Pokémon: Master System.

"Of course I've heard of them," Jin Yan said, turning to Xia Yu when she asked. "Xia Yong and Xu Xiu were the two most talented people in our patrol team back then."

"Xu Xiu?!" Xia Yu was a little unsure if the Xu Xiu Jin Yan was talking about was the Xu Xiu he knew: "Is it that wanted criminal Xu Xiu?"

“Yes.” Jin Yan smiled bitterly. “Xu Xiu used to be my captain. Oh, Xia Yong, Xia Yu? What’s your relationship with Xia Yong?”

“Xia Yong is my father,” Xia Yu said politely. “Could you tell me about them?”

Xia Yu was shocked. This was the first time he had heard that his father and Xu Xiu knew each other. Recalling his experience in the Grass Insect Secret Realm, Xia Yu vaguely felt that his father was hiding something from him.

"What do you want to ask them about? I don't actually know much about it."

"Whatever, I just want to hear their stories from the past. You can tell me anything," Xia Yu said with a smile.

“Xu Xiu and Xia Yong are both my seniors. I heard they are about the same age. Xia Yong was sent by the association to support the patrol team, while Xu Xiu came to us on his own,” Jin Yan said, recalling the past.

"I heard that they were both very capable. Not long after joining the patrol team, they became the main force of their respective teams, and a year later they both became the captains of their respective teams."

"When the two years were up, Xia Yong tamed a firefly and left the patrol team. Xu Xiu, on the other hand, stayed with the patrol team for several years before leaving. Captain Xu Xiu always worked diligently and was always at the forefront of every poacher capture operation. To be honest, I really can't understand why he would do such a thing. You know what happened to him afterward." Jin Yan paused here.

"Actually, if you really want to ask about Xu Xiu, you can ask Deputy Captain Xu Shanhe. Captain Xu has been here for decades, he should know something."

"I understand. Thanks, Captain Jin," Xia Yu replied.

…………

Back at the patrol team's camp, Roger had obviously heard about what had just happened, and he frowned as he looked at the dozen or so poachers.

“Wang Ruilong?” Roger clearly recognized Wang Ruilong, the leader: “You’ve all worked hard. Go and get some rest and sleep. Leave the rest to me.”

When Xia Yu returned to the house, Xu Shanhe was nowhere to be seen.

On the way back, he learned from the other team members that Xu Shanhe, who also worked as a teacher in Qingshan Town, usually had to leave for class at six o'clock in the morning and could not get back until nine o'clock in the evening. Occasionally, if something happened, he would be delayed until eleven or twelve o'clock. At the same time, he also had to participate in patrols on weekends. He was the hardest working person in the entire patrol team and the person that all the team members admired the most.

After a quick wash, Xia Yu lay on the bed, staring intently at the mosquito net, his brows furrowed. The encounter with the poachers today, as well as his casual conversation with Jin Yan and the poachers, had stirred up some other thoughts in his mind.

First, there are the rangers. Their income is quite low; in fact, you could say that delivering food in a big city earns more than a ranger. However, the only advantage of being a ranger is that after two years of service, they are allowed to catch one Pokémon in the Wild Area!

Many people come here to support the area for two years, not only to enhance their resumes, but also because being able to catch a Pokémon from the Wild Area is a major reason.

Secondly, there are poachers. Poachers face the risk of being caught by patrol teams and dying at the hands of wild Pokémon, but as long as they can return alive, the spoils of one poaching trip are enough for them to live comfortably for several years!

Both the rangers and the poachers are honest, hardworking people; the real beneficiaries are the other parties in the Pokémon poaching industry chain.

Pokémon poaching has developed into a complete industry chain. Poachers capture Pokémon and sell them to smugglers, who then sell these illegal Pokémon to black markets around the world, where they are then sold to people who need Pokémon.

Of the profits generated, poachers probably only get about 10%, smugglers about 30%, and the black market about 60%.

It's like this: a Pokémon might sell for one million on the black market, but you could get it from a smuggler on the underground black market for about four hundred thousand. And a smuggler could get it from a poacher for only one hundred thousand.

Layer upon layer of exploitation and oppression: poachers take the greatest risks for the least money, while the black market takes the least risks for the most money.

Of course, the members of the patrol team suffer the most, as they receive the lowest wages and are always at risk of losing their lives.

At this moment, Xia Yu had a bold idea: what if he were to integrate the entire industry chain?

By integrating patrol teams, poachers, smugglers, and the underground black market, this would be beneficial to many people.

For example, after the integration of the patrol teams, their treatment and income will definitely increase significantly, and at the same time, there will be no more danger when carrying out their missions.

Poachers would also see their income skyrocket, and they would no longer face the risk of fighting to the death with patrol teams.

The smugglers are the most troublesome; the only thing they can increase is their income.

The advantages of the underground black market are more obvious: the supply is more stable, and there won't be situations where you can't receive Pokémon for months due to stricter patrols.

Finally, it is also beneficial to the development and ecological protection of the Wild Area. As long as the forces are integrated, Xia Yu can take only a portion of the Pokémon eggs, just like in the Secret Realm. This will not have too much impact on the Pokémon population, and will also ensure a stable source of income.

Integrating the entire poaching chain is a win-win situation for all parties involved. Xia Yu would never have dared to dream of it before, but with the acquisition of Iron Warrior, a Champion-level Pokémon, his mind started to work.

However, doing so would offend many people and cross many people's red lines regarding their interests.

The organization that was most offended was the Pokémon Association. The Pokémon Association established the Wild Area, which, in addition to protecting wild Pokémon, also sells capture slots to the public.

A single capture slot in the Wild Area can cost as much as a million, but all the money from selling capture slots goes to the Pokémon Association, and the patrol team members don't get a single penny.

Xia Yu frowned in thought. This matter was indeed very promising, but it couldn't be done openly.

He's currently in a honeymoon period with the Pokémon Association, so he can't openly challenge them. Therefore, Xia Yu can only do it secretly or delegate it to others.

How about we create a new organization called Team Rocket? To revive Team Rocket's glory in this world.

Chapter 200 Going up the mountain

Xia Yu lay in bed, pondering for a long time that night.

Creating Team Rocket and integrating the entire Pokémon poaching industry chain requires a great deal of preparation, and talent and strength are both indispensable.

However, Xia Yu currently lacks both of these things. His only reliance is the Iron Warrior. Apart from the Iron Warrior and the Gallade that the Association has loaned to him, Xia Yu's own strength is just so-so.

As for talent, building a Rockets team is impossible for him alone; he needs capable subordinates. Therefore, this plan is still somewhat premature for him at present and must be temporarily shelved.

However, Xia Yu was also prepared for any eventuality. As the saying goes, "Preparation is the key to success, and lack of preparation leads to failure." This matter may seem impossible to Xia Yu now, but it might be possible in the future.

Xia Yu pondered for a moment: if he really wanted to form Team Rocket, who could he find?

Xie Tianming, who owns the Infernape, Cai Panqiu, the commoner insect king, Zhao Ruohan, and his best friend Wu Yaozu—of these people, probably only Xie Tianming and Zhao Ruohan are willing to follow him.

Cai Panqiu is already a big internet celebrity and has no worries about income. Secondly, Wu Yaozu is also very wealthy, so there is no need for him to work for such money.

Zhao Ruohan has signed a contract with the Xia family, which means they are now tied together. Xie Tianming has also recently joined the Xia family's company. These two are the most likely candidates to be recruited.

Besides that? A team always needs an expert to oversee things.

Xia Yu suddenly thought of someone, Xu Xiu, but he quickly dismissed the idea, as he and Xu Xiu were enemies.

I'll find an opportunity to test Xie Tianming and Zhao Ruohan.

…………

On the other side, Zhao Ruohan and Zhao Mirou were also lying on the bed, talking in hushed tones. Zhao Mirou was from Lin'an City. After graduating from Imperial University, she returned to Lin'an City to work and was assigned here to provide support for two years. She had six months left on her term and could go back home.

The other members of the patrol team might not know Xia Yu, but she did. She had heard Xia Yu's name when she returned to Lin'an City for the Spring Festival this year. She never expected to meet Xia Yu in person here, and even become teammates with him. She couldn't help but feel excited.

Zhao Mirou and Zhao Ruohan chatted for a long time. Women's topics are always varied and interesting. They talked for a long time until dawn before they went to sleep.

…………

The life of the patrol team is monotonous and tedious. Because three teams take turns on duty, each team can rest for two days after completing its patrol mission.

During these two days, as long as there is no major emergency, the team members are free to move around, provided they do not stray too far from the patrol team.

Most of the team members stayed indoors playing cards and drinking. The weather in the wilderness was strange; it was so hot during the day that people were drenched in sweat, and so cold at night that people were shivering. Unless there was a mission or they needed to go back to Green Mountain Town to buy things, no one wanted to go out.

After learning that Xia Yu was protected by a Gallade with Champion-level potential, Roger did not restrain Xia Yu and let him act on his own.

The Wild Area is teeming with rare Pokémon, and Xia Yu had other ideas in mind. He wanted to take advantage of his two days off to explore the Wild Area and see if he could encounter any powerful Pokémon.

It's worth noting that even rare Pokémon like Flamebug, Zoroark, Ditto, and Riolu occasionally appear in the Wild Area. Xia Yu naturally wouldn't let this opportunity pass him by, even if he didn't need these Pokémon, he could give them to his older brother or father.

However, there is a limit to the number of Pokémon that can be caught in the Wild Area. Each person can only catch one Pokémon in the Wild Area every two years. This is also a way to protect the Wild Area's ecosystem.

Although Xia Yu is not currently eligible to catch Pokémon in the Wild Area, if he does catch a Pokémon, he can easily spend one million to qualify for a Wild Area catching slot.

This is also an unspoken rule among the staff in the Wilderness District, like Zhao Mirou, even though she hasn't worked there for two years.

According to the rules, she is not allowed to catch Pokémon in the Wild Area, but Zhao Mirou has actually already caught and raised a Pokémon.

Although this is illegal, the illegal Pokémon will automatically become legal after two years.

After sleeping for a day, Xia Yu got up early the next day. He planned to take advantage of the day off and bring his Pokémon to venture deeper into the Wild Area, where most of the Pokémon were Ice-type.

Xia Yu has already caught ten Pokémon of different types, but he hasn't caught any Ice-type or Water-type Pokémon yet. He would like to catch one if he has the chance.

Speaking of this, Xia Yu remembered his item, the "All-Purpose Potion," which he had carefully studied regarding its ability to alter properties.

Xia Yu was unsure whether this ability change only changed a Pokémon's ability to one that could be found in the game, or whether it could change a Pokémon's ability to one that did not violate the laws of nature.

If it's the former, Xia Yu's first choice for catching a Pokémon would naturally be Greninja, because Greninja has a unique ability among all Pokémon: Bond Phenomenon.

Furthermore, the Water and Dark types are also types that Xia Yu doesn't currently have, making them a perfect fit.

Secondly, if it's the second option, then Xia Yu has many choices, such as Slaking with Hercules, Charizard with Water Absorption... uh, that might be a bit outrageous.

Secondly, there are Swampert with its Herbivore ability, Electric-type Pokémon with its Guardian ability, Hydreigon with its Contrarian ability, Ferrothorn with its Flash Fire ability, Spore with its Prankster ability, and Volcarona with its Quiver Dance ability.

Unfortunately, Xia Yu only had one dose of this medicine, so he couldn't conduct the experiment. To be on the safe side, he should probably choose to subdue the Guagua Bubble Baby.

…………

Xia Yu got up early in the morning, just as dawn was breaking and the weather was slightly chilly. She had already changed into a thick cotton coat and was about to go out when she ran into Zhao Ruohan.

"Are you going out?" Zhao Ruohan asked, looking at Xia Yu, who was fully armed and ready to leave.

"Yes, I'm planning to go for a walk in the mountains," Xia Yu said without hiding anything.

“I want to go too,” Zhao Ruohan said to Xia Yu calmly. “Let’s go together.”

Faced with Zhao Ruohan's invitation, Xia Yu nodded and said, "Okay, let's go."

Xia Yu had his own reasons for bringing Zhao Ruohan along.

On the one hand, due to the limited number of Pokémon capture slots in the Wild Area, Xia Yu can only capture one Pokémon in the Wild Area. If he encounters two Pokémon with good potential, he can let Zhao Ruohan capture them and he will pay to take up her slot.

On the other hand, Xia Yu also wanted to test Zhao Ruohan. He wanted to integrate the entire Pokémon poaching industry chain, but one person's efforts alone were definitely not enough; he needed to find some like-minded people.

…………