Chapter 36: Before The Blizzard Arrives
The next day, the temperature plummeted, occasionally accompanied by a biting cold wind, and the sky was overcast, devoid of any sunlight.
The residents in the territory walked with hurried steps. Even those with no life experience knew at a glance that a blizzard was coming.
For these past few days, everyone has been working tirelessly at the logging camp.
With everyone’s combined efforts, the construction of the wooden houses is nearing completion, with only a few more left before they are finished.
Lei Wen sat inside the tent and began issuing commands to Elif.
“Elif, tell everyone to speed up. How has the food gathering been these past few days?”
Elif replied, “Besides the black bread, white bread, ham, and smoked meat we already had in storage, everyone in the territory has gathered a lot of berries and wild berries these past few days.”
“Moreover, with the help of Your Highness’s Dratini and Snowrunt, we have stored a large amount of frozen fish in the warehouse. Some people are also using smoking to process these fish, to extend their storage time as much as possible.”
“The food currently stored is more than enough to get us through this winter.”
“That’s good.” Hearing this, Lei Wen couldn’t help but breathe a sigh of relief.
“The temperature has dropped again. Since we have enough food, have the gathering team help collect firewood. Before the blizzard arrives, we must gather enough firewood for warmth.”
“Yes, Your Highness!”
As for Fire Type Pokémon, the only powerful Ninetales nearby, their strength was insufficient, so they had to temporarily give up.
As for other Pokémon, they would have to wait until winter ends and spring arrives before searching for them.
Lei Wen formulated plans in his mind as he spoke:
“Also, have Lila prepare some herbs to treat frostbite, fever, and colds, to prevent some people from getting sick due to the cold.”
“Understood, Your Highness!” Elif responded.
Seeing that Lei Wen had finished giving his orders, he then hastily left the tent to carry them out.
“Poffin…”
Five Poffins huddled together in front of the tent, looking worriedly at the sky outside.
Pokémon’s senses are always more acute than humans’, and they felt the changes in their environment immediately.
At this moment, all five little ones showed expressions of worry and concern.
“Poffin…”
The Poffins were very panicked.
According to their usual habits, before winter, they would prepare a large amount of food to safely get through the winter.
But this winter was special; their homes had been cut down, and after observing for these past few days, they had never seen Lei Wen bring food home from outside.
One Poffin couldn’t help but try to ask Lei Wen, but it gave up because Lei Wen couldn’t understand them.
This human, wouldn’t he have the habit of storing food?
The Poffins were very panicked.
“Poffin!” If that were the case, wouldn’t they go hungry?
The five Poffins grew more worried the more they thought about it. Suddenly, one of the Poffins remembered something.
“Poffin!”
Didn’t they gather a lot of Chestnuts, pine nuts, and berries in the forest during autumn?
Another Poffin also remembered, “Poffin!”
It remembered that they had hidden this food in a cave together!
After they mentioned it, the other Poffins also recalled it.
They immediately ran out of the tent and rushed towards the cave.
Before the blizzard arrived, they had to transport those Chestnuts, pine nuts, and berries back!
And so, under Lei Wen’s stunned gaze, the five Poffins ran out, and their figures soon disappeared.
Lei Wen: “?”
“What are they doing?” Lei Wen couldn’t help but ask Dratini.
“Woof…” Dratini replied.
Just then, someone outside the tent requested an audience.
Immediately after, a short-haired girl with freckles on her face walked in, looking very worried.
Lei Wen recognized her at a glance.
Megan, the girl he had previously sent to raise the six Magikarp.
“What’s wrong, Megan?” Lei Wen asked.
“Prince Lei Wen…” Megan said hesitantly, “The weather has been too cold these past few days, and the surface of that pond freezes over every day. I’m a bit worried the Magikarp will get cold, so I wanted to ask you if I could take them home to raise them and bring them back to the pond after winter!”
Came for the Magikarp? Lei Wen raised an eyebrow, somewhat surprised.
It seemed that after this period of interaction, this girl had grown fond of the six Magikarp!
However, Megan seemed a bit lacking in common sense. Although lakes freeze over in winter, the water temperature at the bottom of the lake remains relatively stable.
The Magikarp would not be affected at all.
But Lei Wen was very happy to see the citizens of the territory develop special feelings for Pokémon, so he nodded and agreed:
“Of course, no problem. However, they can’t be out of the water for too long.”
Seeing Lei Wen agree, Megan was very happy, “Yes, yes, I know! My brother helped me make six water tanks out of wood, so the Magikarp can stay there!”
Megan’s family had received a wooden house a few days ago, and she was now living there with her brother Chris.
“Alright, in that case, I’ll entrust the Magikarp to your care.” Lei Wen nodded.
“Thank you very much! Prince Lei Wen!” Megan bowed gratefully.
Lei Wen smiled and watched Megan turn to leave.
Undoubtedly, this was a good start.
Perhaps one day, those six Magikarp could evolve into Gyarados under Megan’s care.
After all, it was quite normal for such miracles to happen in the Pokémon World.
A while later, the Poffins still hadn’t returned.
Lei Wen couldn’t help but stand up, intending to go out and look for them.
But when he and Dratini arrived at the place where the Poffins were found, Dratini seemed to sense something and turned to look in a certain direction.
“Woof?”
“What is it, Dratini?” Lei Wen, who was searching for the Poffins, looked in the direction Dratini was gazing.
The next second, he discovered a familiar figure behind a tree.
It was… a Snivy?
Lei Wen was slightly taken aback.
Seeing that he had been discovered, the Snivy immediately tried to turn and flee.
Seeing this, Lei Wen quickly called out, “Wait, Snivy!”
The Snivy stopped, turning its head to look back with its profile.
Lei Wen quickly ran towards the Snivy, saying as he ran:
“Snivy, the Poffins told me that you are also a Pokémon living in this area. I’m very sorry that we destroyed your home.”
“But a blizzard is coming soon, and it will be very dangerous for you to stay outside.”
Especially since Snivy is a Grass Type Pokémon, although it doesn’t need to hibernate, it will still be affected by the environment and temperature in winter, falling into a weakened state.
“So, would you like to join our territory and spend this winter with us?” Lei Wen asked. “Next spring, I can also help you plant a berry forest as your new home. How about it, Snivy?”
The Snivy was slightly startled. It calmly looked back at Lei Wen, then agilely disappeared into the woods.
Lei Wen: “…” It ran away again.
So what did this Snivy mean?
It ran away when it saw him, but it kept appearing around them.
Could its personality be tsundere?
