93. Thief

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Kai turned his head to look and saw a bush suddenly pushed aside. A Pokémon holding a green onion in one hand strolled out confidently.

With its duck-like shape and the distinctive leek in its hand, Kai immediately recognized it.

'It was a Farfetch'd!'

This Farfetch'd walked up to Kai with its head held high, seeming to hum an unknown tune.

'Huh? It's not afraid of people?'

Kai glanced around but saw no trace of other humans.

'Could it be a wild Farfetch'd?'

Seeing that Kai wasn't making any moves, the Farfetch'd began pacing back and forth in front of him, seemingly trying to get his attention.

But despite its efforts, Kai wasn't particularly interested.

After all, just like Butterfree, Beedrill, Psyduck, and Persian, while Kai liked these Pokémon, he didn't feel the need to capture them.

So, Kai neither liked nor disliked this Farfetch'd and didn't think much of it.

Then, he recalled a recent conversation with Ash and his friends, where they mentioned encountering a thief who committed crimes with a Farfetch'd.

'Could this Farfetch'd be one of those?'

Connecting the odd behaviour of the Pokémon to that story, Kai quickly surmised its likely origin.

With a plan forming in his mind, Kai decided to play along with the Farfetch'd to see what it would do.

Feigning excitement, he exclaimed, "A Farfetch'd! Are you trying to get me to catch you?" He pulled a Poké Ball from his bag and held it out dramatically.

Hearing this, the Farfetch'd quacked in excitement before suddenly turning tail and fleeing into the bushes.

It darted around several large trees and disappeared from view.

Kai pretended to be anxious, rushing after it through the grass.

However, when he rounded the trees, the Farfetch'd was nowhere to be seen.

"Ah!" Kai sighed theatrically, shaking his head. "I lost it…"

But just as he finished speaking, the Farfetch'd reappeared a short distance away, its exaggerated movements almost comical. It seemed to say, I'm here! Come catch me!

Kai smirked and ignored it, turning back the way he came.

Sure enough, back at his starting point, he spotted a boy with a ponytail reaching for his backpack.

Kai stared at him coldly. "So, you've been hiding all this time, and now you can't resist making a move?"

The boy froze, caught in the act. "Wha—!?" He stammered, looking at Kai in disbelief. "Didn't you go after the Farfetch'd!?"

"Of course, I didn't. How else could I flush you out?"

Kai couldn't help but feel satisfied with his performance. If I ever retire as a Pokémon Trainer, I might consider a career in acting in Kalos.

At that moment, hurried footsteps echoed behind Kai. The Farfetch'd, realizing something was wrong, came rushing back to block the boy.

Kai glanced at the duo and said coldly, "Ash and Misty told me about a thief who used a Farfetch'd to steal from travellers. I thought you might've turned over a new leaf, but it seems I was wrong. I should've known Officer Jenny made a mistake letting you go last time."

The boy's expression shifted dramatically. He hadn't forgotten the encounter with Ash and his friends, where he swore to change his ways.

Realizing his scheme had been exposed, he grabbed the backpack and turned to flee.

But before he could escape, the backpack floated out of his grasp, as if it had sprouted wings.

Under his stunned gaze, the bag flew back into Kai's hands, where it landed gently.

"H-how…?" the boy stammered.

Kai rolled his eyes. "Did you really think I'd leave my belongings unprotected?"

With that, Haunter emerged from thin air, grinning mischievously.

"Ah, hello there, Mr. Thief," Haunter said with a ghostly chuckle.

"Darn it!" the boy cursed under his breath and bolted.

"He's running," Haunter noted with amusement.

"I see that," Kai replied calmly, releasing Kirlia from its Poké Ball. "Stop him."

Kirlia nodded gracefully and teleported, reappearing in front of the fleeing boy and blocking his path.

"Ah, no! I'm so sorry!" the boy stammered, turning back with his hands raised. "I was wrong! Please forgive me!"

Kai shook his head. "If apologies were enough, we wouldn't need Officer Jenny, would we? If I hadn't been prepared, someone else would've fallen victim to you by now."

The boy tried one last time to appeal to sympathy. "My Farfetch'd is too weak! We had no choice but to steal to survive!"

Kai narrowed his eyes. "Don't make excuses. If you're willing to work hard, you can make it anywhere. I may not be a saint, but I can't stand bullies. This time, you're facing the consequences. No amount of sweet-talking will save you."

Realizing his act wouldn't work, the boy finally dropped the pretence.

"You think you can take me on!?" he snarled. "Fine! Let's see what you've got!"

"Are we battling by standard rules or my rules?" Kai asked, unfazed.

"Your rules? What's the difference?" the boy snapped.

Kai shrugged. "Not much. A battle's a battle."

"Enough talk!" the boy exclaimed. "Let's see if you can handle my Farfetch'd!"

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