POKEMON : STARTING WITH FLASH METAGROSS

Chapter 23: Chapter 23: Sister's Troubles



The next day, Rax woke up feeling refreshed after a good night's sleep.

Recently, his dreams had been vivid, filled with the image of a bright moon. Strangely, instead of feeling drained, he felt energized.

Maybe it's what the mysterious voice mentioned—a method to heal mental power.

For now, it seemed like a blessing. Even if someone intended harm, Rax figured they wouldn't waste their efforts on someone as weak as he was.

Take the benefits first, and deal with the consequences later!

After checking on the progress of the two newcomers in their intelligence work, Rax returned to his room. Taking out the crumpled note, he dialed the number.

---

Half an hour later, Rax found himself not at the Pokémon Center but at the fried chicken shop next door.

Perhaps because he was still a teenager, Harumi assumed fried chicken was his favorite.

Through the window, Rax spotted her waiting at a table already laden with food.

"Harumi!"

"Ah, Rax, you're here! Are these dishes okay? If not, I'll order more."

"This is plenty, sister. What's on your mind?" Rax asked, popping a fry into his mouth.

Harumi pursed her lips, hesitating. Finally, she spoke. "Rax, I need to ask for your help. If you can't, that's fine too."

"What's going on? You eat too, sister. You've lost weight."

Rax handed her a burger, but Harumi only held it absentmindedly. Her appetite was clearly gone as she began to explain.

---

A few minutes later, Rax understood the situation and felt a bit relieved.

"So, your fiancé's mine has been overrun by a group of Nosepass, and their leader is extremely strong, right? It's been blocking operations for over a week and injuring workers?"

"Yes. Nurse Joy from the Pokémon Center said the Nosepass leader has reached the advanced level and is trying to evolve by absorbing steel energy from the mine."

"Advanced level…" Rax muttered. It was a significant challenge, but he understood why Harumi came to him.

Cubone, a ground-type Pokémon, had a natural advantage over Nosepass and its evolved form, Probopass, due to their quadruple weakness to ground moves. In any battle, type advantage could turn the tide.

"Sister, this is dangerous, and you shouldn't have to rely on me. Have you thought about issuing a bounty at the Pokémon Center or asking the police for help?"

"I've tried. Strangely, all the trainers in town left about two weeks ago. Officer Jenny is also tied up investigating the theft at the Galaxy Department Store."

Harumi looked exhausted, and Rax felt a pang of guilt. She must've been desperate to turn to him, a trainer she barely knew.

Two weeks ago… wasn't that when the Galaxy Department Store heist happened?

If the Galaxy Group was pulling strings to investigate the theft, it wasn't impossible for them to clear out the town's trainers temporarily. Even Officer Jenny being preoccupied with the case wasn't surprising.

The Galaxy Group really is terrifying.

---

"Sister Harumi, don't worry about the mine for now. Focus on keeping everyone safe. Please convince your fiancé not to act recklessly."

Rax's voice was firm. "If Officer Jenny has been investigating for two weeks, she might have resources available now. Try speaking with her again. Let the police handle it."

Harumi sighed but nodded. "Thank you, Rax. I'll do my best to keep him from acting rashly."

She stayed for another few minutes before leaving in a hurry. Rax finished his meal absentmindedly and returned to the ramen shop.

---

Later that night, Rax reported the day's events to Captain Yusaku. After some discussion, they decided to maintain their cover and routine while pausing intelligence collection temporarily.

"If you want to help with the Nosepass situation, go ahead," Yusaku said.

"Really?" Rax asked, surprised.

"If you were just a young trainer without a hidden agenda, wouldn't you help in this situation?" Yusaku replied with a knowing smile.

Rax nodded, understanding the reasoning.

"But play it safe. Go to the police station with Harumi first. Get official clearance before heading to the mine."

"I understand, Captain!"

---

The next day, Rax called Harumi and told her he was willing to help. Even if he couldn't defeat the leader, he could at least reduce the numbers and minimize damage to the mine.

As planned, Harumi and Rax visited the police station together. Officer Jenny didn't raise any objections, and the process went smoothly.

That afternoon, Harumi brought Rax to the mine, where he met her fiancé, Aze.

---

"Kid, I appreciate the thought, but these Nosepass are violent. Don't risk it," Aze said earnestly.

"It's okay, brother Aze. I just want to take a look."

Aze hesitated but couldn't refute Rax's determination.

"I'm a trainer. It's my responsibility to help when I can. Besides, this is an opportunity for me to grow," Rax said confidently.

Finally, Aze relented. "Alright, but be careful. If it's too dangerous, come back."

"Rax, take my Roselia with you," Harumi offered, handing him a Poké Ball. "It knows Protect and can help keep you safe."

Rax accepted it with gratitude. He had seen Roselia in action and knew its defensive skills were excellent.

---

With cubone by his side and Roselia's Poké Ball in hand, Rax stepped into the mine, ready to face the challenge ahead. Cubone gripped its bone tightly, its eyes burning with fighting spirit.


Tip: You can use left, right, A and D keyboard keys to browse between chapters.