Editing work was still ongoing.
After fifteen exhausting days, Edward finally got a rare moment of relaxation.
However, in a place like Rustboro City, there weren't many exciting entertainment options. After some thought, Edward decided to visit the Pokémon Care Center run by Headmistress Lilian. He had been busy filming and hadn't had much time to see those adorable little creatures.
"Q, want to spar with Ruckus?" Edward asked, stepping out the door with Q in his arms. He enjoyed the warm sunshine of Rustboro City while playfully rubbing Q's head.
"!" Q immediately sprang up, looking spirited and full of energy, which made Edward chuckle helplessly.
"Sometimes, I really don't understand you," he muttered, poking Q's side. Just then, a commotion nearby drew Edward's attention.
Not far ahead, there was a raucous noise. Edward glanced over and saw a Poochyena dart out from a crowd, clutching a bag in its mouth. Riding on its back was a mischievous Kirlia, spitting at the people chasing them.
It was quite the odd pairing, but the surrounding crowd burst into laughter, chattered excitedly, and some even happily snapped photos with their phones.
"Catch those two thieving scoundrels!" shouted a middle-aged man in a fast-food uniform, running out in frustration. But he could only watch helplessly as the Poochyena disappeared into a nearby alley. Furious, the man yanked off his chef's hat and slammed it to the ground.
Panting, the man picked up his hat from the ground panting and patted the dust off with a grumble.
"Uncle Hughes, you got robbed again today?" Edward teased as he walked over. By now, the crowd that had gathered around had now dispersed, and the street resumed its usual bustling activity.
"Ah, it's you, Edward." Uncle Hughes looked up, his face softening into a smile before returning to an angry scowl.
"Yeah, those darn thieves! They've stolen my fried chicken delivery four times this month," he fumed. The stolen friend chicken, which could've earned two or three hundred Poké dollars, was gone just like that.
Customers who were waiting are also urging to deliver, but frying up a fresh batch would take time. What a headache.
"Four times?" Edward chuckled. Checking his phone, he realized it was the 22nd. That meant Uncle Hughes was getting robbed once every five days on average.
"Well, this does prove your fried chicken is delicious, doesn't it?" Edward tried to comfort him. From his perspective, this situation wasn't all bad. Uncle Hughes should actually feel a little proud.
"Heh, when you put it that way…" Uncle Hughes scratched his head, a sheepish grin spreading across his face. His mood instantly improved.
Edward wasn't surprised. Uncle Hughes was always a warm and kindhearted man.
"You could even use this as a marketing slogan: 'Our fried chicken is so good, even Pokémon thieves can't resist!' I bet it would attract plenty of customers to your shop," Edward looked at the honest Uncle Hughes and decided to give him some advice, otherwise Uncle Hughes would be angry and grumpy when he see him again next time.
Uncle Hughes's eyes widened, surprised at the idea.
Edward didn't mind the trouble and patiently explained it again to Uncle Hughes.
"Uncle Hughes, those two Pokémon thieves from our city are trending online right now. You should seize the chance to promote your shop. After all, everyone who follows the Pokémon thief news knows they're picky eaters."
These days, even Pokémon could become internet celebrities.
For a while, this pair of wandering Pokémon became a hot topic in the league.
However, this fame was like adding fuel to the fire. While it brought attention, it also came with significant risks.
"I'll give it a shot!" Uncle Hughes, despite his simple nature, knew the value of good advice. He nodded eagerly and jogged back to his fried chicken shop, preparing for both deliveries and promotions.
"By the way, Uncle Hughes, please send a group meal of fried chicken to Headmistress Lillian later." Edward thought of the important things he had to do. With Uncle Hughes fried chicken, there would be no need to buy those canned foods in the Pokémon Department Store.
Although Headmistress Lillian has always thought that fried chicken is junk food, the fragrant and delicious Hughes fried chicken is the favorite of those little ones, and it should be no problem to eat it once a month.
"I got it!" Uncle Hughes trotted back to his fried chicken shop. He had to deliver a takeout and a group meal to the care center. He had a busy day today.
"That pair of troublemakers needs to be dealt with, though," Edward murmured, glancing toward the alley where the Poochyena had vanished.
The "Pokémon Thieves" were the nickname given to the duo by online users who loved stirring up drama. To Edward, though, they were a hidden danger.
In the Pokémon world, not everyone was kind. Plenty of bad people existed, including members of evil organizations.
Edward could already imagine how teams like Team Magma and Team Aqua would see the pair as walking goldmines. All they had to do was capture these two Pokémon, and naturally someone would be willing to pay a high price to buy them.
"Grandpa Robert," Edward said, dialing his phone.
The reason why Pokémon Thieves became so popular is because these two little guys are elusive in Rustboro City. It is difficult for him to find them by himself, but if he mobilizes the power of Devon Corporation, it will be very easy.
"Let's hope they're caught by the League before Team Aqua or Team Magma gets to them," Edward muttered, putting his phone away. With the current online buzz, the police in Rustboro City would surely take the matter more seriously now.
For the duo's sake, Edward hoped they'd learn to tread carefully.
(End of Chapter)