Chapter 260: White River Village

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The evolution of Swampert brought great joy to Sato.

Perhaps it was the newfound aura of intimidation Swampert exuded, or maybe it was because the pack of Mightyena had already failed in their most aggressive assault earlier. 

Whatever the reason, Sato's journey was now completely unimpeded, with wild Pokémon in the area opting to steer clear of him.

Sato followed the well-trodden path forged by countless travelers over the years. After trekking for over three hours, as the sun began to set, he finally spotted the smoke rising from chimneys ahead.

"Phew, finally! A settlement. Otherwise, I would have had to camp out in the wilderness tonight," Sato muttered with a hint of relief as he quickened his pace, invigorated by the sight of the distant smoke trails.

Following the direction of the smoke, Sato soon arrived at a small riverside village. The settlement was built upstream, with a grove of berry trees to the left of the downstream side and several paddy fields sprawling to the right.

It was twilight, and many modestly dressed farmers were returning to the village along the country paths. Mischievous children trailed behind them in small groups, and a few Mightyena and Poochyena, trained as guard dogs, accompanied the villagers.

Sato, having lived in Pewter City after leaving his rural hometown, hadn't seen such picturesque pastoral scenes in a long time. The familiar sight of the golden-hued evening brought back memories of his early days in the Pokémon world.

"Those were simple times. We didn't have much, but the family was together, and that was enough," Sato reminisced with a bittersweet smile.

With a gentle sigh, he looked at his Growlithe, who was gazing up at him with trusting eyes. The sense of loneliness in his heart faded. He crouched down, softly stroked Growlithe's head, and murmured, "Well, I'm not alone anymore. I have all of you. You're my family too."

Together, Sato and Growlithe walked down the country path into the village.

The arrival of this unfamiliar traveler stirred the village's guard Pokémon. Before he could enter the settlement, two Mightyena, flanked by a dozen Poochyena, charged out, blocking his path and barking loudly at him and Growlithe.

"Big Blacky, Little Blacky! Don't be rude to the stranger! Big brother isn't a bad person. If you misbehave again, you're not getting dinner tonight!"

Just as Sato was preparing to handle the situation with his Pokémon, a little girl rode up on a small tricycle, a Beautifly fluttering beside her. 

Jumping off the tricycle, she stood with her hands on her hips, puffed her cheeks, and scolded the pack in her sweet, high-pitched voice.

The two Mightyena, Big Blacky and Little Blacky, seemed particularly afraid of the girl. At the mention of missing their meal, the pair immediately became submissive, licking the girl's hand to appease her before trotting back into the village with their pack of Poochyena in tow.

"Thank you so much, little miss. Please accept this as a token of my gratitude."

Impressed by the girl's ability to defuse the situation with just a few words, Sato took out a packet of Whitewave City's specialty squid jerky and offered it to her.

The girl, about five or six years old, wore a floral dress and had golden pigtails shaped like horns. Her chubby cheeks and lively demeanor, combined with the Beautifly sticking close to her, made her look like a little butterfly fairy.

Shortly after, three boys dashed out of the village, panting heavily as they caught up to her.

"Mana, wait for us!" one of the boys, the sturdiest of the group, grumbled between gasps, his flushed face betraying his frustration. However, his eyes were glued to the squid jerky in Mana's hands.

Mana, with a smug look, tore open the packaging and began munching on the treat, but she wasn't selfish. After a moment, she handed portions to the boys and declared, "See? I'm a girl, and even I'm faster than you."

The boys were too engrossed in savoring the jerky to argue, nodding absentmindedly as they indulged in the delicacy.

Unbeknownst to the kids, the squid jerky was a high-end snack that Sato had received from a restaurant after spending nearly 200,000 PokeDollars on lunch. It was far superior to the inexpensive treats sold in the village.

With the children's enthusiastic "escort," Sato finally entered the village.

The villagers were warm and hospitable, showing no signs of hostility toward the outsider. Seeing the children chatting and laughing with Sato, many locals even greeted him warmly.

Through the kids' excited introductions, Sato learned that the village was called White River Village, named after the river that flowed through it. 

The village was a hub of sorts, serving as a supply point for travelers heading to Route 122's dock and occasionally attracting people from the northern safari zone. 

Its location, at the crossroads of White River, Route 122, and the hunting area, made it quite significant.

However, the village's connection to Slateport City wasn't as strong due to the infamous Poochyena Forest, which teemed with Mightyena. Their relentless breeding and aggressive behavior made the route perilous. 

Travelers often opted for the safer waterway along Route 122.

After parting ways with the children, each of whom received their own packet of squid jerky, Sato checked into a well-regarded inn called White River Inn. 

The inn offered both food and accomodation, and Sato noticed several other trainers enjoying dinner with their Pokémon. 

Sato was naturally no exception. After the long journey, both he and his Pokemon were quite tired and hungry. Following suit, Sato ordered some of the village's famous dishes and shared a much-needed meal with his Pokémon.

Just as they were settling in, Mana returned with an elderly man in tow. From the direction they approached, it was clear they had come looking for Sato.

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The bonus chapter will be dropped tomorrow.