Chapter 88: Nnd, Don't Let Me Catch You
"Gardevoir, didn't you pick up on that too?"
Chen Xiaoxiao glanced at her partner beside her, brows furrowed in curiosity.
"(Apologies, Xiaoxiao, I didn't sense anything.)"
Gardevoir lowered her head, her telepathic voice tinged with guilt.
"It's fine."
Chen Xiaoxiao gently stroked the top of Gardevoir's head, offering comfort.
She simultaneously accessed her spatial Pokéball system via the Pokédex, checking the status of her other Pokémon.
Everyone was resting peacefully. No fluctuations. No alerts.
"So far, nothing seems off..."
Her attention shifted to the new arrival.
"What's your name? Where are you from?"
She lifted her Pokédex scanner, its HUD already ready to scan.
"I'm He You. Just a trainer passing through."
Sensing Chen Xiaoxiao's scrutiny soften slightly, He You casually took two steps backward, now a safe two or three meters away from her.
Though puzzled by his vague demeanor, Chen Xiaoxiao remained composed and typed his information into her official Prosecutor's database.
She used a dedicated app exclusive to licensed field agents.
In moments, dozens of hits appeared, filtered by relevance and Trainer League registry standing. The top result confirmed her suspicion.
"He You. Born August 10, Johto region. 25 years old. Grew up at the Goldenrod City Orphanage. Runner-up in the Silver Conference four years ago. Achieved Elite Intermediate status this spring. Trainer No. 267."
Chen Xiaoxiao's lips curled slightly, almost a smirk.
An orphan—yet just one step away from the League Finals? And now Elite Intermediate class at only 25?
Heh.
She silently marveled at how many so-called elite heirs would choke at that résumé alone.
"So, what's this about then?"
He You was visibly surprised that Chen Xiaoxiao had already obtained such detailed intel with a few taps.
He inwardly speculated—was she League security? International Police?
And how powerful must she be to casually use a Gardevoir that could unleash a high-level Psychic strong enough to leave a crater in the ground?
He was still feeling the aftershocks of that Confusion burst from earlier.
This girl was scary.
"I'm Chen Xiaoxiao. Heard anything about wild high-level Pokémon nearby—Champion-tier maybe?"
She didn't bother explaining further. Her name alone was the full introduction.
Unfortunately for her, while He You had talent, he lacked connections. Her name didn't ring a bell to him.
"Champion-level? No way... Elite-level, sure. Maybe three or four around this route. But Champion? That's like asking to bump into a wild Rayquaza."
He was dumbfounded at the sheer boldness of her question.
Still, he locked her name in memory, determined to ask around when he returned to town.
"All right, that's all. Later."
Without waiting for a reply, Chen Xiaoxiao turned, tugging gently at Gardevoir to follow.
"Ah—bye...?"
He You blinked, still dazed.
As she walked, Chen Xiaoxiao mused:
"It's practically impossible for an Elite-level Pokémon to go undetected by Gardevoir's psychic field—even during combat.
Something that could come and go unnoticed... It has to be Champion class.
That... would be a first for me. Wild Champions are practically unheard of—except maybe in extreme cases like that rogue Metagross back near Mt. Coronet..."
Her thoughts trailed off.
Suddenly, her gaze caught a floating shadow beside her.
"Gastly! You're still here?"
She'd nearly forgotten about the mischievous Ghost-type that had been tagging along.
"Here, take these."
She quickly redeemed ten Ghost-type Apex Energy Cubes from her system interface and handed them to the grinning specter.
Gastly licked the air excitedly and leaned in to give her another ghostly tongue swipe.
"Again?!"
Chen Xiaoxiao sighed and instantly activated a thin Psychic shield around her face, Gardevoir-style, blocking the wet tongue with invisible force.
"All right, Gastly. That's enough. Keep these cubes safe—don't let any wilds steal them."
"(Bye-bye!)"
With a giggle, Gastly vanished gleefully into the night.
Chen Xiaoxiao walked on for a few minutes before freezing mid-step.
"Wait... Did I really say that?"
Her mind whirred.
"Keep them safe... from being robbed? But could something actually steal them?"
"(Xiaoxiao, what is it?)"
Gardevoir asked, sensing her sudden realization.
"Hold up. Gardevoir! Can you still detect where Gastly hid the cubes?"
"(Yes. Not far—southeast quadrant. Roughly 40 meters.)"
Chen Xiaoxiao's eyes lit up.
"All right. Keep tracking that location with Psychic. Let's see if anything tries to touch Gastly's stash."
"(Understood, Xiaoxiao!)"
---
Meanwhile, Gastly was finishing his snack. The last cube dissolved into glittering energy as he smiled, content.
He floated toward a hollowed-out tree near the path and slipped the remaining cubes inside. He covered the entrance with dry Leafage and settled next to the trunk, invisibly blending with the shadows.
Ten minutes passed. Still no signs.
Gardevoir maintained her mental connection, scanning for fluctuations.
"No movement. The energy signature hasn't shifted. No hostile aura nearby," Gardevoir reported.
"Did I overthink it? Maybe whoever it was already left," Chen Xiaoxiao muttered, frowning.
She checked the time on her Pokédex—00:54. Nearly 1 AM.
She'd entered this ghost town just past 10. It had been almost three hours.
"One more check. If nothing shows by 1, we rest."
Chen Xiaoxiao sat on a nearby boulder, waiting.
The seconds ticked by.
1:00 AM.
She exhaled and stood.
"All right, Gardevoir. Wrap up. Let's return to the Pokémon space."
"(I understand, Xiaoxiao.)"
Gardevoir released the tracking thread, her psychic senses slowly dimming.
But she paused. Something didn't feel right.
---
At the same moment…
In the hollowed tree where Gastly had stored the cubes, something stirred.
A hand—shadowy, intangible—emerged from inside the tree bark, as though passing through solid matter like a Ghost-type. The bag containing the energy cubes shimmered faintly... then evaporated into the same black mist, vanishing into the tree itself.
Back on the path, just as Chen Xiaoxiao took out Gardevoir's Poké Ball, Gardevoir's eyes flashed blue again.
"(Xiaoxiao—it's gone! The energy signal vanished!)"
"...!!!"
Chen Xiaoxiao's expression darkened immediately.
Her hands clenched into fists.
In her mind, the words echoed furiously:
"NND... don't let me catch you!"
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