Chapter 261: Rescue Operation

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"Have you two had dinner? If not, feel free to sit down and join me," Sato said calmly, noticing the anxious expressions on Mana and the elder as they approached.

Although his Marshtomp had just evolved into Swampert, significantly boosting its strength, Sato was new to this area. He knew it was essential to act cautiously.

"Big brother, we came to ask for your help. Please, you have to help us! My father hasn't returned from Poochyena Forest yet. Please help Mana find my dad!"

Mana was a child with a simple mind. She went straight to the point, pleading with Sato with a hint of tears in her eyes.

"Hello, Mr. Sato. My name is Carlot. I'm Mana's grandfather and the village chief of White River Village. I heard from the villagers that you came from Poochyena Forest. You must be very strong. Mana's father took the village's guard team into the forest at noon to collect supplies, but they haven't returned yet. I fear something has happened to them, so I'd like to request your help in finding them."

The elder introduced himself respectfully and explained the situation with sincerity.

Initially, the elder was deeply worried after learning from Mana that Sato seemed young and dressed like a regular civilian Pokémon Trainer. He doubted whether Sato was capable of handling such a significant task. 

However, upon entering and seeing the powerful Pokémon by Sato's side—particularly the imposing Swampert, Golbat, and Bellossom—his doubts subsided. The elder began to trust the villagers' claims that this young Trainer was genuinely skilled.

The elder's experience allowed him to notice finer details. He saw that the Pokémon food Sato provided was of premium quality, especially the heaping bowl of top-tier water-type food in front of Swampert.

He knew premium Pokémon food cost at least 1,000 PokéDollars per container. 

Judging by the size of the portion Swampert had, it was equivalent to over 20 containers of standard Pokemon food, meaning one meal likely cost more than 20,000 PokéDollars for a single Pokemon, not even considering the food for his other Pokemon. 

Even as the well-off village chief, the elder couldn't help but be shocked at Sato's wealth.

Now, the elder no longer worried about Sato's strength. Instead, he feared Sato might refuse the mission due to dissatisfaction with the offered reward. After all, it was nighttime, and the forest was far more dangerous after dark.

"Sir, I did come from Poochyena Forest, but as you know, it's dark now, and the forest becomes significantly more dangerous at night. Even I can't guarantee I'd make it out unscathed if I ventured in," Sato said seriously after giving the matter some thought.

Though the elder offered a reward of 1 million PokéDollars, Sato wasn't particularly enticed. Still, he was willing to help out in saving people if he could. 

However, he wasn't one to boast recklessly in front of the client, potentially putting himself and his Pokémon in a disadvantageous position. Thus, he chose to speak honestly.

"That said, I understand the urgency. If we can gather a few more capable Trainers to join me, I believe we'll have a much better chance," Sato added, noticing Mana and the elder's disheartened expressions.

He shifted his gaze to three Trainers nearby who were obviously eavesdropping. Sato had already assessed their capabilities. While not as strong as him, they were competent.

One of them, a bald man specializing in fighting-type Pokémon, had a Breloom at level 35. If this Trainer joined, the mission's success rate could increase significantly. Breloom's fighting-type abilities would be effective against the dark-type Poochyena and Mightyena.

Another was a young woman who specialized in bug-type Pokémon. Her two Illumise, both level 30, would provide excellent lighting for the forest, where visibility was poor at night. Additionally, bug-type Pokémon had exceptional sensory abilities, making them ideal for detecting movements in the forest.

The elder's eyes lit up with renewed hope. Being sharp, he immediately understood Sato's implication and approached the three Trainers to discuss the rescue mission.

The three civilian trainers were not stupid. They could tell from the strength of his Pokemon that Sato was a very capable trainer and would very likely be the backbone of this rescue operation.

Under the promise of generous rewards, the three agreed without hesitation. Although their rewards were less than a third of Sato's, they were thrilled, as they were clearly Trainers of modest means.

"Hello, I'm Hanks. I specialize in fighting-type Pokémon."

"Hi, Mr. Sato. My name is Maya. I specialize in bug-type Pokémon."

"Greetings, Mr. Sato. I'm Luke, and I specialize in ground-type Pokémon."

After reaching an agreement with the village chief, the three introduced themselves to Sato and stood by, awaiting instructions.

"Hello, everyone. I'm Sato. You all know the mission—we're here to save lives. It's a dangerous task, so I hope we can work together to find the village's guard team and bring them back safely," Sato said seriously, addressing the group.

Once he finished, Sato sat back down. Under the astonished gazes of the others, he and his Pokémon rapidly devoured the delicious food on the table.

Before setting out, it was crucial to eat well and replenish energy. After all, both he and his Pokémon were famished after their long journey.