Ash's Pokémon Travel Has Big Problems

The man's pupils contracted sharply, his face first showing astonishment, then a look of realization and a hint of defeat.

"You're so long-winded!"

"What a nosy person."

"Say what you have to say quickly, or you can take me to Officer Jenny!"

He's a bit like a scoundrel, acting like a dead pig that's not afraid of boiling water.

"Huh?" Xiao Zhi also found it outrageous. Sure enough, you'll always encounter oddballs when you meet a lot of people. "I was just about to ask you what you want to do."

Xiao Zhi's mood was anything but relaxed.

While identifying a specific perpetrator is important, the underlying issues are even more worrying.

Who ordered him to do this?

What is his purpose?

Is there anyone else doing the same thing besides him?

What's the current situation with all that stinky sludge that's been pushed deep into the sewers?

Could it have already started to divide and reproduce?

"Black Cloud City has fallen to this state, and you still want to help the Mud Demons reproduce?"

"Once their numbers explode, this city is doomed!"

Ash was quite certain that these Grimer and Muk were far less intelligent than the Tentacruel he had encountered before.

If the stinging jellyfish can coexist harmoniously with humans under agreed-upon conditions...

So these stinky, stinky muds can't do that.

Because my brain isn't big enough.

"What do you know!" Seemingly provoked by Xiao Zhi's words, the person's voice rose.

"This city was built on stinky mud, stinky mud!"

"Then the day this city no longer needs Mud and Stink Mud, this city should be destroyed!"

Xiao Zhi was completely baffled by what this person said.

Are there other secrets hidden behind this?

But he clearly obtained the information from Officer Jenny and verified it with Miss Joey.

So that means it is indeed accurate intelligence, but is something hidden?

"...I really don't know much, so can you explain it to me clearly?" Xiaozhi didn't rush to argue.

It would be even better if we could know more.

"?" The man was also a little puzzled by Xiao Zhi's reaction.

"...You seem different from the other Pokémon Trainers I've met?"

"Hmph... never mind."

"My name is Li Yong."

The mysterious guy finally revealed his name.

Chapter 159 Recklessness is indeed closer to courage than cowardice.

The air in the dark sewers was damp and stuffy.

Even with a gas mask on, the distinctive odor, a mixture of decaying organic matter and chemical agents, still seeps in slightly.

Especially when Ash's movements were very exaggerated.

Bound by the curse of the dream demon, Li Yong sat leaning against the cold concrete wall.

His expression was a mixture of resentment and an almost fanatical obsession.

...In short, he doesn't seem like a normal person.

"You do not understand……"

"You have no idea what Black Cloud City used to be like, nor do you understand what Mud and the Mud people sacrificed for this city!"

Li Yong's voice echoed with excitement.

Xiao Zhi didn't urge him; he just stood quietly opposite him.

He knew that although the person in front of him was acting irrationally, he might be able to provide crucial information.

Pikachu perched warily on his shoulder.

The dream monster, covered in a plastic bag, floated curiously to the side.

"More than a decade ago, Heiyun City was the industrial jewel of Northeast China!" Li Yong's eyes seemed to see the distant past.

"The factories operate day and night, with chimneys standing tall, producing all kinds of supplies needed by the Alliance... It's bustling and busy, but it comes at a price."

His voice lowered, tinged with regret.

"The factory discharges wastewater and waste residue without any restraint."

"The sky is always gray, the rivers are dyed in all sorts of colors and emit a pungent smell, and even the seawater at the estuary is murky..."

"This city has almost become a dead zone."

"People began to flee, factories closed down, and prosperity vanished in an instant, leaving only dilapidated factory buildings and this thoroughly polluted land."

Li Yong's voice grew softer and softer, and his mood seemed to sink as well.

Xiao Zhi imagined that scene.

A city of despair, devoured by its own development.

This was quite different from the other clean and bright cities he knew.

"And then?" Ash couldn't help but ask, "Murlocs..."

“They were born from that polluted seabed mud!” Li Yong’s tone suddenly took on an almost fanatical quality.

"This land nurtured them!"

"They were here originally, crawling along the coast of this city... and then the miracle began."

His voice became excited.

"They've started devouring that troublesome industrial waste and clearing away the sludge clogging the waterways!"

"Their bodies seem to have been created specifically to purify this land!"

"Although the process was slow, the sky did gradually turn blue again, and the river began to flow again, although the water quality was still terrible..."

"...It was they who gave Black Cloud City a second life!"

The world of Pokémon is incredibly magical.

Perhaps the emergence of trash-type Pokémon is simply a product of the times.

As times progress, even more Pokémon will be born in this world.

Xiao Zhi seemed to be deep in thought.

"And then? The city was revitalized?"

If what Li Yong said is true, then the Mud Clan did indeed do a favor for Black Cloud City.

“I guess so… but it’s no longer an industrial city.” Riyong’s tone was sarcastic.

"The alliance says it has found a new path for development, positioning this place as a waste treatment terminal for the Kanto region."

“Garbage from Golden City, Rainbow City, Fallen Leaf City… and even more distant cities is transported here by cargo ships for landfill, sorting, and partial recycling.”

Since energy is not an issue in this world, as there are plenty of Electric-type Pokémon available, waste-to-energy has no future.

The final solution was to pile up and bury the waste.

"Sludge and its evolved form, Sludge, along with the tattered bags and dust mountains that later adapted to the environment, became natural garbage collectors!"

"They devour the garbage, transforming massive amounts of waste into part of themselves, thus keeping the city running!"

He suddenly raised his head, staring intently at Xiaozhi.

"But what about now?"

"What kind of bullshit new technology has the alliance come up with! They claim to have a more efficient and environmentally friendly treatment method!"

"The amount of garbage being transported is decreasing year by year!"

"They're trying to kick us out after we've gotten what they wanted!"

"They want to kick us and the Mud monsters aside!"

Li Yong's voice trembled with anger.

Although the alliance as a whole is still sending a lot of garbage here, after the introduction of new technologies, some cities will also want to solve their garbage problems on their own.

After all, given that there is no shortage of energy, the cost of turning waste into treasure is surprisingly low.

If that's the case, why send your city's garbage to other cities?

After the garbage is properly processed, it can be resold in Heiyun City.

From the alliance's perspective, it's a division of labor and cooperation among different cities... which can also be seen as compensation for Black Cloud City's past contributions.

However, the situation is different from the perspective of certain cities.

I can handle the garbage myself for 20 yuan.

It cost 20 yuan to ship it out.

I bought it for 20 yuan.

This is a complete loss for me.

After all, it was under the leadership of the alliance from the very beginning that the cities transported their garbage here.

The Muk and Grimer were supposed to gradually die out after evolving into cities due to a lack of food.

The original alliance did not want to see these heroes die like this, so it forcibly mobilized the garbage from various cities and carried out garbage sorting and disposal.

Most high-level trainers simply let it go.

This is from the alliance's perspective.

"What will the Mud eat if there isn't enough trash?"

"They will starve to death!"

"This city was built on their backs, and now we're just going to watch them perish?"

"What kind of logic is this!"

This is the situation from Li Yong's perspective.

As for how much of the comments here are emotional and how much are biased, Xiaozhi still needs to verify more.

Xiao Zhi remained silent for a moment, processing this information.

From Li Yong's perspective, this does indeed seem like a betrayal.

Ash also gleaned the following information: the League has indeed done a lot of what it should have done; the Kanto League has done its best.

But some things can't be solved just by trying your best.

After all, garbage accumulation and such... the world has a surplus of energy... and cities actually have excess energy that can be used to process garbage.

Finally, Ash asked a very practical question: "But... Ryou, don't you think... they smell bad?"

"Don't you feel uncomfortable living in such an environment?"

This is Ash's most direct feeling after traveling all this time, and it's also the reason why most people can't stand Black Cloud City.

The city's population is much smaller than before.

Black Cloud City has fallen into decline.

Unexpectedly, Li Yong paused for a moment, then let out a short laugh, which sounded rather strange in the empty sewer.