In the blink of an eye, half a month passed quickly.
With the concerted efforts of everyone in Pyrite Town and the Pokémon, brand-new houses were rebuilt on the ruins.
Quite a few Penitents, unable to bear the "heavy burden," tried to escape but were caught by the Pokémon and had to continue doing work they once ordered others to do.
However, the Rescue Organization has been quite benevolent to them.
Isn't stepping on sewing machines and planting trees better than losing your head?
Interestingly, during this period, many poacher gangs, unaware of what had happened in the Ore Region, came as usual to sell Pokémon, only to be caught by the Rainbow Team.
When first caught, those people shouted things like "Black eating black, huh?", "I have people above me", "Where did this little punk come from", but by the time they realized it, they were already facing the soil, bent over planting crops.
Congratulations.
Due to this incident, the Rainbow Team transformed from a group mentioned by Shanren into a fully-fledged armed force for all of Pyrite Town, absorbing a large number of combat-capable people to safeguard the peace of Pyrite Town.
Of course, the Rainbow Team's rise to fame is also inseparable from N's efforts. He and his Pokémon worked tirelessly day and night on the reconstruction project.
After half a month of construction, not only was harmony between the Ore People and Pokémon successfully promoted, but the Ore People also became less resistant to building homes for Pokémon, even actively requesting to construct habitats for them.
Thus.
A grand transformation of the environment began.
Liu Ge happily ceded power gradually, while Shanren happily gained more authority, and both were very pleased—
They then planted trees together.
At this stage, nothing in Pyrite Town is more fashionable than planting trees or flowers; from eighty-year-old men to five-year-old children, from the new town mayor Shanren to the Penitents, from humans to machines, all must plant.
A mandatory task.
This has been the only compulsory requirement the Rescue Organization has imposed on the townspeople for more than half a month.
Many townspeople initially grumbled, but seeing that all members of the Rescue Organization personally took part, and Baimu's Aggron, the "strongest in Pyrite Town," ran around like mad, they quickly had nothing to say.
Moreover, improving the environment is indeed beneficial for their survival; not everyone likes breathing fresh air mixed with sand every day.
Now, the outskirts of Pyrite Town have already been largely greened, filled with various drought-resistant plants.
It looks quite pleasing.
On the same day.
Baimu was called to Shanren's new office.
"When do you plan to leave?"
The latter tossed a bottle of drink to the former, loosening the tie around his neck quite leisurely.
"Just in the next couple of days."
Baimu glanced at his phone, which contained his pre-written plan.
Shanren smiled and said, "It seems I've chosen the right moment... What do you think of Pyrite Town now?"
"Full of vitality and life, quite good."
"Indeed, quite good. What about the entire Ore Region?"
"Not bad either, isn't your father working hard to eliminate the effects of Ergin on all levels? I remember it's already showing initial results."
"You care a lot about the Ore Region, knowing this puts my mind at ease."
Shanren's words sounded a bit odd, as if whether Baimu cared about the Ore Region was a very important matter.
Baimu couldn't help but say, "Uh, am I really indispensable to the Ore Region?"
"Wrong, you are indeed indispensable."
Shanren shook his finger, "The Ore Region needs someone that everyone admires and worships, someone to show them what to do, just like Dan Emperor in Galar.
"Dan Emperor's value not only manifests in commerce but also greatly impacts the culture and education of the Galar Region. Do you know what it means for a Champion to have over 99% support?
He raised his hand, squinting, "The will of the people! Everyone wants to become the Dan Emperor, everyone loves the Dan Emperor, everyone yearns for the Dan Emperor—nothing is more terrifying than that. And you, you are the future Dan Emperor of the Ore Region."
"..."
"Of course, you are still quite green now and need to grow, so traveling is a good way for you to mature." Shanren activated the projector next to him, and a video suddenly appeared.
In the video, an enormous black bird with wings seemingly covering the sky emitted a soul-stirring screech, continuously spewing terrifying cyclones onto the ground with each breath, causing one black storm after another.
In the midst of the storm, a red-haired boy and his Pokémon dodged attacks and launched a counterattack, finally seizing an opportunity to capture it with a Pokeball.
"Shadow Lugia!"
Baimu said with astonishment.
Shanren nodded, "Yes, it's Shadow Lugia. It was captured and turned into a Shadow Pokémon by Sijing, the second leader of the Shadow Team. However, Dr. Mu Yin's son, Dragon People, saved it, transforming it back from its shadow state and returning it to nature..."
"Released?"
"Yes, Dr. Mu Yin told me that Dragon People said Lugia is part of nature and should not be utilized by any human."
Should not be utilized by any human...
The second protagonist choosing to release Lugia after capturing it was indeed unexpected for Baimu.
But even more surprising were Shanren's next words.
"I hope you can find that Lugia and persuade it to return to the Ore Region... or get its help, that would work too."
"Wait, persuade it back? Is it the Legendary Pokémon of the Ore Region?"
Baimu frowned.
"Not entirely. To be accurate, it used to live in the seafloor of Nickel Dark Island, the location the Shadow Team converted into their base."
Shanren said softly, "You are probably aware, improving the Ore Region's environment is a massive project. My original plan was five years, and now it seems that even fifteen years might not be enough... you understand, climate issues."
The southern Ore Region receives very little rainfall, and the temperature is extremely high; many plants cannot survive in such an environment. If the number is small, Grass Attribute Pokémon can manage it, but when the number is large, it's impossible.
They could only watch as piles of plants were withered by the sun.
At the same time, soil quality is also very important. Despite many Ground Attribute Pokémon tirelessly cultivating the land, the Rescue Organization still needs to continuously provide all sorts of scarce substances essential for plants. Fortunately, this can be solved with money...
Baimu was silent for a while and said, "… So you need Lugia's power?"
"Of course—not."
Shanren denied himself, smiling as he said, "I believe that persistence can prevail over nature. Although fifteen years is long, it's not unbearable, but your departure needs a reason, otherwise the Ore people might forget you in no time."
In other words, this ambitious man intended to use the search for Lugia as an excuse to promote during Baimu's travels, to prevent the people from forgetting him when he returned someday.
Baimu grinned, "What if I don't find Lugia?"
"Then you'll need to possess enough strength to silence everyone. As long as you can be strong enough to shut all the trainers up, they naturally won't care about this little matter."
Shanren patted him on the shoulder, "Pressure is also motivation. Cheer up; the burden on your shoulders is not light."
"Can I refuse?"
"You can refuse through action, like never coming back or something."
"You brat!"
"Hahahahaha—hey! Kicking is impolite behavior! This kind of thing is strictly prohibited!"
The sound of their bickers echoed in the office.