Pokémon from Galar

"It's alright, it's alright! With Rotom navigation, you definitely won't get lost!"

"..."

Who's worried about that!

Mary sighed helplessly. At least Yuri seemed to be rational enough not to provoke any Pokémon, so she gave up struggling. It would just take up a little more time anyway.

However, Yuri's enthusiasm came and went quickly. After playing for more than half an hour and getting used to the scenery, Yuri lost interest in cycling.

Considering that Yuri had indeed carried her all the way, Mary let Yuri stop her bicycle on a small beach to rest for a while.

"Everyone, let's eat something!"

They also called out the Pokémon, letting them eat and drink.

After a while, Yi-chan suddenly walked up to Mary, grabbed Mary's sleeve, and tugged at it.

"Eek~ (Found something strange, very similar to what I found in the Mystic Forest last time.)"

"Um……"

Mary nodded slightly, just as she was about to say something, when Sis suddenly activated her superpowers without anyone noticing, connecting Mary with them.

'Shh~ (Let's say this from here, since we don't know the listening range.)'

After that, Mary deliberately asked Onio to learn many similar counter-surveillance techniques, which seemed to be more effective than expected when used in conjunction with her superpowers.

'Can you confirm the location? And who is operating it?'

'Eek—(We can confirm the location, but haven't found the manipulator. My and Sis's detection range is still a bit small.)'

"Really? I understand. Then let's hold back for now and find a way to drag him out when we get back to Spike Town. I don't believe the person monitoring me will stay in the wilderness forever."

"Ee~ (Got it.)"

"Sha~ (I will try my best.)"

"Thank you for your hard work."

After rubbing Ichigo's little head, Mary squinted and nuzzled her fur before handing Ichigo over to Suzu, who was waiting nearby.

Propping her head up and looking in Yuri's direction, Mari was pondering the purpose of the person monitoring her. Was it to put pressure on Nie Zi? Or simply for the sake of Mukyuu Tana?

Meanwhile, a long-haired woman dressed in casual clothes sat in a flying taxi, looking at the snowy landscape on the screen and the two girls in the picture. She spat out a disdainful spit, thinking, "I was kicked out of the noble manor just to stare at this monitor in the freezing cold."

The woman felt annoyed whenever she thought about Domino's attitude. How could someone who didn't even use Pokémon climb higher than her? Was it because she spent all her time staring at the monitor while soaking in hot springs?

They make this mission sound so important... Everyone knows the routes for gym challenges, so why would they need to monitor where these two brats go or what they do? Just check the official website, isn't that enough?

Tossing the screen into her bag to avoid seeing it, the woman turned to look down at Spiketown, which was getting closer and closer. She could clearly see that the town's infrastructure wasn't as good as Warring States Town's, and her mood worsened.

Chapter 301 Mary's Home

Coming up from the north side of Spiketown, the climate isn't warm because it's close to the coast, but at least you don't need to wear a down jacket.

"Is this Mary-chan's hometown?"

Finally, after following the lead of Number Nine, Yuri, led by Mary, arrived at the outskirts of Spike Town and looked up at the somewhat old city.

"Yes, because it is far from the energy point, Spike Town used to be quite prosperous, and most of these buildings are quite old."

Mary pulled Yuri by the hand and stepped through the tall roller shutter door into the town. The entrance was under a closed dome, which was now somewhat dilapidated, and many parts of the town had been demolished.

However, the entrance area has been completely preserved.

"They are indeed all old houses."

Yuri looked around. Unlike the cities she had visited before, Spike Town had generously placed its most historically significant features at the main entrance to the city.

"Oh—! Little Mary is back! Is she finally going to beat your brother this time?!"

As they passed a fruit vendor, the owner, who was standing guard at the door, casually struck up a conversation with Mary.

"It's still early, and my brother hasn't come back yet."

Mary returned a smile and shook her head helplessly. She was still a bit short of the skill to fight Nie Zi with all her might.

"Hahaha~ We're all waiting to see you beat up your brother on TV—ouch!"

Before he could finish speaking, a middle-aged woman stepped out from behind the boss, raised her fan, and forcefully slapped it on his head, interrupting his speech.

"Can't you speak properly?"

"Hey, I just wanted to encourage little Mary."

"What encouragement are you giving me? Get lost!"

After swatting away the dejected boss, the proprietress smiled and waved to Mary, saying:

"You just got back today, right? Here's some fruit for you and your friends to enjoy."

"Well... thank you."

Mary hesitated slightly, then nodded in agreement and accepted the small bag of tree fruit handed to her by the proprietress. The proprietress did not accept money. Mary had tried to pay her before, but she couldn't persuade her otherwise, so she gave up.

It's undeniable that the company established by Nie Zi as the gym leader has brought vitality to the declining Spiketown. Coupled with her youth and strong abilities, it's no wonder that Marie had a fan base before the competition.

Yuri stayed close to Mary without saying much. She had been marveling at Mary's popularity, but after similar situations happened all the way, she gradually calmed down from her surprise.

Upon arriving in the residential area, one notices a significant increase in newly constructed apartments and detached houses.

Mary's home is in a luxury apartment building. It was a new house that her family bought a few years ago after Nie Zi became the dojo master. Originally, Nie Zi planned to buy a villa, but he refused because there were too few people in his family.

However, Mary is now beginning to understand why Nie Zi suggested buying a villa in the first place.

Not all Pokémon, regardless of size, are suited to living in an apartment building of only a couple hundred square meters.

"Come in. My parents should still be at the company, but I told them I would be bringing a friend back to stay."

"oh oh……"

Yuri nervously followed behind and changed into the slippers Mary handed her, looking around at the furnishings in the room.

"Come rest in my room for a while, then we'll go to the dojo. There's a training ground there."

"Eh? Isn't Mary-chan going to stay a little longer?"

"No one's home, but it's okay to rest for an extra half day."

Leading Yuri into her room, Mary casually tossed her backpack onto the bed. The room was very tidy; her parents must have cleaned it specially because they knew she was coming back.

Yuri, on the other hand, walked curiously over to the desk and examined the two photos displayed there.

Mary's room was rather simple, with no fancy colors or decorations, but Yuri thought it would be very comfortable to stay in it.

"Oh...why didn't my mom put the photos away for me?!"

Belatedly noticing Yuri's gaze, Marie approached her somewhat embarrassedly, but didn't put the photo away. One of the photos was a group photo of Marie and her family when she was still at the Pokémon School, taken when Nie Zi had just become a Gym Leader.

The other photo is of Marie holding Eevee before it evolved, when she graduated from Pokémon School. Eevee is wearing a string of bells around its neck, which looks quite cute.

"Why do you want to put it away? Little Mary-chan was so cute!"

From Yuri's perspective, she was naturally delighted to be able to see these things, without considering the shyness of the person in question.

Slightly annoyed and embarrassed, Mary suddenly stepped forward, reached out and grabbed the edge of the table, locking Yuri inside, and then pressed down on her.

"Huh...what?!"

Startled, Yuri quickly turned to face Mary, but unexpectedly, she fell right into Mary's trap. As soon as they met eyes, Mary raised her hand and tightly hugged Yuri's waist, continuing to press forward.

Mary stopped what she was doing when Yuri was half-sitting on the table. Instead, she tilted her head, brushed aside the fabric around Yuri's neck, and took a bite of her delicate skin.

"hiss--"

Yuri felt a slight pain and then realized that Mary must have been embarrassed by what had just happened, which was why she did that.

Mary quickly loosened her grip, her gaze sweeping over the tiny tooth mark before settling on Yuri's lips.

"Next time I go to your house, I'm definitely going to turn your room upside down. Remember that!"

After delivering her inexplicable threat, Mary didn't want to hear Yuri's reply at all, so she covered her mouth with a blanket, leaving Yuri only able to let out a few sobs.

"Waaah..."

As Yuri gradually got into the zone, she subconsciously raised her knees, crossed her legs and wrapped them around Mary's waist, then hugged Mary's body with both hands, passionately responding to Mary's advances.

For a long time, the lips are divided.

Yuri sat on the table, still clinging tightly to Mary, refusing to let go.

"Oh, right—"

"Ok?"

Feeling her lover's warm breath spreading across her cheek, Mary suddenly blinked and brought up something else.

"You should be sharing a room with me for the time being, Yuri."

"Um……"

"You don't seem to care much?"

"No, that's not it..."

Yuri awkwardly avoided his gaze, her body shifting restlessly. As a result, the movement, which was strangely effective, was made even more so by her legs tightly gripping Mary's waist.

"Hmm... More important than that, Mary-chan, you need to take responsibility first..."

A pair of hands had already impatiently lifted the hem of Mary's shirt.

Chapter 302 Afternoon Nap and the Dojo

After doing everything in the room without realizing it, Mary asked Yuri to take her change of clothes to the bathroom first.

Mary herself opened the window to let the ambiguous atmosphere in the room dissipate quickly.

"call……"

Feeling somewhat exhausted, Mary sat down at her desk and, after thinking for a while, called out to Si-chan and Yi-chan.

There shouldn't be too many people coming and going in Spike Town recently. There's not much to see here. Those who come and go are either connected to the locals or are there for work.

Then, conducting an investigation would become exceptionally easy.

Is there surveillance on them now?

'Sand—(not within perception range)'