Haunter: It Was Mutual!

5 bonus chapter's coming out at 11 AM EST. So I ask that you withhold you're powerstones until then.

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Boom!!

Just as Johan was leaving his room with the "Dragon Fang" and the Dragon Pulse TM, he froze.

There was now a massive hole in the ceiling.

Did my house just collapse?

No, this wasn't his house—it was Lance's.

Well, in that case... it's fine.

Realizing this, Johan quickly scanned the room, looking for Haunter.

Judging by the size and shape of the hole, it was obvious that a Shadow Ball—and likely a massive one—was the culprit.

The buildings in Blackthorn City, especially those owned by the Dragon Clan, followed an old-fashioned style. This guesthouse, arranged by Clair, was no exception—a standalone wooden villa with a small garden.

The damage to the roof wasn't catastrophic, but it still left a gaping hole in the ceiling.

"Oowu!"

Vulpix rushed to Johan's side, crouching slightly with its six tails spread wide. A faint frost swirled in the air as it readied for an attack.

Meanwhile, Tinkatuff grabbed its hammer and leapt up to the ceiling with a loud "Chu!!"

"I'll protect you!"

Dratini, reacting a bit slower, gulped nervously before slithering over to Johan's side.

"Giiiiin..." (It's only my first day here, and it's already this chaotic?)

Through the hole in the ceiling, Johan finally spotted Haunter—and someone else.

Standing on the rafters was a masked figure in ninja garb, his eyes filled with shock and disbelief.

Koga.

The current Gym Leader of Fuchsia City in Kanto, and the future Poison-type Elite Four member of Johto.

At this point in time, Koga also happened to be one of Team Rocket's highest-ranking executives.

What's he doing here in Blackthorn City?

And more importantly, why was he lurking in the ceiling of Johan's temporary residence?

Johan's first thought was that Koga might be targeting him.

But he quickly dismissed the idea.

There was no reason for Koga to come after him.

Even if Koga had been sent by someone like Giovanni, with his strength, there would be no need for stealth.

If Koga really wanted Johan dead, he'd simply flood the room with Minimized Grimers or Muks—a notoriously underhanded tactic Koga was known for.

In the Pokémon Adventures manga, Koga used "Minimized" Pokémon for everything: offense, defense, even assassination.

Still, the situation was too bizarre. Why would Koga show up at the Dragon Clan's property in broad daylight?

"Ka-kah~~"

Hovering in midair, Haunter licked its lips and narrowed its eyes.

Koga glanced at the faintly glowing Weezing floating beside him.

It had barely managed to counter Haunter's Shadow Ball earlier.

Seeing Haunter preparing another attack, Koga's expression shifted slightly.

"Johan," he called, his muffled voice calm but urgent. "I am Koga, Gym Leader of Fuchsia City. I mean no harm."

"Haunter!" Johan quickly raised his hand, signaling his Pokémon to stand down as soon as Koga identified himself.

"Ka-kah~~"

Haunter cast Koga a wary glance before retreating to Johan's side. Tinkatuff followed, dragging its hammer along.

Koga remained on the rafters, his posture stiff but non-threatening.

"I've come here with a simple request," he said.

Johan raised an eyebrow, his tone laced with sarcasm. "You have a unique way of making requests, don't you?"

"What exactly is it that you want, Koga?"

Koga cleared his throat, a rare hint of embarrassment flashing in his eyes.

"I... I would like to ask for your autograph."

Johan blinked.

An autograph?

Of all the possible explanations, this was the last thing he'd expected.

Koga seemed to sense Johan's confusion. He fumbled with his phone and played an audio recording.

A young girl's voice rang out:

"Dad! If you don't bring me Johan's autograph, I'm not talking to you for a whole week!"

Koga's daughter, Janine?

Janine was destined to inherit the Fuchsia Gym once Koga ascended to the Elite Four.

"Seriously?" Johan muttered, trying to process the situation.

He'd prepared for any scenario—Team Rocket schemes, psychological consultations, even Koga's own mental health issues—but this?

"Is it because of my Substitute-Defense Toxic strat? Or the Spikes-Layering tactic?" Johan asked cautiously.

Those were the only things he could think of that might appeal to a Poison-type trainer.

Koga shook his head, sighing deeply.

"She said..."

Koga hesitated, then played another recording.

"Compared to Johan, Dad, your tactics are just... lame!"

Johan: ?!

Lame?

This isn't "lame." It's strategy.

Wait... why was Koga recording all of this?

Does he keep an audio kill list or something?

Johan sighed. "Alright, Koga. Let's get this over with."

Relieved, Koga leapt down from the rafters and approached Johan with a photograph in hand.

It was a promotional shot taken during Johan's teacher certification process.

"Prepared, aren't you?" Johan quipped, taking the photo.

As Johan signed the photo, Koga hesitated for a moment before speaking again.

"There's something I don't understand," he said, his tone turning serious.

"Oh?"

Johan glanced at him curiously.

Koga's brow furrowed. "My stealth techniques are impeccable. How did Haunter detect me?"

Johan turned to Haunter, who had been quietly hovering nearby.

Haunter grinned mischievously.

"Ka-kah~~"

"He smelled weird."

Johan translated with a chuckle. "It was your scent. Specifically, the smell of poison."

Koga frowned, lifting an arm to sniff himself.

It was true—he worked with poisons so often that the scent clung to him. But he'd used methods to mask it...

"How sensitive is Haunter's nose?" Koga murmured, incredulous.

Johan laughed softly. "When you eat as many toxic substances as Haunter does, you tend to develop a taste for it."

After handing the signed photo back to Koga, Johan noticed Koga pulling something else from his cloak: a small, black, gooey substance wrapped in a transparent membrane.

"This is for the trouble I've caused," Koga said, his voice sincere.

The item turned out to be a piece of Black Sludge—a gift Haunter immediately eyed with predatory glee.

Johan accepted it with a smile. "You're too kind, Koga."

As Koga turned to leave, he glanced at his Weezing—and froze.

The once-robust Pokémon now looked utterly drained, wobbling weakly in the air.

Nearby, Haunter was practically glowing with vitality, its form noticeably bulkier than before.

"Ka-kah~~"

Haunter whistled innocently, feigning ignorance.

"What happened?" Koga demanded, his tone sharp.

Haunter shrugged.

"Ka-kah~" (We played a game of Rock-Paper-Scissors. Loser tries to poison the winner. It was... mutual.)

Weezing weakly nodded in agreement.

Johan facepalmed. "You're impossible, Haunter."

Koga rubbed his temples. "You know... I think I understand my daughter's critique now."

Later, on a hillside just outside Blackthorn City, Koga stood alone, speaking into a phone.

"Yes, I've met him," he said quietly.

"And?"

"...I think he might be a better fit for the organization than me."

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