After sending off the first guest, Lucas returned to his chair and picked up the herbal medicine book to continue studying.
Gengar sat beside him, watching the big TV. The weather after lunch was a bit hot, so Lucas let Machamp and the others come over to sit and watch TV. As for Petilil, she wasn't interested in TV.
Closing the book, Lucas glanced outside, estimating that no more guests would come today, then stood up.
Gengar, Machamp, and the others all looked at Lucas.
"How about we go into the forest today?" Lucas asked with a smile.
The Pokémon nodded. Gengar turned off the TV, and Machamp and the others also stood up. Seeing this, Lucas went out, brought the wooden board back, hung a "Temporarily Closed" sign on the door, and then returned to the backyard.
"Machamp, Machamp, you two just follow along. Machamp, you stay home and look after our house, okay?" Lucas said, carrying a basket on his back, looking at the three Machamp, unsure what they would find in the forest.
Then one Machamp, presumably Machamp, stepped forward and saluted, a living, qualified security guard.
"Nihe!"
"I'm counting on you!" Lucas also saluted with a serious expression.
After arranging for the Pokémon to guard the house, Lucas went to the grassland by the Lake to ask Petilil if she wanted to go with him. After getting her reply, he picked up Petilil and walked towards the forest behind the Breeding House.
Passing by the area planned as a herb garden, Lucas paused, looked carefully, and decided to buy some herb seeds to plant when he returned, and then some vegetable seeds to plant next door.
"Machamp, when we get back, you might have to work hard to help me re-cultivate this area. Then we'll plant herbs and some vegetables that you like to eat."
Lucas looked at Machamp and the others, requesting.
Looking at Lucas's sincere face, Machamp and Machamp's eyes glazed over for a moment, then they patted their chests.
"Nihe."
We've long considered this place home... Standing at the entrance of the forest, even though it was midday, Lucas still felt a bit eerie inside.
He patted Petilil's small head in his arms to bolster his courage, then turned to Gengar.
"Gengar, you'll protect me, right?"
Hearing this, Gengar closed its wide grin, stared intently at the entrance, then nodded seriously, floating into Lucas's shadow, leaving only a pair of scarlet eyes.
Feeling the surrounding temperature drop a few degrees, Lucas shivered.
Why does it feel... even eerier?
Meanwhile, Machamp and the others, one stood beside Lucas, and the other led the way in front of him.
Seeing them surround him, Lucas nodded. If they really encountered danger, he would let Gengar use Hypnosis up close, then have Machamp and the others help with the "sleep."
Lucas nodded. Petilil in his arms felt the strange aura emanating from Lucas and let out a confused cry:
"La ji?"
"Let's go!" Patting Petilil's small head, Lucas entered the forest.
Unlike the concrete jungle of the city, the tree canopies here blocked out the sky, with sunlight only trickling through the gaps, scattered sparsely. The leaves were vibrant green, emerald under the sun. Every gust of wind made them dance, the rustling sounds combined with the varying volumes, distances, and clarity of various Pokémon calls, like a moving symphony.
The scent of nature reaching his nose eased Lucas's tension, and even Petilil in his arms became happier.
"It doesn't seem that threatening," Lucas thought to himself, then continued walking with Machamp and the others.
"Bidoof? Up close, its teeth are really big. Why does it look so dull? I wonder if it'll make an 'ah...' sound."
"A Burmy of the forest? It really is wrapped in leaves on the outside, how magical."
"What's that? Kricketot and Kricketune? Their sounds are indeed pleasant."
Watching the red Kricketune cross its blade-like forearms over its chest, chirping melodious sounds, Lucas almost wanted to bring it back to the Breeding House.
Continuing deeper, the traces of Pokémon became more numerous. Rustling sounds occasionally came from the surrounding bushes.
"There's no danger, after all," Lucas thought to himself, like a curious child, looking at the Pokémon around him.
"What's that smell? So stinky?" Suddenly, a stench wafted over, growing stronger. Lucas covered his nose and looked around, but saw nothing unusual.
"Is it Gloom?" Lucas was about to search carefully for Gloom's location when he saw Machamp staring intently at the bushes in front of them.
After a rustle, a Skuntank appeared before Lucas.
It stared at Lucas, its stench growing stronger. Just as it was about to make a move, Machamp delivered a perfect uppercut, and it vanished without a trace.
"Nihe."
It stinks.
"!!!"
One punch... and it was sent flying? But the stench still hadn't dissipated, so Lucas quickened his pace to leave the area.
They arrived by a small stream, which was unusually quiet at the moment.
A bad premonition came over Lucas as he watched the constantly moving vines before him.
"No way?" No sooner had he spoken than a giant Tangrowth stood up and reached out its arm to grab Lucas.
Then, in Lucas's eyes, it flew away.
"Koujie..." Gengar's voice came from behind him, and then it was thrown out, vanishing without a trace.
Turning back, Lucas gave Gengar a thumbs up.
"Koujie (￣^￣)" I'm super strong.
Seeing Gengar retreat back into his shadow, Lucas happily continued forward.
After some time away from the stream, the traces of Pokémon became numerous again.
There were Budew lazily basking in the sun, their round bodies like unbloomed flower buds.
Cherubi's pink body attracted the attention of Starly and Staravia in the trees.
Murkrow and Honchkrow perched in the trees, watching Lucas, not daring to make any moves.
Several Aipom were swinging back and forth in the trees.
Occasionally, Lucas would find some relatively good herbs and berries. He kept a portion and put the rest directly into his basket.
The Aipom followed Lucas, and seeing the berries in his basket, one of them, when Lucas wasn't paying attention, hooked a branch with the hand on its tail, swung down, quickly grabbed some berries and herbs, then stood up, chuckling mischievously.
The next second, a purple figure appeared before it.
"Koujie?! (•́へ•́╬)" You dare steal my food?!
No sooner had it spoken than the Aipom saw Gengar's eyes glow, and then it swayed and fell down.
Gengar used its psychic power to put everything into Lucas's basket. It looked at the basket, which had a lot of food, and then at the other Aipom.
It didn't trust Lucas to carry it, so it floated next to Lucas, signaling him to hand over the basket for it to carry.
Unable to resist Gengar, Lucas had to hand over the basket. After helping Gengar put it on, Gengar felt the weight, which was quite good, and then followed Lucas, continuing to pick berries.
Its speed was much faster than Lucas's. It floated around with the basket, sometimes going up trees, sometimes diving into bushes, and sometimes... unable to go into the water, Gengar could only give up with tears in its eyes.
Even Machamp and the others, after ensuring Lucas was within their line of sight, began their own gold-digging life.