Leaving Ziyuan Town behind meant they were more or less entering the Viridian Forest.
"Mo-ge, looks like the rain's about to stop," Ah Hui said.
Even without the reminder, Chen Mo could tell from the thinning raindrops on the windshield that the spring rain which had lasted through the night was nearing its end.
Ah Hui rolled down the window.
Fresh, rain-washed forest air slipped inside through the crack, instantly refreshing the previously stuffy interior of the off-road vehicle.
Chen Mo felt more alert as well. He glanced at the rearview mirror, where Yi-ge sat upright in the back seat, his expression unchanged as ever. After hesitating for a moment, Chen Mo still asked:
"Yi-ge, earlier you mentioned the first new-type city where humans and Pokémon coexist. What exactly does that mean?"
Hearing this, Ah Hui—still holding Caterpie—also turned around. As a fellow resident of Anping City, he was just as concerned.
"It means exactly that," Yi-ge replied evenly. "A city where humans and Pokémon coexist."
"...Could you explain in a bit more detail?"
For Chen Mo and Ah Hui, Yi-ge didn't bother keeping things vague.
After a joint proposal by Professor Zhou and part of the Pokémon Research and Response Bureau, higher authorities had decided to designate Anping City as the nation's first pilot city. The plan was to experimentally allow certain Pokémon that were friendly toward humans to integrate into urban life, while encouraging residents to actively raise Pokémon.
Of course—
Not every resident of Anping City was willing to live alongside "monsters." The city government was already arranging manpower to conduct door-to-door surveys of residents' willingness.
Those unwilling to stay would, much like in a relocation project, receive national compensation and be moved out in an orderly manner, making room for families from across the country who were willing to move in.
Those who chose to remain would likewise receive government subsidies as encouragement and support.
"This… is going to take a huge amount of manpower and resources," Ah Hui muttered, smacking his lips.
Just hearing Yi-ge's explanation was enough for him to imagine the countless difficulties this new policy would face during implementation.
Yi-ge's expression remained calm and emotionless.
"Change is always difficult at the beginning. What matters is being willing to try. As long as the possibility can be proven, any cost paid along the way is worth it."
From Yi-ge's words, Chen Mo could sense the determination of the authorities to bring order to this chaotic era.
"Yi-ge, can I ask when this new policy was finalized?" Chen Mo asked.
"Last night."
"…Huh!?"
Seeing the shock and disbelief on their faces, Yi-ge actually smiled—a rare sight.
"Things aren't as simple as you imagine. The Research and Response Bureau has simulated many solutions regarding Pokémon issues. This policy was one of them, but its priority was originally very low—near the bottom, in fact. Only recently did Professor Zhou bring it back up for renewed discussion."
"As for why it was finalized last night… the reason is exactly what you're thinking. What happened between Xiao You and Banette finally pushed many undecided people to make up their minds."
At this point, Yi-ge paused.
He glanced at Chen Mo and said slowly:
"You did very well yesterday. I watched that entire stream."
Chen Mo smiled faintly. His gaze stayed fixed on the forest road stretching endlessly ahead, with no hint of claiming credit.
"It didn't really have anything to do with me. I just did what you usually do, Yi-ge."
Ah Hui and Yi-ge exchanged a look and smiled, saying nothing more.
Just then—
They noticed the visibility ahead dropping rapidly. Layers of milky-white fog drifted out from the forest, gradually obscuring the road ahead.
"It's foggy…" Ah Hui murmured.
Fog after rain wasn't uncommon. Given that it was early morning, temperatures were low, and they were traveling along a forest path, the sudden fog was understandable.
Even though there were probably no other vehicles on this road, Chen Mo still turned on the fog lights and slowed down again.
They were getting closer to their destination anyway—no need to rush.
No one paid the fog much attention. Ah Hui lowered his head again, took a leaf from a container beside him, and fed it to the Caterpie in his arms.
"Eat up. Mo-ge said Caterpie need to eat a lot if they want to evolve quickly."
Caterpie happily munched on the leaf from Ah Hui's fingertips, but Ah Hui himself felt a bit troubled.
Normally, once a Caterpie absorbed enough energy, it would begin molting. After three to four molts, it would spin silk around itself and complete its evolution into a Metapod.
This process didn't take long—usually within one or two weeks after hatching, a Caterpie would finish all its molts and evolve.
But—
Ah Hui's Caterpie had eaten plenty of leaves, yet from birth until now, it hadn't molted even once.
This had been worrying Ah Hui endlessly.
Was it really due to congenital weakness…?
Watching Caterpie crawl up his arm, straighten its body, and chirp softly, Ah Hui snapped out of his thoughts.
He smiled, forcibly pushing the negativity aside.
"Alright, alright. I know you're still hungry. I'll get you more leaves right away."
Just as Ah Hui slightly turned to grab more leaves from the container, he suddenly felt the vehicle slowing—then coming to a stop.
After feeding Caterpie, Ah Hui looked up at Chen Mo.
"What's wrong, Mo-ge?"
"There's a Pokémon on the road ahead."
"Huh!?"
Ah Hui jolted, instantly recalling Absol blocking the road before—and that terrifying, overwhelmingly imposing Onix.
"Where? Where is it!?"
Seeing Ah Hui's tense reaction, Chen Mo laughed and waved his hand.
"It's fine. Just a very cute little guy. Didn't expect to run into it here—it's pretty interesting."
Chen Mo turned to the back seat.
"Yi-ge, could you start the stream? While that little guy hasn't left yet, let's do some on-the-spot education for the viewers. We can treat it as our first proper Pokémon introduction since entering Viridian Forest."
Switching back into work mode, Yi-ge nodded. Without a word, he picked up the camera beside him and quickly adjusted the settings.
Soon, the livestream went live.
Despite the sudden start, a large number of viewers still poured in immediately.
[It started early!? Is this really the Mo-bao I know?]
[I knew I couldn't trust the stream schedule Mo-bao posted. Good thing I was prepared—pity for those still sleeping.]
[Didn't you say you'd arrive after ten? It's only nine—are you already there, or did you suddenly grow a conscience?]
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