Release That Pokémon!

"Caleb Chase... Team Rocket..." The young man muttered under his breath before nodding, "Got it. But I have one question... why pick me out of all the detective agencies in Slateport?"

'Because you're broke.'

Caleb smiled and said, "Because I believe you're someone capable of great things. As they say, 'When Heaven is about to place a great responsibility on a man, it first tempers his heart and mind, exhausts his muscles and bones, starves his body...'"

In reality, he had scouted multiple agencies before entering, and this one simply had the lowest rates.

The young man's eyes gradually lit up...

Fresh out of school, he had started this detective agency full of passion, only to be ruthlessly crushed by competitors, going a full month without a single commission.

Yet, even so, he never gave up. He firmly believed he would succeed, even if he couldn't pay rent or afford meals...

Forget the 50 000 Pokédollars... just those soul-stirring words reignited the fighting spirit long dormant in his heart.

"Bro!" The young man clapped Caleb heavily on the shoulder. "I, Finn Harper, accept this job!"

Caleb: '...This guy doesn't seem too bright.'

Without another word, the young man who called himself Finn Harper hurried off to pack his bags.

Caleb realized he needed to buy a phone; otherwise, he'd have no way to contact Finn.

After exchanging contact details, he left the detective agency and flew back to the Pokémon School on Dragonite.

...

~The next morning~

As usual, Caleb picked up Lily to go to the cafeteria...

On the way, Lily suddenly asked, "Onii-chan, have you ever seen Mom and Dad?"

Caleb glanced at her and replied, "I don't remember much either. I was even younger than you are now."

Lily's little face fell.

Caleb could guess why she was asking...

Every day after school, the other kids in her class were picked up by their parents. Being in that environment for so long, it was only natural for her to feel affected.

He sighed softly, then crouched down to fix her little braid, "Do you miss them?"

Lily nodded pitifully.

"Do you want to see them?" he asked.

"Yes."

Caleb comforted her, "I've heard that in the Johto region, there's a Pokémon called Celebi. It can travel through time and take people back to the past..."

"If Lily-chan wants to see Mom and Dad, study hard now. When you grow up and become a great trainer, you can go to Johto to find Celebi and ask it to take you back."

Lily hesitated, "Really? Can I really see them?"

"Really," Caleb said offhandedly.

"Then... can you tell me what Celebi looks like?"

"Of course." Caleb thought for a moment, "It's green, about the size of our palm, with tiny transparent wings on its back, like a magical fairy from a storybook..."

Lily committed every word to memory.

'When the time comes, besides seeing Mom and Dad, I'll also see what Onii-chan was like as a kid...' For some reason, she couldn't remember what her brother was like in the past, at all...

Children's emotions come and go quickly. Lily didn't dwell on it, she happily skipped to her classroom door and waved, "Onii-chan, see you later!"

"See you later!" Caleb smiled and returned to his own classroom...

This period was Hoenn History class...

The curriculum was down-to-earth, covering topics like which year and day Groudon and Kyogre fought, only to be stopped by Rayquaza.

A few decades later, they fought again, and were stopped by Rayquaza again...

The textbook's author was clearly a Kyogre fanboy, subtly implying in every paragraph that Groudon couldn't beat Kyogre, saying it can't even fly.

Caleb treated it like storytime.

Near the end of class, Professor Ohkawa, the Pokéblock-making instructor, burst in.

Without a word, she dragged Caleb to an office. Panting, she said, "President, I've brought him!"

Caleb looked up to see a middle-aged man in a suit and gold-rimmed glasses leisurely seated behind a desk, a glass of ruby-red drink in front of him.

It was President Stone... Head of Devon Corporation, and father of Champion Steven...

Having played the games before entering this world, Caleb recognized him instantly... the man looked exactly like his in-game counterpart.

Stone smiled warmly, "Caleb Chase, right? I've heard of you. Thank you for saving that passenger ship under our company's banner."

Caleb: "You're welcome."

'Steven already thanked me...'

Stone chuckled, "The method you provided was a resounding success. Pokéblocks that couldn't be mass-produced before can now be manufactured on a large scale."

Caleb wasn't surprised. It was inevitable...

Stone continued, "Do you know what this means? The entire Pokéblock market is about to undergo a massive transformation."

With Pokéblocks no longer rare and production capacity multiplied, prices would inevitably drop.

Caleb understood President Stone's implication...

Currently, only Devon Corp. possessed this new manufacturing method. They wanted to monopolize Hoenn's Pokéblock industry.

"So, will you partner with us?" Stone asked.

Ohkawa Nadeshiko handed Caleb the contract that president Stone had prepared.

Caleb skimmed it...

The key points were:

1. He could not disclose the new method to other companies without Devon's permission...

2. In return, he would receive 30% of the profits from Pokéblock sales...

In other words, as long as Devon Corp. remained solvent and no Pokéblock alternatives emerged, Caleb would earn passive income indefinitely.

Only a fool would refuse...

Without hesitation, Caleb nodded, "I agree. But can the beneficiary be changed to my sister's name?" he asked.

"Oh?" Stone looked puzzled.

Of course, Caleb wouldn't mention that he'd be leaving this world in ten months.

He made up an excuse, "You know how fragile life is. An accident could happen anytime. My sister is my only family left..."

"Ah, I understand." Stone nodded sympathetically.

He too, worried about suddenly dropping dead one day... hence why he had already drafted a will leaving everything to Steven...

However, Steven was anything but dependable, gallivanting around the world digging up rocks instead of focusing on his duties...

Recently, he had even floated the idea of resigning as Champion in favor of Wallace.

Just thinking about it gave Stone a headache...

Caleb signed the papers and left...

Mr Stone immediately called Steven, bellowing: "You're a grown man! Instead of settling down and starting a family, you're obsessed with a bunch of rocks?! Do you plan to marry a fossil?!"

Steven, busy excavating, barely heard him. He wedged the phone between his ear and shoulder, his eyes glued to the freshly unearthed fossil.

<...Dad, what? I didn't catch that... Never mind, I'll call you back after I finish digging this up!..>

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Read ahead on my P@treon...

[email protected]/MayaMatengele01