Feng Che stood his ground, idly tossing the Master Ball-grade luxury ball containing the Armaldo in his hand.
"You there! That Armaldo with the awakened Dragon attribute is not something you are authorized to possess," Dr. Dorumba barked, removing his glasses. He puffed a breath of air onto the lenses to clean them, his eyes turning cold as he glared at Feng Che.
In Dorumba's eyes, Feng Che saw a mix of naked greed and undisguised threat. He had already recognized Lorelei and knew this group hailed from the Kanto region.
So what if they are Elites and Gym Leaders from Kanto? Dorumba thought, a sneer tugging at the corner of his mouth. They're on my turf now. I'll scare them into handing over that specimen. This is likely the only Dragon-attribute Armaldo in existence.
He could already see the massive research grants and fame as a world-renowned fossil expert beckoning him.
"I refuse," Feng Che said simply, swatting away the doctor's reaching hand.
"Do you have any idea who I am? I am Dr. Dorumba, the Deputy Director of the Fossil Research Institute in the Sixth Ecological Zone!" the man snarled, his face reddening with rage.
He signaled his men. The researchers raised their stun batons and high-output electric rifles, the red infrared dots of their scopes peppering Feng Che's chest.
"With one word from me, I don't care who you are—you'll be charred to a crisp," Dorumba hissed.
Feng Che didn't flinch. Instead, he pulled out the thick handbook Dora had given him earlier and began flipping through it.
"According to the Pokémon World League Handbook, Fossil Protection Act, Section 651: 'In the event that a Fossil Pokémon causes injury or escapes an ecological park, any licensed trainer present has the right to intervene, suppress the riot, and capture the Pokémon,'" Feng Che read aloud, his voice cool.
"It continues: 'A Fossil Pokémon captured under such circumstances becomes the legal property of the trainer. No entity may demand the surrender of said Pokémon for research purposes. The trainer must simply register the capture at a Pokémon Center and ensure the creature is properly restrained.' Did I miss anything?"
Feng Che looked up, his gaze piercing Dr. Dorumba. "No matter how rare this Armaldo is, by League law, I am its master. I only need to complete the registration. You, on the other hand, are attempting extortion and using armed force to threaten a League-recognized Gym Leader. That, Doctor, is a direct violation of World League statutes."
Dorumba's pupils shrank. He had been checkmated by his own laws. Realizing he couldn't take the Pokémon by force—not with Lorelei and a group of Elites watching—he recorded Feng Che's face in his mental "black book."
Fuming, he shot a venomous look at Dora, waved his hand to his men, and stormed off.
The New Addition
Once the researchers were gone, Feng Che checked the Armaldo's stats.
Pokémon: Armaldo
Gender: Male
Potential: Epic (Cyan)
Ability: Swift Swim
Level: 72
Type: Bug / Dragon
Special Note: Cloned from high-quality ancient DNA. It has fully inherited Dragon-type traits, possessing immense physical power and claws sharp enough to rend steel.
Dora looked at the departing researchers with disdain. She had nearly punched Dorumba herself. "Mr. Feng Che, well done not letting them bully you. Dorumba is petty and will likely hold a grudge, but don't worry. I've recorded the whole encounter. If he tries to complain to the higher-ups, he won't have a leg to stand on."
"Please wait a moment," Dora added, her expression turning serious. "I need to find out exactly how those Pokémon escaped. The institute's inner walls are reinforced concrete with steel as thick as an arm, plus high-voltage grids. Even a Dragon-type Armaldo shouldn't have been able to break out so easily, especially right after emerging from a vat."
Dora sprinted back through the breach to investigate.
"Dora isn't just a logistics officer," the bus driver explained to the Kanto group. "She's the Captain of the Third Patrol Squad for the World League. Security is her actual job."
When Dora returned ten minutes later, she was silent and visibly troubled. She boarded the bus without a word. Though Feng Che and Lorelei were curious, they sensed the gravity of the situation and didn't press her.
The Global Hub
The bus finally arrived at a sleek seven-story building—the World League Grand Hotel. It was a melting pot of cultures, filled with high-level trainers from every corner of the globe.
As they entered the lobby, Feng Che spotted two familiar faces: Koga and Bruno.
"Feng Che! We just got in ourselves," Koga said, waving him over. "I heard my daughter Janine gave you a bit of trouble with my Tentacruel. Since she couldn't beat you, how about a match with me later?"
"Now, now, Koga," a cute girl with a bun hairstyle interrupted, stepping between them. "They need to check in. Master Sky is already waiting for everyone at the Main Arena."
"Tch, how boring," Koga muttered, before vanishing in a puff of smoke.
"I'll be waiting for you at the arena, Feng Che. Let's see if your fists are as strong as they say," Bruno added with a grin before heading toward the elevators.
"Follow me, everyone," Dora said, her professional mask back in place. "I'll handle your check-ins. That girl was Molly; she's the Elite-level Grass trainer handling the Johto delegation."