Chapter 673: Running for Dragonite Clan Chief?

Except for its belly and wing membranes, the shiny Dragonite, whose body was almost entirely oily green, snorted a stream of air from its nostrils and looked down at Luo Mu with considerable disdain.

That expression couldn't be called unfriendly; it could only be described as this creature looking down on Luo Mu, this human, from the bottom of its heart.

Not a trace of the gentle and honest traits belonging to most Dragonites could be found on it; instead, its fierce expression reminded Luo Mu of the Dragonite that Iris would capture in the future.

—While regular Dragonites are hug-loving dragons, this one was different; it was an explosion-loving dragon.

But compared to either a hug-loving dragon or an explosion-loving dragon, Luo Mu was currently more concerned about another matter.

"Are you staring at me?"

He gazed at the shiny Dragonite, his voice laced with a hint of disbelief.

"Aowu!" (So what if I am!)

The shiny Dragonite crossed its arms, turned sideways, and glared at Luo Mu from an even more disdainful angle.

Miraculously, without needing the nearby Moltres to translate, Luo Mu could understand exactly what the shiny Dragonite intended to convey.

That vivid look of disdain and disgust simply could not be faked.

Precisely because of this, Luo Mu felt even more aggrieved.

I haven't even complained that you're so ugly you hurt my eyes; how is it your turn to despise me?

As everyone knows, most Pokémon players flock eagerly to any Pokémon tagged with labels like "Shiny" or "different color."

They would even spend vast amounts of time frantically searching and refreshing in the wild without any shiny sound effects, willing to go blind just to find one.

Logically speaking, the shiny form of Dragonite, a highly popular Pokémon, should also be very well-received.

The Dratini and Hakuryu stages were fine; the pink Dratini, soft and tender, or the pink Hakuryu, floating with fairy-like elegance, both possessed outstanding looks.

But for most players, the shiny Dragonite's color scheme happened to be one of the shiny colors they could least accept: that shit-green hue.

Judging by the shiny Dragonite before them—its size, build, and the characteristics of its antennae—it was clearly a male individual.

Ugly is ugly, but fortunately, that big godmother pink Hakuryu staying on the farm had already been fitted with an "Everstone" that Luo Mu had bought at great expense, absolutely foolproof, so there was no risk of it evolving in the future.

Of course, before putting on the "Everstone," Luo Mu had specifically asked the pink Hakuryu for its opinion.

Upon seeing the appearance it would have after evolving, which Luo Mu displayed, the pink Hakuryu agreed to Luo Mu's proposal without a second word.

—Whether viewed through human aesthetics or Pokémon aesthetics, this appearance was too indescribable.

Luo Mu frowned, just about to say something.

"Bo-wu! Bo-wu!" However, at this moment, the Dragonite stepped in front of him, using its soft voice to question the shiny Dragonite on why it was being so unfriendly.

Only then did the shiny Dragonite shift its attention to the Dragonite, pausing for a moment in surprise.

Previously, it had been focusing entirely on Luo Mu, this uninvited human guest.

But looking closely now, this member of its own species, which it had overlooked just moments ago, was truly delicate and handsome!

Compared to the slender Hakuryu, it indeed preferred a female dragon whose appearance and build were similar to its own!

The shiny Dragonite's eyes instantly lit up; it directly ignored Luo Mu and moved close to the Dragonite.

It was still too early for a courtship Dragon Dance, so the shiny Dragonite struck what it considered a handsome pose, attempting to use its large tail to hook the Dragonite's tail.

—If the Dragonite did not reject this, it would mean she also had feelings for it, allowing them to further cultivate their relationship!

From the very beginning, the shiny Dragonite confidently believed that with its "clan grass"-level handsome looks within the Dragonite population, capturing this cute and milky little female dragon would be a breeze.

—But reality completely exceeded its expectations.

Although the Dragonite didn't understand what the shiny Dragonite was doing, since this guy had just been fierce toward Luo Mu, how could she possibly let it come over and hook the tip of her tail?

She directly chose to step back several paces, completely avoiding the shiny Dragonite's "approach."

Unexpectedly finding that the Dragonite showed resistance to its advances, the shiny Dragonite furrowed its brow and attempted to approach her again.

Before the Dragonite could dodge its approach, the Moltres, which had finally finished preening its feathers, suddenly wedged itself in, positioning horizontally between the shiny Dragonite and the Dragonite.

A hint of dread flashed across the shiny Dragonite's Emperor Yan Di.

Putting the Dragonite aside for now, it had sensed an intense sense of threat emanating from the Moltres.

The shiny Dragonite tried again, using a threatening low growl to tell the Moltres not to interfere.

But the Moltres remained motionless, merely casting a pitying glance at the shiny Dragonite.

Do you really think I, this bird, am here to act as a "flower guardian"?

If you dare to push your luck, not only will the Dragonite's tail slap you in the face in the next second, but that trainer beside me, whose temperature is gradually rising, will have that muscular Swampert punch you with an Ice Punch.

Although the shiny Dragonite's behavior was slick, it was indeed the normal process for wild Pokémon to enhance emotional exchange and get acquainted.

—But merely watching its sloppy behavior, combined with those disdainful and contemptuous looks from earlier, made Luo Mu, for the first time, want to beat it up without any explanation.

You have your eyes on the hug-loving dragon that I raised with my own hands?

Are you even worthy!

If not for the Moltres stepping in to smooth things over, he would definitely have started a fight with this creature.

Before there could be any further action on this side.

At this moment, the communication between the giant Dragonite and the groups of Dragonites and Hakuryu out at sea also seemed to be reaching its conclusion.

These Dragonites, having left and now returned, came back onto the beach; they surrounded Luo Mu and his group, performing a lively welcome dance.

Even that oily and fierce shiny Dragonite was dragged in by the other Dragonites, dancing reluctantly.

—It seemed it was not rejected by the clan due to its different color.

This unique group dragon dance welcome ceremony would probably leave even a Garchomp dumbfounded if it saw it.

The Dragon Dance lasted only for a while; after the Dragonites and Hakuryu finished their dancing, a wild Dragonite that appeared much more steady, with an inexplicably kindly expression similar to that of a Dragonite leader, stepped forward.

This Dragonite was clearly much older than the other Dragonites, and a special "aura" enveloped it.

The looks that the other wild Dragonites and Hakuryu cast upon it were also mixed with obvious respect.

Even that shiny Dragonite, which had acted like a troublemaker in front of Luo Mu, obediently lowered its head.

This wild Dragonite, suspected to be the leader or clan chief, first sized up Luo Mu along with the Moltres, Victini, and Terapagos beside him, before finally resting its scrutinizing gaze upon the Dragonite.

A flash of satisfaction crossed Emperor Yan Di's eyes, and it immediately let out a cry toward the Dragonite.

"Oh-wuu—"

Compared to the soft "Bo-wuu" of Luo Mu's Dragonite and the fierce "Ao-wuu" of the shiny Dragonite, this wild Dragonite's call was clearly aged yet far more majestic.

"Bo-wuu?"

The Dragonite lifted its small, chubby claw and pointed at itself in surprise.

Eh? Me?

On the other side, Victini and Terapagos also lifted their small heads in astonishment.

Among the wild Dragonites and the swarm of Dragonairs, many dragons also revealed expressions of bewilderment.

The shiny Dragonite that had just been currying favor with the Dragonite was especially shocked as it lifted its head.

Luo Mu couldn't understand what the wild Dragonite had just said, so he could only seek help from the Gold Medal Translator, Moltres.

Moltres could only helplessly convey what it had heard to Luo Mu via telepathy.

That wild Dragonite had asked the Dragonite a question.

—Whether or not it wanted to participate in the contest for leadership of this paradise belonging to Dragonites, the secret sea realm island.

In other words, it was asking the Dragonite if it wanted to try becoming the leader of these wild Dragonites and run for the position of clan chief!

"... Ah?"

With a voice mixing one part hesitation, four parts confusion, and five parts shock, Luo Mu emitted a short syllable from his throat.

Wait, what kind of divine plot twist is this?

The wild Dragonite that proposed this idea nodded, cast its gaze toward the sea behind it, glanced at the giant Dragonite, then turned back and cried several times to explain the reason.

Through Moltres's simultaneous translation, Luo Mu also understood the reason for this sudden invitation.

First, one must sort out the relationship between the wild Dragonites, the giant Dragonite, and this Dragonite Island.

This imposing wild Dragonite is the current Dragonite clan chief, leading the entire Dragonite clan inhabiting this whole Dragonite Island.

As for the giant Dragonite, aside from the time it spends going out to find "companions," it has always been the guardian deity protecting this island.

The thick fog that appears along with its movements can envelop the entire Dragonite Island, hiding it away, so that very few humans ever set foot on this paradise.

The Dragonite clan chief did not explain in detail how the giant Dragonite became the guardian deity of this island.

It only explained the reasons why the giant Dragonite brought Luo Mu and the others here, and why it proposed letting the Dragonite compete for the position of clan chief.

To put it simply, though the story is complex, the Dragonite clan chief feels it is getting old and plans to select a Dragonite with greater potential to take its place and lead the entire clan.

The reason it and those Dragonites were circling above the giant Dragonite just now was that the giant Dragonite, acting as the guardian deity, recommended Luo Mu—or rather, Luo Mu's Dragonite—to participate in this election.

That is what led to the scene just now where the Dragonite clan chief invited the Dragonite.

"..."

Luo Mu fell silent.

His first reaction was to take the Dragonite and leave immediately.

Even calculating by rough distance, it would take the Dragonite less than two hours to travel from this island to the Paldea sea region and then to Casseroya Lake.

Unlike Ash, Luo Mu did not want to leave his Pokémon in the wild to become some kind of leader of a wild clan.

The Dragonite also cast a pleading gaze toward Luo Mu.

Since its birth, it had always lived following Luo Mu, having barely met a few of its own kin.

With such a sudden request for it to run for the so-called position of Dragonite clan chief, how could it make a decision on the spot?

Naturally, it chose to seek help from the person it trusted most.

Patting the Dragonite on the shoulder, Luo Mu stood before it and politely declined to the Dragonite clan chief, "I'm sorry, but our Dragonite probably won't choose to run for the position of clan chief."

"Besides, there are quite a few young and strong Dragonites in your clan; it doesn't look like you're lacking candidates, does it?"

Luo Mu's gaze swept over the Dragonites gathered on the beach, including even that shiny Dragonite which stood out particularly within the group.

Setting aside its greasy behavior just now, in terms of both physique and aura, the shiny Dragonite was actually not bad at all.

There was absolutely no need to pin their hopes on this single tree, let alone the fact that the Dragonite would still have to "compete" rather than being directly pre-selected.

"Oh-wuu—"

The Dragonite clan chief was not surprised by Luo Mu's polite refusal and simply let out another cry.

It told Luo Mu and the others that they could tour Dragonite Island today, as the "ceremony" for electing the clan chief would not begin until tomorrow.

If Luo Mu and the Dragonite truly were unwilling, they would not force the matter.

However, during this period, if they changed their minds, it would still welcome the Dragonite's participation.

—After all, it was a Dragonite recommended by the guardian deity; even if it seemed harmless now, it must surely possess qualities surpassing other dragons.

In the end.

Luo Mu still decided to stay on Dragonite Island.

He was mainly curious about the ecological environment of Dragonite Island; since the Dragonite clan chief had said as much, there was no harm in touring around before leaving.

But before touring Dragonite Island, Luo Mu specifically went to find the giant Dragonite, which was soaking its entire body in the seawater, to ask if this was the reason it had specially invited him to Dragonite Island.

Luo Mu was a little angry, though not much.

Yet the giant Dragonite's response was quite thought-provoking.

"Ao-wuu~ Ao-wuu~"

It said that there was a mysterious power on this island, and becoming the clan chief would bring only benefits and no harm to a Dragonite.

—As for the duties of the clan chief and such.

Most Dragonites live and rest here quietly, content to stay out of worldly affairs; there are no busy matters to attend to, yet they possess the authority to command the entire Dragonite clan on the island.

Luo Mu could only silently commit this to memory; his intention to refuse had not temporarily changed, but he still planned to look around the island first.

After temporarily bidding farewell to the giant Dragonite, Luo Mu, accompanied by several Pokémon, no longer stayed on the beach.

They began to explore the forested areas of the island.

"This is a Berry Tree bearing Dragon Fire Berries, and this is a Berry Tree bearing Dragon Eye Berries."

Walking through the forest, Luo Mu identified the plants growing along the way, surprised to discover that the plant ecosystem here was exceptionally lush.

He even tried grabbing a handful of soil, carefully rubbing it apart to examine it.

"The soil is quite good too—"

Even if it couldn't compare to the black earth created by Tapu Tapu Moumou, it was still superior, fertile soil.

Along the path.

Basically, every Berry Tree or berry-bearing shrub Luo Mu saw was laden with round, plump fruits, making it clear that the natural resources here were quite abundant.

However, upon further thought, this was only natural.

—After all, this place was home to an extremely large number of Dragonite kin.

Perhaps, in terms of numbers, there were even more than the Dragonite kin raised by the Dragon Tamer clan!

If the natural resources weren't abundant, how could such a large population exist?

Luo Mu's subsequent discoveries further confirmed this point.

Along the path, beneath the trunks of trees, one could always see some white shed skins casually piled up.

Luo Mu was very familiar with these shed skins; after all, he had often helped Dragonites deal with their daily shedding when they were still Dratinis.

This stuff could actually be sold for money, and the price wasn't cheap; previously, it had significantly alleviated the pressure on Luo Mu's travel expenses.

In a certain sense, this island could be described as having gold scattered everywhere!

But Luo Mu still held to his principles, keeping his eyes straight ahead as he continued to explore the forest.

Apart from the shed skins, soon, he made a new discovery.

In a thicket of bushes, a small, snake-like creature slightly over a meter long, covered in pale blue scales, was struggling vigorously.

That was precisely the initial stage of the Dragonite kin: Dratini!

On the Dratini's body, a layer of not-so-obvious transparent "snake shed" was falling off bit by bit.

—Judging by the Dratini's appearance, it was clearly in the midst of shedding its skin!

(End of Chapter)