Elf: Re-employment of retired champion of Padiya

Chapter 861: It's a critical hit! It's a critical hit!
Luo Mu had already chosen a specific spot for fishing.

—That's right, this time he doesn't plan to go to the creek behind the farm.

There's only one Pokémon there, Magikarp, and the variety of Pokémon to choose from is far too limited; you can't fish enough to your heart's content.

In addition, given that he had previously gotten a gold coin from the guaranteed drop, Luo Mu's intuition told him that he might not get any gold this time when he went fishing.

Moreover, he set out this time with the intention of enriching the aquatic Pokémon species in Lake Thunder on the farm, carrying a heavy responsibility.

Choosing a good fishing spot is naturally not something to be taken lightly.

After much thought, Luo Mu concluded that, apart from the ocean, only the ecology of Daguo Lake could meet his needs.

So this time he chose Daguo Lake as his fishing spot!

The fishing tools and bait ingredients were prepared by Zhihuixing, so Luo Mu didn't need to worry about it.

After he strolled around the farm, a complete set of equipment was laid out in front of him.

This also includes a physical sun protection kit that Zhihui Xing specially prepared because he saw that the sun was quite strong today.

After checking his "arsenal" and making sure nothing was missing, Luo Mu said to Zhi Huixing, "I'm going out!"

"Yale Yuta".

Zhihui also waved, watching Luo Mu release Dragonite and fly into the sky with that huge pile of equipment.

After Dragonite had long since disappeared from sight, it turned around and nodded to its eagerly waiting apprentice, Kushala Daora.

It's about time; it's time for it to go to work at the Flat Disc Dojo.

Incidentally, it also wanted to wait until the museum closed in the afternoon to visit other farmlands near the town.

The locust plague that Luo Mu mentioned yesterday also made Zhi Huixing a little concerned.

It just so happens that it heard yesterday that Luo Mu's students are also going to investigate in that area today.

Although the farm is unlikely to be damaged by the locust plague, it's better to be safe than sorry.

As a qualified housekeeper, Zhihui Xing believes he must plan ahead.

Dragonite flies very fast.

In the past, Luo Mu might have wondered how it could use those small wings to unleash such amazing flight speed, but after Dragonite completed its training with Lugia and received its inheritance on Dragonite Island, its physique became equivalent to that of a Totem or Boss Pokémon.

The current Dragonite definitely has the potential to compete with Lance's Dragonite for the title of the fastest Dragonite.

Furthermore, if he were to obtain the Mega Stone for Dragonite, he might even have the opportunity to Mega Evolve Dragonite in front of Lance during a battle.
Thinking about this, Luo Mu had an impulse to participate in the "Pokémon World Championships" himself.

But he quickly restrained himself and resolutely refused to get involved in such troublesome matters.

Soon, the familiar outline of Daguo Lake came into view.

Surrounded by mountains, the lake, which resembles a giant cauldron, is located in what is arguably the most ecologically rich area in the Padiya region.

Players who have played "Sword/Purple" know that Dratini, which is extremely rare in the Kanto region, is almost on par with Pikachu in Lake Oguri.

While the reality isn't quite that exaggerated, and the dwarf dragons aren't rampant at all, this still reflects the richness of the ecosystem at Daguo Lake.

Daguo Lake covers a vast area, so choosing a good fishing spot is quite an art.

He signaled Dragonite to lower its flight altitude, and it slowly circled above Lake Daguo, carrying him.

Luo Mu looked down at the vast, shimmering lake below, carefully searching for the ideal spot to cast his line.

He knew all too well that in such a large body of water, randomly casting a line at any shore was like looking for a needle in a haystack, a mistake most novice anglers would make.

You have to rely on experience and observation to pinpoint the areas where Pokémon congregate.

Luo Mu's experienced gaze swept over the straight lake shore and the open water, finally settling on the southeast corner of Daguo Lake.

There is a wetland extending into the water, where lush aquatic plants grow, and several huge rocks are scattered in the shallow water, forming a complex underwater structure.

"That's it, Dragonite, land."

Luo Mu's eyes lit up, and he pointed over there and shouted.

Dragonite let out a low growl and steadily swooped down towards the wetlands.

After landing, Luo Mu tidied up his equipment while approaching the curious Dragonite and asking why he had chosen this spot. He explained, "See those seaweed and rocks? These are the easiest places to hide, and they're a favorite of many aquatic Pokémon. Some amphibious Pokémon also hide here."

"Aquatic plants attract aquatic Pokémon that feed on them, such as Poliwag, although they are rarely found in the Padilla region."

"The shadows and crevices formed on the back of the rocks are ideal habitats for weak water-type Pokémon, which like to hide to escape their predators."

"and."

Luo Mu squatted down, tested the water temperature with his hand, and pointed to the faintly visible water flow at the boundary between the wetland and the deep water area.

"This is the transition zone between shallow and deep water. The water temperature changes more significantly than in open water, and food resources are also more abundant. Both Pokémon that like to be active in shallow water and larger creatures that come from deep water to forage may pass through here."

Luo Mu, spouting profound theoretical knowledge, skillfully assembled his old partner, gripped it tightly, and shook it as if testing the force and angle.

"The chances of catching a ton of fish here are much higher than fishing aimlessly on the bare lake shore."

Luo Mu, who had been talking eloquently, put down his fishing rod and suddenly changed the subject.

"Moreover, I also brought foreign aid this time."

He took three Poké Balls out of his pocket.

With a flash of red light, three figures appeared in the water in front of Luo Mu.

These are Milotic, Popplio, and a shiny Magikarp.

The combination of Milotic and Pebble Sea Lion is easy to understand.

The sea lion, Ball Ball, got tired of staying in Thunder Lake and then begged Luo Mu to come out and take a look.

Milotic, on the other hand, is responsible for watching over Scatterball when Tapu Fini doesn't go out.

After all, Luo Mu couldn't swim freely in the vast waters of Daguo Lake like a Water-type Pokémon. He was afraid that he might be swallowed by a giant catfish that suddenly swam by.

Actually, Gyarados was also throwing a tantrum, trying to follow us.

However, Luo Mu thought that if it came over and entered the water, it would definitely scare away the aquatic Pokémon around his fishing spot, so he forcibly suppressed it.

As for that shiny Magikarp...
Luo Mu simply chose this guy because he was smarter and easier to control than the other dull-witted members of his clan.

Magikarp plunged into the water with a splash, its golden scales shimmering in the sunlight. It swished its tail happily, splashing water everywhere, seemingly enjoying the environment of Daguo Lake.

Once in the water, instead of diving in to escape without hesitation, it poked half its head out of the water, staring at Luo Mu with its dull fish eyes, waiting for his command.

This is naturally because Luo Mu has already adjusted Magikarp (crossed out), it is because he has established an unbreakable bond with the shiny Magikarp.

A considerable amount of time has passed since this guy was captured and thrown into Thunder Lake.

Magikarp didn't run away because it understood the rules of the farm, or rather, Lake Roar.

—Does the outside world provide food and lodging, or are they fed three meals a day plus random snacks, or are they not afraid of external threats to their safety?
For Magikarp, that place was the perfect spot to lie in wait for its transformation into a dragon.

Outside, it doesn't enjoy such treatment. Just accumulating enough power for one evolution takes an unknown amount of time. Moreover, it has to suppress its instinctive urge to evolve, strive to leap over the dragon gate multiple times, and accumulate nutrients until it sheds its ordinary fish body.

Although Luo Mu wasn't quite sure what Magikarp's situation was, he could tell that Magikarp had absolutely no intention of escaping.

—Just kidding. Today, Luo Mu went to great lengths to get this guy out of Thunder Lake, who absolutely refused to leave and was afraid that Luo Mu would release him.

Even Dragonite couldn't keep up with Magikarp's swimming speed in the water, so Tapu Fini had to step in and catch it.

So here's the question: in this situation, is it possible for Magikarp to escape?

The answer is definitely no.

"I'm counting on you today."

Luo Mu chuckled and patted Magikarp's wet head. As if receiving some kind of command, Magikarp made a "whoosh" sound, spit out a string of bubbles, and then turned and dived into the water.

Taking this opportunity, Luo Mu also began to prepare the "winning bait" that he had specially developed for today.

In his mind, even if this bait couldn't catch Geyser and Lugia, it would still be easy to catch Suicune or Manaphy.

"The powder made from Water Stone and Mysterious Water Drops, finely ground and sieved, is mixed with fragments of three common tree fruits: Algae Root Fruit, Thousand Passion Fruit, Glossy Moss, and Gold and Silver Fruit Tree, and then mixed with the common bait that has been prepared beforehand."

"Finally, spray this on."

With Dragonite holding the stainless steel bowl for him, Luo Mu stirred the bait with one hand while carefully taking out the perfume that Rika had sent with the other and spraying it onto the almost-formed bait without a second thought.

If those who couldn't buy this perfume saw Luo Mu's actions, they would probably want to tear him apart.

This is such a waste!

To prevent the smell from dissipating too quickly, Luo Mu thought for a moment and sprayed a few more pumps.

Now that the bait is ready, it's time to bait the area. "If I weren't planning to fish for Pokémon, I wouldn't be going to such lengths."

Luo Mu muttered to himself as he skillfully kneaded a portion of the prepared bait into a ball and precisely threw it at the previously selected boundary between the water plants and rocks.

As the bait ball enters the water, it slowly sinks, and tiny bubbles and an enticing aroma begin to spread in the water, forming an invisible "mist zone".

Luo Mu took out a small portion of bait and skillfully hooked it onto the fish.

He uses the "bait-on-hook fishing method," which uses the bait on the hook as the core, and can continuously emit an attractive force in the atomized zone, increasing the chances of being discovered and bitten by Pokémon.

He gripped the fishing rod firmly, coordinated his arm movements, and used the rod's elasticity and skill to gently and accurately cast the hook, laden with bait, into the area where he had just baited the fishing spot.

The sound of the fishing hook entering the water was extremely soft, barely causing any extra splash.

"Alright, now it's Magikarp's turn."

Luo Mu muttered to himself, his gaze fixed on the buoy on the water's surface.

He adjusted his grip on the rod, pressing the tip down slightly to keep the line taut, so that he could be most sensitive to any subtle movement underwater.

The instructions he gave to Magikarp were quite simple.

That is to act as a "messenger" to inform the aquatic Pokémon living in the vicinity that the Padilla League's disaster relief supplies have arrived, and there won't be any left if you're quick.

With the added allure of his own incredibly delicious bait and the scent of his perfume, Luo Mu refused to believe he could fail to score any points today.

It's impossible!

Fishing is all about patience, and Luo Mu waited patiently.

suddenly.

As if in response to his determination, the buoy he was watching closely trembled slightly before returning to calm.

Luo Mu's eyes suddenly sharpened, and he did not rush to lift the rod.

This is a typical tentative bite, most likely from some small, wary aquatic Pokémon.

At that moment, Luo Mu couldn't help but hold his breath, focusing intently on feeling every tremor transmitted through the fishing line.

Beside him, Popplio, Milotic, and Dragonite slowed down their play, seemingly worried that it might affect him.

After waiting a few more seconds, the float moved again.

This time, it first paused steadily for half a step, and then was pulled diagonally into the water by a decisive force!

"Now—"

Luo Mu suddenly exerted force with his wrist and quickly lifted the rod to set the hook!
The rod bent into a powerful arc in an instant, and the fishing line made a pleasant cutting sound as it struggled underwater.

"Took the bait!"

Luo Mu let out a soft shout of surprise, but he knew that things wouldn't end so easily.

The force transmitted through the rod tip was heavy. The way the creature struggled underwater was peculiar. It wasn't the kind of brute force that charged headlong into the water, but rather a strange, abrupt force, as if it was desperately trying to squeeze into the crevices of the rocks at the bottom of the water.

"interesting."

Luo Mu was not surprised but delighted; a qualified angler is not afraid of any challenge.

He used his core strength to firmly control the fishing rod.

But he didn't dare to pull too hard, fearing that the fragile fishing line would be worn through by the underwater structure.

He slightly tilted his wrist, changing the direction of his force, trying to pull the other person away from the deep water area.

The underwater Pokémon clearly didn't expect this move and was lured off course.

But then, Luo Mu felt a sudden, brief forward thrust through the fishing line!

It didn't feel like swimming; it felt more like being suddenly pushed by some force.
"If it's hooked, can it still open its mouth and use moves?"

Luo Mu raised an eyebrow, feeling puzzled but not hindering his quick reaction. He slightly loosened the damper of the reel to cushion the strange force.

He became more cautious; this unknown Biting Hook Pokémon seemed to be something special.

Because the resistance was neutralized, the other party's struggle suddenly became even more intense.

However, there was one thing that puzzled Luo Mu: the other party's movements seemed to have a sense of incoordination, as if they were not in good balance, but the force transmitted from the part that was constructed by the fishhook was unusually solid.

The fishing line traced a messy path underwater, and the rod tip trembled violently. Luo Mu felt that the other fish's swimming pattern didn't seem like that of a fish.

This tug-of-war lasted for nearly ten minutes.

Until the force from underwater finally began to weaken, the struggle turned into a weary writhing.

Driven by curiosity about the species of the Pokémon that had taken the bait, Luo Mu used his waist and legs to lift his arm steadily backward!

wow-

Water splashed everywhere, and a blue figure broke through the water and was steadily lifted ashore by Luo Mu.

It lay on its side on the grass, and what was most striking was its unusually large blue pincers, which were unusually large for its size.

At this moment, the pincers were opening and closing weakly, and Luo Mu's bait was firmly stuck on them.

The smaller left pincer and several pairs of light gray legs on the other side trembled slightly, and the black pupils in the eyes still carried a hint of fatigue and confusion.

"So it's an iron-armed pistol shrimp."

Looking at the Pokémon with its somewhat incongruous design, Luo Mu suddenly realized what it meant.

"No wonder that surge of force was so strange just now; it was an attempt to counter-attack using a water gun sprayed from the pliers."

Dragonite, Milotic, and Popplio also curiously watched the seemingly weak, helpless, and pitiful Iron-armed Shrimp.

At this time.

The Magikarp, which had returned after its struggle, surfaced in the murky waters.

This iron-armed pistol shrimp was clearly tricked by Magikarp.

"Uluru."

Its dull eyes stared at Luo Mu, as if it were seeking praise.

Seeing its expression, Luo Mu couldn't help but chuckle and said, "Don't worry, you'll get plenty of benefits when we get back."

"Keep promoting it for me!"

He waved his hand dramatically, displaying an air of boundless pride and ambition.

Today, Luo Mu is no longer in the Air Force!

After Magikarp turned and dived into the water, Luo Mu didn't stop either.

He first took out a diving ball that he had prepared beforehand and threw it at the detached iron-armed pistol shrimp, and then began to prepare for a new round of baiting and fishing.

The diving ball shook a few times, and then a "ding" sound rang out indicating successful capture.

The reason why Luo Mu was able to subdue the Iron-Armed Shrimp without a battle was mainly because it had already exhausted a lot of energy in its tug-of-war with Luo Mu.

From another perspective, just like the Iron-Armed Shrimp after a fierce Pokémon battle, it was so exhausted that it naturally didn't have the strength to break free from the Dive Ball's restraints.

Before long, Luo Mu, using the same trick again, began to wait for his prey to come to him.

Magikarp's promotional abilities were also surprisingly outstanding. Before Luo Mu could wait long, another aquatic Pokémon took the bait.

But this time, the one that took the bait was once again the iron-armed pistol shrimp.

Luo Mu suspected that this guy was very likely in cahoots with the Iron-Armed Pistol Shrimp he had just taken in.

After catching his second Iron-armed Shrimp, Luo Mu finally caught a new aquatic Pokémon on his third cast.

—The infamous scoundrel of Lake Daguo, the light-bodied cod!
Upon seeing this guy, Luo Mu immediately ordered Dragonite to use "Tornado" to blow it out of the water, and then used "Thunder Punch" to knock it unconscious.

After all, he had no intention of competing with a fast-swimming aquatic Pokémon like the Diresh in terms of fishing line strength.

After catching this light cod, Luo Mu had a string of wins for a period of time.

We caught two more iron-armed pistol shrimp, three light-bodied cod, and a few carp to make up the numbers.

Unexpectedly, there were also a few sugar balls that didn't bite the hook but instead ran over to the net because of the aroma of the bait.

All that could be heard was Luo Mu's overjoyed roar echoing through the surrounding waters.

"Explosion! Explosion!"

(End of this chapter)