Chapter 224

Chapter 224: Chapter 224

Eterna City.

Mike stepped out of the station and looked across the lush, green city.

He took a deep breath.

The air was wonderfully fresh!

"Gar?"

[When are we going to buy food?]

Gengar floated beside him expectantly.

"Let’s get a hotel room first. We’ll stay one night. We can buy food tomorrow before we leave, but today we need to get some warm clothes."

Gengar nodded and slipped into Mike’s shadow.

Mike found a nearby hotel, booked a room, and went upstairs to rest for a while.

Some time later, his phone began ringing.

Mike opened his eyes.

Hatenna used her psychic power to lift the phone and float it into his hand.

"Hatenna~"

"Thanks."

Mike answered.

"Hello?"

"Hello. Am I speaking with Professor Mike? I’m a staff member from the Devon Corporation. Mr. Steven asked me to deliver a Mega Stone to you."

Mike practically sprang upright from the bed.

"Yes, this is Mike."

"Could you tell me where you’re currently staying in Eterna City?"

Mike gave him the hotel address.

After ending the call, Mike stretched, sat on the bed in a daze for a little while as he woke himself up properly, then finally got up and headed downstairs with Gengar and the others.

He had only been waiting in the lobby for a short while when someone wearing a Devon Corporation uniform approached.

"Hello, Professor Mike."

Mike looked up.

The employee was a middle-aged man.

"Hello."

Mike greeted him politely.

The man smiled, nodded, and handed him a package.

"Professor Mike, this is the Mega Stone Mr. Steven asked me to deliver."

"Thank you."

Mike accepted it.

"There’s also this."

The employee handed him a second package.

"These are accessories and fittings that can be used to mount Mega Stones and Key Stones. Mr. Steven thought you might need them, so he asked me to bring them along as well."

"Huh? He sent these too?"

Mike accepted the package.

"Please thank Steven for me."

"Of course. Since everything has been delivered, I won’t disturb you any longer. If there’s any problem, you can contact me directly."

"Thanks for making the trip."

"It’s part of my job. Then I’ll be going."

The man soon left.

Mike handed the box to Beedrill and asked him to open it.

Inside rested a beautiful Mega Stone.

Mike picked it up.

{Beedrillite: When held by Beedrill, this Mega Stone allows Beedrill to undergo Mega Evolution during battle.}

Gengar and the others immediately crowded around, staring curiously at the stone in Mike’s hand.

"Gar?"

[This is the one for Beedrill?]

"Yeah." Mike nodded. "With this, Beedrill should be able to take his strength another step further."

Envy immediately filled Gengar’s eyes.

"Relax. I’ll find one for you too."

Mike laughed.

"You and Beedrill are the only members of the team who can Mega Evolve anyway, so you don’t need to worry. I’ll find you a Gengarite."

Gengar immediately broke into a grin.

He accepted the Beedrillite from Mike, then handed it to his second-youngest brother.

Beedrill carefully took the stone, his eyes filling with excitement.

He could become stronger again!

"Where do you want to wear it?" Mike asked.

Beedrill hesitated briefly before pointing toward his abdominal stinger.

"All right."

Mike fitted the Beedrillite into one of the provided bands, then secured the band firmly around Beedrill’s stinger.

"Next, we should find somewhere to test it."

Looking at Beedrill wearing the Mega Stone, Mike could barely contain his excitement.

He had wanted to try Mega Evolution for years.

Back when he watched the anime, scenes of Trainers dramatically raising their Key Stones and shouting cool activation lines before forging a bond with their Pokémon and triggering Mega Evolution had made him unbearably jealous.

Who wouldn’t want to do that in front of everyone at least once?

Mike took out his Key Stone and began thinking about where he should mount it.

"Hey system, can you mount the Key Stone onto my camera?"

{Are you sure? Your camera is quite large. Carrying and activating the Key Stone that way would be inconvenient during battle.}

Several demonstration images appeared.

Mike studied them.

The System had a point.

His camera really wasn’t a practical place for a Key Stone.

Just then, a strong gust swept overhead.

Mike looked up.

A yellow figure descended rapidly from the sky.

Dragonite landed outside the café, spotted Mike sitting inside, pushed open the door, and walked straight in.

Several nearby customers jumped in alarm, and someone immediately reached for a phone to call the police.

Dragonite walked directly over to Mike and towered over him, broad nostrils twitching.

"Fatty?"

Dragonite’s eyes instantly narrowed.

Two thick dragon claws slowly pressed together.

Crack.

The sharp sound of knuckles popping filled the air.

Mike: "..."

"What are you doing here?"

Mike changed the subject at once.

Dragonite stared at him for several seconds, then glanced at the Pokémon surrounding him.

A trace of nostalgia passed through Dragonite’s eyes.

Finally, Dragonite relaxed and took a package from behind their back before handing it to Mike.

"Rrr."

[She sent this for you.]

Mike accepted it and blinked.

"Grandma asked you to bring this?"

Dragonite nodded.

Then, without the slightest hesitation, Dragonite grabbed Mike’s coffee and drained the entire cup.

"RRR!"

The bitterness instantly twisted Dragonite’s face into such a terrifying grimace that several customers nearby fled the café.

[Why do you drink this stuff? It tastes awful!]

"Who told you to drink mine? Gengar’s drink tastes better. You should’ve taken his."

Mike lowered his head and began opening the package.

Gengar: ∑(〇?〇)!!!

The moment Dragonite looked toward him, Gengar hurriedly grabbed his own sweet soda and drained the whole thing in one go.

Dragonite: "..."

Gengar looked innocent.

[Sorry. Looks like I accidentally finished it.]

Hatenna giggled softly, nudged Dragonite, and offered her own drink.

Dragonite looked down at the little Hatenna standing beside the table.

For a moment, Dragonite said nothing.

Then Dragonite picked up her drink and emptied it.

Sweet.

Just like back then.

Meanwhile, Mike finished opening the package and pulled out a scarf.

It was long and patterned in black and white.

Across the fabric were chibi versions of Mike, Gengar, Beedrill, and all the other Pokémon traveling with him.

There was also Growlithe... and a Lapras.

"This is the scarf Grandma knitted for me?"

Mike held the soft, warm fabric in surprise.

Dragonite nodded.

"She’s sending it already? It’s still summer."

Mike laughed, but he wrapped the scarf around his neck anyway.

A faint medicinal-herb scent clung to the fabric, similar to the herbal remedies Grandma often drank.

After wearing it for less than a minute, Mike became unbearably hot and pulled it off.

Gengar immediately snatched the scarf away and copied Mike, wrapping it around himself.

Unfortunately... Gengar had no neck!

Mike burst out laughing at the sight of him bundled up like a dumpling.

Gengar, almost completely swallowed by the scarf, glared at him ferociously.

(.?ˇ_ˇ?.:)

Still grinning, Mike looked back into the package.

There was also an amulet necklace inside.

He picked it up.

"Grandma sent this too?"

Dragonite nodded.

"Rrr."

[I went to the temple with her. She prayed for this charm to keep you safe.]

Mike looked down at the amulet, his expression softening.

Dragonite took the necklace from him.

Then Dragonite reached across the table, picked up Mike’s Key Stone, and expertly pressed the stone into the recessed setting built into the amulet.

Once the Key Stone was firmly secured, Dragonite placed the necklace around Mike’s neck.

Mike stared down at it.

The Key Stone fit perfectly into the amulet, and the necklace itself used a simple clasp that could be removed quickly without easily breaking.

A strange thought entered his mind.

’Why does it feel like Grandma somehow knew ahead of time that I’d eventually use Mega Evolution?’

"GAR—!"

[Food!]

Gengar’s excited voice pulled Mike from his thoughts.

He followed Gengar’s gaze.

The rest of the package was filled with jars of dried fruit Grandma had made herself.

Without the slightest hesitation, Gengar pulled out one jar, opened it, and started chewing.

"Gaar~"

ヾ(′?`.ヾ)

Gengar looked like he had reached paradise.

Seeing the enormous supply of dried fruit, Mike couldn’t help smiling.

"Grandma made this much?"

"Rrr."

[She knows about the research institute. She said you don’t need to worry. She’ll help keep an eye on things.]

"One of the reasons I’m building the institute in Twinleaf Town is so Oleana can help look after Grandma."

Dragonite dropped heavily into a chair, grabbed another jar of dried fruit, twisted the lid open, and started eating.

At home, Dragonite normally wasn’t allowed to eat much of this stuff.

Any time Dragonite wanted some, it had to be done secretly—and even then, only a little.

Mike stared anxiously at the chair creaking beneath Dragonite’s weight.

He felt sorry for the furniture.

"Rrr."

[What are you staring at? Am I not allowed to eat a little?]

"Yes, yes, yes. Eat as much as you want."

Mike shook his head furiously.

Then a familiar voice sounded from outside.

"Where’s the Dragonite? Has everyone been evacuated?"

Mike and Dragonite turned toward the entrance together.

Gardenia and Officer Jenny stepped through the café doors.

Gardenia stopped dead when she saw Dragonite sitting face-to-face with Mike, casually eating from a jar of what looked like preserved Berries.

Officer Jenny looked equally confused.

"Mike?" Gardenia blurted.

"Yo, Gardenia."

Mike casually raised a hand in greeting.

Gardenia stared at him.

"Didn’t you leave Eterna City?"

"I came back."

Mike answered with complete sincerity.

Gardenia: "..."