The next instant.

As the V-shaped ears atop Victini's head began to glow with heat, scorching flames encircled Victini, like knights guarding a monarch.

The unruly Fire-type energy obeyed Victini's command as if an extension of its own limbs; its V-shaped ears shone with blazing brilliance, transforming into a raging storm of Xiong Xiong burning flames that, in the blink of an eye, swallowed and annihilated the moves unleashed by the Team Rocket grunts' Pokémon.

Before the stunned gazes of the squad leader and the other Team Rocket grunts, the entire dark alley seemed to give rise to a sun, bursting forth with endless light and heat as pillars of fire soared into the sky.

Subsequently, the Team Rocket grunts' vision went black, and they completely lost consciousness.

Judging by the commotion, Luo Mu felt it would not be long before the Goldenrod City police came rushing over.

However, there was still some time before that...

Luo Mu did not rashly approach the ground covered in scorch marks; instead, he beckoned to the slightly panting Victini, guiding it to land on his right shoulder.

"Miu-wu~"

Vulpix poked its head out, emitting a sound of admiration at its companion's valiant performance.

"Bi-mi!"

Gazed upon by Vulpix with worshipful eyes, even Victini, slightly fatigued from setting off one massive firework, could not help but straighten its spine; if not for the fear that losing its balance and falling from Luo Mu's shoulder would ruin its image, Victini might well have lifted its head and placed its hands on its hips to feel fully satisfied.

However, having used V-Create once, it was slightly mentally fatigued.

As for energy consumption, that was irrelevant; Victini itself was a power bank possessing infinite energy and had never feared depleting its reserves.

"Well done; using V-Create once and still retaining the ability to act means your progress has been substantial."

Holding Vulpix in his right arm, Luo Mu freed his left hand to pat Victini's head as a reward.

Ever since the battle on Asertia Island concluded, Victini, having gorged itself directly on the overflowing Victory Star energy, had been silently digesting that energy to improve itself.

Victini was a Pokémon that fed on victory; as long as its Trainer kept winning, Victini would grow stronger alongside them, then provide its Trainer with even greater assistance, thereby forming a perfect positive cycle.

Nowadays, the result of having digested most of that Victory Star energy was this move of terrifying power: V-Create.

Aside from the officially distributed Rayquaza, V-Create was Victini's signature move; its power was quite formidable, and as a Fire-type physical move, its power reached an astonishing 180, with very few moves capable of surpassing Victini's V-Create in power, and most of those carried severe drawbacks.

In the games, after Victini used V-Create, its Defense, Special Defense, and Speed would drop by one stage each, but the manifestation in reality was somewhat different; just like Victini's current weakness, the first time it used V-Create, it fainted immediately after finishing the move.

Luo Mu felt this situation would continuously improve as Victini grew stronger, yet there was one point he could not quite comprehend.

Besides V-Create, Victini also possessed a special attack move called Flame Charge; its power was slightly lower than V-Create at only 100, but its advantage lay in having no side effects.

Logically speaking, the usual order for learning moves should be from weak to strong, so why had Victini learned V-Create first...

Luo Mu frowned in thought, yet could never figure out the reason, and could not help but sigh: "Forget it; first, let Serperior use Vine Whip to tie them up, then reel in those Poké Balls and return those Pokémon into their Poké Balls."

(End of Chapter)