After using Viridian Power to examine Shaymin's memories, Lance finally looked toward Austin.
His eyes carried genuine admiration.
"Have you ever considered becoming an investigator?"
Austin blinked.
Lance continued seriously.
"You have remarkable instincts. Even newly graduated investigators don't possess your level of judgment."
Reporting to the authorities.
Disabling the enemy's escape route.
Prioritizing civilian(or Pokémon) safety.
Issuing calm commands.
Every decision Austin had made during the rescue had been exactly right.
For a brief moment, Austin's heart stirred, not because he wanted the position.
But because the invitation came from Lance himself.
Still, he already had his own path.
The Black Crest Jubilife Breeding House needed him.
His Pokémon needed him.
There was still so much breeding knowledge to learn and countless goals left to achieve.
Austin shook his head.
"I'm sorry, but I can't accept."
Lance was about to continue persuading him.
"But..."
Austin interrupted.
"Didn't I save Shaymin even without becoming an investigator?"
The room fell quiet.
Cynthia gently set down her cup.
"Lance."
She looked toward him calmly.
"Do you fight criminals everywhere because you're the Chief Investigator?"
Lance suddenly stood up.
"No!"
His voice rang through the room.
"It's because of passion!"
A powerful aura erupted around him as he flourished his cape.
"Even if I weren't an investigator, I would never ignore wrongdoing."
At that exact moment, a brilliant green light appeared behind him.
Viridian Power unconsciously overflowed.
The entire room seemed slightly brighter.
Austin stared at him.
"...You're bringing your own special effects now?"
Lance coughed awkwardly and quickly suppressed his power.
"This definitely wasn't intentional."
The Viridian Power had simply responded to his conviction.
Austin rubbed his forehead.
"Talk is talk. The glowing is unnecessary."
Even Cynthia could not suppress a smile.
She turned toward Austin, who was gently stroking Shaymin.
"Breeding Pokémon is his passion."
Lance froze.
He finally understood.
For him, investigations were not a duty.
They were his passion.
For Austin, breeding was the same.
After several moments, Lance nodded.
"I understand."
"I apologize, I was being presumptuous."
Austin smiled.
"No apology needed. Even if I'm not an investigator, I'll still act when I need to."
A smile finally appeared on Lance's face.
"Good."
"Then—"
Rumble.
The floor suddenly shook.
A distant explosion echoed outside.
Everyone's expressions changed.
"An earthquake?"
"No."
Cynthia immediately narrowed her eyes.
"It feels more like a Pokémon move."
Austin, Cynthia, and Lance stood simultaneously.
Three powerful Trainers.
Well.
Two Champions.
And one future Grandmaster Breeder.
Austin and Lance spoke at the same moment.
"Don't move yet."
The two stared at each other briefly.
Lance explained,
"If we rush outside immediately, the people responsible may escape."
Austin nodded.
"Exactly."
His reason, however, was slightly different.
The Sky Eye surveillance system surrounding the Black Crest Jubilife Breeding House had already shown him everything.
Several motorcycle riders had gathered at the front entrance.
Leather jackets.
Face masks.
Protective goggles.
Seven people.
Each with brightly colored hair.
Red.
Orange.
Yellow.
Green.
Blue.
Purple.
Austin stared at the monitor.
"...Seriously?"
However, something felt wrong.
These people lacked the caution and secrecy of Pokémon Hunters.
Their Pokémon were openly displaying themselves outside.
The tremors came from the leader's Nidoking, which had just used Earthquake.
Austin pulled up another camera.
Daniella was safely inside the reception area.
Gardevoir stood protectively beside her.
Everything was secure.
Lance took one glance at the screen.
"No."
He shook his head immediately.
"These aren't Pokémon Hunters."
Austin looked at him.
"Why?"
"Pokémon Hunters are professionals."
Lance crossed his arms.
"They're never this loud."
Meanwhile, outside, Dai Yui, Incineroar, and Ryu had already reached the entrance.
Austin immediately headed for the door.
"I'll handle this."
"You two stay here."
Cynthia nodded.
"Understood."
Lance watched Austin leave.
"His command ability really is excellent."
He smiled.
"I still think he'd make a good investigator."
Cynthia remained silent.
She simply continued watching the surveillance monitor.
Outside, Amanda and Leon Black were already evacuating employees and visitors.
"Austin!"
Amanda called out.
"Where are you going?"
Austin didn't slow down.
"To protect the breeding house."
Ding!
[Side Quest Activated.]
Austin paused for half a second.
Oh right.
The system.
He looked back.
"Dad, call the police!"
Leon immediately grabbed the large shovel he normally used to teach Ground-type Pokémon how to dig.
"I'm coming too."
Amanda sighed.
"I will call the police then. You be careful as well."
"Don't worry!"
Meanwhile, Dai Yui had already confronted the intruders.
He narrowed his eyes.
"What is this?"
The seven bikers immediately dropped their beer cans.
The blue-haired one swallowed nervously.
"Boss..."
"He's really strong."
The red-haired leader snorted.
"What are you afraid of?"
He slapped the baseball bat against his shoulder.
"There are seven of us."
"We've got Pokémon."
"And we've got these."
The seven men spread out in a semicircle, their bats resting against their shoulders.
Their expressions were openly hostile.
At that moment, Austin finally arrived.
He looked toward the reception center.
"You all stay inside."
"Nobody comes out."
"Gardevoir."
"Voir~"
Gardevoir nodded immediately.
The psychic barrier strengthened.
Levi had already reached the main entrance.
"You all stay in the front desk service center. Nobody comes out."
At the edge of the reception area, a thin, bespectacled customer stumbled back, face pale. After a moment of frozen shock, he turned and ran.
"Oh right… call the police."
He fumbled for his phone while retreating down the corridor.
"Hello, I need to report a crime… at the Black Crest Jubilife Breeding House…"
That single reaction triggered a chain response.
Several customers who had been hiding also began calling the police.
Others raised their phone quietly, recording from behind cover, trying to avoid drawing attention.
Levi stepped past them and moved to Dai Yui's side before saying to the intruders.
"This is a breeding center. Not a baseball field."
Dai Yui frowned slightly.
"Why are you here?"
"Do you have to ask? As a friend I can't leave you alone."
Dai Yu glanced sideways, smiling.
"Who said I'm alone?"
He raised his hand slightly.
"Then let's do this."
"Incineroar"
"Ryu!"
"Agni!"
Agni, Ryu, and Incineroar stepped forward in front of their trainers, each taking position without hesitation.
Their presence shifted the air immediately.
As for Metagross and the others, they were already moving under Ryu's instruction.
A short pause followed.
The red-haired leader tapped his baseball bat against his palm.
"That's right. This is the breeding house we're after."
He looked around with a grin.
"Convenient place. Quiet. No interference."
Then he tilted his head toward Levi.
"By the way, your Pokémon care service seems decent. Your Pokémon's fur looks well-maintained."
Dai Yu muttered under his breath.
"Is he having a professional relapse or something?"
Austin coughed once.
"…iT may seem so."
The blond-haired man with a greasy grin stepped forward and pointed his bat.
"Stop chatting."
"You lot really brought this on yourselves. Too flashy, too noticeable."
He laughed.
"My brothers and I are short on cash. Need a new ride."
"So we figured we'd take a shortcut."
The others burst into laughter.
Even their Pokémon followed, rough and aggressive, echoing the mood.
"That's enough."
Silence dropped for half a beat.
Austin stepped forward.
"From this point on, none of you is leaving."
Their confidence wavered for the first time.
. . .
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