Chapter 10: Champion’s Name
"How's the water temperature?"
Luke held a neatly folded and dried Naranja Academy uniform, asking toward the bathroom where the sound of water droplets echoed.
Nemo, enjoying the soothing sensation of hot water on her skin, felt her previously tense mind begin to relax. She called out loudly from inside: "It's perfect!"
Luke nodded, placing the uniform in the basket near the bathroom door. He reminded her, "Your clothes have been washed and dried by Serperior and the others. They're in the basket by the door!"
"Got it~"
Hearing Nemo's energetic response, Luke smiled and shook his head, but his expression quickly turned serious, even solemn.
The creek wasn't far from this small villa, only about a ten-minute walk. It had been less than half an hour since he'd pulled Nemo out of the water.
Though he was anxious, Luke could only wait patiently for Nemo to finish her bath and then point the way.
Luke stepped out of the villa, looking at the five Pokémon already assembled before him, along with the barely noticeable presence of Mimikyu, which had been quietly following him all along. He said seriously: "The first priority in this rescue mission is ensuring the safety of the kidnapped children. Got it?"
"Meowth!" "Boo~" "Jaloo!" "Hisss." "Swampoo!" "Mimi~"
Led by Luxray, the six Pokémon radiated absolute confidence. This was a reflection of their trust in their own strength and their response to Luke's command.
Luke nodded slightly, recalling them into their Poké Balls one by one, leaving only Dragonite outside.
Looking at the six Poké Balls on his belt, Luke sighed. Ever since completing the Paldea Champion League challenge, this was the first time he'd brought a full team with him.
As he stroked Dragonite's smooth, soft belly, Luke thought about what Nemo had told him earlier on their way back.
She had run away from home after an argument with her family yesterday.
The reason for the argument was trivial.
Nemo didn't want to become a trainer; she wanted to help with the family business, like her sister.
Let's set aside for now why the battle maniac Nemo didn't want to be a trainer.
After leaving home, Nemo hadn't expected that simply spending some time on a beach near Cabo Poco would lead to her being kidnapped by some criminals without her even noticing.
When Nemo regained consciousness, she found herself in a dimly lit warehouse. Around her were several other children, looking dispirited—some her age, others younger.
During her captivity, Nemo overheard the kidnappers laughing loudly and openly discussing their plans for her and the other children.
The other children were to be smuggled out of the Paldea region and sold at a high price to Team Rocket in Kanto, while she was to be used to extort ransom money from her wealthy family, ensuring the kidnappers had enough money to enjoy themselves during their travels.
The kidnappers had clearly been watching Nemo, the wealthy young lady, for a long time. They just hadn't dared to act because of the tight security around her home. But the moment Nemo ventured out alone, they struck.
What followed was the scene where a Drilbur, emerging from a hole, bit through the ropes tying Nemo, giving her the chance to escape.
Although Luke had always yearned for a peaceful and leisurely life, these kidnappers were clearly intent on disturbing that peace. The chaos caused by Professor Orin last time had also been linked to them.
Fortunately, Nemo knew the location of the kidnappers' hideout. When the criminals couldn't find her, they would likely return to their base to relocate the other children. With Dragonite's flying speed, they could launch a surprise attack.
A few minutes later, Nemo came running out of the bathroom, dressed in clean, dry clothes and with her hair still uncombed. She hurriedly said, "Big brother, let's go rescue them now!"
Luke nodded slightly, scooping Nemo up and placing her on Dragonite, which was already in position for takeoff. He climbed up after her, smiling as he said, "The speed will be pretty fast, so hold on tight, okay?"
Nemo nervously clutched her collar and nodded cautiously.
Feeling the two passengers seated securely, Dragonite's usual gentle and goofy expression transformed into a sharp, commanding look. Its intimidating aura began to rise.
With a few powerful beats of its small wings, a fierce wind swept across the ground. The tall grass bent under the intense pressure.
In the next instant, Dragonite's figure soared high into the sky. Nemo curiously watched the rapidly shrinking buildings and landscape below, now appearing as tiny as ants. She asked excitedly, "Why don't I feel any wind when we're flying this fast?"
Luke, staring straight ahead, replied, "Dragonite is using Flying-type energy to create a barrier against the wind for us. Without it, at this speed, we wouldn't even be able to stay on its back."
Nemo nodded, understanding only a little.
To the east of Cortondo, in an abandoned warehouse.
Three grumbling figures returned to the hideout, which also served as the storage site for the kidnapped children.
The burly leader with a scruffy beard spat on the ground and cursed at the short man to his left: "How the hell did you let a ten-year-old brat escape? You're getting worse by the day!"
The short man stayed silent, enduring the leader's insults.
The lanky man to the right, unable to watch any longer, tried to mediate. "Boss…"
But the bearded leader wasn't having it. Breathing heavily with anger, he snarled, "We can't find any trace of that girl. She's either been rescued or drowned in the river by now."
"Either way, we need to move our operation. Let's sell these kids to Team Rocket first, then head to a big city like Lumiose to snatch more people!"
The lanky man quickly agreed. "You're absolutely right, boss."
The short man silently released three Ninjask from their Poké Balls and muttered, "I'll stand guard."
The bearded leader snorted. "Just don't mess up this time!"
With that, the leader and the lanky man entered the warehouse to prepare the children for transport in their van.
What they didn't see was the short man's clenched fists, his nails digging into his palms, or the icy hatred in his eyes.
Once the others were out of earshot, the short man gritted his teeth and whispered, "Someday, I'll make you beg for mercy…"
"You probably won't get that chance."
Suddenly, a calm male voice came from above. The short man's eyes widened, and he instinctively looked up.
There they were: the man riding Dragonite and the rich girl, Nemo, who had escaped.
The short man immediately tried to shout and alert the others, but Luke and Dragonite weren't about to give him the chance.
With a flash of five Poké Balls, Luke's Pokémon team split up and charged toward the warehouse.
At the same time, an overwhelming Dragon-type aura descended from the sky. The short man, eyes wide with despair, was pinned to the ground, unable to move.
And his Ninjask?
The only response was three successive thuds as the Ninjask fell to the ground. Despite his hopes, they stood no chance against the sky-blue Air Slash unleashed by Dragonite. They were defeated in an instant.
Trembling, the short man whispered, "Monster…"
He had never had a clear concept of what it meant to be strong, but in the face of this insurmountable gap, he understood.
In his limited worldview, only those at the very top could exude such power.
The apex of the world, the embodiment of strength, the pinnacle of personal power—a Champion.
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