“How’s the water temperature?” Holding a neatly folded set of Naranja Academy clothes that had already been washed and dried, Michael called toward the bathroom, where the steady sound of dripping water echoed.
Enjoying the comforting warmth of the hot water against her skin, Nemona finally felt the tension in her heart ease a little.
“It’s perfect!” she shouted back.
Michael nodded, placing the uniform into the laundry basket beside the bathroom door.
“Serperior and the others have already washed and dried your clothes.
They’re right outside the door!” “Okay~” Hearing Nemona’s energetic reply, Michael smiled and shook his head.
A moment later, however, the smile faded, replaced by a serious expression.
The creek wasn’t far from the farmhouse, only about a ten-minute walk.
It had been less than half an hour since he’d rescued Nemona from the water.
Although he was anxious, all he could do now was patiently wait for her to finish washing up so she could lead him to the kidnappers’ hideout.
Walking out of the farmhouse, Michael looked at the five Pokémon already gathered before him, along with Mimikyu, who had been quietly following him all this time with almost no presence at all.
His expression grew solemn.
“Our top priority during this rescue is ensuring the kidnapped children’s safety.Any questions?” “Meow!” “Bwoo~” “Serperior!” “Sss…” “Swamp!” “Mimikyu~” Led by Luxray, all six Pokémon displayed absolute confidence.
It was confidence born from faith in their own strength and their response to Michael’s request.
Michael nodded slightly.
One by one, he recalled them into their Poké Balls, leaving only Dragonite outside.
Looking at the six Poké Balls hanging from his waist, he sighed inwardly.
Ever since completing the Paldea Pokémon League Championship Challenge, this was the first time he’d carried his full team with him.
As he absentmindedly patted Dragonite’s wonderfully soft belly, Michael recalled what Nemona had told him on the way back.
Yesterday, after arguing with her family, she had run away from home.
The reason for the argument was surprisingly childish.
Nemona didn’t want to become a Pokémon Trainer.
Instead, she wanted to help manage the family business like her older sister.
Setting aside the question of why the future battle maniac Nemona suddenly didn’t want to be a Trainer…
After running away, she had merely spent some time alone on the beach near Cabo Poco.
Before she knew it, the kidnappers had abducted her without her even noticing.
When Nemona woke up, she found herself inside a dimly lit warehouse.
Several other children were already there.
Some were around her age.
Others were even younger.
Judging by their listless expressions, they had clearly been imprisoned for quite some time.
While being held captive, Nemona overheard the three kidnappers laughing loudly outside without the slightest concern.
She also learned what they planned to do with her and the other children.
The other children would be smuggled out of the Paldea region and taken to Kanto, where they’d be sold to Team Rocket for a high price.
As for her, she would be used to extort money from her wealthy family so the kidnappers could enjoy themselves along the way.
They had actually been watching Nemona, the rich young lady, for quite some time.
Unfortunately for them, security around her home had always been too tight.
Then, she conveniently ran away from home on her own.
After that, a Pawmi emerged from a nearby burrow, chewed through the ropes binding her, and gave her the chance to escape.
Although Michael wanted nothing more than a peaceful and leisure life, these kidnappers were clearly determined to destroy exactly that.
Even Sada’s earlier overreaction had been caused by their activities.
Fortunately, Nemona knew where their hideout was.
Since their search for her had failed, they would most likely return there to relocate the kidnapped children.
With Dragonite’s incredible flying speed, they could catch them completely off guard.
Several minutes later, Nemona came running out of the bathroom.
Her clothes were dry again, but she hadn’t even had time to tie her hair back.
“Big bro, let’s hurry and save them!” Michael nodded.
He effortlessly lifted Nemona onto Dragonite’s back, where Dragonite was already crouched in a takeoff position.
After climbing on himself, he smiled.
“We’re going to be flying pretty fast.
Make sure you hold on tight, okay?” Nervously clutching at her collar, Nemona nodded cautiously.
Sensing that both riders were securely seated, Dragonite’s gentle, honest-looking face instantly sharpened.
An imposing aura radiated from him without the slightest hint of anger.
His tiny wings beat rapidly.
A powerful gust immediately swept across the ground, bending the knee-high grass beneath the tremendous wind pressure.
The next moment, Dragonite was already soaring high above the sky.
Looking curiously at the tiny buildings and scenery speeding beneath them like ants, Nemona asked, “We’re flying so fast…
why can’t I feel any wind?” Without taking his eyes off the horizon, Michael answered, “Dragonite is using Flying-type energy to create a barrier that blocks the wind.” “Otherwise, with how fast he flies, we wouldn’t even be able to stay on his back.” Nemona nodded, only half understanding.
…
At the East of Cortondo stood an abandoned warehouse.
Three men returned there while cursing under their breath.
This was their hideout.
It also served as the temporary holding place for the kidnapped children.
The bearded man leading the group spat heavily onto the ground before glaring at the short man to his left.
“You actually let a ten-year-old girl escape?
You’ve really gotten more useless with age!” The short man didn’t say a word.
He silently endured the torrent of insults.
The lanky man on the right finally couldn’t stand it anymore and tried to smooth things over.
“Boss…” The bearded man wasn’t interested.
Still seething with anger, he snarled, “Since we can’t find that brat anymore, she’s probably either been rescued or drowned somewhere.
Either way, it’s time to move.
We’ll sell these goods to Team Rocket first.
Then we’ll head somewhere bigger, like Levincia, and kidnap more kids there!” The lanky man immediately nodded.
“Boss is right.” The short man, who had remained silent the entire time, took out three Poké Balls.
Three Ninjask appeared.
“I’ll keep watch,” he said quietly.
The bearded man snorted.
“This time, try not to be so useless!” With that, he entered the warehouse together with the lanky man to begin loading the “cargo” into their van.
What he didn’t notice were the short man’s fingernails digging deep into his own palms.
Nor the icy hatred in his eyes.
After the bearded man walked away, the short man gritted his teeth and muttered, “One day…
I’ll make you kneel and beg me for forgiveness…” “You’ll probably never live to see that day.” A calm male voice suddenly sounded from above.
The short man’s pupils contracted violently.
He instantly looked up.
There, riding atop a Dragonite, was the man.
And beside him, the wealthy girl named Nemona who had escaped.
The short man immediately opened his mouth, intending to warn the other two inside the warehouse.
But Michael and Dragonite had no intention of giving him that chance.
Five flashes of red light erupted simultaneously.
Michael’s Pokémon appeared, each immediately carrying out their assigned task as they charged straight into the warehouse.
At the same time, an immeasurable dragonic pressure descended from the heavens.
The short man’s eyes nearly split apart.
Crushed to the ground beneath the overwhelming pressure, he couldn’t move a single muscle.
‘Where…
where are my Ninjask?’ The only answer he received were three consecutive impacts hitting the ground.
The Ninjask he’d placed all his hopes on had been instantly annihilated.
Dragonite merely flapped his wings once.
The sky-blue Air Slash that followed cut through them in a single exchange.
The short man’s lips trembled.
With tremendous difficulty, he forced out his feeling.
“…Monster…” He had never truly understood what it meant to face someone powerful.
But now, overwhelmed by a gap as vast as the distance between heaven and earth, he finally understood.
With his limited knowledge, only people standing at that level could possess such terrifying pressure.
The ones at the very pinnacle of this world.
The very embodiment of overwhelming strength.
The highest peak of individual power— A Champion.