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

Carlos is a classic example of someone who can make money work for him; as long as you have money, you can buy almost anything you want.

In some surrounding castles and farms, the concept of "first night" is even prevalent... which can be obtained by spending money.

The Hoenn region, with its rich social connections and numerous large and small families, places great importance on personal relationships. If you don't have a powerful local backing you up, they really won't do anything for you.

To understand this better, just look at Officer Jenny's behavior.

In her mind, Xiao Zhi, this outsider, was clearly less important than Qian Li, who was a local bigwig.

This is precisely why Ash revealed May's identity; with the reputation of the Petalburg Gym Leader as a deterrent, no one will easily try to take advantage of these Pokémon.

...

"What are your plans next?" Ash asked the main character after everything had settled down.

“We’re going to Kanaz City; Musashi’s going to the center there for the Grand Festival,” Kojiro explained immediately. “Also, there are some other things…”

Looking at Xiaoyao lingering nearby, he hesitated, as if he wanted to say something but couldn't.

But Ash also understood that the real protagonist must have found out about the Water and Fire Organization's movements and was preparing to go to Rustboro City on a mission.

Kanatsu City is where Devon Corporation is located. If we refer to the anime storyline, it seems that Team Aqua is about to cause trouble.

"Is the Grand Contest just a competition between Trainers?" Serena was clearly more interested in something else.

"Yes, this is my first appearance since returning to Hoenn, I must get the Ribbon Medal!" Musashi said with great fighting spirit.

She already possessed the Hoenn Contest Pass, and now she's embarking on a new journey.

"Want to come along and join the fun?" Ash asked Serena with a smile.

“Great! I’d love to see the Grand Contest too!” Serena immediately agreed happily.

"Then it's decided. I'll tell Carlos, and we'll head to Kanaz City together."

"Um, wait a minute..." Haruka stammered, "I also want to go to Las Noz City, but..."

After this incident, she was really hesitant to travel alone, but she was also too embarrassed to openly say that she wanted to join a group.

“If it’s on our way, let’s go together,” Serena said understandingly. “Traveling is more fun with more people.”

"Thank you!" Xiaoyao exclaimed with delight.

At that moment, Serena was like an angel to her.

And so, a special team of five people and one cat was formed.

The group began heading north along Route 104. With Serena, a girl of similar age, by her side, Haruka quickly emerged from her previous gloom and also resumed her characteristic gossip.

Are Ash and Serena a couple?

Xiaoyao seemed very interested in this kind of thing between men and women.

"She's one of my girlfriends. That kid, he always has a new girl by his side wherever he goes," Musashi teased.

"No one will think you're mute if you don't speak," Xiaozhi rolled his eyes at her and retorted sarcastically, "Besides, aren't you and Kojiro already married... If you're so free, why don't you have a baby?"

"Hey, our marriage is clearly a sham!" "You can't slander us like that!"

"So you're not divorced yet?"

"Wow, this atmosphere is really nice~" Watching the three bickering with each other, Xiaoyao smiled broadly, her eyes crinkling.

"Is that so..." Serena was quite puzzled as to how this girl could tell that the atmosphere was good.

In short, the journey continued in this way.

As they passed through a forest, a small, green, gecko-like figure suddenly flashed past Ash!

"A gecko?!"

Chapter 655 The Unyielding and Arrogant Swallow... Forced Subjugation?

"Ash, was that Treecko just now?"

Serena also caught a glimpse of the fleeting shadow and asked uncertainly.

“Yes, the three Grass-type starter Pokémon from Hoenn.” Ash replied with interest.

It seems they have arrived at a place called Treecko Forest near Lagoon City, and the Treecko they just saw was very likely the Sceptile, the leader of Hoenn in the anime!

Taking a break from Carlos and temporarily stopping in Hoenn will surely yield some good results.

"Let's follow them and see!" Ash exclaimed excitedly, taking the lead in chasing after Treecko's retreating direction.

"Greek...it's kind of scary."

"Why?" Seeing that Xiaoyao wasn't in a good mood, Serena couldn't help but ask with concern.

"Its eyes are a bit scary. When I was choosing a Pokémon, I felt like it was staring at me the whole time." May looked like she was having a bad time. "Back then, Mudkip was also very disobedient... Torchic is definitely the cutest."

“Every Pokémon has a different personality. If you try to get to know them better, you’ll definitely find a way to live in harmony,” Serena said softly.

"Salina...you're so amazing!" Haruka couldn't help but feel envious. "You know so much, and you can make such delicious popuffets..."

Although it was only a short time together, Xiaoyao, who had been taken care of the whole time, was almost won over by the gentle and reliable Serena.

"No way, I'm about the same as you, we're both beginners." Serena waved her hand with a smile. "I can only talk the talk, I'm often clumsy myself... But as long as I'm with Ash, none of that matters."

“Ash…” At this moment, Haruka realized that the girl in front of her seemed to have nothing but that person’s image in her eyes.

Meanwhile, Ash had already chased Treecko to a dead tree.

It was a withered giant tree, its trunk split in the middle, lifelessly toppled to both sides, leaving only a pile of remains in its place…

No, there's another seedling!

The wood gecko was struggling to use its leaves to hold a little water and water the base of the seedling, then carefully covered it with damp leaves.

"Are they nurturing saplings...?" Xiao Zhi suddenly understood.

"Chamo!" At this moment, Treecko, sensing the arrival of outsiders, turned around alertly and spat the sharp twig in its mouth at Ash without saying a word.

After Ash dodged to the side, it suddenly rushed over at an extremely fast speed, leaped high into the air, and slapped its tail at Ash!

"Ash... watch out!" Haruka, who arrived shortly after, cried out in alarm upon seeing the scene.

But then she discovered that Ash had actually reached out and grabbed Treecko's tail, lifting it right in front of him!

“Calm down, I’m not here to destroy the seedling,” Xiao Zhi explained. “On the contrary, I have a way to make this seedling grow better.”

"Chamo! Cha..." Treecko was still struggling at first, but as Ash released the power of Viridian, it gradually lowered its guard.

The feeling Xiao Zhi gave it was like this forest: warm and inclusive.

"Now you can be sure I'm not the enemy, right?" Ash smiled and put down Treecko.

"Chamo~" The latter picked up another branch, deliberately crossed his arms and turned his head away.

Getting upset over losing face is definitely a sign of strong character...

"Treetle... um?" Ash wanted to say something, but suddenly sensed a swarm of Auras approaching!

"Chamo?!" The tree spirit's muscles tensed, its eyes fixed on the gap in the tree canopy above!

"Sparta!" "Sparta!" *N

The forest suddenly became noisy, with countless deep blue swallows flapping their wings and quickly obscuring the sky above everyone's heads.

"Are they Aogu Yan? Why are they here?!" Xiaoyao was so frightened that she froze and even hugged her head tightly with both hands.

"Have you encountered them before?" Serena immediately shielded Xiaoyao.

"Um... Not long after I left, they attacked the Torchic for no reason in the forest and stole all my food..." Haruka's voice was full of fear, even with a hint of crying. "If I had known, I wouldn't have argued with Max and told him to be down-to-earth... If I had a bicycle, they wouldn't have caught up with me!"

“We just went out… wasn’t that in Orange Blossom Forest? Why are they here?” Serena asked, puzzled.

"The Aoguwen (a type of swallow) migrates frequently, constantly searching for warm places with abundant food. They've clearly set their sights on this forest; the surrounding fruit trees and seedlings are their targets..."

Ash didn't explicitly say something: Tailwings are fierce birds with a wide range of diets, and geckos, which are about the same size as them, might also be on their menu!

"Chamo!" At this moment, the Wood Guardian's fighting spirit was highly concentrated, like a lone hero facing an enemy force several times larger.

"It wants to protect the sapling, meow!" Meow Meow translated anxiously from the side. "But there are so many Pride Swallows..."

"You little brat, can't we let them leave?" Kojiro asked anxiously.

He knew that Ash possessed a special ability to communicate with Pokémon.

"The communication failed," Xiao Zhi said helplessly. "These Turtelaruses don't think they've done anything wrong; they just want to hunt!"

"Predation...why?" Xiaoyao was stunned by these words.

Are they preying on the fruits and saplings here, or... wood geckos?

"This is the real Pokémon world, little bandana girl," Jessie said coldly. "All you can see is cuteness. In reality, Pokémon are sometimes more savage than humans, and they understand the law of the jungle even better!"

"So communication won't work, we have to intimidate them!" Ash flicked his wrist and threw Kommo-o's Poké Ball. "Tauren, leave this forest and go back to where you were before!"

Don't blame Ash for being domineering, and don't criticize him for interfering in the affairs of wild Pokémon.

Just now, Ash has managed to find out what these Taillows have been doing through his Pokémon management system.

They seemed to have tasted success with Haruka, and since leaving Petalburg Woods, they've been causing quite a bit of trouble.

From forest to town, they plundered like locusts, taking everything along the way, from tree fruits and crops to food for travelers!