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

"It's okay, Cyndaquil has great talent, I've really struck gold this time," Ash said with a happy smile.

"Talent?" Xiaoxia and the others didn't quite understand.

"You'll find out later," Ash said mysteriously, shaking his head.

Through his observations, he roughly discovered something.

It can only be said that some talents are indeed innate.

Cyndaquil possesses a talent that even Charizard doesn't have!

Chapter 350 Hinoki Town, the Captured Slowpoke

After successfully catching Cyndaquil, Ash and his friends finally arrived at the outskirts of Azalea Town.

However, the place was not as lively as I had imagined. The area outside the town was deserted, and the cultivated fields were left uncultivated, even becoming dry and cracked, as if they had suffered a drought.

"It's so hot... How long has it been since it rained?" Xiaoxia can't stand this kind of weather. She's already imagining herself lying on a beach chair, comfortably sipping iced juice...

Unfortunately, this was just wishful thinking. Back in reality, even the wind blowing in my face was dry and hot, just like the thick smoke billowing from a fire scene.

"Strange, the guidebook says that because Slowpoke is worshipped as a god, there hasn't been a drought in Hinoki Town for hundreds of years." Xiao Gang looked through the guidebook, puzzled.

"Let's go to town and check out the situation first."

Ash led his group to the town, but all they saw was desolation and bleakness. There wasn't a single person on the main street, and all the shops were closed.

They searched for a long time and only found a large 'Slowpoke' lying in the middle of the road in a remote neighborhood.

“Look at that sign.” Lila pointed to a sign next to Slowpoke, which read about water restrictions and gym closures.

"No way... I came all this way, but I can't even challenge the gym... Huh?"

Xiaoxia approached and was initially complaining in a bad mood, but suddenly her ankle was grabbed by Slowpoke.

"Slowpoke, what's wrong?" Misty asked with concern.

"I... am not Slowpoke, young lady, please help me up..." The larger Slowpoke suddenly spoke in a weak and feeble voice.

Xiaoxia was taken aback, but upon closer inspection, she realized that it was actually a lifelike Slowpoke mascot costume.

She called to her companions to help the person up. After removing the mask, they discovered that the person who had fallen was an elderly man with white hair.

"Phew... I'm saved. If I hadn't met you guys, I don't know how long I would have been lying here..." The old man leaned on his back, looking quite tired. "Oh, you're Xiao Zhi, right?"

"Mr. Steel, nice to meet you." Ash greeted him politely.

The old man before us is none other than the renowned Poké Ball maker, Steel.

When he was young, he was an old acquaintance of Professor Oak and Granny Kikuko, and was definitely a senior member of the League.

The Gigaweight Ball that Ash replaced with a Steelix was made by Steelix himself.

"Your ball, it's working pretty well, isn't it?" Steel brought up the past as expected.

"Very handy, Mr. Steel's skills are indeed superb." Ash complimented with a smile, "However, I may need your help again later... My Steelix is ​​still growing, and the Super Weight Ball will eventually be unable to support it."

"That's amazing?" Steel was taken aback. "You really caught an extraordinary Pokémon. But it's okay, I know how to make a Poké Ball that's even more powerful than the Super Heavy Ball. Just contact me when you need it."

"Thank you in advance... By the way, what's wrong?" Xiao Zhi asked, puzzled.

"I was patrolling the streets when I tripped and fell, and I can't get up for a while," Steel said helplessly. "Shh, did you notice the drought here when you came?"

"Hmm, I'm wondering why."

"It's because someone angered the Slowpoke God!" Steel gritted his teeth. "I don't know who did it, but all the Slowpokes in the entire town have been captured, not a single one is left!"

"They've been kidnapped...Are you sure?" Ash asked in surprise.

"Of course I'm sure! The Slowpoke we've always kept at home, the one my granddaughter Chie has been taking care of, is also gone. It must have been kidnapped! We're being punished by heaven because someone angered the Slowpoke God! That's why I decided to put on a Slowpoke costume and patrol the town. Maybe that will lure the bad guys out again... Oops!!"

"Mr. Steel, please be careful of your back!" Xiao Zhi quickly helped the overly excited old man up.

To be honest, this method is really not very smart.

Whether the mascot costume is realistic or not is another matter. If it really attracts bad guys, with the old man's trembling appearance, wouldn't it be like handing him over as a prisoner?

"Sigh... If this continues, the crops in the fields will all wither and die. Some people went out to investigate before, but there's still no news..." Steel sighed, then looked at Ash with hopeful eyes, "Ash, I know you're a very good investigator... I beg you to help Azalea Town get through this crisis!"

"Please don't rush, take me to see your granddaughter Chie first," Ash said after thinking for a moment. "I want to get some information from her and see if we can find the Slowpokes that were kidnapped."

"Great! Come with me!" Steel was overjoyed to hear that Ash was willing to help and quickly led the group back home.

"Grandpa, you're back!" As soon as the door opened, a cute little girl with double braids came to greet him.

"Did you find Slowpoke?" the little girl asked, her eyes sparkling.

"Sorry, Chie, it's all Grandpa's fault... But Grandpa has found someone really powerful." Steel pushed Ash in front of him. "This Ash-gege is a very strong trainer; he'll definitely be able to solve the town's problems!"

"Brother Yin is also very capable, but we still haven't heard from him..." the little girl said, pouting in disappointment.

silver?

Xiao Zhi's heart skipped a beat. Could this be referring to that kid?

It's very likely, after all, Xiao Yin said before that his home is in Huipi Town.

"You must be Chie. Where does your Slowpoke usually stay? Can you get me some of its usual things?" Ash asked, putting aside his thoughts for the moment and starting to look for clues.

“It has its own little nest.” Chie led Ash to Slowpoke’s little bed, where there were some scattered toys.

"That's enough... Lucario!"

Ash summoned his jackal, which had a keen sense of smell. The jackal immediately began analyzing the scents and even sniffed them near the window.

A moment later, Lucario nodded solemnly to Ash!

The other party is not far away, in the nearby tung grove. We should be able to track them down soon!

“Great, let’s go now!” Ash decided immediately. “Misty, you guys stay here to take care of Mr. Steel, I’ll go alone.”

"Please be very careful," Xiaoxia replied with concern.

They all knew that in situations like this, it was most efficient for Ash to act alone!

"Brother...did you find Slowpoke?" Chie suddenly asked anxiously. "Then...what about Silver? Can you bring him back too?"

"Does your brother Silver have red hair?" Ash asked with a gentle smile.

"Hmm... He went to find Slowpoke too, and we haven't heard from him since..."

"Don't worry, he'll be fine." Xiao Zhi patted the little girl's head.

The next second, he and Lucario had both disappeared from the room!

Meanwhile, in the paulownia grove, a red-haired boy was glaring angrily at a group of henchmen.

They were all wearing black uniforms with a large "R" printed on their chests, clearly the Rockets, who hadn't been seen for a long time!

Behind these guys were several cages, all filled with dazed beasts looking pained... Their tails had been forcibly cut off, and they were groaning in agony inside the cages.

"You bunch of guys, is this all you do?!"

This scene enraged the boy, who led his blue crocodile and charged headlong into the enemy ranks!

Chapter 351 The Battle of the Paulownia Forest

A fierce battle is raging in the vast and secluded paulownia forest!

Facing a Team Rocket grunts who outnumbered him several times over, the red-haired boy showed no fear whatsoever and resolutely commanded all his weapons to charge into the enemy ranks!

Blue Crocodile took the lead and fired a water cannon, knocking down the Weezing that was blocking its way; Murkrow and Sneasel followed closely behind, moving like ghosts, using their wings and claws to fight with a type of Pokémon such as Arbok and Zubat.

The red-haired boy threw out a heavy, black ball, sending out one of his recently recruited generals!

"Circle Bear, use your arm hammer!"

"Roar!" The enormous bear forcefully squeezed into the enemy's Pokémon group, swinging its arms like spinning windmills, instantly causing the enemy soldiers to fall to the ground!

It was attacked many times, but it was completely unaffected. In fact, its damage output increased even more after being poisoned!

Soon, the enemy's Pokémon dwindled in number.

However, the boy's condition was also quite bad. Sneasel and Murkrow had already fallen, and Crocodile had already activated its Torrent ability.

When Ursaring, suffering from the torment of poison, finally defeated the last rival Pokémon, it too collapsed to the ground.

Fortunately, these Team Rocket minions no longer have any Pokémon they can use...

"You damn brat, don't be so arrogant! Stay right there!" Just when the red-haired boy thought victory was in his grasp, one of the Team Rocket henchmen suddenly pulled out a gun!

"What a weak and despicable bastard, actually using something like this?!" The red-haired boy glared at the enemy, his expression gradually becoming serious.

"Hmph, you naive fool. Do you think we'd play childish battles with you like trainers do?" another Team Rocket henchman scoffed disdainfully. "Hand over all your Pokémon! Or else... Waaah!!"

Bang!

Before he could finish speaking, a figure suddenly appeared and shattered all his teeth with an elbow strike!

Then came a continuous flash of light and shadow. The red-haired boy could only stare blankly as the two people and their pet, who had suddenly joined the battle, took down all the minions in just a few breaths.

As for the armed henchman, he was disarmed immediately... and his wrist was broken as well!

"Tch, neither of them can even get a single crappy gun, and they still have the nerve to show off?" Xiao Zhi, who easily took control of the situation, casually disassembled the gun into parts and even gave the henchman a physical stun kick.