On the highway.
Heavy trucks roared past like a long dragon, shaking the windows with a rumbling wind sound.
Geographically, Pyrite Town is located between Jinqing Port and Silicon City.
Thus, to properly manage various donated materials, Shanren has asked the Magma Team to build a super-large storage base outside Pyrite Town for necessary transfers and stops.
It's said that it's almost filled to capacity, and a second expansion is planned.
"Are there many outsiders in Pyrite Town?"
Baimu asked curiously.
Ayana replied, "Not many, but not too few, as you know, Pyrite Town can't compete with Silicon City, the living environment there is much better."
Silicon City, once Ergin's stronghold.
Baimu, as an Ore Person, had never been there.
But it hasn't stopped him from gathering information from various channels.
According to Shanren, almost all black technology in the Ore Region originates from Silicon City, located in Ore's most treacherous area, built with the first mayor's excavated water channels.
Relying on abundant water resources, Silicon City became an oasis in the desert, with hundreds of thousands living there over the centuries.
It was also the only area before defeating Ergin where basic education was valued, with a literacy rate of over eighty percent.
Due to its buildings mostly being white as jade, excellent greenery facilities, and crystal-clear inner city water channels, it also has titles such as Holy City and Oasis City.
Ergin dared to accept outside alliance personnel in Silicon City, so the image projects here certainly weren't lacking.
On this visit back, Baimu also planned to tour Silicon City.
Additionally, he wanted to see the largest and grandest high-tech arena in Ore—the Vermilion Tower.
This was completed during the leadership of the previous, previous, previous Shadow Team boss, Euya, and the current owner is the son of the previous Shadow Team boss, Sijing, named Alte.
After the Dragon People protagonist in the Dark Whirlwind edition ruined the Second Generation Shadow Team's plan, Alte awakened and turned himself in with his father Sijing and his brother Althus to the international police.
Alte demonstrated proactive penitence awareness as an accomplice, and since the crimes of the Second Generation Shadow Team were relatively smaller compared to the First and Third Generations, he was released from prison and returned to Ore to manage the legacy of the Vermilion Tower; meanwhile, his father and brother are still incarcerated.
Alte also merited greatly for his positive response during the downfall of the Third Generation Shadow Team.
Nowadays.
The Vermilion Tower, along with Battle Mountain and the oldest arena—Ore Arena, forms the third gathering place for numerous powerful Trainers.
Previously, Baimu's understanding of Pokémon Trainers in the Ore Region was limited to Pyrite Town, which could frankly be likened to viewing a leopard through a tube.
Aiming for the title of Ore Champion, he must understand these people.
It would be too late to learn once they responded to the establishment of the Ore Alliance by Shanren.
Suddenly.
A streak of green flashed across Baimu's vision.
"Huh?"
He was about to turn back, then a vast green scene rushed into view!
In the past, the outskirts of Pyrite Town were plagued by constant flying sands, with the sun baking the land into cracks as deep as sores, where no signs of life were visible—
However.
What appeared before Baimu now were fewer in number, yet strikingly eye-catching green plants!
Baimu was shocked to see those low shrubs, with nearly an hour's journey to Pyrite Town still ahead, far distant from the Aggron mountains too.
Has Pyrite Town's greening really reached this level?
"These!"
"They were cultivated by the large and small Lugia, along with N and his managed Pokémon."
Ayana smiled, explaining, "N is the most active in greening; he doesn't just plant trees around Pyrite Town but often leads large groups of Pokémon to plant desert vegetation everywhere..."
The Ore's land was too barren, and initially, N's progress was uncertain, after all, as a 'Friend of Pokémon,' he had no research on greening, and before the plant experts found by Shanren arrived, he once planted large trees unsuitable for Ore's desert environment.
Pyrite Town currently doesn't lack water due to black technology transformation, yet there aren't enough conditions to transport water outward.
As a result, many plant seedlings, even with Grass-type Pokémon nurturing them, would perish, wasting time and effort until expert guidance came, slowly learning to plant drought, sand, and salt-resistant plants with less water demand.
Such as saxaul trees and multi-lobed willow.
Recently, the Lugia Mother and Child's large-scale rain successfully promoted the spread of seeds from bird Pokémon droppings and active separation by Grass-type Pokémon throughout the region.
The lush shrubs Baimu saw then were the result of rain from those days.
"Amazing..."
He found it hard to describe the emotions surging inside; green plants were ubiquitous in the Hoenn Region, and he only felt a bit curious during the first two days there, afterward barely paying attention.
But these plants were different.
From their inherent meaning to themselves, they were different.
These varied, resilient desert plants represented N and the Pokémon's persistent effort, also representing Baimu and Shanren's initial promise.
The promise to change the entire Ore!
"Don't get too excited; wait until you see the surroundings of Pyrite Town before you let your emotions flow," Ayana's words elicited laughter from Terry.
She shouted, "The big sister's right! This is just the beginning!"
"Then I'll look forward to it."
In fact, Baimu had already seen quite a few photos of Pyrite Town's surroundings, but still couldn't help but feel anticipation for seeing the plants personally planted by Shanren and Pyrite Town's residents.