But perhaps, on this day, heaven was on his side.
Wang Jian was crouched at the edge of the Venusaur territory, pondering a solution, while the Kecleon stood guard nearby. As he was deep in thought, the Kecleon suddenly gave him a warning signal.
Seeing the Kecleon approach, Wang Jian asked what was wrong. The Kecleon told him it had spotted a Bulbasaur over there, and that this was the same one it had mentioned before.
Hearing this, Wang Jian’s eyes lit up. This was truly a golden opportunity from the heavens. He had been worrying about how to get in and catch that Bulbasaur, and now it had come to him on its own. This was luck that couldn’t be stopped.
Without wasting any time, he immediately told the Kecleon to go catch the Bulbasaur itself, deciding not to interfere and risk messing things up. He also handed the Kecleon a scent-eliminating potion, instructing it to knock the Bulbasaur out after capture, use the potion to remove any traces of scent, and then hurry back.
Meanwhile, the Bulbasaur was full of curiosity. It had been born not long ago and had always stayed within the territory, never allowed to leave. Today, using the game of hide-and-seek as an excuse, it had snuck out of the territory—not just to avoid being found, but also to see the outside world.
The elder Venusaur often told it stories from its own past. Those tales made the Bulbasaur’s blood race with excitement, and it longed to venture out and explore, but it was never permitted. With no other choice, it seized this chance to sneak a peek.
Deep down, it knew it wouldn’t have long to wander. Sooner or later, the Venusaur tasked with watching over it would find it. So, it made the most of this time to take a good look around.
As the Bulbasaur curiously roamed the outside area, it felt there wasn’t much difference from the territory. What was there to yearn for out here? It was all just forest—how different could it be?
Just then, the Kecleon, invisible, crept up behind the Bulbasaur. Perhaps due to the power of some mythical beast crystal, the Bulbasaur kept feeling like something was behind it. It turned its head repeatedly, but saw nothing.
The first time it looked back, it startled the Kecleon, who thought it had been discovered. But the Bulbasaur only glanced a few times before turning away. “Just a false alarm,” the Kecleon thought to itself.
Even though the Bulbasaur kept looking back afterward, its lack of experience made it dismiss the feeling as an illusion, so it paid no mind. A Pokémon that had survived in the forest for years would have trusted its instincts over its eyes.
But just as the Bulbasaur began to feel uneasy, a sudden gust of wind swept in. Before it could react, it felt something strike its head, and then—nothing. It lost consciousness and collapsed to the ground.
Judging by the familiar move, the Kecleon had done this plenty of times before. It quickly pulled out a Poké Ball, trying to capture the Bulbasaur, but for some reason, the ball wouldn’t work. The Kecleon was baffled, unsure why it couldn’t be caught—this wasn’t the reaction of a Pokémon already claimed by another ball.
With no time to dwell on it, and thankfully Wang Jian had given it a large sack just in case, the Kecleon hastily stuffed the Bulbasaur inside. Slinging the sack over its back, it used the scent-eliminating potion to erase its own smell before making a quick getaway.
As it fled, it heard the heavy footsteps of many Pokémon not far off—likely the two Venusaur leading some Ivysaur in search of the missing Bulbasaur. The Kecleon didn’t linger, quickly turning invisible and returning to Wang Jian.
Seeing the Kecleon return with the Bulbasaur in the sack, Wang Jian’s face broke into a satisfied smile. He knew this success meant he was one step closer to his goal of retiring.
Drawing on years of bounty hunter experience, Wang Jian carefully examined the Bulbasaur. Though young, its form and the aura it emitted told him its potential was at least blue-grade. He had suspected as much, but confirming it with the real thing—and finding the quality even higher than expected—put his mind at ease. Then came boundless joy.
But just as Wang Jian was celebrating, the Kecleon’s report made his smile freeze. The Poké Ball couldn’t capture the Bulbasaur—this was unprecedented. Frowning, Wang Jian knew he had to figure out why.
He inspected the Bulbasaur thoroughly but found nothing unusual, which only deepened his confusion. “Could it be because of the Bulbasaur’s uniqueness?” he muttered to himself. Deciding to set the issue aside for now, he focused on securing the Bulbasaur first, planning to find a solution later.
With the Venusaur outside already aware of the Bulbasaur’s disappearance, Wang Jian couldn’t risk going out. He found a hidden spot to stash the Bulbasaur. Knowing it might try to escape out of fear and unease once it woke up, he took measures to calm it. He placed some of its favorite food nearby, hoping it would feel reassured.
As night fell, Wang Jian and the Kecleon kept a silent vigil beside the Bulbasaur. They knew the Pokémon of the Venusaur territory wouldn’t give up easily—they’d search for the Bulbasaur’s whereabouts. So they had to stay alert, ready for any crisis.
Just then, a faint sound drifted from afar, like someone whispering. Wang Jian and the Kecleon tensed up, quietly creeping toward the source to investigate. As the sound grew closer, they saw a group of Ivysaur searching for the Bulbasaur. They didn’t seem to notice Wang Jian and the Kecleon, focused solely on their hunt.
Time passed, and the Ivysaur drew nearer to the Bulbasaur’s hiding spot. Wang Jian and the Kecleon followed cautiously, careful not to alarm them or reveal the Bulbasaur’s location.
Suddenly, the Bulbasaur woke up. It felt a pang of unease, sensing other Pokémon nearby. Slowly rising, it looked around warily.
Wang Jian and the Kecleon immediately grasped the gravity of the situation. If the Bulbasaur ran, all their efforts would be wasted. They had to act fast to stop it.
Wang Jian signaled the Kecleon to calm the Bulbasaur while he dealt with the approaching Ivysaur. Dividing their tasks, they hoped to resolve the crisis without causing a commotion.