Aspiring to become a Pokémon trainer

"You still know that these are blocks I made?"

Although he didn't mind the girl's words, it wasn't exactly a pastime to tease her as he pleased.

Not stopping there, Nan Yin continued searching for information about these family Pokémon. After learning that there were similar groups in the Padilla region, she became even more certain of the connection between the two places.

Similar ecosystems, but different regional forms—sure enough, they will only be specific spirits of the new generation.

As their thoughts wandered and their gazes shifted, the outline of that bustling, occasionally noisy settlement appeared in their field of vision.

That was the only residential area in Zhongbeishang Township—

Emerald Green Town.

......

As a place connecting Beishang Township with the outside world, Cuilu Town is the only township in this region.

Sparse traffic is the norm in Beishang Township. Relying on agriculture and tourism, it doesn't have much to attract attention. Whether it's history or customs, they only have some heroic tales worth listening to and six self-established scenic spots.

For this reason, most of the local residents are farmers. During the planting season, they work in the fields, cultivating and planting rice. Only during the peak tourist season do they put down their farm work to receive the influx of tourists.

With clear skies and crisp autumn air, and bustling crowds, it is undoubtedly the peak season for tourism. It is also the middle of the month for the Omnibus festival. Although it has not officially started yet, many tourists are already arriving half a month in advance, worried about not being able to book accommodations.

When Nan Yin strolled to the only three-story building in Cui Lv Town, the Civic Center that managed town affairs, she witnessed an unexpected scene.

Neither local residents nor tourists from afar could be seen; several young men and women dressed in dark blue clothes were standing in the open space in front of the museum, seemingly speaking loudly about something.

With their uniform attire and youthful appearance, are these people students?

She focused her attention on listening to the topics and content of the conversations.

Judging from their varied expressions and self-introductions, they were clearly introducing themselves to each other.

"Hello everyone, I am Danyu, the representative of Blueberry Academy, and also a resident of Beishang Township. I will be leading you on a tour of the summer camp. I hope that you, who are from outside the township... cough, cough, I hope you can be more tolerant."

"I also hope to become good friends with everyone!"

With her cascading bangs, her slender fingers clasped tightly together, the shapely young woman squinted her eyelashes and delivered her speech with a beaming smile.

The different hair colors inside and out don't imply any impropriety; on the contrary, they give the former a more beautiful look in comparison. Her delicate features, clear snake-like eyes, and the beauty mark at the corner of her eye perfectly complement her temperament.

She may not be striking at first glance, but she possesses an innate, subtle allure.

Standing out from the crowd, an outstanding individual among the mediocre, is a special quality that can be easily distinguished from the crowd.

After speaking, the girl glanced at the boy beside her, who was half a head shorter, had a similar appearance, but looked unwell.

This gaze carries both a sense of urging and a chilling sense of coercion.

It is obvious that the two are more like siblings, with a clear hierarchy between them.

"I am... Wu Li..."

Upon hearing this timid reply, Danyu gritted her teeth inwardly, seemingly dissatisfied with the former's statement.

Fortunately, the self-introductions continued, and not much attention was focused on the boy.

“They are all native children of the village. If you need any help, please feel free to ask them.”

An elderly man with graying eyebrows and a bald head emerged from the community center, recounting the true story of the siblings and informing everyone of the precautions they needed to take.

"There is free hot water and restrooms in the community center. Your accommodation is a little further away. I'll need Danyu and you two to take them there and help them get familiar with the place."

"I know~"

"Ah... um..."

The contrast between the energetic reply and the soft murmur further highlighted the clash between their personalities.

Without listening further, Nan Yin only noted down a few people with distinctive features and the keywords that frequently appeared in the conversation.

—Blueberry Academy, orienteering, and three information plaques with biographies.

After opening a search engine and entering the relevant keywords, the girl was somewhat surprised to learn that Blueberry Academy was located in Unova.

She had never seen this term in previous generations, so is it a later addition to the setting?

"He's an academically trained trainer."

Her friend had already looked away, but Korne remained interested in the young men and women.

In the basic stage, trainers have three main development paths: first, as citizens of the League, they can receive a Pokémon for free at the appropriate age and embark on their journey in the real world; second, as students, they can join a renowned academy by passing written tests and practical battles to solidify their basic knowledge and pave the way for their future path; and third, as Gym Leaders, they can become familiar with a single area under the guidance of the Gym Leaders, and then apply their knowledge to other areas and continue to learn.

Each of the three has its own advantages and disadvantages, while the Academy system is mentioned very little in the Pokémon series, and the screen time given to it is quite pitiful.

"Let's go."

Like the elderly bystanders, they couldn't help but frown and sigh when they saw the young outsiders laughing and joking noisily. Jian chose to return home and lock the door. Nan Yin also disliked overly noisy scenes. Her trip was to find peace of mind and answers to her questions, and to seek the unknown.

The environment, of course, made it difficult for her to concentrate.

"Hey, where are you going?"

"Just as the old man said, as tourists, let's first learn about the heroic deeds that the residents are so proud of."

Sensing the unusual atmosphere, if tourism and service industries are the economic pillars of Beishang Township, then the villagers should at least have some enthusiasm for tourists. However, in reality, as far as I can see, so far, no local villagers have greeted her or offered any guidance.

Of course, this is not an imposed obligation; Nanyin is merely summarizing the current situation. Rather than a warm welcome, the residents' attitude towards outsiders seems more one of arrogance and resistance to coldness.

"Are you referring to those three information plaques?"

"Ah."

As they chatted and answered questions, they eventually made their way through the streets and alleys to Baoban Square, which was not far away.

Not in a hurry, Nan Yin first walked closer and took a look at the three statues standing in the center, surrounded by the crowd.

Dog, monkey, rooster.

Even without further details, she couldn't help but frown at the sight before her.

To be honest, the girl was very disappointed.

If these are the three companions who defeated the so-called evil spirits, then judging solely by their appearance, they initially give a rather unremarkable, even shabby, impression.

As a legendary being, it should exhibit the special and powerful qualities described in its biography.

After all, once the veil of mystery is lifted and the public gradually understands it, the food will become uninteresting, and Beishang Township will lose even the last remaining attraction for tourists.

They didn't care about what would happen to this remote rural area in the future; their interest in Nanyin music had simply faded.

She then moved forward and stopped in front of the information board, leaning slightly forward to browse the widely circulated story.

[Legend has it that long, long ago, in Beishang Township lived a terrifying evil spirit. It lurked deep in the forest, terrorizing the villagers who ventured into the mountains. One day, for reasons unknown, the evil spirit suddenly erupted in fury and descended the mountain in a rampage. Fortunately, three heroes remained in the village—Gou Zan the dog, Yuan Zeng the monkey, and Ji Chu the rooster. They risked their lives and finally drove the evil spirit away, but the severe injuries they sustained proved fatal. Thus, the name "Three Treasures Companions" came into being.]

It was a rather clichéd folk tale. As she murmured it, the girl also vaguely sensed a gaze from behind her.

Following my intuition, without even looking, the source of that gaze had already disappeared into the lush bushes and into the deep, secluded mountains.

What ordinary people cannot capture, Nan Yin still made a basic imitation of the former in her mind through her keen senses.

A petite figure, an emerald green coat, and a demon mask that obscures her features and is disproportionate to her size...

Such is the way the words are phrased, and at the same moment, the illustrated guide also provides the corresponding result.

[Individual: ? ? ? Gender: ♀]

[Characteristics: Unyielding, Radiant Face (Too Crystallized)]

[Personality: Afraid of loneliness]

Chapter 103 The Evil of Human Hearts and the Revival of the Three Treasures

Females are not given up.

With trembling eyelashes, Nan Yin was, to be honest, slightly surprised.

After all, the trait of not giving up is a powerful countermeasure in a competitive environment dominated by intimidators.

When an opponent weakens a character's abilities, the attack will increase by two levels for each ability that is weakened. This is the literal description. In actual combat, it can turn the tide of battle and rewrite the balance of power in different situations.

Moreover, the existence of the hidden ability "Shadow Reflection" and the prerequisite of "Tai Crystallization" also demonstrate its significant difference from regular Pokémon.

Are they Pokémon unique to Kitakami Township, or...?

Recalling the crystalline mask she had just glimpsed, Nan Yin immediately had a guess: could it be that the elf she had just caught a glimpse of was the one the residents had labeled as the ringleader of evil—the ghost?

The observation time was too short for the girl to discern the figure beneath the mask in an instant, but fortunately, she was not in a hurry.

Having already had their first encounter and confirmed the existence of the legend, there will inevitably be a second and a third reunion in this not-so-vast countryside.

"Let's go."

Where are we going this time?

Unaware of the prying gaze, after briefly browsing the biography, Corinne also lost some interest in the story of Beishang Township.

In contrast, Pokémon that are rarely seen in Kalos are more likely to attract her attention.

Echoing her friend's question, Nan Yin parted her lips slightly and told him where the destination was.

"Northward to the center."

Passing through the east side of Emerald Town and then crossing the Dancing Mountain Road, you will see a building standing like a shrine somewhere at the foot of the mountain.

However, it is not a place of beautiful scenery and tranquility. Along the way, there are vendors selling all kinds of goods. They are noisy and crowded, shouting at customers, without any humility or willingness to give way.

The initial impression was even less positive, just as the sailor said, Nanyin's expectations for Beishang Township were becoming increasingly shallow as the journey continued.

As a township whose economy relies on tourism, providing appropriate services to tourists should be a key strategy for healthy development and building a good reputation. However, Beishang Township allows its residents to act out and forcibly take away passing visitors.

This is truly a shortsighted approach that only considers the present and ignores the future; it is a short-sighted and short-sighted measure that drains the pond to catch all the fish.

Without stepping inside and being disturbed by the noise, Nanyin strolled along the quiet mountain path, looking at the haphazardly placed lanterns and the occasional small animal peeking out.

The rustling evening breeze brushed through the trees and through my hair, creating a soft, whispering sound. This tranquility and coolness were far better than the noisy street scene. It was just a pity that there seemed to be some argument lingering nearby, not dissipating for a long time.

"......Um?"

Watching the lively scene unfold is a common interest for most people, and Nan Yin also raised her eyebrows, took a step forward, and walked towards the noisy direction with Eevee.

......

"Administrator, the reserves of sticky rice cakes are severely insufficient this year. If this continues, I'm afraid the entire festival will have to be canceled."

"Yes, this means we can't prepare anything."

The local residents gathered around an elderly man they had previously met, their voices sharp and their voices loud and boisterous.

"How could this happen? This was clearly the most crucial moment."

Looking troubled, the administrator of Beishang Township stammered, unable to utter any words of comfort.

"Let me say a few words."

Squeezing through the bustling crowd, an elderly man, wearing sandals, approached the old man.

"This year's revenue was already bad, and the number of tourists you've brought in is several times more than in previous years. While we'd love to see Beishang Township thrive, it's better to let outsiders benefit while we ourselves suffer."

"Yes, the fruit from the Ghost Festival isn't enough to satisfy all the tourists. If it can't even satisfy the locals, then what's the point of the festival? Let the outsiders just watch."

The Ghost-Beating Festival is a traditional festival activity that has been passed down in this rural area since ancient times.

Specifically, a venue is filled with balloons depicting ghost faces, each filled with tree fruits. Participating tourists ride on vehicles provided by the town to pop the balloons, collect the fruits, and ultimately redeem them for rewards.

This event has quite a few intricacies. At first glance, it seems like it all depends on the efforts of the visitors—popping balloons to collect berries and earning free rewards. However, in reality, both the restrictions on the Pokémon mounts and the quota of balloons are determined by Kitakami Township itself.

"Here's a plan for you all, what do you think?"

The administrator has been in charge of the facilities and institutions of Beishang Township for many years, as well as internal and external liaisons. In the rural areas where the folk customs are pure, reputation is sometimes more important than status. So at this time, the villagers can still discuss the matter in a consultative tone.

But he knew that the reason these short-tempered villagers hadn't erupted was because they still trusted him, as the administrator, to mediate the problems and quell the disputes, and trusted the reputation and prestige he had accumulated over the years.

If their demands can be met, the outcome will undoubtedly be a happy one. However, if not, these men and women, who were just moments before being so friendly, will lose face and punish those who disrupt the rules and order in their own way.

Indifference and contempt are met when these old men and women lecture themselves with their backward and barbaric customs, treating them like pigs in cages or in the wind. It's not just a loss of face; others also gloat over this scene and regard them as something to be disgusted by.

To suffer such treatment in a remote rural village is almost tantamount to being dead.