Elf: Who told him to be an investigator!

Chapter 52 "Honest" Deal

Four days later.

Sinnoh, east of Flower Garden Town.

Here sits the valley power plant, which supplies electricity to the entire Tianguan Mountain area. Under the dazzling sunlight, the sharp mountain wind blows through the valley, and countless windmills whir and turn.

At this moment, under the originally calm and clear blue sky...

Openly and brazenly, a massive spaceship slowly flew in from the depths of the valley.

The spacious deck was crowded with Pokémon hunters, who looked down at the scene below. One of them asked with great interest:

"Boss, is there some rare Pokémon here? Why did we come all the way here?"

"You don't need to ask any more questions," Hunter J said, arms crossed. "All you need to know is to wreak havoc. At least completely destroy the power plant below."

"The more damage you cause, the more money you'll get."

Even though he looked down on Team Galaxy, Hunter J had to admit it.

The Galaxy team really pays them a lot of money.

Not to mention the last deal, she only sent the Galaxy Team some lousy, second-rate Pokémon hunters.

This gradually made Team Galactic a synonym for being a spendthrift in Hunter J's mind.

Unfortunately, this operation couldn't be completed casually and for money, since it involved destroying an entire alliance's facilities, and Team Galactic required her to come in person.

Therefore, she brought almost all of her elite subordinates with her.

This can be considered her entire team in Sinnoh, representing almost all of Sinnoh's elite Pokémon hunters. The spaceship she travels in was also built by Hunter J at great expense, encompassing numerous functions, and she cherishes it immensely.

and so.

They should be able to destroy this valley power plant within an hour.

No, not even an hour!

"However, before that..."

Hunter J, recalling the deal she had made here not long ago, smirked and chuckled. "Country bumpkins from the Ore region. They don't really think I'd pay that much, do they? Although being able to steal someone else's Poké Ball certainly makes it worth the price."

However, such an opportunity to annihilate these people from the Ore region could also be a good thing, as it would draw the Alliance's firepower.

Thinking this, she took out her communication device and sent a message to O'Rey's contact person—

[Trading Location: Valley Power Plant]

[Time: 15:00]

That is, one hour later.

……

Ding-dong-

Huayuan Town belongs to Miko's home. In her cozy room, the Orei communication device, which sits on the table like a brick, flashed and emitted a notification sound indicating that a message had arrived. However, Zeshu only glanced at it and then ignored it.

Because the communication device he found from the Galaxy team was also communicating with the other side.

soon.

They "agreed" on" the time to invade the valley power plant, and only then was Ze Shu able to see the so-called "transaction location".

"Heh." Ze Shu laughed after just one glance. "So you're not planning to pay."

"But let's go anyway, Ibrahimovic. Are you ready?"

"Buyi—"

Ice Eevee let out a sweet cry, its adorable face beaming with joy.

Of course it's ready.

but……

Before setting off, Glaceon had one more request: "Eee!"

Its pair of prismatic, ice-blue ears stood up, and it looked at Ze Shu with anticipation.

"We need to replenish the Ze Tree's energy!"

Ze Shu: "..."

Why does it feel like Glaceon has become increasingly affectionate lately?

But Zeshu didn't mind. He hugged Eevee close, feeling its cool and soft body, letting it suck and rub against him, before putting it back into its Poké Ball and placing it in the 'starting position' in his belt.

Then.

They stuffed their bodies with clothes to make them look bulky, then covered their faces, acting furtively.

Ze Shucai left Miko's house and, accompanied by the fragrance of flowers, soon arrived at the so-called "transaction location".

Beneath the whirring windmill, a shadow fell. In the distance, a massive and imposing spaceship stood, which, in Ze Shu's impression, resembled the "Heroic Onion" from Pokémon Horizon, but was perhaps larger and had a more imposing exterior.

Spaceships in the Pokémon world are generally like this.

Ze Shu glanced at it with a hint of surprise, but then paid it no mind.

Because a woman was standing in the shadow of the windmill.

She had short, silver-white hair, wore a high-tech goggles, and her trench coat rustled in the valley wind. Beside her, a lean, ferocious dragon coiled, its blood-red wings in a wary stance, protecting the woman.

Needless to say, Ze Shu recognized him as Hunter J—the most notorious Pokémon Hunter leader.

"Let's get the ball," Hunter J said first, seeing Sawaki slowly walking towards her.

"Here," Ze Shu pointed to a package at his waist, "where's the money?"

Hunter J also took out a bulging package, shook it, and the gold inside made a clanging sound as it clattered together.

Needless to say, it's cash on delivery.

"I suppose all 'friendship deals' in the underworld are this silent, decisive, and 'honest,'" Ze Shu thought to himself.

He handed the package, filled with useless, shrunken, low-quality Poké Balls that he had collected over the past few days, to Hunter J.

Hunter J also handed the real gold and silver in his hand to Ze Shu.

The instant they each grabbed the other's package.

A commotion arose from the distant location of the spaceship, and it even faintly reached Ze Shu's ears.

But he had no time to care.

Because Hunter J's voice suddenly became low.

"Dragon's Breath!"

"roar--"

She could see the Salamence beside her bulge its mouth, and a pale purple breath suddenly shot towards him. This breath was thin, carried strong wind pressure, and was extremely sudden, clearly intended to precisely attack Ze Shu, or at least blow him off balance before launching another attack.

Ke Zeshu was prepared. He simply turned to the side and brushed past the breath, the strong wind pressure having no effect on him whatsoever.

He even took the initiative to step forward, clench his fist, and smash it towards Hunter J.

"Varied……"

Upon seeing this, Hunter J, who suddenly retreated, showed surprise in his eyes. In his haste, he could only raise his arms in front of him, trying to barely defend himself.

Bang!

Hunter J couldn't withstand it and staggered backward, flying a considerable distance before barely managing to regain his footing.

She stared at Ze Shu in disbelief: "Who are you?!"

Even as she said this, she didn't expect a reply. The Salamence's mouth puffed out again, and this time it spewed out a jet of flame!

Zeki didn't answer her, and summoned Ice Eevee along with him as he threw a punch.

"Buyi—"

In an instant, an ice wall suddenly rose up in front of Ze Shu, surrounding the 'ice pillar slab', and collided with the flames.

呲——

The collision of flames and ice walls hissed and emitted steam, blurring the surroundings.

Faintly, one could hear the sound of the Salamence flapping its wings on the other side.

Hunter J wanted to leave.

And in such a short time, it has already flown far enough.

Through the mist, Zeju could see Hunter J riding on the back of the Salamence, flying high into the sky at an incredible speed, and in no time at all, he was already far enough away.

He slowed his movements, then reluctantly stopped what he was about to do.

"Ha...this woman is really cautious..."

"But it's not that easy to walk."

Thinking this, a deep blue gem appeared in Ze Shu's hand—

【Ice Gem】

He tossed the gem into the air, pointed it at the Salamence that was getting farther and farther away, and whispered to the Glaceon beside him:

"Frozen Ray".

"Buyi—"