Chapter 58. Respectfully Welcoming Young Master James Back to His Rightful Place!
Vermilion City, harbor.
Three figures skulked about.
In the briny sea breeze, Meowth lowered his head, tapping away on a little device with total focus.
"Wham!"
Jessie's fist came down, and a two-centimeter bump rose on Meowth's head.
"Wham!"
James's fist landed, and Meowth's bump swelled another two centimeters.
"What are you two doing, Meow!? You've been hitting me ever since I got back!" Meowth jabbed a paw at them, fuming.
"This is workplace bullying—bullying! I'm going to report you to the Boss, Meow!"
"Tch, report what?" Jessie was utterly unafraid.
"Yesterday the Boss told us to work hard and stop bothering him for every little thing."
"And anyway, we were making sure you're not a ghost. It's for your own good~" Jessie cupped her cheeks theatrically.
"Yeah, Meowth. To keep you from sticking your nose where it doesn't belong, Jessie and I can only educate you more often." James cracked his knuckles.
"What do you mean 'sticking my nose in,' Meow?" Meowth was puzzled.
"For example, those two Blastoise from when you disappeared." James shook his head.
"Oh, that. It was actually three Blastoise. Let me tell you—it was a love triangle, and—Meow!!"
Meowth was cut off as two more bumps swelled on his head.
Jessie and James drew back their fists in sync and bellowed at Meowth in unison:
"No matter what kind of Pokémon, and no matter what kind of romance, you are not allowed to get involved. Got it!?"
"Got it, Meow…" Meowth clutched his head, totally at a loss over why Jessie and James were so angry, acting like he was about to die.
He had been planning to share some juicy gossip, but their fists were bigger. Meowth chose not to say more and kept his head down, clacking away at the keys.
"Meowth, what have you been clutching every day lately?" Jessie finally couldn't help but ask.
"This is our future funding, Meow! One language translation for a Pokémon population sells to the Natsume Research Institute for 10,000 Pokédollars, Meow!"
Meowth shook the Meowth-head recorder in his paw, eyes gleaming, as if there were a ten-million-Pokédollar goldmine inside.
"Wham!"
Jessie socked Meowth again.
"Don't forget what the Boss told us yesterday. Our target is every Pokémon aboard the S.S. Anne!"
Jessie followed up with another punch for good measure.
"Look, those twerps are coming!"
James's eyes lit up as familiar figures entered his line of sight.
Misty.
Brock.
"Weird. Why are there only the two of them?" James widened his eyes.
"Isn't it better if that researcher isn't around, Meow? And the twerp isn't here either!"
Meowth stared in surprise at Brock and Misty.
"Wait, wait—but both Pikachu are in their arms!"
Misty and Brock were cradling Pikachu and center-parted, one each.
All three instantly realized this was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.
"Let's go too, Meow."
The trio stepped out of the shadows.
"Don't embarrass us, Meowth! We're vacationing tourists right now."
Jessie, dressed like a lady of leisure, scooped Meowth into her arms like a pampered pet.
Beside her, James was also in disguise, kitted out in breezy resortwear.
Following behind, Jessie and James watched Misty and Brock get their tickets checked and board. They produced two tickets of their own to hand to the inspector.
"Strange. Natsume and the others have been gone since early this morning. Where did they go?"
"No idea. They said they'd regroup on the ship."
Misty and Brock chatted as they were about to walk off.
Jessie and James lifted their feet to follow, but the ticket inspector stopped them.
"Hold on, you two. There's a problem with your tickets." The inspector's tone was anything but polite.
"What?"
The trio froze.
There's a problem with the tickets? Impossible. These were from Boss Giovanni.
From the owner of the S.S. Anne!
"Hey, hey, hey—did you mess something up?" Jessie was about to blow her top.
Suddenly, a soft chuckle sounded from behind.
"My, my. I told you we shouldn't let just any country bumpkin in here."
They turned to see a gaudy blond man, a gold watch on his wrist, and every Luxury Ball on his belt inlaid with brilliant gems.
From head to toe, his entire getup screamed the same message—
I'm a rich heir.
"Hey, you looking for trouble?" Jessie, hot-tempered as ever, reached for a Poké Ball.
"Wait, Meow! Don't forget Boss Giovanni's mission, you knucklehead!" Meowth stopped her.
Jessie blinked. Only then did she notice people had gathered around them.
And more were gathering by the moment.
Worst of all, the looks they were getting were a mix of disdain, contempt, and pity.
As if everyone had decided they were would-be stowaways.
What was going on?
"Wow, isn't that Vermilion City's richest young master, Miyamaru of the Kamiki family!"
All at once, Ash Ketchum's excited shout rose from the crowd.
The twerp?
The trio's eyes swept the throng on instinct, but they never did spot Ash.
Thanks to Ash's comment, though, the onlookers started chattering with great amusement.
"Hmph. You two bumpkins. Let me tell you—luxury cruise tickets look like this!"
Young Master Miyamaru flamboyantly fanned out a stack of tickets and passed them to the inspector.
"Sir, you're…"
"I'm using ten. Just for me. Is there a problem?" Miyamaru shot the crewman a glare.
"No problem. Of course there's no problem."
"Hahaha! For your information, my father has business with the owner of the S.S. Anne. I bought up the tickets ages ago."
"You bumpkins can only watch!"
Miyamaru raised his voice so high that everyone around could hear him clearly.
"Don't stop me. I'm going to beat him up!"
Jessie couldn't hold back any longer. She rolled up her sleeves and was about to switch into Fighting-type mode.
Just then, a stir ran through the crowd.
A tall woman and a shorter man in sunglasses and suits appeared.
In the previous second, Miyamaru had been preening. In the next, his face turned obsequious.
"Boss Natsume has arrived!"
Honora, in shades, strode at the front to clear a path, haughty as could be.
Backed by her innate aura, she cowed no small number of bystanders.
Natsume walked ahead, suit crisp, wearing a pleasant professional smile—he practically had "successful businessman" written across his face.
"What! It's Mr. Natsume, the owner of the S.S. Anne!"
In the crowd, Ash Ketchum peeked at a slip of paper, then kept right on riling everyone up at the top of his lungs.
"Hahaha, Mr. Natsume! How did you find our last collaboration?" Miyamaru beamed as he stepped forward.
Only for—
"Smack!"
Honora surged up and slapped Miyamaru hard across the face.
In an instant, a red handprint bloomed on the once-arrogant Miyamaru's cheek.
"Mr. Natsume, why did you have someone hit me?" Miyamaru stared in disbelief.
And then, without even sparing him a glance, Natsume walked straight up to James and took his hand.
He whipped off his suit jacket, revealing a tailored butler's uniform beneath, and dropped to one knee.
"We respectfully welcome Young Master James back to his rightful place!"
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