Lucien carefully counted the Pokémon before him.
There were 140 Growlithe, 198 Miltank, 103 Chansey, and 5 Tauros reserved for breeding.
A total of 446 Pokémon.
The Poké Balls he had brought were more than sufficient.
With the assistance of the guards, the process went smoothly. One by one, the Pokémon were guided into their Poké Balls.
Some of the Chansey resisted at first, trembling and retreating. But under Lucien's gentle assurances and calm promises, they eventually chose to enter.
With that, the journey to Kanto had reached a successful conclusion.
"Queen Rin," Lucien said, turning to Queen Rin, "thank you for the help you have provided. It is time for me to return to Eindoak. Please rest assured, once I arrive, I will dispatch messengers and a force to Cameron Palace as promised."
Joy spread across the faces of Queen Rin and the ministers.
With Eindoak's support, they would finally have the strength to weather the coming storm.
Before departing, Lucien hesitated for a moment, then looked at Queen Rin again.
"There is one more matter I would like to ask."
Queen Rin straightened. "Please speak, Lord Lucien. As long as it is within my ability, I will do my utmost to help."
Lucien nodded.
"The messengers I send will teach you how to live alongside Pokémon. But I also hope Cameron Palace will treat them well, no longer as slaves or tools."
Queen Rin froze for a heartbeat.
Then she answered without hesitation.
"I promise."
Lucien inclined his head.
He then turned to Aaron and Lucario.
"Aaron, if you ever encounter something beyond your ability to handle, you may go to Eindoak and seek my help."
Aaron was taken aback.
Even Queen Rin glanced at him in surprise.
After a brief silence, Aaron bowed deeply.
"Thank you, Your Majesty Lucien."
Lucien smiled faintly, then mounted Kyurem and departed Cameron Palace, heading toward the Tree of Beginning.
As they flew, Kyurem spoke, its voice tinged with curiosity.
"Lucien, why do you extend such consideration to that human?"
Lucien was quiet for a moment.
"He reminds me of an old acquaintance," he replied softly.
In the original world, when Lucario was freed from the scepter, it mistook Ash for Aaron.
According to Aaron, every being possessed a unique Aura, no two were the same.
Yet Ash's Aura was identical to Aaron's.
Which meant…
Kyurem gave a low hum and did not pursue the question further.
They soon arrived at the Tree of Beginning.
Mew sensed Lucien's presence immediately and flew out to greet him.
"Miu!"
But when Lucien spoke, Mew's expression fell.
"Mew, we came to say goodbye."
"Miu…"
Lucien knelt and gently stroked Mew's soft head.
"Don't worry. When we have time, we'll come back to see you."
"Miu?" Mew lifted its head again.
"Of course it's true," Lucien said with a smile.
"Miu!"
Mew suddenly extended a tiny paw and curled one claw.
A promise.
Lucien paused, then hooked his finger with Mew's.
The pact was sealed.
After leaving the Tree of Beginning, Lucien returned directly to the Unova Region.
He landed in the castle courtyard, a heavy bag of Poké Balls at his side. Elif hurried forward to greet him.
"Your Majesty, how did matters progress on the Kanto Continent?"
"It's finished," Lucien replied. "How goes the research on modern steamships?"
"Nearly complete," Elif answered promptly.
"Production has begun. The first modern steamship should be operational within a month."
"The steam train is also ready in theory, though the railway construction will take more time."
Lucien nodded. The pace was already astonishing.
"I have signed an alliance treaty with Queen Rin of Cameron Palace," he said.
"Once the steamships are ready, we will officially establish relations."
Not just commerce, but diplomacy, military coordination, and technological exchange.
Factories were already being established across the kingdom. Once the first international trade route opened, Eindoak's industrial growth would accelerate dramatically.
"Recruit a volunteer force from the army," Lucien continued.
"They will be stationed at Cameron Palace as mercenaries, both to help defend it and to teach the local people how to live alongside Pokémon."
"Yes, Your Majesty," Elif replied. "I will inform Lord Geralt immediately."
Lucien carried the bag of Poké Balls to the private ecological park behind the castle.
One by one, he pressed the release buttons.
White light flashed.
Pokémon that had never existed in Eindoak before appeared, Miltank, Chansey, Growlithe, and several restless Tauros.
Elif froze.
"Your Majesty… these are…?"
"Pokémon from the Kanto Continent," Lucien said calmly.
"Species unique to that land."
Lucien smiled faintly and began explaining.
"Miltank can produce extremely nutritious milk. It's highly beneficial to the human body, long-term consumption strengthens the physique. Moreover, a single Miltank can produce up to twenty liters of milk per day."
Twenty liters.
Elif's pupils shrank as his gaze swept over the herd.
With nearly two hundred Miltank… that meant almost four thousand liters of milk per day.
"More importantly," Lucien continued, "with them, Eindoak's food variety will expand dramatically."
Milk could be processed into countless foods and drinks.
Cheese. Milk tea. Pudding. Custard tarts. Cakes.
After a brief shock, joy spread across Elif's face.
"Your Majesty," he asked eagerly, "should we assign these Miltank to the ranch owners?"
Lucien considered it briefly, then shook his head.
"Not yet. First, establish a large, centralized ranch. Settle the Miltank and Tauros there and assign experienced farmers to oversee them."
More importantly, there was breeding.
At present, Unova only had 198 Miltank. That number was still far too small. Dispersing them prematurely would only slow reproduction.
Lucien intended to let them live together first and observe whether they could successfully produce calves with the help of the Tauros.
Elif immediately understood.
His gaze drifted toward the five Tauros grazing peacefully nearby.
Nearly two hundred Miltank.
Five Tauros.
Could they handle it?
A trace of sympathy appeared on Elif's face.
These poor Tauros probably had no idea what kind of future awaited them.
He cleared his throat.
"Your Majesty, what about the other Pokémon?"
His gaze shifted to the eager Growlithe, and then to the trembling Chansey.
"Growlithe," Lucien said, "are Pokémon with a strong sense of justice. They're alert, sharp, and naturally upright. They're well suited for police work."
Growlithe possessed exceptional olfactory abilities. They could track suspects, locate missing persons, and recover stolen property.
"They truly are suitable," Elif agreed, watching the little dogs wag their tails energetically.
"And the Chansey…" Lucien paused, then sighed softly.
"Let them stay here for now."
These Chansey had suffered too much.
They had been hunted relentlessly. Their eggs stolen. Their bodies scarred.
Black market traders cared only for profit. To obtain eggs, they would not hesitate to injure or kill the Chansey themselves.
That cruelty was precisely why Chansey numbers would plummet in the future.
"I understand, Your Majesty," Elif said, bowing slightly.
He led the Growlithe, Miltank, and Tauros away toward their assigned locations.
These Pokémon had lived among humans before. They were familiar with people and followed without resistance.
Soon, only the Chansey remained in the ecological park.
"Don't be afraid," Lucien said gently.
"It's safe here. No one will hurt you. No one will steal your eggs."
"Chansey…" the Chansey replied softly, voices trembling.
Lucien knew words alone were insufficient.
Trust had to be seen, not spoken.
"Come," he said quietly. "I'll take you to see the place where we live."
"Chansey…"
The Chansey hesitated.
From Cameron Palace until now, this human had never harmed them.
The humans they remembered had worn greedy expressions. They carried whips. They forced them into iron cages.
Some companions had resisted.
Those companions never returned.
But this human, Lucien, looked at them with pity. With sympathy. With sorrow.
Not once had his gaze lingered on the eggs they clutched to their bodies.
Not once.
Maybe they could try believing him?
The thought flickered, then shattered.
The scars on their bodies throbbed with memory.
The pain was too deep. The fear too ingrained.
"Follow me, Chansey."
Lucien stepped forward.
Almost without realizing it, the Chansey obeyed.
They followed him out of the castle, their steps hesitant but steady. And the moment they passed through the towering gates, a flood of warm sunlight poured down upon them.
Bright. Gentle. Embracing.
The sky above was a clear, endless blue, unmarred by iron bars or shadows.
The Chansey froze.
This sensation, this warmth, had not touched them in a very long time.
"Chansey…" one of them murmured softly.
So warm…
"In the future," Lucien said quietly, "you can live freely beneath this sky."
"Chansey…"
The Chansey looked up at him.
Lucien smiled. "Let's keep going."
After a moment's hesitation, they nodded and followed him onward.
The streets beyond were clean and orderly, bathed in afternoon sunlight. There were few pedestrians at this hour, and those who passed walked leisurely, unhurried.
Nearly every person was accompanied by a Pokémon.
An elderly woman sat resting on a bench by the roadside. From her bag, she took out small snacks and fed them gently to her Pokémon by hand.
The Pokémon ate happily, then rubbed its head against her palm with clear affection.
No fear. No restraint.
Only warmth.
The Chansey watched.
They saw the smiles on the Pokémon's faces.
No whips. No cages. No greedy eyes.
"Chansey…"
Their hearts trembled.
Could they really… live like this?
Could a place like this truly exist?
"Chansey?" 'Is it really possible?'
Hope, small, fragile, but real, began to take shape.
Lucien noticed the change and spoke softly, "This is only a part of the city. There's much more."
"Lucky!" This time, the sound carried anticipation.
Meanwhile, at an empty ranch on the outskirts of the city.
Under Elif's guidance, the Miltank herd had already arrived.
"This is where you'll be living from now on," he said.
The Miltank mooed curiously, looking around at the open fields and fresh grass.
Elif then glanced toward the few Tauros nearby, heads lowered, peacefully grazing, blissfully unaware.
He paused.
The coming months were going to be very lively for them.
Perhaps even exhausting.
...
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