Takashi, the crew-cut Rocket grunt, spun on his heel at the sound of footsteps. His eyes widened when he saw Ethan Carter strolling toward him with a faint, mocking smile.
In a flash of light, Takashi flung a Poké Ball. "Rattata—Quick Attack!"
A small, sharp-eyed Rattata appeared, fur bristling. It lowered its head and darted forward, incisors gleaming.
Ethan didn't bother issuing a command. Charmeleon had just come off the high of defeating Golbat—three whole levels gained in a single battle, bringing him to level 23. This little Rattata wasn't even going to be a warm-up.
Ethan arched an eyebrow at Charmeleon, who caught the signal instantly. No words needed. The Shiny surged forward, claws flashing. One rake, then another, and Rattata crumpled before it could even land its strike.
Ethan stepped over the fainted Pokémon and closed the distance to Takashi, smile still in place. "Didn't you say earlier that a Shiny Charmander was worth a fortune?"
Takashi swallowed hard, his Adam's apple bobbing. Sweat traced lines down his temples.
Ethan's smile sharpened. "Funny thing—I think you're worth quite a bit yourself. How about this—we treat our little skirmish as a bounty battle. You empty your pockets, and I call us even."
Takashi's voice trembled. "If I give you everything… will you let me go?"
Ethan's relaxed expression cooled instantly. "Are you negotiating with me?"
Charmeleon bent down, hooked the unconscious Rattata with his claws, and tossed it at Takashi's feet. He stepped forward, flame-tail blazing, and growled low.
"Rua."
The Rocket broke instantly. "I'll give it to you!" he yelped, fumbling out his phone. In a panic, he initiated a transfer, fingers slipping over the glass.
A minute later, Ethan glanced at the confirmation screen—Takashi's account balance read zero. He clapped the man on the shoulder. "Good. Now let's go see Officer Jenny. You're going to love the cuisine in her cells."
A rush of footsteps preceded Lena's arrival. She didn't hesitate—her foot lashed out, catching Takashi squarely. "You kidnapped me, patted my head, laughed at me, and fed me leftovers. Now it's my turn."
Her fists and feet landed in quick, satisfying succession. Ethan stood back, watching with mild amusement, until he remembered the trainers he'd called for backup earlier. He pulled out his phone and sent a quick message: Crisis resolved. I'll thank you all later.
He didn't notice Mr. Fuji watching him from the doorway.
The old man's gaze lingered, thoughtful. In just over ten days, Ethan had taken a Pokémon from abandoned wreckage to elite force—a leap so sharp that even Giovanni, with the power of Viridian Forest at his disposal, couldn't have engineered it so quickly.
Later, at the Pokémon House, Officer Jenny arrived astride her Arcanine, the police vehicle pulling up close behind. She extended a gloved hand to Ethan. "I'll take him from here. And thank you—for your contribution to public safety."
"This is just what we do," Ethan replied, shaking her hand. His tone was casual, but the warmth in his eyes was genuine.
Takashi was bundled into the vehicle, and the convoy rolled away. Ethan watched the patrol disappear down the road and muttered under his breath, "Officer Jenny really is something. Beauty clearly runs in the family."
Unfortunately for him, Lena heard it. She crossed her arms, brow arched. "Oh? Do you like her?"
"I'm not blind. It's normal to appreciate beauty," Ethan said with a shrug.
He glanced at Charmeleon. "Come on. Let's see Mr. Fuji."
"Rua," Charmeleon rumbled, casting a brief glance after the retreating police car before falling into step beside him.
Mr. Fuji was waiting in his office, exactly as he'd promised after the handover. "Ethan, good. You're here."
The old man rose, poured a glass of water, and set it on the desk. "Have you decided where you'll go next?"
Ethan didn't hesitate. "I'd rather stay here. At the Pokémon House."
Fuji blinked. "You don't want to travel?"
Most volunteers departed after adopting a Pokémon, setting out on a journey to test themselves. Ethan's answer broke the pattern.
"Not yet," Ethan said simply.
To him, the point of travel was to catch Pokémon from all over the world. But his purpose was different. The best Pokémon, in his eyes, weren't the rarest or most exotic—they were the ones thrown away. And here, in Kanto, most abandoned Pokémon found their way to Mr. Fuji's care.
Even beyond Kanto, Fuji had contacts in every region's sanctuaries. If Ethan stayed, he could learn more, rescue more. Travel could wait.
The only downside? He'd have to cover his own room and board—after all, he'd already adopted Charmeleon. Expecting the Pokémon House to pay for them both would be shameless.
Fuji nodded slowly. "Then at least go out more. Test yourself. Strengthen Charmeleon."
From his pocket, he produced a small black case with a combination lock and set it on the desk.
Ethan eyed it warily. "What's that?"
"This," Fuji said quietly, "is what Team Rocket wanted."
Ethan's pupils narrowed.
"I thought about it on the way back," Fuji continued. "It's not safe with me. You should keep it."
Ethan's brows rose. Fuji's trust was unexpected—and heavy.
"You want to know what's inside?" Fuji asked.
"I do."
"Then become the League Champion," Fuji said. "When you do, I'll give you the code."
Ethan studied the man's expression, then the case. His gut told him this was tied to something far greater—possibly Mewtwo itself.
Suppressing a surge of excitement, he picked up the case and met Fuji's eyes. "I understand. I'll protect it. And I will become Champion."
Fuji nodded, satisfied. "And when Charmeleon evolves into Charizard, I have another gift for you."
Ethan found himself smiling. In that moment, the old man's lined face seemed almost radiant. He liked Fuji so much, he thought wryly, that he'd gladly look after him for the rest of his days.
A few minutes later, Ethan left with Charmeleon at his side. He still needed to thank the trainers who had rushed to Route 8 for backup.
Inside, Fuji moved among the shelter's residents. Voices drifted from the common room—resentful, tinged with regret.
"I should've taken him out when he was still a Charmander. Who knew he'd have this much potential?"
"Morning, a Charmander. Afternoon, a Charmeleon. Who would've guessed?"
Fuji's brows knit. Scanning the room, he saw more than a few volunteers eyeing Charmeleon's absence with envy.
"Enough," Fuji's voice cracked through the murmurs. "If you truly regret anything, ask yourselves—would you have cared for him well, even if you had the chance?"
Silence.
He looked each of them in the eye. "Compared to you, Ethan gave his full attention. He poured himself into Charmeleon. Can you say the same of the Pokémon you care for now? Or are your eyes wandering to something else?"
One by one, the volunteers looked down, shame softening their envy.
Fuji moved on, the case now in safer hands, the future turning quietly toward a trainer with the will to use it.