I'm the Owner of the Pokémon Day Care In the World of Pokémon
Chapter 1478: The Case’s Doubtful Points

Chapter 1478: The Case’s Doubtful Points

Yuga told Masato Shirai in full detail about his encounter with the young man and also shared his suspicions. Masato Shirai assured him that he would thoroughly investigate the young man’s identity.

At the same time, the Mega Evolution Stone was handed over by Yuga. Although he had really wanted to keep it, considering that it might be stolen property, he had no choice but to painfully hand it over. Otherwise, wouldn’t the rightful owner be in trouble?

After returning home, Duoduo put on its new apron and got busy in the kitchen. That night, it had decided to really show off its cooking skills, especially since it hadn’t cooked for Yuga in several days.

Now that it had a new apron, it had to put it to good use!

Gothitelle and the others were visibly relieved to see the atmosphere between Duoduo and the boss finally return to normal. After all, when your immediate supervisor and the boss are on bad terms, it’s uncomfortable being stuck in the middle!

After greeting Duoduo, Yuga went to the Island Ecopark, intending to check once more on Primarina’s condition.

When Yuga arrived at the lake area, Primarina was sitting by the water, chatting with Chatot and Fletchinder.

These days, Fletchinder was getting along best with Chatot and spent most of its time with it in the lake area of the Island Ecopark.

The skeletal remains of Ho-Oh were still influencing Fletchinder and Chatot. The transformation process was still ongoing, but clearly, Fletchinder was being affected more strongly at the moment.

When Fletchinder saw Yuga coming, it joyfully flew down from Ho-Oh’s bones and landed on his shoulder.

Yuga patted Fletchinder’s head, then walked over to Primarina and asked, "How are you feeling? Are you getting used to living here?"

Primarina called out to Yuga and slapped the lake surface gently with its tail, then showed him the spot where it had been injured, signaling that its wound had completely healed.

Yuga stepped closer to examine it and indeed found no trace of the previous injury. Pleased, he patted it and said, "Not bad, you’ve recovered really well."

Hearing this, Primarina stared at Yuga with expectant eyes that seemed to say: You said once I’m healed, you’d take me back—so when do we leave?

Yuga forced a smile and said, "I’ve been a little busy lately. Could we postpone your return for a bit?"

Though disappointed, Primarina still nodded in agreement.

Yuga added, feeling a little guilty, "But I need to be upfront with you—your kind was in the middle of a migration. By now, they may be who knows where. The chances of finding them again are slim."

Primarina became even more despondent upon hearing this. It wasn’t that it didn’t understand what Yuga was saying, it just still had some hope in its heart. If it didn’t go back and look, it wouldn’t be able to rest easy.

And if it really couldn’t find them, then maybe it could wait until next year. Perhaps the others would migrate back again, and they might pass by here.

As for venturing out alone in search of its kind—that was out of the question. The ocean was too dangerous. Without its kin, it would never dare to plunge into the deep sea alone.

After comforting Primarina, Yuga returned home, and as expected, was treated to a dinner that Duoduo had prepared with great care.

The next day, Yuga received over ten Poké Balls teleported by Principal Samson Oak—each one containing a Fletchling.

These Fletchlings were specially requested by Yuga from Principal Samson Oak to test whether the remains of Ho-Oh would have any effect on other Fletchlings.

Principal Samson Oak was an expert in researching regional forms of Pokémon and had contacts in every region, which is why Yuga had sought him out.

In total, Principal Samson Oak sent over thirteen Fletchlings—three each of red, orange, yellow, and green potential, and one of blue aptitude.

In order to obtain that one blue potential Fletchling, Yuga had to trade a blue potential Horsea.

The reason he gathered Fletchlings with different potential was to see whether the potential levels would affect how Ho-Oh’s remains acted upon them.

After receiving the Pokémon, Yuga sent them to the Island Ecopark, planning for them to temporarily live in the lake area for a while.

Fletchinder was very happy about the arrival of new companions, because in the lake habitat, aside from it and Chatot, the others—Primarina, Squirtle, Wartortle, and Blastoise—were all Water-type Pokémon, and as a Fire-type, it really didn’t get along with them very well.

Fletchinder had always been the sociable type, and very soon it became fast friends with the dozen or so Fletchlings and even became their leader. With Fletchinder leading the way, the initial nervousness and unease the thirteen Fletchlings felt in the new environment gradually faded away.

Several days passed in the blink of an eye, but to Yuga’s disappointment, none of the thirteen Fletchlings showed any changes. They didn’t evolve, their potential didn’t improve, and not even their levels increased.

This made Yuga realize that the skeletal remains of Ho-Oh likely didn’t have an effect on just any Fletchling.

One day, Yuga visited the lake habitat again. After scanning the group of Fletchlings with his Insight skill and confirming once more that there were still no changes, he paused for a moment and then waved Fletchinder over.

Fletchinder cheerfully flew down, asking what Yuga needed from it.

Yuga didn’t explain, only saying, "Come with me, okay?"

Hearing that, Fletchinder followed, albeit with some confusion.

Yuga led Fletchinder out of the Island Ecopark and headed all the way to the Haunted House Sub-Ecopark, entering Mewtwo’s laboratory.

Mewtwo was in the middle of assigning tasks to several assistants. When it saw Yuga enter, it asked with a puzzled expression, "What are you doing here?"

Yuga explained everything about Fletchinder and Ho-Oh’s remains, then added, "I’d like to ask you to help examine Fletchinder to see if there’s anything unusual about its body."

After hearing this, Mewtwo readily agreed, saying, "No problem. Leave it to me!"

Then it turned to Fletchinder and said, "Come here."

"W-What are you... What are you going to do?" Fletchinder suddenly had a bad feeling.

"When I tell you to come here, just do it. Stop with the nonsense. Don’t waste my time, I’m very busy!" Mewtwo said sternly.

Startled by the powerful presence, Fletchinder didn’t dare say anything else and reluctantly flapped its wings over.

Without another word, Mewtwo grabbed Fletchinder by the wing, then pulled out a box from who-knows-where. When opened, it revealed several neatly arranged syringes.

"W-What are those for...?" Seeing the glinting needles, Fletchinder’s little heart began to tremble uncontrollably.

"Just drawing a bit of blood," Mewtwo said casually.

"B-Blood draw???" Fletchinder yelped, "No! No, no! Yuga, save me! Help! I can’t, I’m going to faint!"

Yuga said with exasperation, "It’s just a bit of blood. Be good now, it doesn’t hurt."

"No way! How could it not hurt! You’re lying to me!"

Fletchinder tried to resist, but Mewtwo had already immobilized it with psychic power. It could only watch helplessly as that glowing needle plunged into the base of its thigh.

As soon as the bright red blood entered the syringe, Fletchinder’s head lolled to the side and it fainted on the spot.

Mewtwo casually tossed the unconscious Fletchinder onto a nearby table and said with clear disdain, "Where did you even find this useless thing? Fainting just from that?"

"Heh... heh heh..."

Yuga could only give an awkward laugh. He hadn’t expected Fletchinder to be so useless either.

After obtaining the blood sample, Mewtwo began analyzing it. Since there wasn’t much Yuga could help with, he said, "Then I’ll leave it to you. Let me know when you find something."

"Got it," Mewtwo replied without even turning around.

Just then, Fletchinder slowly opened its eyes. Seeing that Yuga was about to leave, it braced its wings and wobbled upright, saying, "Aiya... oh dear... my head’s spinning. Yuga, give me a hand."

"Come on, you don’t even walk with your feet. What’s there to help with?" Yuga said, rolling his eyes. "Besides, I was watching the whole time—barely any blood was drawn. Don’t be so dramatic."

Fletchinder plopped right back down and said, "Then at least give me a supplement or something! That wasn’t just blood you drew—it was my very life essence!"

Just as Yuga was about to speak, Mewtwo turned its gaze toward Fletchinder. Fletchinder immediately had another bad feeling. With a flap of its wings, it shot up into the air, not even bothering to act cute with Yuga anymore.

"Go, go, go—let’s leave quickly!"

Mewtwo followed up coldly, "Leave? What leave? You need to stay and cooperate with my research."

"N-No way!" Fletchinder cried out, about to fly out of the lab, but it was a second too late—Mewtwo had already pulled it back with psychic power.

Looking at Fletchinder, which was now being held tightly by Mewtwo, Yuga simply shrugged and said, "Just stay put and cooperate." With that, he took large strides and walked straight out of the lab.

"Yuga! Take me with you—!"

Fletchinder’s miserable wail echoed from within the lab.

Just as Yuga exited the Haunted House Sub-Ecopark, he saw Doduo approaching. It turned out the police station had called, asking Yuga to come over.

Once he arrived, he was taken directly into Masato Shirai’s office.

"Is there new progress on the kidnapping incident from a few days ago?" Yuga asked.

Masato Shirai nodded and then said, "According to the man’s confession, he kidnapped the two children to obtain classified information about a secret experiment Devon Corporation is currently conducting."

It turned out that Devon Corporation had been conducting a secret experiment in Verdanturf Town, and the fathers of Natsuhiko and Haruki were, respectively, the chief project director and the lead designer.

Even though Devon Corporation was powerful, it still had competitors. The young man was sent by one of them to steal Devon’s trade secrets.

By rights, this matter had nothing to do with Yuga. Now that Masato Shirai had investigated and uncovered the truth, it should be handled according to laws and procedures. So why call Yuga in?

Just as Yuga was puzzled, Masato Shirai took out a black box from his drawer. When he opened it, inside was the Mega Evolution Stone that Yuga had previously turned in.

Yuga thought for a moment and asked, "Is there something wrong with this Mega Evolution Stone?"

Masato Shirai nodded slowly. "There’s poison on it."

"Poison?!" Yuga was shocked.

"That’s right. And it’s a very deadly poison," Masato Shirai replied.

It turned out the police had only discovered the poison by coincidence. When Yuga brought the man in, he had mentioned his suspicions, so the police decided to test and examine the Mega Evolution Stone—only to make a terrifying discovery.

The poison on the stone was a type of chronic toxin. Long-term exposure would slowly weaken the body, but the symptoms were difficult to detect on the surface. Once the poisoning reached a certain threshold, it would lead to a sudden death that appeared completely natural.

"So you suspect the poison was intended for me?" Yuga asked.

Masato Shirai nodded. "Exactly. If what the man said is true—if his goal was only to obtain Devon’s experiment data—then poisoning you would be excessive, especially after already planning to kidnap children."

"Think about it carefully," Masato Shirai added. "How did that Mega Evolution Stone end up in your hands?"

Prompted by Masato Shirai’s words, Yuga realized something: it really had been strangely easy for that Mega Evolution Stone to end up with him. Such a valuable item had been handed over far too readily by the young man.

And what’s more, the fact that he even had the Mega Evolution Stone on him was something he voluntarily disclosed.

"Is this matter confirmed?" Yuga asked, frowning.

Masato Shirai shook his head. "There’s no concrete evidence yet, but I still felt I should inform you in advance."

Based on all aspects of the investigation, it appeared to be just a coincidence, but Masato Shirai didn’t dare take it lightly, because he couldn’t shake the feeling that something was off.

"Then what about the origin of this Mega Evolution Stone?" Yuga asked. "Something this valuable must have a source. It’s not like he just picked it up while taking a stroll."

Masato Shirai shook his head again. "He said he found it while exploring some ruins."

Upon hearing that, Yuga fell silent.

Then Masato Shirai shared with Yuga a few other suspicious points related to the case, and only afterward did he escort Yuga out of the police station.

Two days later, there was still no progress in the police investigation, and Mewtwo hadn’t found anything conclusive from examining Fletchinder either. So Yuga decided to go ahead and take Primarina back to the island.

Although he very much wanted Primarina to stay, since he had already promised to return it to its home, he would honor that promise.

When Primarina learned that Yuga was going to take it back to the island, it was overjoyed.

The place where Yuga had first encountered Primarina wasn’t far from the Island Ecopark, so riding Dragonite, he quickly reached the destination with it.

Back again on the reef where Primarina had once sung its song, it couldn’t help but raise its beautiful voice once more. It was the same song that called out to its companions, and once again, there was no response.

However, compared to the helplessness, confusion, and longing in its voice the first time, this time its song was filled only with yearning. Perhaps it was because now, even if it couldn’t find its companions, it knew it wouldn’t be without a home.

Yuga stood silently behind Primarina, quietly enjoying its singing. Unknowingly, a few other Pokémon along the shore were also drawn in by the song, slowly gathering around the reef.

Kingler, Crawdaunt, Shellder, Corsola, Staryu... various common seaside Pokémon were all present.

Gradually, aside from the sound of waves, only Primarina’s song remained at the shore.

Still, no response came from its kin. But perhaps because it had already mentally prepared itself for this possibility, Primarina—miraculously—didn’t seem too disappointed.