Pokémon: Raising Abandoned Pokémon into Legends

Chapter 299: News of Regigigas

After hearing the explanation, Cynthia nodded repeatedly, then turned to Rio.

"Should we make a move now? With your strength and mine, taking them down shouldn’t be a problem, right?"

Should be with my strength, you mean... Rio looked at Cynthia putting herself on the same level as him and couldn’t help but smile, though he didn’t call her out on it.

"Let’s hold off for now. It’ll be better to strike when the buyer arrives, don’t you think?" Rio said.

"You’re right—let’s catch them all in one go." Cynthia agreed wholeheartedly.

And so, they waited together on the sidelines.

While waiting, Rio grew bored and released Gengar. He had it slip into Hunter J’s shadow and eavesdrop, relaying what it heard to Rio through Mewtwo’s psychic link.

Just as Gengar slipped into Hunter J’s shadow, a uniformed subordinate ran out of the ship holding a piece of paper.

"J-sama! We just received a new client commission. Should we accept it?"

The subordinate handed the paper to Hunter J. She glanced at it, then uttered a name that surprised Rio.

"They want us to capture Regigigas?"

"This client wants us to capture the legendary Pokémon said to be able to drag continents?"

Hunter J looked displeased and tossed the paper back to her subordinate.

"However, the commission fee is only 3 billion. Is he mocking us, or does he think I, Hunter J, don’t know what kind of Pokémon Regigigas is? The preparation and expenses required to capture it would be greater than any of our previous operations."

"Ace, tell that client that unless the commission fee is at least 7 billion, this organization won’t accept the job."

"Understood, J-sama." The hunter took the paper and turned back toward the ship.

Rio, hiding in the forest, replayed the brief exchange between Hunter J and her subordinate in his mind and couldn’t help but marvel.

"As expected of Hunter J—these are the kinds of commissions she takes. Either she doesn’t take big jobs, or she goes after legendaries like Regigigas."

"Regigigas? She’s going after Regigigas?" Cynthia overheard Rio muttering and whispered in surprise. "Isn’t that the legendary Pokémon that can drag continents? Does she even know where it is?"

But then Cynthia realized that wasn’t the key issue—the real question was who had hired Hunter J to capture Regigigas.

"Did you catch who the client was?" Cynthia asked Rio.

"I didn’t hear that part." Rio shrugged with a faint smile. "But who do you think it could be?"

Seeing his expression, Cynthia’s heart sank. She understood what he was implying—it was likely someone important in the Sinnoh region. Either a noble, a high-ranking official, or the head of a major corporation. Only they could afford to hire Pokémon hunters to capture Regigigas.

"Rio... I find this incredibly ironic." Cynthia laughed bitterly. "I remember telling you before that the Kanto League was so corrupt it allowed a Rocket executive to become a Gym Leader. But now I see—Sinnoh’s darkness is no less."

Rio smiled and said nothing. He was glad Cynthia could see that. Understanding human nature and the world would serve her well in the future.

Just then, the sound of approaching vehicles came from nearby. Rio raised his binoculars and saw four jeeps pull to a stop not far from Hunter J about seven or eight seconds later. Then a group of people in military-green uniforms stepped out, led by a middle-aged man in a black suit with slicked-back hair.

"Sorry to keep you waiting, Hunter J." The middle-aged man walked toward her with one hand in his pocket and a smile on his face.

"It’s him! It’s actually him! The one hiring the Pokémon hunters is him!"

Cynthia, looking through her binoculars, was shocked—her lips trembling. "He’s one of our League’s senior officials. I saw him once at my grandmother’s lab. I can’t believe he’s hiring Pokémon hunters to steal the Kingdom of Riolu’s Riolu!"

"Doesn’t he know that’s against League law?"

Rio patted Cynthia’s shoulder—he could feel how shaken she was by this revelation.

"I’m going to put him in prison. Put him in the League’s prison."

"I’m going to make sure he goes down."

Cynthia couldn’t stand waiting any longer. She burst out of the bushes ahead of everyone else.

"You bastards! Breaking League law, stealing others’ Pokémon! Garchomp, help me send them all to Sinnoh League prison!"

A flash of light—Cynthia sent out Garchomp. It was already at level 62.

"Cynthia! How are you—?!" The commotion startled both parties mid-transaction. The middle-aged man, who had just taken possession of the Riolu, saw Cynthia and his face went pale.

"Quick, stop her—no, restrain her!" He shouted frantically at his subordinates. Then he called out to Hunter J: "Help me subdue her!"

Hunter J just smiled and shook her head. "Sorry, Mr. Snow. This deal ended the moment you took the Riolu and sent us the final payment."

With that, Hunter J turned sharply on her heels, striding away in her high heels. But she had barely taken a step when a chilling cackle echoed beside her, and an icy coldness enveloped her.

Hunter J frowned.

"J-sama! Your shadow!" her subordinate cried out in terror.

Hunter J looked back—and saw a lavender Gengar emerge from her shadow. It cackled at her.

At the same time, a teasing voice came from nearby.

"Sorry, Ms. Hunter J. With me here, you’re not leaving today."