Chapter Eighty-Three: The Violent Method of Disaster Relief

After explaining the dangers of fire, the next part was an in-class quiz. There was only one question: as the chief commander in charge of fire rescue, what approach would you choose to advance the disaster relief efforts?

It was another test aimed at assessing the students' personalities and working styles, as well as evaluating their sense of the big picture, and offering suggestions for future career paths.

Zhusu Han pondered for a moment and quickly realized what to write. She definitely couldn't write about summoning Kyogre to bring rain—just as you wouldn’t write a poem when instructed to compose an essay, and yet insist on submitting a modern poem instead.

"First, contact Officer Jenny and request that the local League office issue a rescue mission, gathering qualified trainers capable of handling such disasters. If there’s a gym in the area, prioritize contacting gym trainers."

Naturally, not all trainers should be called upon; in fact, one must even dissuade those who rush in to help on their own initiative, along with their Pokémon. With the League's endorsement backing the recruitment, the overall quality of assembled trainers would certainly be higher, and as travelers, their experience would be richer. As for the gym trainers, they’re obviously the main force and cannot be overlooked.

"Second, focus entirely on rescuing Pokémon. If there are enough people and Pokémon, push forward at multiple points; if not, concentrate forces and break through at a single point."

Staffing can’t be helped—cities and towns differ greatly in personnel and numbers. If a fire broke out in Viridian, Saffron, or Celadon, even passersby heading to challenge the gyms would have at least six badges. In smaller towns, unless each one hides a powerhouse like Elder Yanagi, that’s just not possible.

"Third, post-disaster management: destructive reconstruction."

Zhusu Han wrote down her suggestion: rescuing Pokémon was the priority, while the natural environment would be restored through destructive reconstruction. This was her own idea, since she’d never witnessed how large-scale fires were handled in the Pokémon world.

"Team One: Fire Diversion Squad. Pokémon with the Flash Fire ability race along the perimeter of the blaze to limit its spread, channeling the gathered flames into energy storage devices."

"Repeat this process to further shrink the affected area."

The logic was simple: treat Pokémon as living batteries.

"Team Two: Ground and Rock Squad. Use moves like Stomping Tantrum, Heavy Slam, Earth Power, Sandstorm, and Rock Tomb to destroy and seal off areas of the fire, coordinating with the Fire Diversion Squad to progress steadily."

Water can extinguish fire, but so can earth and stone—aiming to suppress and seal the flames.

"Team Three: Regular Firefighting Squad. Follow behind Team Two to precisely target residual hotspots, and when encountering large clusters of fire, coordinate with the rest of the team to suppress them completely."

"Team Four: Rainmaking Squad. Have Pokémon with the Drizzle ability or those that can use Rain Dance ascend, avoiding hot air currents to unleash their abilities and expand the rainfall."

That was about it. As for the potential harm caused by destructive reconstruction, Zhusu Han reasoned it would certainly be less than if the fire were allowed to spread unchecked.

When she handed in her paper, the teacher glanced at Zhusu Han’s answers and looked puzzled.

“Um, this is a plan for handling a massive forest fire.”

Zhusu Han replied, “Is there a problem?”

“No, the approach is very logical. Well, let me ask you an extra question: say it’s a small fire, like one or two warehouses burning. How would you handle that? Assume there’s nothing especially dangerous or flammable inside, but the warehouses aren’t empty.”

“Just one or two warehouses?”

The teacher: ?

Zhusu Han cleared her throat. “Well, the solution’s simple. As long as the hose is long enough and there’s plenty of water, I can handle it by myself.”

Not only could she easily control a high-pressure water cannon with one hand, she could even take a selfie with her phone while doing it. If the fire was bigger, she’d simply wield two cannons at once, mowing the flames down as she advanced.

Come on, folks watching the livestream, hit that follow button! Watch me show you what it means to control a water cannon single-handedly.

Not to mention that Lapras would be helping on the side—absolutely no reason to panic.

“Well, that’s certainly one way to handle it.” The teacher finally remembered: the white-haired monkey doesn’t need normal methods. After all, who would fight without using Pokémon, turning the tide single-handedly?

“Alright, but your proposed approach is quite unique. Have you thought about how to rebuild afterward?”

“Why not use work-for-relief?” Zhusu Han answered carelessly. “Spend a little money, strengthen ties with the Pokémon, let humans and Pokémon rebuild together. Then you have a brand-new nature reserve.”

“And it’s a reserve where you don’t have to worry about Pokémon being hostile. There are so many potential projects.”

“Oh, right—assuming the fire wasn’t caused deliberately.”

The teacher nodded. She didn’t know much about economics, but she understood the tremendous value of a reserve where everyone—human and Pokémon alike—was on friendly terms.

Take Viridian Forest in Kanto, for example. Even if Giovanni disbanded Team Rocket and stepped down as Gym Leader, the forest would be his greatest asset, instantly making him Kanto’s top conservationist.

With Giovanni’s relentless investment, Viridian Forest had become increasingly notorious, well on its way to rivaling Mt. Silver as a dangerous area.

Just by standing in the forest, Giovanni could lead anyone through any part of Viridian as he pleased—truly the king of the mountain.

After class, Zhusu Han stroked her chin, unconcerned by the teacher’s evaluation.

Frankly, what she wrote for the quiz was already a very restrained response.

If she were at Elite Four or even Champion level, what would a fire be?

Earthquake. Earthquake. Earthquake!

Clear out a patch of land, treat anything buried as controlled burning, then call down a few rounds of rain to bring down the temperature and restore the moisture, and finally send in some Pokémon skilled at tilling and grassy terrain to work overtime.

Now that’s truly forceful reconstruction. The outcome would be good, but the process itself is rather... unconventional.

Glancing at the pickup code on her phone, Zhusu Han recalled Lapras and Milcery at the post office entrance, then found her package on the shelf.

Compared to the equipment that usually took up half a laboratory, the device from Team Rocket was exquisitely compact, about the size of a brick.

“If this were a real brick, I could use it as a self-defense weapon. Unfortunately, it’s a scientific instrument.”

Not only would hitting someone be out of the question, a slight bump could damage it.

The Beiming Ball shook. Lapras seemed to have her own opinion about Zhusu Han’s so-called “self-defense weapon.”

That’s a weapon, not a tool!

“A weapon is something that harms lives. I haven’t hurt anyone,” Zhusu Han replied with righteous indignation. “All the villains I’ve dealt with are still alive, isn’t that right?”

She was brimming with noble spirit, the very model of a good person—how could she ever harm anyone?

Alive, that is, if you count the early Dark Team grunts who spent ages in intensive care.

She’d even inspired the minor bosses to consider “asking for legal protection” and “wanting to sue her.”

But the fact remained—they survived, and that’s irrefutable.

Back in her dorm, Zhusu Han thought for a moment and decided to open her package outside.

If this was something from Marshal or Koga, she might not have been so cautious, but this was from Sabrina.

That girl was a real troublemaker—one hand wielding a Barrett, the other a flamethrower.

“It’s wrong to harm others, but it’s right to be cautious.” Zhusu Han earnestly instructed her two companions. “If this is real, then this would be my first time facing an attack from a supernatural being, even if it’s low intensity. Better safe than sorry.”

Lapras and Milcery watched calmly. Trainers were always oscillating between extreme caution and reckless abandon—but they were used to it by now.

To be precise, trainers are the sort who first assess the danger, and once sure they won’t get hurt, instantly switch to being bold and carefree.

Zhusu Han opened the package, even inspecting the packing material for tampering, before finally taking out the brick-sized device.

“Hm, it’s even smaller—half a brick.”

The other half was the charging device and manual. Zhusu Han skimmed the instructions and powered the device on as directed.

“Milcery, let’s test the power and accuracy.” Zhusu Han held out her hand. “Aim at my palm and use Tackle.”

“Oooh…”

Lapras shook her head—that was no ordinary Tackle, but a Fairy Cream Impact!

“Oh, so you’re planning to call this move ‘Cream Oil Impact’?”

“Hmm?”

That actually sounds pretty good.

“Thanks, but I’m not running a massage parlor,” Zhusu Han stood up. “Aim at my palm. Go!”

“Milulu!”

With the command, Milcery immediately gathered a ball of cream between its hands and launched it, shimmering with a pink glow, straight into Zhusu Han’s palm.

The instrument emitted a barely perceptible beep, and then three green badges from Viridian Gym appeared on the screen.

“Good, the single-strike power reached the three-badge standard—not bad at all.”

Given Milcery’s current age, being able to achieve this was already impressive.

“Milulu!”

Milcery puffed up, expanding like an inflatable toy.

I have another move—Trainer, get ready!

Zhusu Han was taken aback. “You’re confident, I see. Go ahead.”

This was her second move after evolving—time to witness the growth of a future emperor!

Milcery narrowed her eyes, assumed a pose as if preparing to fire a blast.

Cream Impact, advanced version: Cream Machine Gun!

Three thousand six hundred rounds per second!

The whooshing sound was endless as volley after volley of cream bullets struck Zhusu Han’s palm. The instrument’s readings shot up, reaching the level of five badges!

“Milulu!”

Milcery cried out, unable to maintain the attack stance. The cream bullets lost their trajectory, soon coating Zhusu Han’s upper body in a fragrant layer of cream.

Oops, still not quite mastered this move!

Milcery hastily stopped and looked apprehensively at the half-snowman Zhusu Han.

“Milulu?”

Trainer?

Lapras, who should have been laughing, instead crept closer to Zhusu Han and opened her mouth decisively.

“If you dare hit me with a Water Gun, I’ll cut your rations today.”

Lapras, who should have been grinning, made no sound at all—how could she not know what the mischievous little one was planning?

If that Water Gun hit, Zhusu Han would go from white-furred monkey to a mud monster, fragrant and all.

“Oooh~”

No, no, I’m the trainer’s most caring dragon!

Lapras licked Zhusu Han’s face, savoring the taste with obvious delight.

Not bad—tastier than before. Clearly, Milcery had been working hard at her training.

“Milulu!”

Thank you, big sister, for the compliment!