Game Chapter 12: More Fog on the Game Developer (Patreon)

Inside the dry-aging cabinet, under the spotlights, dark-red beef showed off elegant marbling.

Oil spatters crackled as steaks were flipped on the cast-iron grate; the air filled with the scent of seared meat and black pepper.

A white-gloved server carried a silver platter past the old elevator grille while easy piano drifted through the room.

Cynthia speared a piece of white bread and dipped it in the pan juices.

“So according to you, this person’s records are being protected by the League?”

Across from her, the young man took a sip of juice and nodded.

“Exactly. I couldn’t find anything on him in the League’s database. At first I wondered if he was an off-the-grid ‘ghost’ with no profile, but that doesn’t add up.

“If he made the game by himself, the League would’ve required ID when he uploaded it. So he can’t be unregistered.

“That leaves one possibility: his identity is protected by the League—kept out of the public databases in a classified archive.”

Cynthia’s brows rose. Just as she’d suspected.

This developer, “Green,” was no ordinary person.

The classified archive is reserved for people who need their identities hidden; even her own Champion file for Sinnoh isn’t stored there. Only geniuses behind world-shaking breakthroughs or figures of critical importance in some field get that treatment—for their safety.

As Cynthia thought it over, the young man spoke again.

“I could try to hack the classified archive. No guarantees—maybe a thirty percent shot… push hard and it might hit forty. That’s my ceiling.”

Cynthia set down the bread and shook her head.

“No need, Mai.”

“I appreciate how far you’re willing to go for me, but if it means hacking a classified archive, let’s not.”

He blinked. “Why? Isn’t his contact info crucial for you?”

He knew better than anyone how hungry Cynthia, as a mythic archaeologist, was for information on the Legendaries.

To others, she was flawless—a Champion with impeccable conduct and strength. But when ancient myths entered the picture, it was like she became a different person.

And this time the Legendary in question was the “Sky Dragon” itself—Rayquaza!

Still puzzled, he heard Cynthia again:

“The risk and cost are too high. Last time you poked around the high-security archives to find me, you got caught. If the League catches you again, it won’t end with an apology letter.”

“A-hem!”

He almost choked, thumping his chest for a while. “We agreed not to bring that up! I was young and dumb—and my skills weren’t there yet.

“It’s different now! Even if I don’t get in, they won’t catch me!”

“Really, don’t.” Cynthia’s tone was firm.

“I’ve thought about it. If he has that level of protection, I should respect him—follow his rules and wishes.”

“His rules?” the young man asked, curious, popping a bite of steak.

“Right—his game, Emerald. Be the first to clear it and you get his contact.”

Cynthia nodded.

“Oh! Say that sooner. Games are my thing—leave it to me. I’ll get you that first clear in minutes.”

He pounded his chest, brimming with confidence. “What genre? Racing? Strategy? Cards?

“If it’s a shooter I’m a little rusty, but a first clear should still be easy.”

Cynthia shot him a look and kept quiet.

She’d thought the same thing at first.

—How could a Pokémon-battling game possibly give her trouble?

A short while later, “Strawberry Ice Cream” got worked over twice in a row by “Black-Haired Boy,” and reality set in.

After a pause, she said, “No. This game isn’t what you think. It’s like a battle simulator—but the difficulty is very high.”

That stopped him cold.

A battle simulator?

Very high difficulty?

The person across from him was Cynthia—Sinnoh’s Champion, a contender for the very top of the Trainer world.

For her to call a battle sim “very difficult”… how hard could it be?

As he gaped, Cynthia added, “Tell you what—I’ll send you a copy. Try it when you have time.”

He shrugged, instantly backpedaling. “Okay, but I’m busy lately. Might be a while before I can play!”

Cynthia saw through it but let it slide, changing the subject. “The black holes are spreading faster again?”

“Yeah. The last one was manageable, but Hoenn popped another this afternoon, and the energy readings look big. I’ve got to head out tonight.”

He sighed. “Black holes…”

Cynthia nodded, expression complicated, the light in her eyes dimming a little. “Thanks for your work.”

“What about you? I heard the Ghost World hasn’t been calm either,” he said.

This time she didn’t answer right away. After a moment:

“…No matter how tough things get, they pass.

“All we can do is our duty—keep a clear conscience. That’s enough.

“If we can protect ordinary, kind people, the cost is worth it.”

She tipped her glass to him, downed the last sip, and stood.

“I’ll head back. Take care—and don’t overdo it.”

“Got it. Let’s hang out when we can.”

He watched her walk away, feeling a swell of admiration.

No wonder she’d been his idol since he was a kid.

Someday, he’d be as strong as she was.

He made the vow silently.

Then a server stepped up. “Sir, I see your companion has left. Shall we settle the bill?”

He blinked. “She didn’t pay on the way out?”

“No, sir. She left directly,” the server said, shaking his head. “Your total is 13,250. Cash or Card?”

Young man: ???

—Wasn’t Cynthia treating?

How did she dine and dash?!

If he’d known, he wouldn’t have ordered so much…

He glanced at his wallet and grimaced. “Uh… can I put it on a tab?”

…

He had no idea Cynthia hadn’t skipped the bill on purpose.

High above, riding Garchomp, a look of realization crossed her face.

Huh?

Why does it feel like I forgot something…

Whatever. Not important.

The only thing that matters now is getting home and playing.

—If she guessed right, plenty of people were already on Emerald, and there was only one chance to be the first to clear it and get the dev’s contact.

She might have to head out again soon; she needed to use every minute and push for the clear.

…

Two hours later, Cynthia returned to her villa at Sunnyshore Bay. She went straight to her room, fired up her PC, and launched Emerald.

She also flipped on her stream. “Good afternoon, everyone—I’m back.

“Emerald again today.”

As the game booted, chat flooded in:

[Nana, you’re finally back—thanks for the hard work on the mission!!]

[Missed you, babe—every minute you were gone was agony T_T]

[Hurry, the other channel’s Iono is already cracking the first Gym!]

Cynthia paused at that last one.

She knew Iono—a popular Electric-type Gym Leader from Paldea, well known online and off. Young, but strong and gifted—already near Elite level.

So she was already playing Emerald—and on the first Gym?

Cynthia pulled out her phone and jumped into Iono’s stream. Sure enough, Iono was challenging the first Gym.

Right now, though, her face was bright red.

Not embarrassment—full tilt.

She waved her sleeves, face taut with nerves and hope, hands clasped, muttering:

“Paralyze, paralyze, paralyze!!”

“Ughhh it healed again!!”

“Damn it! Again!”

Watching Iono force-quit and relaunch with practiced speed, Cynthia blinked.

In her impression, the girl was lively and cheerful—but not like this…

—That first Gym wasn’t so easy after all.

As Cynthia pondered, Iono jumped back in against Roxanne.

The moment Lileep appeared, Cynthia froze again.

“Hm?”

Wait!

She was certain she’d never seen this “Lileep” before.

So why did it look so familiar?

And the more she looked, the more it nagged at her…

A flash of insight hit.

She snapped a screenshot of Iono’s stream and sent it to a contact on social, adding a message:

“Professor, is this one of the fossil Pokémon you mentioned?”

The name on the thread: Professor Oak.

Two months ago, Oak’s team had found a cache of unusual fossils at an ancient site—suspected remains of prehistoric Pokémon. A huge discovery. Oak led a team to reconstruct their forms and habits. Knowing Cynthia’s interest in ancient Pokémon, he’d shared the materials with her.

And that’s why Lileep looked familiar: its appearance closely matched one of the specimens Oak had sent.

She hit send and checked the time: 3:30 p.m.

If she remembered right, Oak should be in a major League World Research Symposium right now—unlikely to reply immediately.

She turned off her phone screen, planning to keep studying Iono’s run to figure out the Gym.

Her phone buzzed—Professor Oak was calling.

She picked up and, out of habit, muted her stream mic. “Professor? Aren’t you in the symposium right now? How do you have time to call?”

Oak’s urgent voice, breathing heavy, came through:

“More important than any symposium! Cynthia, where did you see this image?!”

“Even as pixels, it’s almost identical to our projected reconstruction—some details are better than our model!”

Cynthia hadn’t expected such high praise for a pixel sprite, but answered honestly:

“Professor, I saw it in a pixel game called Pokémon: Emerald.”

Elsewhere, outside a conference room, Professor Oak stared at his phone, baffled.

“A game??”

He’d assumed the sprite came from another fossil lab. He was ready to visit those “colleagues” and learn from their techniques—after all, even top professors always have more to learn.

But Cynthia’s answer fried his brain.

What do you mean… it’s from a game??

…

A minute later, after Cynthia explained, Oak had the gist.

His voice held a trace of regret. “So there’s no way to contact the developer right now—you have to be the first to clear the game?”

“That’s right. You know how strict the League’s classified archives are. I’m working on the clear.”

“You’re already trying… so you’re interested in this person too?” Oak asked, curious.

“Kind of. He used Rayquaza’s image in the opening. I suspect he has a lead on Rayquaza.”

“I see—no wonder,” Oak said, then suddenly yelped, voice jumping a dozen octaves.

“Wait!”

“—What did you just say??”

“Rayquaza???”