Chapter 127: Chen Ou Takes Action

In truth, Chen Ou felt that Celadon University had really put its heart and soul into this.

The students probably still believed this was a wild forest to this very day.

"Chen Ou, this forest seems a bit strange," Bai Ci tugged at the corner of Chen Ou’s sleeve and whispered in his ear.

"Yes, it’s likely a forest that Celadon University clears out on a regular basis, intended to provide a field training site for their students," Chen Ou replied, his tone filled with admiration.

"How can you be so sure?" Bai Ci asked, puzzled. Although she had ventured through quite a few forests herself, if she were asked to explain why, she really wouldn't be able to put a finger on it.

"The Pokémon attacks in this forest are far too measured. There’s a clear lack of wild ferocity, and they show no intent to kill the students. Furthermore, this forest is just too clean; I haven't seen a single Poison-type Pokémon."

Chen Ou casually rattled off a few suspicious points. These were things he could spot at a glance. The attacking Pokémon clearly lacked any real lethality; some were even as mild-mannered as Heracross—it was almost comical.

However, these children were only freshmen. This forest was certainly not intended for students nearing graduation, who would have already mastered basic skills and be capable of handling genuine danger.

The only real threat was likely that unexpected Haunter. After all, if the safety of this forest wasn't guaranteed, Celadon University wouldn't have allowed Erika to lead twenty or thirty students on a field trip alone.

Even if Erika were incredibly strong, protecting twenty or thirty people by herself would lead to serious problems if they encountered a pack of aggressive Pokémon.

Thus, the current situation did not surprise Chen Ou. He suspected that if these students needed Pokémon, this place might also serve as a source for them to acquire them.

After all, what kind of ordinary forest would just happen to harbor rare, powerful, and gentle Bug-type Pokémon like Heracross?

One shouldn't take Heracross for granted!

"Then what is the point of Gym Leader Erika having us tag along?" Bai Ci asked, still quite confused. If this was already a 'manicured' forest, what help did they need from them?

"To prevent accidents, that’s all. I imagine Erika was caught off guard by that Haunter, so she asked us to come along as an insurance policy."

A manicured forest did not mean it was devoid of all danger. Since it was an open forest, the occasional entry of wild Pokémon was inevitable. Clearly, that Haunter was either one that had yet to be 'cleared' or one that had slipped through the net.

"What a grand undertaking!" Chen Ou couldn't help but exclaim again. The time, energy, and money required to maintain a forest of this size were immeasurable. And clearly, there was more than one such forest. From this, it was evident that Celadon University's reputation as the 'premier institution' of the Pokémon world was well-founded.

With such software and hardware in place, if the students failed to succeed, it would likely be their own fault.

"Do you want to sit in on some classes here for a few days?" Chen Ou suddenly turned to ask.

"I’m fine with whatever, as long as you’re here too," Bai Ci did not refuse, knowing that Chen Ou intended to stay and attend classes for a few days as well.

"Then I’ll ask Erika if she can arrange for you to audit some lectures."

"All right."

Just as Chen Ou and Bai Ci were discussing their itinerary for the next few days, the group of students suddenly erupted into chaos.

"Everyone, spread out!" Erika’s shout drew Chen Ou’s attention, and his expression immediately darkened.

Rewinding three minutes:

Within the student group, Youyue was whispering to Huili. The surrounding students were all chattering away, so no one could hear their conversation.

"Huili, why does it feel like this place isn't a real wilderness? My brother is always trying to scare me with stories of the dangers of the wild. He talks about Arbok appearing out of nowhere, or sleeping powder drifting over, but the wild here is so safe." Youyue asked with a puzzled look on her face.

Huili rolled her eyes at her.

"Try saying that to Chiharu and see if she doesn't hit you."

Hearing this, Youyue gave a sheepish smile, glanced quietly at Chiharu, who still seemed shaken, and then turned back to stick her tongue out at Huili.

Huili ignored her and frowned, saying, "This definitely isn't a true wilderness. I've been to the real wild, and it's nothing like this. This must be a teaching forest used by the school."

"Ah~~~, how boring! I thought I had really entered the wild. I could have gone home and proven my brother wrong. He’s always saying I wouldn't last two days on my own out there." Youyue pouted, looking playful and cute. However, Huili knew that Youyue’s brother wasn't joking. With Youyue’s reckless personality, if she were really thrown into the wild without protection, she probably wouldn't last long.

The world only ever shows its smile to the strong.

"Still, this forest isn't as safe as you might think. What happened to Chiharu was an absolute accident."

Huili didn't hide it from Youyue. It was definitely an accident, because the anxiety in Erika’s eyes at the time couldn't have been faked.

"Is that why you keep telling everyone to stay alert?" Youyue looked at the students patrolling the perimeter.

"There will be more accidents. We don't know if we'll be the next victims, so staying alert and protecting ourselves is the most important thing we can do. The school gives us a forest like this to help us adapt to the dangers of the wild little by little. If they threw us into the real wilderness right away, that wouldn't be the academic approach; it would be the traveler’s method."

Huili hit the nail on the head regarding the school’s core objective.

Youyue heard the terms 'academic approach' and 'traveler’s method' and was just about to ask for clarification when she felt a cold breeze seep into her clothes at the back of her neck.

"Enemy attack! It's a Weavile!"

A boy on the outer edge looked at the cat-like Pokémon and shouted. His Geodude stood in front of him, ready to engage the Weavile.

However, in the next second, the boy felt a blur before him, and he and his Geodude were sent flying backward.

They crashed heavily into the crowd. The students erupted in panic, and Huili’s shouts were to no avail.

Erika noticed the situation and, seeing the Weavile charging into the crowd, shouted, "Everyone, spread out!" Her Vileplume immediately launched a Razor Leaf to intercept the Weavile.

But a sharp metallic clang echoed through the air—the Razor Leaf had been blocked.