In the deepest part of her Goldenrod City Dojo, Nancy has a room exclusively her own, filled with dolls except for a chair belonging to her.
Most are human, but some are Pokémon.
These are her "collections."
And at this moment, Nancy is sailing across the sea on a Rocket Team ship.
Their target is the unknown island where Natsuhiko resides.
Beside Nancy's feet, a Pokémon with a purple body, a forked tail, a round ruby at the center of its forehead, and eyes gleaming faintly, is affectionately rubbing against her.
"How much longer?" Nancy's mouth opened slightly.
Her voice was so soft that it was unclear who she was speaking to.
But soon, hurried footsteps echoed in the cabin, and a Rocket Team leader-like figure appeared drenched in sweat, hardly daring to breathe.
He quickly controlled his tone, cautiously saying, "Still, still need four or five hours."
Nancy turned half her head slightly and cast him a glance.
The leader's face instantly turned ashen white, his back soaked with sweat.
"Too slow." Nancy's tone was calm.
But in the leader's ears, it sounded like a death knell.
He was on the verge of kneeling, begging for mercy.
Buzz—
Yet.
His luck was rather good, as he didn't receive the expected outcome.
When he mustered the courage to look at the deck again, Nancy's figure was nowhere to be found.
Although he had saved his life, it didn't mean he was truly safe.
He hurriedly shouted towards the cabin, "Quick! Inform above that Nancy, Lady Nancy has gone missing again!"
This time.
The whole cabin descended into chaos.
That "again" was used skillfully.
...
...
Natsuhiko clearly didn't know that the "employer" Joanna mentioned was actually the Rocket Team.
Nor did he know why the Rocket Team outsourced the task to the Hunter Guild.
Even less would he know.
That woman Nancy, whom he found troublesome just thinking about, was approaching his island.
Or rather.
Already on the island.
Half an hour later.
The ground was covered with Dustox.
A Monferno and Latios exhausted under the tree, and an Eevee nestled in Natsuhiko's arms looking somewhat listless.
In stark contrast to the Togekiss flapping its wings flying up and down, the Beedrill hovering steadily in mid-air, and Alakazam calmly following beside Natsuhiko.
Latios and the others still need more training.
Natsuhiko captured the Gym Leader-Level Dustox leader with a Pokeball, then selected a few Elite Level Dustox with decent techniques and traits.
The rest weren't of much interest.
From the Dustox territory, Natsuhiko didn't find anything valuable.
After cleaning an area, he continued towards the island's interior.
Judging from the Dustox territory's situation, occupying a territory on this island, unknown for how long, would at least require Gym Leader-Level strength.
This indicates the island's ecological condition is good and holds high value.
After resting for a while.
Natsuhiko stored away Togekiss and the others, and continued with Latios, Monferno, and Eevee.
No need to worry too much about safety issues, Aegislash would always be ready.
And after Natsuhiko and the others left.
From a tree slightly away from where they had just been, a fluffy pink head peeked out.
Two eyes like black gemstones and playful ears slightly twitched, watching Natsuhiko and the others depart, showing no discernible expression or change in demeanor.
As if hesitating for a moment.
Suddenly, a fluffy round black hand was stretched out, waving at them.
But upon realizing Natsuhiko and the others didn't respond to its waving.
In the calm and innocent eyes, a flicker of anger appeared.
Crack!!
With no visible movement.
The thick tree trunk that required two people to embrace, in that instant...
Broke!
Yet the trunk didn't fall to the ground with any sound.
Because.
Aware of the commotion it created, it gently caught the falling trunk with one hand.
On the calm face.
No sign of exertion could be seen.
Carefully placing the tree trunk back onto the original stump.
But how could a broken trunk be pieced back together?
The pink-headed Pokémon tilted its head.
When it rose to leave.
Saw that at the break, several sturdy sticks were inserted, treating them as bands to fix the trunk.
The tree: %￥##%...