Pokémon: Raising Abandoned Pokémon into Legends

Chapter 78: If It Breaks Through, I’ll Eat a Poké Ball

"Nothing." Rio quickly shook his head. "I was just wondering—what’s the Ghost-type Suit? It sounds unique."

"It’s a garment modeled after Ghost-type Pokémon that can negate or weaken Fighting-type attacks. A while back, the client who custom-ordered it sent it back, saying his Pokémon punched straight through it and demanded we make a new one—otherwise, we’d have to refund three times the price per our agreement."

Sheila sighed as she continued: "Our R&D team is at their wits’ end over this. They keep cursing the client daily. In their view, the suit couldn’t possibly have been destroyed by a Pokémon—it must have been deliberately damaged."

Rio’s expression flickered with a barely perceptible awkwardness.

If his guess was right, he’d already figured out who that client was—most likely a very handsome guy named Rio. Before discovering the Red Gyarados’s masochistic tendencies, that handsome guy had been eagerly awaiting Silph Co.’s latest Ghost-type Suit. But after discovering that particular quirk, he’d promptly called Silph Co. and urged them to speed up development—or else they’d be paying triple the refund per the contract.

"If I say I’m that client right now, will these researchers try to kill me?" Rio made a mental note never to visit Silph Co. as the client who’d ordered the Ghost-type Suit.

A few minutes later, Rio and Sheila took the elevator to the twentieth floor, entering a research lab. Inside, behind a transparent glass wall, three Fighting-type Pokémon were relentlessly pounding on a cotton suit shrouded in black mist. Outside the glass sat three researchers in white coats, all sporting heavy dark circles under their eyes. They didn’t even look up until Sheila cleared her throat.

"Everyone, this is the Fighting-type Pokémon trainer the president found to help with the new Ghost-type Suit development," Sheila announced.

The moment she finished, Rio felt several pairs of resentful eyes sizing him up—as if he owed them millions. Then one of them spoke: "No need—tell him to go back. No matter how we test, it’s the same result. We’ve already decided: when the deadline comes, we’ll call the client and demand he bring his Pokémon in for a demonstration. If it can’t punch through the suit, we’ll sue him for malicious claim."

Rio raised an eyebrow.

Sheila frowned: "This is the president’s request. Are you refusing?"

"We’re just stating facts. The Ghost-type Suit doesn’t need improvement. We’ve tested it extensively—even invited Saffron’s Fighting-type Gym Leader, and his Hitmonchan couldn’t even break the prototype, let alone the final version."

Another researcher, red-eyed and sounding on the verge of a breakdown, added: "I bet that damn client is just extorting us. His Pokémon couldn’t possibly punch through the suit. No—there shouldn’t even exist a Fighting-type Pokémon in this world that can break our Ghost-type Suit. If there is, I’ll... I’ll..."

He looked around frantically and spotted a Poké Ball.

"If there is, I’ll swallow this Poké Ball whole—swallow it, I tell you!"

"That’s right! If anyone can do it, we’ll swallow Poké Balls!" the other two echoed loudly, looking ready to tear someone apart.

Damn it—this project had forced them to work overtime for nearly half a month.

"You’re sure about that?" Rio couldn’t help but interject.

He swore—not because they’d cursed him out, and not because the test paid 100,000 League coins—but purely because he wanted to see them swallow Poké Balls. Yes, that was the only reason. If that oath were broken, may he be punished by having to catch a legendary Pokémon.

"Kid—don’t think we’re joking. Do you have any idea how difficult our test is?" the researcher snapped. "Even the Saffron Fighting-type Gym Leader had to admit defeat!"

"Can’t know until you try," Rio shrugged. "If people always back down, they’d never get anywhere. I have full confidence in my Pokémon."

"Fine—remember that tone, kid. Let’s see if you can still sound so cocky after the test." One of the researchers laughed bitterly, stood up, walked into the glass room, and recalled the three Fighting-type Pokémon with their Poké Balls.

"Go ahead—send out your Pokémon and try to break this suit," he said, pointing at one of the Ghost-type Suits.

Rio walked in. Before releasing Primeape, he added: "Of course—but I have one condition. If my Pokémon does break through the suit, can you replace it immediately? Otherwise, it might hurt us."

The three researchers burst out laughing. "Looks like you still don’t understand how difficult this test really is—you’re already thinking about replacements!" They laughed as if they’d just heard the world’s funniest joke.

Rio watched them calmly. Laugh. Keep laughing. Let’s see how you laugh when you’re swallowing Poké Balls.

"Fine—we’ll accommodate you. The one thing we have plenty of is Ghost-type Suits. Your Pokémon can break as many as it wants—provided it actually can," they said, finally containing their laughter after nearly a minute.

Hearing that, Rio didn’t hesitate. He pulled out a Poké Ball. With a flash of light, Primeape appeared.

SMACK! He gave its head a firm slap.

"Pu-cha~" Primeape instantly turned red-hot with rage.

"Primeape—destroy all three of these suits!"

Primeape charged.

"Pu-cha~" The first suit was destroyed.

The three researchers’ smiles froze instantly.

"Pu-cha~" The second suit was destroyed.

Their mouths fell open.

"Pu-cha~" The third suit was destroyed.

Their eyes bulged like saucers.

Then Rio’s voice cut through: "What are you standing around for? Unless you want to get hit, replace those suits!"

"Pu-cha~" Primeape glared at them menacingly.

Feeling the intense killing intent, the researchers scrambled to operate the equipment. Two seconds later, three new suits appeared in front of Primeape.

"Pu-cha~"

"Pu-cha~"

"Pu-cha~"

In under three seconds, the three new suits were destroyed again.