"Chloe, go down there and stall them. Keep them calm. Just tell them I'll be down in a moment."
Adrian Yates took a deep breath, forcing the air into his lungs to steady his racing heart. No matter how chaotic the situation was, panic was his enemy. He needed information, and he needed it now.
Chloe nodded, her face pale. She hurriedly left the office, the click of her heels fading down the hallway, though Adrian could tell from her expression that she had zero confidence in stopping the government agents.
Adrian returned to his desk and woke his computer. His fingers flew across the keyboard, pulling up the latest news feeds and trending topics on social media.
It was exactly as he feared.
Reports of a "Giant Beast in the Pacific" had already gone viral. The video view counts were skyrocketing past ten million. The internet was in a meltdown.
In the comments sections, a war was raging. Countless netizens were debating whether the footage was high-budget CGI or a hoax, but a significant number of comments were already connecting the dots.
"That's a Gyarados!" "Is this a promo for a new game?" "It looks exactly like the Pokémon!"
Adrian's heart hammered against his ribs. If these creatures had truly appeared, what were the implications? Was this like the webnovels he used to read in his past life? was the world of Pokémon descending upon this reality? And if so... why now?
Just as he was spiraling into deep thought, the heavy oak office door was shoved open.
Chloe ran in, gasping for breath. "Mr. Yates! I... I couldn't stop them. They're already here!"
Before Adrian could respond, the heavy, rhythmic thud of leather boots echoed from the corridor.
Seconds later, several men in black suits marched into the room. Leading them was a middle-aged man with a face carved from granite. His expression was cold, stern, and his eyes were sharp enough to cut glass.
Behind him, a mix of uniformed police officers and soldiers fanned out, securing the room.
Adrian recognized the leader immediately. He was the Director of the National Security Bureau, a man who had recently appeared on national television regarding tense border issues. Adrian didn't recall his full name, only that his surname was Zhang.
Director Zhang didn't waste time with pleasantries. He pulled out the chair across from Adrian and sat down, his posture rigid.
"Mr. Yates, we require your immediate cooperation regarding an investigation."
Adrian suppressed the rising unease in his gut and nodded, keeping his face neutral. "May I ask what this is about, Director?"
Director Zhang didn't answer directly. Instead, he reached into his suit pocket, produced a photograph, and slid it across the polished desk.
It was a high-resolution still from the video. The giant beast was breaching the water, its furious blue eyes, three-pointed crest, and massive dorsal fins captured in terrifying detail.
"You shouldn't be a stranger to this creature, correct?" Director Zhang's gaze locked onto Adrian's, searching for any micro-expression of guilt. "As far as our intelligence shows, this entity is anatomically identical to the 'Gyarados' from the Pokémon franchise developed by your company."
Zhang leaned forward. "Can you explain what is going on? Or, at the very least, give the State a compelling reason to believe you are not involved."
Adrian fell silent, his mind racing. On the surface, he maintained the composure of a CEO, but internally, he was reeling.
"I truly don't know what is happening," Adrian finally said, choosing honesty. "The Pokémon series was indeed developed by my company, and it is our flagship intellectual property. But seeing them appear in reality... I am just as shocked as you are. In fact, I likely saw the news later than you did."
Director Zhang was clearly unsatisfied. His brow furrowed deeper, etching lines into his forehead.
He had come here under strict orders: Secure Adrian Yates. If the monsters were related to him, bring him in. If they weren't related to him, bring him in anyway. The public was on the verge of mass hysteria, and the government needed a narrative—and a scapegoat—fast.
"Mr. Yates, I hope you are being truthful. If the appearance of these biological threats is linked to you, you must take responsibility."
Adrian took another breath, reading the room. He knew exactly what they were thinking.
"Director Zhang, let me be clear. I can guarantee that I have never participated in any biological experiments, genetic engineering, or black-budget research. My company creates entertainment. We make games and cartoons. The Pokémon series is a work of fiction born from imagination. As for why they are manifesting in the physical world... I have no answers."
Director Zhang went silent for a moment, weighing Adrian's words.
Bzzt. Click.
Suddenly, without anyone touching the remote, the wall-mounted television in the office flickered to life. The screen was awash in breaking news graphics.
"Emergency Broadcast! Unknown biological entities have resurfaced! Repeat: It is not just the Pacific Ocean!" The anchor's voice was pitched high with panic. "Similar giant creatures have been sighted on land! Multiple countries are reporting incidents. The world is entering a state of emergency!"
The feed cut to a live shot.
A city skyline was engulfed in smoke. Rampaging through the streets was a massive, bipedal beast with orange skin and expansive, teal-lined wings.
It looked exactly like a Charizard.
The camera zoomed in as the beast threw its head back and unleashed a torrent of fire. The flames were blindingly white-hot, instantly incinerating a row of buildings, turning steel and concrete into molten slag and drifting ash.
Adrian's eyes widened, his mind descending into chaos.
Charizard.
He hadn't expected the escalation to be this rapid. It wasn't just one isolated incident in the ocean. It was an invasion.
"Mr. Yates," Director Zhang's voice cut through the noise of the news broadcast, cold and final. "It seems the situation is far more critical than we anticipated."
Zhang stood up. "Please come with us. If this investigation proves that these events truly have nothing to do with you, I will personally come to your front door and apologize."
Adrian nodded slowly. The fight drained out of him. He knew there was no room for negotiation. Whether he was the cause or not, he was the only lead they had.
"I understand," Adrian said, his voice low. "I will fully cooperate with your investigation."
Director Zhang nodded to his men, signaling the soldiers to step back slightly, giving Adrian room to move.
He stepped closer to Adrian, lowering his voice. "Mr. Yates, I hope you understand. This is no longer just a personal or corporate issue. The appearance of these creatures poses an incalculable threat to global security. We must find answers. Immediately."
Though the words were framed as an explanation, the tone was a test.
Adrian met the Director's gaze. "Understood. Let's go."
Director Zhang patted Adrian on the shoulder—a gesture that felt more like a restraint than a comfort—and turned to lead the way.
Adrian stood still for a split second, looking around his office. The luxury, the success, the quiet life he had built... it all felt distant now. The world was changing, violently and irreversibly.
He might never return to this life.
But he had no choice. He had to step into the storm, clear his name, or be swallowed by the chaos.