Chapter 30: Encountering Poachers

---

In the dense Petalburg Woods, there was a muscular man with short green hair wearing an orange mountaineering suit, leaning against a big tree, panting.

From his embarrassed appearance, it could be seen that he may have gone through a life-and-death moment before this.

After taking a breath, the green-haired man stood up and then punched the trunk of the big tree behind him angrily.

"If it weren't for those kids, I wouldn't have become so embarrassed, and I wouldn't have suffered so much. One day, I will take revenge on them!"

When he thought that his hard work was destroyed by those kids, and he was almost arrested, the green-haired man was so angry that he vented his anger on the big tree in front of him.

Fortunately, this big tree was relatively strong. After being beaten again and again, it only lost a layer of bark, which was not a big deal.

As for the green-haired man, after venting for a while, his mood seemed to be much better. So, after taking a breath, he let go of the big tree in front of him.

Then the green-haired man sat on the ground again, leaning against the big tree he had just hit, and began to talk to himself.

"The previous harvest was unlucky, and the most important thing now is how to make up for the previous losses."

After thinking for a while, the green-haired man seemed to have thought of a way to make up for his losses, so he didn't dwell on it too much.

He stood up directly, patted the dust off his body, and then said.

"Now this is the only way to make up for the losses. I hope you don't blame me. It's all those guys' fault. I don't want to do this."

After saying that, the green-haired man showed a vicious expression, picked up his Poké Ball, and then walked towards the depths of Petalburg Woods.

.........

The sight returned to Gary and Rosa.

Ever since Rosa was lucky enough to capture the shiny Wurmple in Petalburg Woods, she had been in a good mood.

Even when she was on the road, she felt light and walked with extra energy.

Although she was "blackmailed" by the hateful Gary for something, compared to capturing the shiny Wurmple, the harvest was quite good.

Gary, who was following Rosa, saw Rosa so happy all the way, and she was also repeating "my Wurmple" all the way.

This made Gary, who was following Rosa, feel helpless. After shaking his head, he continued to chase after her.

After Gary and Rosa walked for a while, it was already mid-afternoon, and Gary looked at the time and found that it was already 2:30 in the afternoon.

Gary, who had been walking for a long time, did not feel physically tired, but mentally, he still felt a little tired.

So Gary, who wanted to rest for a while, looked at the tireless Rosa in front of him.

"Rosa, we should find a place to rest."

"No problem!"

Rosa, who had been in an excited state, woke up at Gary's call, and then agreed very readily, finally coming to Gary's side.

Looking at Rosa sitting next to him, Gary drank a sip of water and asked Rosa: "Rosa, don't you feel tired?"

"No."

Faced with Gary's question, Rosa answered with a smile.

"Alas."

After hearing Rosa's words, Gary said helplessly: "It seems that you really like the shiny Wurmple!"

You know, when Rosa was on the road before, she didn't behave like this now.

Compared to now, Gary couldn't help but sigh: The influence of the shiny Wurmple is really great!

"Okay, we've walked for such a long time, drink a sip of water to moisten your throat."

Looking at Rosa who was still smiling, Gary took out another bottle of unopened pure water and handed it to Rosa, and said after rolling his eyes at her.

"Okay,"

After Rosa took the water from Gary, she responded with a smile on her face: "I knew, Gary, you are the best."

"You."

For Rosa who was smiling, Gary also showed a helpless expression for a while, but he had a doting expression.

During the time when Gary and Rosa were resting, a rustling sound suddenly came from a patch of grass not far from them.

Although this sound seemed particularly small in Petalburg Woods, Gary, whose senses were strengthened by the power of Viridian and the physique of a super rookie, still keenly noticed it.

"What is this?"

Although Gary heard the sound, he did not make any sound, but just looked at the place where the sound came from quietly and seriously.

"Gary, what's wrong?"

Rosa saw Gary's serious expression and knew something happened, so she lowered her voice and asked in a low voice in Gary's ear.

"Shh, someone should be coming."

After hearing Rosa's question, Gary also answered in a low voice.

After getting Gary's answer, Rosa nodded, and then also raised her vigilance, and then looked over following Gary's gaze.

You know, in the forest, you will never guess what you will encounter, so when traveling outside, especially in the dense forest, you must be vigilant.

The tall grass that Gary and Rosa were watching also began to tremble and shake after a while.

"It's coming."

As Gary's voice fell, a sturdy man with green hair, who was about thirty years old, walked out of the dense grass.

From the face of this man, it could be seen that he was not a good person at first glance.

The moment Gary saw this man, he immediately recognized his identity. He was the poacher Rico that Ash and his friends met in the Petalburg Woods in the original series.

"Gary."

After Rosa noticed this fierce-looking man, perhaps because she had Gary as her boyfriend to rely on, she also approached Gary, then pulled Gary's sleeve and said something nervously.

After Gary felt Rosa's nervousness, he also gently stroked Rosa's hand to comfort her.

Of course, in addition to Gary and Rosa, Rico also saw Gary and Rosa who were resting.

Especially after noticing that Gary and Rosa were not very old, his eyes suddenly lit up, and then he strode towards Gary.

"You two..."