Chapter 128. Of Course They're Going to Retire Under Human Care
The next day.
"Oh, young man, thank you!"
The old clan chief led a large group to see Natsume and the others off.
"Natsume, is it really okay for you to trick that grandpa like that?" Misty sidled over.
Each of them was draped with Laramie Clan specialties.
These were all gifts from the old chief, and Misty felt a little guilty.
"Trick how?" Natsume blinked.
"What you said about the League increasing support for this area and so on," Brock spoke up.
"It very likely will," Natsume shrugged.
He had already reported the underground temple.
Once issues at Mt. Moon and the offshore islet were wrapped up and the League had bandwidth, they definitely wouldn't overlook this place.
Although the old chief kept insisting their current life was fine,
from how he brought up his younger brother in the city every three sentences, he clearly wanted to see development here too.
The League could not over-intervene in the Safari Zone.
But setting up a scenic-heritage eco-tourism area around the periphery was no problem.
"By the way, Natsume, did you find any leads on the little Diglett?"
"It headed for the Safari Zone's core," Natsume replied.
While tunneling out of the underground temple, Natsume had run into a pair of Diglett who were also looking for the little one.
He had passed the news to them; presumably the whole Diglett colony was now moving toward the core.
If they were lucky, by the time Natsume reached the Safari Zone he'd see the little Diglett getting caught up in a doubles brawl.
"Safari Zone core? What's different about the core area compared to here?"
"Of course it's different," Brock took out a map and pointed to a marked building on the prairie:
"The core area of the Safari Zone has League personnel assigned to oversee it."
"Then doesn't that mean we can mooch— er, I mean we won't have to camp outdoors again today," Misty paused.
"At this time of year…" Natsume glanced at Brock's map.
"If we go now, we'll make it right in time for the Safari Zone's legal capture season."
"Isn't the Safari Zone off-limits for capturing Pokémon?" Ash was taken aback.
"Yeah, yeah— and poachers get arrested!" Misty craned her neck.
Natsume didn't answer, just shot Honora a look.
She caught on at once and explained:
"Here's the thing: the Safari Zone's purpose is to protect rare Pokémon populations."
"But within the same area, many ordinary species also live."
"Those populations are already huge; under the League's protection, their numbers drop almost only by natural death, and if not trimmed back, they'll multiply to levels the ecosystem can't sustain."
"So at intervals, the League sends people to register species whose numbers exceed the threshold and opens a period of legal capture to reduce them."
Honora blinked, pulled out a big book to double-check, then nodded, now confident.
"That's the gist."
"Awesome!" Ash's eyes lit up.
He had seen so many Pokémon the moment they stepped onto the prairie.
Only, since this was the Safari Zone, he hadn't been able to catch any.
"Let's hurry to that building Brock mentioned and register!"
Ash dashed to the front.
Safari Zone, entrance.
They walked into a large green-roofed building.
Inside, plenty of Trainers were lined up, registering with the staff.
"Let me see which Pokémon are on this year's permissible-capture list…" Brock leaned toward a wall covered with rows of Pokémon portraits.
The others looked over too.
"Tauros… Doduo… Oddish… Beedrill… Rhyhorn… whoa, there's so many!"
Ash exclaimed.
Those were the species overpopulated in the Safari Zone this year; they counted no fewer than eighteen.
"But what if poachers take advantage of this window to poach?" Misty worried.
"Ha ha, don't worry— the Safari Zone has both the means and the muscle!"
An old man with a handlebar mustache and a cowboy hat, dressed like a Western gunslinger, popped out from the side.
"Name's Kaiser, the League-appointed warden in charge of protecting the Safari Zone this year," the old man introduced himself.
"Grandpa Kaiser, what are those 'means' you mentioned?" Ash leaned in, curious.
At that, Kaiser raised one finger:
"First, Trainers entering the Safari Zone may not bring any Pokémon!"
"Huh? Then how are we supposed to catch Pokémon in the Safari Zone?" Ash gaped.
Kaiser smiled slightly and raised a second finger:
"Second, you may only use Safari Balls, and you catch by throwing the ball directly. Each person is limited to thirty, issued free upon ID registration."
As he spoke, Kaiser pointed to the long line not far away:
"They're all here to pick up Safari Balls."
"Just throw and catch… then— then are Safari Balls some super-powered kind of Poké Ball?" Brock blurted in surprise.
For a moment, Ash and Misty also gazed at Kaiser in awe.
"Safari Balls are just painted Poké Balls with a League locator added," Natsume's voice cut in.
"Ahh…" The group deflated a little.
"That would deter some poachers, sure— but what about our safety?" Brock asked suddenly.
If they couldn't bring Pokémon in and were attacked by wild ones, wouldn't that be dangerous?
"Relax, we've got it all arranged. Catching Pokémon inside the Safari Zone is very simple," Kaiser patted his chest.
"Arranged what, exactly?" Seeing his confidence, they were curious.
"Can't say, can't say!" Kaiser shook his head and wouldn't elaborate.
"Natsume, do you know?" They sidled closer and asked him instead.
They really couldn't imagine what method the League had to make Pokémon willing to be caught,
and without battles?
Natsume was looking at some snapshots on the other wall; in one, Kaiser was posing with a Dratini.
Hearing their question, Natsume turned back:
"Obviously they negotiated with the group leaders— the old, weak, sick, and disabled all go retire under human care."
"…"
The mood turned a bit quiet.
Even Ash lost the enthusiasm he'd had coming in.
He'd thought he could have exhilarating battles with all sorts of Pokémon in the Safari Zone.
But they wouldn't even let Pikachu in.
"But don't worry. Some species are so numerous that even taking in every old, weak, sick, and disabled one won't be enough to keep numbers in check."
Natsume added.
Everyone brightened.
"Natsume, which species have the biggest populations?" Ash asked.
"Top of the list is Tauros—"
"Great, I'm going to catch Tauros!"
Before Natsume finished, Ash bolted off— just as his number was called.
"Hey, hey, hey— you can't bring Pikachu inside!"
Kaiser grabbed Ash by the collar.
"Oh— Pikachu, I'm counting on you. And center-parted, make sure you keep an eye on it."
Reluctantly, Ash left both Pikachu at the temporary Pokémon deposit.
"Pika!"
Pikachu waved, indicating it would be just fine.
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