Azure Star is also a Pokémon Master!

"Thinking about it carefully, it probably thinks there are too many competitors in this area, and after being severely punished by Xunmiao, it plans to leave this place and find a new territory?"

“That does seem possible, but something feels off…” Aibo said hesitantly.

"We can't draw any accurate conclusions from mere speculation. Let's wait for the investigation team to gather more information before discussing it further," Su Yi said.

Since the main body of the stronghold was converted from a huge ship, walking through the circulation area on the first floor of the stronghold is like walking through the wide deck of a ship.

In the distribution area, some members of the survey team set up stalls to sell materials or tools, and hunters walked among them, buying what they needed, creating a feeling of a seaside market.

Meanwhile, hunters could be seen forming small groups of two or three near the quest log, then setting off from the base gate to investigate the wilderness.

With the addition of nearly 500 people from the fifth group, Star Base became lively and increasingly resembled a town.

After weaving through the crowd, Su Yi and Lu Cao arrived at the plant research institute, which resembled a greenhouse garden.

Even before getting close, the complex scents of various plants filled my nostrils, and a scene with green as the base color and other colors as accents came into view.

A bespectacled dragon-human researcher is making notes on a plant seedling.

"Hey, Director, do you remember me?" Su Yi waved and greeted him.

The director of the Plant Physiology Research Institute looked up, adjusted his glasses, and exclaimed in surprise, "It's you, the hunter who saved me from the pursuit of the ferocious jackal dragon."

After quickly recording the data, the director invited Su Yi aside, brewed a cup of special flower tea for him and Lu Cao, and asked, "What brings you here?"

Su Yi took a sip of the fragrant flower tea and said, "Actually, I wanted to ask you for a seed from an ancient tree."

"Seeds of an ancient tree?" The director was somewhat surprised. He adjusted his glasses and said, "What? Do you want to study ancient trees with me?"

Su Yi quickly waved his hand and said, "No, no, no! Actually, I wanted to plant ancient trees."

"You know, cultivating ancient trees is no easy feat. For example, you need fertilizer containing ancient dragon energy to make it sprout."

“I brought back those lava dragon shells; I still have some here,” Su Yi interrupted the director’s long-winded explanation.

Moreover, the director seemed unaware of Su Yi's outsider status, still believing him to be a hunter from the outpost. He was truly oblivious to what was happening around him.

"Is that so? Thank you so much. I would love to repay you, but we just happen to be out of Ancient Tree seeds."

The director helplessly spread his hands and said, "We didn't have many ancient tree seeds to begin with. We obtained them with the guidance of the ancient dragon people here when we first came to the New World."

"We couldn't find the key to getting it to germinate before, and we wasted two seedlings. Now the one in the experimental field is the only one."

"Ugh, this..." Su Yi said, feeling a headache coming on.

"I'm sorry, you'll have to go to the upper levels of the ancient tree to search."

The director told Su Yi some places where seeds might form, and unsurprisingly, they were all on the top layer of ancient trees, or even the crown.

That place is the territory of the Sky King.

"Does this also mean we might encounter a fire dragon?" Su Yi frowned slightly.

Speaking of Fire Dragon, with his current setup, he's actually not afraid at all.

However, each situation needs to be analyzed individually. If a Rathalos is encountered on the winding and narrow branches of the Ancient Tree, the Rathalos can defeat them by relying on its aerial advantage.

"However, the fire dragon will always have to go out sometimes, and besides, those flashing lights aren't to be underestimated," Su Yi thought to himself.

For Su Yi, the ancient tree was a crucial element in realizing his vision.

Its presence can make the surrounding plants more prosperous, creating an environment lush enough to support the survival of many large organisms.

Therefore, he was determined to obtain the seeds of the ancient tree!

"A fire dragon? It'll be right at your doorstep!"

"Aibo, we're about to set off." Su Yi stood up and drank the flower tea in one gulp.

"Meow?" Lucao, who was sipping her flower tea, stuck out her tongue. She was still burned by the hot tea. Reluctantly, she put down the tea she had just drunk and followed Su Yi.

Some friends have had questions about the storyline of Pokémon Hunter, so I'll explain it here:

Pokémon hunters are inherently opposed to the league, and someone like Hunter J wouldn't be afraid of the champion.

Furthermore, although Cynthia is the champion, she doesn't show her face in public as often as Leon, and she doesn't really have any connection with Pokémon Hunters, so it's understandable that she wasn't recognized at first.

After all, many characters in the original story failed to recognize the champion at first glance. We cannot assume, from God's perspective, that everyone should be able to recognize the champion at a glance.

Furthermore, Hunter J has a somewhat arrogant personality and doesn't care who you are.

Secondly, while Cynthia is indeed a champion, she is not an investigator like Lance. She has almost zero experience in fighting criminals. Hunter J has the Imprisoning Beam and is a hunter who will stop at nothing. What other troublesome methods or dangerous and strange Pokémon might she have? Cynthia has no idea. How could she dare to rush into the smoke to chase after her?

Furthermore, the primary objective should be to protect Yeebu and the two doctors, and not to launch a rash attack.

Chapter 161 The Pokémon's Choice

Even though we'll be at your doorstep soon, there are still some preparations to be made.

Su Yi arrived at the second floor of the stronghold. Before even entering the forging workshop, a wave of heat and the smell of metal hit him. Inside the brightly lit workshop, the rhythmic clanging and hammering sounds rang out.

"Hey, you're here. Your gear is all set up. Try it on and see if it fits." The second-term leader said, pointing to a set of armor and weapons on the conveyor belt.

"Thank you very much!"

Su Yi walked expectantly to the equipment and, with the help of the blacksmithing apprentice, put on the armor made from Anjanath materials rewarded by the Hunting Guide.

Click

After getting dressed, Su Yi stretched his body.

The Anjanath's scales, metal, and dragon bones are fused together to form armor. A pendant made of sharp teeth and claws hangs on its chest, a shawl of black fur surrounds its neck, and it wears a helmet similar to that of a knight that covers its face.

The moment you put it on, a fierce and valiant aura emanates from it.

"So cool, meow~" Lucao exclaimed happily as she looked at Su Yi, who was fully armed.

This armor set is heavier than the previous leather hunter set, but thanks to the Second Fleet Leader's superb skills, it does not hinder movement; one only needs to get used to the weight.

The equipment, forged from metal and monster materials, brings a strong sense of security. It seems as if a mysterious power resides within the armor, protecting him and granting him the courage to fight.

"It fits perfectly." Su Yi nodded with a smile.

Next, he picked up the steel knife, which had been enhanced from the initial iron blade, and its hardness and sharpness had been slightly improved.

Since the scabbard is temporarily out of the party and we've run out of monster materials, this hand sword is just something to make do with for now.

"Be careful, and remember to come here regularly to maintain your equipment."

"understood!"

Following instructions from the leader of the second-phase team, Su Yi left the forging workshop.

Su Yi stopped by the Weapons and Lynx Pavilion on the way, intending to have a cat meal first. Although he could cook it himself, he had meal vouchers issued by the Commander-in-Chief, so he might as well use them since it would save time and effort.

Aibo, a regular here, who is also the host and editor, was already sitting at the stone table piled with food and books, eating and flipping through them.

"Meow~" Lucao greeted cheerfully.

"Aibo, are we going hunting?" Aibo turned to see Su Yi and asked.

An emoji involuntarily popped into Su Yi's mind.

Su Yi quickly banished that cringe-worthy meme from his mind and said, "Strictly speaking, we should be going out to gather materials, barring any unforeseen circumstances."

"Then you need to be careful. If the Thunderjaw Dragon really leaves, other monsters will come and occupy the large area of ​​territory that will be vacated."

"Monsters will frequently clash over territory, and the forest is about to become restless," Aibo warned.

“I understand,” Su Yi nodded.

"By the way, what has Aiden been up to lately? Is he also investigating in the Ancient Tree Forest?" Su Yi asked casually.

“According to his receptionist, he seems to be quite enthusiastic about missions to clear out small monsters lately. Every time he finishes a mission, he runs off excitedly,” Aibo recalled.

"Is that so?" Su Yi didn't mind and went with Lu Cao to the large stone dining table to order food.

A crow's cawing caught Su Yi's attention.

Su Yi looked in the direction of the sound and saw a blue raven wearing a white headband waving its wings at him from the cooking area.

"Oh? Blue Raven? What's this...?" Su Yi asked, somewhat surprised.

“It’s here helping us in the kitchen,” said the head chef, who stood with his arms crossed.

"Oh? You want to study cooking?" Su Yi asked curiously.

"Caw." The blue raven nodded, as if saying something.

Lu Cao, who was standing to the side, tilted her head and began to translate for Su Yi.

They were unsure how long they would wander the city, but luckily they met Su Yi, who gave them a better option.

Some of the companions chose a stable and peaceful life, while others were restless, yearning for adventure and to become stronger.

It was not sure of its own thoughts at first, but simply chose to follow the leader and come into this world as always.

After arriving here, the companions gradually found partners. They went to fight, go on adventures, and soar in a wider world. It also began to carefully consider what it should do.

Then it came to the Weapons and Lynx Pavilion and saw people having a hearty meal there, their faces beaming with satisfaction.

Having wandered the city with its companions, it knew the importance of food.

It had eaten a lot of food, but those were only enough to barely fill its stomach. The meat that Su Yi grilled for it that night was the happiest and most satisfying meal it had ever had in its life.

At that moment, it understood that it would be happy if its companions could happily and contentedly fill their bellies.

Therefore, it wanted to learn cooking skills here so that it could bring a satisfying smile to the faces of its companions, Su Yi, and other hunters who fought and adventured in this land.

The head chef, deeply moved, said with great emotion, "So that's how it is? No wonder I felt a sense of kinship when I first saw you lingering by the oven."

"We share the same sentiment: choosing food so that our companions can have enough to eat."

The head chef seemed lost in memories: "Back when I was partnered with the Grand Master, my weapon broke during a battle."

As he spoke, he raised the broken blade he had used to cut meat, his face filled with reminiscence.

"At that time, I wondered whether it broke because the weapon itself was worn out, or because my physical condition had declined and I could no longer withstand the attack?"

"At this point, I had the idea of ​​stepping down from the front line of the battle, and in order to make sure that the person who was constantly on the move could have enough to eat, I started to cook."

The head chef crossed his arms, regaining his composure, and said, "Alright, in that case, I'll teach you how to make a truly satisfying meal!"

"Caw!" Blue Raven nodded excitedly, making a spirited sound.

"Blue Raven, in the future, other Pokémon may come here. Let's bring smiles to everyone's faces with our cooking," Su Yi encouraged.