Chapter 61. Tentacool Swarm
On the way, Misty was worried about Horsea's condition, so she left the group first and went to the Pokémon Center.
"What are you doing with such a big, noisy development project?" Natsume asked without changing his expression.
"The League has received a lot of complaints."
"Uh…"
The foreman leading the crew froze for a second, then scratched his head and said,
"Boss Nastina said he wants to turn the Wharf District by the docks into a vacation resort."
Natsume and Ash exchanged a glance.
Just then, Honora handed over her phone, which showed what she had just looked up.
Madam Nastina.
Natsume's eyes narrowed slightly.
Soon, the head crewmember led Natsume and the others into a high-rise building.
On the first floor, countless Trainers were crowded together, bunched up in front of a public notice.
"Drive away the Tentacool?
Participating Trainers… reward: 1,000,000 Pokédollars!"
Curious as ever, Ash squeezed his way in.
After reading the notice, anger spread across his face.
Per Natsume's explanation, the area under construction at the Wharf District was a coral reef, the habitat of a Tentacool group.
"Let's go, Ash.
Don't look at it for now."
Natsume pulled him back out and handed him the modded Pokédex.
They followed the sailor up to the twelfth floor.
"Knock, knock, knock!"
The sailor rapped on the door.
"Hmph.
Enter."
A sharp, elderly voice came from inside.
The door opened, they went in, and the sailor at the door bolted as if fleeing.
"Huh?
Are you here to take the million reward?"
They looked toward the voice.
A very short old woman stood there.
A short, stocky frame wrapped in a mink shawl.
A round face lined with wrinkles like Exploud's soundwave patterns.
Jade earrings big enough to knock out a Machop.
An acidic stare oozed from her narrow eyes as she scrutinized Natsume's group.
"Exploud, the Loud Noise Pokémon.
The evolved form of Whismur.
It unleashes a bellow that can shatter a small house into pieces."
Ash's Pokédex had just returned to normal.
He pointed it at Madam Nastina and started a Pokémon identification.
"What are you talking about!!!"
Madam Nastina flew into a rage.
Her voice shot even higher, the already shrill tone becoming painfully piercing.
"Hss… to be fair, this granny really does look like an Exploud."
Ash carefully compared her to the Pokémon on the screen.
"Get out!
None of you are taking the job!"
Madam Nastina raised a cane encrusted with jewels.
Every stomp on the floor sent a dull boom through the room.
She shouted them out, but no one humored her.
"How effective has your bounty been since you posted it?"
Natsume casually pulled out a chair and sat across from her.
"Hmph.
Why should I tell you?"
Madam Nastina was utterly scornful.
"Then I'll report you to the League."
Natsume stood up as if it were nothing.
"Wait!"
Madam Nastina stopped him.
"Reporting won't help.
This is a public-benefit project!"
She glanced at Natsume.
"But it won't hurt to tell you.
My bounty's very effective.
At the Wharf District by the docks, you haven't seen a single Tentacool these past few months."
Her face took on a look of longing.
"Just wait.
Once I make Amp City the number-one tourist paradise in Kanto, they'll put my statue in the city center!"
At that, the corner of Natsume's mouth twitched.
Whether Amp City becomes a tourist paradise because of you is hard to say.
But it turning into a wasteland because of you is basically guaranteed.
By her account, the Tentacool group had already retreated from the coastline.
But it absolutely wasn't fear.
Natsume knew that clearly.
The Tentacool group most likely went to find their big boss.
That Dynamax Tentacruel would emerge in just a few days.
Given how terrifying the effects of the Divinity are, just the part about maintaining the Eternamax form permanently…
Amp City would have no ability to stop the destruction.
"Fools who wreck ecosystems for selfish desires will face retribution sooner or later."
Honora showed no mercy.
"You little brat, what did you say!"
"Hmph, I meant you!"
Honora lifted her chin, her momentum only rising.
"Bang, bang, bang!"
Natsume slapped several items down on the table.
A fake ID.
A Poké Ball.
A brick.
"Madam Nastina, take your pick."
As he spoke, Ash and the others closed in behind him.
"Pick what?"
Madam Nastina's face soured, and several security guards popped out from behind her.
"Pick this Inspector's ID, then be tied up by us and taken to apologize to Tentacruel.
After that, Amp City will erect your statue to warn future generations."
"Pick this Poké Ball.
If we lose, we'll leave.
If we win, you'll cooperate and come apologize to Tentacruel."
As for that brick, Natsume didn't introduce it.
The meaning was obvious enough.
Seeing the Inspector's ID—real enough to pass at a glance—Madam Nastina showed a flicker of fear.
But in the next instant, Natsume's words enraged her completely.
"You want me to apologize to some wild Pokémon?
What a joke!
This ring on my hand could buy dozens of them!"
Natsume folded his arms and looked at her without blinking.
"Heh-heh.
You said a Pokémon battle.
If you lose, you leave—really?"
Madam Nastina suddenly thought of something, and her tone softened.
Natsume nodded, still silent.
"Fine!"
Madam Nastina clapped her hands.
The bodyguards behind her understood at once and pulled out a heap of Poké Balls.
In a flash, half the spacious office was filled.
Arbok, Charizard, Skarmory, and a whole crowd of Pokémon surrounded Natsume on all sides.
"What's wrong?
Aren't you sending out a Pokémon?"
Now that she had confidence, Madam Nastina urged Natsume on.
"Believe it or not, these Pokémon can't even break through my defense."
Natsume gave a small shake of his head and stared straight at her.
"Have them attack once and see?"
"Hahahaha!
You said it!"
Madam Nastina burst out laughing and waved her hand.
The Pokémon behind her launched their attacks together.
Flamethrower.
Stone Edge.
A sky-filling barrage of moves blanketed Natsume.
Soon, a light haze drifted across the room.
Madam Nastina looked toward where Natsume had stood and said impatiently,
"Hey, don't think a little League Inspector badge scares me.
I've got people above—"
Her voice cut off.
Where Natsume had been, there was no one left.
Only a set of clothes reeking of foot odor, and an Inspector's ID slowly burning to ash.
As if Natsume had been vaporized on the spot under the deluge of attacks.
"Assault on a League Inspector!
She killed a League Inspector!"
Ash screamed like a pig being slaughtered.
When they looked back, he was holding up the Pokédex—clearly it had recorded the whole thing.
Beside him, Honora produced a compact camera and gave the burning Inspector's ID a dramatic close-up.
"Quick, report to the League!
There's a terrorist here!"
Ash and Honora snapped photos as they backed toward the door, then took off at a dead run as if a flood beast were on their heels.
Brock: "?"
Uh, when did you two plan this together, and why'd you leave me out?
"Ah—terrorists!"
Brock yelled on cue, dashed through the door, and vanished down the hall.
Inside the office, everyone was too stunned by the sudden turn to move a muscle.
A long moment later, a dazed Madam Nastina finally reacted, cold sweat bursting down her back.
Attacking and killing a League Inspector—no matter how many excuses you have—means the League will unconditionally list you as a terrorist and pursue you across the entire region.
Then, arresting you won't require any evidence, because it's counterterrorism.
And if you resist arrest, killing you won't require any evidence either, because it's counterterrorism.
Worse still, an Elite Four member might even make a move.
In a situation like that, even if Madam Nastina had someone propping her up from above, they wouldn't be able to save her.
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