Pokemon Paldea [143-145] (Patreon)

Chapter 143: Arrest, Hunter J

A fierce blizzard raged, with a crashed airship still bursting with fire and explosions inside. Everywhere, people parachuted or landed with the help of Pokémon, black smoke standing out starkly against the snowy world.

Such an absurd scene was unfolding above Glaseado Mountain.

At the Glaseado Gym, Grusha, bundled in thick clothes, looked up at the sky. His usually stoic face—only ever changing during battles—twisted in shock: “No way, they really came? But the International Police's much-touted monitoring system didn’t react at all.”

A report came through his earpiece.

“Gym Leader Grusha, interception teams are in position!”

“Good.” Grusha touched his scarf and nodded slightly. He said to his Pokémon, “Let’s go, Altaria!”

“Altaria~!”

The beautiful bird with cloud-like wings nodded back.

…

Meanwhile, police officers stationed throughout Glaseado Mountain braved the blizzard, converging on the poachers’ landing spots under their leaders’ commands.

Even Looker in Montenevera, after ordering his men to evacuate Pokémon from the crash zone, donned gloves and said to his Pokémon, “Toxicroak, it’s our turn too.”

…

Elsewhere on Glaseado Mountain, Hunter J, escaping at the last second on her Salamence, was left breathless, her expression dark and stormy.

She still hadn’t recovered from the shock. Everything had happened too fast.

From the moment she detected the high-energy reaction to the interception, then losing target lock, having the floatation and stealth systems destroyed—it was all over in about a minute.

It was like the enemy knew everything, catching them completely off guard.

“Damn it… If I find out who you are, just you wait!”

Hunter J gritted her teeth. The airship she’d built over years with her fortune was destroyed. She’d escaped with only her petrification beam.

Knowing she’d have to start all over, Hunter J hated the man on Dragonite, the last person the surveillance system caught, wishing she could tear him apart.

But anger aside, Hunter J stayed rational. This was no place to linger; she had to get out fast.

Her usual Pokémon were all with her, she still had money stashed away, the ship had no cargo, and subordinates could be recruited again. She’d rise again, sooner or later.

With a cold snort, Hunter J was about to slip away on Salamence when a voice rang out.

“Where do you think you’re going?”

A gust of wind swept over, cold sweat instantly soaking Hunter J’s back. Looking back, she saw a man on a Dragonite, watching her with a teasing look.

Though his posture was casual, Lucas showed no carelessness, his eyes fixed on Hunter J.

Before Lucas had blasted through the airship’s power systems, Hunter J had abandoned her crew and ship without hesitation, smashing through a window to escape.

He and Dragonite hadn’t even caught their breath before chasing after her.

Hunter J’s Salamence, in the anime, had fought Regigigas and the legendary golems, and even caught the three Lake Guardians. Its strength was formidable.

He couldn’t relax until the very last moment.

Hunter J stared coldly at Lucas, knowing she couldn’t escape without a fight.

She immediately threw out four Poké Balls: Drapion, Ariados, Hydreigon, and Tyranitar appeared in the snow.

She didn’t use many Pokémon, usually relying on Salamence and tech weapons, with little interest in catching more.

But just these Pokémon alone proved Hunter J’s strength was no joke.

Even Lucas raised an eyebrow, eyeing Hydreigon and Tyranitar—Pokémon Hunter J hadn’t used in the anime.

Still, while strong, they weren’t much of a threat.

Hunter J commanded: “Go! Teach them a lesson!”

The four Pokémon charged fiercely, Ariados nimbly weaving through the snow, Drapion’s arms brimming with poison, Hydreigon’s three heads glowing with energy, and Tyranitar stomping up rocks from the earth.

Lucas opened three Poké Balls. Ceruledge and Swampert appeared. Without needing his command, they leaped into battle.

Ceruledge’s fiery blade and Swampert’s overwhelming strength exploded forth.

“You think just two Pokémon can take on my elites? Did your sneak attack make you overconfident, nameless trainer?”

For some reason, Hunter J didn’t try to escape during the fight, instead opening up conversation with Lucas.

Lucas narrowed his eyes and pointed to the battle. “Why don’t you see for yourself?”

Hunter J looked where he pointed and froze.

Ceruledge vanished, using Shadow Sneak to appear beside Ariados, slicing it down with a single blow before it could react.

One-hit KO!

Swampert, like a tiger among sheep, barreled through Tyranitar’s rocks, grabbed Hydreigon by the neck, and slammed it to the ground.

At this rate, the four Pokémon wouldn’t last long.

Hunter J was stunned. After a moment’s silence, she snarled, “Salamence, Flamethrower!”

Salamence spat fire. Lucas was surprised Hunter J would use a non-STAB move.

But it didn’t matter. Whatever plan Hunter J had, he would show her how futile resistance was.

“Hydro Pump.”

A torrent of water doused the flames. At the same time, Dragonite, moving faster than the eye could see, struck Salamence with a Dragon Claw, launching it backward!

Then, a super-effective Dragon Pulse battered Salamence, forcing Hunter J to cling to its back, shouting, “Hyper Beam, block it!”

Salamence fired a powerful beam, clashing with Dragon Pulse and exploding. In the smoke, Salamence panted, watching warily.

Only it, fighting Dragonite, could feel the pressure. Its instincts screamed to flee, but pride and Hunter J’s command made it stay.

In a clash of Dragon Claw and Thunder Punch, Salamence couldn’t resist Dragonite’s power and was sent crashing to the snow.

Luckily, the snow cushioned the fall. Hunter J, battered but unhurt, looked up to see Ceruledge and Swampert closing in, having already dispatched her other Pokémon. Salamence, too, was now out of commission.

They’d been utterly crushed.

Hunter J, sprawled in the snow, no longer looked so fearsome—yet she was hardly a weak, helpless woman.

Seizing the moment as Lucas jumped off Dragonite with silver handcuffs, Hunter J grinned fiercely, raising her petrification beam.

Click—

A pair of shadowy claws smashed the weapon. Hunter J gaped in disbelief.

When did this Mimikyu appear beside her?

In the next instant, Mimikyu’s angry Shadow Claw pinned Hunter J down with crushing force, making her bones creak.

Lucas’s boots stopped ten centimeters from her face. He squatted and smiled, “Checkmate?”

Chapter 144: Snover’s Parents

“I’ll kill you, I swear I’ll kill you!!”

Hunter J, her lip split and bleeding, glared fiercely at Lucas, spewing threats in impotent rage.

She vowed that, once she escaped, she would take revenge on this unknown trainer—no matter the cost!

Pleased to have avenged the Pokémon Hunter J had hurt, Lucas cleaned his hands, then cuffed her with supreme silver handcuffs. “I know what you’re thinking, but I suggest you behave for now.”

“Especially don’t let me hear any of your revenge plans. There’s no one else here, you know?”

Hunter J gritted her teeth. All she saw was snow, just this man and his Pokémon.

With strength reminiscent of Sinnoh’s champion, he might well silence her for good here, later dismissing it as an accident.

Though she’d be sent to the International Police and then to prison, knowing escape wasn’t impossible, Hunter J dared not provoke Lucas further and fell silent.

Lucas returned her fainted Pokémon to their Poké Balls, locked them, and looked at the battered Hunter J, then at Dragonite.

Dragonite, tired from the fight, shook its head furiously. Since hearing of Hunter J’s deeds, it didn’t want to fly with her, or even touch her.

Seeing Dragonite’s disgusted look, Hunter J’s humiliation deepened.

What goes around comes around—she would get her revenge, one day!

Finally, Lucas had Serperior make a vine rope that looked frail but was actually strong, tying Hunter J up. Dragonite grabbed the other end and, only then willing, flew off toward Glaseado Mountain’s peak, dragging Hunter J through the snow.

“Run! Hurry, run!”

Group A, the elite squad under Hunter J, had landed near the summit before the crash, fully armed.

Barely having survived, they were met by Anabel’s Snorlax, Tront’s Delibird, and Luxray and the others brought with Capture Styler.

Luxray, wreathed in terrifying lightning, smashed their weapons with a swipe, scattering Group A like sheep before a lion.

Soon, under Snover’s admiring gaze, Luxray knocked out the last fleeing squad member, then disdainfully cleaned its paws in the snow before licking them, watching Anabel and Tront tie up the last of the poachers.

Tront wiped imaginary sweat from his brow, looking at the twenty-odd tied-up poachers, and sighed, “That’s all the poachers who fell nearby. The rest is up to your colleagues.”

Anabel nodded. “The other arrests are ongoing. Not a single poacher will escape Glaseado Mountain.”

“I wonder how Lucas is doing. If all goes well, Hunter J’s transnational poaching ring is history as of today.”

At that, Luxray paused, gazing at the sky.

Speak of the devil—an orange figure flew toward them. It was Lucas and Dragonite.

“Luxray~”

Luxray called to Tront and Anabel, yawning, able to clearly see the woman being dragged by Dragonite.

That must be Hunter J. Looks like it’s over—they could finally leave the cold.

If Luxray could choose, it’d be by a warm farmhouse fireplace.

“It’s Lucas and Dragonite. Are they carrying…?”

Anabel and Tront exchanged glances, delighted.

Dragonite landed, handing over the unconscious Hunter J to Anabel. “Drago~” (A local specialty for you~)

“Yes, Hunter J herself was captured by Lucas. Yes, we’ll prepare to descend the mountain right away.”

Anabel hung up the communicator and, beaming, said, “Headquarters reports that most of Hunter J’s gang has been captured. All units are to pursue the remaining fugitives—no one escapes.”

“Looker says we can bring them down the mountain.”

Tront nodded. “Their vehicles still work—we can take everyone back to Montenevera.”

The two began loading the poachers.

As they worked, Lucas noticed the little Snover watching him anxiously, as if asking if he and the others were leaving.

Anabel, directing Snorlax, also noticed Snover’s dejection and looked worried.

Right, they could leave anytime—but what about the Snover who’d lost its parents?

Anabel wondered whether to take Snover to the International Police to find a suitable trainer, have it live with Tront in Montenevera, or let Lucas take it back to the farm.

But a Snover’s best home was still the snowy mountains.

Tront looked worried, too.

“Don’t worry, I’ve thought about Snover already.” Lucas smiled mysteriously, taking out two Poké Balls. “Abomasnow!”

With a flash, two calm-faced Abomasnow appeared.

The moment Snover saw them, tears burst forth and it rushed into their arms.

Anabel exclaimed, “Are those… Snover’s parents?”

How did Lucas find them?

Tront, just as shocked, asked, “Lucas, what’s…?”

Lucas, satisfied, explained briefly, “I actually caught Hunter J early on, and since there was time, I went to find Snover’s parents. I found them at the bottom of a deep ravine—they must have fallen during a fight and couldn’t get back.”

Anabel & Tront: “…”

No wonder Hunter J was covered in frost. Lucas had dragged her around in the blizzard.

As for how Lucas could find Snover’s parents so easily, they gave up trying to figure it out.

Don’t ask—just the composure of a champion-level trainer.

“Here, I saw you liked these Pokéblocks. Keep them.”

Before leaving, Lucas handed Snover a box of Pokéblocks, made of special metal to keep them fresh.

“Live happily with your parents.”

Snover hugged the box, treasuring it, watching Lucas leave as if wanting to remember him forever.

Chapter 145: Delibird, Encounter with Pikachu and a Boy

Having delivered the battered Hunter J to the International Police and visited Tront’s wife Mela, Lucas prepared to leave Montenevera.

Anabel asked, “You’re leaving already?”

The blizzard had passed, Glaseado Mountain basked in rare sunshine, and the snow at the foothills was melting.

Reporters, eager for a scoop after the capture of Hunter J’s gang, were already assembled in Montenevera Town.

A press conference was about to start, and as the hero of the operation, Lucas was about to slip away.

Facing away, Lucas held up two fingers. “First, I just accepted the commission from Chairwoman Geeta—the reward will come from her. I’m not interested in fame like this; I’m just an ordinary farmer.”

“Second, all I did was shoot down their invisible airship and catch Hunter J. The rest were caught by you police—you don’t need to single me out.”

“So, this was a joint operation of the Paldea League and International Police. You should emphasize the team, not me.”

With that, Lucas didn’t wait for a reply, mounting Dragonite and flying toward Los Platos.

Anabel was stunned for a while, muttering, “What kind of farmer can blast a hole through a hundred-meter ship? There’s a limit to humility!”

…

A week later.

All over Paldea, TV programs broadcast a news report at Geeta’s behest:

[“Recently, the notorious transnational poaching gang and its leader, Hunter J, were captured in a joint operation by the Paldea League and International Police. Hunter J and 385 members—386 in total—will be sent to court, and Hunter J will face trial at International Police headquarters.”]

[“This cooperation proves…”]

Lounging in a chair, Lucas turned off his phone, petting Growlithe and muttering, “Geeta really wants everyone to know about this—it’s been on all the channels for three days, and even other regions are reporting it…”

Yesterday at Naranja Academy, almost every student was talking about it—even battle maniac Nemona whispered about it with Arven and Eri during battle class. The impact was obvious.

Lucas felt Geeta wanted to use this to advertise Paldea and attract talented trainers. They even asked Lucas if he’d act as the hero who single-handedly took down Hunter J’s gang.

Of course, Lucas firmly refused—too much trouble.

He preferred peaceful farm life.

“Mudsdale~!”

A sound behind him, then a thick, long tongue smeared his face—Lucas, startled by the sticky feel, jumped up from his chair.

Wiping off Mudsdale’s drool, Lucas asked, “Mudsdale? Why are you here? How’s the mill?”

“Woof woof!”

Growlithe greeted Mudsdale.

“Mudsdale~!”

Mudsdale licked Growlithe, then gestured for Lucas to get on its back—it wanted to take him to the mill.

Lucas’s eyes brightened. Was the first batch of wheat ready?

He folded his chair, slung it by the house, hopped on Mudsdale, and called Growlithe.

After returning from Glaseado Mountain, Lucas had started harvesting wheat and had Machoke’s construction crew build a mill and storage barn nearby.

The mill used old-fashioned grinding, with Pokémon like Growlithe running laps for energy.

But Mudsdale was the main force, loving the work. Apparently, grinding laps gave it clarity and insight into its moves.

Lucas didn’t quite get it. He planned to build a creek and convert the mill to water power, but since Mudsdale liked grinding, he’d leave a stone wheel for it.

On the way to the mill, Lucas was excited.

Soon, he’d have flour for all kinds of dishes!

New foods were calling!

…

Far away in Kanto, near Old Shore Wharf.

Delibird flew aimlessly. After leaving a cruise ship, it had headed inland.

It had helped a lost Kangaskhan baby find its mother, broken up a fight between Nidoking with a Blizzard freeze, and shrugged off trainers trying to catch it—it was still Lucas’s Pokémon, after all.

It was drawn to a battle between two humans near the shore.

A boy in a cap and a bandana-wearing, brown-skinned man were in a full-on Pokémon battle.

The man said the boy had all eight badges.

After a heated fight, the boy’s Pikachu used electric moves to defeat the man’s three Pokémon after he lost his temper and broke the rules.

This reminded Delibird of Lucas’s Luxray’s lightning, and it lingered to watch.

Then the boy spotted Delibird and shouted, “A Pokémon I’ve never seen! I’m gonna catch you!”

“Pikachu, use Thunderbolt!”

A golden bolt shot toward Delibird, but Pikachu’s Thunderbolt was nothing compared to real lightning.

Dodging easily, Delibird squinted down at the boy, thinking, “Kid, you’re out of your League.”