“We’re not suspicious people; we’re just Trainers.”

  “Oh? And what do you want?”

  The mayor frowned slightly, pulling his Mr. Mime closer protectively.

  Though it wasn’t polite to think this way, the mayor was well aware of Lianshan Town’s circumstances.

  High EQ: A quaint town with stable neighborly retions.

  Low EQ: A pce so devoid of charm that it couldn’t attract visitors even if it tried.

  No tourist spots, no rare Pokémon, and no hy training grounds. On an average day, it was rare to see any Trainers passing through, let alone someone specifically asking for Natsume’s farm.

  And they cim to be Trainers?

  Thankfully, these were peaceful times. Decades ago, the mayht have straightened his back, roared, “Are you spies?!”

  A Note on the World of Pokémon

  While the Pokémon world is mostly peaceful, evil anizations still exist. After all, possessing great power lead some "ordinary people" to develop nefarious ambitions.

  However, this isn’t the case in Jadeleaf Region, the most peaceful try in the world.

  There are several reasons for this:

  1. Relentless Crackdowns:

  The authorities are ruthless in dealing with criminal anizations, dug sweeps every five or ten days. Surprise iions are routine, and tactical forces are deployed in overwhelming numbers.

  2. Cultural Overachievement:

  Jadeleaf Region is an intensely petitive society. With excellent educators, open schools, and abundant resources, everyone receives quality training. The rge popution ensures a stant supply of talent.

  3. Ubiquitous Strength:

  Trainers in Jadeleaf Region never retire. Even the elderly man sitting by the roadside might have been a provincial champion in his youth.

  If someoo shout, “That person’s worth 500,000!” in the middle of a crowded street, the se would be absolute chaos.

  Ba Lianshan Town, the mayor remained wary of these young strangers.

  He didn’t know their motives, but his Mr. Mime wasn’t oo be uimated.

  (Mr. Mime: “But I really do eat berries, though.”)

  “It’s like this,” the leader of the group began to expin.

  They were students who had retly bee Trainers. While browsing the web, they stumbled upon a travel blog that highly reended Natsume’s farm, g it erfect finners.

  Sihe farm was within their ty, they decided to check it out, thinking, “Why not? We’ve got nothier to do.”

  After all, being a Trainer is about fighting or preparing to fight.

  Win? Great! Lose? Train harder and e back stronger!

  “Ah, I see,” the mayor hough still skeptical.

  “I’ll give Natsume a call and see if he’s okay with it.” He pulled out his phone slowly, dialing.

  “But let me warn you,” he said, “Natsume isn’t a Trainer. He’s not ied in battles and doesn’t have the kind of strength you’d expect from professional Trainers. If you’re here hoping for intetles, you’ll be disappointed.”

  “Oh, we uand,” the young leader replied patiently, embodying the overly polite demeanor of his geion.

  Deep down, he was already prepared for this.

  If Natsume were truly strong, why would he be running a farm instead of pursuing a Trainer’s career?

  For young people like them, having powerful Pokémon and being a Trainer was the dream.

  A few mier...

  “Natsume says I take you to him,” the mayor announced, putting away his phone.

  Though the mayor thought it unnecessary for Natsume to bother with these kids, he wouldn’t interfere with Natsume’s decision.

  “The farm owner’s strength should be det at least,” the young leader mused as they followed the mayor.

  He’d brought not only his Pokémon but also one of his father’s for extra security on the road.

  “I should hold back during any battles. Wouldn’t want to go too hard and embarrass the farmer. Maybe I’ll give him some berries as a gift.”

  Ten mier...

  “Mr. Natsume, could you please go a little easier on us?”

  The young leader’s voice trembled as he watched his father’s Zangoose pio the ground, mercilessly pummeled by a shiny Furret.

  In just a few short minutes, his fidence had been shattered.

  First, all of his Pokémon were swiftly defeated. Then, his father’s Zangoose—which had stepped in to “avehem—was casually knocked down by Natsume’s Furret.

  Now, the shiny Furret, with a menag expression, sat atop the Zangoose and rained down punches with rhythmic precision, pletely ign its cries of pain.

  The young leader’s mind fshed baething the mayor had said earlier:

  “Natsume doesn’t have that much strength, you know.”

  ...What was that again?

  He couldn’t quite remember anymore.

  Gcell