Chapter 43 - Rusturf Tunnel

Master Shozo had returned, but due to a minor incident, Darren's departure to the Sinnoh region was once again delayed for a few days.

They boarded Master Shozo's private helicopter again, heading towards the west of the Hoenn to the town of Verdanturf.

Unlike the town of Fallarbor, Verdanturf was known for its fresh air. Although it was near the Mt. Chimney, the volcanic ash did not blow in this direction due to the prevailing wind directions.

In terms of economic development, Verdanturf, a fragrant and grassy plateau, was more prosperous than Fallarbor, as it attracted many tourists and their Pokemon to relax and recuperate.

"Is the situation serious?"

"A few workers were injured, and the construction of the Rusturf Tunnel has been halted. Despite summoning nearby trainers to investigate the cause, the problem still remains unsolved."

Darren conversed with Master Shozo. They were heading to Verdanturf to resolve an engineering accident caused by some Pokemon.

To provide convenient routes for trainers going out, the Pokemon Alliance decided to open up a mountain road from Rusturf City to Verdanturf Town, preliminary named the "Rusturf Tunnel". However, halfway through the construction of the tunnel, a group of Whismur appeared and obstructed the project.

These Whismur were very cunning and disciplined. Whenever trainers came to guard the construction, they would hide quietly. Once the trainers left, the workers continued their work. Or when there was a shortage of manpower at night, the Whismur would collectively come out to sabotage the project.

The actions of the Whismur gave the project manager a headache. They reported the situation to their superiors, but the League Alliance did not have suitable manpower to deal with such a trivial matter at the moment. Interrupting the tasks of the League Champion and the special operatives for a Rusturf Tunnel construction was considered overreacting.

Moreover, there were too many places where manpower was needed due to the recent Sinnoh Pokemon contest.

In the eyes of the higher-ups, such small problems were only due to the incompetence of the project manager. It could be easily solved by relying on trainers from outside.

However, in the end, a few workers were unexpectedly injured, causing a stir in the area. The Alliance became nervous and terminated the construction of the Rusturf Tunnel. Pressured by public opinion, they immediately invited Master Shozo, who was nearby, to assist in the investigation and mobilized the rangers and local police to assist in the task.

"The workers' families have started making a fuss, and the Alliance has no other option. Other capable individuals are too far away from this area. They had no choice but to seek help from the Breeder's Association."

"If there are any more injuries to ordinary people, the reputation that the Alliance has just established will be affected."

"Although the trainers have driven away the Whismurs, these Pokemon do not know when to stop..."

"These incidents caused by these Pokemon cannot be solved by brute force alone. If the root cause is not identified, it is only a temporary solution."

Master Shozo shook his head, explaining to Darren.

"Whismur? Did the construction disturb them... No, Whismur are not affected by sound-based moves. These Pokemon have a 'soundproof' ability, don't they?"

Also known as abilities, the term "ability" has not yet become widely popular. The exceptional traits of some Pokemon are often referred to by breeders as "unique talents".

"If it was the noise generated from tunnel construction that disturbed the Whismur, it doesn't seem right. The Alliance should try to select locations without Pokemon for tunnel construction, right? The reason those Whismur are causing trouble is worth investigating."

Master Shozo paused, then looked satisfied at Darren. "Correct, Whismurs indeed have a 'soundproof' ability. If the project manager can understand this, they should know that the breakthrough point in this matter is not about driving away those Whismur."

"We're here -"

As Master Shozo's helicopter descended, police and workers were waiting below. Darren couldn't help but feel impressed by the status of a Master breeders.

To be honest, after arriving, Master Shozo had no time to deal with Darren, the young boy. Darren was also happy to have some free time, planning to take his Beautifly and Swablu for some practical battles.

Many young trainers had gathered in the mountains near the Rusturf Tunnel, all of whom had previously been invited to solve the Whismur incident. Now that the incident had escalated and they had not seen any results, they were unwilling to leave directly.

The police had already sealed off most of the area, leaving the trainers feeling helpless.

However, many trainers were idle and getting bored. In some open areas, groups of two or three trainers could often be seen gathered together, battling each other.

Darren was drawn to the noise.

"A water-type against a grass-type. He's probably in danger."

"Doesn't Tetsu already have three consecutive victories? Can the opponent hold on, even in a disadvantageous situation with regards to type..."

The battle was heating up, and the onlookers were focused on the two Pokemon on the field, including Darren.

Grovyle and Azumarill.

Grovyle have well-developed thigh muscles that can produce astonishing explosive power. The leaves on their hands can exhibit blade-like ability during battles. Under the high-frequency suppression of the leaf blades of Grovyle, Azumarill was quickly defeated.

The outcome was clear.

Onlookers immediately exclaimed, "It's the fourth consecutive win, already the fourth consecutive win."

Four consecutive wins?

Darren squeezed to the front, wanting to see who the victor was.

The winner was a young boy who looked eleven or twelve years old, with a broad face and brown hair fixed in a strange hairstyle with hair gel.

As Darren approached the front, he was randomly grabbed , "Friend, have you seen my strength clearly this time?"

After speaking, he shouted to the onlookers, "Does anyone want to challenge me? If not, does anyone want to join me now?"

"Since we've all come, how can we leave without doing anything? As long as we have five people, we'll set off to investigate the mystery of the Whismur event ourselves."

Tetsu was very enthusiastic, but this seemed to be the characteristic of every young trainer. After seeing Tetsu's strength, several people were clearly very interested in his proposal. Most trainers were restless, and events like this were constantly stimulating the fiery hearts of the young trainers.

"I'm in."

"I'll join."

"Count me in."

In just two breaths, three trainers, two men and one woman, stood up together.

The police had clearly stated that they did not allow trainers to continue the investigation. Workers had already been injured, and if another trainer was injured because of the Rusturf Tunnel incident, the situation would further escalate.

"We have four people, is there anyone else?!"

Tetsu looked around, hoping to find another teammate, nobody else volunteered.