"Still... who would send me such a valuable Pokémon Egg?"
Peter held the Cyclizar Egg in both hands and muttered to himself.
An Egg from an Elite Four-tier Pokémon wasn't exactly something you saw every day.
As he was pondering the mystery, his phone rang again.
"Hello? Who's this?"
"Master, it's me—Brassius!"
The excited voice coming from the other end immediately gave away the caller's identity.
"Brassius?"
Peter blinked.
"Hehe! I saw that the package was delivered. That Egg came from a Cyclizar that Hassel recently raised, along with his ace Baxcalibur. I figured it would make the perfect payment for the guidance you gave me!"
"Wait, what? You sent me the Egg?"
"Of course I did, Master!"
Brassius sounded completely justified.
"You may not have mentioned any compensation, but that doesn't mean I can just give you nothing!"
"Don't worry. Hassel may be the heir of a dragon-tamer family, but we're good friends. Taking one Egg from him isn't a problem at all."
"So please don't refuse."
"You never know when I'll run into another creative block and need your wisdom again!"
"Anyway, I've got a Gym battle today. Talk later!"
Clearly worried Peter might reject the gift, Brassius ended the call almost immediately.
Peter stared at his phone.
The corner of his mouth twitched.
There were actually people who rushed to give him presents?
Still...
This one had hit him right where it counted.
His second team still had two open spots.
Cyclizar could fill the Dragon-type offensive gap in his lineup while also serving as a land mount.
And honestly...
Who could refuse the thrill of riding a motorcycle while holding their Babe in their arms?
Especially when Whitney had become increasingly...
Curvier recently.
Peter forcibly dragged his thoughts back onto safer tracks.
After packing their belongings, he and Whitney left the Pokémon Center.
At that moment—
A military helicopter appeared on the distant horizon.
As it approached, a figure wearing a police uniform jumped down from it.
It was Nanu.
"Yo, kid. Heading out?"
Peter blinked and nodded.
"Yeah. What's with the helicopter, Uncle Nanu?"
"Nothing much."
Nanu grinned.
"Just here to give you a little gift."
He pressed a button on the controller in his hand.
Mechanical sounds immediately rang out.
The plain-looking combat helicopter began transforming.
Panels shifted.
Parts folded.
Moments later, it became a sleek silver aircraft straight out of a science-fiction movie.
Nanu tossed the controller at Peter.
"Take it."
"Huh?"
Peter nearly dropped it.
"I don't really have any use for it anymore. Should make decent transportation for you."
Peter opened his mouth instinctively.
Ready to refuse.
Before he could speak, Nanu waved him off.
"Come on."
"What man doesn't dream about machines?"
"This thing is half a lifetime of work for me."
His hand brushed across the aircraft's metallic hull.
"But I'm getting old. Can't enjoy it like I used to."
"You, on the other hand..."
He patted Peter's shoulder.
"You're the kind of kid I like."
"Don't disgrace it."
Peter stared at him suspiciously.
"Uncle Nanu... are you trying to get me to help you with something?"
"I've got no such plans."
Nanu answered immediately.
"I just think highly of you. Don't overthink it."
"Really?"
Peter narrowed his eyes.
"Because this feels extremely suspicious."
"Yeah," Whitney added from the side.
"A guy who normally won't even pay extra for meat in his noodles suddenly gifts away an aircraft worth a fortune?"
"..."
Veins immediately appeared on Nanu 's forehead.
After taking several deep breaths, he finally calmed himself.
"You brats know nothing."
He looked toward the aircraft.
"This thing was originally a reward I obtained during my years fighting a terrorist organization."
"Over the years, I've upgraded and modified it countless times."
"Every feature you'd ever need is built in."
"Unfortunately..."
His voice carried a trace of melancholy.
"The maintenance costs get higher every year."
"Now that I'm retired, I don't have much use for it anymore."
"Might as well leave it to the younger generation."
There was genuine reluctance in his voice.
No acting.
No hidden agenda.
Just nostalgia.
After a moment, he looked back at Peter.
"Well?"
"Are you taking it or not?"
"Then... I'll accept it?"
Peter asked cautiously.
"Yep."
Nanu nodded immediately.
"Take it."
The next second, Peter pulled out his phone and opened the camera.
"Alright, Uncle. Work with me here."
"Huh?"
Nanu froze.
"What are you doing?"
"Recording evidence."
Peter answered matter-of-factly.
"Please state that you're voluntarily gifting this aircraft to Peter and that no compensation, conditions, or future obligations are required."
"..."
Nanu's eye twitched violently.
"Kid, don't you think that's a little excessive?"
"Not really."
Peter shrugged.
"I never asked for it."
"You insisted on giving it to me."
"Better safe than sorry."
"What if I get scammed?"
"..."
"Fine, fine!"
Nanu practically growled.
"I voluntarily give this aircraft to Peter and require no payment, compensation, conditions, or obligations."
"Happy now?"
"Hahaha!"
Peter burst out laughing.
"Perfect!"
"Then we're off, Uncle!"
"Time to head back to Hoenn!"
He grabbed Whitney's hand and boarded the aircraft.
"The controller has Tomato AI installed!"
Nanu shouted after them.
"If you don't understand something, just ask it by voice command!"
"Got it——!"
Blue thrusters ignited beneath the aircraft.
With a deafening roar, it shot into the sky.
Nanu remained standing where he was.
Silently waving goodbye.
Only after the aircraft became a tiny black dot in the distance did he lower his arm.
Then—
His old brick-style phone began ringing.
Ring. Ring. Ring.
He pressed the answer button.
"Yeah?"
...
"Mhm. They've left."
...
"Heh. Gave him my precious baby."
...
"You know..."
A faint smile appeared on his face.
"That title of 'Boss' wasn't earned for nothing."
...
"Alright."
"When this is all over, buy me a drink."
"Later."
The call ended.
As Nanu lowered the phone, memories surfaced.
His vision gradually blurred.
Many years ago...
He and his apprentice, Looker, had been carrying out a mission.
Because of his own overconfidence, their position was exposed.
They were surrounded by international criminals.
Nanu was badly wounded.
At the time, Looker had still been only a rookie agent.
Yet he charged into the encirclement alone.
He carried Nanu on his back and ran over fifty kilometers before finally shaking off their pursuers.
They survived.
But Nanu's leg was permanently injured.
He could no longer endure prolonged high-intensity operations.
For a man whose dream was becoming an elite international police officer...
The blow was devastating.
Because it meant—
His dream was over.
At his lowest point, he had considered ending his own life.
He had even cursed Looker.
Asked why he bothered risking everything to save him.
Yet one sentence from the young rookie remained engraved in his memory forever.
"Boss!"
"I call you Boss because you've earned that title!"
"You're the only mentor I've ever acknowledged!"
"If you give up now, how can you justify me risking my life to save you?"
"How can you justify the organization's trust?"
"How can you justify your own dream?"
"And so what if you've lost a leg?!"
"Aren't you always telling us that when facing the enemy, even if all you've got left is one finger—or a single strand of hair—"
"YOU STAND TALL!"
"Boss!"
"If you're willing, then I'll be your legs."
"You be the brain."
"You give the orders."
"I'll carry them out."
"Together, we can solve anything."
"Okay?"
"..."
Nanu had remained silent for a long time.
Then—
He nodded.
"...Okay."
From that day forward, the two worked together.
Case after case.
Large and small.
Their reputation spread across the world.
Eventually, at the height of his career, Nanu chose retirement.
And he passed everything on to his apprentice.
That apprentice later gained a codename known throughout the International Police.
Looker.
A few days ago, Looker had contacted him.
The situation was simply too troublesome.
And when it came to this apprentice...
Nanu never hesitated.
Because without Looker...
There would have been no Nanu.
And without Nanu...
There would never have been the legendary name that still sat atop the International Police Hall of Fame.
Codename 000 — Nanu.
...
His gaze finally drifted away from the disappearing aircraft.
Turning around, Nanu shoved his hands into his pockets and began walking toward the harbor.
A meaningful smile tugged at his lips.
"Sometimes..."
"Human connections are worth a lot more than promises."