Chapter 113: Haunter: Ready for a Big Heist?
Kalos Region
At dusk, in a quiet little café tucked away in the corner of town.
The café was empty, save for two people.
To the soft hum of a slow, lilting tune, Diantha stirred her drink, the clinking of her straw against the ice cutting through the silence.
Across from her sat a tall man with a lion-like mane of flame-orange hair, dressed in an all-black suit.
If Johan were here, he'd immediately recognize the calm, collected man sitting opposite Diantha: Lysandre! The leader of Team Flare and head of Lysandre Labs.
"Being young has its own beauty, but it isn't everything. Nothing stays the same forever. I like to live and embrace change, so I'm always exploring different roles," Diantha murmured, sipping her drink.
Lysandre smiled slightly, lifting a tiny creamer cup. "But isn't it your duty to maintain beauty? All things should remain as they are at their most beautiful."
"But, Lysandre, no one and nothing can stay the same forever," Diantha replied softly.
"I can make them stay the same. I can make them both fleeting and eternal," he said, pouring the milk into his coffee, black and white swirling together.
Diantha paused, a hint of complexity in her gaze. Lysandre's eyes, on the other hand, held a resolute gleam.
"I cannot bear this world's growing ugliness."
"Lysandre," Diantha interrupted.
At his surprised glance, she smiled. "Recently, I met someone. His ideals are… similar to yours. I think you two would have a lot in common."
Hmm? Lysandre's interest was piqued.
Someone who shared his ideals and who Diantha respected?
Lysandre knew Diantha well enough to understand her respect was hard-earned. She held very few people in high regard—perhaps Champion Cynthia of Sinnoh, and, he liked to believe, himself.
"Now, I'd truly like to meet this person," Lysandre said thoughtfully.
"I'll ask him first, and let you know in a few days."
Diantha stood up. "Apologies, but I have a few engagements to attend. I'll take my leave now."
As she left, Diantha smiled to herself—this was exactly what Johan had suggested she say.
Once she had found it impossible to refuse Lysandre's invitation, Johan had advised her to try this approach. Like with the "Math Magician," reason alone wouldn't sway a man as ideologically driven as Lysandre. Instead, she'd need to speak from a place he could relate to and gain his trust before guiding his perspective.
Lysandre remained alone, lost in thought.
"Someone with ideals like mine?"
He had to admit, the notion intrigued him deeply.
If he could find a kindred spirit, someone who understood the gravity of his goal… someone who could join his mission to shape a beautiful world, it would mean everything.
Hoenn Region, Rustboro City
Morning.
Boom!
Johan awoke with a start, jolted from his sleep by a loud crash.
It was late by the time he got home last night, and this morning, he managed to escape Haunter's "lick attack" and Vulpix's ice-cold forehead tap, only to fall victim to Tinkatink's "critical hit."
Leaping out of bed, he saw a gaping hole in the bedroom floor.
Realizing her mistake, Tinkatink hastily buried her head under a blanket on the floor, leaving her tiny backside sticking out and wiggling in the air.
Johan sighed. She knew how to hide, that was for sure.
Shaking his head, Johan gazed down at the hole in the floor, pressing a hand to his forehead.
The thing he dreaded most had finally come to pass.
All the training was making his Pokémon stronger and, inevitably, they'd begun "remodeling" the house.
There was really no avoiding it.
As Pokémon grew stronger, their moves became more powerful, and when they misjudged their own strength, things tended to break. Not all Pokémon could be like Haunter, who swallowed Shadow Balls to "digest" them internally.
Though he'd expected Haunter or Vulpix to be the first to cause trouble, it turned out to be Tinkatink, who had been so excited after learning from Cynthia's Lucario that she had barely slept last night, and now, first thing in the morning, was back to training.
Fortunately, it was just the floor this time.
By breakfast, the contractor he'd called had arrived, and after settling up, he set out for work with his three little companions in tow.
'Maybe I should consider moving to a larger place, given my six-figure monthly salary,' Johan mused on the way.
But he quickly discarded the thought.
After all, a hundred grand a month wouldn't cover a fraction of his three "gold guzzlers."
Besides, the building he lived in now was old, and while damages were affordable to repair, in a new place, his three little ones would bankrupt him faster than he could blink.
'Let's start with a small goal… or even a tenth of a goal. Once I reach it, then I'll consider moving!'
For Johan, workdays at the academy were blissfully light.
Teachers were all busy preparing for midterms, and the students were tense with the impending exams.
Even Steven had been stopping by the counseling room less often since returning from the Youth Exhibition Match.
Johan was free to relax, train his team in the open areas around the school, and enjoy the perks of the academy—the free training grounds, a cozy office, and unlimited access to the coffee machine.
Plus, without his teaching job, what other title would he have?
Giovanni's Private Advisor!
The Rocket Boss's personal counselor!
Once Giovanni's cover was blown, Johan was sure he'd have a hard time talking his way out of that one.
Training time flew by.
Johan spent time answering questions in his online consultation room, as well as consulting Lorelei about strategies for training Ice-type Pokémon. Since she knew his identity, he didn't hold back and asked everything he'd been wondering about, especially tips on optimizing his Never-Melt Ice.
He also shared some training ideas with Steven, gathering tips for raising Steel-types like Tinkatink and refining his training approach.
A few days later, Johan was preparing breakfast when he heard a voice outside the balcony.
"Good morning! Delivery for you—please sign here!"
Looking outside, he saw a rather fierce-looking Pidgeot on his balcony with a tiny megaphone hanging around its neck.
Johan chuckled—Pidgeotto had clearly reported back, and now they'd sent in Pidgeot.
If he wasn't blacklisted by "Pidgey Express" yet, he definitely would be soon.
Thankfully, Tinkatink, upon inspecting the difference between Pidgeot and her Corviknight plush, decided against wielding her hammer.
Following Johan's instructions, Haunter fetched the package from Pidgeot's back, paid the delivery fee, and tossed in a few Poké Puffs as a tip, which earned a nod of appreciation from the otherwise intense-looking Pidgeot.
Haunter struck up a conversation.
Ka-kah! (With your talent, you're overqualified for delivery work.)
Pidgeot shook its head and sighed.
Pidgeooot… (Times are tough. Gotta take what you can get.)
Ka-kah? (I sense there's a story behind those feathers?)
Pidgeot's eyes grew distant.
Pidgeooot… (Once, back in my Pidgey days, I was the top of the flock, but now…)
Ka-kah! (Hey, wanna pull off a big job?)
Pidgeot?
Haunter revealed two ominous black masks and a cape from its mouth.
Ka-kah! (All you have to do is lure in a few choice targets, and we'll…)
Before Haunter could finish, Pidgeot's face went pale.
Pidgeooooot!! (Run!!)
Pidgeot turned tail and flew off without another word.
This house was a den of dangerous Pokémon!
"What did you say to that Pidgeot?" Johan asked, eyeing Haunter suspiciously.
Haunter waved the mask and cape in his hand.
Ka-kah! (I invited him to join a righteous cause, but he bailed.)
Apparently, Haunter had been inspired by a recent episode of Pumpkaboo Adventures, where Pumpkaboo and a heroic Torchic defeated a villain, and he was determined to recreate the scene.
Johan raised an eyebrow at the two pitch-black masks in Haunter's hands.
Pidgeot likely thought he was trying to recruit it for a bank heist.
Whether he'd been blacklisted or not was unknown, but after today, Johan was surely on their "watch list."
Opening the package, he found it was from a company called "Hariyama Industries."
They specialized in customized Pokémon training gear. Their products were pricey but top-notch. They weren't widely known yet, but they had close ties with Devon, which is how Steven recommended them to Johan.
He'd ordered a "Power Band" specifically for Tinkatink to help her harness her strength and improve it safely.
"Pokémon world technology is something else," Johan mused.
Some of the tech talents here were incredible—like Team Rocket's trio. Sure, they couldn't catch Pikachu, but when it came to invention, disguise, and even business, they were practically maxed out on every skill.
There was also a young inventor like Clemont,
churning out gadgets like he was pouring a glass of water.
"They really could use some help in marketing, though."
The world's strongest Champion, Leon, was used for low-level advertising?
Even Hariyama Industries could throw together a "Groudon Flight Project" campaign, and it would be a smash hit.
"This is for you, Tinkatink—a custom tool that'll make you even stronger!"
Tinkatink's eyes sparkled as Johan helped her put on the Power Band.
In addition to the band, he'd stocked up on high-quality Berries. After days of studying Wallace's Energy Cube Recipe Book, he was ready to try making some advanced Pokéblocks!
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