Get Stronger by Pleasing Pokémon? Who Needs to Be a Trainer!

Mewtwo did not answer, or perhaps it simply did not understand what Lin Feng meant by ”having life.”

Lin Feng did not continue teasing it.

Instead, he got straight to the point and explained why he had come looking for it this time.

”You want me to destroy that research facility?” Mewtwo was surprised.

Lin Feng nodded. ”Yes. Places like that, where they experiment on Pokémon… can you really call that a good place?”

”There are very tight defenses there, and…” Mewtwo hesitated instead of agreeing immediately.

It did not feel much hatred toward that place.

After all, it had been born there.

More importantly, there were many powerful Pokémon inside.

Especially that Beedrill. Even back then, dealing with it had not been easy.

”Don’t worry, we’re only going to cause some damage. And I’ve also invited Giratina, the God of Reversal, to help. After we finish wrecking the place, we can leave through the Distortion World. Nothing will go wrong.”

Lin Feng spoke with confidence.

Unless Team Rocket somehow brought in Dialga, the God of Time, and trapped Giratina.

Or unless they brought Arceus itself.

In that case, Giovanni might as well stop thinking about world domination and just say, ”I’m never eating beef again.”

”Giratina will come too?” Mewtwo immediately became alert.

”Yes, yes. Actually, I was thinking of calling Mew and Victini too. You might not know Victini, but it can share Victory Energy with all Pokémon and temporarily boost their power.”

Lin Feng explained excitedly.

He was also a little excited about the idea of bringing Mewtwo and Giratina along to cause chaos.

”Alright. I will return now.”

This time, Mewtwo did not refuse. It nodded and ended the Rotom call.

It opened the window, and a breeze drifted in from outside.

It had already stayed in this city for over ten days. It had heard rumors of the Sea God bringing winds, but it did not know when that god would appear. Instead of waiting endlessly, it might as well return.

Besides, it could feel that the limit Lin Feng mentioned was only one step away.

If it could not find the God of Ocean Currents, then it would find the God of Reversal and challenge it again.

That might be enough.

Meanwhile, at the breeding house.

Lin Feng was searching for information about Team Rocket.

After a while, he muttered, ”So I should probably hide my identity, right?”

Because the information online about Team Rocket mostly described petty thefts and robberies.

But in reality, the organization was far larger than that.

And this search reminded him of many things.

For example, the Gym Leaders: the Psychic-type Gym Leader Sabrina, the Fire-type Gym Leader Blaine, as well as Lt. Surge and Giovanni.

He exhaled sharply.

From this angle, it almost looked like half of the Kanto Gym Leaders were connected to Team Rocket.

Then there was no way he could reveal his identity.

What if they came for revenge?

He was not afraid of a snake bite, but he was afraid of snakes plotting behind his back.

And then there was Hunter J.

He had not forgotten that she was the one who had captured his Salamence.

But…

Finding Hunter J was nearly impossible.

She either rode her Salamence or traveled in an invisible airship. Tracking her was almost hopeless.

All Lin Feng knew was that she had appeared in the Kalos region, helping someone capture the cell core of the God of Order.

”Forget it for now. That research facility has to be destroyed.”

He quickly made up his mind.

He also needed to prepare some dishes that could help with recovery and treatment.

He was not too afraid of battle, but he had to be careful about his own situation.

…

Mewtwo returned quickly.

The call had been made in the morning, and by afternoon it was already back.

Lin Feng warmly welcomed it and prepared a lavish meal.

After eating, he announced to all the Pokémon that he would be away for a few days again.

”Huh?” Alolan Ninetales reacted first, tilting its icy blue eyes toward him.

The others also turned to look.

”I’m going somewhere else to handle things related to Salamence,” Lin Feng said without hiding anything.

But then he added immediately, ”And this time, I’m not taking you with me.”

”Eh!?”

Alolan Ninetales’ gaze dimmed instantly.

It jumped onto Lin Feng’s leg, wrapping its nine tails tightly around him.

Its voice turned soft and aggrieved. ”Why… why?”

”The place I’m going is dangerous and far away. Stay here and help me take care of the house, alright?”

Lin Feng patted its head.

The fluffy fur felt especially nice in this season. Alolan Ninetales had a cool body temperature, around 20°C or even lower, making it feel like holding a living ice cushion.

(｡•́︿•̀｡) ”But I’m strong now!”

It stomped its paws repeatedly.

In its mind, it had become quite powerful already. At least among challengers who came by, none could defeat it.

Even so, Lin Feng still considered it too weak.

”Be good. There will be many strong opponents where I’m going. I’m taking Gardevoir, Mewtwo, Dragonite, and Salamence. They can all fly and move fast.”

He did not change his decision.

Alolan Ninetales might have strong weather-control abilities now, but it was still only at an elite level. It was effective mainly against Dragon-types.

But the Rocket facility had once restrained even near-champion-level Pokémon like Salamence.

And there had even been armor capable of restricting Mewtwo.

As for Ninetales, it could not fly. Bringing it along would be too risky.

”….”

Seeing that there was no chance of convincing him, Ninetales lowered its ears and buried its face in his hand.

”Alright, alright. I’ll be back soon.”

Then came Charizard, pouting as it walked over. It already knew Lin Feng would not bring Ninetales, so it did not bother asking.

But if Gardevoir and Lin Feng were both leaving, that meant only Lati@s and the maids would be handling food.

Their cooking was good, but it could not compare to the trainer’s.

More importantly, Charizard simply did not want to stay behind.

Serperior walked over next, its gaze calm but with a hint of concern.

It asked, ”Serperior…?” (Will the house be okay?)

Lin Feng nodded. ”It’ll be fine. The breeding house will be closed while I’m gone, and the Pidgeot team will rest too.”

Then he looked toward the twin attendants.

”I’ll leave things here to you two. If the Pokémon on the berry fields pick fruit and you can’t process it in time, just store it in the storage balls. We’ll handle it when we’re back.”

”Rest if you need to, alright?”

The twins nodded seriously.

Lin Feng turned to Serperior again, then thought of the strange seed.

That seed, with the help of excellent fertilizer, had already grown into a small tree.

He wondered what kind of fruit it would eventually bear.

”Serperior…” (Will it be dangerous?)

Serperior finally asked what it had been worrying about.

Lin Feng gently patted its cheek. ”Don’t worry. It’s nothing compared to me. I have Gardevoir and Mewtwo, and I even invited Giratina. That’s right, the one from the Distortion World. No problem at all.”

”…Serperior.”

Serperior leaned its face into his hand without hesitation this time.

”Good, good. Everything will be fine.”

…

The next day.

At dawn, Lin Feng stood in the courtyard.

After saying goodbye to each Pokémon, he climbed onto Dragonite’s back.

The others to be taken were stored in Poké Balls for convenience.

”I’m heading out!”

Dragonite spread its wings and flew toward the Kanto region.

Behind them, the Pokémon watching in the courtyard fell into a quiet silence.

”Bulba… Bulba…”

Bulbasaur was the first to step forward, breaking the stillness.

The others slowly came back to themselves.

Alolan Ninetales stared into the distance, murmuring softly.

”…Why am I still not strong enough?”

The morning light stretched across the sky, clouds glowing faintly orange.

Lin Feng had said it was not strong enough, which was why it could not go this time.

It knew that.

It had once believed that after evolving and eating specially prepared food, it could stand alongside the strongest.

But after fighting Salamence, it realized how naive that idea had been.

It could not win.

Even Salamence could not defeat that Sky Dragon, so its chances were even smaller.

No wonder the trainer only chose Gardevoir.

Around it, the others quietly went about their own things.

Leafeon and Umbreon stayed nearby.

Bulbasaur was lost in thought.

Blaziken walked toward the kitchen.

Milotic and Primarina went into the water.

The others all found their own roles.

And yet, Alolan Ninetales still felt empty.

It wandered toward the berry fields, intending to nap.

But there it saw Serperior already fertilizing the trees.

Serperior…

It walked over softly. ”Nii…”

Serperior paused and looked down. ”Serperior?”

Ninetales lowered its head and scratched at fallen leaves, gathering them into a pile before scattering them again.

Serperior smiled faintly and placed its tail gently over it.

”Serperior…” (It will be fine. Don’t rush.)

”…Nii…”

”Serperior…” (Just do your best.)

While comforting it, Serperior couldn’t help but think.

Why didn’t Lin Feng take them along?

Because it was dangerous, and they were not strong enough yet.

That was the reason.

Just like before with the Horizon League, if they were strong enough, he would take them without hesitation.

In other words, they were still too weak.

So they had to become stronger.

But how strong?

Strong enough that, no matter where Lin Feng went, they could stand in front of him and protect him.

But how?

Their growth was already incredibly fast…

And yet, it was still not enough.

Serperior’s thoughts shifted, and it suddenly remembered something Lin Feng had once mentioned.

The World Tree.

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