Binina provided some information about the Hunter Guild, and Kona also provided some.
However, compared to Binina's information, which leans toward the darker side, Kona's is much more official.
That makes sense.
As a student at the Pokemon Academy, even if she wanted to try to understand, she wouldn't have had the chance.
Combining the information provided by both of them with what Natsuhiko knew himself, he formed a general outline of the Hunter Guild in his mind.
Firstly, the Hunter Guild is divided into two parts: the official internal members and the outer members.
No need to elaborate on the outer members, but within the internal members, the power of the Hunter Guild is not held by a single person but by a group of people.
This is vastly different from organizations like Rocket Team or Ocean Team.
These people form the core council of the Hunter Guild, also known as the "Hunter Council," comprising twenty-six people, each coded from the letter "A" to the letter "Z," with no particular ranking order.
However, according to incomplete information provided by Binina, even though the Hunter Guild is managed by twenty-six people, six of them hold power above the other thirty, and any proposal they pass cannot be opposed even when the other thirty combine their efforts.
Additionally, these twenty-six seats are not fixed, nor is the number of internal members limited to them. If other official members are confident and capable, they can choose to openly challenge for a seat. If they win, they can take over the position, but if they lose, well...
Not everyone is eligible to challenge; it's said that certain task specifications and strength requirements must be met.
Of course, some of this information was gathered by Binina and her crew from various sources like the black market, so it's possibly true, but could also be false.
However, the status of these twenty-six people is undoubtedly certain.
After reading through this information and gaining a preliminary understanding of the situation, Natsuhiko rubbed his temples and fell into a deep sleep.
...
...
The next day.
After getting his gear in order, he set off again.
According to the plan, barring any unforeseen circumstances, he should be able to reach Lake Verity by evening.
Today, Natsuhiko learned from yesterday's lesson; he didn't have Honedge clear the path anymore. Instead, he had Yujira use Psychic to push away obstructive branches and shrubs.
Simultaneously, he placed a thin layer of Psychic under his feet to prevent leaving footprints and other traces.
Even when encountering unavoidable wild Pokémon attacks, he only left after dealing with the traces.
This avoided potential trouble.
And, Natsuhiko released Togetic and Beedrill as well.
Upon entering the forest's inner area, the strength of wild Pokémon increased.
The most important thing was that, having stayed in the Pokeball all day yesterday, Togetic complained and stuck to Natsuhiko for a long time last night, hoping it could also follow outside today.
It was accustomed to staying outside, and staying in the Pokeball for a long time was indeed uncomfortable.
Time flew by during the journey.
Lunchtime.
Natsuhiko deliberately found a spot beside a stream, set up a campfire, and for once prepared food for the Pokémon other than the Energy Block to improve their meals and enjoy something new.
Pokémon only need to eat Energy Blocks to meet all their needs for growth and progress. Eating food low in nutrition along with Energy Blocks might negatively impact their development.
But Pokémon aren't machines; occasionally, they need to eat something else for a change of taste.
No matter how tasty Energy Blocks are, eating too many can become tiresome; switching up with different flavors and then returning to Energy Blocks feels different.
Sometimes Natsuhiko changes their flavors, but this was the first time in such a wild environment.
Upon hearing there was something new to eat, Togetic was naturally the most excited.
"Togetic? Togetic?"
It kept asking what they were going to eat, its little eyes full of curiosity and longing.
When it comes to eating, there's no one more enthusiastic in the group than Togetic.
Natsuhiko smiled, flicked its forehead, and instructed, "Beedrill, you go hunting. Just ordinary animals will do, enough to satisfy everyone. Yujira, Honedge, you work together to build a grill out of stones."
Upon hearing this, the Pokémon immediately sprang into action.
That's right, Natsuhiko was planning to attempt a barbecue.
It's widely known.
All transmigrators have maxed out barbecue skills.
He hadn't tried it before, but as the saying goes, if you haven't eaten pork, you've seen a pig run.
Besides, he had a secret weapon, so it shouldn't be too bad.
"Togetic?"
'What about me? What about me?'
Togetic fluttered around Natsuhiko's side.
"You...," Natsuhiko scratched his chin. Under Togetic's somewhat anxious gaze, he chuckled, "Help me prepare the soul sauce."
"Togetic?"
'Sauce?'
"Because we'll be using this thing this time."
As he spoke, Natsuhiko pulled a glass jar filled with honey from his backpack.
It wasn't ordinary honey; it was Beedrill's honey, snatched from a Mankey back then, and he had only given Beedrill a little, so there was still some left.
Upon seeing the honey, Togetic's eyes lit up.
"Wipe your drool."
Sluuurp—
Togetic sucked its mouth, realizing it had been tricked by Natsuhiko again.
"Hahahaha—"
The hearty laughter echoed far away.
The long-missed sense of leisure, the Pokémon weren't very stressed, but the momentum built over long training kept their efficiency high.
Honedge was responsible for chopping, Yujira for building, and soon a stone grill was completed.
And Beedrill didn't let everyone down; in this resource-rich forest, it managed to catch a deer, enough for all the Pokémon to be full, even including the biggest eater, Sharpedo.
Natsuhiko didn't treat Sharpedo any differently.
Then, with Yujira's help, the venison was prepared, and under everyone's anticipation, the whole deer was finally placed on the grill.
Next, it was all about waiting for the flames to roast it, and slowly brushing on Natsuhiko and Togetic's secret sauce.
Soon.
A rich aroma wafted out, attracting many wild Pokémon to approach. However, under Togetic's "fierce" guard, these wild Pokémon were deterred by Togetic's "might" and backed away.
Sssss—
Accompanied by the sound of golden oil dripping from the venison into the fire, a more golden sauce made from Beedrill's honey was brushed on, sprinkled with pre-prepared cumin and other spices.
This aroma became irresistible.
Sluuurp—Sluuurp—
That was Togetic.
At that moment, all it had eyes for was that whole piece of roasted meat.
The other Pokémon were about the same, secretly swallowing food, especially Sharpedo, bathing in the river, whose eyes were filled with longing mixed with a hint of fear, truly.
'He really knows how to barbecue! He really knows how to barbecue!'
And this time, the rich roast imbued with Beedrill's honey finally attracted not just Togetic's "intimidation," but also a crowd of wild Pokémon that the Pokémon's "intimidation" couldn't deter.
Indeed, Togetic's "intimidation" might have even had a counterproductive effect.
The wild Pokémon that surrounded them had undergone this "temptation" of aroma.
Unable to hold back was only natural.
Ursaring, Staravia, Bibarel, Golbat, Chatot...
Too many, too many.
Natsuhiko cheerfully said, "Before eating, let's warm up for a bit."
He hadn't expected that a seemingly "ordinary" barbecue could attract so many wild Pokémon.
Who even needs Sweet Fragrance?
Maybe he should sell barbecue instead?
Charge a bit less than Sweet Fragrance, he could earn quite a lot.
Of course, that was a joke; what mainly attracted these Pokémon was really Beedrill's honey.
And in the end...
A bloodbath triggered by a barbecue.
Surprisingly, Togetic was the most hardworking, protecting the food with all its might, almost using the last-resort move "Waving Finger."
If it really did that, they wouldn't have had lunch to eat.
However, what was attracted wasn't just these Pokémon; there were also some more special presences...