NOVEL NEXT Chapter 21: Duty at Work
Returning one hour back in time.
In Mauville City, at the maglev train station.
Victor took this train from Cianwood City to Mauville City.
As one of the largest cities in the Johto region, Victor often comes here to procure supplies.
Just as he was about to get off, suddenly, a scream of terror echoed from the exit of the station.
Next, chaos rapidly spread throughout the train station, with passengers covering their heads and fleeing in all directions like headless flies.
"What's going on?"
Victor stood on his toes to look around, trying to figure out what was happening.
Before long, he heard a name—Shadow.
Having crossed over for a while, Victor had naturally heard of this organization.
The largest criminal organization in the Johto region.
It was said that its power could rival Team Rocket in Kanto.
Day-to-day, their actions could be described as a carbon copy of Team Rocket—
Robbing others of their belongings, violently capturing Pokémon en masse, and allegedly... they were said to conduct unspeakable experiments on Pokémon, just like Team Rocket.
If one were to point out any differences, it would probably be in the subtle differences in their methods.
Team Rocket preferred direct violence.
Shadow was more about quietly infiltrating the villages, making their moves without a sound.
They would first deploy plans and then strike.
"Minna-san, everyone, focus on me, look at me!"
At that moment, a voice came through the train station's PA system, reaching all the passengers.
"I'm the chief scientist of Shadow, Alina~"
Surprisingly, the voice was female.
And it had a sultry tone that made Victor think of a certain aunt from his past life who had married into the neon-lit lands.
"Now, the entire maglev train station is under our control. If you all wish to stay alive, please hand over your Pokémon and all your belongings. I really don't want to hurt anyone, pretty please~"
Just then, a group of people walked out from the train, removing their disguises to reveal white uniforms resembling those of a Kamen Rider.
So they were hiding among the passengers?
And to take control of the station so easily, there must have been an insider among the staff right from the start.
But speaking of which, it's called "Shadow," yet their uniforms are white.
Seems the leader doesn't really get the culture.
The members of Shadow who got off the train pulled out bags from their pockets, one by one approaching the passengers who dared not make a move.
The meaning was clear—
Hand over all your belongings and Poké Balls.
"Are you kidding?! I would never give my Plusle to you!"
At that moment, a boy estimated to be around eight or nine years old looked tearfully at his Plusle, hugging it tightly.
The reaction sparked a wave of discontent.
Other passengers began to echo his sentiments.
"Absolutely! Pokémon are our family; how can we hand them over to criminals like you?!"
"If we give up our Pokémon, we'd just become lambs to the slaughter!"
"Everyone, don't listen to them!"
"Exactly! There are so many of us; why should we fear them?!"
The importance of Pokémon to trainers is self-evident; they are not merely partners but also comrades, family.
Of course, some might have a less profound bond with their Pokémon.
But they all knew, at this moment, that their Pokémon represented their lifeline.
If handed over, they would truly be at the mercy of these criminals.
"Oh dear~ We, unlike that violent Team Rocket, you all think that we from Shadow would make such a large-scale move without thorough preparations?"
Alina's voice echoed again through the PA system.
As her words just landed.
Hundreds of passengers noticed.
Unbeknownst to them, a faint purple mist was drifting from the drainage channels in the station, already wafting around.
And those dressed like Kamen Riders began to don gas masks!
Poison gas!?
"Hey! These guys have gone crazy!?"
On the other side of the crowd, Will, who had also come to Mauville City to challenge the gym, was dumbfounded.
Coming from Johto, he had, of course, heard of "Shadow."
But he had never expected these guys to be so insane.
Over a thousand lives at stake.
Are you really that cruel!?
…
In less than half a minute, many passengers with slightly weaker constitutions felt unwell.
Seeing the Shadow members with burlap sacks walking towards them.
The passenger in the front row gritted his teeth, ultimately saying "I'm sorry" with tears in his eyes as he tossed his wallet and Poké Balls into the sacks.
Through the surveillance cameras vividly capturing the scene, in the station's monitoring room,
A slender woman, around twenty, with pink twin tails, propped her long legs on the broadcasting station, smiling and saying:
"Oh dear, what a great success~"
The S-ranked wanted criminal sought by the Alliance—Senior official and scientist of Shadow, Alina!
"Um... Big sis, the gym leader of Mauville, Howard, and Officer Jenny have arrived."
At this moment, a team member wearing a similar white uniform as Shadow, standing beside Alina, said cautiously.
Alina, irritated, slapped the man's back.
"I've told you so many times? Napus, when on duty, be dutiful!"
"Yes, yes, yes!"
The man, feeling wronged after being slapped, said pitifully:
"Lady Alina, the gym leader and Officer Jenny are blocking the entrance, what should we do?"
"Howard? Isn't that just a sixty-year-old dude? His power isn't exactly impressive; he can handle it, my annoying little brother."
Alina replied nonchalantly.
"Uh... Got it."
Napus knew too well how terrifying it was to anger his older sister.
But he couldn't help but mentally retort, "Didn't you just say to be dutiful? Why are you calling me your little brother again?"
While the two indeed were siblings.
Alina then shouted into the microphone:
"Everyone who hands over their Poké Balls and belongings can leave first~"
...
In the station.
Hearing Alina's words, the passengers moved considerably faster.
Faced with the threat to their lives, what did their bond with Pokémon matter?
After all, you couldn't expect everyone to be like Ash.
"Damn it, I, I... what should I do?"
Facing the approaching Shadow members, Will fell into deep conflict.
Should he fight back? Maybe he could carve out a path.
He certainly wouldn't hand over his Natu!
But against such a large number of opponents, could he really escape?
Just as the Shadow members drew nearer, his anxiety escalated.
Suddenly, he heard a voice not too far from him:
"I see, no matter which world you're in, train stations, airports, whatever, they're places with the highest foot traffic. Making a move here would indeed garner the most resources, and after successfully snagging them, one can just take a train to escape. That woman named Alina is clever."
Will's face was instantly covered with confusion.
Where did this oddball come from?
Is it the right time to praise a criminal?!
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