Chapter 133: Go and Become the One Who Forges the Legend

"What do you think this festival will be like? Do I really have to listen to a bunch of old men rambling on, or will Giovanni take the stage to lecture us on the expansion progress of Viridian Forest?"

It couldn't possibly be that they'd haul out a projector, pull down a screen, and play some documentary film, could it?

After some sightseeing, Zhu Suihan and Lance were resting in a large tent. As for Yellow, she had been taken away by Sabrina—after all, she was a girl, and it wouldn't be appropriate for them to share the same tent.

"Who knows? I checked the history after I got back to Blackthorn City, and even the elders in my clan couldn't give me a straight answer." Lance leaned against the headboard with his hands behind his head. "However, we have a Dragon Festival in Blackthorn City every year. Even though the elders' speeches at the beginning are quite boring, the follow-up events are very lively."

Zhu Suihan sat at a table, fiddling with some small parts. On the table, a Milcery was busy hand-crafting cream, ensuring the shape she molded matched the parts perfectly. It wasn't that Zhu Suihan intended to make a cream-based version of the components, but the Milcery felt that this helped her better understand the nature of power.

"Wooo."

Lapras was outside, chatting happily with Lance’s Dragonite family, asking them for advice on manipulating natural energy. The Dragon Orb of a Dragonair possesses the power to summon wind and rain; after evolving into a Dragonite, the power of the orb integrates into the body rather than disappearing. Their racial advantage also gives them a significant edge in mastering natural energy.

Just like in a rainy natural environment, while other Water-type Pokémon might receive a standard boost, the Dragonite family might get enhanced in "wind, rain, thunder, and lightning" all at once. In short, their moves across the Water, Electric, and Flying types hit much harder.

Lapras was ambitious. She felt that her last collaboration with Milcery hadn't gone well because her control over Water-type energy wasn't refined enough. If only she could directly create a water-spout vortex that enveloped a massive lake—that power alone would be enough to launch a trainer straight into the sky!

"Dragon-Dragon still needs to work hard!"

"Your Lapras... are you really not going to do something about her?" Lance felt a bit uneasy; he had never seen a Pokémon so single-mindedly focused on wrecking trainers.

"It's fine, she's just bored. To be precise, this is a unique training method of mine. If she can beat me, she's succeeded." Zhu Suihan assembled the parts, inserted a magazine acting as a battery, and quickly chambered a round. With a click, the safety light on the pistol turned green, indicating no anomalies in the energy transfer.

Lance raised an eyebrow. "Wait, the idea you came up with already has a finished product?"

Zhu Suihan corrected him, "It’s not my idea. To be accurate, you were the one who gave me the inspiration, so once this series of research is carried forward, I won't forget to add your name to it."

*Add my name? That sounds like adding my name to a wanted list.*

Lance decisively refused. "Thanks, but no thanks. This is your own idea; I just mentioned it in passing. By the way, what is the effect of this weapon?"

"Lacking materials, I only modified the energy delivery for now, turning the recovery beam into a stun gun. I don't have the resources for anything more." Zhu Suihan stood up, gestured with the weapon a few times, and then instinctively turned his gaze toward Lance.

"You have two types of supernatural power within you; your physique must be excellent, right?"

Lance suppressed the urge to call in his Dragonite and slap him. "Don't even think about using me to test your weapon!"

"But there aren't any other subjects for me to experiment on. It's not like I can shoot myself." Given his own physique, the effect on his body wouldn't provide any valuable experimental data. "A stun gun with an effective range of thirty meters—it’s definitely enough for a sneak attack. I just don't know how effective it will be."

Lance pondered for a moment. "Actually, it's not impossible for you to find test subjects. Some other people might come to join the fun at this festival; they are all people who want to obtain the Viridian Treasure."

"Oh, I see. So if I leave them half-paralyzed, I don't have to worry about being reported to the League. Is that what you're trying to say?" Zhu Suihan began to take the assembled stun gun apart again. "In that case, I'll strengthen the range and power a bit more."

Lance: "That is not what I meant!"

By the evening of the next day, the trio, along with their partners, looked at the "stage" that had been set up. Lance instinctively glanced at Zhu Suihan. Could the guy have actually been right? Was Giovanni setting up a stage just to give them a speech?

*On the Rationality and Sustainable Development of the Expansion of Viridian Forest?*

Zhu Suihan’s mouth twitched. "That would be a bit too abstract."

Lance muttered to himself, "Yeah, a bit too abstract."

"Also, have we forgotten the main purpose of coming here?" Zhu Suihan looked around, scanning the area with the detector in his hand, but he found no trace of Mewtwo—or more accurately, the location of the Mew fossil.

"I’ve looked into it; Viridian City will likely turn this festival into a celebration and then an annual event, so our target won't be exposed," Lance said in a low voice. "Or, if the resurrection technology of Team Rocket and the League really succeeds, even a tiny bit of a legendary Pokémon's might would make it easy for them to spot us."

That made sense.

Zhu Suihan glanced at the platform, feeling it was less interesting than the people nearby—all dressed in sharp suits and looking like social elites.

"There are quite a few slightly famous people here, whether from the League or the business world, but most are trainers invited by Giovanni." Lance pointed to a young woman in short sleeves and shorts standing ahead, looking spirited. "She was a semi-finalist in the last Quartz Conference. She ran into the eventual champion in the semifinals. I watched the recording; if she hadn't been a bit unlucky, making the finals wouldn't have been a problem."

"That kid carrying a bug-catching net? He’s only been a trainer for two and a half years, but as a Bug-type specialist, he made it to the quarterfinals. His idol is Bugsy from Azalea Town."

"That muscular guy has some family tradition; his ancestors for three generations have used Rock, Ground, and Fighting-type Pokémon. He doesn't like battling, but he's quite famous in trainer circles."

Yellow asked with some confusion, "If he doesn't like battling, he shouldn't be famous at the League Conference, right? Why is he considered famous?"

"Because he's poor." Lance spoke concisely. "His biggest dream is to save enough money to buy a mine. That way, as long as he controls the extraction rate and sustainable development, his whole family won't have to worry."

"The training costs for family traditions are quite high. To achieve self-sufficiency, he’s especially fond of making money."

"He takes on a large number of commissions from the League every day. His physique isn't from training in a dojo, but from running around doing jobs until he’s exhausted. That’s why he’s famous. By the way, he’s also a dab hand at street fighting."

Zhu Suihan took a closer look at the muscular man. Buying a mine—in a world like the Pokémon world, it shouldn't be too much of a problem for a capable trainer. However, with a specialty in Rock, Ground, and Fighting types, a rather interesting problem arises. When this guy buys a mine and accidentally catches a Larvitar, how would he feel? Larvitar’s final evolution is the powerful pseudo-legendary Tyranitar, which is synonymous with strength. The mine he thought would support three generations would suddenly just "poof" and vanish—that would likely be quite a desperate affair.

Well, a trainer chosen by Giovanni would probably just keep grinding out commissions to support his family, right?

Zhu Suihan glanced at Lance. "You sure have a lot of intel." It felt like Brock holding a notebook and explaining the opponents' data to Ash.

"The clan doesn't want me to crash and burn; they want me to respect every enemy."

*Low EQ: Even when bullying the weak, you have to use your full strength.*

"Everyone here is so strong," Yellow said, feeling a bit nervous. "But is it really okay for someone like me, who doesn't even know how to battle, to come to a place like this?"

Zhu Suihan looked at Yellow, thinking that the timing was wrong—otherwise, who would dare speak loudly in front of her? Oh wait, perhaps Gold, who knew Yellow’s gentle personality, would dare to chirp a few words, provided the protagonist wasn't around. Did he really think the shut-in from Mt. Silver was a pushover?

"You didn't come here because of battling, but because of your love for Pokémon." Sabrina walked over and gently stroked Yellow’s hair with a smile. "Yellow, you need to have confidence in yourself, okay?"

Yellow nodded happily. "I understand, Sister Sabrina."

"Such a good girl." Sabrina couldn't help but touch Yellow, feeling her excellent skin texture. *Such a cute child—I must find a way to keep her away from that weirdo with the white hair next to her!*

Lance whispered, "It’s starting."

Zhu Suihan looked at Giovanni, who had appeared on the stage at some point, and then instinctively glanced at Sabrina. "Is your boss really going to give a speech?"

Sabrina was busy braiding Yellow’s hair. "Not a speech. Just watch."

On stage, Giovanni held a microphone. "I know why you are all here, and I understand your curiosity about why I am constantly expanding Viridian Forest."

Giovanni waved his hand, and two towering mountain ranges appeared on the large screen behind him. "The mighty Mt. Silver, the mysterious and towering Mt. Coronet—these are places where powerful Pokémon gather. And Viridian Forest has the potential to become a place like that."

Giovanni said, "We provide Pokémon with a wider and more comfortable home, and Pokémon provide us with help. I personally highly approve of the relationship between humans and Pokémon advocated by Professor Oak."

"Let Viridian Forest become the next Mt. Silver or Mt. Coronet. Let it be the proof of the friendliest relationship between humans and Pokémon, and let it become a treasure that can be passed down in Viridian City forever!"

"Let the forest become a legend for future generations, an open yet mysterious land of friendship."

"When Pokémon and humans meet in the forest, they will share their food in friendship, and they will also start a battle because their eyes happened to meet."

"The forest will embrace both humans and Pokémon, and it can create many unique bonds, adding color to the legends of the future."

Giovanni clenched his fist. "And we are the ones who create legends!"