As the political center of the Sinnoh League, Dragon City covered a vast area, yet its buildings were not crowded. Pokémon could often be seen moving freely throughout the city.
Upon arriving at their destination—Dragon City Research Institute—
Rei Akagi released Gengar, whose color looked several shades lighter after being blasted by high-altitude winds. While fixing his hair that had been completely messed up by the wind, he stepped down from the air taxi.
Aside from the nearly useless wind protection…
The service had been perfect—more or less.
"Next time, remember to activate the energy shield for passengers," Rei Akagi said sincerely while rubbing his numb cheeks.
"Not every customer is as durable as we are."
"Salamence— (Got it!)"
The Salamence nodded perfunctorily. Then it impatiently tapped the price list, card reader, and a massive QR code strapped to its arm with its claws.
The meaning was obvious:
Pay up.
Rei Akagi glanced at the price list and his mouth twitched.
What highway robbery…
After paying, he watched as Salamence skillfully used its claws to swipe on a phone to accept the next ride request before flapping its wings and soaring away.
Only then did Rei Akagi follow Professor Oak into the research institute.
However, instead of peace and quiet, they were immediately greeted by chaos.
"Professor Oak! It's really Professor Oak!"
"Professor! About the newly discovered fossil—"
"Professor! Please look at this dataset!"
In almost an instant, Rei Akagi was squeezed aside by a flood of researchers.
All he could do was watch helplessly as Professor Oak disappeared down the hallway, completely surrounded.
Rei Akagi lowered his head and looked at the only companion still beside him.
"Gengar, looks like the professor won't be free anytime soon."
"So we'll have to figure out lunch ourselves—"
Before he finished speaking, he realized Gengar had somehow changed its appearance.
A tiny detective hat sat crookedly on its head.
One eye was raised higher than the other, its mouth tilted smugly—and it was even holding a wooden pipe in its mouth.
It nodded solemnly like a great detective.
"Genga, genga! (I, the great Detective Gengar, have already deduced everything from the clues!)"
"Give that back right now!"
Rei Akagi's chop struck Gengar's head with perfect precision.
Bonk.
"Genga! (Ouch!)"
After disciplining the "detective," Rei Akagi carried the sulking Gengar on his head, with Rayquaza in miniature form wrapped around his neck, and began searching for somewhere to eat.
They passed a row of Oddish swaying gently in the wind.
Then they walked around an Exeggutor perfectly camouflaged among roadside greenery.
Suddenly, the name of a restaurant grabbed all of Rei Akagi's attention.
Dragonite Battle Restaurant!
Boss, the Dragonite Protection Society is going to sue you…
Thinking that, Rei Akagi still pushed open the glass door, which had a "Battle in Progress" sign hanging on it.
The moment he stepped inside, an energetic teenage voice cut through the restaurant's noise.
"Pikachu! Now—Thunderbolt!"
At the battle arena in the center of the restaurant, a nimble yellow Electric-type mouse darted around the field.
And the boy commanding it—
Wore a classic red-and-white cap, radiating youthful energy.
Rei Akagi's steps froze.
Why does that voice sound so familiar?
He performed a quick zigzag through the crowd and slipped to the front.
When he saw the trainer standing on the battlefield—
His eyes widened.
"A-Assistant."
"System Notification: I'm here.."
"Let me confirm something first."
"You're not about to issue some kind of crisis-resolution mission to me… right?"
"System Notification: System missions are released entirely according to the contractor's inner wishes. Tasks are not issued without cause."
"…?"
"According to me? Do you even hear what you're saying?"
"Do you think I want to deal with this ridiculous Team Rainbow Rocket crisis? Do I look like that kind of person?"
Rei Akagi stared with dead fish eyes.
Then he silently used the crowd as cover and slipped to a remote corner to sit down and order food.
"Gengar, pick whatever you want—"
While casually scanning the menu, Rei Akagi instinctively passed it toward his shadow.
However, his hand hung in midair.
Several seconds passed.
His shadow didn't move at all.
"Gengar?"
Rei Akagi lowered his head in confusion.
Right at that moment—
An even louder wave of shocked cries erupted from the battle arena!
"Oh my god! Whose Gengar is that?!"
"It defeated the Pikachu that just achieved a ten-win streak—and nobody was even commanding it!"
"Is that a wild Gengar?!"
"No! It has a trainer! Just look at how well-fed it is—its trainer must be a master-level breeder!"
On the battlefield—
Gengar stood with its arms on its hips, staring at Pikachu lying on the ground with spiral eyes.
Then it burst into villainous laughter.
"Ke ke ke ke!"
Its body flickered—
And it merged into the shadow beneath it.
A moment later, it emerged from Ash's shadow behind him!
Before Ash could react, the chubby ghost grabbed the red-and-white cap off his head.
"Ah! My hat!"
Amid the crowd's amazement—and the path automatically opening before it—
Gengar strutted proudly through the restaurant, wearing its "trophy" cap.
Its steps were completely lawless.
It marched straight toward the corner where a handsome man in Chinese-style clothing was currently looking down, searching for something.
"Genga! (Your Majesty returns victorious!)"
Rei Akagi looked up.
What he saw was a smiling Gengar wearing a baseball cap.
"Gengar! Where did you run off to just now? You had me worried!"
Without hesitation, he grabbed Gengar's round face and began stretching its cheeks mercilessly.
"Genga! Genga! (Battle! Free lunch!)"
With its face being pulled, Gengar tried to explain through distorted speech.
"What? You're saying you wanted a free meal, so you went to challenge the arena?!"
Rei Akagi loosened his grip slightly, but his frown deepened.
He lifted Gengar's plump body and carefully inspected it from top to bottom.
Not even a single ghost hair was missing.
Still unsatisfied, he even used Aura to sense its condition, confirming that Gengar was simply having fun and completely unharmed.
"Gengar."
Rei Akagi's expression turned serious.
Seeing Gengar quietly put away its smile, its small hands folded awkwardly in front of its body while avoiding eye contact—
His heart softened.
With a helpless sigh, he rubbed its head.
"Don't do reckless things like that again without me nearby, okay?"
"Gen…"
Gengar looked pitiful.
"I'm not saying you can't battle."
Rei Akagi's voice softened, carrying a hint of concern.
"Next time before you battle, at least tell me first. Even if you don't need me to command you…"
"I just don't want you getting hurt somewhere without me knowing."
Gengar nodded furiously like a bobblehead.
Then it grinned wide again and proudly removed the cap from its head before presenting it to Rei Akagi like a treasure.
"Genga! (Spoils of war!)"
"Spoils of war?"
Rei Akagi took the cap and examined it carefully.
Red and white.
Classic vintage design.
Isn't this the original—
His expression suddenly froze.
◇ BONUS & SUPPORT ◇
◇ 1 bonus chapter for every 10 reviews — drop a comment!
◇ 1 bonus chapter for every 100 Power Stones.
◇ Read 70 chapters ahead on P@treon → patreon.com/Sagamaster789