Pokemon: With Title System

Chapter 10: A New Title

Lance stared in amazement at the scene before him.

He had seen Pokémon use moves like Life Dew or Recover to heal themselves, but a trainer healing their Pokémon with bare hands? This was a first.

"Is this psychic power?" Lance asked, recalling Sabrina and her psychic entourage from Saffron Gym.

"You could say that, but the Viridian Power is a bit different. Its primary abilities are communication and healing—it emphasizes the bond between humans and Pokémon."

Asahi glanced at Gardevoir, who had now clung tightly to his arm. After trying unsuccessfully to free himself, he gave up with a sigh.

"The bond between humans and Pokémon…" Lance muttered thoughtfully. While he didn't fully grasp the concept, watching the close connection between Asahi and Gardevoir, he nodded as if he understood something.

Whether he truly did, Asahi had no idea.

But at this moment, he was quite pleased.

[Defeated the Kanto Dragon-type Elite Four member Lance in a 1v1 battle. Title unlocked: "Dragon Slayer Mage."]

[Please select your reward:]

1. Master Ball

2. Dragon Crystal

3. Sky Plate

Sky Plate?

Seeing the Sky Plate among the rewards, Asahi felt the system was hinting at something.

[System, how many Arceus Plates did you steal? Are you trying to get me killed?]

After some thought, Asahi ruled out the Master Ball—it was rare but mass-producible. Instead, he debated between the Sky Plate and the Dragon Crystal.

In the end, he chose the Dragon Crystal. Not only would it be invaluable for nurturing his Dratini, but it also seemed like the safer option should any legendary Pokémon come seeking retribution.

---

After handing his fainted Gyarados and Dragonair to Nurse Joy, Lance sat down at the Pokémon Center and asked, "So, what's your plan for the investigation?"

He bore no grudge over his losses—it was just sparring, after all.

In fact, after Asahi's victory, Lance no longer regarded him merely as a subordinate.

"I've got a plan," Asahi replied, instantly grabbing Lance's attention.

"I won't investigate Lt. Surge just yet. If he really is Team Rocket's spy within the League, his years of hiding mean his guard will be extremely high. I don't want to alert him prematurely."

"So, I plan to start from another angle."

Lance agreed with Asahi's decision not to investigate Lt. Surge directly, but he was curious about what came next:

"Another angle?"

Asahi nodded. "Yes, according to the records from the case files, the source of this incident lies with the customs officer at Vermilion Port and the suspected involvement of the Silph Shipping Group."

"I plan to begin with these two leads!"

Asahi understood a simple truth: start with the easier targets.

Compared to confronting Lt. Surge, one of Team Rocket's top executives, the customs officer and even the Silph Shipping Group were the "soft targets."

As for Lt. Surge, that would be dealt with after gathering sufficient evidence.

Lance nodded in agreement.

Although the Silph Corporation was a giant in Kanto, Silph Shipping was merely a secondary subsidiary of the main headquarters. Investigating it would have far less political repercussions than directly targeting a Gym Leader.

At the very least, Lance's authority could handle the fallout.

"Then submit a fieldwork application tomorrow," Lance said. "As for the funding for this operation... how does 10 million sound?"

Lance spoke in a questioning tone, as if willing to increase the amount if Asahi wasn't satisfied.

"Ten million?" Asahi was completely stunned.

Ten million for a single investigative mission?

Forgive him for being a country bumpkin, but had the International Police always been this wealthy?

That amount was nearly his entire annual salary as a ranger, excluding bonuses.

At that moment, Asahi finally understood why so many law enforcement personnel fought tooth and nail to join the International Police, even though the work was dangerous.

Because, well... they actually paid well!

"Oh, by the way, is Gardevoir your only Pokémon?" Lance suddenly asked, as if something had occurred to him.

"I have a Dratini too." Asahi released his Dratini from its Speed Ball.

The drowsy Dratini, abruptly woken, glanced at Asahi and Lance in confusion before finding a comfortable spot on Asahi's body, curling up and falling back asleep.

"You already have a Dratini?" Lance was momentarily stunned.

As the Dragon-type Elite Four member of Kanto, Lance was well aware of how rare Dratini were in the region.

He hadn't expected Asahi to have already captured one.

"What's the matter?"

From Lance's tone, Asahi felt as if he'd missed something.

"My Dragonite recently laid an egg. I was planning to give it to you to raise," Lance said.

"But since you already have a Dratini, I suppose I'll pass," Lance added, sounding a little regretful.

Lance had thought Asahi, with his character, training abilities, and genuine love for Pokémon, was the ideal candidate to entrust the egg to. Who would've thought Asahi already had a Dratini?

"!!!"

Hearing this, Asahi felt like he'd just lost out on a billion-dollar deal.

A Dratini egg!

Even though he already had one, he certainly wouldn't have minded another!

And now, with the Dragon Crystal in his possession, he didn't even have to worry about the cost of raising it.

While Asahi silently lamented his loss, Lance seemed to hesitate for a moment before making a decision.

"In that case…"

Lance walked over to the transporter and entered a series of codes into the computer. As the machine whirred to life, a Great Ball materialized on the platform.

Holding the Great Ball and noticing Asahi's puzzled expression, Lance explained:

"This is a Pokémon I asked a friend from Hoenn to collect for me a while back."

"I had planned to train it as part of my second team, but I later realized its personality doesn't quite match my lineup. If you don't mind..."