Since the cafeteria was too crowded, the group moved the conversation back to the Black's residence.
By this time, the rest of the household had already begun their morning work.
The atmosphere was much more relaxed than the formal setting at the police headquarters.
Lance sat at the table with a sandwich in one hand and a bottle of Moomoo Milk in the other.
"Thank you for the food."
His tone was casual, almost as if he had done this many times before.
Austin glanced at him.
"You can finish eating before we talk."
Lance nodded and did not refuse.
Despite everything he had experienced as a Champion and Chief Investigator, Lance in daily life was surprisingly easygoing, especially around people he already trusted.
Somehow, even though this was their first official meeting, there was no sense of distance.
Lance took another bite and thought briefly.
Maybe it's because of Red, Blue, and Cynthia.
All three had spoken highly of Austin.
On the way here, Lance had also learned that Cynthia and Austin had known each other for years since their families were close.
A long-standing connection, close enough that it could almost be described as childhood familiarity.
Once Lance finished his meal, the tone shifted.
He and Cynthia both turned their attention toward Shaymin in Austin's arms.
Lance's eyes lit up immediately.
"Shaymin really likes you."
"Shay~"
The small Mythical Pokémon turned its head and buried itself slightly deeper into Austin's arms.
Austin sighed.
"It's shy. You don't have to say it so directly."
Lance laughed awkwardly.
"Got it, got it."
Cynthia stepped forward at that moment.
"May I hold it?"
Austin lowered his gaze.
"Shaymin, is that okay?"
"Shaymin."
After a brief look at Cynthia, Shaymin gave a small nod.
Austin gently handed it over.
Cynthia cradled Shaymin carefully in her arms.
"You're safe now."
"Min~"
The sound it made was soft, almost relieved.
At that moment, the flowers on Shaymin's body slowly bloomed.
A subtle fragrance spread through the room, as if spring itself had briefly stepped inside.
"Oh, from my studies, when Shaymin feels gratitude, the flowers on its body bloom."
Lance's eyes brightened.
"Oh? You know that already."
He had sensed the same phenomenon through his own ability; he told Cynthia an Austin.
Viridian Power.
It granted perception of Pokémon emotions, memories, and even traces of pain or intent.
However, Lance understood that perception alone did not equal knowledge.
He looked at Austin, who looked unsurprised by the reveal.
"You knew?"
Austin answered simply.
"Yellow told me yesterday."
Lance nodded once.
"That makes sense."
At that moment, Cynthia continued gently stroking Shaymin's back.
She spoke after a short pause.
"After the competition yesterday, I heard Lance mention the situation, so we came together."
"We arrived in Jubilife City last night and met Chief Zorro first."
Austin looked up.
"Chief Zorro?"
Lance nodded.
"Yes. He requested Alliance assistance for a Pokémon Hunter case."
He took another sip of Moomoo Milk.
"I was already in Sinnoh, so I took the assignment."
Lance explained,
The four major Leagues, Kanto, Johto, Hoenn, and Sinnoh, maintained extremely close ties through an alliance. So close that Kanto and Johto were often treated as a single unified region in many operational frameworks.
For Austin, the situation still felt slightly disproportionate.
A case involving Pokémon Hunters and Shaymin did not usually escalate to a Chief Investigator personally stepping in.
Yet Lance had still come himself.
In Austin's view, that was not duty alone.
It was responsibility taken to its limit.
Having someone like that in charge of investigations was both a safeguard for Kanto and a stabilizing force for the wider world.
Even with Viridian Power, Lance remained human.
He simply carried the burden of a Champion without ever setting it down.
That was his nature.
That was also his reputation.
Lance continued.
"After discussing with Chief Zorro last night, we agreed on one point. This Pokémon Hunter operation likely has a buyer behind it."
He tapped the table lightly.
"The issue is scale. The sea of possible suspects is too large. Tracking them directly is inefficient."
He glanced toward Shaymin.
"That is why Shaymin may be our only real breakthrough."
He paused.
"Of course, questioning Shaymin alone will not work."
Shaymin was gentle by nature. Even with telepathy, it would not naturally focus on human details like transactions or identities.
That was where Viridian Power became important.
Lance lowered his gaze slightly.
"Forgive my intrusion."
"Shaymin, may I perceive your memories?"
"Shaymin!"
The Mythical Pokémon blinked at him.
It did not feel fear.
Only a strange sense of warmth from the man with red hair.
Even compared to Austin, Lance's presence felt strangely soothing.
Austin noticed the shift but said nothing.
Lance gently lifted Shaymin into his hands.
A faint green light began to spread from his palm.
Viridian Power activated.
He first stabilized Shaymin's condition, mending lingering injuries with careful precision.
Shaymin let out a small sound, its body relaxing.
"Shaymin~"
Austin raised a brow.
"That looks comfortable."
Lance did not respond.
His eyes were already closed.
The world around him shifted.
. . .
. .
.
He was no longer Lance.
He was Shaymin.
A field of Gracidea flowers stretched endlessly beneath a clear sky.
The air was filled with a soft, refreshing scent.
Shaymin moved freely through the flowers, surrounded by quiet peace.
Then it transformed.
Sky Forme.
It rose into the air, drifting above the sea of blossoms.
Joy.
Lightness.
A moment without fear.
Then a sudden interruption.
A human voice.
"Wow. So cute."
"Can I hold you?"
Officer Jenny.
Lance recognized her immediately.
Warm arms lifted Shaymin into a gentle embrace.
For a brief moment, even in memory, Lance felt his face heat up.
Inside the vision, he reacted instinctively and leaned in/
. .
The memory continued.
The peaceful field was shattered.
Shaymin was forced into flight.
Pursuit.
Fear.
The journey stretched across regions until it reached the northern coast of Jubilife City.
Then a shift.
Steel presence.
Command-level coordination.
A battlefield.
Lucario dropping in from above.
Austin issuing orders.
Metagross and Dragapult locking down escape routes.
Hunter D being contained.
Systematic suppression.
Efficient. Precise. Clean.
Lance observed everything as Shaymin experienced it.
When the memory ended, he opened his eyes again.
Silence returned.
Then he exhaled.
"I have some conclusions."
Shaymin was gently placed back into Cynthia's arms.
Lance's expression turned thoughtful.
"Thank you, Shaymin. This information is extremely valuable."
Austin and Cynthia spoke almost at the same time.
"How is it?"
Lance paused.
His eyes moved between them.
Synchronized reactions.
Too aligned.
He dismissed the thought.
Both of them simply cared about Shaymin.
"I have several suspects based on the Alliance database, but I still need confirmation."
He leaned slightly forward.
"However, I also have a proposal."
His gaze settled on Austin.
"Would you like to hear it?"
. . .
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