Chapter 143: Uniformly Carried Items

The phone call ended, and Mewtwo looked at Zhusui Han with an expression that conveyed a thousand unspoken words.

"What is it you want to say?"

[I was simply wondering whether that friend of yours is aware of your past track record. Why on earth would they dare suggest meeting you at the Silver Plains?]

Just in case Zhusui Han decided to pull off some major stunt in the Silver Plains, would that Gym Leader—whose voice alone made it abundantly clear how exhausted he was—faint on the spot and need to be rushed to emergency care?

Have they simply lost all fear of death?

"That is a fundamental misunderstanding on your part."

Zhusui Han assumed a look of absolute righteousness. "First of all, those incidents I became involved in occurred simply because those particular locations inherently possessed certain issues. I was merely the one who brought those problems to light."

"If anyone is to blame, frankly, the blame should fall on the historical figures who failed to figure out those events properly in the past, leaving me to be misunderstood even to this day."

Lapras pondered this for a moment. Did it actually make sense?

As the eldest sister of the household, Lapras could confirm that Zhusui Han never initiated any of those bizarre occurrences on purpose.

If remnants of the past and ancient riddles were the fuse, Zhusui Han was at most a cigarette lighter.

As for how massive the ensuing explosion would be, that entirely depended on the weight of the historical bomb waiting to go off.

"I need to inspect some equipment and gear, then make a few supplementary preparations. I wonder if the academy will prepare portable medical kits like they did last time."

Zhusui Han considered the matter. "Never mind. Just to be safe, I'd better bring a bit more myself."

The Silver Plains, a classified area designated by the League, was established to safeguard the most fundamental life processes of Bug-type Pokémon.

It sounded precisely like the sort of place where major events were bound to transpire. Better safe than sorry.

If any trouble arose this time around, Zhusui Han would definitely have to have a stern word with the League's operational staff.

What on earth are you all paid to do? Are you intentionally staging incidents here just to smear my reputation?

They set off promptly the following day. For the school faculty, this routine was quite familiar; after all, it happened annually, and they could practically drive along the correct route with their eyes closed.

Zhusui Han let out a yawn inside the vehicle. Ahead of them, League staff members were already waiting at the entrance to conduct a thorough inspection of the school bus.

Items like bug-repellent sprays were naturally forbidden from being brought inside, but other things might not be so clear-cut, which was why such detailed inspections were necessary.

"Students, please follow us. Before you enter the plains, you will need to register your personal belongings."

With a beaming smile and consummate customer service, the staff guided the students aside for their baggage check. Upon noticing Zhusui Han, one staff member even politely inquired whether he needed a male staff member reassigned to assist him.

"Thank you, but that won't be necessary."

After all, there wasn't anything particularly bizarre hidden inside his bags—at most, just a frying pan that happened to have undergone a skin change.

However, as the inspections proceeded, the smile on the staff member's face gradually froze, and his gaze turned somewhat vacant.

It wasn't that the students in this particular group were carrying hazardous contraband; rather, with the exception of the single male student, every single person had brought along two rather peculiar items.

One version was designed for ordinary human use, while the other was unmistakably tailored for Chansey.

These items were full-coverage masks equipped with built-in filter meshes, clean carbon blocks, and an electrically powered air-purification device mounted right at the top.

In short, they were gas masks.

Every single Officer Jenny and Nurse Joy in the group assigned to him had packed this exact, uniform-issue gas mask!

"Uhm, why are you students bringing items like this along? The Silver Plains are a frontier region, and even if any toxic gases were present, they would dissipate quickly without posing a threat to you or your Pokémon."

A Nurse Joy smiled gently. "Not necessarily. We are simply concerned that when the Bug-type Pokémon scatter their scales, it might affect us and our partners, thereby interfering with our duties."

"Furthermore, in the event that certain Pokémon exhibit excessive wariness and resort to moves like Poison Powder or Stun Spore when confronted by us, having gas masks will provide better protection."

"It is always best to be prepared so that we can devote our full energy entirely to the treatment process."

The League staff member wore a blank expression, then offered a strained nod.

Ah, that made sense.

Being prepared for any eventuality was precisely the sort of thing taught at the Nurse Joy Academy, so there was no need to be surprised.

Once the inspections concluded, the chief logistics officer reviewed the collected registration forms and promptly called out to his subordinate who was about to head out.

"Wait, are you certain you didn't mix these up?"

"Why do both the Nurse Joys and the Officer Jennies have gas masks listed? Did you confuse the documents from both sides during cross-checking?"

The two groups of staff members exchanged glances, all wearing the exact same expression.

What? Your side has gas masks too?

Having confirmed that no error had been made, everyone in the office fell silent, feeling as though their fundamental grasp of common sense had been challenged.

A colleague with a good relationship nudged his friend. "What reason did Officer Jenny's side give?"

"They said that if they happen to encounter unscrupulous outlaws with dirty tricks, the gas masks will block various hazards and make it easier for them to apprehend the criminals and bring them to justice."

"Oh, the reasoning is practically identical."

The chief officer clicked his tongue, recalling a certain legend whose echoes had been largely buried by the historical incidents in Ecruteak City.

He flipped through the documents pertaining to the Nurse Joy Academy and thought to himself, *Just as I expected.*

The sole male student enrolled at the Nurse Joy Academy matched the descriptions found in those rumors.

He always wore a gentle smile and appeared to have already mastered three parts of the academy's true essence.

Yet beneath that kind countenance lay a ruthless disposition; he was equally proficient in poisoning, kidnapping, and blackmailing, and he never hesitated when it came to striking.

"We have arrived. The Silver Plains."

Zhusui Han tossed a Pokéball into the air, and Lapras and Milcery eagerly looked out into the distance, though the landscape of the plains remained unchanged and had not yet been covered in silver.

"Woo-woo."

Tell me, once everything is covered in scales, will the Pokémon here look as if they've been buried in snow?

Milcery crossed its arms. "Milu."

Probably. This Emperor observes that a vast number of Pokémon still dwell here, meaning they must have reached some sort of cooperative agreement.

[The Pokémon are in a completely normal state; there is no desire to leave prematurely. It seems there is indeed some truth to this ecosystem.]

Mewtwo rapidly scanned the surrounding environment. [Though it is a plain, the vegetation is far more flourishing than that of an ordinary forest.]

Milcery smiled smugly. "Milu!"

I told you so! Even during a migration, Bug-type Pokémon will leave behind their own gifts and opportunities!

Splendid, truly in the style of My Great Emperor!

"More flourishing, you say? That is rather interesting."

Zhusui Han pondered for a moment. "The documents provided didn't mention much detail. I wonder if there is any meteorological chart here that I could take a look at."

Having resolved the gap between ancient and modern knowledge, Zhusui Han's progress in geographical studies could be described as advancing by leaps and bounds.

All he needed was a real-time meteorological chart, and he would be able to deduce a fair amount of information.

[I am unsure. Ah, they are calling for everyone to gather.]

Mewtwo stated: [It appears they are about to begin the collective briefing. Your classmates have already headed over.]

Zhusui Han nodded. "Very well, I shall go take a look. The two of you can play around here as you please, and come find me if anything happens."

[Understood. There are no Pokémon here stronger than myself, so you need not worry about safety.]

Lapras and Milcery glanced at Mewtwo's impassive expression, wondering what kind of mindset had prompted the creature to utter such a statement.

No Pokémon stronger than itself?

And it used the word "also"?

Was this a guarantee of safety, or was it merely boasting?

Oh no, little Mengmeng has learned bad habits from the Trainer!

[I am Mewtwo, not little Mengmeng.]

Lapras raised its head and neck. "Woo-woo!"

I am the eldest sister!

Milcery placed her hands on her hips. "Milu!"

I am the second sister!

Nice to meet you, third brother! x2

[From a scientific perspective of exposition and analysis, I possess no specific gender, only specific energy attributes.]

Lapras and Milcery exchanged glances, looking thoroughly delighted.

"Woo-woo!"

"Milu!"

Very well, third younger sister! x2

The member count for the sisterhood had successfully increased by one!

The only unfortunate part was that their Trainer wasn't a girl!

[...]

While a conversation that was utterly "treasonous" to the white-haired youth was taking place over there, the atmosphere here was calm and serene. Armed with paper and pen, Zhusui Han recorded the key points of the meeting, enjoying a moment of tranquility.

Zhusui Han glanced up at Bugsy on the stage, suppressing the urge to hurl a sticky glob of mud at him. He flipped through his notes to ensure no crucial details had been missed.

Overall, the precautions were similar to those required during the Lake of Rage incident, except that this time there was no combat aspect involved.

If the vast plains were an amusement park, the supply stations established by the League were akin to convenience stores, designed to allow the Nurse Joys to replenish supplies anytime, anywhere.

As for the outer perimeter, the defensive lines constructed by International Police officers and Officer Jennies were also covered in the briefing, accompanied by distributed maps so that Nurse Joys could quickly locate nearby support personnel.

"With this many personnel deployed, would anyone genuinely dare to come and cause trouble?"

True, the arrivals were first-year students from two academies, but that didn't mean instructors and upperclassmen weren't permitted to lead the groups. The combat strength was unquestionably guaranteed.

Zhusui Han tapped his knee with his pen, sensing that something important had slipped his mind.

He drew a casual line across his notebook and studied the map for a moment before realizing where the flaw lay.

A large-scale migration of Bug-type Pokémon was not instantaneous teleportation. Even though the majority of the route passed through deep, remote mountains and ancient forests, it was impossible for trainers to remain entirely unaware of it.

This was precisely the reason why locations like the Silver Plains required a level of confidentiality; at least the nodes of major transit stations needed protection, as they formed a vital link in the ecosystem.

"Unless someone possesses the requisite perseverance, or rather, the financial incentive."

Zhusui Han closed his notebook and intercepted Bugsy backstage after the meeting concluded.

"As things stand, how many ill-intentioned individuals have you detected tracking the migration path?"

Bugsy: ?

"Did your academy director tell you this?"

"I guessed it."

Bugsy shook his head. "Not many. The vast majority are simply trainers who find it difficult to part with the Pokémon they have spent time with."

"Even though they have made up their minds, it is only natural to feel reluctant when your partners are truly about to depart."

Zhusui Han mused, "The sheer wilderness of these mountains is certainly enough to screen out casual visitors."

Bugsy smiled. "Indeed. This migration route is actually quite long, and Gym Leaders or Bug-type specialists are stationed at corresponding points across various regions."

"Whatever else the League might lack, it certainly has no shortage of talented individuals, which is why they are able to preserve this spectacle from the hands of outlaws."

"A spectacle of life."

(End of chapter)