"Let me get this straight," the International Police officer said, his tone a mix of disbelief and surprise as he stared into Kai's eyes. "You're saying Team Rocket attacked you two nights ago, dragged you to a secret base, and you single-handedly took down over forty of their members?"
Inside the police station near the Silver Conference venue, Kai simply nodded, his expression unreadable.
"Seriously, kid? You for real?" another officer chimed in from the side, pausing his note-taking to give Kai a skeptical look.
Kai took a deep breath and nodded again. "Yes. They tried to kidnap me, but I subdued them."
The lead officer frowned, his gaze sweeping over Kai, searching for any hint of a lie. But Kai's expression remained solid, betraying no sign of fabrication.
"All my information is registered at the Pokémon Center," Kai said with a helpless shrug. "Besides, didn't you arrest the grunts I knocked out?"
"Alright," the lead officer finally said, standing up. "We'll investigate your statement further. We may need you to come back for more questions later, but for now, you're free to go."
After Kai left, the two officers exchanged a look.
"Kai is definitely a registered participant in the Silver Conference," the note-taker confirmed. "He arrived in the Johto region four months ago to challenge the gyms. The Pokémon Center has all the records."
He added, "And according to Officer Jenny's report from Mahogany Town, his account of a previous run-in with Team Rocket is true."
The lead officer nodded slowly. "This trainer, Kai… he's got some serious skill. To think he broke through their initial guard with only four of his Pokémon sustaining minor injuries and then took down the rest of the base without a scratch."
His partner sighed, a hint of regret in his voice. "It's a real shame he missed the semi-finals while he was trapped. With his strength, I think he could have actually contended for the championship."
The lead officer mulled this over. "Later," he said, a new idea forming, "go find him and see if he has any interest in joining the International Police. We should still have a few special recruitment slots open this year."
Leaving the police station, Kai made a beeline for the Pokémon Center.
"Trainer Kai, your Pokémon are all healed up and back to full strength," Nurse Joy said with a warm smile, handing him six Poké Balls. "All registered trainers receive complimentary care during the conference."
"Thank you so much," Kai replied. "Could I also get a Soda Pop?"
With a ding, all six Poké Balls opened at once, releasing his team: Poliwrath, Ursaring, Quagsire, Octillery, Skarmory, and Lanturn.
Seeing his Lanturn bouncing excitedly on the floor, Kai wordlessly recalled it to its Poké Ball.
"Actually," he corrected himself, "make that seven Soda Pops."
Kai grabbed the drinks and found an empty table, ready to share a long-overdue meal with his team. Just as he sat down, a news report flashed across the lobby's large screen.
"Breaking news regarding Trainer Kai, who was absent from yesterday morning's semi-final match!"
"This was no retreat, nor was it a fixed match. According to an anonymous source within the police force, Trainer Kai was trapped in a secret Team Rocket base and only managed to escape this morning…" The announcer's voice filled the room as a headshot of Kai from the tournament appeared on screen.
"Pfft!"
Kai, who had just taken a long gulp of his soda, instantly turned into a human fountain, spraying the drink across the table.
"The tournament is over?!" he sputtered, a wave of confusion washing over him. He realized with a jolt that the broken Staryu watch he'd been looking at in the police station must have stopped. His journey in the Silver Conference had ended before he even knew it.
The news report continued, "…During this operation against the Team Rocket base, Trainer Kai actively cooperated with the League's International Police, assisting in the arrest of over forty members. The President of the Pokémon League, Mr. Goodshow, has expressed his highest praise for Kai's bravery and…"
Kai tuned out the rest. He looked at his Pokémon, who were gathered around him. With intelligence comparable to adult humans, they understood perfectly what the broadcast meant.
"Eek!"
"Roar…"
Poliwrath and Ursaring let out low, frustrated growls, their disappointment mirrored by the rest of the team. For this Silver Conference challenge, League rules had required Kai, as a trainer from the Orange Islands, to register only one Pokémon from his home region. The other five had to be newly caught and trained in Johto. His Poliwrath, which he'd raised for years on Pummelo Island, was his ace. The others were all new partners he had bonded with on this journey. All their hard work had been for nothing.
"Excuse me, are you Trainer Kai?"
A uniformed officer approached their table. Kai recognized him as one of the International Police from the station—not one of the interrogators, but a liaison officer.
"I'm Investigator Yamato. We met earlier."
"Hello, I'm Kai," he replied, putting down his soda. "Is something wrong? Do you need me for more questioning?"
"No, nothing like that," Investigator Yamato said with a smile, handing him a file. "I'm here for two reasons. First, the League Tournament Committee will be issuing you the prize money for making it to the top four of the Silver Conference. After a word from my team leader, they've also included some additional compensation. Second, we would like to formally invite you to join the International Police."
He gestured to the document. "This is a special recruitment application my leader filed on your behalf. If you're interested, take a look. I'll be at the station for the next two days, so you can bring me your answer anytime."
The first offer was expected, but the second one caught Kai completely off guard. The International Police was a highly respected and exclusive branch of the League, notoriously difficult to join.
Kai, however, gave his answer on the spot.
"Thank you for the incredible offer, but I plan on returning to my hometown, Pummelo Island."
Investigator Yamato held up a hand, stopping him. "Of course. That is your decision. I hope we have the chance to cooperate again in the future." His professional demeanor was tinged with a hint of pride; he considered the International Police an elite force, and if someone wasn't eager to join, he wasn't about to beg.
Just as Yamato left, another figure approached—Officer Jenny, who was in charge of security for the venue.
"Trainer Kai, this is for your courageous act," she said, handing him a certificate and gesturing for a photo.
Courageous act? Me?
Putting on a strained but polite smile, Kai held up the certificate and posed for the picture.
Wasn't I the one who got ambushed? he thought, a sense of irony washing over him.
***
(End of Chapter)
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