Chapter 291: Heracross
Descending from the sky, Julian landed right in the middle of a Heracross territory. A dozen or so Heracross were clinging to maple trees, happily feasting on the sweet maple syrup seeping from the trunks.
This region was dominated by maple trees, whose trunks produced a sap-like syrup loved by many Bug-type Pokémon.
Heracross were generally mild-mannered Pokémon—as long as their mealtime wasn't disturbed.
However, Julian and Metagross had just made an imposing, sky-high entrance, landing directly in the heart of their territory during their feeding time.
As one of the stronger Bug-type Pokémon, Heracross were highly sought after by Bug-type trainers.
The White Mountain Range had plenty of Heracross populations, thanks to its vast maple forests. Many trainers ventured here specifically to capture or trade Heracross.
Recently, one of the Heracross in this group had been captured by a human with nothing more than a jar of honey. Counting this year alone, ten of their kind had been taken by humans, while only eight new Heracross had been born.
'Dammit, we're at a net loss here!'
The Heracross leader was furious. To calm its anger, it sucked harder on the maple syrup seeping from a nearby tree.
As the sweet syrup flowed into its mouth, the leader felt its anger slowly melt away.
Julian watched the Heracross, who were now blissfully focused on their meal despite his uninvited presence.
No wonder these Pokémon were known as some of the easiest to capture.
When it came to fighting spirit, even Caterpie put up a better show.
What puzzled Julian even more was the sudden change in one particular Heracross. Just moments ago, its Aura had flared with anger when Metagross prepared to strike it down.
But now, that same Heracross, standing about a hundred meters away, looked positively joyful as it sipped on syrup.
"Ahem, excuse me, I just need to ask something—"
The region was about the size of half a city. Even knowing Dalton was somewhere in the area, finding him wouldn't be an easy task.
He needed to ask the locals—both human and Pokémon—for information.
The Heracross continued to savor their maple syrup, entirely unconcerned about the human trespasser. It wasn't the first time this had happened, after all.
Whenever a human entered their territory, they usually lost one or two members of their group.
But it wasn't a big deal—the fewer members there were, the more maple trees the rest could claim for themselves.
The Heracross were ignoring him!
The atmosphere grew a bit awkward.
Metagross glanced at Julian and waved one of its arms, as if suggesting, 'How about we beat them up a little, then have a chat?'
It wasn't a bad idea, but Julian waved it off, signaling that he was a civilized man.
Just then, the Heracross leader, who had been enjoying its syrup, suddenly froze. A tantalizingly sweet aroma far more enticing than maple syrup had wafted into its nose.
The scent was absolutely divine—better than anything it had ever smelled—and it was coming from behind.
As the leader turned its head, every other Heracross perched on the maple trees followed suit.
Their eyes glowed red with an intense hunger as they locked onto the source of the scent: the can Julian was holding.
Tri-Honey: The ultimate favorite of all Heracross, without exception.
Seeing the swarm of Heracross rushing toward him, Julian immediately understood their intent: they were coming to snatch it!
"Metagross, block them!"
Metagross stepped in front of Julian. Every Heracross that tried to fly past was swatted away with a single punch.
Though Metagross held back, the sheer force of its strikes sent each one tumbling.
However, the Heracross didn't give up. They kept flying back only to be punched away again.
After several rounds of this, the Heracross finally realized that as long as Metagross was guarding Julian, there was no chance they'd get their claws on that Tri-Honey.
Julian cleared his throat. "Ahem, listen up, I have something to say."
He walked forward, holding the can of Tri-Honey. The Heracross stared at his hand, their gazes glued to the container. But between the bruises on their faces and the imposing presence of Metagross, they didn't dare to act rashly.
"Here, have a taste. But remember, only one dip each, and don't get greedy."
Julian fully opened the can, releasing a wave of sweetness that filled the forest air. The scent intensified, radiating like a golden aura.
Under the sunlight filtering through the trees, the golden Tri-Honey shimmered in its glass jar, glinting like a diamond—or at least, that's how it appeared to the Heracross.
With Metagross maintaining order, none of the Heracross dared to break ranks. They formed a line, each taking turn to dip a single finger into the honey.
Tri-Honey did exist in the White Mountain Range, but it was only found on the far side of the range, nowhere near this area. None of these Heracross had ever tasted it before.
As each Heracross licked the honey from its finger, an explosion of sweetness filled their senses, electrifying their taste buds and resonating deep into their very souls.
Julian wasn't sure if he was imagining it, but he could've sworn he saw beams of light radiating from their eyes, noses, and mouths.
In that moment, the Heracross all shared a single regret: 'Why are my fingers so small?'
After finishing their taste, the Heracross stood in place, reliving the flavor in their minds.
When the Heracross opened their eyes, all of them stared expectantly at Julian. The jar of Tri-Honey in his hand was now empty, but traces of the golden honey still clung to the sides and bottom.
Julian casually tossed the empty jar, and in the next instant, the Heracross swarm dashed toward it.
At that moment, anyone standing between a Heracross and the jar became a mortal enemy.
'What's that? You say you're my father? Sorry, I have no father'
After a chaotic scuffle, the Heracross leader emerged victorious, clutching the jar with its superior strength.
Just as it was about to savor the remnants of honey, Julian suddenly pulled out another jar of Tri-Honey—this one completely full.
And then he pulled out another.
And another.
In total, Julian revealed five jars of Tri-Honey.
"Meta!~"
The moment Metagross's steady voice echoed through the forest, the Heracross, who had been on the verge of losing their minds over the honey, froze. The dull ache on their cheeks reminded them of their earlier defeat, and their reason returned.
Julian stepped forward, holding up photos of three individuals: Dalton, Luis, and Shen.
"Help me find him—or them."
Julian said, showing the photos to the Heracross leader.
Dalton was likely still somewhere in the area, and Luis and Shen might be here too. Searching alone would be like looking for a needle in a haystack, relying on sheer luck.
The solution was simple—recruit help.
And in front of him stood the perfect candidates: a group of gluttonous, mild-mannered, and easy-to-handle Heracross.
*****
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