The bees, who had been busily building their hive, immediately grew restless upon notig the presence of an unfamiliar figure.

  Some hurriedly flew back toward the hive, while others formed a defensive wall in front of Natsume, cautiously the stranger.

  Strictly speaking, they were the intruders here.

  But for wild Pokémon, such distinight not eve.

  “Hello, bee. My name is Natsume.”

  “I’m the owner of this farm.”

  Pointing to the farm behind him, Natsume spoke with a smile.

  As the energy of the Viridian Forest coursed through his body, a unique aura of harmoly spread outward.

  The tension among the bee eased slightly.

  Although they didly rush up to ask for a hug, they no longer seemed on the verge of biting him with Bug Bite—one of the few moves bee could learn.

  bee, as a species, was retively weak. With a base stat total barely over 200 and a move pool limited to less than ten, even Magikarp might mock them as amateurs.

  When a bee evolves into Vespiquen, though...

  Well, it’s still just okay.

  Despite det defenses, its Bug/Flying typing es with multiple weaknesses, including a quadruple weako Rock. At best, it’s passable.

  Most of the time, it serves as a utility Pokémoing hazards like Toxic Spikes.

  A few braver bees cautiously approached Natsume, seemingly testing his iions.

  At the slightest movement from Natsume, they quickly fled back, giving him no ce to get closer.

  A sharp buzzing echoed through the air.

  As if receiving a and, the bee dispersed, creating a path as if weling their queen.

  And ihey were. In a bee y, there was only one queen: Vespiquen.

  The Vespiquen’s appearance resembled a regal figure in a voluminous gown.

  Her two pairs of small i wings seemed far too tiny to support her imposing form.

  “Hello, Vespiquen.”

  Faced with the leader of the swarm, Natsume remained rexed.

  This is the fidence bestowed by the miraculous Hisuian superhuman physique—or so he liked to think.

  If they both traded punches, it wasn’t clear who would end up on the ground.

  After introdug himself and the farm, Natsume extended an invitation to Vespiquen.

  “Would you like to join the farm?”

  Her crimson eyes reflected Natsume’s image as she pondered his offer.

  From the start, Vespiquen didn’t have much of a choice.

  The farm was the only area in the viity with an ideal enviro.

  There was an almost imperceptible energy lingering in the air. After just two days, Vespique her fatigue from leading the y on a long journey dissipate signifitly.

  The stant exhaustion that had her on the brink of colpse vanished pletely.

  So yes, she was ined to stay.

  But if not here, where else could she go?

  Abandon the fledgling hive, take the y, and tinue searg for another potential home?

  That was an absurd idea.

  Leaving wasn’t an option, so why not stay?

  Besides, she couldn’t win in a fight.

  Vespiquen g Natsume’s Persian and Butterfree, her thoughts heavy with resignation.

  Yesterday, she had sent her bee to secretly scout the farm.

  The results were clear: if it came to a battle, her y would be crushed in no time.

  The Vespiquen had seen a group of Furret repeatedly charging at incredible speeds. Leading them ink Furret, so fast her keen Bug-type eyes almost couldn’t follow.

  She had also witnessed Butterfree showg its devastating Sor Beam, chilling her heart.

  Its subsequent skill demonstrations only made Vespiqueion her very existence.

  Aren’t we both Bug-types?

  Why does it feel like y-type is on airely different level?

  How did you learn all those moves? Could you teach me?

  (Zorua, meanwhile, gave a smug thumbs-up and happily munched on an energy pokéblock from Butterfree.)

  “I’ll join!”

  Without hesitation, Vespiquen followed her instincts.

  Pokémon never yield!

  ...Uhere’s free food and shelter.

  These terms were simply too good to refuse.

  Pg her hand in Natsume’s, Vespiquen’s eyes shoh determination, filled with longing for the promised food and fort.

  “I’ll jht now!”

  “Ah? Oh, okay.”

  Vespiquen’s decisiveness left Natsume momentarily stunned.

  “That was... quick.”

  Had she already made up her mind beforehand?

  Still, a peaceful resolution was always wele.

  After all, Natsume sidered himself a pacifist—at least when unprovoked.

  “Wele to the farm, Vespiquen.”

  With practiced ease, Natsume pleted the process of recruiting Vespiquen.

  The queeended her hand again—not to shake it but to eagerly accept another pokéblock.

  The moment she tasted it, her eyes lit up.

  “Wow, do all city Pokémo like this?”

  The delectable treat left her envious.

  From now on, she was determio enjoy the fihings in life!

  Persian and Butterfree exged gnces from their spot by Natsume’s feet.

  “No battle today?”

  How surprising.

  Still, it wasn’t a bad thing.

  “Later, I’ll expand the feward slightly,” Natsume said.

  “That way, your hive will be included within the farm’s boundaries.”

  Initially, Natsume had po relocate the hive he Berry Grove.

  But since Vespiquen’s hive was already partially structed, he couldn’t realistically move it intact. Expanding the fence was the simpler solution.

  Besides, the area was already part of the farm, so it wasn’t teically a viotion.

  ---

  On a nearby hillside, a humanoid Pokémon silently observed Natsume.

  It could sehat he wasn’t a bad person and harbored a sincere love for Pokémon.

  A pure, selfless affe with no ulterior motives.

  “Galde,” it murmured.

  Turning away, the Galde disappeared from the hillside in an instant, preparing to discuss matters with its sister.

  At the same time, Natsume turoward the hill, sensing something unusual.

  His gaze found only ay slope.

  “An illusion?”

  “No, there was definitely a Pokémon watg just now.”

  Natsume was certain of it.

  Gcell