Pokemon: Spiritual Master-Chapter 480: You’re Not Following the Script...

Looker?

In a way, Looker was basically the Rocket Trio of the International Police—whenever he showed up, something big was happening.

And now, Looker was requesting emergency backup through the International Police network.

There was no way Johan could ignore this.

After all, Looker was a Senior Inspector of the International Police, an official consultant, and technically, Looker's boss's boss...

"What's wrong?" Cynthia noticed Johan's expression shift.

Johan glanced at the coordinates attached to the distress signal.

It wasn't far.

Still within Ayasha Town.

"Not a big deal." He put away his phone and began recalling his Pokémon one by one.

"Need help?"

"Shouldn't be necessary..."

Johan strapped protective gear onto Dragonite and climbed onto its back.

The situation was nearby, and if things escalated, Cynthia would arrive in time.

For now, he'd assess the situation first—there was a chance it involved classified International Police matters.

"You guys stay here."

He patted Dragonite's neck.

"Draaa~~"

Dragonite spread its small wings, and despite its large, round body, it shot forward at an incredible speed.

"Coward," Caitlin muttered, pouting.

The setting sun cast an amber glow over the horizon, half of it already sinking into the sea.

On the rocky northern coast of Ayasha Town, Looker was wedged between the jagged stones, his pirate disguise now soaked with seawater.

By his side, Toxicroak remained alert, guarding their surroundings.

Looker clutched something in his arms, protecting it carefully.

Shadows flickered in the distance—multiple figures searching for him.

The sound of footsteps approached, the voices getting closer.

"No sign of him. Could he have... already escaped into town?"

"Possible. Move! Let's check it out!"

Hearing this, Looker exhaled slightly in relief.

He carefully peeked through a gap in the rocks—

Only for a pair of glowing red eyes to appear right in front of him.

His heart nearly stopped.

"He's still here!"

"Hmph, found you!" A mocking voice called out. "Mightyena, Tackle!"

A Mightyena, specialized in tracking prey by scent.

Even with precautionary measures, they had still found him.

Looker gritted his teeth.

Battling wasn't his strong suit, but at this point, he had no choice.

"Toxicroak!"

Toxicroak reacted faster than Looker—if they had relied on Looker's battle instincts, they'd be dead already.

Looker liked to think he was protecting Toxicroak, but honestly?

It was the other way around.

Toxicroak's eyes hardened.

As Mightyena charged, Toxicroak threw a punch, dark-red energy coating its fist—

Brick Break!

BOOM!!

The rocks exploded, and before Mightyena could adjust to the narrow battlefield, Toxicroak slammed its palm onto Mightyena's head, sending it flying with a yelp.

Realizing hiding wasn't an option anymore, Looker stepped forward, emerging from the rocks.

The pirates who had surrounded him—about seven or eight in total—grinned menacingly.

"Finally coming out?" One pirate, dressed similarly to Looker's disguise, smirked. "Traitor. Hand it over."

Looker ripped off his disguise, returning to his usual detective attire.

If they already found him, no point in pretending anymore.

"I was never with you guys to begin with. So there's no 'traitor' here."

He pulled out his badge, flashing it toward the group.

"International Police! You're all under arrest!"

Silence.

The pirates exchanged glances.

"International Police?"

"Wait, what?"

"Hold up, when did he say he was a cop?"

From the submarine offshore, a cold voice spoke through a communicator.

"He's alone. What are you waiting for? Capture him, take the cargo, and dump him in the sea."

Realizing their numbers advantage, the pirates' hesitation vanished.

"Right! He's just one guy!"

"Mightyena, Crawdaunt, Pinsir, Golbat—get him!"

The feral Pokémon lunged at Toxicroak.

Toxicroak glanced back at Looker, then shoved him aside—

"Go! I'll hold them off!"

It had no intention of backing down.

"Toxicroak—" Looker hesitated.

But Toxicroak had already turned, facing the incoming enemies alone.

The pirates smirked.

"Just one Toxicroak? Hah, this'll be easy—"

Right before a flash of blue light streaked through the battlefield.

"Ceruledge, Bitter Blade!"

Shing—!

A ghostly blue arc slashed through the air—

And every single enemy Pokémon was knocked back instantly.

Everyone froze—Looker, Toxicroak, and even the pirates.

"WHO?!"

A gust of wind stirred the sand.

From the skies, a Dragonite slowly descended.

Johan sat atop it, his expression calm.

"You're surrounded."

The pirates looked around.

"Surrounded? By ONE guy?"

They laughed, reaching for more Poké Balls.

"I thought this was a real fight—"

Before the sentence could finish, a shadow loomed behind them.

From within the fading light, Ceruledge emerged—its swords glowing eerily.

"Wha—"

Shing!

Flames erupted.

Every previously hit Pokémon—Mightyena, Crawdaunt, Pinsir, Golbat—

Ignited in blue fire.

Their screams echoed, one by one collapsing.

The pirates stared in horror.

"One move... Took out our whole team?!"

A single gulp was heard—one pirate visibly swallowed nervously.

"He's just ONE guy!"

"Yeah, and you guys are just cowards."

The pirates roared, summoning twenty more Pokémon.

But—

Ceruledge was already in the middle of them.

Then, from the shadows, another voice cackled.

"Ka-kaah~"

Dark spheres rained down, knocking out Pokémon one after another.

The pirates were stunned.

"Numbers mean nothing against a 'Mob-Clearing Machine.'"

"Draaa..."

Dragonite sighed, disappointed it didn't get to fight.

Within moments, even the pirates themselves were collapsing.

All but one man, the loudest of them.

"Y-You're just one guy!"

Johan rubbed his temple—he still felt a little nauseous from the speedy flight.

"Where's the rest of your crew?"

The pirate turned—

Just in time to see his own submarine diving beneath the waves, escaping.

Pirate: "..."

"He's all yours," Johan muttered, stepping aside.

Looker saluted instantly.

"Yes, sir!"

Pirate: "Wait, WHAT?! Who even IS this guy?!"

Meanwhile—

Deep underwater, inside the submarine—

"WHY ARE WE RETREATING?! WE LEFT OUR MEN BEHIND!"

A man in a Team Galactic uniform, Saturn, barely spared him a glance.

"Do you know who just arrived?"

"Who?!"

"Johan. International Police Senior Inspector. Hoenn League's Acting Elite Four. The man who punched Dialga and Palkia and rode Rayquaza."

Pirate: "..."

"STILL WANNA GO BACK?" Saturn sneered.

Pirate: "I've never met those guys in my life."

Then, the submarine shook—

A flaming projectile pierced the ocean, heading straight for them.

Saturn's face twisted in shock.

"FULL SPEED AHEAD—"

Back on shore, Armarouge lowered its smoking cannon.

Looker and the captured pirate stared in awe.

"What the hell was THAT?!"

Johan sighed.

"Missed."

Johan was still feeling a bit dizzy from the high-speed flight earlier.

"What exactly are you carrying?" he asked Looker, his gaze shifting toward the pirate leader, now unconscious on the ground.

His eyes narrowed when he noticed a familiar insignia on the pirate's clothes.

That skull-and-crossbones emblem...

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Weren't these guys from Phantom's Ghost Pirates?

The same notorious Pokémon hunters from the movie Pokémon Ranger and the Temple of the Sea?

They were after Manaphy and the Sea Temple Akusha in the original timeline.

These guys were some of the worst Pokémon traffickers out there.

"I infiltrated a Pokémon hunter group and sabotaged their plans!"

Looker puffed up his chest, the usual self-righteous glow returning to his face.

Johan sighed internally.

Looker was competent—especially in infiltration and disguise.

But he also had a terrible habit of acting solo and ignoring orders.

Which explained why he was completely alone and needed emergency backup.

"If I hadn't been nearby, you'd have been screwed."

"Looker..." Johan crossed his arms.

"I know you like working alone, but sometimes—"

He glanced at Toxicroak, then back at Looker.

"Even if you don't think about yourself, at least think about your Pokémon."

Johan remembered the original timeline.

Looker's Toxicroak had died protecting him on a mission gone wrong.

He didn't want history to repeat itself.

Looker fell silent, his gaze dropping to his partner.

Toxicroak, despite acting nonchalant, had just risked its life for him.

"Think about it." Johan finished.

Then, he changed the subject.

"Anyway, those pirates were chasing you for a reason. What exactly did you take?"

Snapping back to reality, Looker hurried over to the small rocky crevice where he had hidden something earlier.

He returned holding a black-cloth-covered box.

"Johan, this is it!"

Before he could explain, Johan held up a hand.

"I already know."

Looker blinked.

"You do?"

Of course he knew.

This was the Manaphy egg.

It was always the Manaphy egg.

Johan had already encountered multiple plot-related Pokémon, so by now, he was hardly surprised.

Manaphy wasn't even remotely the strongest Mythical Pokémon.

It was small, harmless, and—

Wait.

Johan pulled back the black cloth—

And froze.

Inside the steel cage, a tiny Pokémon huddled in the corner, its silver-white body trembling.

Large red eyes blinked fearfully at him.

Its blue back fins shivered.

Its small beak-like mouth quivered.

It wasn't an egg.

It wasn't Manaphy.

It was a Lugia hatchling.

Johan's brain short-circuited.

Gengar and Ceruledge leaned in, staring at the tiny Pokémon.

"Ka-kaah?" Gengar tilted its head.

"Goka?" Ceruledge blinked.

Johan rubbed his temples.

"What the actual hell—"

This... wasn't part of the script.

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Powerstones?

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