“Roar.” The Steelix nodded, indicating its agreement, and requested the energy cubes first.
Xiao Mao, according to the agreement, took out two energy cubes and fed them to Steelix.
After eating the energy cubes, Steelix continued to lead Xiao Mao and Nuzleaf in search of more Steelix. They quickly reached the Rocky Region. Along the way, they encountered two other Steelix, but they were only of ordinary and elite potential, meaning they couldn't be captured.
“Roar!” After searching for more than a dozen Steelix, the Steelix suddenly stopped.
“What's wrong?” Xiao Mao asked in confusion.
“The Steelix said there are no other Steelix here,” Nuzleaf said.
Xiao Mao had pinned his hopes of obtaining an Aggron on the Hunting Ground, but there were only a dozen or so Steelix in the entire place, a truly meager number.
Xiao Mao was still not quite convinced and tentatively asked, “Then are there any Aggron around here?”
“Roar! (There is one.)” Steelix said.
“You didn’t tell me there was an Aggron sooner!” Xiao Mao was speechless. If he had known there was an Aggron, why bother looking for Steelix.
Steelix: ???
It was you who said you wanted to find Steelix, and you never asked if there was an Aggron. What does it have to do with me?
“Then please take us to the Aggron,” Xiao Mao said, taking out three energy cubes and handing them to Steelix.
Steelix, without any ill intentions, ate the energy cubes and led Xiao Mao and the others to the Aggron’s territory.
Xiao Mao’s luck was good, as the Aggron was out and about.
Seeing Xiao Mao and Nuzleaf riding on Steelix, the Aggron didn't seem to care, and continued basking in the sun.
【LV45 Aggron♂/Elite Four Potential】
An Elite Four potential Aggron!!
Xiao Mao decided to capture this Aggron.
In all his time traveling, this was the first time Xiao Mao had encountered a wild Pokémon of such a high level.
Xiao Mao hopped off Steelix’s back and walked up to the Aggron. “Aggron, how about you become my Pokémon?”
The Aggron opened its eyes and looked at Xiao Mao, shaking its head in disdain as it rejected the offer.
“You don’t have to rush to refuse. Come with me, I can help you become stronger. Wouldn't it be boring to stay here alone?” Xiao Mao said.
Aggron, hearing Xiao Mao’s words, was taken aback. It couldn’t understand how Xiao Mao knew it felt bored.
The reason Xiao Mao thought this was due to the Aggron’s level.
This Aggron’s level was as high as 45. There were very few Pokémon that could level up to 45 in the Hunting Ground. And because there weren’t any suitable opponents here, the only way for the Aggron to reach level 45 was through diligent training.
Especially with the numerous rock fragments nearby, it was likely that these were the remnants of the Aggron’s training.
“Roar!!”
The Aggron emitted a deep roar.
“It’s asking why you should be trusted,” Nuzleaf translated.
“You can come with me first. We’ll have a battle outside. If I win, you’ll become my Pokémon. If I lose, I can give you an armor,” Xiao Mao said.
Aggron: “Roar???”
“It’s asking what an armor is,” Nuzleaf said.
Xiao Mao: “......!”
Pokémon that needed to evolve through evolution items, when found in the wild, didn't know that they had further evolutions.
“An armor is an item specially researched by humans for Aggron. If you wear it, you can evolve into a Metagross,” Xiao Mao explained.
“Roar!!” The Aggron was startled. Hearing that it could evolve, it readily agreed to Xiao Mao’s request.
This wild Aggron didn’t have any aversion to evolving. Evolution meant becoming stronger. This deal was a win-win for Aggron.
“Okay, come on in then.” Xiao Mao took out a Poké Ball and threw it at the Aggron.
The Aggron didn’t dodge, and the Poké Ball hit its target, opening up and sealing the Pokémon inside.
The Poké Ball shook three times before stopping.
According to the system-issued mission, the six Pokémon of the Green team were now complete. All that was left was to evolve Pidgeotto into Pidgeot and Growlithe into Arcanine, and the mission would be done.
“Nuzleaf, are there any more Pokémon you want to capture?” Xiao Mao asked.
Their goal in coming to the Hunting Ground was to capture Steelix, and unexpectedly, they had also found an Aggron. That saved Xiao Mao the trouble of raising one.
As for the battle outside against the Aggron, it was a matter of convenience. Blastoise could one-shot Aggron with a Hydro Cannon.
The Aggron had been sheltered too well in the Hunting Ground, completely unaware of the harsh realities of the world. It was captured so easily, there was no way it could escape.
“No, there are no Pokémon here that I want. Let's go,” Nuzleaf said.
“Alright, let’s go then.”
Xiao Mao didn’t persuade further.
The Hunting Ground did have some rare Pokémon, but they didn't possess Psychic type, so they weren’t of interest to Nuzleaf.
There was a Dragonair and a Dratini in Dragon Valley, even a mother-and-son pair, but the Hunting Ground wasn’t considered the wild. Rare Pokémon here were not allowed to be captured.
Even if they captured the Dragonair and Dratini, they would be required to release them by the Pokémon League.
Plus, this Dragonair was decades old and hadn't evolved into a Dragonite. It was likely only Elite Four potential, which meant it was probably level 50.
If Xiao Mao’s team attacked together, they might have a chance to win, but the Hunting Ground didn't allow battles. Xiao Mao wouldn’t risk getting a wanted poster just for two Pseudo-Legendary Pokémon.
Dragonite was a Pseudo-Legendary, but it was too weak among Pseudo-Legendaries, far inferior to Garchomp and Salamence.
......!
Back in the Hunting Ground’s reception hall.
“You only captured one Pokémon?”
As the Poké Balls passed through the conveyor belt machine, only one Poké Ball showed up on the display. The others were still in their boxes, surprising Caesar.
Usually, people wouldn't be satisfied until they used up all 30 Poké Balls.
“We don't need many Pokémon, capturing one is enough,” Xiao Mao said.
“Then what about this beautiful lady, why didn’t you capture a few more Pokémon?” Caesar asked.
“There aren’t any Pokémon here that I want,” Nuzleaf coldly replied.
Caesar was surprised. He couldn’t believe that Nuzleaf didn't even want a single Pokémon from the Hunting Ground.
Then, Xiao Mao and Nuzleaf went to the teleporter. Xiao Mao called Professor Oak.
“Xiao Mao, why are you calling me again?” Professor Oak asked.
Xiao Mao had been calling quite frequently lately, making Professor Oak a bit uncomfortable.
“Grandpa, I captured an Aggron in the Hunting Ground. I just sent it to you, can you teleport it to me?” Xiao Mao said.
“Aggron? That’s a pretty powerful Pokémon,” Professor Oak exclaimed.