"Old Chen, what are you looking at?"
Noticing Chen Shi acting strangely, Steven spoke as he quickly walked over beside him and followed his line of sight.
Then, he noticed the unusual Carbink as well.
"Huh? This Carbink's color is different from the others."
"It's probably a shiny Pokémon, right?"
Steven slightly raised an eyebrow, a look of understanding flashing through his eyes.
In the Pokémon world, shiny Pokémon were considered relatively rare existences.
But to him—
Unless it was a shiny pseudo-legendary, other shiny Pokémon were just… alright.
"I thought you were staring at something important."
As he spoke, Steven casually patted Chen Shi's shoulder before withdrawing his gaze, not paying the special Carbink much attention at all.
After snapping back to reality, Chen Shi looked at Steven's departing figure with an extremely strange expression.
He almost wanted to laugh.
This guy probably had no idea—
This was the closest he had ever been to his ultimate dream.
In front of Diancie—
Even a shiny Metagross would have to stand aside.
However, Chen Shi didn't say anything.
Because the Carbink tribe could not exist without a Diancie Queen.
If Steven really took this mutating Carbink away—
The entire Carbink race would probably go insane.
At that moment, Cynthia walked over.
"What are you planning to do with these Carbink?"
Hearing that, Chen Shi thought for a moment before speaking to the Carbink tribe.
"It's already very late tonight."
"How about you all rest here for the night first?"
"Tomorrow, we'll send you back home."
After hearing his words, the Carbink immediately began discussing things among themselves.
Some of them even secretly peeked at Chen Shi from time to time.
Finally—
The mutating Carbink surrounded in the center ignored the attempts of its clansmen to stop it and slowly stepped forward.
It gave Chen Shi a respectful bow, as though expressing gratitude.
"Nah nah~~"
(Thank you, human. You saved my tribe… and you saved me as well. We are willing to follow your arrangements.)
It had to be said—
As the future Diancie Queen, this Carbink already possessed a trace of regal bearing.
Chen Shi smiled and waved his hand modestly.
"There's no need to be so polite."
"Speaking of which… it was humans who hurt you first."
"I just hope this experience won't make you hate all humans."
The Carbink gently nodded and let out a soft cry.
"Nah nah~~"
(Please rest assured. All living beings possess both good and evil.)
(Just like today. There were evil humans who captured us… but there were also kind humans like you who came to save us.)
"Nah nah~"
(So we won't blame all humans simply because some are bad.)
"Alright. Thank you for understanding."
Chen Shi nodded slightly before asking again:
"Can you tell me where you were captured from?"
"Tomorrow, we can escort you back to your homeland."
"Nah nah~"
(We live within the Orance Forest.)
Hearing the words "Orance Forest," Chen Shi fell silent briefly before nodding.
"Got it."
"Tomorrow, we'll send you home."
"Nah nah~"
(Thank you.)
"You're welcome."
Chen Shi waved his hand before turning toward Cynthia.
"You guys should head back first later."
"I'll stay here tonight and keep watch over them."
"In a bit, I'll have Dragapult go back with you. Remember to give him my backpack so he can bring it over."
The moment he finished speaking, a triangular head suddenly emerged from Chen Shi's shadow.
It was Dragapult.
The Pokémon narrowed its long eyes and glanced at Chen Shi before silently slipping into Cynthia's shadow instead.
Cynthia frowned slightly at first but eventually nodded in agreement.
On the other side, Steven looked surprised.
"No way, Old Chen."
"You're really planning to stay here and guard them?"
"All the Pokémon Hunters have already been arrested by the Officer Jennys outside."
"This place is completely safe now."
"Why not just come back to the hotel?"
"No."
Chen Shi shook his head firmly.
"I'll stay here in case something unexpected happens."
If this had merely been a normal group of Carbink, perhaps he wouldn't have cared this much.
But among them—
There was a future Diancie Queen.
Leaving her here unattended made him genuinely uneasy.
Just as Steven was about to continue persuading him—
Footsteps suddenly echoed from outside.
A figure slowly walked in.
The Carbink tribe immediately shrank back fearfully upon seeing another unfamiliar human.
Officer Jenny Yoko swept her gaze across the Carbink tribe before finally landing on Chen Shi.
She walked forward with crisp, decisive strides, her posture upright and heroic.
Stopping at an appropriate distance before Chen Shi, she gave a standard, clean salute.
"Mr. Chen, thank you for your assistance."
"You not only saved our lives, but also helped us successfully capture the criminals."
Just moments earlier, she had already learned Chen Shi's and Cynthia's identities from her subordinates.
And regarding Chen Shi—
Officer Jenny Yoko felt sincere gratitude from the bottom of her heart.
Even now, when she recalled Salamence after stacking Moxie to its limit—
A lingering fear still remained.
If Chen Shi hadn't intervened in time—
Everyone participating in the arrest operation today, including herself, might have been in grave danger.
Chen Shi waved his hand modestly, wearing a warm and humble smile.
"There's no need to be so polite."
"When encountering Pokémon Hunters like this, I believe any trainer with a sense of justice wouldn't stand by and do nothing."
"Old Chen, aren't you a breeder?"
Steven suddenly teased from the side.
Chen Shi's mouth twitched.
Then he replied irritably:
"Fine then."
"Any breeder with a sense of justice wouldn't stand by and do nothing either, alright?"
Officer Jenny Yoko said seriously:
"No matter what, you gave us tremendous help."
"After returning, I'll report everything to the Alliance."
Hearing this, Chen Shi merely shook his head without saying much.
Perhaps in Officer Jenny Yoko's eyes, once she submitted this report to the Alliance, Chen Shi would receive a considerable amount of merit.
And merit could be exchanged for resources within the Alliance.
But to Chen Shi—
He didn't lack those things at all.
The reason he saved them was simply because he happened to be here.
Still—
The more Chen Shi looked at Officer Jenny Yoko, the more familiar she seemed.
Although every member of the Jenny family looked nearly identical, there were still subtle differences between them.
After thinking for a moment, Chen Shi cautiously asked:
"Do you know Officer Jenny Muko from the Hoenn Region?"
Upon hearing that, Officer Jenny Yoko's eyes lit up.
"That's my younger sister."
"My name is Officer Jenny Yoko."
Well then.
So they were actually sisters.
No wonder she looked somewhat familiar.
Afterward, Chen Shi pointed toward the Carbink tribe.
"I know these Pokémon."
"I came here specifically to rescue them."
Officer Jenny Yoko immediately understood the meaning behind his words and nodded.
"In that case…"
"I'll leave these Pokémon in your care."
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