Chapter 98 – Workers Recruited

Seeing the situation, Nathan knew it was time to step in. He immediately approached the Steelix.

Facing the towering Tyranitar, Nathan showed no sign of backing down. He spoke in a low, firm voice, "Tyranitar, you should know by now that you're no match for Steelix."

"Especially not while you're still carrying a child!"

"If you retreat now, I can help heal the wound on your arm!"

Even now, Nathan didn't want to make an enemy out of the Tyranitar.

After all, she was a mother—anyone could understand how it felt to have a child taken away by traffickers.

Steelix let out a low growl, a hint of pride in its eyes.

[Heh, at least you've got some sense. That Tyranitar doesn't stand a chance against me!]

Seeing the smug look in Steelix's eyes, veins bulged on Tyranitar's forehead.

She was just about to charge forward for a death match.

But when she saw her little Larvitar behind her, the fury in her heart gradually settled.

"Roar!"

[You got lucky this time, kid. But if there's a next time—hmph!]

With those words of warning directed at Nathan, Tyranitar turned and left with her child.

She hadn't spelled out what the consequences would be, but an angry mother was capable of anything.

"Phew, that's finally over."

Seeing Tyranitar walk away without further conflict, Nathan let out a deep sigh of relief.

Maybe Steelix really could defeat Tyranitar.

But this was the Wandering Mountains—danger lurked everywhere.

Even a champion wouldn't dare say they could always guarantee their safety here.

To protect his own life, Nathan had always preferred to act low-key and stay on good terms with wild Pokémon.

Once he calmed down, Nathan turned to Steelix with a smile. "Thanks, Steelix!"

If it weren't for Steelix, even Nathan would've had no choice but to flee—

and just stand there helplessly watching Tyranitar, in her rage, storm off to raze Emerald City to the ground.

"Roar!"

[If you really want to thank me, just give me more of those tasty treats!]

Steelix responded bluntly to Nathan's gratitude.

But compared to the start, it was clear Steelix wasn't following Nathan just for the energy cubes anymore.

"Don't worry, I'll give you twenty rainbow pokeblocks tonight if you want!"

Nathan said generously, in an excellent mood, completely forgetting how thin his wallet was.

After recalling the satisfied Steelix into his Pokéball, Nathan finally turned to face the brother and sister who looked about the same age as him.

The girl was hiding behind her brother, her small, not-so-pale hands tightly clutching the hem of his shirt.

Her big, watery eyes were full of remorse and fear, as if she'd imagined something horrible Nathan might do to them.

The boy, meanwhile, shielded his sister, trembling slightly but refusing to back down.

Seeing this, Nathan couldn't help but sigh.

No matter what world it was, there was never truly a clear line between right and wrong.

Tyranitar wasn't wrong.

The boy and girl weren't wrong either—they had their own reasons for what they did.

What was truly at fault was reality itself—it was just too cruel.

"Relax. I'm not going to hurt you."

"Now tell me—why did you steal Tyranitar's child?"

Standing before the siblings, Nathan's expression turned stern.

If it was simply due to poor character, no matter the reason, Nathan would send the two of them to jail.

After all, they had been this close to causing a disaster that would've cost countless lives, all because of a tiny bit of greed!

"My name is Dyson Lore, and this is my sister, Anna Lore. We stole the child because..."

Dyson hesitated for a moment, then began to tell their tragic story.

Meanwhile, Nathan silently activated his Veridian Power.

Though it couldn't read minds, it was more than enough to detect lies—

and not just outright lies, but even the intentional omission of key facts.

Soon, a typical sob story unfolded before him.

Nothing new—Dyson and Anna were born into a poor family with a scumbag father.

When the bastard finally dropped dead, their mother fell seriously ill.

To afford the medical bills, the siblings had no choice but to take the risk and venture into the wild in search of treasure.

"That's everything. If that's still not enough for you, I'll go to prison, or do whatever you want—I just beg you, please spare my sister!"

Dyson finished, then suddenly dropped to his knees and slammed his head to the ground.

He moved so fast that Nathan had to dodge to the side just to avoid the sudden bow.

"Sigh, this really is... melodramatic and cliché."

Seeing Dyson kneeling on the ground and Anna looking up with teary eyes, Nathan couldn't help but curse under his breath.

After confirming again and again that Dyson showed no signs of acting, Nathan's anger finally eased.

But he kept a straight face and said, "I don't need you to sell yourself or go to prison—nor do I care to send you there."

"However, I will give you an opportunity. A chance to save your mother."

At those words, Dyson's head snapped up in shock.

Even Anna looked at Nathan in disbelief, as if trying to confirm whether he was mocking them.

After all, in their eyes, someone who could command a Steelix that powerful might as well be the son of the richest man alive.

And rich heirs like that... usually had some twisted hobbies.

In short—they were bored and spoiled!

"R-Really? You're really willing to save my mom?"

Unable to suppress his excitement, Dyson asked with trembling voice.

Nathan rolled his eyes. "I said I'd give you a chance. A chance, get it?"

His anger might have faded, but that didn't mean Nathan was some selfless saint.

In fact, he wasn't even a hero!

Stopping Tyranitar just now had only been possible because he had Steelix—otherwise, he would've been panicking too!

The real reason he wanted to give the siblings a shot... was for his own benefit.

"To put it simply, I need your help making a type of food meant for Pokémon."

"As payment, I can give you some Pokécoins in advance—should be enough to treat your mother."

As he scratched the head of the Flygon beside him, Nathan grinned.

That's right!

He wanted Dyson and Anna to help him make pokeblocks!

In the end, just relying on Nathan's occasional free time to make them himself wouldn't cut it.

But with the help of these siblings, everything would be different.

If they had the potential, Nathan could just sit back and make money in the future!

As for why he didn't go to a big corporation for help?

Heh—there were a million reasons.

Who in their right mind would trust something as fickle as human nature?

…

"No problem! As long as it helps cure our mother, I'll agree to anything!"

Dyson nodded without hesitation, not doubting Nathan for a second.

In truth, for the sake of his mother and little sister, he had no right to doubt.

Just like a drowning man would grasp at even the thinnest straw.

"Alright then, find yourselves a place to work."

Nathan nodded in satisfaction and began re-preparing dinner.

The original meal had been ruined by dust and was no longer edible.

Pangoro, Mimikyu, and the other Pokémon gathered around Nathan, completely ignoring the two siblings.

To them, any humans or Pokémon besides their Trainer were irrelevant.

Especially when Nathan was cooking!

Although he usually kept a reserve of energy cubes on hand,

just like fresh bread, they were always best when newly made.

That's why all the Pokémon were eyeing him eagerly—

a bunch of drooling gluttons!

"Volcarona, Metagross, Pangoro, Mimikyu, and Flygon... I think I know who he is now."

Dyson watched Nathan's busy figure with a grave expression.

As a treasure hunter, gathering intel—useful or not—was a basic skill.

He hadn't recognized Nathan at first, mainly because of the crisis they were in...

but also because of Steelix!

That powerhouse had thrown him off completely.

"Brother, who is he exactly?"

Anna peeked at Nathan, her cheeks slightly flushed.

Without that stoic expression, Nathan actually looked kind and approachable.

And with that handsome face and focused demeanor...

he looked almost like a real-life prince!

"That guy... he's the recent champion of the Trial Tournament. A true rags-to-riches prodigy."

"People call him a once-in-a-century genius."

"He raised a elite-level Volcarona all by himself and invented all sorts of unique Pokémon training methods."

"If I'm right, he's probably hiring us to help manufacture the Pokémon food he developed."

"I heard that stuff is super nutritious— even the heiress of Pokéball Corporation's Mist family raved about it!"

Dyson spoke in admiration, eyes growing brighter with every word.

He had once followed Nathan's story, hoping to rise above his background too.

So what if you came from nothing?

Unfortunately, he never made it—

and nearly caused a catastrophe for his own selfish reasons instead.

After hearing all this, Anna looked at Nathan with a completely different expression.

Her gaze now shimmered with a mix of admiration and envy.

Meanwhile, Nathan, who had overheard Dyson's words, almost blushed red as a tomato from embarrassment.

His thick-skinned pride was nearly cracked wide open!

(End of Chapter)