"Officer Jenny, what is that man's identity?"
As Silas asked the question, he already had a guess in his heart. The fierce and vicious look on the man's face made it obvious that he was no good person.
Officer Jenny's expression was solemn. "He is a member of the Hunter's Union who fled from Sinnoh. Luckily, Silas, you discovered him in time."
As expected, Silas thought to himself.
If a member of the Hunter's Union had appeared on Route 12, there was a strong chance that Hunter J was nearby as well, though no one knew where she might be hiding.
"Officer Jenny, were you able to interrogate him about the location of their base? The longer this drags on, the more Pokémon will be harmed."
Officer Jenny understood clearly how dangerous hunters were. These people did not merely capture Pokémon in the wild. They would even steal Pokémon from trainers. They were criminals who would do anything for money.
Her brows furrowed more tightly, and her voice lowered. "Not yet. He only insists that he was acting alone."
Hunter J actually has such loyal subordinates, Silas mused inwardly.
"You do not need to worry too much," Officer Jenny continued. "We found an encrypted badge on him. Researchers with a Porygon have already begun decrypting it. We should have definite information soon."
Porygon, the Virtual Pokémon, was an artificial Pokémon successfully created by the League using the most advanced modern technology. It was mostly used in laboratories and participated in various research projects. There were even rumors that the League was further strengthening Porygon in order to develop its abilities, though whether that effort had succeeded remained unknown.
"Then I will trouble you, Officer Jenny. Please notify me immediately when there is news."
Her tone softened slightly as she nodded. "Fortunately, your Pokémon discovered him first and prevented the hunters from taking this group of Heliolisk."
"I will assign more patrols to Route 12. No matter which side discovers information about the Hunter's Union first, you will be informed right away."
"Good." Silas did not refuse. Helping to crack down on criminals was something he could not shirk, especially when it was happening right at his doorstep. And since it might involve Hunter J, who already bore a grudge against him, he had even more reason to act decisively.
Not only that, he also planned to inform Pyroar so that it could warn the Pokémon along Route 12 to remain vigilant.
There was no time to waste. Silas first sent Grovyle back to the ranch, then mounted Cyclizar and went to find Pyroar, explaining the situation in detail.
Upon learning that poachers had appeared again, Pyroar immediately summoned a group of Linoone and Zigzagoon, instructing them to spread the word to the other Pokémon groups along Route 12. If they encountered any suspicious humans, they were to report back at once.
The Linoone understood and scattered in all directions, notifying Pokémon along the way to be especially cautious in the coming days.
All that remained now was to wait for definite news.
Silas and Cyclizar returned to the ranch.
"Go play. This is your little red flower as a reward."
He placed a small red flower in Cyclizar's palm. If it had not been for Cyclizar today, who knew how many Pokémon might have fallen victim before anyone noticed the hunters. This reward was well deserved.
"Cyc!"
Cyclizar grinned, revealing a neat row of teeth, and quickly ran back to the house to carefully store the little flower away.
Watching Cyclizar leave, Silas remembered that this was only his first day back. There was still much to do.
He headed first to the planting area. Crops in the fields were harvested daily. The corn and wheat in another plot were nearing maturity as time passed.
A small field of sunflowers stood nearby, every flower head packed tightly with seeds. They would be ready to harvest within a day or two. Silas broke off a seed and popped it into his mouth. A rich sunflower aroma burst across his tongue.
"When they are fully ripe, I can roast them into sunflower seeds as little snacks for the small ones. I bet Morpeko would love them."
It was common knowledge that hamsters loved cracking seeds. Morpeko could handle the shelling, and he would handle the eating.
After making a round of inspection, Silas called back the three Meowth who were working in the fields.
"The weather is getting hotter. Do not stay out in the fields too long. There are chilled cakes and milkshakes in the refrigerator."
"Meow."
The Meowth responded. The Alolan Meowth stepped out first, followed by the regular Meowth, while the Galarian Meowth balanced a large basket on its head. Inside were bundles upon bundles of freshly harvested beans.
"There are still this many in the field?"
The Alolan Meowth shot him a look of disdain, silently blaming Silas. These beans had caused them endless trouble. They grew far too quickly and were impossible to harvest completely. During the days Silas had been away, they had eaten them every single day.
Now the Pokémon at the ranch detoured whenever they saw beans. Everyone was practically sick of them.
"Haha." Silas scratched his forehead awkwardly. It was his first time planting them, and he had not expected such rapid growth.
"There are indeed too many. Next year I will plant fewer."
Upon hearing that, the regular Meowth seemed to lose all its strength at once. It looked at Silas with a deeply resentful gaze, as if asking whether he truly intended to be so cruel as to plant them again next year.
"Relax. Help deliver these beans to Tropius and Meganium. They should like them."
The Galarian Meowth nodded. Eating fewer beans themselves would be a blessing. At this rate, they were about to turn into bean flavored cats.
After parting ways with the Meowth, Silas headed to the greenhouse nearby.
When he pushed open the door and stepped inside, the temperature was far cooler than outside. Immediately, a mixture of floral fragrances rushed into his nose.
Then five small figures darted toward him, filling his ears with the delighted cries of Flabébé.
"Yes, yes, yes. I have seen all your hard work." He let the Flabébé perch in his palm. "You have taken excellent care of the flowers."
"Bébé."
The white flower Flabébé tugged at one of Silas's fingers, inviting him over to the patch where the Gracidea flowers were planted.
It was no longer a single lonely blossom. Now there were two Gracidea flowers, one large and one small.
"Was this new one your doing?"
"Bébé!"
The white flower Flabébé smiled shyly and nodded gently.
Catching it carefully in his other hand, Silas took out a small red flower from his pocket.
"This little red flower is your reward."
"Bé!"
The white Flabébé hugged it in surprise, joy nearly overflowing.
At that very moment, its body began to shine with a pure white light without warning.
Evolution.
The smallest Flabébé was the first to evolve.
The other four Flabébé watched with envious eyes, offering their blessings.
As the white light gradually faded, Floette appeared. Floette looked very similar to Flabébé, the only difference being that it had grown larger. It now held the lower half of its flower in its hands like a young maiden carrying a parasol.
"Flore!"
The newly evolved white flower Floette spun in place, then leapt straight into Silas's arms, lifting the flower to brush against his cheek.
"Floette is very beautiful. From now on, I will entrust all the flowers in the ranch to your care."
"Flore."
After gently comforting the white flower Floette, the other four Flabébé surrounded him one by one, each eagerly leading him to see the flowers they had been tending.
(End of Chapter)