“Xiao Zhi, what are you guys doing?” Xiao Mao shouted loudly.
Xiao Zhi and his companions were chatting with a middle-aged man when they heard a voice coming from behind. Xiao Zhi immediately turned around.
“Xiao Mao...!” Xiao Zhi was stunned when he saw Xiao Mao.
The two stared at each other, their hearts unable to calm down for a long time.
Xiao Xia and Xiao Gang were also surprised. They had met Xiao Mao once and knew that Xiao Zhi always considered him a rival. They couldn't believe they were meeting here.
“Xiao Zhi, what are you talking about?” Xiao Mao asked.
“We... nothing, we were just asked to help.” Xiao Zhi replied.
“Help?” Seeing Xiao Zhi's guilty expression, Xiao Mao questioned: “What kind of help can you provide? Are you sure you won't cause trouble?”
“Of course not, I’m very strong, and I’ve already obtained 5 badges.” Xiao Zhi said, turning his vest inside out, revealing 5 badges.
The 5 badges were a dark gray badge, a blue badge, an orange badge, and a rainbow badge.
“Sorry, I already have 6 badges.” Xiao Mao took out his badge box and opened it, revealing 6 badges neatly arranged inside.
“What! Professor Oak said you only got 5 badges a month ago.” Xiao Zhi exclaimed in disbelief.
Xiao Zhi had only obtained 4 badges a month ago and bragged about it to Professor Oak. He knew that others had obtained 5 badges.
Therefore, Xiao Zhi rushed to challenge the Jade Rainbow Gym and successfully obtained his 5th badge. He thought he had caught up with Xiao Mao, but unexpectedly, he was still surpassed by Xiao Mao.
“5 badges was a long time ago, and you really are naive. The number of badges doesn’t prove the strength of a Trainer.” Xiao Mao said.
“Right, right! You’re right!” Xiao Zhi agreed wholeheartedly. He always believed he was strong and getting the sixth badge was just a matter of time.
“You two, stop chatting. Since you are both Trainers recognized by the Gym, come and help me.” The middle-aged man in the engineering uniform interrupted Xiao Zhi and Xiao Mao’s conversation.
“Help you with what?” Xiao Mao asked.
“Help me deal with these Diglett here. I will give you a reward. The reward is a four-day, three-night free hot spring stay in the hot spring village, including food and drinks.” The engineer said.
Conveniently!
Xiao Mao and Na Zi were also planning to go to the hot springs.
However, Xiao Mao wouldn't accept this kind of reward.
The reason why the Diglett were preventing the construction project was that if it was completed, it would destroy the nearby ecosystem and cause harm to the Pokémon there.
“What’s wrong with the Diglett here? Why do you need to deal with them?” Xiao Mao asked.
“We decided to build a reservoir here, but these Diglett have been causing trouble, delaying the project for a long time. If this continues, the reservoir will never be built.” The engineer sighed.
“That’s impossible. Diglett are very timid Pokémon. They usually don’t attack other Pokémon. They shouldn’t be coming out to cause trouble. Is there any misunderstanding?” Xiao Mao said.
“What misunderstanding? Look at these pipes. They were supposed to be transported here, but this big hole was dug by those Diglett. They’re just like pests.” The engineer roared.
Xiao Mao was also startled by the engineer's loud voice. He understood that the engineer was very angry because every day the project was delayed, they had to pay more.
“Then, would the engineer like to know why the Diglett are doing this?” Xiao Mao said.
The engineer was stunned for a moment and asked in confusion, “How would I know that? Can Diglett talk?”
“Na Zi, can you get the Diglett around here to come out?” Xiao Mao asked.
“No problem.”
Na Zi closed her eyes and used telepathy to communicate with the Diglett hiding underground.
Soon, a small mound of earth bulged out from the ground, and a small Diglett poked its head out. Then, one after another, Diglett emerged from the ground.
“Ah! You nasty Diglett.” Seeing the Diglett emerging, the engineer was so angry that his teeth were itching. If he hadn't wanted to know why the Diglett were causing trouble, he would have punched them directly.
Xiao Mao crouched down and asked, “Diglett, why are you stopping the construction of the reservoir? Can you tell me?”
“Da ge! Da ge!” The Diglett began to explain to Xiao Mao.
Xiao Zhi and his companions were dumbfounded. They didn’t understand what Xiao Mao was doing.
“Xiao Mao, can you understand what the Diglett are saying?” Xiao Zhi curiously asked.
“I can’t understand.” Xiao Mao said.
Xiao Zhi and the others were speechless. They thought Xiao Mao could understand what the Diglett were saying.
“The Diglett just said that if the reservoir is built, this forest will be flooded, and the Pokémon here will have no home.” Na Zi suddenly said.
“What! The forest will be flooded.”
“That’s terrible.”
“If that’s the case, it should be stopped.”
Xiao Zhi and the others were initially attracted by the reward, but now that they knew the harm caused by building the reservoir, they immediately objected.
“Is... is this true?”
The engineer wasn't a bad person. He just didn't know that building a reservoir would cause this to happen.
“Whether it’s true or not is unclear, but it can be confirmed that Diglett can sense changes in the geographical environment. They must have sensed that building the reservoir would lead to flooding here, which is why they came out to stop it.”
Xiao Mao said, “Since you're in construction, you should be able to find professionals to conduct an assessment. The Pokémon in this forest can be captured, but this forest is a protected area. If it’s really flooded, your company will be held accountable. You will definitely be investigated by the Pokémon League.”
“I... I understand. I will temporarily stop the reservoir construction. If it’s really as the Diglett said, our company will immediately stop the construction.” The engineer promised.
“Then, engineer, quickly send those Trainers you hired back. Otherwise, you have to take care of their food and lodging.” Xiao Mao reminded.
“Right!”
The engineer immediately called his subordinates.
Since the reservoir wouldn't be built anyway, there was no need to hire trainers to deal with the Diglett.
Afterwards, to thank Xiao Mao and the others for their help, the engineer enthusiastically invited them to the hot spring village. Xiao Zhi and the others went along, taking advantage of the situation.
The engineer contacted the company and asked them to send professionals to investigate. Only after confirming the truth could the reservoir project be completely stopped.
Xiao Mao wasn't worried about this. This company was a legitimate company. If they really caused the forest to be flooded, the Pokémon League would definitely come knocking.
“Xiao Mao, who is the girl next to you?” Arriving at the hot spring village, Xiao Zhi became curious about Na Zi’s identity.
“My name is Na Zi, I’m the Gym Leader of the Goldenrod Gym.” Na Zi introduced herself.