Chapter 134: Choosing a Reward
"...So, you're saying you also escaped from the Spirit World?" Asahi asked.
Gastly nodded vigorously.
"Then why didn't you attack me like the others?"
"Haunter haunter..."
"Oh? You mean those other Pokémon were just brainless idiots?"
Gastly nodded again, looking completely disdainful.
Wow. Even among Ghost-types, there was a hierarchy of arrogance?
Just as Asahi was about to comment on that, Gastly suddenly put on a flattering expression. "Gaaaas!"
"Hmm? You're asking if you can leave...?"
Seeing Gastly's hopeful expression, Asahi shook his head. "That's not happening."
"You're a Pokémon that illegally crossed over from the Spirit World. Even though Dusknoir didn't take you back, as a member of the International Police responsible for Kanto's security, I can't just let you go! By protocol, I should deport you back to the Spirit World, just like that ghostly girl."
Hearing this, Gastly panicked and frantically protested. "Gaaaastly! Gastly!"
It didn't want to go back to the Spirit World—it was gloomy and boring there! The real world was much more fun!
Asahi spread his hands, unmoved. "Rules are rules."
"Even foreign Pokémon need a visa to enter Kanto. Do you have a visa?"
Green, watching Asahi exploit Gastly's ignorance of League regulations, secretly laughed but kept a straight face and nodded in agreement.
Of course, Gastly didn't have a visa.
Seeing that Asahi wouldn't let it go, Gastly hesitated for a moment before reluctantly spitting out a talisman, offering it to Asahi in a desperate attempt to bargain.
It was a dark-red parchment covered in strange, ominous runes.
"A Curse Tag?" Asahi was surprised.
He hadn't expected Gastly to be carrying something this valuable.
"Gastly, Gastly!" Gastly eagerly gestured, clearly wanting to trade the Curse Tag for its freedom.
Asahi took the talisman, glanced at Gastly, and smirked. "Bribing a League official—you know that's a crime, right?"
Gastly's eyes widened.
There was a law for that too?!
"But since this is your first offense, I'll let it slide."
Gastly let out a sigh of relief.
But before it could express its gratitude, Asahi continued, "However, as for this illegal item, I'll be confiscating it."
Gastly opened its mouth to argue but hesitated, afraid of breaking yet another obscure rule.
So, it could only watch helplessly as Asahi pocketed the Curse Tag.
Weak, pitiful, and helpless, Gastly looked up at Asahi, awaiting its final judgment.
Asahi stroked his chin, pretending to hesitate. "By normal protocol, you should be deported. But since you haven't attacked any humans and behaved well, I'll give you a chance."
Hearing this, Gastly's eyes lit up with hope.
"You'll stay with me for a probationary period. If I determine that you pose no threat to the League, you'll be allowed to legally remain in the real world!"
As he spoke, Asahi pulled out an Ultra Ball.
Smiling, he waited for Gastly's response.
Gastly felt like something was off, but compared to being captured by a human, it really didn't want to be deported.
So, after only a brief hesitation, it rammed itself against the Ultra Ball's button.
Poof!
Gastly was sucked into the ball. It barely shook before locking with a ding.
Green, having watched the entire process, was speechless.
Was this really necessary? Gardevoir could have easily defeated Gastly and captured it outright.
"I don't like forcing Pokémon into submission," Asahi said, meeting Green's gaze.
Green: "..."
Fair enough. Gastly was definitely willing.
"Alright, that settles everything here. Time to leave."
After recalling Gyarados and Salamence, Asahi took one last look at the seventh floor before leaving with Green.
Not long after they left, a pale, translucent hand quietly emerged and began tidying up the mess.
---
"…And that's roughly what happened," Asahi explained to Agatha.
Hearing that Dusknoir had been imprisoned, Agatha frowned.
"Good thing you were there, Asahi. Otherwise, this could have turned into a disaster," she said.
"It was nothing," Asahi waved it off.
Although there had been a lot of enemies in the Pokémon Tower, none were as troublesome as Lt. Surge.
Returning Gengar to Agatha, he politely declined her invitation to stay at her estate. Instead, he released Salamence and took off into the night sky with Green.
Watching them disappear, Agatha leaned on her cane and dismissed the guards around the Pokémon Tower before slowly making her way back home with Gengar.
---
Lavender Town wasn't far from Saffron City. By the time Asahi returned, he found Sabrina in the estate, researching Pokéblocks with her two Indeedee.
"Hmm? Weren't you in Lavender Town? Why are you back so soon?" Sabrina asked, hastily hiding her failed Pokéblock attempts behind her.
"The job's done, so of course I came back. Lavender Town is way too eerie—who'd want to stay there?" Asahi said matter-of-factly.
Sabrina nodded in agreement.
But before she could say anything else, Asahi narrowed his eyes. "Wait… Were you trying to recreate the Pokéblocks I gave you?"
Sabrina tensed up. "W-what? Of course not!"
"These are for Alakazam," she said, quickly summoning Alakazam and shoving her failed Pokéblocks into its hands.
Alakazam: "???"
With a resigned look, Alakazam forced itself to eat the oddly flavored Pokéblocks.
"Anyway! I have business at the dojo. I'm leaving!"
And with that, she teleported away with Alakazam.
Asahi sighed. "No need to be so dramatic… It's not like it's a secret. Even my Lugia loves my Pokéblocks."
Green rolled her eyes.
Yeah, but do you even realize how ridiculous your Pokéblocks are?
Asahi lay comfortably on the sofa, letting out a satisfied sigh while waiting for Indeedee to prepare a late-night snack for him and Green.
At the same time, he checked the system notifications.
[You discovered abnormal activity in Pokémon Tower. After an effortless battle, you defeated the Ghost-type Pokémon that had illegally crossed over from the Spirit World and mercilessly sent the poor ghostly girl and her Mismagius back, resolving the Pokémon Tower crisis. Title 'Spirit World Enforcer' unlocked.]
[Please choose your reward.]
[1. Reaper Cloth]
[2. Ghostium Z]
[3. Cursed Armor]
Asahi looked at the system's list of rewards and sighed.
"System, you've changed. Where's the Ghost Plate? Did Arceus find out you were stealing its plates?"
Just as he was contemplating which reward to pick, Green, who had been browsing on her tablet, suddenly exclaimed, "Found it!"
"Hmm? Found what?" Asahi temporarily put aside the reward selection and turned to her in curiosity.
Green immediately held up the tablet for him to see.
On the screen was a project proposal.
Title: 'Feasibility Study on Converting Lavender Town's Pokémon Tower into the Kanto Radio Tower.'
Simply put, the plan was to demolish Lavender Town's Pokémon Tower and rebuild it as the Kanto Radio Tower.
However, at the end of the proposal, due to overwhelming public opposition during the consultation period, the plan was ultimately shelved.
Today, when the ghost girl mentioned moving the entire Pokémon Tower into the Spirit World, she was reminded of this old news she had read before. After returning, she found the relevant document in the International Police's database.
The Lavender Town incident was strange no matter how she looked at it.
Agatha, as an Elite Four member, was stationed in Lavender Town but had allowed the situation to develop unchecked.
If they hadn't intervened, the Pokémon Tower might have already been moved into the Spirit World by now.
Now, with this project proposal in hand, she couldn't help but make some connections.
Green hesitated and asked, "Asahi, do you think the Pokémon Tower incident has anything to do with Elite Four Agatha…?"
Before she could finish, Asahi raised his hand to stop her.
"There's no evidence linking this matter to Elite Four Agatha, is there?"
Green hesitated for a moment, then nodded.
"We, as International Police, must act based on evidence. We can't convict someone just on speculation."
"Even if we assume the worst and say Agatha deliberately allowed the situation to unfold, she still didn't break any League regulations."
"She fulfilled her duty to protect civilians. She secured the area. As for protecting the Pokémon Tower, that was never part of her job. Even if the League Council were to question her, she wouldn't be at fault."
Green fell silent because everything Asahi said was true.
As they spoke, Mr. Mime had already finished preparing supper and brought it to the table.
"Alright, since the matter is resolved, let's not overthink it. Time to eat!"
Asahi released all his Pokémon. "Everyone, meet our new companion—Gastly!"
"Gaaasss!"
Gastly was startled to see so many Pokémon at once. But after remembering that it was now Asahi's Pokémon, it quickly calmed down and greeted the others.
The Pokémon responded warmly, even Eevee, who had been frightened by the Pokémon Tower experience, seemed less nervous now.
Watching this, Green thought for a moment before finally putting her tablet back into her backpack.
She also released her Pokémon.
They had to eat quickly—if they were too slow, Salamence would devour everything!
---