-035- Elf Poacher

"Who goes there!"

As that sharp voice rang out, Tong Si saw someone in green camouflage running over. Judging by his appearance, he seemed about the same age as Tong Si.

"Ha! I've caught you now, you little thief!" The man in camouflage grabbed Tong Si in one swift motion.

"What do you think you’re doing?" Tong Si's expression shifted abruptly. What happened to being civil? Why the manhandling the moment they met?

If people saw two grown men tussling by the pond, what would they think? Tong Si’s reputation would be ruined!

"Ee-vui! Ee-vui!" Eevee hurried over, as if to say: Only I can paw at my trainer. You, hands off.

"An accomplice Eevee too! Grandpa, I’ve caught the culprit!" the camouflage-clad young man shouted.

From a house by the pond, an elderly man emerged, wearing a hat styled like a Lotad. He leaned on a cane.

"Grandpa, I just saw him sneaking around by the pond. He doesn’t look like any good person," the young man reported honestly.

The elderly man gave Tong Si and Eevee a thorough once-over, then motioned for his grandson to let go.

"He doesn’t seem to be a bad person. Let him go," the old man said.

But even after this, the young man kept a firm grip on Tong Si.

"Sneaking around? I just got here! I came to buy Pokémon eggs!" Tong Si stated his purpose directly, his impression of the camouflage boy not improving.

"You heard him, Qi Qi. Let him go," the elderly man scolded.

With many years behind him, the old man had an eye for people. Tong Si didn’t have the look of a troublemaker.

After the rebuke, Qi Qi finally released Tong Si, though he looked aggrieved.

"Sorry, I thought you were here to poach Pokémon," Qi Qi apologized.

"Poach Pokémon?" Tong Si was surprised—he hadn’t expected poaching to be an issue here.

"Yes..." the old man sighed deeply, then invited Tong Si inside.

"Plop-plop!" A cheerful Ludicolo clapped its hands, welcoming Tong Si.

"I’m Qi Qi, a rookie trainer. This is my grandpa, who manages this pond area. Everyone calls him Old Man Lotad. And you are?" the young man introduced himself.

"Tong Si. I’m also a rookie trainer." As Tong Si guessed, Qi Qi was indeed his peer in age.

"Young man, Qi Qi misunderstood you just now. I apologize on his behalf," said Old Man Lotad, feeling embarrassed—Tong Si was a rare guest.

"It’s all right," Tong Si waved it off, though the mention of 'poaching Pokémon' left him curious. After all, the southern ponds were under the jurisdiction of the Pokémon Association—who would dare poach here? Would they risk their lives?

"What’s with this Pokémon poaching you mentioned?" Tong Si asked. At his question, both elders' faces turned somber.

"Sigh..." Old Man Lotad shook his head, clearly ashamed. "I’m in charge here, responsible for raising Lotad and Lombre in these ponds. But lately, poachers have been appearing, stealing many Lotad. The rest now hide in the water, too afraid to come out."

He blamed himself bitterly for failing to protect his Lotad.

"Grandpa, the Pokémon Police will catch those criminals!" Qi Qi quickly comforted his grandfather.

"Pokémon poachers..." Tong Si had never heard the term before. Life in this world had always been peaceful for him. He hadn’t encountered any real villains—yet here, Pokémon poachers had appeared. Truly despicable.

"By the way, you came to buy Pokémon eggs? All I have here are Lotad eggs," Old Man Lotad said, taking Tong Si to a cabinet.

The house was small, but the adjacent room was filled with hundreds of eggs—each one patterned in white and green.

"Are all these Lotad eggs?" Tong Si hadn’t expected Old Man Lotad to have so many.

"Yes, all Lotad. Take your pick, I’ll give you a discount to make up for Qi Qi’s poor manners," the old man said, casting a glance at his grandson.

Qi Qi scratched his head, a little embarrassed.

"Old Man Lotad, I’m not just here for one egg. I’d like to purchase in bulk. You see, I run a Pokémon breeding house..." Tong Si explained his situation.

Old Man Lotad’s face brightened—so Tong Si was a big customer!

"Wonderful! Take as many as you want, I’ll give you a special price!" the old man said joyfully, and began describing the quality of the eggs.

Of course, Tong Si wasn’t concerned with appearances—only with the eggs’ potential.

Using his scanning eye, Tong Si quickly surveyed the hundreds of eggs. To his surprise, among them was one of high quality, and fifteen of standard quality.

He pointed out the sixteen eggs, and Old Man Lotad and Qi Qi gathered them up, setting them in a large box.

"Sixteen eggs in total?" Old Man Lotad confirmed.

Like Grandpa Chu, Old Man Lotad didn’t check for quality. These eggs were freshly laid, not yet evaluated, and sold directly at the lowest price.

In places like Jiahua City, breeding houses were second-hand sellers—the eggs’ quality had already been assessed. For customers, that meant buying third-hand eggs at much higher prices.

"That’s right, Old Man Lotad. What’s the total cost?" Tong Si was ready to pay, when suddenly, a cacophony of Lotad cries erupted outside.

"Ha-bo!"

"Ha-bo, ha-bo!"

Hearing the chorus, Tong Si, Qi Qi, and Old Man Lotad rushed outside instinctively.

"Lotad..." The three saw a large net ensnaring a group of Lotad. On the shore, three men in bandanas were hauling it in.

"Stop!" Old Man Lotad shouted.

"Vile poachers!" Qi Qi was furious, already gripping a Poké Ball.

"Go, Lotad! Use Water Gun!"

A Lotad of a different color sprang from the Poké Ball.

"Ha-bo!"

"A shiny Lotad?" Tong Si was astonished—Qi Qi’s starter was a shiny Lotad.

With his data panel, Tong Si quickly checked its stats:

Lotad (yellow)
Level: 13
Potential: High quality

...(To be continued)