"See? I told you I'd take care of you," Feng Che said with a smile toward the Poliwag. This small act of care instantly boosted the tadpole Pokémon's favor toward him.
Meanwhile, the Nidoran pair watched him with expressions of pure resentment.
[Nidoran♂: This human is absolutely ruthless. Who even thinks of dumping us into a stream just to sap our stamina?!]
[Nidoran♀: I really want to stick him with a Poison Sting and show him why the flowers are so red!]
In the monitoring room, the Team Rocket examiners were buzzing.
"Look at that Poliwag... you don't think it told the kid where the card was hidden, do you, Yutai?" one member asked. "I mean, some of the Pokémon definitely saw us burying those items."
"Impossible, Matsukawa," Yutai denied immediately. "All these Pokémon have been placed under a mental suggestion by a powerful Psychic-type. They are strictly forbidden from revealing any information regarding the trial or actively leading a Trainer to hidden treasures. Their only directive is to protect the Trainer once caught."
Yutai shook his head and explained further, "If that Poliwag had breathed a word about the location, the mental suggestion would have triggered and killed it instantly. It wouldn't be hopping around like that."
"True. I forgot about that safeguard," Matsukawa scratched his head. "I guess we just have to make sure we stay on this kid's good side. With observation skills like that, if he doesn't kick the bucket early, he's destined to be an Elite Executive like Lord Tyron."
By "eavesdropping" on the inner thoughts of Pidgey and Poliwag, Feng Che managed to uncover several more hidden items in quick succession.
"Another card? Can't I find some actual treasure?" Feng Che grumbled, pulling out a card with the number '100' printed on it.
Back in the monitoring room, Yutai and Matsukawa were speechless.
"His luck is insane! We only placed three of those 100-point credit cards in the entire outer perimeter of Viridian Forest," Yutai said, green with envy. "And he's already found two. He probably doesn't even realize how valuable those points are yet! A fresh recruit only gets 30 points to start. I almost want to go down there and rob him myself."
Viridian Forest Perimeter.
Feng Che casually asked, "Pidgey, do you happen to know where the entrance to the Team Rocket base is?"
The moment the words left his mouth, Pidgey's wings froze mid-flap. It stalled in the air for several seconds, nearly plummeting to the ground before it regained its composure. That reaction alone was a flashing neon sign to Feng Che.
[Pidgey: I really want to slap myself! The entrance is right there! Just a bit further ahead!]
[Pidgey: It's under that crooked-neck tree. The bark can be peeled back—that's where they released me from. I have to keep my mouth shut. I can't give him any hints!]
[Pidgey: If I actually lead him to the base, my head is as good as gone. That Psychic-type's suggestion is no joke; I can't be the one to reveal it.]
The crooked-neck tree, huh? Feng Che smiled inwardly. He recalled Pidgey into its Poké Ball.
So, the Pokémon are under a mental geas from a Psychic-type, he mused. They can't act on the information, but they can't stop themselves from thinking it. Being able to hear their hearts is infinitely more useful than just 'Pokémon Speech.'
Pokémon Speech lets you talk, but Eavesdropping lets you hear the truth they aren't allowed to say. This is going to be a massive advantage in battle—if I can hear the opponent's strategy before they execute it.
Feng Che then turned his gaze back to the Nidoran pair. His eyes gleamed with a predatory light. He picked up a large, broad leaf from the ground. Before the two could react, he reached out with practiced speed and plucked a long, venomous barb from each of their backs.
Before they could explode in rage, he recalled them into their Poké Balls and locked the switches.
"These Nidoran are great—they even provided me with high-quality toxic barbs. With a little processing, I can turn these into 'Poison Barb' items," Feng Che murmured, his lips curling into a satisfied arc.
As a Breeding Master, he was an expert in crafting Pokémon held items. His smile, combined with the two long, purple-black glowing needles in his hand, sent a shiver down the spines of Poliwag and Pidgey.
"Poliwag, why don't you tell me if there's anything else good in this stream?"
[Poliwag: This human is terrifying! If I don't talk, is he going to stab me with those needles?!]
The tadpole was on the verge of tears.
[Poliwag: Why am I so unlucky? I can't let him know the treasure is hidden right up ahead... even though I saw those Team Rocket guys hide something under a rock next to that lush, leafy tree. No! I can't lead him there! It'll be the death of me!]
"Wait, someone is approaching," the Rocket member in the monitoring room noted. He watched as Feng Che walked straight to the lush tree and effortlessly flipped over a specific rock.
Feng Che pulled out an exquisitely crafted card with the number '100' on it.
"What is this?" Feng Che muttered, scratching his head. He turned it over a few times but couldn't see anything special about it.
"Holy shit! He found the deepest hidden card! That's the maximum value point card!" the observer shouted.
"Whatever, I'll just keep it in my bracelet for now," Feng Che said, tucking it away.
Beside him, Poliwag was trembling like a leaf.
[Poliwag: How did he know?! How did he know the card was under that rock?!]
[Poliwag: I didn't tell him! And humans can't understand us anyway!]
The tadpole stood there, completely dumbfounded.