Hutber Port, Pokémon Center.
Adrian contacted Iono and sent Helioptile back.
Learning that Helioptile had learned the "Surf" move in just three days, Iono couldn't help but be surprised, remarking, "Adrian, with your talent, it's a pity you're not a Skill Master."
As she spoke, Iono's eyes were filled with little stars as she looked at Adrian.
It was a look of admiration!
"I just know a little! Just a little!"
Adrian waved his hand, appearing very humble.
But Iono's reaction gave Adrian great mental satisfaction.
With the TM in hand, Adrian could indeed try to become a Skill Master.
But since the TM was a product of his cheat ability, Adrian didn't want to make it public; he wanted to offer high-end services as a means to network with top Trainers.
After some small talk, Adrian hung up the phone.
"So next, it's time to head to the Pokémon Safari Zone in Fuchsia City and try to fish for Dratini and Dragonair."
Adrian looked up, his gaze distant.
Although he really wanted to go to the Sevii Islands to fish for Seel right now, Adrian had contacted Lorelei and knew she still needed to guard Hutber Port for a while.
To avoid wasting time, Adrian decided to head to Fuchsia City first; the first stop would be the Pokémon Safari Zone, and the second would be the Fuchsia Gym to challenge Koga.
Having made up his mind, Adrian took a ferry from Hutber Port back to Vermilion City, then rode his bicycle to Fuchsia City.
Fuchsia City is a city in the southwest of the Kanto region, and its most famous landmark is the Safari Zone, which is called the Safari Zone in the anime.
Living in this Safari Zone was a Dragonair and Dratini mother and child pair.
This was Adrian's goal for this trip!
Of course, Adrian didn't intend to catch them; he just wanted to fish them up to reap generous rewards.
Especially Dragonair, which Adrian had never fished up before, allowing him to earn an extra reward.
By the time Adrian arrived at the Safari Zone, it was already the afternoon of the next day.
From a distance, Adrian saw the Safari Zone enclosed by tall fences, with a three-story building at the main entrance.
At the entrance, Adrian saw an old man leisurely drinking coffee.
When the old man saw Adrian, he didn't seem to welcome his arrival, appearing somewhat indifferent.
Adrian's heart stirred; he knew this must be the manager of the Safari Zone, Kaiser, nicknamed the "Pistol Hermit."
Because this little old man would pull out a pistol and point it at people at the slightest provocation, casually asking, "Do you want to eat a bullet?"
Who could handle that?
In any case, the Super Pallet Townian Ash chose to "follow his heart."
However, Adrian knew this was just Kaiser's disguise; he wanted to scare off Trainers coming to catch pokémon to prevent Dratini's life from being disturbed.
Thirty years ago, rumors of Dratini had attracted a large number of Trainers, resulting in over-catching, which not only nearly ruined the Safari Zone but also made Dratini afraid to show its face for thirty years, living in constant fear.
"Hello, I'm here to catch pokémon in the Safari Zone."
Seeing Kaiser's indifference, Adrian had to step forward and state his purpose.
"Follow me!"
Kaiser reluctantly led Adrian into a room and explained the rules with a cold face: "Pay five hundred yen, and you can get 30
Safari Balls and a fishing rod. In the Safari Zone, you can only use the fishing rod and Safari Balls to catch Pokémon. If you dare to break the rules, don't blame me for letting the 'Thunder Brothers' deal with you."
Adrian gave a few awkward laughs: "Don't worry, I will strictly follow the rules."
He didn't ask what the "Thunder Brothers" were, because Adrian didn't want to have a gun pointed at his head.
"Hmph~"
Seeing Adrian's obedient manner, Kaiser didn't make things too difficult, only warning him: "Be sure to return before dark!"
If it affected his clock-out time, he would also use the "Thunder Brothers" to greet him.
"Safari Zone, here I come!"
After taking the poké balls and the fishing rod, Adrian walked through the Safari Zone gates with Pikachu.
From afar, Adrian saw a group of pokémon that looked like bulls, with manes around their necks and three tails; they were Tauros.
These were likely the most numerous pokémon in the Safari Zone; Ash had once caught thirty Tauros here, almost turning Professor Oak's backyard into a cattle ranch.
Besides Tauros, Adrian also saw Doduo, the ostrich with two heads; Rhyhorn, covered in rock armor; and Paras, with two red mushrooms growing on its back—
There were many pokémon in the Safari Zone, but most were common species.
This was understandable; if there truly were rare pokémon, Trainers from far and wide would flock here to catch them, just like when Dratini was discovered thirty years ago.
"To Dragon Valley!"
Adrian wasn't interested in these pokémon, so he headed straight for his destination, Dragon Valley.
It was a lake with numerous rock pillars, the very place where the Dragonair and Dratini mother and child lived.
Looking around to confirm no one was nearby, Adrian secretly released Dratini.
"Yuer~"
With a soft cry, Dratini appeared.
"Yuer~"
Dratini stepped forward and rubbed against Adrian's pant leg, appearing quite affectionate.
Watching Dratini, which underwent Shed Skin every day and whose size changed daily, becoming as thick as a thigh in just a few days, Adrian rubbed his chin and guessed to himself: "Dratini's size has shot up so fast these past few days. Is it the effect of the energy cubes, or the influence of the Giant Dragonite scale?"
Before evolving, Adrian's Gyarados was just an ordinary Magikarp, but its size changed immediately under the nourishment of energy cubes.
However, Pikachu's size hadn't changed.
So at this moment, Adrian was a bit unsure of the reason for Dratini's size change.
"Whatever, the Dratini Family isn't known for agility and speed anyway. Being a bit larger and accumulating more energy isn't a bad thing."
Shaking his head, Adrian stopped overthinking and crouched down to instruct Dratini: "You, go and lure the Dragonair mother and child over!"
The Dratini in the Safari Zone had lived here for at least thirty years, even facing pursuit from many pokémon Trainers in the early days—including fishing experts—but none had succeeded.
This showed that normal fishing didn't work.
Thus, the best way to fish for a Dratini was to use a Dratini to chum the waters.
First, have his Dratini lure the local Dratini and Dragonair out, then find a way to trick them into being caught.
Of course, Adrian wouldn't hurt the mother and child; he just wanted to reap the rewards.
"Yuer~"
Dratini nodded and immediately dove into the water, its watery eyes searching the lake bottom, but it found nothing.
Blinking its eyes, Dratini used a calling technique: "Yuer~ Yuer~"
Before long, a slender figure emerged from the depths of the lake.
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