The two captured hunters witnessed the entire process.
Looking at Natsuhiko, who was frowning and constantly rubbing his arm, they were at a loss for words.
This is....
Captured?
Just by getting hugged, he captured this Elite Candidate Level Bewear?
They expressed.
I could do that too...
No way!
Can't handle it!
How did Natsuhiko withstand it?
Actually, it's quite simple.
It's just a tiny bit difficult, anyone could do it.
All you need is to merge your own psychic powers with those of Alakazam, and then use food as bait to slightly control Bewear's strength.
After all, Bewear wasn't trying to give Natsuhiko a "hug of death" and immediately strangle him.
It just simply wanted someone to vent its emotions on.
Natsuhiko didn't know why this Bewear was particularly fond of him.
Maybe it was because it saw him getting along well with his Pokémon, openly playing around.
Or maybe it was seeing Natsuhiko hugging his Eevee, thinking he was amiable and wanting to be hugged too.
Or perhaps, when Bewear waved, Eevee's response touched its heart.
Everyone else only knew Bewear's wave as a challenge, because it often initiated a "hug of death" which people saw as a threat.
But they didn't realize that this was also Bewear's way of showing friendliness.
They just.
Couldn't control their strength.
When Bewear picked up Natsuhiko, cold sweat instantly surfaced on his forehead, but he still forced a smile. Bewear's inner feelings were stirred, and its eyes showed a change.
And thus, Natsuhiko, who successfully survived, earned Bewear's approval.
Therefore, the capturing process didn't encounter too many difficulties.
Then the two hunters saw Natsuhiko writhing in pain.
Followed by a muscular Snorlax with a simple and honest appearance, plus a Bewear that looked even more dazed than Snorlax.
Clearly forming a cute pair of bodyguards.
Moving towards them.
Two Elite Candidate Level Pokémon!
Even though Bewear was just captured, and Snorlax wasn't extensively trained by Natsuhiko, it still made quite an impression.
Stopping in front of the two.
Natsuhiko crouched down.
Staring at their pleading eyes, unable to speak due to Alakazam's restraint and feeling quite anxious.
Natsuhiko thought for a moment, "You two..."
"Uuuu——"
"Are subordinates of Miss Q?"
The two blinked repeatedly.
"Close associates?"
A slight hesitation, and they blinked again.
"Hmm." Natsuhiko nodded, "I'm not that heartless. How about this, I'll give you a chance."
Upon hearing this, hope gleamed in their eyes.
"Let Bewear give you a hug, survive it, and you're free. I promise." Natsuhiko said earnestly.
Let Bewear give them a hug?
Their expressions froze instantly.
Is this giving a chance?
This is the Pokémon that can casually toss Snorlax!
Natsuhiko ignored their pleading eyes, stood up, and signaled to Bewear.
Bewear looked a bit excited.
Soon enough.
Two sharp sounds echoed from the dense forest as Bewear disdainfully walked out of the woods.
They indeed couldn't make it.
"I gave you a chance, but you didn't grasp it." Natsuhiko clicked his tongue.
He's a vengeful person, thinking they could hurt his Pokémon and still live?
He casually rummaged through their backpacks.
Despite everything.
Their hunting skills were quite impressive; they had caught a considerable number of Pokémon since they arrived. While most weren't very valuable, there were some decent ones.
Natsuhiko released the less valuable Pokémon while keeping the more worthwhile ones.
The worthless Pokémon, if submitted, would only lower his standards.
"Turns out, capturing Pokémon isn't something you need to personally handle at all."
A couple more days.
By the third day, he would likely have accumulated a significant number of Pokémon from these hunters.
After finishing lunch on the spot, Natsuhiko stored all his Pokémon except for Latios, Monferno, Eevee, and the newly captured Bewear.
Bewear seemed quite familiar with the terrain here, probably having wandered around the island quite a bit.
But before leaving.
Natsuhiko recalled that Skrelp lived in this lake.
Although he wasn't sure why Skrelp, which typically lived in the sea, was appearing in an island lake, he couldn't pass up the chance now that he saw it.
After all, once evolved, Dragalge becomes a Dragon-type Pokémon.
Natsuhiko still had a great need for Dragon-type Pokémon.
The question now was.
How to get underwater?
There was a way.
Encasing with psychic power, he could always submerge.
But doing so would make it tough for the Pokémon to fight underwater.
Natsuhiko still lacked Water-type Pokémon with enough combat prowess.
This was his shortcoming.
His previous Water-type Pokémon, Sharpedo, was now entirely out of touch in terms of power. It was hard to say whether it would be protecting Natsuhiko or needing protection if they went underwater.
Though he had another Water-type Pokémon.
The Barbaracle he took from Hoshino Ryosaki, which originally belonged to Elite Trainer Hoshino Ryuzi and was both Water and Rock Type.
But this Pokémon had been idle in storage collecting dust.
It couldn't be sold off or displayed to others.
"Looks like Alakazam is the only option."
Natsuhiko pondered, then summoned Alakazam again. After merging psychic powers, they dove towards the lake.
First, go down to take a look.
If Skrelp was found, capture it; otherwise, come back to check next time and bring along Joanna. With her extensive hunting experience, she should know how to handle this.
As the water levels gradually rose, Natsuhiko and the rest silently submerged into the lake, wrapped in psychic power.
Underwater was a different world entirely.
The water in the lake wasn't too murky, but due to the island's poor lighting, visibility underwater was limited.
There seemed to be plenty of nutrients in this water given the large number of Water-type Pokémon.
Mostly, there were common Water-types like Poliwag, Magikarp, Barboach, and Tympole, which weren't that valuable.
Most Water-type Pokémon chose to avoid them upon seeing Natsuhiko's group.
Some were curious and surrounded the outside of the psychic membrane, though.
The Pokémon, evidently not used to such a scene, clustered around Alakazam's psychic membrane, wide-eyed with wonder at the underwater spectacle.
"Oss!"
Latios' voice drew the attention of the Pokémon.
Amidst the schools of fish, they noticed a small fish that appeared somewhat different.
A fish no longer than twenty centimeters, with a tricolor pattern of blue, white, and gray, extraordinarily big eyes that stood out.
With droopy eyelids, it looked weak.
Yet curiously, as it approached, the surrounding Water-type Pokémon seemed to see it as a fearsome predator and scattered, which caught Latios' attention.
They communicated with the Water-type Pokémon outside the psychic membrane.
Bewear waved at it too.
It seemed shy and unsure of how to respond.
With a puff of its cheeks, Bewear tried to extend its arm out of the psychic membrane, intending to "greet" the fish Pokémon.
Thankfully.
Seeing this scene, Natsuhiko immediately held onto Bewear's arm.
Preventing its actions.
Heaving a sigh of relief at the weak-looking Pokémon outside.
"This little guy is the king of these waters." Natsuhiko said.
"Buyi?" Eevee tilted its head.
So did Bewear.
This seemingly weak creature doesn't look like a king at all.
Natsuhiko gave a helpless smile, "Because it's called Wishiwashi."
...
...
Unbeknownst to Natsuhiko.
After they submerged, a sudden psychic wave surfaced. A girl with a purple cat-like Pokémon appeared out of nowhere at the site of their recent battle.
Her bright eyes scanned the chaotic ground.
A ghostly green glow emerged from her eye sockets.
Her white hand caressed the soft fur of the Pokémon beside her.
"This is strange, there was definitely a strong psychic wave here just now. Judging by the marks on the ground, there should have been a fight. Where are they?"
The newcomer was drawn by Natsuhiko and Alakazam's psychic powers....
Nancy!