Elf: Who told him to be an investigator!

After the revelry, the miners present were all a little dizzy and clung tightly to Ze Shu's shoulders. Ze Shu had no choice but to echo them a few times, which made them very happy.

then……

An older man swept all the Pokémon items that should have been the prizes for the champion, runner-up, and third place on the "awards podium" and stuffed them all into Ze Shu's arms.

"Hahaha—take it! It's all yours, nobody has any objections..."

Zeki stared blankly at the Evolution Stone, Everstone, and Hard Stone that he had been forced to accept in his arms.

Are you going to cover all the prize money for the first, second, and third place winners?

That's impossible.

"This..." He hadn't finished speaking.

"There's nothing here, just some oddities we find while mining. We've been digging in these tunnels for over a decade, we've seen everything, so we don't care about these things."

"When the time comes, when you go challenge Piao Tai, don't forget to let us know! Hahaha—"

After saying this, the man laughed a few times, then continued to hug the other person and sing loudly again.

No one objected to Ze Shu holding these things; instead, they continued their revelry.

Ze Shu: "??"

Is it really that casual?

Genta then laughed and said, "Take it. After all, you're a trainer on a journey, and this kind of thing is more useful to you than to us."

He looked at his colleagues in front of him, their faces roughened by years of mining work, wearing yellow miner's hats.

"Everyone's initial dream was to travel and become a trainer. But in the end, they all returned to their hometown and took responsibility for its prosperity."

"They might see a bit of their own younger selves in you. If you want to express your gratitude, take these rare stones we've painstakingly unearthed this year and let them shine! With your skills, everyone will definitely see you in the League Tournament!"

"Of course. My powerful companion and I will challenge you again! Hahaha—"

Xuan Tai said this.

The muscular soldier beside him weakly struck a muscular pose: "Whoa—"

But the soldier with the dagger did not react.

Ze Shu looked at the middle-aged men who were still partying in a chaotic manner and nodded thoughtfully.

He silently put the three kinds of stones away.

……

It was already night.

Black Gold City.

Zeshu led the group of drunken miners through the mine tunnels to this place. Behind him were many of their Pokémon—Rhyperior, Geodude, Golem, Machop, and Machoke—carrying them out.

There is almost no greenery here; everywhere you look, there are construction sites, mining machines, and steel structures.

There wasn't much communication.

Their Pokémon were already used to carrying their drunken trainers directly back to their homes under the cover of night.

Zeki then approached the Pokémon Center here.

Ding-dong-

The lights were warm.

Miss Joey smiled warmly: "How can I help you?"

Sawaki handed Grunt's Poké Ball to Nurse Joy for treatment and asked, "Are there any rooms left?"

"Of course there are, but there aren't many trainers who come to Blackgold City," Nurse Joy replied, taking the ID card from Zeki.

The identity registered for Zeki within the investigators meant that his treatment and accommodation at the Pokémon Center would no longer cost him anything. Although these were all charitable projects, they didn't cost much money.

The rooms at the Pokémon Center are small, but they feel very homey.

Ze Shu had just stepped through the door.

Glaceon popped out of its Poké Ball with a bang, jumped into Ze Shu's arms and rubbed against him, its pale blue face filled with satisfaction.

"Bu-i, bu-i—"

It hasn't been around Ze Shu for almost all day; it needs to replenish Ze Shu's energy!

Ze Shu: "..."

Let Ice Eevee absorb enough.

He stretched out his wicked hands, as if to grab: "Hmph? Little Eevee?"

Glaceon was terrified, its face turning bright red: "Eevee... Eevee?!"

Here we go again?!

It closed its eyes, preparing to enjoy... no, to endure the 'ravaging'.

But then Ze Shu reached out and grabbed the Ice Six-Tails, which was standing to the side watching the show with its head twitching.

"It's you! How did you get so dirty?"

"Oh, oh?"

Six-tailed Fox blinked in confusion and obediently allowed itself to be captured.

Its once pure white fur was now patchy with gray and black, especially the tips of its six slightly parted, fluffy tails, which were all black as if it had rolled around in a charcoal pit.

No, it just rolled around in the coal pit today.

Ze Shu couldn't even imagine how it had been crawling around inside his chest.

So he grabbed it and went into the bathroom.

"I'll give you a good wash today."

"Ooh—"

Only Glaceon and Snorunt remained in the room, staring blankly at each other.

……

After Zeshu washed out the pristine white six tails.

It was soaking wet, and its sensitive little fox ears twitched slightly, radiating a chill. Soon, the dew and water droplets froze and fell to the ground, and it dried up again.

"Ooh—"

The six-tailed cutie was very proud of coming up with this idea, then looked at Sawaki, who was also soaking wet, and asked, "Huh?"

Ze Shu shook his head repeatedly, took out a towel to wipe himself, and said, "That's great. But I don't need it."

"Ooh!"

"Da da da—"

Just then, there was a knock on the door.

Grunt was healed, and Chansey brought him the Poké Ball: "Lucky!"

After bidding farewell to Chansey, Zeki smiled, holding the black Poké Ball, and then released Gryphon.

boom!

The soldier with the gleaming white body appeared in the room, his bright yellow eyes calmly looking straight ahead.

Ze Shu noticed that the purification value had changed to -90%. Things were progressing really fast today. At this rate, the Komato soldier might regain his will very soon.

After thinking for a moment, Ze Shu took out an evolution stone and gave it to it.

This item can significantly boost the defensive and special defenses of Pokémon that still have evolved forms.

Obviously, Piketo is the most suitable Pokémon to hold an Evolution Stone. This applies to both its current form and its evolved form, Bisharp. Bisharp's physical defense is quite good.

After all, among his Pokémon, only this one requires close combat.

such.

With the help of the Evolution Stone, and further sharpened by the special 'metallic membrane' that Zeki had previously obtained, Komamoto has seen a significant improvement in both offense and defense.

As for the Everstone, Zeki hasn't thought of anyone who could bring it, since he doesn't really want to restrict his Pokémon's evolution.

And for Hard Rock, his Pokémon are even harder to carry.

"All done."

Ze Shu clapped his hands, preparing to cuddle Eevee and go to sleep.

Suddenly.

Ding-dong-

Ze Shu noticed.

The communication device he had previously seized from the team leader, a unique Ore device, suddenly lit up, displaying a message from a stranger.

The screen displays no extra information.

There is only one address and date.