c87: Who Stole It?
Finally, it happened!
Chen Xiaoxiao felt deeply relieved as she saw the stabilizing aura around Gardevoir.
During the long journey from the capital to this mist-shrouded ghost town, most of her days had been spent sightseeing but not idly. At each stop, she sought out strong Pokémon to spar with, testing herself and her partners.
And now, that effort had paid off.
Gardevoir had officially crossed the threshold stepping into the Championship tier.
Seconds later, the dense aura around Gardevoir slowly settled.
"Congratulations, Gardevoir!"
Chen Xiaoxiao ran forward, eyes shining with emotion, and embraced Gardevoir tightly.
Gastly, hovering nearby, didn't quite understand what had happened.
But watching Gardevoir defeat the same Dusknoir that had attacked it before filled it with awe and excitement.
"...What just happened?" muttered the young trainer across the field, noticing the immense change in Gardevoir's presence.
He didn't grasp the reason but he felt it.
Shaking off his daze, he resumed carefully applying Potion to his unconscious Dusknoir.
After praising Gardevoir lightly, Chen Xiaoxiao turned to him.
"The item," she said coldly, extending her hand.
The young man had just finished treating Dusknoir when he looked up, puzzled by her tone and then at his own hand.
"...Huh?"
The bag of energy cubes he had been holding moments ago was gone.
"Wait, what?! I had it right here just now!"
He immediately began scanning the ground in disbelief.
But there was nothing.
Chen Xiaoxiao's gaze turned even icier.
"You're still pretending?" she said sharply.
She had never met anyone this shameless.
"No! Seriously! I was holding it just now. I—I'll look around."
Panicked, the young trainer quickly withdrew Dusknoir into its Poké Ball and stood up to check the area he had been standing in earlier.
But Chen Xiaoxiao was no longer amused.
Her expression hardened, her brows twitching. A cold sweat ran down the boy's spine under her freezing glare.
"What's going on? It was just in my hand! Where'd it go?"
The young trainer was utterly confused.
"Damn it... I was going to give it back! Then I hesitated... and now I look like a thief!"
He scoured the area, leaves rustling beneath his shoes but found nothing.
"Well?" Chen Xiaoxiao's voice cut like a blade.
"I swear I had it! But it just disappeared!" he said, hands raised helplessly.
Chen Xiaoxiao scoffed.
"...What are you, a beggar? All this drama over a handful of energy cubes?"
Honestly, she had long stopped caring about the cubes themselves. They were worth, at most, a few dozen Trainer Points. And the boy had already handed her more than a thousand in battle rewards.
If he was so desperate for them, she was more than happy to treat him like a freeloader.
The young trainer didn't know how to respond. He exhaled slowly, collecting himself.
"Look I'm really sorry. But I swear, it vanished. I didn't pocket it. I'm willing to compensate you."
"I don't want your things," Chen Xiaoxiao snapped. "If you have mine, return it. If not get lost."
The young man stood silently, mentally replaying everything from the last few minutes.
Still no clue.
"This is ridiculous. How do I even defend myself like this?"
"Gardevoir, we're going. Gastly, come along. I'll get you something to eat later just don't let shady people steal it again."
Chen Xiaoxiao turned and walked away, her long coat swaying as Gardevoir followed. Gastly floated after them hesitantly.
"No! I need to clear this up, or I'll never get peace of mind!"
Determined, the young trainer chased after her.
Chen Xiaoxiao paused then turned her head slightly. Her pupils glowed with fierce, electric blue.
A blast of Confusion surged from Gardevoir's location ripping a crater nearly two meters across in the ground directly in front of the young trainer.
BOOM!
He froze in place, eyes wide, staring at the steaming hole.
"What the hell!? Was that… from a human?!"
Had he taken one more step, he might've been blown into the next route.
Cold sweat poured down his back. His body trembled as he realized how close he'd come to being flattened by a psychic blast.
"This little big brother," Chen Xiaoxiao said mockingly, voice light but dangerous, "it's really not safe to pester girls in a haunted town at night."
The boy heard the words, but all he could feel was the cold rising from his feet to his scalp.
"Ah…" he murmured, dumbfounded.
Chen Xiaoxiao giggled at the look of terror on his face.
"It's really gone. Your energy cubes were high-quality probably top-tier B-class stock," she said suddenly, shifting back to seriousness. "That's more than enough to attract wandering Ghost-types."
"My Dusknoir was drawn in from hundreds of meters away just by sensing Gastly's energy signature."
She scanned the woods warily.
"This is a ghost town. Filled with Ghost-types that have... unique habits. It wouldn't be surprising if a sneaky one lifted it right out of your hand."
She turned her back again.
"I may be from a commoner background. But I'm an Elite Trainer and I've made a name for myself here in Ghostshade Town."
"For a handful of energy cubes, you think I'd stoop that low?"
The young trainer took a long breath, forced himself to calm down, and tried to collect his thoughts.
Then, just as Chen Xiaoxiao began to walk away again, he called out voice low but steady.
"I know how it looks… but you have to believe me. Something else took it. I didn't lie. I swear."
Chen Xiaoxiao heard it. The quiet midnight forest amplified even soft words.
She paused, unsure. Her eyes shifted to Gardevoir beside her.
Gardevoir met her gaze and nodded slightly.
"...Really?"
Chen Xiaoxiao turned slowly and asked.
"Really. I promise," the young trainer said quickly, moving closer again.
Chen Xiaoxiao looked at Gardevoir once more. A faint glow flickered in Gardevoir's eyes blue and probing.
"(Xiaoxiao, he's telling the truth.)"
The glow faded. Gardevoir gave her a firm nod.
Chen Xiaoxiao's stern expression twitched into surprise then returned to cold calm.
What kind of Ghost-type Pokémon could snatch something out of a trainer's hand...
...right in front of two Pokémon nearing Champion-level strength... without being noticed?
A chill ran down her spine.
Something was wrong.
—
This chapter is dedicated to @[ TYLER A] for SUBSCRIBING TO OUR GOLD PACKAGE!...We appreciate your kindness and support...There will be a bonus chapter soon
30+ advanced chapter on patreon....Visit patreon now to read my exclusive content... posting 5 chapters per day, Our collection is now available on PATREON
visit patreon.com/Elbertovic to view 30+ advanced chapters
Please subscribe guys