A week later.
I sat on a comfy sofa, patching my bloody shoulder. On the armrest, content Pikachu munched a Spiritual Seed lightning shard. What happened?
Turns out, either my Pikachu inherited his original's dislike of pokeballs, or bare rock in ocean mid-nowhere is boring as hell. Leaning second.
Anyway, he whined over our spiritual link, wanting to perch on my shoulder and snack. We'd just contracted; didn't know how refusal would hit relations.
Had to fix it. My Beginner second-step summoning reserve wasn't enough to keep him summoned non-stop. He wouldn't wait for my Intermediate breakthrough. Took the risk.
Decided to steal Hu Yi's Accelerated Recovery talent. My age, talented girl. Not national team level.
Talent not too flashy. Time it right with normal reserve recovery, undetectable.
Held off before 'cause her dad worries too much about her safety; assigned three High Tier mages as guards.
Understand the guy—rumors say he lost fertility; she's his only heir.
But three High Tier mages on a sixteen-year-old? Who'd attack her? Well... besides me.
Since I'd spent a month researching all talent folks I wanted, no need to plan her talent theft from scratch.
Six days tailing her schedule and guards' positions enough to catch one guard cornering a young teacher in a closet, second on phone. Just deal with third.
First attack failed. Guard had anti-spirit artifact, sent alarm. Had to jump parallel world.
Second try: fourfold speed boost, steel pipe to nape. Hit artifact armor.
Damn, did dad sink family fortune into daughter's guards?! Bailed to my world, rethink non-lethal way to snatch charge under his nose.
Third try: blinding light flash to guard's eyes, fourfold speed grab girl, zigzag school halls to basement. Locked in, took her talent.
Whole op under thirty seconds, but door-busting guard nicked my shoulder with wind blade before I jumped. If not beside his charge, would've hit harder.
Finally healed shoulder, unknown number call. Guessing who, answered, cut off before they spoke:
"No, how many times I told your phone sex service to fuck off erotically?! Stop calling! If I go quiet and sexy female voice answers again, I'm hanging up! Quit tempting a young stud in his prime to your perversions!"
"…"—Tang Yue stunned, afraid I'd hang up.
"Come on, Teacher Tang Yue, kidding. What do you need?"—Steered back normal, before she deemed me nuts and hung up. Don't wanna lose future national team tickets.
"…Some jokes you got. How'd you know it was me?"—Young woman asked.
"Intuition."—Why not? Mysterious guys attract women more. Not flirting, but still.
"…Fine, whatever. Got a request; details not over phone. Can you come to a small town south of Yangtze River, north of Hangzhou?"
"What's the pay for your request?"—Didn't agree right away.
"What do you want for help?"—Judge miss probed my greed.
"All resources and treasures we get fulfilling your request. And head pats from above."—Sweet deal for her; she doesn't know about fire Spiritual Seed we'll find. Let her think I goofed my gain.
"Deal!"—Too quick from teacher lady. Learn to lie. "Sending address via CMS now; meet tomorrow 12:00."—Hung up fast before I reneged.
"Well, Pikachu, time for our first adventure!"—Read CMS, raised arm to blue rat finishing seed shard.
"Pika-pika! (May adventure road lead us!) "—He bounced joyfully.
While riding taxi through little Yamen city with Pikachu, couldn't miss cracked soil, abandoned fields. Even the river the city's on dried up. Clear fire seed germination signs.
Passing pet outfit shop, Pikachu tugged my shirt, pawed at it. Eyes sparkled; wanted in bad.
Sighed, told driver stop and wait. Five minutes, back in cab. Driver gawked at life-happy Pikachu in detective suit with magnifying glass. Probably shouldn't said we're investigating.
Finally at inn. Standard two-story with "Yamen Inn" sign. No competition kills creativity.
Entered with shoulder-Pikachu scoping via glass, saw Tang Yue by window. Pink office lady suit. Top two white shirt buttons undone, showing clean white neck skin.
Seeing me, approached to speak, but spotted detective Pikachu glassing her, froze.
"Ignore him; my spatial summon, bit playful. Now explain why you called me here?"—Answered unasked, steered dialogue.
"Don't recognize this creature; what species? So cute!"—Ignored question; eyes starry at chest-puffed proud Pikachu. Women…
"Lightning elemental creature; call him Prince of Lightning. Named him Pikachu."—Introduced blue rat. "So, mission details?"
"Prince of Lightning!? You're lucky! Ahem, proper intro: you know Tang Yue, but not just teacher—Magic Court member."—No overreaction from me, she deflated a bit.
"Here to arrest dangerous criminal, but he slipped me once, memorized my face. Want you tailing him. I'll shadow you from afar; when time to nab, shadow magic to you. Your job: just follow so I save shadow reserve."—Laid out Tang Yue.
"I get it if you refuse; Chao He's dangerous. Mage kills near a hundred. Even some Intermediate Tier."—Saw my poker face, gave retreat chance. Just realized sending recent schoolboy after pro killer ain't smart.
"Don't worry Teacher Tang Yue; won't back out. But for difficulty, up reward: call you by name."—Smiled. Better relations, higher odds for Totem Snake event invite.
"…Deal."—Blushed slight agree. Probably ashamed calling court colleagues after slipping perp once; no one else to call.
"Well, Pikachu? Go catch criminal?"—Glanced at blue rat.
"Pika-chu! (Catch 'em all!) "—Raised glass high.