Chapter 57: What, I Got an Orange?!
Victor accepted the Infinity Flute given by Latios. He understood this must have been a decision they made for the safety of Milotic, so he did not overthink it or indulge himself with unnecessary doubts.
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Early morning.
Victor prepared to set off back to SeawindCove City.
But before that, there was one more thing he needed to do.
He took out the Poké Ball used to carry Milotic from his belt, flipping it deftly with both hands and adjusting it to enter the release mode.
With a faint wisp of black smoke rising, the Poké Ball was automatically rendered unusable, and Milotic reverted to being a wild Pokémon.
"Fuwu?"
[What's wrong, Victor?]
A hint of curiosity flickered in Milotic's sapphire-blue eyes as it watched the scene unfold.
"Since we've become a family, I want to officially capture you again… this time with a better-quality Poké Ball."
Victor retrieved a Luxury Ball from his system backpack, enlarging it with a click. He held it in one hand, aiming it at Milotic.
---
After bidding farewell to Latios, Latias, and all the Pokémon on the island, Victor rode on his Sharpedo, heading toward SeawindCove City.
A luxurious black-and-gold ball rested on the special belt of his light-colored jeans.
Before his departure, Latios and Latias informed Victor of their plan to bring all the Pokémon on the island into the Infinite Secret Realm. To ensure the safety of the Heart Drop and the Pokémon, they decided to temporarily seal the realm and personally guard it. Victor fully supported their decision.
With the enemy hidden in the shadows and them exposed in the open, it was critical to act cautiously.
Riding on Sharpedo at high speed, it took Victor nearly half a day to reach SeawindCove City.
As the outline of the city came into view, Victor gently patted Sharpedo, signaling it to slow down.
Sharpedo eased its pace, once again savoring Victor's homemade energy cube.
To be honest, Sharpedo had put on some weight over the past few days, thanks to Victor's constant feeding. His homemade treats were leagues better than anything from a store.
It's a pity this might be the end, Sharpedo thought reluctantly.
Upon reaching the shore, Victor returned Sharpedo to its Poké Ball. He turned on his phone, intending to use navigation to find the nearest mount Pokémon rental store, but quickly realized his phone's battery was dead.
"Emmmm…" Victor muttered, exasperated.
In this case, finding a place to charge the phone was the first priority.
With that thought in mind, Victor decided to look for a convenience store where he could borrow a charging cable. He only needed enough charge to power on the phone, after which he could rent a shared power bank.
Nowadays, with mobile payments being so common, Victor rarely carried cash unless absolutely necessary. However, he made a mental note to stash some cash in his system backpack for emergencies like this.
Walking along the street, he looked around but couldn't spot a convenience store anywhere.
Odd. Aren't these shops supposed to be everywhere?
There were a few food stalls and shops nearby. Just as he was contemplating whether to ask one of them for a charger, he felt a pair of hands pat his shoulder.
"Is there a problem?"
Victor turned around, puzzled. Standing before him was a middle-aged man in a police uniform.
The officer looked him up and down, his eyes shifting between Victor and the dead phone in his hand, as though he were scrutinizing him.
"Um… Officer, is something wrong?" Victor asked hesitantly.
"You… are Victor, correct?" The policeman's tone was firm, and he paused briefly before clearly stating Victor's name.
"Yes, I am," Victor replied, feeling more confused.
"Good. Then I've got the right person. Please come with me."
The officer flashed his police ID and held it up to Victor's face. His expression was stern, and the law enforcement badge on his uniform was blinking red.
"You are currently a suspect in a Pokémon theft case!"
"W-what?"
Victor was stunned. A suspect? Pokémon theft?
What in the world is going on?!
"Click!"
A soft sound echoed as the silver bracelet was secured, and Victor, now seated in the interrogation chair, remained utterly confused.
"You're so young—how could you do something like this?"
"Here, this is pork cutlet rice. Let's eat first and talk after."
Asher, a middle-aged officer with crow's feet at the corners of his eyes, sighed deeply as he looked at the boy in front of him, who was only seventeen or eighteen.
"Kid, I used to be a trainer myself when I was younger. I even watched your match a week ago."
"I went to the SeawindCove Arena to see it. Your performance and talent were incredible, far surpassing what I could ever achieve back then."
"With such outstanding potential, why would you choose this path…? Such a shame."
Asher sighed again, his disappointment evident.
"No… I'm still trying to understand. What did I even do wrong…" Victor began, still perplexed.
Before he could finish, a sudden knock interrupted him.
"Knock, knock, knock!"
"Come in," Asher called out.
A young, sharp-looking female officer entered, leaning down to whisper something into Asher's ear.
"Ah…" Asher let out yet another exaggerated sigh.
He couldn't help but lament. This boy had the potential to become a cornerstone of the Crimson Alliance, yet now it seemed everything had been ruined because of a crime.
"The questioning will now begin. I'll ask, and you'll answer," Asher said, adjusting the files before him and taking on a more formal tone.
"…Alright," Victor replied hesitantly.
"Did you rent a Sharpedo from a water mount Pokémon rental shop a week ago?"
"Yes, I did."
Why would they ask about the Sharpedo? Could it be…?
Victor's mind raced, and he suddenly recalled something important: he had only rented the Sharpedo for three days, but a full week had passed.
Could it be that they think I used the rental as an excuse to steal the Sharpedo?
His phone had died after the intense training on the island, leaving him unreachable. Perhaps the shop owner thought he had fled with the Pokémon and called the police.
Piecing it all together, Victor quickly said, "Officer, may I explain myself?"
"…Go ahead," Asher said after a pause, giving Victor the chance to clarify.
Victor took a deep breath and said everything in one go:
"Look, I rented a Sharpedo from the water mount Pokémon shop a week ago."
"The agreed rental period was three days, but on the second day, my phone battery died while I was capturing a new Pokémon."
"Just yesterday, I successfully captured my third Pokémon and rode the Sharpedo back to the city."
"My phone was still dead, so I went out looking for a convenience store to charge it. That's when you found me."
"Maybe the shop owner thought I had run off with the Sharpedo because they couldn't contact me?"
Victor finished his explanation, looking at Asher with an earnest expression.