Reporting to the higher-ups: the big shot was right beside me?

Inside a restroom stall, May held her breath and cupped the Communicator in both hands. "Champion Lance, it's me."

On the other end, Lance, the strongest Elite Four member in Kanto, spoke. "Investigator May, contacting me this late-have you found a lead on that mysterious big shot with the Full Pokédex?"

"I have," May said, pinching the web between her thumb and forefinger hard. "Or rather, he's been making a fool of me all along!"

Lance asked, "Have you confirmed the target's identity? Does he have a Legendary Pokémon with him?"

"It's more than that!" May lowered her voice, though its pitch rose. "The Charmander he only received yesterday evolved straight into Charizard, skipping a stage!"

The other end fell quiet for two seconds. "Genius Trainers do exist, but that isn't enough to classify him as..."

"That Charizard breathed blue-white flames! It melted the Pewter Gym's Onix's rocky shell into glass!" May cut him off.

"..." Lance fell silent.

"And there's more!" May continued her rapid report. "That ordinary Pikachu of his just boiled all the water in the Cerulean Gym's battle pool with a single Thunderbolt!"

"Boiled it?" Lance's voice abruptly rose. "Was this a Water-type move evaporating from the heat?"

"I watched the pool bubble with my own eyes! Even Goldeen got electrocuted into a cooked fish!" May paced uneasily. "And he actually explained it by saying the pool was too small and its electrical resistance wasn't high enough. He even said Newton said so!"

"Newton?" Lance paused. "Is there a Pokémon research professor named Newton in Kanto?"

"That's a fake name that liar made up on the spot!" May rubbed her temples. "Champion Lance, that isn't even the most outrageous part."

"What else is there?"

"Early this morning, Professor Oak asked us to deliver a package to the Research Station in Viridian Forest." May lowered her voice. "There was a mysterious egg inside. When it hatched, a mutated Eevee with a divine rune on its forehead came out!"

"A divine rune?"

"Yes! The researcher said it was a mythical law-mutated life-form!" May's fingertips trembled. "Then that Mythical Eevee lunged straight at his face and kept calling him Daddy!"

A heavy thud came through the Communicator, followed by the sound of a teacup shattering on the other end.

"Champion Lance?"

"I'm listening," Lance said gravely. "Listen carefully, May."

"Give the order, and I'll call the Special Forces over to arrest him right now!" May reached for the Poké Ball at her waist.

"Absolutely not!" Lance flatly refused.

"Why?"

"He can make a mythical law-based life-form acknowledge him as its master and make basic Pokémon unleash godlike power," Lance said quickly. "If this man goes berserk, the entire Kanto League won't be able to stop him."

May's hand froze halfway.

"Your assignment has changed." Lance issued an absolute order. "Stay by his side, whatever it takes."

"Huh? I still have to follow him?"

"Yes! Keep him under close surveillance! Comply with every demand he makes, even if he asks you to serve him tea!" Lance left no room for argument.

"But..."

"No buts. Remember, do not provoke him under any circumstances. If he shows any antisocial tendencies, withdraw immediately. I'll personally ask Professor Oak to come out of retirement!"

"Beep... beep..." The call disconnected. May stared at the dark screen. Serve him tea? I'm a Special Investigator of Kanto, and I'm supposed to babysit a lazy bum who spouts nothing but nonsense?

May pushed open the restroom door and stepped outside.

Beneath a streetlight outside the Cerulean Gym, Lin Hao was squatting on the curb, holding a grilled sausage he'd bought from a roadside stall. The Pikachu on his shoulder clutched half a sausage and gnawed away, grease smeared all over its mouth.

The Runic Eevee in his arms lay belly-up, comfortably enjoying the scratches Lin Hao gave it. "Vee~ vee~"

"You little thing, your fur's pretty soft," Lin Hao muttered as he petted Eevee. "But you eat way too much. One grilled sausage isn't even enough to fill the gaps between your teeth."

May walked up to him and looked down at him.

Lin Hao raised his head. "Done using the bathroom?"

"Yes."

"You didn't fall in, did you?"

"Lin Hao!" May stared at him.

"Why are you so worked up?" Lin Hao stood and brushed the dust off his pants. "If you're hungry, just say so. I've still got half a sausage here, left over from Pikachu."

"Pika!" Pikachu hurriedly hid the remaining sausage behind its back.

May steadied herself and forced down the urge to punch him. Champion Lance's words echoed in her ears: Don't provoke him! Do as he says!

"I'm not hungry." May forced a smile. "Lord Lin Hao, where are we going next?"

Lin Hao scrutinized her. "Did you take the wrong medicine? Why are you calling me 'lord'?"

"I didn't! I just think you're incredibly strong, and I admire you! Is that so wrong?" May shouted.

"Please don't." Lin Hao took half a step back. "I'm just an ordinary guy. Calling me that will take years off my life."

He tucked Eevee into his backpack. "Let's go. We blew out Cerulean City's light bulbs. Stick around too long, and someone might make us pay for them. Let's head to our next stop tonight."

"Where?"

"Vermilion City." Lin Hao yawned. "I hear there's a cruise ship there called the S.S. Anne, with a free seafood buffet on board. Ordinary people love a free meal."

May shot him a sidelong glance. You're a monster who can boil an entire pool, and you're thinking about a free buffet?

The two followed a small path through the outskirts of Cerulean City, the moonlight stretching their shadows long.

As they walked, a mountain range appeared ahead, and the entrance to a deep, dark tunnel came into view.

"This tunnel runs through an outlying ridge of Mt. Moon," May said, checking the map. "Once we're through, we'll come straight out onto the road to Vermilion City."

"Let's go." Lin Hao walked inside without hesitation. The tunnel was dim, and the air smelled of damp earth.

They had gone less than five hundred meters when Lin Hao stopped dead.

"What's wrong?" May stopped walking.

Lin Hao pointed deeper into the tunnel. "Why is there a pink light glowing in the cave up ahead?"

"It sounds like a Pokémon is calling for help!"