Chapter 158

Chapter 158: Chapter 158

That evening, after returning to the hotel, Mike lay sprawled across the bed and idly scrolled through his phone.

A private message from Gholdengo Is Number One suddenly appeared, so he opened it.

[Gholdengo Is Number One: How’s the equipment? Have you tested it yet?]

[Mike: Yep. Works really well. I’m planning to head offshore tomorrow and have some fun with it.]

[Gholdengo Is Number One: Good.]

[Gholdengo Is Number One: The ocean is nothing like being on land. Be careful.]

[Mike: Relax. I’m only going down to shoot some footage.]

[Mike: Want to come with us? GengarSmirking.jpg]

[Gholdengo Is Number One: Typing...]

[Gholdengo Is Number One: ...]

[Gholdengo Is Number One: Sure. It’s been a long time since I went out to sea anyway!]

Mike stared at the reply.

’Huh?!’

’I was just inviting you to be polite!’

Another message appeared before he could recover.

[Gholdengo Is Number One: I should reach Sinnoh tomorrow morning. You’re in Floaroma Town, right?]

[Mike: Yeah.]

[Gholdengo Is Number One: Want me to arrange a boat?]

[Mike: No need. I already borrowed one from someone.]

[Gholdengo Is Number One: Okay. See you tomorrow. Get some sleep.]

With that, Gholdengo Is Number One went offline.

Mike remained motionless for several seconds, staring at his phone.

’So we’re actually going to meet in person?’

He scratched his head, then called the elderly woman he had met in Floaroma.

"You want to take the boat out tomorrow?" she asked.

"Yeah."

"All right. I’ll have someone bring it to the harbor for you. Do you need diving equipment?"

"No, ma’am. I already have everything prepared."

"Good. Then enjoy yourself, and remember to take a few pictures for me while you’re out there."

"Absolutely."

After ending the call, Mike looked toward Gengar and Beedrill, who were hanging upside down near the corner of the room.

"Let’s get some sleep early. We’re heading out to sea tomorrow."

He paused.

"Gholdengo Bro is coming too."

Gengar tilted his head.

"Gar?"

[Gholdengo Bro? The guy who keeps sending us lots of stuff?]

"Yep."

Gengar immediately nodded with complete conviction.

"Gar—"

[He’s a good person!]

Mike burst out laughing.

"So anyone who gives you presents automatically becomes a good person?"

Gengar nodded without the slightest hesitation.

"Whatever. Time for bed. Snivy, could you turn off the light?"

"Sni~"

The room went dark.

Meanwhile, Gengar froze.

Σ(°∀°ﾉ)ﾉ

"Gar—!"

[You... You always used to ask ME to turn off the light!]

Mike could practically sense the wounded Ghost-type crouching in the corner, drawing imaginary circles on the floor.

He sighed.

"Gengar, could you please turn the light back on and then turn it off for me?"

Gengar instantly recovered.

He sprang out of the corner, floated toward the switch, turned the lights back on, then happily called out,

"Gar~"

[Good night~]

Click.

Darkness returned.

"Good night, everyone."

Mike rolled onto his side and noticed a pair of blue eyes still glowing faintly in the darkness.

He reached over, gently stroked Glameow’s head, and closed his eyes.

Glameow waited until he had settled down, then quietly carried her red ball of string into the corner and began playing by herself.

...

Meanwhile, in Paldea—

"Butler, arrange a helicopter for me. I’m going to Floaroma Town in Sinnoh."

A deep, pleasant voice sounded through the room.

"Yes, Master. Do you intend to leave immediately?"

"Yes."

A young man dressed in a black suit sat on a sofa, locking his phone while one hand absently stroked the Sylveon resting beside him.

"Understood."

A short while later, footsteps approached from outside.

"Master, everything is ready."

The young man rose and looked toward his Pokémon.

"Come on, everyone. Let’s go enjoy our vacation."

Under the cover of night, a helicopter lifted from Paldea and set course directly for Sinnoh.

...

The next morning dawned clear and bright.

Mike was dragged awake at an unreasonably early hour by his Pokémon.

When he opened his eyes, the first thing he saw was a soft pink paw planted squarely on his face.

Instead of complaining, Mike closed his eyes again in contentment.

"Yes. Exactly like that. A little harder."

Glameow: ?!

(°△°)ツ

Gengar: Σ(°∀°ﾉ)ﾉ

Snivy: "..."

Beedrill: "..."

Disgust flashed through Glameow’s blue eyes. She immediately withdrew her paw and backed away from him.

Mike sighed regretfully and sat upright, scratching his bird’s-nest hair.

"Glameow, I would appreciate it if you could provide that exact wake-up service every morning from now on."

Glameow stared at him.

"MEOW!"

She growled fiercely.

Mike ignored her completely and walked into the bathroom.

"Gengar, don’t buy breakfast today. We’ll eat outside."

He stopped Gengar just as the Ghost-type was preparing to leave.

Gengar poked his head back through the doorway and answered.

"Gar—"

Mike finished rinsing his mouth, washed his face, then came out carrying Glameow’s personal towel.

He immediately caught the cat as she tried to retreat across the bed, covered her face with the towel, and thoroughly rubbed her down before finally releasing her.

Once again ignoring her furious hissing, Mike and Gengar gathered all the equipment they would need for the day.

Mike raised his fist energetically.

"Everyone ready? Let’s go!"

"Gar—!"

...

"Hey? Gholdengo Bro, y’ere yet?"

There was a pause on the other end of the call.

"...Swallow your food before you talk."

Mike’s eyes widened indignantly.

He forced down the mouthful of sandwich, accepted the cup Snivy handed him, took a long drink, and tried again.

"You here?"

"Yeah."

A smooth, resonant voice answered from the phone.

"Where are you? I’ll come find you."

"No need. I can see you."

Mike looked up and began searching the area, only for a tall figure to appear directly in front of his table.

Mike sat there holding a sandwich, salad dressing still stuck near the corner of his mouth, and blinked at the man standing before him.

Light green hair.

A perfectly fitted black suit.

Tall, lean build.

And as for his face... Mike drew in a quiet breath.

’Damn.’

’He’s only slightly less handsome than me.’

The revelation was genuinely shocking.

"Mind if I sit?"

The green-haired man looked at Mike.

His rather messy way of eating made his brow crease slightly, but after remembering the person he had seen countless times in Mike’s videos, he quickly relaxed.

As far as he could tell, this was simply what Mike was like.

"Of course."

Mike gestured toward the chair.

The man sat without ceremony.

"Have you eaten breakfast yet?" Mike asked.

He shook his head.

"No, just arrived."

"All right, I’ll order something for you. Gengar’s paying."

Gengar: Σ(°∀°ﾉ)ﾉ

Then he immediately puffed out his chest.

"Gar—!"

[That’s right! My treat! I have money!]

He stuffed the rest of his sandwich into his mouth and proudly patted his round belly.

The man laughed.

"In that case, I won’t refuse."

His food arrived shortly afterward, and he began eating without any excessive formality.

Mike had already finished his own breakfast by then, which left him free to openly study his online friend.

Just from the man’s appearance, it was obvious he belonged to the upper levels of society.

He carried himself with the kind of effortless confidence Mike associated with executives and wealthy heirs.

For all Mike knew, he might be the successor to some enormous corporation, much like Steven Stone.

Then again, Paldea did seem to produce an unusual number of rich people.

The clearest giveaway wasn’t even the suit.

It was the man’s demeanor—decisive, controlled, and completely comfortable with giving orders.

Nothing like another Paldean man Mike knew who also wore business clothes.

That guy radiated ’overworked corporate employee’ from fifty feet away.

’Right, Larry?’

More importantly, an elderly man dressed unmistakably as a butler had been standing behind Gholdengo Bro throughout breakfast.

Mike shook his head.

’Damn capitalists.’

He politely asked whether the butler wanted anything to eat, but the elderly man declined.

"Thank you for the offer, Mr. Mike, but I’ve already eaten."

Mike stared.

’You both just arrived in Floaroma, he’s still having breakfast, and you already ate?’

The green-haired man noticed his confusion and explained, "On our way over here, he saw a food stall selling something he’d wanted to try for a long time, so he bought some."

"Oh. That makes more sense."