Pokémon: Raising Abandoned Pokémon into Legends

Chapter 15: Mr. Fuji’s Gift

With a flash of light, Kishi released a Level 16 Rattata.

He gave the order in a panic: "Rattata, use Hyper Fang!"

Rio laughed. Charmeleon had just defeated Golbat and gained another three levels, reaching Level 23. That Rattata was nothing more than free experience.

He didn’t even need to give a command.

Charmeleon, seeing Rio raise an eyebrow at it, understood it was to handle things on its own. It used Scratch and took down the charging Rattata with two swipes.

Then Rio stepped over Rattata’s body and walked up to the crew-cut man, smiling: "Didn’t you say earlier that a shiny Charmander was worth a lot of money?"

Kishi swallowed nervously, saying nothing. Beads of sweat rolled down his cheeks.

Rio continued with a smile: "Well, I think you’re worth a lot too. Come on—empty out all your cash. Let’s just call our little bout a bounty match."

"If I give you all my money, will you let me go?" Kishi asked nervously, all traces of his earlier arrogance gone.

Rio’s relaxed brows instantly furrowed: "Are you negotiating with me?"

Charmeleon picked up the fainted Rattata and dropped it at Kishi’s feet, glaring at him menacingly.

"Rua~"

"I’ll pay, I’ll pay!" Kishi was terrified and quickly pulled out his communicator to transfer the money.

A moment later, Rio saw the balance on Kishi’s account had been completely drained. Satisfied, he patted the man on the shoulder.

"Come on. I’ll escort you to Officer Jenny so you can enjoy some prison food."

At that moment, Rina rushed over and kicked Kishi square in the shin.

"You bastard! For the past few days, you’ve been slapping my head, mocking me, and making me eat leftovers! Now that you’re in my hands, I’m going to teach you a lesson!"

With that, she laid into him with a flurry of punches and kicks.

Rio watched with a smile from the sidelines. Then, remembering the trainers he’d called over, he pulled out his phone and sent them a message: the crisis was over, and he’d express his gratitude later.

He didn’t notice Mr. Fuji watching him.

Mr. Fuji looked at Rio and felt that this young man would likely one day stand at the pinnacle of the Pokémon world. Even Team Rocket’s Boss Giovanni, he thought, couldn’t have caused such a dramatic leap in a Pokémon’s strength in just over ten days—not even by using the Viridian Force.

...

"Alright, I understand the situation. I’ll take this guy with me now. If there are any follow-up questions, I’ll call. And thank you for your contribution to social stability."

At the Pokémon House, Officer Jenny, who had arrived to take custody of the criminal, smiled and extended her hand to Rio.

"It’s our duty," Rio replied with a smile, shaking her hand.

He then watched as Officer Jenny and her Arcanine drove off in the police car with Kishi.

"Gotta say, Officer Jenny is genuinely beautiful. A real knockout cop, and that family genes are something else," Rio muttered after they’d driven off.

But Rina, standing nearby, overheard him. She frowned: "Oh? You like Officer Jenny?"

"I’m not blind—it’s perfectly normal to like her. She’s that pretty," Rio shrugged casually and freely.

"Charmeleon, let’s go find Grandpa Fuji."

"Rua~" Charmeleon glanced at Rina, then at the departing police car, and finally followed Rio.

Soon, Rio arrived at Mr. Fuji’s office with Charmeleon. Mr. Fuji had told him earlier to come by after he’d finished with Officer Jenny.

"Grandpa Fuji, I’m here."

Mr. Fuji nodded, stood up, and poured a glass of water for Rio.

"Rio, have you thought about where you’ll go from here?" Mr. Fuji asked as he poured.

"Yeah—I’m staying at the Pokémon House," Rio replied casually.

Mr. Fuji was taken aback: "You don’t have any plans to travel?"

Most volunteers here, after adopting a Pokémon they wanted, chose to set out on a journey.

"Not for now," Rio shook his head.

In his view, the purpose of traveling was to catch Pokémon from different regions. But for him, the best Pokémon were the abandoned ones. And in the entire Kanto region, most abandoned Pokémon ended up being sent to the Pokémon House. As for other regions, Mr. Fuji had contacts at similar shelters. By staying here, Rio could stay informed about abandoned Pokémon elsewhere.

The only downside was that he’d have to pay for his own food and board from now on—after all, he’d already adopted a Pokémon, and it would be shameless to expect the Pokémon House to keep covering his expenses.

"Then I think you should still travel around a bit more and strengthen your Pokémon’s abilities," Mr. Fuji said, pulling a black lockbox from his pocket and placing it in front of Rio.

"What’s this?" Rio looked at the black lockbox, puzzled.

"This is what Team Rocket wanted," Mr. Fuji confessed.

Rio’s pupils contracted.

Mr. Fuji continued: "On the way back, I thought it over. I think it’s still not safe here with me. It’s better if you keep it."

Rio raised an eyebrow, somewhat surprised that Mr. Fuji trusted him that much.

"Want to know what’s inside?" Mr. Fuji asked.

"Yes," Rio nodded.

"Then become the Pokémon League Champion, and I’ll tell you the password to open it."

Rio looked at Mr. Fuji’s serious expression, then down at the black lockbox in front of him. Instinct told him this might have something to do with Mewtwo.

Suppressing his inner excitement, Rio picked up the black lockbox and replied with equal seriousness:

"I understand, Grandpa Fuji. I will become the League Champion, and until then, I’ll protect this with my life."

Mr. Fuji nodded approvingly, then made another promise: "Actually, I have one more good thing here. When your Charmeleon evolves into Charizard, I’ll give it to you."

Rio stared at Mr. Fuji, suddenly feeling that this old man looked incredibly kind today. So kind, in fact, that he’d happily take care of him in his old age.

A few minutes later, after finishing his conversation with Mr. Fuji, Rio left with Charmeleon. He still needed to thank the trainers who had rushed to Route 8.

After Rio left, Mr. Fuji walked into the room where the Pokémon were kept.

As soon as he entered, he heard a volunteer lamenting: "I regret it so much! If I’d known it had so much potential, I’d have stuck with it when it was still a Charmander!"

"Don’t even mention it—I’m regretting it too. Who could’ve guessed that this morning it was a Charmander, and by the afternoon it’s a Charmeleon?"

Mr. Fuji frowned, scanning the room and noticing many others with the same envious expressions. He raised his voice:

"Don’t say things like that after the fact. Even if you could go back in time, none of you would have taken good care of that Charmander.

Unlike you, Rio truly put his whole heart into Charmander and showered it with all his love.

Let me ask you all—have you put your full attention into the Pokémon you’re caring for? Or are you looking after one while keeping an eye on others?"

Mr. Fuji’s gaze swept across all the volunteers in the room. Most of them lowered their heads in shame under his stare.