"They can't manage it; the Dragon's Den is simply too vast."
"Furthermore, the location where this Hydreigon gave birth to the Deino is outside the protected jurisdiction of the Village of Dragons. Their sanctuary only covers a portion of the den. Once you step outside those borders, poachers can act with impunity."
"According to the unspoken rules, this Hydreigon must fend for itself. The Opelucid Gym lacks the manpower to safeguard every nesting site. One can only say this Hydreigon was born under an unlucky star," Feng Che explained to Caitlin, shaking his head.
"Let's gather these rare berries first. They are immensely beneficial to Pokémon, and these Thunder Bananas are the best supplement for nurturing newborn Electric-types."
As Feng Che spoke, several small arcs of electricity crackled across Zeraora's silver fur. These arcs struck the ripe fruits, knocking them neatly to the ground.
[Zeraora: Since the human wants these fruits, I might as well lend a claw.]
Zeraora transformed into a silver blur. In the blink of an eye, a mountain of fresh berries sat before them.
"Zeraora is so fast!" Caitlin marveled. "Even if I focused my psychic perception, I wouldn't be able to track her movements."
"Her speed rivals a literal bolt of lightning," Feng Che replied. "At that velocity, the human eye is physically incapable of perceiving the individual motions."
"You are so knowledgeable, Mr. Feng Che. You seem to understand every Pokémon intimately," Caitlin praised, her eyes filled with admiration. She felt more and more that Feng Che possessed a strange, magnetic charm.
Feng Che used his telekinesis to sweep the berries into his storage bracer.
"Mr. Feng Che, are you already a High-tier psychic?" Caitlin asked, noting how effortlessly he moved such a large volume of items.
"I haven't tested my limits in a while. You've actually reminded me," Feng Che said, pulling his meditation beads from his storage.
He focused his mind. Two hundred and one black beads rose into the air, hovering with ease. It wasn't until he reached 251 beads that he felt a slight resistance in his mental flow.
"Indeed, I have reached the High-tier," he said, a satisfied curve touching his lips.
If not for Caitlin's remark, he wouldn't have noticed that he'd broken through. No wonder searching Kiyoma's memories felt so easy. It must have been the divine energy that 'Sea Philanthropist' pumped into me. Not only did it boost my Heart Sight, but it tempered my psychic reserves as well.
He felt a strange surge of gratitude toward the Sea Monster, though it was quickly followed by a mischievous smirk.
"Zeraora, thank you. I have one more favor to ask. Follow me."
Feng Che led them back to the shore, where he deployed the submarine and pulled out a heavy-duty charging cable.
"Zeraora, could you please provide a low-voltage, steady current to charge this vessel?" he asked, pressing his palms together in a polite request.
[Zeraora: To think a human would need my help. Fine... considering what he did for my child, I'll assist.]
She wrapped the charging clamps around her forearm, carefully channeling a stable flow of electricity. As the progress bar on the sub's display began to climb, Feng Che placed a tray of golden, jelly-like treats beside her.
"Thank you, Zeraora. These are custom Electric-type energy blocks I made. Try them; if they aren't to your taste, I'll adjust the recipe."
Zeraora picked up a handful and began to chew. A sweet, crisp flavor combined with a pleasant tingling sensation exploded on her palate.
[Zeraora: This... this is a hundred times better than the slop I was fed in that cage. It's better than anything I ever found in the wild.]
A look of pure bliss crossed her face. As the saying goes, the way to any heart—human or Pokémon—is through the stomach.
"Mr. Feng Che," Caitlin said quietly, fidgeting with her fingers in embarrassment. "Do you know how to unlock Poké Balls? My team's release mechanisms were forcibly locked."
As an Elite Four member, this was her first solo mission, and it had been a disaster. She'd suffered psychic backlash and her entire team had been rendered inaccessible.
"Let me see," Feng Che said. "If the lock is digital or physical but not broken, I can bypass it."
He used a magnifying lens and a fine-tuned psychic pulse. A series of clicks echoed as the locks disengaged. "The locking pins were jammed into place. Once you reset the internal core with telekinesis, they pop right back open."
"Thank you! Everyone, come out!"
Caitlin released Bronzong, Metagross, Gothitelle, Musharna, and Sigilyph. "These are my partners. I felt so helpless without them on that ship."
"Every hardship is a form of training, Caitlin," Feng Che consoled her. "The bond between a trainer and a psychic Pokémon lies in the mental connection. A single loss doesn't define you. When you've grown stronger, you'll have plenty of time for payback."
Three Days Later: A Hidden Cavern near Opelucid City.
Dozens of figures clad in black cloaks and masks stood in two silent rows. These were the elite members of the Poaching Syndicate.
A man in a pristine white suit with a ruby-encrusted tie stepped forward. He looked to be in his early twenties, and a massive Haxorus towered behind him.
"Welcome, everyone, to the Deino Hunt," the man announced. "I am General Kaiser."
"I have confirmed that a Dragon-tier Hydreigon has given birth to a child of exceptional potential. The mother is currently in a weakened post-natal state. That is our window."
"I only want the Deino's egg. Any other dragon resources in the nest are yours to keep. However, if any of you are lucky enough to secure the egg itself, I am willing to pay a bounty of 100 million League Credits for it."
The crowd erupted in whispers. 100 million was a staggering sum, though a high-potential Pseudo-Legendary could fetch even more on the black market.
"Kaiser is going all out," one poacher whispered. "But that Hydreigon has summoned a legion of subordinates to guard her nest. It won't be an easy payday."
Kaiser's own Dragon God Mercenaries were the backbone of the operation, but because word had leaked, he had been forced to include other syndicates to maintain order.
"Lord Kaiser," a voluptuous woman in a blue dress approached him.
"Ryuhime, how many mercenary groups have registered for the hunt?" Kaiser asked, his expression growing stern.