The area where Dalton had been sighted was quite far from Julian's location. It took Metagross over an hour of flying to reach the region.

  Desding from the sky, Julian nded right in the middle of a Heracross territory. A dozen or so Heracross were ging to maple trees, happily feasting on the sweet maple syrup seeping from the trunks.

  This region was dominated by maple trees, whose trunks produced a sap-like syrup loved by many Bug-type Pokémon.

  Heracross were generally mild-mannered Pokémon—as long as their mealtime wasn’t disturbed.

  However, Julian aagross had just made an imposing, sky-high entranding directly in the heart of their territory during their feeding time.

  As one of the str-type Pokémon, Heracross were highly sought after by Bug-type trainers.

  The White Mountain Range had plenty of Heracross poputions, thanks to its vast maple forests. Many trainers ventured here specifically to capture or trade Heracross.

  Retly, one of the Heracross in this group had been captured by a human with nothing more than a jar of honey. ting this year aloen of their kind had been taken by humans, while o new Heracross had been born.

  'Dammit, we’re at a loss here!'

  The Heracross leader was furious. To calm its anger, it sucked harder on the maple syrup seeping from a nearby tree.

  As the sweet syrup flowed into its mouth, the leader felt its anger slowly melt away.

  Julian watched the Heracross, who were now blissfully focused on their meal despite his uninvited presence.

  No wohese Pokémon were known as some of the easiest to capture.

  When it came to fighting spirit, even Caterpie put up a better show.

  uzzled Julian even more was the sudden ge in one particur Heracross. Just moments ago, its Aura had fred with anger wheagross prepared to strike it down.

  But now, that same Heracross, standing about a hundred meters away, looked positively joyful as it sipped on syrup.

  "Ahem, excuse me, I just o ask something—"

  The region was about the size of half a city. Even knowing Dalton was somewhere in the area, finding him wouldn’t be an easy task.

  He o ask the locals—both human and Pokémon—for information.

  The Heracross tio savor their maple syrup, entirely uned about the human trespasser. It wasn’t the first time this had happened, after all.

  Whenever a humaered their territory, they usually lost one or two members of their group.

  But it wasn’t a big deal—the fewer members there were, the more maple trees the rest could cim for themselves.

  The Heracross were ign him!

  The atmosphere grew a bit awkward.

  Metagross g Julian and waved one of its arms, as if suggesting, 'How about we beat them up a little, then have a chat?'

  It wasn’t a bad idea, but Julian waved it off, signaling that he was a civilized man.

  Just then, the Heracross leader, who had been enjoying its syrup, suddenly froze. A tantalizingly sweet aroma far more entig than maple syrup had wafted into its nose.

  The st was absolutely divier than anything it had ever smelled—and it was ing from behind.

  As the leader turs head, every other Heracross perched on the maple trees followed suit.

  Their eyes glowed red with an intense hunger as they locked onto the source of the st: the Julian was holding.

  Tri-Honey: The ultimate favorite of all Heracross, without exception.

  Seeing the swarm of Heracross rushing toward him, Julian immediately uood their i: they were ing to snatch it!

  “Metagross, block them!”

  Metagross stepped in front of Julian. Every Heracross that tried to fly past was swatted away with a single punch.

  Though Metagross held back, the sheer force of its strikes sent eae tumbling.

  However, the Heracross didn’t give up. They kept flying baly to be punched away again.

  After several rounds of this, the Heracross finally realized that as long as Metagross was guarding Julian, there was no ce they’d get their cws on that Tri-Honey.

  Julian cleared his throat. “Ahem, listen up, I have something to say.”

  He walked forward, holding the of Tri-Hohe Heracross stared at his hand, their gazes glued to the tainer. But between the bruises on their faces and the imposing presenetagross, they didn’t dare to act rashly.

  “Here, have a taste. But remember, only one dip each, and don’t get greedy.”

  Julian fully opehe , releasing a wave of sweethat filled the forest air. The st intensified, radiating like a golden aura.

  Uhe sunlight filtering through the trees, the golden Tri-Honey shimmered in its gss jar, glinting like a diamond—or at least, that’s how it appeared to the Heracross.

  With Metagross maintaining order, none of the Heracross dared to break ranks. They formed a line, each taking turn to dip a single finger into the honey.

  Tri-Honey did exist in the White Mountain Range, but it was only found on the far side of the range, nowhere his area. None of these Heracross had ever tasted it before.

  As each Heracross licked the honey from its finger, an explosion of sweetness filled their senses, electrifying their taste buds and resonating deep into their very souls.

  Julian wasn’t sure if he was imagining it, but he could’ve sworn he saw beams of light radiating from their eyes, noses, and mouths.

  In that moment, the Heracross all shared a single regret: 'Why are my fingers so small?'

  After finishing their taste, the Heracross stood in pce, reliving the fvor in their minds.

  When the Heracross opeheir eyes, all of them stared expetly at Julian. The jar of Tri-Honey in his hand was y, but traces of the golden hoill g to the sides and bottom.

  Julian casually tossed the empty jar, and in the instant, the Heracross swarm dashed toward it.

  At that moment, aandiween a Heracross and the jar became a mortal enemy.

  'What’s that? You say you’re my father? Sorry, I have no father'

  After a chaotic scuffle, the Heracross leader emerged victorious, clutg the jar with its superior strength.

  Just as it was about to savor the remnants of honey, Julian suddenly pulled out another jar of Tri-Hohis one pletely full.

  And then he pulled out another.

  And another.

  In total, Julian revealed five jars of Tri-Honey.

  “Meta!~”

  The momeagross’s steady voice echoed through the forest, the Heracross, who had been on the verge of losing their minds over the honey, froze. The dull ache on their cheeks remihem of their earlier defeat, and their reasourned.

  Julian stepped forward, holding up photos of three individuals: Dalton, Luis, and Shen.

  “Help me find him—or them.”

  Julian said, showing the photos to the Heracross leader.

  Dalton was likely still somewhere in the area, and Luis and Shen might be here too. Searg alone would be like looking for a needle in a haystack, relying on sheer luck.

  The solution was simple—recruit help.

  And in front of him stood the perfect didates: a group of gluttonous, mild-mannered, and easy-to-handle Heracross.

  *****

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