Tetsuya recalled Ditto.
Duplica's mother's Ditto also returned to its Ditto form and went back to her shoulder.
"Definitely a family that specializes in raising Dittos… I have a request, though I don't know whether you'll agree to it…?" Tetsuya said. His intentions were also obvious, so there was no need to hide them. Being straightforward might instead earn Yuri's approval.
"Mmm… You are very strong, and your potential even outshines Duplica's. Judging from your records, you've also rendered considerable service to the League and earned the recognition of highly respected Gym Leaders like Pryce and Matsuba.
You have even published a paper alongside, a towering figure in the academic world…
Originally, I shouldn't have any reason to doubt your character, but I've already learned a lesson from the past. Moreover, this 'arts' of ours can easily be exploited by people with ill intentions!
Therefore, if you want to become my… student, and learn the disguise arts and the secret methods for raising Ditto, there is one condition you must fulfill." Yuri spoke earnestly.
"What condition?" Tetsuya asked. He was also muttering inwardly. At worst, she would ask him to "benefit society", pledge loyalty to the League, or something along those lines. Lies like those rolled right off his tongue.
When it came to acting, even giving him an Oscar for Best Actor in his first life would not be excessive!
"I once had a pupil named Brodie. He mastered my arts, but he betrayed me and betrayed the League…
I've now discovered that he joined Team Magma in the Hoenn Region and has committed many wrongdoings and serious crimes.
As long as you assist the Hoenn Region police in capturing Brodie, I will teach you everything I know," Yuri said.
"…"
The condition she proposed could be said to kill two Pidgey with one Rock Throw. Through her battle with Tetsuya, she had also been able to see his capacities. He was at least at a Gym Leader's level, and even an average Investigator would not be Tetsuya's opponent. He was fully capable of assisting the police.
Therefore, she could use this opportunity to test whether Tetsuya had a sense of justice. Secondly, once someone verified Brodie's capabilities, they would naturally think of a pupil from the Imite Family…
Because of this, Duplica's mother had also been subjected to an investigation by the League, bringing her considerable trouble. If there had not been so many family matters requiring her attention as the Family head, the pressure from the League would have forced her to personally set out and assist the police in capturing Brodie.
With Tetsuya going in her place, she could finally have some breathing room.
"No problem. I'll make a trip to Hoenn and do my best." Tetsuya said.
At this point, he had no choice but to agree. All he could do now was do everything within his power and leave the rest to Mew or Arceus.
Although Brodie's combat power could not be considered top-tier, his ever-changing disguise abilities combined with a successfully raised Ditto genuinely made him difficult to predict. Even Tetsuya was not confident that he could capture him.
In his previous life, Brodie could be said to have been someone who gave the police endless headaches. At first, he served under Team Magma. Even after Team Magma's boss, Maxie, was arrested and Team Magma was destroyed, Brodie still relied on his skills to escape, becoming the only member of Team Magma to slip through the net.
Afterward, he moved to the Sinnoh Region and joined Team Galactic…
Even after Team Galactic's boss, Cyrus, disappeared into the portal and the three Commanders were captured, Brodie still successfully escaped pursuit.
After that, he continued operating throughout various regions and committed many serious crimes, only being brought to justice after Duplica completed her training.
Brodie's capacities were evident from this alone. Capturing him could be said to be as difficult as ascending to Arceus's heaven!
However, since Tetsuya had already made this agreement with Duplica's mother, he believed that as long as he went all-out to accomplish this task, even if he did not succeed, he would still earn her recognition.
This meant that once he arrived in Hoenn, he needed to fully cooperate with the police and take the initiative in everything…
'Sigh~'
Simply put, he needed to appear proactive in front of others, and naturally he would earn the police's recognition as well. Word of these matters would certainly reach Yuri.
It could even be said that this was Yuri's test, so Tetsuya knew very clearly what he needed to do. How to act in front of others and how to act behind their backs was something a perfect villain needed to learn above all else.
"Good. In that case, take my emblem with you and go to Petalburg City in the Hoenn Region to find Gym Leader Norman. Hoenn has now established a special Investigation Unit specifically targeting Team Magma, and Norman is in charge of this unit. When the time comes, you'll simply serve under his command."
After saying this, Duplica's mother went into the inner room, took out an envelope, and handed it to Tetsuya.
"Hai. Then I'll be setting out," Tetsuya said.
"There's no rush." Yuri stopped him. "Brodie excels at our disguise arts, making it difficult to distinguish the real from the fake.
If he covers himself with an irritating scent, even canine Pokémon with keen senses of smell like the Jenny Family's Growlithe and Electrike would be of no use. Therefore… I must teach you how to counter this disguise art."
"…There's actually a way to counter this disguise art?" Tetsuya was also somewhat startled. He truly had not known that this art could be countered!
Perhaps only members of this Family knew about it. At this point, Duplica's mother had no reason to hide anything about this countermeasure from him.
The Imite Family had no intention of committing crimes. Passing it on to Tetsuya was, firstly, to have Brodie arrested as soon as possible, and secondly, because she "trusted" Tetsuya. This was all thanks to the Pokédex, which had given him all kinds of labels.
"Mm. This art was originally not to be passed on to outsiders, but my family will never tolerate anyone who violates the law!
I'm passing this art on to you first precisely to let everyone in the family know that there are people outside who can counter us…
Anyone who wants to go out and use the family's arts to commit wrongdoing will have to think twice!" Yuri said.
"Thank you for your trust, Yuri-san." Tetsuya secretly rejoiced… he even call her "san"!
What he was glad about was not that he could learn the technique for countering Ditto's disguise, but that he now knew there was a method capable of countering this arts.
This also served as a warning to him. If he truly learned the disguise arts without knowing that a method capable of countering him existed and then acted without restraint, he would certainly pay a painful price for it…
"Then, Duplica, prepare a room for Tetsuya. You should rest for two days first. We'll officially begin the day after tomorrow."
"Okay, I'll go prepare it right away!" Duplica responded, then left with her sister, while Tetsuya remained seated where he was and rested.
His plan was also gradually drawing closer. As long as he learned this skill, he would have another measure of hope for capturing Brodie. Even if he could not succeed this time, if an opportunity arose in the future, he could still rely on this skill to defeat Brodie.
Duplica prepared a room for Tetsuya. Tetsuya put away the belongings he carried with him, and by the time he finished tidying up, it was already time for dinner.
There were only three people in this household at present, so Tetsuya's arrival added a touch of "masculine presence".