With the League’s security system riddled with holes, it was only a matter of time before Team Rocket discovered his identity.

  There was no helping it—after all, Gardevoir was his strongest partner. He couldn’t just stop using her out of fear of exposure.

  Still, just because his identity would eventually be revealed didn’t mean he had to go out of his way to expose himself now.

  Every extra day he remained in the shadows gave him one more advantage against Team Rocket.

  August shared his thoughts with Lance.

  After some consideration, Lance decided to temporarily detain these Team Rocket members in the same facility where the three captured in Cedon City were being held.

  "Is that okay with the League?" August asked curiously.

  This time, the captive was Lt. Surge, not just a few random grunts. Wouldn’t it be a problem not to imprison him in an official League facility?

  At August’s question, Lance simply shrugged. "The Cedon operation alone resulted in so many arrests that the League’s prisons are already at full capacity. Putting Lt. Surge somewhere else is just a necessary measure under the circumstances."

  August looked at Lance in surprise.

  Never thought you, of all people, would pull something like this…

  But for him, this was fantastic news. He sincerely thanked Lance.

  "It’s nothing. Compared to what you’ve done, my part is barely worth mentioning," Lance replied with a shake of his head. Then he asked, "Now that this mission is over, what’s your next move?"

  Hearing this, August reflected on his time as an International Police officer so far.

  From Mt. Moon to the Cedon Game Corner, and now to Vermilion Gym…

  In just one month, he had inflicted as much damage on Team Rocket as the League had managed over the past several years.

  "I really did all that?"

  I, August, am truly a person of unwavering justice! Self-satisfaction intensifies.

  Still, after being busy for so long, taking a little break wouldn’t be unreasonable, right?

  With that in mind, he looked at Lance and solemnly decred:

  "I’m taking a vacation!"

  The news of Lt. Surge’s arrest spread rapidly.

  ---

  Levincia City, Paldea

  Iono, who had been livestreaming all day, waved her oversized sleeves and struck a cute pose for the camera. "Capturing your attention with an electrifying broadcast! That’s the end of today’s episode of Iono’s Kanto Chronicles~"

  "Thanks for watching, everyone! Today’s viewership broke another record~!"

  "Let’s meet again at the same time tomorrow—"

  Just as she was about to say her usual goodbye, the chat suddenly flooded with messages.

  At first, Iono thought it was a glitch, but after checking, she realized it wasn’t.

  However, the content of the chat completely baffled her.

  "Did something huge happen in Kanto?" Iono wondered aloud, tilting her head. The two Magnemite-shaped accessories on her head mimicked her confused expression.

  "Check the news!"

  "Iono-chan, look at the news!"

  Following the chat’s suggestion, Iono curiously opened a Kanto news site.

  A massive headline took up nearly a third of the screen.

  [Vermilion Gym Leader Lt. Surge Arrested for Smuggling Activities, Currently Under Investigation.]

  Below it, a smaller subheading read:

  "Sources indicate that Lt. Surge’s arrest may be connected to the criminal syndicate, Team Rocket."

  Iono gasped, covering her mouth with her oversized sleeve. Her eyes widened.

  "Vermilion Gym Leader… Lt. Surge was arrested?"

  Immediately, she recalled a super chat from a viewer named "Another Day, Another Scking at Work".

  "Just took down Kanto’s Electric-type Gym Leader Lt. Surge. Meh, he was alright."

  …Could it be him?

  Iono and her Magnemite hair accessories simultaneously felt a little Kanto shock.

  Of course, if Iono had thought of it, so had her chat.

  The messages flooded in once more.

  "I sincerely apologize for doubting the boss when he challenged a Gym at 3 AM. Turns out, he really was ‘taking down’ the Gym."

  "The super chat came in at dawn. The guy was arrested by morning."

  "I, too, think Lt. Surge was ‘meh’ (insert smug emoji)."

  Viewership skyrocketed, doubling in an instant.

  New viewers, after quickly catching up on the situation, joined in the excitement.

  "Meh" swiftly repced "Good morning, afternoon, evening, Ciao~" as the new catchphrase of Iono’s stream.

  Watching this unfold, Iono felt a bit conflicted.

  She was thrilled about the sudden surge in popurity, but… it didn’t really have much to do with her.

  Her mind drifted to the viewer named "Another Day, Another Scking at Work."

  From the casual, deadpan way he had phrased his super chat, packed with comedic timing, she could tell—this guy had serious streamer potential.

  Maybe… she should invite him for a colb?

  But would he agree?

  "What a shockingly delightful dilemma~!" Iono sighed, resting her face in her sleeve.

  ---

  After telling Lance he was taking a vacation, August headed to a hotel with Blue.

  Not the same one as before.

  That one had been temporarily repurposed as a holding area for captives. Plus, being so close to Vermilion Gym, there was a high chance that Team Rocket would send someone to investigate.

  So, he booked a luxurious ocean-view hotel—one that could be reimbursed as a business expense.

  ...

  August, Blue, Eevee, Gardevoir, Jigglypuff, and Clefairy were pying a Pokémon adventure board game.

  Watching his Caterpie roll a 3, nding him right on a Victreebel trap, August closed his eyes in despair.

  "I’m done. Just wipe me out already."

  Out of six spaces, three had been positive, two neutral, and only one negative… and, of course, he nded on that one.

  The game had it out for him.

  Meanwhile, Blue had the complete opposite luck. Rolling a 1, she nded in an Evolution Stone cave and scored a Water Stone, evolving her Shellder into Cloyster.

  She beamed with delight.

  "…Maybe I should go catch a Togepi to change my luck," August muttered in thought.

  Didn’t sound like a bad idea.

  He shot a message to Lance, asking where in Kanto he could find a Togepi.

  Then, he pulled out the reward he had received for defeating Lt. Surge.

  [Zap Pte]

  Out of the three possible rewards, he ruled out the mass-producible [Z-Crystal], leaving only the [Zap Pte] and the [Regieleki Restraint Device].

  Since he had no way of knowing where the system obtained these items…

  He worried that if he chose the [Restraint Device], the system might have ripped it directly off Regieleki. That would undoubtedly cause it to go berserk.

  If that led to casualties, he’d be responsible.

  So, he went with the Pte, which seemed far less risky.

  Of course, it also helped that Ptes had already proven to be incredibly powerful.

  Still… he didn’t have an Electric-type Pokémon. That was a bit of a problem.

  Gncing at Gardevoir, who had just lost in the board game right after him, August had a sudden idea.

  Rummaging through his bag, he pulled out a [Thunderbolt] TM and handed it to Gardevoir.

  "Want to give it a try?" he asked.

  He didn’t have an Electric-type Pokémon, but he did have a Pokémon that could learn Electric-type moves!

  Gardevoir curiously examined the [Zap Pte], which was identical in size and shape to the [Mind Pte] she held.

  Taking the TM, she pced it against her forehead.

  Bzzt.

  As the TM activated, Gardevoir absorbed its stored data.

  Moments ter—

  She lowered the now-shattered TM and raised her hand, golden sparks crackling between her fingers.

  The arcs of electricity were small, but that was expected.

  TMs only allowed Pokémon to use a move; true mastery required training.

  But for now, August didn’t need her to be a [Thunderbolt] expert.

  "Remember this power level," he instructed.

  Then, he handed her the [Zap Pte].

  The instant her fingers touched it—

  Crackle!

  A surge of electricity burst forth. Golden lightning, as thick as an arm, wildly arced in all directions.

  Gardevoir quickly cut off the power and used a psychic barrier to contain the outburst.

  Blue, startled mid-game, shot August a bewildered look.

  August gave her a reassuring gnce before telepathically communicating with Gardevoir.

  "It feels… wilder than the [Mind Pte]?"

  Gardevoir nodded.

  She described it as a violent energy source, drastically amplifying Electric-type moves in an uncontrolled manner.

  August mused, "Makes sense—electricity is naturally chaotic."

  Then, an idea struck him.

  But before he could act on it, Gardevoir gnced at Eevee.

  August immediately imagined Eevee’s fluffy fur standing on end like a spiky mess.

  He shook his head frantically.

  "No. Absolutely not!"