Chapter 106: Younger-Guy Complex and the Volunteer
Although the Stitched Shadow Army operates globally as an international terrorist organization, when facing the Kubfu Alliance, one of the world's top three powers, they are definitely still outmatched.
Their areas of infiltration are primarily concentrated in some of the smaller alliances located in the interior of the East Continent, geographically situated between the Kubfu Alliance and the Sinnoh League on the Europan peninsula.
These places suffer from geopolitical fragmentation; the forces at play are intricate and complex, and development is uneven.
Correspondingly, the people in these areas hold less reverence for the rules governing nature reserves.
After all, when people can't even ensure they have enough food to eat, who the hell would be happy worrying about your grand Pokémon reconciliation?
Therefore, poaching and illegal hunting activities within the Viridian Forest Reserve are far more rampant than in internal Kubfu reserves like Mt. Moon.
The rangers there are perennially short-staffed, perpetually recruiting, never fully manned, and thus are very welcoming of volunteers from various places coming to help.
Being a ranger is a very noble profession in this era. Along with firefighters and anti-drug police, it's considered one of the most respectable professions during peacetime.
Normally, Raymond and his sister shouldn't have objected to Arthur going to volunteer.
However, the current timing was indeed somewhat sensitive.
Monica, being straightforward, directly asked, "If you want to be a volunteer, there's no need to rush at this particular moment, right? For the coming period, the border area will definitely be very chaotic. Choosing to go over there at this time is simply too dangerous."
One didn't need high political acumen for this; anyone who watches the news could easily guess that the Kubfu border would see action soon.
Regarding the cruise ship bombing incident within the Crescent Bay Reserve, the final statistics showed a total of 901 fatalities. Since the advent of peace, this was almost an unprecedented major casualty incident for the Kubfu Alliance in a century!
If this matter were simply dropped, the Alliance would have nowhere to put its face (lose prestige).
The Kubfu Alliance is not some small league that allows others to bully it at will.
Whether during the era of the Seven Elite Four two hundred years ago or in the current age, it remains the undisputed hegemon of the East Continent!
Therefore, this matter absolutely must have a resolution.
If the Stitched Shadow Army didn't want to be dignified about it, then the Kubfu Alliance would help it achieve dignity.
And the location for this 'dignified resolution' would most likely be somewhere around the Viridian Forest vicinity.
This was what Monica wanted to persuade him against.
Running off to Viridian Forest at such a sensitive time point was simply courting death; this was no joking matter.
Little did she know, Arthur was aiming for exactly this time point.
If he hadn't known that the Alliance's action was imminent and couldn't brook delay, he wouldn't have been in such a rush for quick results, resorting to such a violent method to forcibly subdue Honedge.
"I have some personal reasons; I have to go."
He could only reply this way.
"Personal reasons... do you lack school credits?"
Monica, whose thoughts tended to jump around, started making divergent associations again at this point.
"The main force of volunteers are generally university students. Nearing graduation and lacking credits, they run all over the place, volunteering everywhere across the Alliance. Don't tell me you're like that too?"
The current time was early April. If Arthur were nearing graduation this year, it would also make sense.
This could also explain why he had no guardian accompanying him.
A suffering student busy chasing graduation credits wouldn't have time to bother with family...
However, this also presented a problem.
"But at your age, you're already about to graduate? Exactly how many grades did you skip?"
"..."
Arthur was momentarily speechless.
Because this truly touched upon a blind spot in his knowledge.
In this life, honestly speaking, he had never really attended more than a few days of school.
Back then, before he turned fourteen, he was specially recruited into the military due to accidentally capturing a Pokémon. Afterward, he spent his life in military service, fighting desperately on battlefields for over a decade.
After transmigrating, he became an internet celebrity almost immediately after obtaining his identity. From then on, it was basically impossible for him to return to schooling.
Matters like graduating and accumulating credits were like strange tales from another world in his cognition.
Fortunately, the talkative Monica quickly moved on to another topic.
"But let's agree first. We go by age, not by school grade. Although I'm only a sophomore, you still have to call me Senior Sister."
Arthur didn't particularly care either way.
But Raymond, sitting beside them drinking water, unconsciously clenched his cup tighter.
Sis, ah! This younger guy is uncontrollable!
Is your handsome and mature older brother really so lacking in charm?
Why is it like this...
He never thought that Monica's very next sentence would turn the topic to him.
Just that the reason for this transition was...
"Right, Bro! Aren't you coincidentally going to Viridian Forest soon to do ecological research? How about you take Arthur along for the journey?"
Raymond explained, "Our company primarily researches reserve ecology and the cultivation of medicinal plants. It's still quite different from the work of a ranger volunteer."
Monica pouted, "What does it matter? Anyway, you're going to Viridian Forest along the way. Besides, Arthur is so amazing, much stronger than you! Maybe he can even protect you on the road! That place is really dangerous recently."
Raymond felt as if his heart had been stabbed by a knife once again.
Sis, ah! You've known this kid for less than a day, right? Your brother here learned martial arts with you at the dojo for over three years! Why are you instantly certain this kid is definitely much stronger than me?
Although—
He glanced sideways at the Honedge still securely carried on Arthur's back, and the words of rebuttal momentarily wouldn't come out...
But at least leave your brother some face!
Your brother at least graduated from military school!
Back then—
As he was reminiscing about past glories here, Arthur suddenly spoke up, and one sentence nearly made him lose his composure.
"If you take me into Viridian Forest, can we cross the border line to take a look?"
Cough!
Raymond was drinking water and nearly choked himself.
Everyone knows the border region is dangerous these days. This kid insisting on going to the reserve is one thing, but why is he also thinking about proactively running outside?
"You... what do you want to cross the border for?"
"Nothing really, just curious. I've never left the Alliance before."
"At this point in time, listen to your bro's advice: it's best to keep that curiosity contained a bit.
Being a volunteer isn't difficult; the ranger recruitment accepts almost anyone as long as they aren't too bizarre. But going over during this period, it's still best to be careful. Absolutely do not provoke any trouble."
"Okay. I'll pay attention. So, does that mean you're really willing to take me to Viridian Forest?"
Arthur verbally agreed instantly, promising very nicely.
But how things would actually turn out, perhaps only heaven knew.
If nothing else, Celebi sitting on his shoulder was already laughing at this moment.
Raymond, momentarily unaware, and spurred on by his sister Monica's encouraging eye signals, dazedly agreed.
"Fine then. I only took leave to come back for two days anyway. As it happens, I need to set off back tomorrow. Can you leave tomorrow? Is there anything you need to prepare?"
"Nothing."
Arthur replied very decisively.
He had only come to Lavender Town for Honedge.
He'd been here a day and hadn't even booked a hotel yet. He was just thinking of handling his business and leaving immediately, with no preparations to stay long.
The Kubfu Alliance's actions could begin at any time.
His own actions naturally needed to speed up as well.
Stitched Shadow Army...
Gengar...
He absolutely had to go figure things out!
(End of Chapter)
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