Chapter 105: The Characteristic Inn of Ecruteak City

“Woo woo.”
So from now on, when I encounter people like that, can I just blast them with a water cannon right away?
“Hey, that won’t do.”
Zhu Suihan said seriously, “You still have to keep some distance, so no one knows it was us, got it?”
This is when having an alias really comes in handy. From now on, when roaming the world, I can use Scrooge’s name to intimidate plenty of people.
Old Duck, lending you my name for a bit—I’ll make the scum in the Pokémon world know just how terrifying you, the stingy tycoon, can be.
But then again, where did the payment from the Aether Foundation go? Why hasn’t Nasi contacted me yet?
When it comes to money that hasn’t arrived or is about to come in, the white-haired monkey’s memory is impeccable.
“Make a call and ask.”
Zhu Suihan let go gently, and the little fairy milk floated above Dragonite’s head, forming a creamy ball with her hands and feeding it into Dragonite’s mouth.
“Milou?”
Big sister, how’s the taste?
“Woo!”
Even better than before!
“Milou!”
Sure enough, as long as I can defeat more enemies, the day I ascend to become the Dessert Emperor will also be the day of ultimate deliciousness!
“Hello?”
“It’s me. Where’s my money?”
“Don’t rush, we’re settling it for you now.”
In the room, Nasi tidied her hair and placed the phone on the table.
“The Aether Foundation wants to negotiate a big deal with our Rocket Group. The boss’s meaning is simple: in principle, you’re the one connecting the dots and the one putting in the most effort.”
Zhu Suihan’s eyes lit up. “So I can get a share?”
Business with the Yulong family would solve his worries about berry shortages for a long time.
Plus the dividends from the Medicine Bottle Project, Zhu Suihan definitely wouldn’t be short on money.
Enough talk—bring on more attribute materials, like Water Gems or Fairy Gems. He was planning to build an attribute-themed house for Dragonite and the little fairy milk.
But to do that, he’d need a piece of land first. By the way, are plots expensive in the Pokémon world?
If all else fails, find two trustworthy people, form a team, and take over the Lanturn Region. That would be way more impressive than the battle development zone of that fat guy, Achida.
Lanturn Region, an archipelago region featured in Pokémon Snap, is rich in natural scenery with many Pokémon from different areas living there.
In short, it’s a great place to retire, relax, and even do some farming simulation.
“Hello, hello?”
Nasi frowned. “The Z-Crystals and bracelets you wanted are here. If you need to start certain research urgently, we can ship them to you first.”
“No need, just hold onto them for now.”
Would I really awkwardly dance with a whole set of Z-Crystals now, then wait two and a half years to challenge the Alola Island Tour?
Sounds less fun than going to beat Guzma of Team Skull up.
Zhu Suihan said, “I’m just asking. You can take your time settling the accounts; just don’t shortchange me.”
The call ended. The white-haired monkey, freshly refreshed with a large sum about to be credited, went to find Joy Jing to ask when she’d return to the academy.
Honestly, Joy Academy was the place he’d stayed the longest.
Except for the ice block—that thing wasn’t even a home, not to mention a bed.
“Go back? Go back where?”
Joy Jing glanced at the white hair. “Based on the students’ performance, the school is going to grade them, so there’s a holiday period now.”
“You can choose to visit Lian Zhu City, or if you’re really eager, you can go back early.”
“You don’t even need grades. If you choose to go to Lian Zhu City and decide to return to school on your own, you have to submit a report in advance and notify the supervising teacher.”
“Woo?”
Shall we take a trip to Lian Zhu City?
“Milou.”
The little fairy milk nodded in agreement. She was curious about the city since the school bus passed by it earlier. The surrounding decorations seemed related to a particular Pokémon.
“Then let’s go.”
Zhu Suihan said goodbye to the dean, asked the teachers at Junsha Academy if there was a school bus leaving, and after confirming, set off with the two little ones.
As for where to sleep, no worries—he had money in his pocket. They’d just find a special hotel in Lian Zhu City to experience local culture.
Then the white-haired monkey somewhat regretted it. He suddenly felt that the dormitory at Junsha Academy was actually quite good.
The receptionist smiled warmly. “Welcome, sir. Here is our Lian Zhu City specialty room, ‘The Mercy of Ho-Oh.’”
How to put it—it was like entering a museum. The entire room was decorated with historical paintings depicting Ho-Oh reviving three Pokémon.
Even worse, the wall facing the bed had bold inscriptions recording that piece of history.
You could say it satisfied the bizarre requirement of guests who want to learn history as soon as they open their eyes. This kind of room should be quite friendly to exam candidates.
After the hotel staff left, Zhu Suihan and the two little ones exchanged glances and sighed.
The staff was a gently spoken girl in a kimono, with flawless etiquette and professional work ethic.
It was just that this room was a bit... strange.
Zhu Suihan peeked into the bathroom. Hmm, not hellish enough yet—at least there wasn’t a full-body legendary portrait of Ho-Oh behind the bathroom door.
No creepy situation where Ho-Oh would be watching you while you bathed.
You could say the room design retained a bit of the designer’s humanity, but not much.
“Looks like local specialties aren’t for everyone.”
Not everyone can stomach local delicacies, and not everyone can comfortably rest in a themed hotel.
High emotional intelligence: When you rest, Ho-Oh and its guards protect your safety.
Low emotional intelligence: Like a horror movie waiting to jump out of the paintings; better check if there’s a ghost-type Pokémon hiding in the walls.
Zhu Suihan lay on the bed, staring at the ceiling painting of “Ho-Oh’s Guard Leaving the Sky,” gradually understanding why the people of Lian Zhu City were so passionate.
This city was destined never to become a modern metropolis like Manjin City because its cultural and historical foundation was too weighty.
The burned tower ruins still stood there, which wasn’t something the citizens of Lian Zhu City bragged about.
Some legends you can ignore, but in the Pokémon world, such legends involving legendary beasts can’t be overlooked—not by the locals, nor by the League.
Legend says that when the chosen one holding the Rainbow Feather reaches the Bell Tower, Ho-Oh responds to their call, descending upon Lian Zhu City again, symbolizing the city’s forgiveness.
“It’s actually quite good, at least not like some of the other rare legendaries.”
Some legendary beasts really don’t care how things turn out—once they arrive, they’re ready for a fight.
My old rival hasn’t shown up yet, or maybe hasn’t awakened?
Don’t worry, I’ll ‘help’ him wake up.
Have you eaten? If not, I’ll punch you!
Dragonite and the little fairy milk were blissfully unaware, sleeping soundly.
But no matter how Zhu Suihan looked at it, this room felt uncomfortable. After putting on his robe, he stepped onto the balcony and gazed at the night sky over Lian Zhu City.
It wasn’t just chance that drew the legendary beast’s gaze—after being ‘baptized’ by this room, when he closed his eyes, he no longer saw symbols and formulas.
Instead, he saw Ho-Oh, ready to breathe a stream of sacred fire at him. What was once a local specialty turned slightly creepy.
“Ho-Oh, Lugia—seems like Lugia’s legend isn’t quite strong enough.”
There were even rooms dedicated to shiny Fearow, but none for Lugia. Maybe the difference was that Ho-Oh had descended with divine power to revive Pokémon back then.
“Looks like everywhere values a public display of divinity.”
Zhu Suihan popped open a can of soda. Just as the can reached his lips, his hand trembled.
His room was on a high floor, allowing a clear view over many residential and commercial buildings of the Bell Tower.
At the same time, he could also see the burned tower ruins to the west.
“Fire?”
Could there really be a fire at the burned tower?
Wasn’t the Lian Zhu City gym leader a clairvoyant? How could such a low-level mistake go unnoticed?
Zhu Suihan pulled out a monocular from an incense burner, brought it to his eye, and aimed toward the direction.
The flames were gone.
Lowering the monocular, he saw flames burning high on the east side again.
He raised the monocular once more—flames vanished.
“Excluding my eyesight playing tricks on me, and ruling out some weird cyber hacker implanting fire animations in my vision.”
As for the burned tower’s anomaly, ignoring other hidden conditions, maybe only ‘eyes’ can see it.
The white-haired monkey clicked his tongue. “Heh, there’s more to the burned tower than I remembered.”
How could he have forgotten such a simple logical connection?
The burned tower legend corresponds to the historically untraceable Lugia, followed by Ho-Oh’s guards.
The Bell Tower corresponds to Ho-Oh; the chosen one holding the Rainbow Feather can summon Ho-Oh there.
What about holding the Silver Feather at the burned tower—can that summon Lugia?
And what traces would the three sacred beasts leave at the burned tower?
“Similar to the Crown Shell incident?”
The Crown Shell was recorded thanks to Slowking’s powerful psychic abilities.
The burned tower’s anomaly only confirms the high status of the legendary beasts involved.
At least from this perspective, it’s unlikely we’ll see the strange plot where Suicune gets trapped by villains in a net anytime soon.
If it does happen, Ho-Oh would probably throw down the camera and rush over to check on its kid.
Before leaving, it might even give a blast of sacred fire to vent its anger.
“I’ll go check out the burned tower tomorrow.”
This anomaly probably doesn’t require special viewing angles—like Zhu Suihan, there’ll always be tourists wanting to experience local specialties.
If the anomaly could only be seen from this room’s balcony, the rumors would have spread everywhere by now.
Zhu Suihan pondered a moment, then decided to enhance the knowledge he’d absorbed today and force himself to sleep.
Thanks to Slowking’s Crown Shell, he wouldn’t get bogged down by unnecessary thoughts during such sudden events. If there was a problem, he’d just take a look tomorrow.
“Hoping to find a Silver Feather while recuperating?”
Not a bad idea.
Zhu Suihan gently lifted Dragonite’s head, placing an extra pillow under this oddly sleeping companion, then moved the little fairy milk, who was about to slide off the bed, to the headboard.
“Good night.”
(End of chapter)