"Watch out! Corvisquire, use Defog!"
Corvisquire burst from its Poké Ball, beating its wings to create a powerful gale that instantly blew away the incoming toxic needles.
"Thank you, sir," the girl in the apron said, her voice filled with relief. "If you hadn't stepped in, those kids might have been badly hurt."
"No need for thanks. I'm a trainer; it's the right thing to do," Feng Che replied.
Hardly had he finished speaking when the orphanage's outer wall buckled under the weight of the massive Ariados. A tide of Spinarak surged into the courtyard.
"Why are there so many? Spinarak don't usually attack humans without reason," Feng Che asked, feigning ignorance.
"That Ariados... I think it's the one that escaped my capture last time," the girl—Kris—said with a look of deep guilt. "I shouldn't have let it go. Now it's brought its whole colony for revenge."
The Ariados unhinged its jaw, letting out a series of high-pitched, vibrating screeches. The dilapidated wooden structure of the orphanage groaned and finally gave way, collapsing into a heap of rubble.
"Sister Kris! Our home! It's gone!" the children wailed, tears streaming down their faces.
Kris's expression hardened. A sharp, commanding aura erupted from her. She stood there—stern, beautiful, and resolute. "Everyone, out! Attack the Ariados!"
Smoochum, Cubone, Hitmonchan, Natu, Arcanine, and Parasect burst from their balls.
"Sir, please watch over the children. I'll handle the capture myself," Kris said to Feng Che.
Feng Che nodded, releasing Ivysaur, Vulpix, and Alolan Vulpix. "Guard the kids." He had no intention of interfering; this was Kris's stage.
Kris's Arcanine unleashed a searing Flamethrower, incinerating the webs that choked the courtyard. Smoochum blew a freezing Icy Wind, turning several Spinarak into ice statues, while Parasect released Spore to put others to sleep. Cubone used Bonemerang, Natu used Confusion, and Hitmonchan threw Fire Punches.
Within minutes, only the leader remained.
[Ariados: My army... defeated so quickly?]
The spider panicked and tried to scramble away, but Hitmonchan intercepted it, its fists wreathed in flames.
"Going somewhere?" Kris's voice was ice-cold. "Hitmonchan, finish it."
A heavy punch slammed into Ariados's face. The spider reeled like a drunkard before collapsing. Kris smiled, pulled a stack of Poké Balls from her bag, and with a series of practiced kicks, captured every single one of the intruders.
"Oh, my building!"
The orphanage director rushed onto the scene, nearly fainting at the sight of the wreckage. Kris apologized profusely, but the director shook her head. "It's not your fault, dear. You've kept us afloat with your work for so long."
"Director," Feng Che intervened. "Sometimes you have to tear down the old to build the new. This place was a safety hazard anyway. It's better to rebuild."
"I agree," the director sighed, "but we don't have the funds."
"I'm a trainer and alchemist. I've saved up quite a bit from my work. I'm willing to fund the reconstruction," Feng Che said smoothly.
The director hesitated, her pride wrestling with the need. "I couldn't possibly take your savings..."
Feng Che pointed to the children playing happily with his Pokémon. "Don't do it for yourself. Do it for them."
Kris couldn't stay silent. "Director, let him. I'll work for him to pay it back. I can catch any Pokémon he needs."
"Kris... I feel like I'm selling you," the director sighed.
"It's my choice," Kris said firmly. She turned to Feng Che with a look of immense gratitude. "I'm sorry, sir. I don't even know your name."
"My name is Feng Che. And as it happens, I'm currently on a mission for Professor Oak to catalog and capture rare Pokémon."
"Professor Oak? The world-famous researcher?" The director's eyes lit up. If Kris worked under Oak's umbrella through Feng Che, her future would be limitless.
"Mr. Feng Che, thank you for your generosity. I leave Kris in your care," the director said, her attitude shifting instantly.
Feng Che handed the director an anonymous credit card. "Use this to rent a house in town for the children for now. Kris, your first assignment is to help me track down high-quality Miltank. The Professor requires specimens with rare potential. You catch them, send them to me for screening, and I'll forward the best ones to the Lab."
"Understood!" Kris agreed enthusiastically.
Perfect. I've successfully turned the Child of Destiny into my top employee, Feng Che thought. Once I have the Miltank, my Breeding Center will finally be ready to open.
Following the directions from the old lady in Goldenrod, Feng Che and Kris tracked a herd of Miltank to a nearby forest clearing. In the center was a massive matriarch, her ears twitching as she surveyed the surroundings.
Pokémon: Miltank Potential: Outstanding (Green) Ability: Thick Fat Level: 45 Status: Alert. Evaluation: A battle-hardened leader. Her milk yield is low, but its nutritional value is ten times that of a standard Miltank. Capture highly recommended.
The matriarch had deep scars across her face—remnants of past battles against poachers. She chewed aggressively on a clump of grass.
[Miltank Leader: Humans are hunting us again. The safe spots are vanishing. I won't let them take me back to those dark stalls.]
Suddenly, the sound of heavy footsteps echoed through the trees.