Seeing the confusion written all over his face, Peter smiled even wider.
"Alright. Now call your company," he said casually. "Have them promote my SNS account worldwide. Oh—and don't forget to like, share, subscribe, and leave a ★★★★★ review under my videos. Understood?"
He added lightly, "You've got five minutes. Miss it, and I'll call Officer Jenny."
"I—I'll do it right away!" Kodai blurted, grabbing his phone and barking orders down the line.
Almost immediately, Peter's phone began buzzing nonstop—forum notifications, SNS alerts, one after another.
"Good. Now hand over the antidote," Peter said. "Then you can get lost."
"T-this is it…" Kodai obediently produced a pitch-black vial and passed it over. Without another word, he ignored his confiscated Poké Balls and abandoned bodyguard, took a few cautious steps back—
Then turned and bolted.
Damn it… that kid is cursed.
I can even see the future and I still lost—how am I supposed to play this game?
I need to regroup… plan this properly…
WHAM!
A fist the size of a sandbag smashed straight into his face.
"Ugh—!"
Kodai collapsed instantly.
"Leee…"
Slakoth hopped onto his head again, sitting there like a triumphant conqueror. It even pulled out a Nanab Berry from its pack and started munching happily.
"Didn't you say you'd let me go?!" Kodai groaned, face pressed into the dirt.
Peter tilted his head. "I did let you go. But my Slakoth has opinions of its own.
Any problem with that?
Seems perfectly reasonable to me."
"Y-you—!!"
Kodai's eyes rolled back as he passed out on the spot.
Peter smiled faintly and glanced at the vial in his hand.
[Ghost Elixir]
A high-tech concoction infused with concentrated Ghost-type energy and psycho-toxins. Extremely beneficial to Ghost-type Pokémon. However, if consumed by non-Ghost Pokémon, the body will gradually deteriorate—ending in death.
"I knew you wouldn't behave," Peter shook his head. "Fine… I'll handle it my way."
As he spoke, Zorua padded over, climbing up his leg and hopping onto his shoulder.
"Zoru~! (Thank you, Peter!)"
The little fox happily licked his face with its tiny pink tongue.
"Hey—wait, stop—can't breathe!" Peter laughed, lifting it into his arms. The bright sparkle in Zorua's eyes told him everything—its trust in him had deepened after this ordeal.
But soon, exhaustion overtook the little one. It curled up comfortably in Peter's embrace.
The toxin was acting up again.
"Peter, look—Zoroark's wounds…" Whitney said, helping the injured Zoroark over.
Its drooping eyes showed it wasn't doing much better.
"Zor… (Human… please save my child…)" Zoroark bowed its head slightly.
Peter gently stroked Zorua's mane. "I like this kid. I'll fix it. Soon."
"If Peter says so, then it'll be fine!" Whitney added brightly.
Zoroark hesitated, then nodded. The aloofness in its gaze softened—it had acknowledged them.
"Zoroark, could you dispel the illusion here first?" Peter asked.
"Zor."
It raised its claws. Streams of light drifted from its body as the surroundings dissolved. The Lostlorn Forest vanished entirely, replaced by an endless grassland.
Waiting at the forest's edge, DJ Mary arrived with Officer Jenny and several officers.
"Peter?! What are you doing here?!" DJ Mary exclaimed when she spotted him.
"Ah… a senior riding a Dragonite gave me a lift," Peter said with an awkward laugh.
Mary immediately pulled Whitney aside, checking her over until she was sure she was unharmed.
"Hello. I'm Officer Jenny from Nimbasa City," the officer said. "We'll need a detailed account of what happened. Please cooperate."
"Leee…"
Right then, Slakoth shoved the last bite of Nanab Berry into its mouth—
And fired a banana-scented fart straight into Kodai's face.
"Pbbbrrrtt—!"
Kodai convulsed and shot upright. "P-too! What is that smell—urk!!"
At that exact moment, his phone rang.
Beep.
Your Tomato Bank card has been charged 352,430,000 Poké Dollars. Transaction successful. Remaining balance: 748 Poké Dollars.
"…Huh?!"
Kodai froze.
WHAT?!
That brat—he transferred it!!
"Officer Jenny! Thank goodness you're here!" Kodai wailed.
"This criminal extorted me and illegally transferred my money! Please, you have to help me!"
"Extortion?" Peter blinked innocently. "I didn't extort anything. Did you see that, Whitney?"
Whitney struggled to hold in laughter and covered her mouth. "N-no… didn't see a thing…"
"That's impossible!" Kodai roared. "Check his account! He took my bank card and forced my password out of me! Over three hundred million Poké Dollars are gone—only 748 left!!"
Peter calmly glanced at his system panel—17,622 Master Points had been added.
Using other people's money only gives half the reward, he mused. Still worth it.
He silently gave Kodai a thumbs-up.
Your bank card is really useful…
Then he pulled out his own card, showing the balance. "See? I've only got a little over two million Poké Dollars. No large transfers recently either."
Officer Jenny nodded. "Understood. Mr. Kodai, please refrain from disrupting the investigation."
Kodai: "???"
Disrupting?!
I lost everything and I'm the one causing trouble?!
Before he could explode, Peter continued calmly:
"Officer Jenny, I'd like to report Mr. Kodai for illegally capturing Pokémon and injecting them with artificial toxins. When Whitney—the Gym Leader of Goldenrod City—and I discovered this, he attempted to kill us."
He lifted his phone. "Luckily, Zoroark protected us. I recorded everything—some parts are… cut due to danger."
Jenny played the video.
"In that case… I'll just have to send you to hell! Mismagius, Shadow Ball!"
Clip after clip showed Kodai attacking.
Kodai stood there in stunned silence.
Wait—wasn't I the one getting destroyed?!
How did this turn into my crime reel?!
And that sweet-looking girl… she's a Gym Leader?!
You're acting way too innocent!
I've got a 630-liter double-door Tomato flagship fridge at home—and even that can't store as much acting as you!!
Kodai nearly cried.
At this point, he wasn't even sure anymore—
Was he the one who could see the future… or was it Peter?
"Yes, and this vial," Peter added, holding up the black liquid,
"is the toxin Mr. Kodai injected into Zoroark and Zorua. I tested it—highly poisonous. Evidence is conclusive."
Kodai's eyes rolled back.
He fainted again.
--------------
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