"Hmm? I don't know, but it seems like Officer Jenny and the others are heading towards the Pokémon Center," Mr. William said after a moment of confusion, shaking his head.
Heath didn't press further and quickly finished making Mr. William's breakfast. After handing it over, he watched as Mr. William frog-hopped away from the food truck, which made Heath chuckle. Mr. William truly loved exercising.
For Heath, trying to frog-hop such a long distance would be too demanding. Even hopping two hundred meters would leave him exhausted.
"The Pokémon Center, huh?" Heath glanced in its direction, wondering what was happening. However, he knew that even if he went over, the Jennys wouldn't let him in. So, he stayed put and focused on studying for his driving theory test.
Heath was deeply engrossed in his review. His test was scheduled for that afternoon, and he needed to memorize as many points as possible. Failing would mean enduring more of Officer Jenny Maple's intense training.
"I'm so mad!" A furious voice interrupted Heath's concentration. He looked up to see Dawn.
"Dawn, what's wrong?" Heath quickly set his book aside and asked with concern.
He was surprised because Dawn was usually one of the calmest people he knew. Seeing her this angry was unexpected, making Heath wonder who had upset her.
"Heath, I downloaded a shopping app on my phone yesterday to buy a new desk and chair for my thesis writing," Dawn said angrily, her cheeks puffed out like a dumpling.
Heath also noticed the dark circles under her eyes, making him wonder if she had spent the night fishing with Armin. Though that scenario was unlikely.
"And then?" Heath asked, looking around. It was still early, so there weren't many people on the street. He didn't mind chatting with Dawn to pass the time.
"Then, the app told me I could enter a lottery. I entered and won first prize, which required only a five League Coin and four-cent discount to get the latest laptop for free," Dawn fumed, making Heath's expression turn odd. This felt strangely familiar.
"Next, I tried my luck and got five League Coins. Then, it asked me to invite friends to cover the remaining four cents," Dawn continued, her frustration evident. Heath's expression grew more peculiar.
Wow, Heath thought. He wanted to ask the name of the app, but Dawn's anger stopped him.
As expected, Dawn got stuck at one cent, with the app offering Poké Balls instead. Collect enough Poké Balls, and you could redeem a cent, creating an endless loop.
"Did you ever get it?" Heath asked, already knowing the answer. This scam was all too familiar.
"No, I worked all night and was five Ultra Balls short of completing the discount," Dawn said tearfully, showing Heath her phone screen.
Heath saw the timer had expired, and Dawn was indeed just five Ultra Balls away from the laptop.
"Hmm, Diglett Shopping. At least it's not that infamous name," Heath sighed in relief, recalling a similar app from his previous life. The Diglett brand reminded him of the bottle he had just found.
"Don't worry, Dawn. These things are usually scams. If you got to the last Ultra Ball, they'd find another way to stall you," Heath reassured her with a smile. He then noticed a tiny white question mark hidden on the prize wheel.
Heath tapped it, revealing a small box.
"Hmm, seven decimal places, can't be displayed due to screen size?" Heath was stunned by the message. They had truly mastered the art of deception. Even after dozens of discounts, the laptop was unattainable.
After showing Dawn, she left in a huff, not even wanting breakfast. Heath could only shake his head in sympathy. Encountering such scams in the Pokémon world suggested the Diglett company's owner was quite a character.
"Heath~ Long time no see! Did you miss me~?" A girl's voice called out. Heath turned in surprise to see a purple-haired girl riding a bike towards him, waving cheerfully.
"Jessie! Long time no see! You're finally back from your business trip?" Heath asked excitedly.
Jessie's long purple hair and black outfit gave her a unique charm.
"Yes, the company sent me on a trip, but now I'm back~" Jessie said, parking her bike and stretching.
Heath smiled at the sight of Jessie. She was, of course, the beloved antagonist from Team Rocket, known for her antics alongside James and Meowth.
Heath had met Jessie during an event hosted by Giovanni. At the time, Jessie had a different partner, but she often claimed it was just a colleague. She frequently went on business trips, which Heath knew were likely Team Rocket missions.
Heath wondered if Jessie had met her destined partner and that talking Meowth yet.
Looking at Jessie's elegant appearance, Heath couldn't help but wonder what prompted her to adopt her future outlandish hairstyle.
"Promise me, Jessie, stick to hairstyles that obey the laws of physics. Otherwise, Sir Isaac Newton might rise from his grave," Heath said seriously.
"Huh?" Jessie looked puzzled.
(End of Chapter)