Chapter 226

Chapter 226: Chapter 226

After successfully pacifying Gardenia, Mike turned toward Beedrill and raised a hand for a high five against his lance.

Beedrill still hadn’t adjusted completely after reverting from Mega Evolution and accidentally used too much force.

The pointed lance broke the skin of Mike’s palm.

"Ow."

Mike pulled his hand back.

"You did great, Beedrill. I’ll be counting on you to keep me safe from now on."

The moment Beedrill heard those words, he proudly straightened in midair.

Then he brought one lance horizontally across his chest and bowed solemnly toward Mike.

"Bzzz—"

[As you wish.]

Gengar suddenly threw himself at Mike.

Completely abandoning his dignity, he collapsed onto the floor, hugged Mike’s lower leg, pointed toward Beedrill, and burst into tears.

"Gaar—!"

[That was so cool! I want one too! I don’t care, I want one too! He looked so cool! I want to look cool too! I want to be a great hero who protects the weak tooooo...!]

Mike looked down at Gengar sobbing around his leg.

"I know, I know! I’ll ask Steven to keep an eye out for your Mega Stone too. Now let go of me."

He tugged his leg.

"Hey! Don’t wipe your nose on my pants!"

Gengar immediately switched targets.

"And drool isn’t any better! Hey, my clothes—!"

Mike sighed.

"Not the hem either... Fine, whatever. Do what you want."

Then he blinked.

"Wait. Where are all these bubbles coming from?"

His vision swam.

"Why am I getting dizzy...?"

He stared at Gengar.

"Gengar, why do you have two heads?"

Mike swayed.

"Uh-oh..."

Foam bubbling from his mouth, he toppled straight backward.

Snivy: "!!!"

Hatenna: "!!!"

Glameow: "!!!"

Snivy instantly fired out a Vine Whip and caught Mike’s head a fraction of a second before it could meet the floor.

She gently lowered him down.

"SNIIIIIIIIIIIII!"

[BEEDRILL!]

Seeing Mike poisoned yet again, Snivy released another furious shriek.

Beedrill looked down at the lance that had cut Mike’s hand.

His mouth fell open.

"Bzzz..."

[Oh no. I forgot to clean it after using Poison Jab...]

Glameow immediately jumped onto Gengar, who was still lying on the floor.

She pried his mouth open with one paw.

Then shoved the other paw directly inside and started rummaging around.

The classic cat-and-mouse team.

Gengar: (•’?’•?)?

"G-Gar...!"

[No, no! That’s not how you get it! You can’t just reach in like that! THAT’S MY TONSIL! STOP! YAMEROOO—!]

Dragonite watched Snivy and the others scrambling around in a panic and slowly shook their head.

"Rrr..."

[Youth is really wonderful. He can fall asleep anywhere.]

Eventually, Gengar managed to pull out a Pecha Berry, and Glameow immediately shoved it into Mike’s mouth.

After a short while, Mike slowly opened his eyes.

The first thing he saw was Glameow’s little head framed by her large ears, her eyes fixed anxiously on him.

Mike reached up and stroked her head.

Then he sat up and looked at all the Pokémon gathered around him.

He sighed.

With practiced calm, Mike wiped the foam from the corner of his mouth and stood.

"You... okay?" Gardenia asked quietly from nearby.

"Fine. It’s not the first time."

Mike shook his head.

"I’m used to it."

Gardenia: "..."

Why did he make poisoning sound like a minor inconvenience?

And why had Snivy and Glameow handled the entire situation with such terrifying efficiency?

Did Mike get poisoned regularly for fun?

Wait.

Was poisoning something people could even do for fun?!

Gardenia and Breloom looked at each other.

Then simultaneously shook their heads.

How terrifying!

"Seriously, though, thanks for helping me today."

Mike expressed his gratitude to Gardenia.

"Gar—!"

Gengar pressed his hands together and bowed.

Beedrill and the others expressed their thanks as well.

"If there’s nothing else, let’s go buy ingredients. I’ll make something good for everyone tonight."

"Yes!"

Gardenia pumped a fist.

At that moment, one of her Gym assistants hurried over and whispered something into her ear.

Gardenia immediately looked apologetic.

"Sorry. A Challenger just showed up, so I can’t go shopping with you."

"No problem."

Mike waved it off.

"Just tell me what you want to eat. I’ll buy everything."

Gardenia listed what she wanted before leaving with her assistant for the secondary battlefield.

The Gym’s main battlefield had, after all, just been wrecked by her battle with Mike.

They had no choice but to use the backup arena.

Mike led Gengar and the others toward the exit.

Just as they reached the doorway, a Bug Catcher with a bug-catching net slung over his shoulder came charging into the Gym.

A Beedrill hurried alongside him.

The boy rushed straight past Mike.

Mike turned and watched the Bug Catcher and Beedrill disappear farther into the Gym.

For some reason...

He suddenly had a very bad feeling.

Once they stepped outside, Mike turned toward Dragonite.

"Dragonite, want to stay for dinner before you head home?"

Dragonite shook their head.

"Rrr."

[No. I should go back. It’s only her and Growlithe at home, and that Growlithe is an idiot. I don’t trust him.]

"All right. Tell Grandma I said hello."

Mike smiled and reached out.

"And tell her I really like the amulet."

Dragonite smacked his hand away with one claw.

Mike awkwardly withdrew it at the unfriendly look Dragonite gave him.

Dragonite said nothing more.

Their tiny wings began beating, lifting their heavy body into the air.

Dragonite looked down at Mike one last time.

"Rrr..."

[Be careful.]

Then Dragonite shot toward the sky and flew off in the direction of Twinleaf Town.

"Bye!"

Mike shouted after them before heading toward the supermarket with Gengar and the others.

...

Back inside the Gym, Gardenia stared at the Bug Catcher who had come to challenge her.

Then her eyes fell on the Beedrill standing beside him.

The memory of Mike and Beedrill thoroughly crushing her only minutes earlier resurfaced.

Gardenia’s eyes narrowed involuntarily.

The Bug Catcher pointed confidently at her.

"Gym Leader Gardenia! Today, I’m definitely going to defeat you and earn the Forest Badge!"

...

Mike eventually returned with bags of groceries.

Just as he reached the Gym entrance, the doors flew open from inside.

A figure came running out with both hands covering his eyes.

Mike watched the Bug Catcher sprint past him in tears.

’Yep.’

’Knew it...’

Then he noticed the Forest Badge tightly clenched in the boy’s hand.

Mike decided not to comment.

The process might have been rough... but the result was correct.

’Poor Bug Catcher...’