Fifth Elite of the Pokemon World

Luther wanted to have some, but come on, Lance, the guy who loves Dragon-type Pokémon, why are you joining in?

Noticing Luther's odd look, Lance blinked in confusion. "Is something wrong?"

"Espurr is a Psychic-type," Luther said.

"My Aerodactyl and Gyarados aren't Dragon-types either," Lance replied with a shrug.

That actually made sense...

Lance was just throwing caution to the wind. He grabbed a chunk of meat from his plate and chewed it fiercely.

Luther had never quite understood the phrase "eating it raw" from old stories, but seeing Lance's expression now, he finally got it.

Luther had only ordered two dishes. The pan-fried pork chop was easy to recognize, but the other dish, staring at it for a long time, he couldn't connect it to what they called "volcanic beef."

Mai, who was trying new dishes alongside Luther, had ordered the same and was already digging in.

As the beef entered his mouth, Luther savored it thoughtfully; beyond a mild spicy kick, what else was there?

The beef was overcooked, while tender meat is naturally delicious, this texture was more like chewing on mush, far too soft.

"Marill, go!"

As the team's least picky and most voracious eater, Luther called on Marill to help finish the dish he couldn't stand.

Marill grabbed the plate and devoured it in a flash. Before Luther even cut into his pork chop, she'd already licked the plate clean. Watching him carve the chop, her eyes gleamed, silently hoping he wouldn't like this one either.

Luther and Mai both paused their forks and knives, after all, it was their order, and they had to push through even if it hurt.

Lance was holding back too; he noticed Luther had ordered something unfamiliar, and like him, had followed the trend to get pork chop. But now, all he could taste was one overwhelming flavor.

Sweet...

Oh man, whose pork chop is so sugary? It's sickening.

No surprise, the glossy layer on top was definitely Kalos's famous maple syrup, and underneath the plate was actually a hidden layer of frosting. This creative dish truly captured Kalos's sweet culinary vibe.

"Marill, are you sure you want to eat that?"

Marill answered with actions, not only swallowing the steak quickly but also licking up the maple syrup and frosting without hesitation.

Lance and Mai took turns waving at Marill, who squatted in the corner, happily devouring all the dishes they refused.

"I'm going out for some fresh air."

Shortly after Luther left the room, Oleander tidied the table, wiped her mouth, and approached the door of the neighboring private room, knocking lightly.

"Come in."

Oleander pushed open the door to find the two inspectors, who had finished their meal, sitting and eyeing him closely.

"Well then, let's discuss the mob incident at the Twinleaf Town Pokémon Center."

Closing the door gently behind him, Oleander separated the quiet room from the rest of the restaurant.

Luther had been gone nearly half an hour. When he returned, he brought with him an Espurr, his mysterious behavior drawing everyone's attention.

Along with Luther's return came several plates floating in the air.

Mai was the first to catch on; faced with the hovering plates, she eagerly lifted a lid.

"You ordered more dishes?" Cynthia, curious, stood to examine the spread before Lance.

Mai took a bite of the beef, then quickly spooned rice into her mouth, clearly enjoying it.

Noticing the chef standing behind Luther, Diantha asked, "What dish is this?"

"Luther San requested braised beef, and I prepared it exactly as he instructed," The head chef said, surprised.

Apparently, Luther had rushed to the kitchen to explain the previous mistake, they'd cooked the beef wrong. Luther understood this world had little experience with primitive meat dishes; everyone relied on old methods and guesswork.

Beef meat tends to be tough; slow-cooking makes it tender, but ordinary beef can't withstand such long stewing... After Luther's explanation, the kitchen staff realized their limited experience with these ingredients had caused the awful texture.

Cynthia picked beef from Luther's plate, while Diantha sampled from Lance's, both eating happily. The two Espurr drooled eagerly and were invited by Marill to nibble some scraps Luther had saved.

As the meal wound down, Luther noticed Oleander had vanished.

"It should be your turn soon," Diantha said, carefully watching her calories and stopping after just a few bites.

"My turn?"

"You're a witness to the incident. The inspectors will definitely want to question you next."

Oleander reappeared at the door, glancing at Luther wiping his mouth. "Come with me."

"I didn't mention the recording device," Oleander said with a knowing look as he opened the door for him.

The man sitting to the right of the coffee table looked to be in his fifties or sixties. He was fairly tall, with a build somewhere between stocky and sturdy, casually dressed in beach shorts and a short-sleeved shirt.

The man on the left was thinner, his face far older-looking than the other's. His sunken cheeks cast a shadow of gloom, and he wore a sharp, tailored suit. Unlike the relaxed posture of the man on the right, he sat rigidly upright, exuding a tense, controlled air.

Having done his homework beforehand, Luther immediately recognized the man on the right as Ulter and the one on the left as Sister.

After a brief greeting, Luther noticed the two inspectors had no intention of speaking first. Their sharp eyes scanned him thoroughly, occasionally exchanging looks as if silently confirming something between them.

After a few moments, Inspector Sister finally gestured for Luther to take a seat.

"Don't worry," Sister said with a somewhat forced smile on his gaunt face. "Since you've been showing up on our radar quite a lot recently, it's only natural we're curious about what kind of person you are."

"To cut to the chase," Ulter interrupted.

"All right. I'm sure you understand the International Police's serious concern over the presence of mobs. Shiran, as a key figure in that group, is highly valuable. Capturing him would be a major success." Sister's gaze locked onto Luther's, watching his every reaction.

"But he's dead," Luther said quietly.

Sister leaned in closer. "Your report claims that during the confrontation, Shiran drew a knife and tried to harm you and Oleander, and in the struggle, you accidentally killed him."

Luther nodded in confirmation.

"However," Sister continued, "the autopsy shows that the wound on Shiran's abdomen, the one consistent with a knife being drawn, came first. The fatal neck wound happened afterward. Can you explain how that happened?"

Luther had anticipated that Oleander's explanation would be challenged; people with agendas would want to dig deeper, and any cover-up wouldn't hold up under scrutiny.

He licked his dry lips and steeled himself. "The situation was critical. Oleander was injured, and we couldn't properly check Shiran's condition. We had to act in panic."

The two inspectors fell silent for a moment. Luther pressed on, "Our lives were in danger. We couldn't just stand there and wait, could we?"

Ulter let out a cold laugh, his tone casual but cutting. "Luther, you were right in the middle of all this. Whether it was self-defense or premeditated murder doesn't interest me as much as Oleander's state of mind."

"If she can't control her emotions, then she's dangerous. As Deputy Minister of Safety, she's unfit for her role." Ulter rose, his tall figure casting a shadow over Luther, looming like a giant looking down on him. "No one wants a ticking time bomb in charge. Do you understand what I mean?"

"Ulter, we should be focusing on the mob investigation," Sister interjected, trying to steer the conversation back.

"The data from the Pokémon Center, the relationships involved, they're all available. You can investigate anytime. What matters to me is whether the Safety Department's second-in-command is mentally stable!"

Ulter's booming voice echoed in the room, making Luther's ears ring.

"Sister, it was you who convinced the regional Pokémon Leagues to place their trust in your leadership and, after so much effort, helped establish the International Police. You and I, and the rest of the nine old-timers, have sacrificed a great deal to build the International Police we have today. The mob is just a minor problem; our real challenge lies within our own ranks."

"The younger generation in the International Police is far more capable than we ever were. They're able to handle things on their own now. We agreed not to interfere unnecessarily with their operations. Since they've grown independent, it's time we learned to let go. Remember, this is a private meeting, not an official session."

"Capable? Hahaha, capable?" Ulter laughed loudly. "They've been chasing Cyrus, who's slipped through their fingers multiple times, and you call that capable?"

"What else do you suggest? Ulter, do you want to show them personally how to capture enemies? Growth always comes with a price. Once they pay it, they'll become stronger. The recent drop in poaching incidents is exactly because of their teamwork with the regional Pokémon Leagues, isn't it?"

Luther stared blankly at the two inspectors locked in argument, wondering how it had come to this.

Still, it was clear the towering Ulter was no match for Sister, who skillfully cornered him with just a few words, leaving Ulter on the defensive.

"All right, all right, I can't argue with you. You always have a silver tongue, and great acting skills. Back in the regional Pokémon League, your sob story moved everyone to tears. Truly eye-opening. I won't argue with you, Luther, but I do have one question. Once you answer, you're free to go."

Luther glanced at Sister, noting there was no intention to stop Ulter's question. He swallowed hard and braced himself.

"Can you guarantee that Oleander didn't act recklessly during the incident? That she didn't lose control?"

Luther froze.

In the pouring rain, the image of that frenzied figure kept replaying in his mind, the droplets of blood splattering from her throat, the woman sobbing uncontrollably...

He wanted to defend Oleander, to say she was perfectly fine, but the words got caught in his throat, as if a stone had lodged there.

Sister glanced at Luther, adjusted his glasses, then shook his head.

"You may leave now, Mr. Luther. I have my answer."

Luther stood, still dazed, and pushed open the door.

"Consider this an old man's advice, Mr. Luther: roses have thorns, but if you remove the thorns, you can enjoy the rose freely. Oleander isn't a rose, she's more like a Pokémon with Toxic. If you're not careful, you might end up poisoned."

Sister's cold warning hung in the air.

"Stay away from her."

(End of Chapter)

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