Pokemon Paldea [134-136] (Patreon)

Chapter 134: Glaseado Mountain, Montenevera Town

Glaseado Mountain—located in the northern part of the Paldea region—is a snow-capped peak.

Pure white snow falls over the mountain range, and due to the high altitude, the temperature here is extremely low. It is covered in snow all year round, with only Pokémon that are either resistant to Ice-type moves or are Ice-types themselves inhabiting the area.

Nearby lies Casseroya Lake. When it comes to planning a safe route to Glaseado Mountain, Lucas is already quite familiar with the process.

After entering Casseroya Lake, Lucas would fly straight toward the Casseroya Waterfall, ascending alongside the Magikarp attempting to scale the falls. Following the current upwards, once the source of the waterfall comes into view, so too does the outline of a town built atop the snowy mountain—Montenevera Town.

Bundled in a thick, insulated jacket, Lucas rode on Dragonite, flying straight to Montenevera Town to attend a meeting about the operation targeting Hunter J.

With every breath came a cloud of white mist. Lucas, fully equipped, naturally hadn’t forgotten to wear snow boots. Once on solid ground, he patted his Dragonite, who was visibly uncomfortable with the environment, and said softly, “You worked hard. Rest in your Poké Ball for a while.”

Crystalline snowflakes continued to drift from above. Having once trained on Glaseado Mountain for a short time, Lucas tightened his collar, ensured no wind could get in, and made his way toward Montenevera Town not far ahead.

In the ice and snow, the lights of Montenevera Town were always a source of comfort. Many mountaineers, exhausted from their journeys, would choose to rest in the town for a while, which gave rise to Montenevera Town’s unique culture.

Though cold, the passion of mountaineers and residents alike built a vibrant community, full of enthusiastic rock and rap music, and the warm glow of candles everywhere. Outsiders called it the town of snow and souls.

Yet, a town that was usually lively was now unusually quiet. People on the streets had put away their smiles, quietly going about their business or heading elsewhere.

That was because, in recent days, Montenevera Town had been filled with international police and elite Officer Jennys.

Such a tense atmosphere made the residents unconsciously tighten their guard.

Where had the mountaineers gone?

Not long ago, the Paldea authorities had already issued a warning that a rare, massive blizzard might hit Glaseado Mountain in the coming days, advising mountaineers not to climb for the time being.

Some might wonder—surely a single Hunter J isn’t worth mobilizing the entire region’s officials? But it had been six years since Hunter J started her activities.

No one knew just how many wild Pokémon she had hunted, or how many tragedies of separation she had caused.

She was cunning, having escaped Officer Jenny and the International Police countless times—sometimes even sacrificing her own subordinates to get away.

They could no longer let such a cold-blooded, profit-driven Pokémon hunter continue her operations.

Now that her location had finally been confirmed, the cooperation between the International Police and Paldea’s authorities aimed to capture her. They had deployed large numbers of personnel and strength across Glaseado Mountain, with several top-level trainers also called in.

Snow boots crunched on the snow, the ground feeling as if it would give way with every step, but Lucas paid little attention to the sensation.

Because, just upon entering Montenevera Town, a woman dressed as an international police officer approached, finding him precisely and saying, “We’ve been waiting for you, Mr. Lucas.”

Though being called “Mr.” by someone older than himself felt odd, Lucas knew it was out of respect for his position and didn’t dwell on it. He nodded lightly and replied, “Hello. Where are we going?”

The woman was crisp in both manner and speech. Leading Lucas toward a building, she explained, “The Montenevera Gym. There will be a brief meeting to discuss duties.”

Knowing what was needed, Lucas didn’t waste words. He followed the woman through the town’s passages, arriving at the Montenevera Gym, which was filled with rock-type elements.

Along the way, Lucas noticed many scrutinizing gazes falling on him. Though the people looked like ordinary residents, Lucas was well aware that they were disguised international police or local Paldea officers.

Under her guidance, Lucas reached a meeting room inside the Montenevera Gym without anyone stopping them—a testament to the woman’s high rank within the international police.

Still, she didn’t stay for the meeting. After a slight bow, she stepped back to serve as a guard.

Upon entering, Lucas glanced around and found himself among familiar faces.

There was Tyme, the elderly, white-haired Gym Leader of Montenevera Gym, an expert in Rock-types.

Her younger sister, Ryme, a rapper and specialist in Ghost-types—Lucas remembered she would become the next Gym Leader.

Then there was Grusha, the Gym Leader further up Glaseado Gym, a former snowboarder whose androgynous appearance was striking, specializing in Ice-types but with an Altaria as an ace.

Also present was Rika, a strikingly handsome Elite Four member, dressed sharply and specializing in Ground-types.

At the head sat a stern-looking middle-aged man in a long coat—Lucas guessed he was the International Police representative.

Aside from the man in the coat, Lucas was acquainted with the others. Upon seeing Lucas enter, Tyme greeted him cheerfully, “At last, our final VIP has arrived~”

Ryme crossed her arms, echoing, “We’ve been waiting for you, Lucas.”

Though the room was heated, Grusha only tightened his scarf and kept silent.

Rika, hands in pockets and legs crossed, quipped, “Ah~ Just seeing you takes a load off my mind~”

Lucas replied helplessly, “As soon as I got the notice and wrapped up things at the farm, I rode Dragonite here at full speed. Don’t be so harsh, okay?”

“Ahem.” The man in the coat cleared his throat, drawing everyone’s attention, then pointed to the empty seat beside Grusha and said, “Please, have a seat, Mr. Lucas. Now that everyone’s here, let’s begin.”

Lucas nodded slightly and took his seat.

The man stood up, opening the screen behind him to project his laptop. He spoke clearly, “First, let me introduce myself. My codename is ‘Looker,’ and I’m a member of the International Police, operating worldwide. The reason I sought help from Paldea is to capture this person and her organization.”

With a tap of the enter key, a photo appeared before everyone.

Chapter 135: Hunter J’s Crimes and Anabel

It was an image of a woman with silver-gray hair, wearing high-tech glasses, smiling and chatting on a call.

Behind her, a group of Pokémon huddled in an iron cage.

Clearly terrified, the Pokémon’s timid gazes contrasted sharply with the woman’s cheerful demeanor, creating a jarring effect.

Seeing this photo, whether it was Tyme, Ryme, the usually unrestrained Rika, or the calm-faced Grusha, all their eyes sharpened noticeably.

They were all powerful trainers from Paldea, and Pokémon had been a part of their lives for as long as they could remember. The sight of these captured Pokémon stirred a complex, unspoken emotion in them all.

Looker then pulled up several more photos.

There were Pokémon separated from their young by Hunter J’s cruelty, Pokémon confused and taken away from their homelands to be sold to unknown places, and Pokémon rescued by police but visibly suffering from psychological trauma and physical abuse.

To make the captured Pokémon more obedient for buyers, Hunter J often trained them before delivery to make them more docile.

All the evidence pointed to Hunter J’s utter ruthlessness.

“This is just…” Tyme, elderly as she was, now looked at her Pokémon as if they were her children. Seeing such cruelty, she instinctively covered her mouth, gasping softly.

Ryme moved closer to comfort her sister, her gaze growing solemn.

Rika uncrossed her long legs and sat up straight, voice cold: “Scum.”

Grusha’s eyes turned sharp.

Looker said gravely, “This is only the tip of the iceberg. In places we know nothing about, her cruelty is only increasing.”

“Now, according to reliable sources, Hunter J and her subordinates are coming to Glaseado Mountain in Paldea to hunt a certain rare Pokémon for a client.”

“This is undoubtedly our chance to capture her. But with the vastness of Glaseado Mountain, and uncertainty about her target and location, the International Police is simply stretched too thin.”

“You trainers from Paldea are the strongest support we could hope for—especially Miss Rika and Mr. Lucas. As an Elite Four member and a Champion-level trainer, your participation gives me much more confidence in our operation.”

Lucas wasn’t surprised that Looker knew of his strength—after all, the commission had come from Geeta, who must have briefed Looker in advance.

Lucas asked, “Are the specifics of the operation and division of tasks already set?”

Looker nodded, “Because Glaseado Mountain is so vast, spreading our forces will inevitably leave some gaps, or police may encounter Hunter J’s group and be unable to handle them.”

He produced a detailed map of Glaseado Mountain and looked at the trainers: “So, as our top combatants, I’d like you each to take responsibility for a region. If any officer in your area finds a clue, go there immediately to suppress Hunter J.”

Rika tapped her fingers on the table, eyes fixed on Looker: “We understand your request, but how much do you know about Hunter J’s actual fighting strength?”

Ryme and Tyme exchanged glances—it was indeed an important question.

Looker replied, “Currently known, her Pokémon include Salamence, Ariados, and Drapion. Her strength is at least on par with an elite trainer. Her subordinates also have Pokémon, mostly Poison and Dark-types.”

“But their tactics usually aren’t standard battles—they use all kinds of tech weapons instead. Please be careful of that.”

Looker listed the typical tech weapons used by Hunter J’s gang. The one that drew Lucas’s attention was the Petrification Beam mounted on Hunter J’s arm.

He remembered that this beam had petrified many Pokémon in the anime, even capturing the legendary lake Pokémon Uxie, Mesprit, and Azelf.

In the Pokémon world, bizarre black-tech sometimes wields unimaginable power. Lucas knew he needed to be wary.

The meeting ended after Looker divided the regions among the trainers. According to intel, Hunter J could arrive as early as tomorrow, so they all needed to be in position by tonight.

Geeta had originally planned for Grusha to assist Lucas, but considering Lucas’s strength, Looker assigned him an exceptionally challenging region.

It was a vast area centered around Glaseado Mountain’s highest peak, even including the western side: Glaseado's Grasp, one of the Ten Sights of Paldea.

Looker’s exact words were: “No one’s Pokémon is as mobile as your Dragonite—those who are able must bear more. I hope you can handle it.”

Lucas had already intended to wait at the summit, but being specifically assigned always felt a little off.

After all, if there was any reliable way to search for Hunter J’s gang in this massive mountain, it would be the system in his mind.

Usually, it seemed useless, but for finding things or solving mysteries, it had its moments.

After tasks were assigned, Lucas was given a temporary subordinate by Looker.

Looking at the capable woman before him, Lucas’s fingers trembled as he asked again, “What…what’s your name?”

“Anabel. I’m Anabel. How many times do I have to repeat myself?”

The woman, busy checking her gear, was a bit impatient but replied due to their shared task.

She had long, violet hair tied in a slightly flowing ponytail with a ribbon, and her black suit gave off a strong keep your distance vibe.

Anabel—was this the same Salon Maiden Anabel, Brain of the Battle Frontier?

Lucas clearly remembered watching a battle at the Battle Tower on his phone just a couple months ago.

No doubt, the Anabel in the video had short hair. Yet the Anabel before him had long hair—how could that be?

Even if hair grew fast, a person’s aura wouldn’t change this much in two months, right?

Chapter 136: The Ranger

Yet Anabel didn’t seem inclined to explain her background, and Lucas had no standing to ask about her privacy. He wasn’t one to pry anyway.

Temporarily setting aside his doubts, Lucas changed the topic: “We’re climbing to Glaseado Mountain’s summit at midnight, right?”

Anabel paused in her equipment check, nodding slightly: “Yes. We need to climb Paldea’s highest peak under cover of darkness, because it’s highly likely Hunter J will act at night. But with only us—non-professional mountaineers—it’s a pipe dream to reach the summit at night. So we need someone suitable to help.”

“Although you’re without a doubt the expert in battle, please let me handle these logistics.”

Anabel’s manner was sincere and direct. Lucas had no objection.

After all, the temperature atop Glaseado Mountain was too low. As a Dragon/Flying-type, Dragonite struggled in such an icy environment.

If Anabel had a solution, Lucas didn’t mind letting Dragonite rest in its Poké Ball. Against whatever vehicle Hunter J might have, only Dragonite among his main six could both reach and threaten it.

Lucas nodded: “I’ll leave it to you, then. We still have half a day before midnight—what should we prepare?”

Anabel straightened, her tailored suit outlining her perfect figure.

Looking at Lucas, she replied firmly: “We need to find someone in town. If we want to reach the peak quickly, he’s indispensable.”

…

Outside a house in Montenevera Town, a police officer called inside as he was pushed out the door.

“Sir, we really need your help!”

There was no response from within, but the officer persisted, waiting at the door for a long while.

Whether out of annoyance or something else, a voice finally sounded from within.

“You know, my wife is in poor health right now. I can’t possibly leave her to climb Glaseado Mountain’s summit.”

“We have medical staff who can care for her temporarily—please…”

“No. I can’t rest easy.”

After that, no matter how the officer pleaded, the door remained shut.

This was the scene Lucas saw upon arriving with Anabel.

“Buddy, report the situation.”

Anabel stepped forward and spoke.

“Ms. Anabel!” The officer called Buddy was momentarily stunned, then, seeing Anabel, he brightened and quickly answered, “It’s like this—no matter what I say, Mr. Tront refuses to help.”

“I see…” Anabel pondered for a moment, then turned to the curious Lucas. “Let me explain briefly.”

Lucas withdrew his gaze and nodded.

Anabel explained, “The owner of this house is Tront, a seasoned Ranger. His wife has been bedridden with unexplained weakness, so he’s declined our request for help.”

Lucas stroked his chin and asked, “Ranger—as in the special profession trained by the Ranger Sign of Fiore, Almia, and Oblivia? Their philosophy is environmental protection and fighting poaching, right? For someone like that to refuse, did you explain the mission?”

Anabel looked at Buddy, who nodded vigorously. “We did.”

“Then it just means his concern for his wife outweighs his sense of duty—that’s not something we can interfere with.”

Lucas observed the area. The snow at the door had been neatly cleared, and hardy plants grew nearby—signs of a diligent, life-loving homeowner.

Considering Tront’s identity as a Ranger, Lucas realized what Anabel planned: to use the Ranger’s unique “Capture Styler” to call on wild Pokémon native to Glaseado Mountain for help, many of whom have the strength and abilities to summit the mountain.

With this in mind, Lucas voiced another question: “Wouldn’t it also work to temporarily catch some wild Pokémon in Poké Balls, then release them afterward?”

Anabel nodded, “That’s our backup plan, but having an experienced Ranger lead us would be much safer.”

“If we can persuade him, I’d like to try.”

With that, Anabel adjusted her attire and tie, stepped forward, and knocked on the door.

Whatever she said, it wasn’t long before a graying man opened the door, inviting them in.

Before entering, Anabel motioned for Buddy and Lucas to follow. Buddy hesitated, then hurried after her.

Lucas glanced at the snowy ground nearby, where a purple-flamed candle was burning.

Wait—had that candle been there before?

A sudden inspiration flickered in his mind, but lacking key information, Lucas decided to enter the house first.

Inside, an ashen-faced elderly woman lay in bed, surrounded by people.

The fireplace burned brightly, keeping the room warm.

“I see—an unexplained depletion of vitality. Do you keep any Ghost-type Pokémon, especially young ones?”

“If doctors can’t diagnose her, perhaps her energy is being drained by a Ghost-type, leaving her in a coma.”

Anabel asked after hearing the diagnosis from the doctor.

Tront thought hard, then shook his head: “No. At least, not to my knowledge. She’s never kept or come into contact with Ghost-types.”

“Ahh…”

Buddy sighed in disappointment—was the trail cold again?

Just then, Lucas spoke up: “Mr. Tront, may I ask a somewhat impolite question?”

Tront only now noticed Lucas, who looked even younger than rookie officer Buddy. After a moment’s hesitation, Tront realized that neither Anabel, who clearly seemed in charge, nor Buddy, said anything.

Perhaps… this young man was someone special.

With that thought, Tront nodded, “Go ahead.”