Pokemon: Bounty Hunter Alex

Chapter 168: Chapter 168. Sprout Tower

Watching the Slowpokes wander freely through the town certainly caught Alex’s attention. It almost felt like he had stepped into the anime version of the Pokémon world, where everything was sunshine and rainbows and even the villains never seemed to face any lasting consequences.

Curious, he decided to ask a local about it.

”What’s with all these Slowpokes?”

”Ah, you’re new around here,” the man said. ”Well, a few decades back, Team Rocket showed up and started chopping off their tails to sell. A trainer stepped in, got rid of them, and saved the Slowpokes. One of them eventually evolved into a Slowking and reached Champion rank. Now, he watches over the Slowpokes here, making sure they don’t act purely on instinct like wild Pokémon.”

”Have they ever caused any trouble?”

”No, not really. Annoying sometimes when they block the roads while sleeping, but they’ve never been dangerous.”

”What about the human supremacists? Are they active around here?”

”Those idiots started spreading nonsense about getting rid of all Pokémon. At first, people tolerated them, but then they picked a fight with the Slowpokes. Bugsy ran them out of town not long after. Said there’s no place here for views like that.”

Alex nodded. ”That’s better than what’s been happening in Kanto.”

”Yeah, I heard about those riots. People are losing it over there.”

”So... can you catch these Slowpokes?”

”You gotta bribe them first,” the man said with a shrug.

”I’m surprised no one’s been poaching them.”

”That’s where Slowking comes in,” the man explained. ”He can tell when someone’s after the Slowpokes. Has them run from anyone with bad intentions. Once we see the Slowpokes avoiding someone, we usually have that person arrested right away. Bugsy even had to fight off a group of trainers not too long ago.”

”Well, thanks for the info.”

”Sure thing.”

Alex remained slightly suspicious of the whole situation. He wasn’t sure if it was simple pessimism or creeping paranoia, but something about it didn’t sit right with him. Still, it wasn’t his problem.

He decided to leave it alone and teleported back to Violet City to get some rest.

Early the next morning, he chose to take the day off instead of heading to Ilex Forest to set up a teleportation point or diving back into Dark Cave. He figured both he and his Pokémon deserved a break after all the constant traveling.

He left his Pokémon to frolic in the yard of the house they were renting, then changed into casual clothes before going for a walk with his entourage. This included Aegislash, his ever-loyal guard; Ditto, his watch; Zoroark, his Pikachu; and Espeon, who had a bit of separation anxiety.

As Alex wandered through Violet City, he found himself admiring the architecture and the deep respect the city held for its history. Though he was never one for tradition or the past, he could still appreciate the beauty and atmosphere of the place.

His first and likely only stop was Sprout Tower, a historic landmark open to tourists who wished to witness its quiet majesty.

Entirely constructed from wood, the tower had withstood the passage of time and the harshness of the elements, gently swaying with the wind. It stood as a testament to the ingenuity of its builders, a marvel of engineering that reflected both craftsmanship and harmony with nature.

Upon entering the first floor, Alex was immediately ushered into a crowd gathered for a public lecture given by a monk.

”Welcome, travelers. You stand within Sprout Tower, a place not only of history but of philosophy. Before you is the Heartwood Pillar, the living spine of this tower. It sways with the wind, not in weakness, but in wisdom.”

”In this world, we are taught to stand firm, to resist, to overcome. And yet, what happens to the unbending tree in a storm? It snaps. What happens to the reed that yields? It survives. This is not a call to submission, but a reminder: strength is not the same as rigidity. True strength lies in knowing when to bend, when to adapt, and when to stand still.”

”To live with nature and Pokémon is to live among forces far greater than ourselves. The mountain does not argue with the wind. The river does not fight the rocks. It flows around them. This is the way of balance. The Heartwood moves because it must, yet its roots are buried deep in the earth. That is the lesson. We do not abandon our principles, but we learn to live with the world, not against it.”

”Consider Pokémon. They are not like us. They are wild, instinctive, unfiltered by civilization. Yet they are not lesser for it. They are pure in purpose. When a Growlithe defends its pack, when a Pidgeotto guards its nest, it does so with a fire we often forget. We do not tame Pokémon to erase this nature. We walk beside them to understand it. We earn their respect not by dominance, but by showing we belong in the same world.”

”To live in harmony with Pokémon is to live on their terms as much as ours. They are not decorations for our battles or tools to project our will. They are companions forged in a world where every day is a test of survival. Just as nature is not gentle, Pokémon are not docile. But both can be understood. Respected. Walk through the forest not to conquer it, but to feel the rhythm of its breath. Train with your Pokémon not to control them, but to grow together in strength and spirit.”

”Balance does not mean perfection. It means honesty. We falter. We fall. But if our roots are strong, if our foundation is guided by compassion, by patience, by humility, then we can always rise again. Like the Bellsprout for which this tower is named, we grow upward toward the sun, but we never forget the soil that holds us.”

”So remember this as you leave today. Be like the tower, planted firmly yet never still. Move with the world. Listen to its rhythm. Respect its wildness. And in return, you will find your place within it, alongside the Pokémon who live by the same truth.”

”Thank you for listening.”

Alex took a moment to reflect on the monk’s words before nodding. As an MMA fighter, he understood the balance between flexibility and resilience. Rolling with the punches was just as important as standing firm and trading blows. Specializing in only one approach left openings in your defense. Being adaptable was necessary to cover those gaps.

When it came to the philosophy of treating nature and Pokémon with respect, Alex agreed wholeheartedly. Pokémon had the potential to be just as intelligent as humans, if not more. Their capacity for growth, both physical and mental, went far beyond the limitations humans were bound by. Because of this, they could not be treated as mere pets or tools.

They were companions and equals, each with a role to play just as their trainers did. Pokémon could think independently and even reject commands despite a strong bond. That was why Alex believed it was necessary to establish a clear hierarchy between himself and his team. Without structure, they might act on impulse and compromise the mission or battle.

It might seem contradictory, but Alex saw it in the same light as military structure. Soldiers are trained to follow orders without hesitation, not because they lack intelligence, but because unity and discipline are essential in combat. The chain of command keeps a group functioning as a single unit, preventing confusion or hesitation when it matters most.

In Alex’s view, Pokémon had to be treated the same way. Without structure, their individuality could disrupt teamwork and create dangerous flaws in the middle of battle.

Outside of combat, each Pokémon was their own person and deserved to be treated with respect. That was why Alex insisted on hiring a masseuse, a chef, and a breeder. It allowed both him and his Pokémon to enjoy the comforts and care they had earned through rigorous training and hard-fought battles.

”You understand the teachings?” asked an old monk standing beside Alex.

Alex had sensed the monk approach during the lecture but hadn’t paid him much attention.

”I respect Pokémon, their power, and their intelligence. In many cases, they surpass humans when given the time and resources to grow,” Alex said.

”That is one part of it,” the monk replied with a knowing nod. ”But yes, you understand. I can see it in your companions. You treat them with respect, and they return that sentiment. The bond you share is strong.”

”Your bond with this one in particular is stronger,” the old monk said as he pointed to the Pikachu on Alex’s shoulder, while his eyes looked to the Zoroark hidden beside Alex.

”I have a talent for Dark types,” Alex admitted without hesitation.

The monk was old and likely someone who understood the deeper truths of the world better than most, so there was no point in hiding it.

”Yes, but it remains untrained,” the monk said thoughtfully. ”You are like a murky pond. Your energies swirl and mingle without clarity or direction. Still waters reflect the self, but yours are clouded. If you wish to understand yourself, you must learn to still the chaos. Meditate. Look inward. Find yourself within the pond.”

”Can you be more specific?” Alex asked with interest.

”Come with me.”

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