Chapter 123: The Honchkrow in the Slums

Chapter 123: The Honchkrow in the Slums

After handing over the prisoners, David led the group of people to the local Kubfu Embassy.

The Consul here was a middle-aged man with a kind face, accompanied by a plump Purugly, which looked quite well-nourished.

Upon seeing David, this Consul also showed a familiar smile.

Don't be fooled by David's outward appearance as a rough man; since joining the ranger team, Arthur increasingly felt that he possessed the potential to be a social butterfly. It seemed that wherever he went, he would always encounter acquaintances, from the research institute to the embassy, people who knew him were everywhere.

At this moment, the Consul led the group of people towards the guest rooms, not forgetting to instruct them along the way, "There are still many empty rooms here at the embassy. You gentlemen can stay here for the next few days, right? If you have any needs regarding usual daily necessities or Pokémon food, feel free to ask our staff directly. If there's nothing particularly necessary, I advise everyone it's best not to go out recently."

The arrival of the Kubfu military had ultimately brought some impact; the Consul's reminder was also offered out of goodwill.

David laughed heartily and took the lead in setting an example.

"Relax, we all understand the rules. We won't cause you any trouble. The judicial process won't take more than a few days; brothers, just endure it for a bit and it'll pass, right?"

Speaking the last part, he turned his head to ask his teammates behind him, and everyone responded supportively.

Arthur also blended into the crowd, offering a polite, agreeable smile.

In reality, deep down, he could only secretly apologize once.

This promise... he likely truly couldn't keep it.

He had traveled thousands of miles to come here precisely to investigate. If, for the sake of safety, he always stayed holed up in the embassy guest rooms, then wouldn't this entire trip have been in vain?

Therefore, that afternoon after eating lunch, he casually found an excuse and then slipped out of the embassy.

Subsequently, he took a taxi to the old street district on the west side of the city.

Don city was a city with extremely severe polarization. In the city center and the eastern wealthy district, the streets were wide, high-rise buildings were numerous, and there were all sorts of modernized service facilities and dazzling entertainment venues, possessing a prosperity that didn't lose out in the slightest to the first-tier major cities of the Kubfu or White Eagle Alliances.

However, just by heading west and arriving at the old street district, the entire style seemed to instantly regress several decades.

It even gave Arthur, this transmigrator from two hundred years ago, a trace of familiar intimacy...

Low-rise shantytowns stretched connected in large patches; quite a few houses looked as if they were simply modified from shipping containers.

Walls everywhere graffiti and mud prints. Streets also grey dusty. Road sides everywhere trash.

Wild Rattata and Meowth came out in broad daylight, openly rummaging through trash heaps for food, and the surrounding people couldn't be bothered to drive them away.

Passing by alley entrances, one could sometimes see raggedly dressed homeless people curled up inside, or leaning against wall corners. When Arthur's gaze ventured into the alley, they would even reveal malicious smiles.

However, most of these smiles quickly vanished upon meeting Arthur's cold gaze and noticing the Honedge behind him.

Public security on the streets was also a mess.

Having gotten out of the taxi and walked merely two streets, Arthur had already personally witnessed a housebreaking burglary being carried out in broad daylight with the help of a Pokémon.

First, a Purrloin with purple fur quickly flipped through an open window into a second-floor residence.

Immediately after, not long passed before angry shouts and dog barking sounds came from inside.

Less than two seconds later, Arthur saw the Purrloin reappear, holding a leather bag in its mouth, the fur on its tail looking as if a section had been torn off.

Then, a Poochyena leaped out from the window, continuing relentlessly towards the Purrloin, pouncing and biting.

However, from the alley below, the guiding beam of a Poké Ball instantly shot out.

Purrloin, at the last critical moment, threw the bag held in its mouth forward, then its main body curled into a ball in mid-air, was smoothly recalled into the Poké Ball, managing to just barely dodge the Poochyena's lethal pounce.

In the alley, the Purrloin's master raised a hand to catch the tossed-over bag, then took off running, disappearing without a trace in the blink of an eye.

Pitifully, the Poochyena that leaped out the second-floor window pounced on empty air. It could only helplessly continue its free fall, ultimately smashing onto the first-floor resident's rooftop canopy, causing that household's sunshade awning to collapse.

Before long, that shantytown area once again erupted into chaos, with angry shouts, clamor, and noisy sounds lingering for a long time.

This place and the city center's high-rise buildings and decadent lifestyle seemed like two separate worlds, though not far apart geographically.

Nominally called the old street district...

In reality, it was just a slum.

It wouldn't be strange for anything to be hidden in such a place, which is precisely why Arthur was looking here.

However, after walking for only a short while, a scene unfolding in an empty lot ahead suddenly attracted Arthur's attention, causing him to stop—

It was two children, looking to be in their early teens, engaged in a Pokémon competition match.

Pokémon competition is the undisputed national sport in this world; regardless of when or where, regardless of poverty or wealth, this activity always has its audience.

Just like in a certain parallel world's major South American country, even in street blocks under gang jurisdiction, there are still children playing football every day.

The two sides in the duel were a Honchkrow and a Pikachu.

This world had neither Red nor Ash; Pikachu hadn't been elevated by people to that height comparable to Mythical Pokémon.

In reality, Pikachu are gregarious Pokémon; their numbers in wild forests are still quite large, not particularly rare.

Attribute-wise, Pikachu, being Electric-type, held an advantage against the Flying-type Honchkrow.

However, in terms of physique, Honchkrow, having evolved once, was clearly stronger.

Honchkrow is the evolved form of Murkrow, belonging to an anomalous category among bird Pokémon.

Most bird Pokémon, including Pidgeot, Swellow, and Talonflame, excel in speed, possessing agile bodies and moving like the wind.

Honchkrow, however, is the renowned 'big brother bird' among avian Pokémon.

It isn't skilled in speed, flying very slowly, but its muscles are solid, its chest muscles enormous, making it an expert in melee brawling.

Don't assume crows aren't raptors; in the wild, Honchkrow can often fight back and forth against top aerial predators like Pidgeot and Talonflame without falling behind.

The only problem is that when Pidgeot or Talonflame decide they don't want to fight anymore, Honchkrow can only stomp its feet helplessly on the spot.

It flies too slowly; it can't catch those birds.

At this moment, the Honchkrow's trainer was commanding with considerable strategy, clearly understanding how to play to strengths and avoid weaknesses. He wasn't blindly letting Honchkrow chase the randomly darting Pikachu all over the field but instead employed steady tactics, advancing step by step.

He constantly used "Haze" in coordination with "Double Team" to gradually compress Pikachu's room for movement. Occasionally, he didn't hesitate to tank several "Thunder Shocks." Finally, he managed to force Pikachu step by step into a corner of the field.

Seeing Pikachu finally cornered with nowhere left to run, Honchkrow's eyes narrowed, the feathers on both its wings even trembling with excitement.

The atmosphere looked as if it was about to become intense.

However, the next moment, something completely unexpected happened—

That Pikachu actually jumped right out of the designated duel field boundaries! It leaped onto the curb of the stone steps at the side, whipped Honchkrow with its tail from a commanding high position, and then actually slipped away and ran off.

Honchkrow's trainer yelled angrily, "You! That's a foul! Your Pokémon went out of bounds!! We agreed to follow the rules! You're cheating again!"

However, the opponent couldn't care less about him. Pikachu's master, at this moment, picked up a stone and threw it towards Honchkrow, then turned and ran.

"Who cares about you! If you chase again, be careful I'll have Pikachu zap you again! Haha, big idiot, can't catch me, right~"

Amidst a wave of laughter and jeering, the side that should have lost the duel instead proudly led a group of children and ran off into the distance.

Leaving only Honchkrow standing foolishly stunned on the spot, its face full of tragic sorrow.

What could it do?

It was also very desperate.

Who let it be unable to catch up...

Seeing this scene, Arthur couldn't help but offer a faint, knowing smile. As luck would have it, this smile happened to be seen by the opponent.

Seeing him accompanied by a Frogadier, the Honchkrow's trainer wasn't discouraged by what had just happened. Instead, he immediately revived his spirits, his eyes shining brightly as he asked Arthur, "You have a Pokémon too? Want to have a Pokémon duel?"

(End of Chapter)

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