I Can Hear Pokémon’s Thoughts

Chapter 372: The Foul Gringey City

"Mewtwo, when do you think this Genesect will finally wake up?" Feng Che asked curiously.

The ultimate Genesect still had flaws and required long-term treatment. But once healed, it would be the ultimate war machine—a Mythical capable of rivaling gods for short bursts.

"Its consciousness has formed, but it is incredibly frail," Mewtwo replied. "Controlling such a powerful body is difficult. It will spend most of its time in a deep slumber, much like your Rowlet."

"To solve this permanently, I suggest we head to the Spirit World for a Soul Crystal. It would solve the issues for both Genesect and Rowlet simultaneously."

Soul Crystals were exclusive to the Spirit World and almost never appeared in the mortal realm. They were formed from the essence of powerful Ghost-type Pokémon upon their death. They were the ultimate cure for soul-related defects, such as soul-body misalignment or spiritual trauma.

Every year, countless bounty hunters ventured into the Spirit World seeking them, but few ever returned. It was a paradise for ancient ghosts—entities so old that Feng Che's Gengar would look like a toddler beside them. Furthermore, the Spirit World sat dangerously close to Giratina's Reverse World; causing too much of a stir there would draw the gaze of the Renegade God himself.

"Alright, Ditto, stop the fighting. Revert to your original form," Feng Che called out to the two clashing steel hunters. He was worried that high-intensity combat might strain its developing systems.

The two Genesect dissolved into pink sludge, merging in mid-air. For a moment, the mass shifted into a "hybrid" form—boasting both the scythe arms of the melee variant and the quadruple heavy cannons of the long-range model—shimmering silver in the moonlight before finally settling back into a simple, beady-eyed blob.

Since Ditto had consumed the Rainbow Wing and the Silver Wing, two tiny wings—one gold, one silver—had sprouted on its back. Usually, Ditto kept them tucked inside its body per Feng Che's orders, only showing them when they were alone.

"You've grown strong, Ditto," Feng Che said, patting its head.

Ditto: I'm stronger now! I can protect Trainer better. This is good!

The Industrial Wasteland

Gringey City.

This was the most heavily industrialized and polluted city in the Kanto region. The air was thick with a sour, metallic stench. Industrial waste and factory runoff had turned the local rivers into sludge. The sky was perpetually shrouded in heavy, grey smog, and visibility was so poor that streetlights remained on even at high noon.

This toxic environment had led to a population explosion of Grimer and Koffing, much to the locals' dismay. Infestations in residential areas were a daily occurrence.

As Feng Che approached the city limits, he noticed several "pedestrians" who were clearly undercover League Investigators.

"Feng Che, I've used telepathy," Mewtwo warned. "They are looking for your silhouette. They intend to monitor your every move the moment you're spotted."

"Simple. I'll just blend in." The League still had no idea he possessed a Ditto with legendary-tier mimicry. "Since Damalanchi set Gringey Base as a trap, I'll simply dismantle the base and cut off one of his arms."

Ditto transformed Feng Che into a sickly-looking local resident, allowing him to stroll past the checkpoints unchallenged. The streets were sparsely populated; everyone wore thick masks and the sound of ragged coughing echoed through the alleys.

Feng Che scanned the area with his psychic power. Not a single "normal" wild Pokémon remained. Even Poison-types found the environment too harsh.

"This city is almost beyond saving," Feng Che mused, looking at the blackened seawater. He could see Grimer playing in the oily waves. "Only Grimer, Muk, Koffing, and Weezing thrive here."

"Steel-types would struggle too; the acid rain would eat through their alloys. However, Gringey is famous for its massive Seafront Power Plant. The electricity attracts Magneton and Electrode. That's why the only things that live here are sludge and magnets."

To fix this city, one would need Galarian Weezing to purify the air, Suicune to cleanse the water, and Shaymin to restore the soil.

The Predator's Den

Gringey Base.

This was the League's secret stronghold, governed by Special Investigator A-Bo. To the public, he was a Bug-type hobbyist, but in reality, he was a Poison-type specialist with the strength of a Heavenly King.

"President Damalanchi, rest easy," A-Bo said during a video call. He was a gaunt man in his forties with sunken cheeks and old-fashioned round glasses, dressed in a bug-catching outfit as his cover.

"The moment Feng Che steps into Gringey City, he's mine. I'll make sure he never walks out."

"If you capture him and extract a 'confession' regarding his ties to Team Rocket," Damalanchi promised, "I will personally promote you to the rank of Elite Four."

Feng Che is now a ghost in the city. Should he use his new Ancient Beedrill to infiltrate the Power Plant and cause a blackout, or use Ditto to impersonate A-Bo himself and walk right into the heart of the base?