Chapter 219. Lugia Did It
Natsume still didn't manage to leave today.
By the time he returned to the island, it was already the next morning.
"Natsume, wait!"
Standing on the misty pier, Natsume turned at Ash's shout.
Looking back, he noticed a tall, slender figure following behind them.
"Lorelei?"
As Ash and the others came closer, Natsume saw who it was and felt a bit surprised.
But then he remembered that this Ice-type member of the Elite Four was in charge of the Orange Archipelago.
The damp pier lay under a shroud of fog as Lorelei strode up in leather boots.
Her wine-red curls were tousled by the sea wind, and thin black-rimmed glasses did nothing to soften the sharpness in her eyes.
A tailored coat hugged her curves, and a metal badge spun once between her fingers before she snapped it against Natsume's chest.
"League Inspector."
Her breath misted as she spoke, leather gloves brushing the cold chain of Poké Balls at her waist, the taut fold at her shirt collar rising and falling faintly with her breathing.
"Just send the commendation to Professor Oak's Laboratory."
Sensing trouble, Natsume swung a leg over Loreidon to leave.
But Loreidon dipped.
Natsume glanced back and saw Lorelei had climbed on too, one hand resting at his waist, eyes smiling.
"You solved a big headache for me, and I haven't even thanked you properly yet."
As she spoke, a Dewgong leapt from the waters near the pier.
Out of the corner of his eye, Natsume spotted several Ice-type Pokémon blocking off the surrounding sea.
"No need. I never put my name on good deeds, and you don't need to send any commendation."
Natsume spoke righteously.
"Hey, hey, hey, Miss Lorelei has official business with you!"
Misty couldn't stand it anymore.
Her only answer was Natsume gunning the throttle.
Whoosh!
Loreidon shot skyward, so fast it was just a streak of light.
He'd hoped to throw Lorelei off with the sudden burst of speed.
But she was ready; her hand at his waist tightened, and she hugged Natsume from behind.
Natsume braked hard, wine-red hair flaring, sweeping past his ear and drifting in front of his face with a hint of the sea's salt.
He regretted not bringing Honora along.
If she'd been in the middle as a buffer, this wouldn't be so awkward.
The vibration of the engine climbed his spine as Lorelei bumped into his back.
After a beat, she came to and let go, stepping back in a hurry, the shock on her face shading into flustered irritation.
Great timing!
Natsume seized the moment, gripped Loreidon's handlebars, and in the next instant, Loreidon tilted completely over.
The weightless drop came, and Lorelei was about to fall into the sea.
"Ah!"
A scream like a slaughtered pig tore out of Natsume, and in her panic Lorelei hooked her legs and clamped his head.
After a moment, Natsume obediently returned to the ground.
"Alright, tell me what you want."
Resigned, he hopped off Loreidon, rubbing his sore neck.
People in this world were way too strong!
He still couldn't shake her!
"League inspection!"
Still flustered, Lorelei slapped an inspection order onto Natsume—the subject was Natsume himself!
"Whoa, Natsume! If you get taken away, everyone will be heartbroken!"
Ash rushed over, wedging himself between Natsume and Lorelei, eyes brimming with tears.
"'Everyone' who?"
Tracey looked at Misty.
"Uh, maybe everyone in Pallet Town? We did just celebrate Natsume recently."
"Ash, move aside. I'm just here to ask him some questions."
Head aching, Lorelei pried Ash away.
She lifted her gaze and fixed Natsume with a steady stare, the corner of her eye still wet—dew or sea spray from the trip down, leaving a gloss of moisture.
"Speak, Mr. Natsume. Where did that mine truck come from?"
Lorelei exhaled slowly to steady herself, then took out her Rotom Phone, playing a clip of surveillance footage.
Natsume took a good look and was truly surprised.
"Wow, that car thief looks a lot like me!"
Lorelei: "…"
"Mr. Natsume, be honest and we'll go easy on you."
"Fine. I saw the news here, and with the belief that every citizen has a duty when the world is in peril, I felt I had to act."
Natsume launched straight into his spiel.
"You know I have a kind heart and can't stand seeing so many people in dire straits, but individual power is too limited."
"And as you know, I've been researching Rotom for motorcycles lately."
He waved a hand as he spoke.
"Mm…"
Lorelei lightly bit her lip; her cool expression crumpled a little.
The League hadn't intended to blame Natsume at all—they'd only sent her to make things official.
But hearing how practiced his patter was, she couldn't shake the feeling he'd done a lot of… things.
"I get it… but."
She pivoted.
"What about the ore in that truck? The League's salvage team dragged the area all night yesterday and found nothing."
That was the real reason for her visit.
It was too bizarre—an entire truck of Evolution stones vanished without a trace!
"Lugia ate it."
Natsume nodded gravely.
"What?"
Lorelei blinked, thinking she'd misheard.
"Lugia ate it."
Natsume nodded earnestly.
"Mr. Natsume, I'm just here to understand the situation. If you don't know, you can say you don't know."
She shot him a sideways look.
"Really—Lugia ate it."
Natsume pulled out his Rotom Phone and brought up a video.
On the seafloor, a huge white-and-blue Pokémon lay sprawled over the massive mine truck.
When Natsume filmed it, Lugia's mouth was stuffed to the brim—with Mega Stones.
"???"
Lorelei's face was a field of question marks.
"See? Lugia even thanked the League for the gift at the end."
He scrubbed the video to the last frame, freezing on Lugia with its wings raised high, forming a heart to the camera.
"This video… isn't edited, is it?"
Lorelei brought everyone back to the Pokémon Center and submitted the video.
After receiving it, the League fell silent.
"The video… is real."
Lorelei let out a long breath.
"Yes. With the League's interests in mind, I chose not to disturb the god of ocean currents and monsoons, and it clearly felt goodwill from humans."
Natsume said this as he took Lorelei's hand in one of his and held up his Rotom Phone in the other; at some point he'd set Lugia's goofy heart pose as the screensaver.
He declared solemnly:
"I believe the League should commend me!"
"…"
"That might not fly, but I can—personally."
After a moment's thought, Lorelei arched a brow at Natsume.
"Oh."
Natsume's disappointment was visible to the naked eye.
"Here. For you."
Natsume casually flicked a business card to Lorelei.
"I plan to establish an academy later. When you have time, how about guest-starring as a battle instructor or something?"
He looked to Lorelei.
She didn't answer, but she quietly pocketed the card.
"Right, one more thing. That purple Pokémon was…?"
Lorelei stared at Natsume.
That purple Pokémon looked a lot like Team Rocket—
"Lugia in disguise."
Before she could finish, Natsume opened another video.
On an island, Lugia stood tall, wearing a giant cosplay outfit of Mega Mewtwo Y.
It looked more than a little ridiculous on that body.
Lorelei: "…"
She no longer wanted to know how Natsume had pulled any of this off.
"Alright then, Mr. Natsume, can I have your personal number?"
Seeing him turn to leave, Lorelei called after him.
She'd recognized the number on that business card—it was Professor Oak's Laboratory line!
"No problem."
Natsume said, and handed over Honora's number.
He couldn't be bothered to manage personal contacts; he dumped all of that on Honora.
"Natsume, wait—where did center-parted go?!"
Natsume was about to walk out of the Pokémon Center when Ash stopped him again.
"Lugia—"
The word slipped out, and Natsume suddenly froze.
Right.
Where was center-parted?
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