Chapter Seventy-Three: Orange: Oh no, we're in trouble!

“The conditions outside aren’t great, so you’ll have to make do tonight.”

The full moon hung high in the night sky, stars crisp and cold, and staring at them too long warped one’s sense of distance. Zhu Suihan fed Dragonite an energy cube made from a decade-old tree fruit; the dragon had worked hard today and deserved something special to restore its strength. As long as the balance between exertion and replenishment remained steady, Dragonite wouldn’t fall asleep instantly after eating.

“Milky! Milky!” I worked hard today too—I deserve another treat!

Zhu Suihan and Dragonite exchanged a glance, then both looked toward the tiny fairy.

“Well, it’s not as if we can’t afford it,” Zhu Suihan cleared his throat. “But let me warn you: in your current state, eating this might just send you straight to sleep, and who knows when you’ll wake up.”

The little fairy stood with hands on her hips and chest thrust forward—though it was more a belly than a chest.

“Milky!”

If there’s food, I’ll always want another bite! Come, trainer, let me taste your skill again!

“So all those excuses were just because you wanted another bite, right?” Zhu Suihan laughed and handed the energy cube to the little fairy.

“Milky~”

She floated up, planted a kiss on Zhu Suihan’s cheek, then delightedly savored the cube’s flavor. Truly, the trainer’s culinary skill was excellent—delicious and nutritious.

While enjoying the treat, the little fairy’s mind whirled with curiosity: what did the trainer mean by holding his palm open beneath her?

Thunk—

Just as she finished the last mouthful, she began to fall, landing precisely in Zhu Suihan’s hand.

“Mm, just as expected.”

“Hmm,” Dragonite nodded solemnly, finally understanding what she herself had experienced before. Though, given her size, collapsing probably caused the trainer more trouble.

“You really can’t let her eat anything else carelessly,” Zhu Suihan mused. Pokémon were resilient, and this simply accelerated nutrient absorption through sleep. As far as health went, adequate sleep was indeed one of the best forms of training.

“I’ll leave her to you.” Zhu Suihan placed the little fairy on Dragonite’s back. “Whether it’s in the tent or on the surface of Lake Rage, pick whichever spot you like.”

If possible, it was best to let Pokémon sleep outside; it was better for their health.

“Hmm?”

“I don’t plan to sleep tonight. It doesn’t matter to me—I’ll take a walk nearby.” Dragonite pondered, realizing it was true. Yet another issue came to mind: the little fairy tended to sleepwalk.

“Oh, right, leave it to me then.” Zhu Suihan set up a mirror in the tent, spun together a bundle of hair beside it, and placed the fairy within the bundle.

“Perfect.” Dragonite shook her head. With Lake Rage right outside, she’d much rather sleep on the water. She’d spend the night accompanying her trainer on his stroll!

As Dragonite drifted along the lake’s surface, Zhu Suihan thought this method of sleeping might be more comfortable than any water bed.

The camp was tranquil at night—even Old Liu, mindful of his health, had retired early, leaving only Zhu Suihan to squander his youthful energy.

The night patrols weren’t surprised to see Zhu Suihan. Word had spread about his work ethic; staying up late was hardly remarkable.

A squad of Noctowl and Hoothoot patrolled the camp perimeter; now was their time to shine. At least, unlike Pidgeot and Fearow, they didn’t screech while flying.

If the traces of legend in the mine could yield something akin to the Crown Shell, it would be another chance to extort the League.

The little fairy’s breathing atop his head was steady; likely dreaming of the energy cube she’d eaten, occasionally smacking her lips. Clearly, the method for making her sleep soundly was found: give her something delicious before bed. And with her physiology, there was no need to worry about cavities.

The next morning, Dragonite firmly refused Zhu Suihan’s attempt to brush her teeth, easily seeing through the trainer’s sinister motive.

She always brushed her own teeth—why the sudden offer today?

Scoundrel!

He just wanted her parents to watch!

“Tch, why so sensitive? Is there really so little trust between us? I’m heartbroken,” Zhu Suihan let a few crocodile tears fall, but Dragonite was unmoved, raising her head proudly to look down at him.

“Hmm!”

Admit it, isn’t it true?

“Fine, you win. That was exactly my plan.” Faced with Dragonite’s relentless nudging, Zhu Suihan surrendered and offered an energy cube as tribute.

“Alright, you two, let’s get ready to head out—be careful.” Old Liu approached, leaning on his cane. “Koga has been dismantling mechanisms over there, but we can’t be sure he’s found them all.”

“No worries—if I go, any mechanism will be solved,” Zhu Suihan patted Dragonite’s neck. “Just trust us and watch our teamwork.”

Old Liu: ...

Abi had discovered the details of the Crown Shell; Old Liu had seen the reports. Finding the item was acceptable—it had always been there. But the “fate” by which it was found was harder to swallow.

The story began with Zhu Suihan searching for water, only to fish up the King’s Proof; Abi urged him to try again. The odds were as absurd as winning the jackpot at every machine in Celadon’s game corner after you insert a coin.

“Milky~”

The little fairy woke, groggily pawing at Zhu Suihan’s hair, as if stumbling across a soft mattress.

“Let’s go. The hidden passage is behind the base; Koga is there,” Old Liu said. “You and Sabrina from Team Rocket—do you have some history?”

Zhu Suihan: ?

“What, Koga is digging into my background?”

“Yes, I overheard him and had a little chat,” Old Liu said. “The Saffron Gym Leader has been gathering intel about you, so I paid attention as well.”

“In my judgment, unless you have bad blood with her ancestors, I can’t see any connection.”

“Oh, I made a deal with her.” Zhu Suihan recounted the recent events. Old Liu furrowed his brow, trying to piece together the logic.

“The divine command—you truly felt it?”

“Well, I’ve never been to Alola or Galar,” Zhu Suihan kneaded the fairy’s cheek. “And I’m sure I have no psychic potential, so it shouldn’t be precognition.”

“God—what do you think that means?”

“It’s clear in the ancient texts: just a group of extremely powerful Pokémon with some aspect of natural authority,” Zhu Suihan said. “Otherwise, Team Dark wouldn’t be so obsessed with legends—they’re probably after something big.”

“We’re here,” Old Liu stopped at the entrance. The Delibird flew ahead, checked for safety, then returned to perch on Zhu Suihan’s shoulder.

Zhu Suihan glanced at the formidable bird. “Shouldn’t you be protecting Old Liu?”

“Delibird.”

The bird flapped its tiny wings.

It’s all the same. My trainer is at this age—it’s better to perch on a young person’s shoulder.

“My age is actually greater, though,” Zhu Suihan mused.

The fairy quietly floated over, reaching out to touch Delibird’s head—just to test the feel, and to compare it with her trainer’s hair.

“Delibird.”

Delibird shook its head. Youngsters shouldn’t be too young, and old men’s heads shouldn’t be touched casually.

“Senior Liu—oh, is this the person who keeps our PR director awake at night?” Koga emerged from the shadows, half his face masked. One wonders if there’s a slit in the mask for eating, so he could just tuck the fabric under his chin without removing it. It might double as a drool bib.

Also, “keeps awake at night”—does he think I’m easy to bully?

Zhu Suihan shot Koga a sideways glance. “So, the mechanisms are fully dismantled?”

“Of course not, but under my guidance, I guarantee safe passage to the destination.”

“Oh, no need—I’ll handle it.” Zhu Suihan tossed a Poké Ball into the air. “Dragonite, target any spot—Hydro Cannon.”

“Hmm!”

Before Koga could react, Dragonite’s Hydro Cannon blasted the mine’s stone wall. Deep rumblings echoed from within, lasting several minutes before subsiding.

Koga: ?

“Crobat, check it out.”

Crobat zipped through the mine in under two minutes, then glanced at Zhu Suihan on its return.

Receiving the report, Koga fell silent.

All the traps and mechanisms inside had been destroyed, including some hidden ones he’d never noticed. Though nothing would go wrong, it was rather embarrassing.

Apparently, the internal damage was caused by subtle vibrations in the rock, but it was almost excessively strange.

He remembered Zhu Suihan’s casual “just pick any spot.”

Trouble—he’s got hacks!

Koga swallowed hard, sensing Zhu Suihan could strike a fatal blow even he didn’t know existed.

“How did you do it?”

“To put it simply, you wouldn’t understand, so let’s leave it at that.” Joking—if there’s a button on the screen, you don’t press it?

Zhu Suihan strolled hands in pockets, fairy perched atop his head, Delibird on his shoulder, Dragonite proudly at his side.

Old Liu leaned on his cane, gave Koga a sympathetic look, and followed Zhu Suihan into the mine.

Beside them, Mamoswine shook its fur, perhaps secretly laughing.

Old Liu shook his head.

Of all people to banter with, you chose him.

Do you realize how terrifying his record is?

No, Team Rocket should know—didn’t their Celadon HQ go through an incident?

Old Liu glanced again at Koga, for the first time doubting Team Rocket’s intelligence capabilities.

If you’re investigating someone, you ought to pay attention to such details.

Well, maybe everyone assumes that luck bestowed by fate is fleeting.

Good fortune—who doesn’t indulge a bit during the holidays?

But Zhu Suihan was the rare case where luck was a constant, with occasional critical hits of fortune.