The most attention-grabbing thing for Ash is still the eye-catching yellow box on its back.
There really is one.
Ash couldn't help but take another look.
Before coming here, they had already learned something about this Hisui-exclusive Pokémon.
There is a big difference between the Sneasel living in this era and the modern ones, and their final evolution is not the modern Weavile, but rather the more slender Sneasler before them.
Moreover, its attributes have also undergone significant changes.
Poison Attribute and Fighting-type.
Especially the toxins secreted from its claws are quite dangerous, even many Pokémon with Poison Attributes themselves might not surpass Sneasler in pure toxicity.
And those particularly elongated limbs not only allow it to climb rock walls but also enable Sneasler to have quite excellent fighting ability.
"Snea?"
Sneasler called out after coming to Ingo's side, quickly noticing the two strangers it had never seen before.
At first, its expression didn't change much.
But after carefully examining Ash and Cynthia for a few seconds, the originally somewhat aloof expression of Sneasler gradually softened significantly.
Ingo didn't speak, just quietly observed this scene from the side.
Sneasler usually has quite an aloof personality and prefers to act alone, even facing Ingo, the warden responsible for taking care of it, sometimes showing a somewhat indifferent attitude.
Now, faced with two strangers met for the first time, not even a hint of the usual arrogance appeared.
It seems that those rumors heard earlier weren't too exaggerated, at least not in regard to the Mount Pokémon's attitude towards the two.
Ash didn't know what Ingo was thinking now; he naturally walked forward and extended his hand towards Sneasler.
"Nice to meet you, I'm Ash, and you must be the Sneasler of Coronet Highlands!"
"Along the way here, I heard a lot about your prowess; you can climb so many cliffs casually, if it were me, I'd have probably fallen off long ago."
"Snea!"
Sneasler felt quite pleased, and its originally somewhat cold face even showed a trace of obvious smile.
It raised its black and red long claws, seemingly prepared to bump hands with Ash.
However, just as the claw reached halfway, Sneasler suddenly remembered something and immediately withdrew its hand, then waved its claws at Ash repeatedly.
"Snea snea!"
The meaning conveyed through Aura was quite clear.
Its claws are poisonous.
Ordinary people might easily have problems if they directly touch them.
Ash's smile grew even more pronounced, unexpectedly finding that this fierce-looking Sneasler was actually quite attentive.
"You're worried the poison on your claws might hurt me, so you took your hand back?"
"Snea?"
Sneasler seemed somewhat surprised, never expecting this human to guess so accurately just by watching a few movements.
"Don't worry, I won't touch them."
Ash smiled and gave a thumbs-up to it.
"You're quite considerate!"
"Snea!"
Sneasler nodded in satisfaction.
Cynthia stood by watching this scene, her eyes also showing a bit more amusement.
Ash indeed has a lot to learn about the roundabout communication methods in human interactions, but when it comes to dealing with Pokémon, many times, he doesn't need anyone to teach him anything.
Sneasler clearly found this human it met for the first time quite satisfactory.
Suddenly, it raised a long arm and reached behind, fumbling a bit between the yellow passenger box and its back.
Ash felt somewhat puzzled.
"What did you put in the back?"
Sneasler soon pulled its hand back.
Between the two black and red long claws, it was pinching a Plate that Ash and Cynthia had become thoroughly familiar with over this time.
Ash: "..."
Cynthia: "..."
Wait, has something so important always been stuck between the box and the back? Climbing such high mountains really won't make it fall?
Sneasler felt there was nothing wrong with its storage method, and naturally handed the Plate to Ash.
"Snea."
"For me?"
"Snea!"
After receiving confirmation, Ash hurriedly took the Plate.
"Thank you, Sneasler!"
The process of obtaining the Plate this time is still surprisingly smooth.
They had just officially entered the Coronet Highlands, and the ninth Plate was already proactively delivered to their hands.
Quite similar to the situation at Cobalt Coastlands earlier, aside from the King's Plate being quite difficult to obtain, the other Plates were still easy to get.
Out of eighteen Plates, more than half have been collected.
Ash looked down at the Plate in his hand, obviously in a very good mood.
Judging from the earlier Mount Pokémon situations, these Pokémon affected by the power of Venerable Sinnoh indeed seem to perceive something special from the two of them.
Except for the previously abnormal Ursaluna, almost all other Mount Pokémon didn't undergo any complex tests; they willingly handed over the Plates after meeting.
If they continue collecting at this rate, their efficiency in acquiring Plates might end up being ridiculously fast.
Initially, Ingo was only observing Sneasler's attitude from the side, but after truly seeing the Plate being voluntarily handed to Ash, his expression finally showed a noticeable change.
"This thing... should be the Plate kept by Mount Pokémon, right?"
"I've heard that other Mounts and regional Kings also have similar items with them, have you been collecting them recently?"
"Yes."
Ash didn't hide the fact that they were looking for Plates.
"Ancient records in our homeland mention these Plates."