Chapter 498: Another Chieftain
Amani and her team packed up quickly. They had actually finished their sample collection at the oasis that morning and had just been waiting for Arthur and Skarner to return. Before leaving, Arthur made a point of having Greninja say goodbye to the Exeggutor. Even if it was a homebody, a powerful one still deserved respect.
Arthur also noticed that the Krookodile Chieftain had kept its distance from the spring ever since they arrived at the oasis. He immediately understood: the Chieftain knew about the lazy giant's existence. It was likely that because the Exeggutor was so reclusive, it didn't care whether its neighbors were Krookodile or Scrafty, as long as the oasis didn't move. So, they had coexisted peacefully.
Afterward, the three vehicles regrouped, and the team set off once more. They traveled for another two days and nights. Amani and her team continued to collect samples and data along the way, and the territories of the Seven Chieftains were quite far apart. Not all areas of the desert were suitable for large creatures to survive; in fact, the valuable plots of land were few and far between.
Many of the empty spaces between the Chieftains' territories were just worthless stretches of sand, where you could travel for hundreds of miles without seeing a single plant, only the unchanging yellow sand and the scorching sun.
It wasn't until the morning of the third day that the team finally reached the territory of another of the Seven Chieftains: the Nidoking.
Before them lay a vast expanse of scattered oases, large and small, stretching as far as the eye could see. Compared to the endless yellow sand they had been traveling through, this sprawling network of oases was like a different world. This was the most valuable piece of land in the entire region, so it was no surprise that it was occupied by one of the Seven Chieftains' tribes.
Compared to the camel ranch that the Krookodile tribe occupied, this oasis was undoubtedly more valuable. So, Arthur had no doubt: "It seems the Nidoking is stronger than you."
The Krookodile Chieftain was furious at the remark, but it couldn't argue. Besides, Arthur had stated it as a fact, not a question. In other words, he had already confirmed the answer before the Chieftain had a chance to respond.
As they approached the oasis, Arthur saw that the Nido tribe used the same method as their camp: they had arranged a circle of Cacturne and Maractus to take root, serving as a dust barrier and soil stabilizer. The cacti also acted as a warning system. The moment Arthur's vehicle got close, the Maractus on the perimeter began to chime their bells, alerting the Pokémon inside the oasis to their arrival. These wild cacti hadn't been selectively bred by humans, so they had a variety of abilities. The one closest to them was shaking frantically in the sunlight, a clear sign that it had the Chlorophyll ability.
A short while later, several Nidoking and Nidoqueen emerged from the oasis. The Nido family was not native to the desert; their natural habitat was the plains. Arthur guessed that this particular tribe had ended up in the Ashen Desert due to human interference.
Compared to the Nidoking he had seen on the professional stage, the ones in the desert had rougher skin, and the keratin plates on their bodies were severely faded. The purple on their backs and bodies was very light, almost white, but their fangs and claws were exceptionally large. In a way, this was a kind of regional variant.
Seeing the Krookodile Chieftain, the welcoming party of Nidoking and Nidoqueen immediately grew wary and let out threatening roars. The Pokémon of the desert were not united, and the relationship between the Seven Chieftains was far from friendly. This oasis had been taken by the Nido tribe from the previous Chieftain, who had since been removed from the list. Seeing another Chieftain arrive unannounced, their instincts kicked in. One of the Nidoking roared and summoned a Sigilyph, sending it back to deliver a message. The other Nidoking and Nidoqueen blocked the entrance to the oasis, sent their young away, and watched Arthur's group with caution.
"Will this be dangerous?" Amani asked Arthur nervously.
"It should be fine." As he said this, Arthur subconsciously glanced at the Krookodile Chieftain, expecting the great crocodile to put on a show of force. But he found that the Chieftain was looking at him.
Arthur narrowed his eyes and shot it a look of disdain. You're a Chieftain. Why are you looking at me at a time like this?
But the Krookodile species was shameless to its core. The Chieftain just rolled its eyes. "You're the one who wanted to come. You handle it."
Arthur: "..."
A short while later, the Nidoking Chieftain finally appeared. It was shorter than the Krookodile Chieftain; even with its horn, it was only about eight and a half feet tall, not much larger than its kin. But its presence was far more commanding than the shameless great crocodile's.
However, as it faced Arthur, it remained cautious. "Human, state your purpose."
Amani, in the back, was surprised. The Nidoking had appeared and immediately addressed Arthur, not the other Chieftain who had accompanied them. This only deepened her impression of the young team leader's inscrutability.
Arthur simply explained their purpose. Through the Pokémon translation, the Nidoking's eyes lit up. "ROAR!" Its subsequent roars were urgent and desperate.
It was just as the Krookodile Chieftain had said: a talented young Pokémon had also been kidnapped from this territory. And the one who had been taken was a Nidoking.
This made Arthur both relieved that the negotiation was going smoothly and alarmed. This poaching ring had actually targeted multiple Chieftain tribes at the same time. Things were getting more and more serious.
The Nidoking Chieftain then invited them into the oasis. The Chlorophyll Maractus on the perimeter finally stopped its frantic, high-frequency swaying.
Arthur first spoke to Amani. "You all can start collecting samples in the oasis. I'm going to discuss some things with the Chieftain."
"Alright." Amani readily agreed.
Having entered the territories of two of the Seven Chieftains in such a short time, their expedition had already achieved historic results, filling in large blank spots on their survey maps. Amani was now completely in awe of the doctor's judgment. Arthur's ability as a leader was simply breathtaking. So, she didn't care what he was planning to discuss with the Chieftains. She was already more than satisfied.
After Amani and the research team left, Arthur, Skarner, the Sandslash, and the Krookodile Chieftain followed the Nidoking to the back of the oasis. They exchanged a great deal of information along the way. It was clear the Nidoking Chieftain was also very anxious. The kidnapped Nidoking was also a rising star in their tribe, and the Chieftain was just as worried as the great crocodile.
A short while later, they arrived at another, smaller oasis across a stretch of sand. The scene before them was one of complete devastation. There were signs of a battle everywhere.
The Nidoking Chieftain then spoke. "ROAR, ROAR."
This was the place where its young kinsman had been taken by force just a short while ago.
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