After Officer Jenny drove away with the firetruck convoy, Lucas withdrew his gaze quietly, following the soft chatter of the neighbor grandma into her home. The kind-hearted woman had promised to shelter him temporarily, ensuring he had food, warmth, and a roof over his head. Yet Lucas knew that this was only a temporary reprieve. The Ghost Ship Organization, that same assassin network that had once abducted him, lingered in the back of his mind. In this new life, he resolved that he would inevitably cross paths with them again, and he had no intention of ignoring it.
Lucas had no surviving relatives. Without the neighbor's care, he would have been sent to the Pokémon League's welfare orphanage. His parents' inheritance would be assessed by the League and released only after he came of age. But he could never accept a life so ordinary. Memories of his past missions, the chaos, the calculated assassinations, and the wild Pokémon battles haunted him. Peaceful life had never been part of Lucas's nature, and he had neither the patience nor the desire to live a conventional existence.
That night, while the neighbor slept, Lucas quietly rose from the temporary bed she had prepared. Even though his body was small for his age, he was strong and agile. His training had left him able to climb over walls, sneak silently through alleys, and move undetected in dangerous environments. He made his way to the ruins of his family villa, the night air thick with the smell of charred wood.
The fire had destroyed almost everything, leaving only faint traces of familiarity. Yet every step, every lingering shadow, reminded him of what he had lost. The pungent, acrid smoke made him dizzy, but circulating the Dark Power through his body steadied him instantly. The familiar black energy spread through his veins, its sensitivity heightened in moments of danger.
Lucas began a meticulous search of the villa. After the fire, the police had sealed the area, leaving it temporarily untouched. For someone trained like him, this was an opportunity. Hollow spots in walls, creaking floors, even subtle heat differences—every detail spoke volumes. He tapped along one wall carefully. Hollow. He tapped again along another section. Hollow. The sound of tapping echoed lightly, but to him, it was a map of the villa's hidden compartments.
Sure enough, he found the safe. Every businessman, no matter how wealthy, kept one. Inside, neatly stacked, were cash, passbooks, and documents. Roughly counting, the cash alone totaled about one million. Enough for daily survival, but far too little for serious Pokémon training. Fully evolved Pokémon, particularly those with base stat totals over five hundred, cost hundreds of thousands each in the black market, with prices fluctuating wildly depending on talent, rarity, and nature.
Lucas took only the cash, leaving the passbooks and documents untouched. The money went into a small backpack, which he hid in a gap near the neighbor's wall, covered with plants to remain invisible for months. Every precaution was necessary. He had no intention of revealing this cache to anyone, and in the upcoming months, it would be critical for his growth.
Satisfied, Lucas returned quietly to the neighbor's house and lay down, pretending to rest. Darkness filled the room, broken only by the faint glow of the moon filtering through the curtains. Minutes passed, but his senses never relaxed. His Dark Power twitched, alert to the slightest disturbance.
Then he noticed it—a faint movement outside the window. Disdain surged through his Dark Power, confirming his suspicion.
The window opened silently, a soft landing sound marking the intruder's entry. Lucas kept his eyes closed, feigning sleep. His muscles tensed. Whoever had come could easily steal his hidden cash if he reacted too late.
"Misdreavus, Hypnosis!"
The sudden use of the Psychic-type move confirmed it. This was no ordinary intruder—it was the same type he had encountered in his previous life, a Ghost-type Pokémon trained for stealth operations. Lucas allowed the Hypnosis to take hold but silently circulated his Dark Power, eroding its effect without leaving a ripple. He remained perfectly still, body calm but mind sharp.
"You lost your parents at such a young age and are still being taken back to the organization. I'm truly happy for you, hahaha!" The voice combined human pity with a streak of insanity. Every word carried the scent of danger, the faint malice of someone who had spent a lifetime in shadows.
Lucas's teeth clenched. He memorized every detail: the aura of the intruder, the energy signature of the Misdreavus, even the faint tremor in the floorboards as it moved. Regardless of whether he actively entered the Ghost Ship now, this individual had once dragged him into hell, and Lucas would not forget.
"Let's go, Little brat! With you, my mission for this trip is complete!" the stranger muttered, hoisting Lucas onto their shoulder and leaping out the window. The landing stung sharply, but Lucas endured. He had trained for pain, for stress, for exactly these situations.
The Hypnosis used was no low-level trick—it could have knocked out an ordinary child completely. But Lucas had been trained in endurance and disguise. He remained still, body pliant but fully aware, every nerve alert to danger.
Soon, he was placed into a vehicle. Though uncomfortable, he made no movements, no sounds. He knew that even a slight reaction could alert the intruder. Hours passed, darkness stretching into the faint light of dawn. His senses remained heightened, tracking every vibration, every creak, every whisper of the wind outside.
The car slowed. The engine cut. The driver's door opened, and Lucas was lifted again. The dim interior confirmed what he already suspected: the Ghost Ship Organization's new recruit training camp.
Lucas's mind worked quickly. He calculated risks, memorized paths, and analyzed potential escape routes. Every detail of the route was stored in his mind, every sound cataloged. The Dark Power thrummed, sharpening his reflexes, keeping him ready for the challenges ahead.
This was only the beginning. The Ghost Ship awaited, a world of blood, chaos, and trials. But Lucas had survived before, and he would survive again. With Dark Power at his side and his wits intact, he was ready to face whatever horrors lay ahead.