Pokémon, Ash is going to become a perfect man from now on.

"Look at you! I told you not to eat tangerines, and now you can't get rid of them!" Xiaoxia complained helplessly.

"It's okay, it only ate a little, the swelling will go down quickly," Xiao Zhi said with a smile, reassuringly. "Besides, isn't it kind of cute like this?"

"Xiao Zhi, all you do is defend it!" Xiao Xia pouted deliberately, making a sullen face.

Of course, this means she's no longer angry.

We need to be more patient with clumsy and awkward children, like Psyduck... Ash has always emphasized this.

Xiaoxia knew all this, of course, but every time she saw Psyduck's slow, mischievous, and troublesome manner, she couldn't help but lose her temper.

Psyduck seemed to have figured out its trainer's temperament, and quickly hid behind Ash, tilting its head and revealing a teasing and lewd smile.

Ash is its protector. Even if its trainer is so angry that their words are like a whirlwind and their hair is on fire, as long as Ash speaks, the person will immediately calm down and forcibly switch into a not-so-pure lady mode.

As for the reason, it's obviously because they're having an affair... and they might do *that* together at any time~

This isn't just Psyduck's wild guess; it's firsthand information obtained from a certain Yellow God...

"What kind of look is that?" Xiaoxia gritted her teeth. This duck must be thinking about all sorts of weird things again!

Seeing this intimate interaction between the human and the pet, Ash couldn't help but smile knowingly.

"Xiao Zhi... what are you laughing at again?" Xiao Xia's heart couldn't help but flutter when she saw that smile.

Wanting to maintain a facade of composure, yet unable to resist probing...

"I just feel that the atmosphere is very relaxed, and at least I'm starting to enjoy the trip," Xiao Zhi said with a light laugh.

So far, Ash's trip to the Orange Islands has been very busy.

From encountering pirates on Ponkan Island to taking down Team Rocket's school on Kumkan Island, and then to the GS Ball and the Time Ripple... apart from the few days of special training in between, the group was constantly on the go.

This was due not only to the tight schedule and heavy workload, but also because the situation on Orange Island was indeed very tense.

The pirates' so-called "last hurrah" was definitely not just empty talk.

According to the latest information Ash has gathered, Orange Isle has become a gathering place for all sorts of strange and monstrous people from Johto, Hoenn, Sinnoh and even Unova... and among them are various well-known poaching groups!

They all wanted a piece of the pie, one last chance to take advantage of the chaos before Orange Island was completely taken back by the authorities!

The local police and forest rangers are unlikely to be able to do much to deal with these guys, so the responsibility falls on Xiaozhi.

Regardless of the officials in this area, Pokémon are innocent, and Ash cannot stand idly by and watch this harm happen!

However, their efficient actions inevitably reduced the enjoyment of the journey, so when Lila suggested coming to Pinggan Island, Ash readily agreed.

They really need to relax...

However, Misty clearly misunderstood something about Ash's thoughts and the 'atmosphere' here.

Before she knew it, she found that she and Xiaozhi were the only ones left around her.

Lila led the way with two pink Pokémon. The pink Butterfree, returning to its hometown, was clearly excited. Lila and Dragonair gradually drifted away from the main group, and now only their backs could be seen.

Xiao Jian's gaze never left the Exeggutor, Primeape, and other Pokémon; he continued sketching as if his hand was twitching.

Meanwhile, Pikachu had already taken Ironhead and Slump to explore the area, giving them a knowing look as they left, as if to say, "Make the most of this opportunity..."

Xiaoxia really hopes that Pikachu can be less perceptive sometimes~

"What's wrong? You've been distracted since just now?" Xiaozhi's concerned question pulled Xiaoxia back to reality from her reverie.

"I..." Xiaoxia inadvertently met Xiaozhi's gentle gaze, and her heart began to churn again.

"Be careful, that's a bug nest!" But before she could speak, Xiao Zhi suddenly grabbed her wrist and pulled her into his arms!

"Mmm..." Xiaoxia's body was suddenly pressed against Xiaozhi's. Xiaozhi held one of her hands tightly, while the other hand happened to touch his chest.

Maintaining this posture and staring into Xiaozhi's eyes, Xiaoxia suddenly felt her cheeks burning and her breathing becoming rapid.

She even felt like she was hallucinating. Although she was surrounded by bug Pokémon like Flurry and Kakuna, she felt unusually safe and secure when she was in his arms.

Those insect-type creatures that would scare you into screaming at any moment now seem to have turned into pink bubbles floating all around... The design might be a bit unique, but the colors are definitely not bad~

"Xiaoxia, are you alright?" Xiaozhi asked with concern, his head bowed.

"I...I'm fine!" Xiaoxia quickly replied, but because she was so nervous, she unconsciously scratched Xiaozhi's chest with her finger...

This action left Xiaoxia extremely conflicted; she really wasn't intentionally flirting!

"It's good that you're alright~" However, Xiao Zhi always had a light smile on his face.

He didn't back down, nor did he intend to help Xiaoxia up. He just leaned against her, watching the girl in front of him with a smile in his eyes...

"Help...help me!!"

"Roar!!"

However, good times are always short-lived. Hearing Xiao Jian's screams and the roars of beasts coming from the forest, Xiao Zhi couldn't help but frown almost imperceptibly.

"Nidoking, please calm down!" Ash teleported to Tracey's location with Misty, and with one hand, he caught the pink Nidoking that was rushing at full speed!

"No...no way?" Xiao Jian was so shocked by this scene that his jaw dropped.

"All of you, don't move!"

Just then, Officer Jenny from the island arrived late.

Chapter 269 Nidoran, Abducted, Heading for Little Orange Island!

Just as Ash was calming Nidoking down, Officer Jenny from the island charged over menacingly.

Unlike the usual female police officers who would at least ask about the situation first, Officer Jenny here seemed tense, completely on high alert... She was even carrying a gun!

Lila, who also rushed to the scene upon hearing the news, was also on her watchful eye!

"You guys, are you trying to poach on the island again? Tell me honestly, which gang are you from?!" Officer Jenny pointed her gun at the group, questioning them angrily.

"Um...you've misunderstood," Xiaoxia quickly explained, "We're just here for a visit..."

“Nonsense! You are clearly poachers, and those two Pokémon are proof!” Officer Jenny retorted, pointing to the two Pokémon next to Lyra.

"Officer Jenny, I know there are many pink Pokémon here, but isn't it a bit much to insist that Dragonair is also from the island?" Ash argued, somewhat amused and exasperated.

"Ahrapurus...and there's also a Butterfree? Could it be...oh dear!" Officer Jenny slapped her forehead as if suddenly realizing something, then awkwardly sheathed her weapon. "You're that little girl?"

“It’s me,” Lila nodded with a smile. “I’ve been troubling you with sending me mandarin oranges for a long time, and I’ve really wanted to thank you in person.”

"Oh, it's you guys. I really misunderstood, and I almost offended my boss." After confirming their identities, Officer Jenny finally felt relieved and didn't forget to salute Ash.

"Commander Xiaozhi, I was very rude just now, I'm really sorry!"

Officer Jenny of Pinggan Island has always had dealings with the Kanto League and is well aware of Ash's role as a representative of values; she was simply confused in her haste.

"It's also our fault for not notifying you in advance." Ash shook his head apologetically. "I was just passing by and took Lyra's Butterfree back to its hometown to visit... But what happened on the island? Nidoking seems to be very sensitive."

Not only Nidoran, but this policewoman with the gun is even more sensitive!

“This…it’s all my fault!” Officer Jenny’s face showed deep self-reproach as she spoke. “There have been a lot of poachers around Pinggan Island lately, and the outer whirlpools can’t stop their boats at all! I’ve already requested coast guard support and repelled many poachers…but the Gur poaching group still managed to steal Nidoking’s cub, a Nidoran…”

"How could these guys be like this? They're absolutely despicable!!" Xiaoxia exclaimed indignantly upon hearing this.

“The Gur Poaching Group…I think I’ve heard of it.” Xiao Jian thought for a moment and said, “It seems to be a large poaching gang active in Kanto and Johto, and it’s notorious.”

“They’ve disappeared from Kanto and are now mainly active in Johto,” Lila added. “They were indeed a vicious bunch. I heard that many of the rangers in the Silver Mountain Reserve died because of them!”

"Damn it...isn't this a disaster!" Officer Jenny angrily threw her cap down. "What are they doing on Orange Isle? They can't come up with any countermeasures at all! They're relying on us to defend ourselves...It's fine if we work hard, but what about the Pokémon here? Today it's Nidoking losing its child, who knows who will be next?!"

“Officer Jenny, please calm down,” Ash said in a low voice. “Tell me the details of what happened. How long has Nidoran been kidnapped?”

“It’s been a week…” Officer Jenny said dejectedly, “After the incident, I immediately contacted the coast guard to patrol the surrounding waters, but so far we’ve found nothing…”

"A week... By the way, what's the limit for how long a pink Pokémon can eat tangerines again?" Ash asked Lyra.

"It takes about a month. After that, the butterfly will start to lose its energy and may even gradually develop various diseases."

"So we still have three weeks, enough to keep Nidoran alive and kicking... Officer Jenny, immediately increase the Coast Guard's patrols to ensure all ships on the sea are under control!" Ash made the decision immediately. "Let's leave Orange Island now and head to Orange Island to stop those bastards!"

"Uh... how did Ash determine that the poachers were on Orange Island?" Brock was completely confused.

“Generally speaking, poachers capture Pokémon in two ways: either they capture large quantities for sale, or they target the best ones,” Lila explained. “The Pokémon on Mandarin Island have unique colors, making them premium items sold to other regions. Poachers need to ensure their Pokémon are in good condition to fetch a high price. Nidoran will develop health problems if it doesn't eat Mandarin Berries for a month, so they have to make this deal before that happens!”

"That's it!" Xiaoxia exclaimed in realization. "If the island is completely cordoned off by the coast guard, the only way for the poachers to escape is through the mysterious buyer on Little Orange Island! But Master Kona has also recently arrived there, so they might not dare to make any rash moves!"

“That’s right… that must be it!” Officer Jenny’s eyes regained their hope.

She then realized that, besides Xiaozhi, these two girls were also not to be underestimated, as they were able to analyze the situation so thoroughly in such a short time!

In this way, there might actually be a chance to find Nidoran!

"Miss Officer Jenny, leave this to me... I promise I'll bring Nidoran back!!"

Ash's relaxation on Piranha Island is over, and he must continue to fulfill his duty to rescue the Pokémon that have fallen into the hands of thieves!

...

Setting off again, Ash and his friends sped off at full speed, heading straight towards Orange Island.

Speed ​​is of the essence in war, and even though they would pass through Yuzu Island first, where there is a gym in Southern Cross, Ash did not intend to linger.

But fate had other plans. Just as they were making their way along Yuzu Island, they suddenly heard cries for help coming from a whirlpool not far away.

"Help!" The drowning victim was a little girl who was clinging to a baby sea lion and struggling painfully in the water.

"Riding Dragon, unleash the full power of the Whirlpool!"