Chapter 54: Adams' Home

"Sister Maple, do you want something to eat?" Heath smiled as he looked at Maple, who had just come out of the gym, rubbing his hands together as he asked. He felt like he must look very much like a shopkeeper right now.

"Aren't you curious why I'm angry?" Maple wiped the sweat off her forehead and glanced at Heath.

Heath quickly nodded. Curious was an understatement. If Maple didn't say anything soon, Heath was tempted to go to Mr. Adams' house himself to see what was going on. He had a feeling that her anger was related to Mr. Adams.

Seeing Heath nodding incessantly, Maple laughed in exasperation and lightly flicked Heath's forehead.

"Fine, I'll tell you, but you better not spread this around." Maple tossed the towel aside and then sat down.

Heath quickly sat beside her, eager to know what had happened to make her so angry.

"This afternoon, I went to Mr. Adams' house because my superior asked me to see if I could get some information about that enthusiastic citizen," Maple said calmly. Heath stayed quiet, listening attentively.

"Although we call him an enthusiastic citizen, we know he's actually a tracking expert. That's how he managed to catch that Charmander. My superior wanted to get in touch with this expert, thinking we might need his help in the future." Heath nodded thoughtfully. He knew of tracking experts, said to be able to track down Rattata nests in dense forests.

"But!" Maple's eyes widened again, and even though her anger wasn't directed at him, Heath felt a huge pressure.

"I smelled blood at Adams' place and heard the Charmander crying out in pain!" Maple clenched her fists in anger.

Heath opened his mouth, understanding the source of her anger. What Adams did was practically a slap in her face.

However, Adams indeed had that kind of power. Being on Viridian City's list of wealthy individuals, unless there were special circumstances or solid evidence, it was difficult for the police to issue a search warrant lightly.

"Sister Maple, did you ask him about it?" Heath felt his hair being pulled, and it was Zorua.

"I did, and Adams eagerly took me to see Charmander. He said it was injured when caught and that his son was treating and bathing it." Maple sneered, her expression filled with disgust.

Heath rubbed his nose. It was a clumsy yet effective excuse.

As long as Adams' son was indeed treating Charmander and not abusing it when Maple showed up, she couldn't say much, as Charmander belonged to the Adams family.

As Heath suspected, Maple found no evidence or suspicious signs, as Charmander's injuries did look like they were from battles.

"Just keep this to yourself." Maple seemed a bit relieved after speaking, but Heath knew she wasn't feeling any better.

"Tsk, this world..." Heath shook his head. Expecting everyone to be good was the most naive thought.

Just as there were people in his past life who enjoyed abusing animals, there were people in this world who liked to abuse Pokémon. Heath had seen news of the League busting many criminal groups and arresting many people.

Some were caught for abusing Pokémon, with methods so cruel they gave people chills.

"Zorua, can your illusions fool the surveillance cameras?" Heath asked, looking at Zorua. He had a rough plan in mind.

"Yes, what are you planning?" Zorua looked at Heath, her eyes still filled with anger.

"What do you think I'm planning?" Heath smiled. Zorua was taken aback but then smiled happily.

Heath openly walked out, using the same excuse of exercising, while Maple was still sulking in her room, not noticing his departure.

Heath knew where Adams lived, in Viridian City's villa area. After all, when he researched the best places to set up his stall, he had thoroughly studied the city map.

The villa area was near the dormitory area of the Jenny officers. The real estate ads boasted "comprehensive security" because being near the Jenny dormitory meant they could respond immediately in case of trouble.

However, Heath wasn't in a hurry. He and Zorua walked openly into the gym, greeted the Machoke coach with a smile, changed clothes in the locker room, and started exercising on the treadmill.

"Are you sure your illusion will work?" Heath asked as he lay outside Adams' villa, watching the patrolling private guards.

"Of course! Unless someone hugs you, they won't see through my illusion!" Zorua snorted proudly, and Heath finally breathed a sigh of relief.

Zorua's illusion skills were so strong they amazed Heath. However, Zorua mentioned the illusion would only last for an hour and a half in the gym, so Heath needed to act quickly.

Soon, Heath and Zorua, cloaked in an illusion, slipped into Adams' house in the form of a Rattata and found an unlocked door in the garden.

"So luxurious," Zorua exclaimed, looking around. The surroundings made her think Heath's place was like a slum in comparison.

"What did you expect? The wealth ranking isn't for nothing. Now, sniff for any blood." Heath rolled his eyes. Getting on Viridian City's wealthy list wasn't easy.

"Fine, stop rushing me." Zorua snorted and started sniffing, leading Heath to a closed room.

The door wasn't locked, so Heath easily slipped inside and saw Charmander.

Compared to the morning, Charmander looked much worse now, covered in wounds, its skin red as if scalded by boiling water.

Heath frowned. Adams' son clearly wasn't treating Charmander properly; this was outright abuse.

As Heath was about to rescue Charmander, the door opened, and a sullen-looking young man walked in.

Heath quietly activated his phone's recording function.

(End of Chapter)