"This time, it's all thanks to you, Tetsuya-kun, that my ship made it through without a scratch. I'll drink a toast to you! Feel free to drink as you please."
The captain and several crew members kept thanking Tetsuya while excitedly drinking one cup after another. Tetsuya simply sat there with a smile, quietly sipping his Moomoo Cola and eating his meal.
"Captain, you'd better drink a little less. Don't you still have to operate the ship?" Tetsuya reminded him.
"Tche! I'm not operating it anymore! I've decided to wait until this whole situation with the Pokémon in the river is resolved before sailing again. What happened today was just too terrifying… Fortunately, I met you, Tetsuya-kun. Otherwise, I'd have lost both my ship and my fortune today.
If I ran into something like this again, I couldn't count on being as lucky as I was today, so I might as well take a break," The captain said. It seemed the fright he had suffered today really had been overwhelming. No wonder he needed so much alcohol to calm his nerves.
When the "banquet" came to an end, the captain prepared an envelope containing 50,000 Pokédollars for him, and Tetsuya gladly accepted it.
After eating and drinking his fill, Tetsuya headed straight for the Pokémon Center.
Naturally, it was to register for Giovanni's call.
The moment he arrived at the Pokémon Center, the first person he saw was not Nurse Joy, but Officer Jenny.
"Hello, Tetsuya! Thank you for rescuing our police force on the river. Please take out your Pokédex. On behalf of the Sunnytown police, I'll record your deeds and commendation in your personal record," Officer Jenny said.
"Mm, thank you."
Tetsuya then took out his Pokédex and handed it to Officer Jenny.
To be honest, having this commendation recorded in his personal file was even more valuable to him than the 50K Pokédollars. With these commendations on record, many unfavorable matters would naturally overlook him. In particular, if the police ever opened an investigation, he would be spared from suspicion altogether. Even if they did investigate him, it would merely be a formality.
Afterward, Tetsuya registered at the Pokémon Center for Giovanni's call, the operation to clear out the Water-type Pokémon threatening the Sunnytown "Cross-River Bridge" project.
"In three days, everyone will gather at the Pokémon Center. Mr. Giovanni will give the overall plan and conduct a simple evaluation of everyone's combat power. After all, this operation is extremely dangerous. If your strength isn't enough, it's very easy to lose your life," Nurse Joy said.
"Ahem! I don't think Tetsuya needs any kind of evaluation. I've already seen how strong he is," Officer Jenny interjected.
Nurse Joy looked at Officer Jenny in confusion. After all, it wasn't something she could decide. She was only responsible for registration.
At that moment, an email suddenly appeared on Nurse Joy's computer.
Nurse Joy glanced at it, nodded, and said, "Leader Giovanni has just sent an email saying that Tetsuya is exempt from the evaluation. He can also serve as the deputy leader of Group A."
"I told you so~" Officer Jenny said with a look that said it was only natural.
"In that case, our Pokémon Center can provide you with free lodging and meals, as well as Pokémon food and health checkups. You can depart directly in four days." After saying that, Nurse Joy handed Tetsuya a room key card.
"Mm."
Tetsuya accepted his room key card and went to look for his room.
After placing his backpack in the room, he took his wallet and Poké Balls before heading downstairs.
Golurk, Skorupi, and Weezing had all just gone through battle, so he simply entrusted them to Nurse Joy to help restore their condition. With Houndoom by his side and his own powers -Gengar-, he would not encounter any danger in a city like this.
Officer Jenny was still at the Pokémon Center, naturally assisting Nurse Joy in receiving the Pokémon Trainers who had come to register for Giovanni's call. At present, this was the highest-priority matter in Sunnytown.
Just as Tetsuya was about to head out…
A police officer ran in and said, "Officer Jenny, we just received a report. The gang in Sunnytown is causing trouble on the streets again."
Officer Jenny made an exasperated expression before saying, "Humph… Ignore them for now. Those little troublemakers can't stir up much of a storm. All work is to be focused on the bridge."
"Yes, ma'am!"
After saying that, the officer left.
After leaving, Tetsuya naturally wanted to contact Jessie first. She should have arrived in Sunnytown four or five days ago. Unfortunately, she didn't have a phone. Both times before, she had been the one to contact him using a public telephone.
Left with no other choice, he decided to go take a look at the bridge first. As for Jessie… well, as long as Giovanni appeared, she would naturally show up as well.
He rented a bicycle and headed straight for the bridge.
Halfway there, seven or eight bicycles approached from the opposite direction and blocked his path. The boys and girls riding them all wore sunglasses, sported flashy hairstyles, and had dyed their hair in every imaginable color. They were evidently the "gang" the officer had mentioned.
Tetsuya smiled with utter disdain. A chūnibyō gang like this was both irritating and laughable. He wondered what they could possibly accomplish.
At that moment, the eight bicycles had already surrounded Tetsuya.
"Boi, if you don't want to get beaten up, hand over the Poké Balls you've got!" The leader of this… punks, said.
"Be smart about it, and this oneesan here might let you suffer a little less~" The flashy-haired girl beside him flicked a whip against the ground. She certainly looked the part.
"Sure. As long as you're capable of subduing it." After saying that, Tetsuya threw Houndoom's Poké Ball.
A black hellhound stood before them with sharp eyes and bared its gleaming white fangs, sending chills down their spines!
The group of punks could not help but shiver.
"Chopper… that Houndoom looks really strong. Should we go get aneki and aniki?" One of the punks quietly moved closer to Chopper and whispered.
Chopper nodded and covered his mouth as he said, "Go quickly. I'll stall him. We have to get our hands on that Houndoom."
"Got it…"
One of them left.
Tetsuya said, "Go ahead and bring all your people. I'll take all of you on."
Chopper could no longer hold back his anger and said, "Boi, you're all by yourself, yet you still dare act like this. In a moment, I'll beat you so badly you won't know what hit you! Get him, Geodude! Tyra, hurry up and help."
"Shellder, you're up too." The flashy-haired girl named Tyra also threw her Poké Ball.
One Geodude and one Shellder appeared, and both looked clearly poorly raised.
"That's it? Just these two Pokémon? Aren't you afraid of getting beaten to death?" Tetsuya said mockingly.
"What a joke! We've always been the ones beating other people up. Geodude, use Rollout!"
"Shellder, use Water Gun!"
Chopper and Tyra launched their attacks at the same time, while the rest of the minions waved their arms and shouted encouragement. Their yelling was enough to make anyone's head spin. They were incredibly annoying…
"Houndoom, Flamethrower."
As soon as Tetsuya gave the order, a thick torrent of scorching flames erupted. It swallowed the rolling Geodude first, then completely evaporated Shellder's Water Gun before engulfing Shellder in the raging flames!