When Leon saw the Pokémon trying to help push the carts earlier, a thought suddenly struck him.
If the weaker Pokémon couldn't help much, then why not find some stronger ones to assist?
So he took out the Honey he had obtained and asked Scyther to search deeper in the forest for strong Pokémon willing to help, with the Honey as payment.
Scyther and the others didn't disappoint him. They actually managed to find Heracross.
The three Heracross didn't approach them directly but kept some distance, their eyes still showing traces of wariness.
When they heard it was about helping humans transport goods, they initially refused.
But the temptation of Honey was too great. After repeated persuasion from the two Pokémon, they finally agreed to come take a look.
Leon also noticed their caution. He took the Honey from Bounsweet's head, then pulled out a few bags of Pokémon food and slowly walked toward the Heracross.
"We mean no harm. We just want to ask for your help transporting some lumber. This jar of Honey and these food items will be your payment."
"If you're unsure, you can ask the other Pokémon here. They can vouch for us."
The Heracross looked at the surrounding Pokémon, then at the Honey in Leon's hands, and finally nodded in agreement.
Meanwhile, the players around them were staring intently at the Heracross, especially the three male players, their eyes practically glowing.
What boy hadn't played with beetles like stag beetles when they were kids? Seeing such a cool Heracross now had them beyond excited.
"Quit standing around. There's rope on the carts. Tie it around the Heracross."
At Leon's reminder, the players snapped out of it and quickly flipped the carts over, tying the ropes around the three Heracross.
"Two of you stay here to keep cutting trees. The other three, each hold onto a cart and follow me back to the territory."
"Who's going back?"
"Does it matter? We'll have to come back anyway. One trip won't be enough to move all this lumber. We can switch shifts later."
After discussing, the players decided to let Leaf and the two female players go back first.
Once they were ready, Leon turned to Scyther and instructed,
"I'm heading back first. Stay here and protect them, then return to the territory with them tonight."
"Scy!"
"Let's go!"
The three Heracross bent their hind legs slightly, their wings vibrating faintly, before shooting forward like arrows.
The remaining players were left standing there, looking at each other in confusion.
"What are you waiting for? Hurry up and chase after them!"
Leon shook his head helplessly, then picked up Bounsweet and ran after them.
"Damn, they're that strong? And they can run too?"
"Do they even know the way? They're just charging ahead."
"Stop talking, or we'll lose sight of them!"
The players quickly gave chase.
On the walls of Ember Town, several militiamen stood guard.
Calling it a "wall" was generous—it was just a small stone barrier about three or four meters high, more symbolic than functional.
"You think those refugees can actually bring back lumber? My house is completely unlivable. My family's been splitting up to stay with relatives these past few days. We can't keep doing this."
One militiaman spoke with worry.
"Who knows? You saw them this morning. I think those refugees might be a little unhinged. But I'll give them credit for daring to enter Glowfern Forest."
"Didn't Sir Walter say that's just their custom? Even if we don't trust them, we should trust the young lord."
"Of course I trust the young lord, but—wait! What's that dust up ahead? It's monsters! Sound the horn!"
The militiamen frantically blew the alarm horn, its low bellow echoing across the territory.
The townspeople tensed at the sound. The destruction from the monster wave two days ago was still fresh in their minds, and the wounds it left hadn't even begun to heal. Were they about to go through it again?
They didn't have time to think. Just as they started gathering their things to flee, the horn abruptly stopped.
"Why did the horn stop? Are there monsters or not?"
"Did those guards make a mistake?"
"That can't be. This has never happened before. Should we go check the gates?"
A few brave townsfolk headed toward the gates to see what was happening.
When they arrived, they saw the militiamen gathered around the young lord, their eyes filled with respect and admiration.
Beside the young lord stood three massive horned monsters. Not only were they not attacking anyone, they even seemed to be pulling carts loaded with lumber.
"Little Arthur, what's going on?"
The townspeople cautiously approached, not daring to interrupt Leon, and instead asked one of the militiamen.
"Earlier, while on guard duty, we spotted monsters and immediately sounded the horn. But when they got closer, we saw people with them—those refugees from this morning and the young lord."
"The young lord told us to stop sounding the alarm. He said he hired these three monsters to help transport lumber and that we shouldn't panic."
Little Arthur spoke excitedly.
"Really? You can hire monsters? They won't hurt people?"
"I always said Lord Leon was capable. I knew he'd do great things since he was a kid."
"Wait, didn't you say Lord Leon was always scared of monsters and would never make a good lord?"
"Slander! That's slander! I'll sue you for slander!"
Though the townsfolk were still somewhat skeptical, the evidence was right in front of them. The three monsters stood there calmly, showing no signs of aggression.
This drastically changed their opinion of Leon.
Truthfully, while they had supported Leon inheriting the territory before, it was only because he was the old lord's only child. They had no other choice.
They hadn't actually trusted him much. A lord who was afraid of monsters—how could he protect the territory?
But now, Leon had not only overcome his fear of monsters, he'd even managed to hire them to work for the territory, something the old lord had never done. This restored their confidence in the territory's future.
And this was exactly the outcome Leon wanted. If it were just about transporting lumber, there were other methods—he didn't necessarily need Pokémon to help.
So why insist on hiring Pokémon?
First, it was to let the townspeople interact more with Pokémon and gradually ease their fear.
Second, it was to achieve exactly this—renewing their faith in him and the territory's future.
From the looks of it, he'd hit all his goals. This was killing three birds with one stone.
"Alright, enough talk. Uncle Walter, get some people to handle the lumber. These three need to head back for another trip."
"Understood. I'll call for help right away." Walter's eyes were full of pride and relief.
He had rushed to the walls as soon as he heard the horn, expecting a fierce battle. Instead, he found this scene.
It filled him with pride for Leon and further convinced him that Leon truly had received divine guidance. How else could he have changed so much?
After sorting out the lumber handover, Leon didn't follow the players back to the forest. They understood the basics now and didn't need him to supervise.
His main task now was to continue refining this "game" and improving the players' experience.
"What kept me hooked when I played games? Quests? Rewards?"
Looking at the remaining Creation Points on his panel, Leon began his "Game Completion" plan.
(End of Chapter)