Chapter 126: Chapter 126: The Root of the Trouble
At noon, Ron didn't return to his hotel. Instead, he found a popular restaurant and specifically requested a private room, intending to enjoy a lavish seafood feast with his Pokémon team.
Although the restaurant was bustling with customers, the dishes were served promptly. Soon, the table was filled with a sumptuous array of seafood delicacies.
"Dig in! Eat as much as you want today!" Ron announced as he grabbed a lobster.
Without saying much, Persian and the others exchanged glances before beginning to eat slowly and methodically.
At first, Ron was puzzled by their unusually refined manners, but he didn't dwell on it.
With Machamp leading the charge, the first table of seafood was quickly cleared. Then came the second table.
By the time the second table was halfway done, Ron was completely stuffed, unable to eat even a spoonful of soup.
During the third table, Nidorino and Kirlia, who were less robust, also tapped out.
At the fourth table, Bellossom admitted defeat. By the fifth table, even Persian was out of commission. Only Machamp remained, his stomach seemingly a bottomless pit as he continued to eat until the very end.
Thankfully, Ron was wealthy now. Otherwise, he would've been weighing the options of fleeing the bill or staying behind to work it off.
Suddenly, Ron thought of a joke about "the more you eat, the higher your talent." It seemed perfectly fitting at that moment.
When it was time to pay, the restaurant owner's overly enthusiastic gaze gave Ron goosebumps that didn't subside even after leaving the establishment.
Noticing this, Machamp felt reassured—at least his Trainer's preferences seemed normal.
Then again, Machamp had a second thought: what if it was just that the owner was too old or unattractive? What if Ron actually preferred someone younger?
With these thoughts in mind, Machamp realized his responsibilities were far from over.
He needed to keep Persian and the others in the dark about Ron's potential inclinations while figuring out Ron's ideal type and guiding him back on the "right path."
Distracted by his musings, Machamp's stomach growled, signaling that he could go for another lobster.
Satisfied and back at the hotel, Ron took a delightful nap.
Around three or four in the afternoon, he leisurely made his way to the beach, ready to bask in the sea's embrace once more.
Tomorrow, Ron would set out for Maiden's Peak, continuing his journey. With only two or three days to rest, Ron was determined to make the most of his time.
As soon as Ron reached the beach, he noticed a police barricade. Numerous officers were stationed on the sand, prepared for action.
Without needing to inquire, the chatter among the crowd informed Ron of the situation.
Around 1 PM, a group of people riding speedboats encountered some Tentacool. Instead of avoiding them, they drove straight into the Pokémon.
The result was predictable: their speedboats were swiftly destroyed by Tentacool and Tentacruel. If the police hadn't arrived quickly, the group would likely have perished in the sea.
In truth, it wasn't entirely the Tentacool and Tentacruel's fault. As Lampool City grew more popular and its tourism industry expanded, the Pokémon's original territory was gradually encroached upon.
It became clear to Ron that the Tentacruel attack Ash had once experienced wasn't just due to the so-called "Goldenrod Granny" modifying coral reefs—it was the culmination of a deeper issue that had been festering for a long time. That incident had merely been the final straw.
Blending into the crowd, Ron wondered how the Lampool City police planned to handle the situation with the attacking Tentacool and Tentacruel.
As if to answer his thoughts, countless red eyes surfaced on the water.
Those familiar with the sight knew these were the gemstone-like red orbs atop Tentacool and Tentacruel.
Several Dewgong and Goldeen emerged from the water ahead of the Tentacool, returning to their Trainers.
To better address Lampool City's frequent maritime incidents, nearly every police officer here owned at least one Water-type Pokémon.
"To the Tentacool and Tentacruel out there, I know this incident is humanity's fault. I promise that such things won't happen again. Please leave now!" Officer Jenny shouted from her boat, addressing the approaching Pokémon.
As Lampool City developed, the Pokémon League had established a treaty with the Tentacool and Tentacruel, defining clear boundaries for their activities to avoid conflict.
Until today, the agreement had held. But the people who crossed the line and provoked the Tentacool were now in the hospital, gravely injured. Officer Jenny resolved to punish them severely once they recovered.
If the Tentacruel and Tentacool caused damage, these individuals would bear additional charges.
Hearing Officer Jenny's words, some Tentacool and Tentacruel hesitated, but most pressed on, moving closer to Lampool City.
Since the boundary agreement, the Tentacool and Tentacruel had respected the limits. Being attacked now without provocation was intolerable. To them, not retaliating would signify weakness, leading to further encroachments on their habitat.
For their survival and that of their younger kin, the Tentacruel and Tentacool would not back down easily.
The next moment, several Tentacruel launched a coordinated Water Pulse, forming a massive wave aimed directly at Officer Jenny.
"Blastoise, come out and use Hydro Pump to counter the wave!"
Appearing on the water, Blastoise unleashed Hydro Pump from the cannons on its back, carving a path through the wave.
Riding the momentum of the redirected water, Officer Jenny guided her Blastoise back to shore.
Judging by the situation, the Tentacool and Tentacruel weren't ready to listen to reason. Only force could bring them to a temporary calm.
But before that, Officer Jenny needed to retreat to the beach. Otherwise, commanding her Pokémon while surrounded by hostile Tentacruel could lead to a sneak attack.
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