Welcome to the new volume
...
Natsu walked out of the waiting room and came to his office. After calling out Alakazam and confirming no one was there, he pressed the answer button.
"It's me." His voice became hoarse. This was the voice of his hunter identity. And the voice coming from the phone was Miss Q's.
"N, Mr. S, is dead."
Hearing this, Natsu was shocked. His eyes widened in disbelief.
Mr. S, one of the top six seats in the Hunter's Guild. His status was the same as Miss Q and Mr. Z, and the area he oversaw was the Unova Region. This was the first time a top-seat owner had died since he joining the Hunter's Guild.
After a moment, he reined in his shock and said solemnly, "Who did it?"
"I don't know, but..." Miss Q didn't continue the following words, but Natsu understood what she meant. She suspected Ritchie did it. In fact, Natsu's first reaction was the same.
"S is dead, and the Hunter's Guild in the Unova Region is in complete chaos," Miss Q continued.
"What do you want me to do?"
"This is also an opportunity for you, but how to seize it depends on your own willingness and ability." Miss Q said something meaningful. The word "ability" was emphasized.
Natsu's eyes narrowed slightly, with a dangerous glint flashing in them. "The top seat..."
"None of us can go. Now the five of us are sitting together." Miss Q looked at the other four people sitting at the round table and said softly to Natsu on the phone.
Just sitting together?
Natsu's heart froze. This meant that when Miss Q told him, the other people knew too. But they didn't stop it. It explained everything.
The current Unova Region, in their eyes, might have become a big cake. As for who did it and what their purpose was, it didn't matter now. What was important was who could get more benefits. It wasn't too late to get the benefits first, and when the dust settled, it wouldn't be too late to talk about who did it.
"I see." Natsu hung up the phone.
After hesitating, he called Agatha.
"Teacher, the civil unrest you've been waiting for is coming. Hunter S, Chief-In-Charge of the Unova Region, is dead."
"Didn't expect your news to be so fast," Agatha's voice came through the phone.
Natsu pursed his lips. "Teacher, isn't it time to say it?"
There was a brief silence.
"What do you want to do?" Agatha's voice spoke again.
"Aren't you going to tell me to go find out?"
"The Unova Region is different from Kanto, Sinnoh, and the other four regions; it's very far from them, meaning the Alliance's influence is limited. There's an organization called Team Plasma in the Unova Region that has strong influence there," Agatha said.
Natsu understood what Agatha was saying. The Unova Region was very remote, even further from Kanto than the Alola Region. However, Unova's economy was highly developed, and its urban development was quite advanced. It even had Castelia City, a prosperous metropolis known as the "largest city" in the Pokémon world. The Alliance's influence was relatively weaker compared to other regions, and the presence of unscrupulous underground forces like Team Plasma had caused Unova to become a mixed bag of good and bad.
"So?"
"Be careful when you go. This time my influence won't be much," Agatha said teasingly.
Natsu: "..."
"Can't I not go?"
"Do you not want to?" Agatha didn't answer directly; instead, she asked Natsu a thought-provoking question.
Natsu fell silent.
"Go on, and be safe."
"Yeah, yeah." He hung up the communicator.
Natsu looked out at the now bustling Solaceon Town. The Gym's cup matches could go on without him. As for the winner's challenge, if he made it back in time, no problem. If he didn't, well, it just wasn't meant to be.
After all, Natsu thought one of them would win in the end.
He was sure they wouldn't mind.
...
...
...
The Unova Region.
After flying almost a full day and night continuously, Natsu finally arrived in the Unova Region. Here, he could see just how different it was from the other four regions.
Undella Town.
Upon arriving in Unova, Natsu didn't immediately go to the most prosperous city, Castelia, to learn about the current situation of the Hunter's Guild. Instead, he came to a small town located on the eastern coast of the Unova Region.
If it were spring, autumn, or winter, Undella Town would be deserted. But in summer, its beaches could be packed.
"I've arrived." Natsu stood on a certain beach, looking at the empty shore, feeling the roar of the sea wind, and ended his call.
Even though it was just the sea, the atmosphere of the Unova Region gave Natsu a completely different feeling from Sinnoh and Kanto.
It was an indescribable feeling.
Looking out at the misty sea in the distance, he vaguely saw a black shadow in the fog; he couldn't make it out even when he squinted.
Bippp—
Just then, a very luxurious car parked on the roadside next to the beach.
The car horn interrupted Natsu's thoughts.
He watched the car door open, and Caitlin walked out, gesturing towards Natsu, who was standing by the sea. The sea breeze didn't seem to affect her; when it swept her long hair, it was blocked by an invisible barrier.
When he turned and looked at the sea again, hhe saw a Cottonee, with a rather excited look, emerge from the fog.
"Cottonee?" Natsu froze for a moment, then laughed at his own doubt.
How could he encounter so many things?
He had just arrived in Unova; what amazing Pokémon could he possibly encounter?
Natsu walked towards Caitlin.
"Caitlin, sorry for the trouble," Natsu said apologetically as he walked up to her.
"Get in, let's talk."
They both got into the car.
There was another person in the car: a woman with short purple hair, a round face with round-framed glasses, wearing a purple dress, a short skirt, and black tights, which was quite eye-catching. But she just sat quietly, a book in her hand, reading with great interest and pleasure, seemingly unaware of her surroundings.
"Ms. Shauntal," Natsu was slightly surprised, but he understood the relationship between Caitlin and Shauntal. He added with a smile, "I'm a fan of your books, Ms. Shauntal."
Shauntal was a famous novelist, and it was said that Lucian was also a fan of hers. Because of her sweet appearance, gentle personality, and well-written novels, she had a good fan base.
Shauntal was a little surprised, then looked at Natsu, put down the book in her hand, nodded politely and warmly towards him, and said with a smile, "Then I'm very honored to have my idol as my own fan." After a brief pause, she explained, "Mr. Natsu, your papers, I've read all of them, and they've given me a lot of inspiration."
They had met a few times during the "Lily of the Valley Youth Tournament," so they were acquaintances. This exchange was also their first real conversation, and of course, there were some flattering greetings. As for who truly believed them, only they themselves would know.
After greeting Shauntal, Natsu looked at the driver's seat. "Mr. Darach."
Indeed. It was Darach, the head butler of the Battle Chateau, who was driving them.
Darach greeted Natsu via the rearview mirror.
During the "Lily of the Valley Youth Tournament," Caitlin's Psychic powers went rampant, and she eventually returned to normal with Natsu and Cynthia's help. Darach had also promised Natsu a favor, so his attitude and feelings towards Natsu were still very positive.
"Darach, let's go back."
"Okay, miss."
The car drove off slowly.
At this moment, Caitlin looked at Natsu, "What brings you suddenly to the Unova Region?"
"There are indeed some things I need to handle," Natsu said without denying it.
"If you need our help, don't hesitate to say so."
Natsu laughed. "No, no, it's just my own business. I'm not here to ask for help, but regarding your problem, I might have a solution."
"What do you mean about my Psychic being out of control?" Caitlin was slightly surprised.
Hearing this, Darach and Shauntal's attention couldn't help but turn to them.
Caitlin's greatest strength and biggest problem was her terrifying Psychic abilities. If she could curb her rampant Psychic powers, it would certainly be a liberation for her.
"I'm not sure about the success rate, and this method might also limit your Psychic power."
Caitlin and Shauntal looked at each other.
"I think I can try it," Caitlin said. She still had a high level of trust in Natsu.
Shauntal could only nod.
Soon.
"Here," Darach said softly. The car stopped in front of a large villa in Undella Town. A Gothitelle obediently opened the door for them.
...
(End of this chapter)