Chapter 244: Digletts

The next day, after completing his Daily Task, Julian rode on Dragonite and headed to Robert's Berry Orchard located west of Lake City.

At the orchard's entrance, Robert and some staff members were already waiting for Julian.

"Mr. Robert, can that young master Julian really solve our orchard's problem?" one of the orchard managers asked.

Julian was simply too young, and youth usually meant inexperience. The manager wasn't entirely convinced by Robert's confidence.

"Resolving the issue with the mid-Elite Dugtrio in the orchard shouldn't be a problem," Robert replied. "But the key is figuring out why the Dugtrio suddenly refuses to let anyone enter."

The orchard had been working in harmony with the Diglett and Dugtrio colony for decades without a single problem. This sudden refusal was unprecedented.

There had to be some unknown factor causing the disruption, and solving that was the real goal.

Robert's plan was simple: have Julian deal with the Elite Dugtrio first. Once the leader was defeated, the rest of the Diglett and Dugtrio might relent, allowing the workers to re-enter and investigate the root cause of the issue.

"He's here."

Looking up, Robert spotted Dragonite's silhouette in the sky. He quickly gestured to the surrounding staff. "Clear some space!"

The workers moved aside to create a small clearing where Dragonite could land. Dragonite descended smoothly, touching down on the ground as Julian dismounted.

"Young Master Julian."

"Just call me Julian," he replied.

Being addressed as 'Young Master Julian' still felt strange to him. It made him seem overly lofty, and he had no interest in acting like a pompous heir.

"Alright, I'll be informal then"

Robert nodded. The relationship between his family and the Walkers was close enough to skip unnecessary pleasantries.

"Robert, could you explain the situation in more detail?"

Last night, Julian had only heard a rough outline of the problem, but he didn't know the specifics.

"Ken, come explain to Julian," Robert instructed.

"Ken is the orchard's manager and has been working here for decades. He knows this place better than anyone, and the Elite Dugtrio has had a close relationship with him since it was young."

Ken, clad in a work uniform, had sun-darkened, reddish skin and calloused hands—clear signs of years of hard labor outdoors.

After decades in the orchard, Ken was undoubtedly the most familiar with it.

"Young Master"

Ken greeted as he stepped forward, his tone slightly nervous.

Robert might call Julian informally, but Ken didn't dare take such liberties.

"When exactly did the Dugtrio stop letting you enter the orchard?" Julian asked.

"About half a month ago."

"It suddenly stopped letting you in half a month ago?" Julian confirmed.

"Yes, everything was normal the day before, but the next day, the Dugtrio suddenly wouldn't let us in. Even I get attacked by the Digletts if I try to enter."

"Any casualties?"

Julian's brow furrowed slightly. If someone had been killed, the situation would undoubtedly become far more complicated.

"No, no!"

Ken shook his head quickly. "No one's been killed, not even injured."

"The Diglett and Dugtrio just don't want us inside. The moment we step in, they drive us out."

"Was there anything unusual before this?" Julian asked.

"Unusual? What do you mean by unusual, Young Master?" Ken replied, puzzled.

"For example, did the Digletts behave differently than normal, or were there changes in the weather or soil?"

Pokémon were similar to humans in many ways. Under normal circumstances, their temperaments and emotions stayed stable. It usually took an extreme or unexpected event to cause a shift in their behavior.

Since the Diglett and Dugtrio hadn't hurt anyone, their emotions seemed to be relatively calm. If they were agitated or aggressive, injuries or even deaths would likely have occurred.

Ken thought for a moment before shaking his head. "No, there weren't any abnormalities."

"Ken, think carefully," Robert pressed from the side.

"I'm telling the truth. They've always behaved normally. I've worked with them for decades. If something unusual happened, I'd definitely notice," Ken said with certainty.

Julian didn't press the matter further. Instead, he walked to the orchard gate, intending to enter and take a look. But as soon as he stepped inside, a few Diglett suddenly popped out of the ground ahead of him.

From their demeanor, it didn't seem like they intended to attack him.

Diglett were generally mild-mannered Pokémon. They were particularly helpful in agriculture, as their natural burrowing loosened soil and enriched it, making the ground exceptionally fertile.

For farmers, Diglett were essentially ideal partners.

Julian stepped into the orchard and took a few steps forward. Suddenly, the ground beneath his feet started shifting. Before he knew it, he was gently pushed back outside the orchard.

"Every time someone tries to go in, the Diglett use this method to push them out," Ken explained with a resigned expression.

"Even if we ride Flying Pokémon into the orchard, the moment we set foot on the ground, the Diglett will send us back out."

Julian tried several more times, and just as Ken had described, every attempt ended with him being pushed out of the orchard.

"Dragonite!"

Julian called out, and Dragonite swooped down at low altitude. Julian leaped lightly into the air, and Dragonite caught him effortlessly.

The move itself, in terms of sheer style, was flawless—a solid ten out of ten.

Julian decided to observe the entire orchard from above.

The orchard was vast, covering an extensive area. It wasn't just flat farmland—there were also hills, streams, and other natural features.

The orchard also included rocky areas.

Because different types of berries require different soils, even the temperature and humidity standards varied depending on the type.

Of course, the berries grown here had relatively similar temperature and humidity requirements, as it was impossible to manually control these factors outdoors.

There were quite a few kinds of berries planted in the orchard. Flying across the area, Julian spotted no fewer than ten different varieties. Most of the berry trees were already laden with ripe fruit.

If the berries weren't picked soon, they would fall to the ground from being overripe, which would significantly lower their value.

It was no wonder Robert was so anxious. The berry business was one of his family's largest ventures, and this orchard in Lake City had the highest yield and quality among their many orchards.

After all, not every orchard had a Dugtrio at the mid-Elite level to help loosen the soil and enrich the land.

Perhaps it was the presence of Dragonite in the sky that alarmed them, but one by one, Diglett and Dugtrio emerged from the ground below, making loud, persistent sounds.

Their general message was clear: 'Leave immediately'

Julian scanned the entire orchard from the sky, but he didn't notice anything unusual.

Along the way, he plucked a berry that was edible for humans and took a bite. The taste was excellent.

"Dragonite, do you sense anything unusual?" Julian asked.

Pokémon were often more sensitive to changes in the environment than humans. Even if he couldn't detect anything strange, Dragonite might be able to.

Dragonite shook its head, indicating that it hadn't noticed anything out of the ordinary. However, its attention was quickly drawn to the large berry fields below. Seeing so many ripe berries made Dragonite's stomach rumble with hunger.