In the Car
The police car wound its way through the dappled tree shadows.
Wayne, answering his phone, admired the scenery. "Yes, Section Chief Zorro, Officer Jenny is driving me home."
"Two Officer Jennys, and the one from Floaroma Town."
"A Pokemon Hunter. His codename is Hunter D."
From the other end, Zorro cautioned, "Don't try to be a hero in such matters in the future. What if you encounter danger? These things are supposed to be handled by us."
"They were attacking Drakloak at the time, and I really couldn't just stand by and do nothing."
Hearing this response, Zorro had nothing more to say. "Alright, thankfully you're unharmed."
"I also brought back a Shaymin. I'll take it to the Breeding Center for treatment temporarily."
"Understood."
While Wayne and Zorro were conversing, the two Officer Jennys remained silent, only sighing in relief after the call ended.
Wayne could sense their taut nerves relax slightly. "Why do you both look like that?"
The Floaroma Town Officer Jenny turned her head, speaking seriously. "Section Chief Zorro is super strict and super serious, okay?"
"Really? I don't sense it."
The Floaroma Town Officer Jenny explained, "You're not a police officer, and you helped us treat Arcanine. How could Section Chief Zorro be stern with you?"
"That makes a lot of sense."
Wayne looked at the Shaymin beside him, held securely by Lucario.
Among Mythical Pokemon, there were cute ones and powerful ones. The Land Forme Shaymin was definitely a cute type.
The powerful ones included Arceus and Hoopa.
That's right—Arceus was classified as a Mythical Pokemon, but it was also perfectly acceptable to call it a Legendary Pokemon.
Some Mythical Pokemon existed in groups.
Shaymin was one species that had groups.
In Wayne's knowledge, Shaymin would transform from Land Forme to Sky Forme in the Gracidea Flower Field.
To be precise, it only needed to be touched by the flower.
There was a Gracidea Flower Field in Floaroma Town.
Unlike the cute Land Forme, the Sky Forme Shaymin, with its Serene Grace Ability, Air Slash, and Seed Flare, was something whose power anyone who faced it would understand.
Shaymin wasn't a particularly rare Mythical Pokemon. They could be observed in various regions.
When Ash traveled through the Sinnoh region, he once witnessed three Shaymin transform into Sky Forme and fly into the sky after touching Gracidea flowers.
Ash's classmate in the Alola region, Mallow, had briefly obtained a Shaymin that had delivered itself to her.
Although it seemed to have flown away in the final episode...
The Floaroma Town Officer Jenny was more talkative and lively, while the otherOfficer Jenny appeared very serious.
"She's my older cousin. I'm the younger one."
While chatting with the two Officer Jennys, probably because the Pokemon Hunter had already been taken into custody at the Greenfall Police Station, a mechanical female voice once again echoed in Wayne's mind.
[Ding! Side quest 'Catch Them All' completed. Obtained special ability—Affinity (Intermediate).]
Affinity (Intermediate): A budget version of Viridian Power. Pokemon and humans will have a better first impression of you and be more willing to approach you.
Although Wayne possessed Master Level 'Center of Attention,' that wasn't the same as Affinity.
Center of Attention, simply translated, meant charisma—being handsome.
Wayne wasn't particularly warm and friendly. At most, he was polite.
He maintained all the proper etiquette, but he wouldn't make people feel as though they were basking in a spring breeze.
The only person Wayne had truly encountered in real life who made people feel like they were basking in a spring breeze was Kinsley from his own Breeding Center.
The other was Yellow, who possessed Viridian Power.
Whether Lance, also possessing Viridian Power, was genuinely warm was a matter of opinion...
Wayne felt it depended on the person—ruthless toward villains, but nothing but kindness toward friends and allies.
Giovanni... better not mention him.
With Affinity (Intermediate), Wayne could make Pokemon have a better first impression of him.
As long as the first impression improved, it could gradually develop into genuine goodwill, which was extremely helpful for Wayne's breeding work.
After gaining Affinity (Intermediate), Wayne seemed to possess an invisible aura surrounding him.
Shaymin suddenly looked up at Wayne.
Like the refreshing breeze in the mountains, like the warm sunlight of morning, like the spring rain nourishing the earth in late spring, like the scent of plants in a bamboo forest after rain...
In short, Wayne became considerably more amiable and pleasing in Shaymin's perception. Recalling the scene where Wayne had treated its injuries...
"Shaymin!"
(For you.)
Shaymin sniffed Wayne's scent, then rummaged in its leafy mane and handed Wayne a seed.
As a Breeder, even without using Appraisal, Wayne clearly recognized what it was.
Miracle Seed.
To be precise, it was [A Miracle Seed blessed by Shaymin and full of vitality].
This was the information Wayne received from his Appraisal Eye.
"Thank you. When we return, I'll make you Energy Cubes to eat." Wayne didn't refuse the gift.
"Shaymin!"
The Floaroma Town Officer Jenny exclaimed excitedly, "Eh! Shaymin gave you a gift? It really likes you!"
Wayne gently stroked Shaymin's head.
If possible, Wayne wanted to keep Shaymin by his side, but Wayne would ultimately leave the choice to it.
A siren sounded outside the Breeding Center, momentarily puzzling Alan, Claire, and the customers who had gathered there.
"What happened?"
Because it was a police car, everyone wasn't panicked—just curiously looking around.
The police car passed through the wide-open gate and finally stopped at Wayne's doorstep.
At the same time, the moment Shaymin appeared at the Breeding Center, the facility seemed to gain a touch of spring.
If it weren't still deep winter, perhaps the barren land would instantly burst into vibrant flowers.
Wayne and Lucario's return was disrupted by a shout.
"Wayne, Lucario?!"
"Why did you return in a police car?"
"Didn't you say you were going to the northern suburbs to relax?"
Alan instantly appeared before Wayne.
"Son, did you do something wrong?!"
Following closely was Leon, with tears and snot streaming down his face.
"Something happened, and your voices are too loud—you scared Shaymin."
Wayne pushed away Alan's large face, then nudged his own father aside with his shoulder.
"You also keep your distance. When have I ever broken the law?"
Shaymin, due to the shouting of Alan and Leon, buried its head in Lucario's arms.
Customers once again pulled out their phones to record the scene.
"Everyone, please cooperate and refrain from filming."
If it were only about Wayne, Officer Jenny wouldn't have prevented others from filming, but because Shaymin was also present, to avoid revealing its existence, Officer Jenny had no choice but to intervene.
Fumie, who had been busy, emerged from the room and looked at the saluting Officer Jenny. "Excuse me, what happened?"
The Jubilife Officer Jenny nodded and stated, "Mr. Wayne assisted us in capturing a Pokemon Hunter. We are simply bringing him back."
This was something Wayne and Officer Jenny had agreed upon beforehand.
Don't place all the responsibility on him—just say Wayne had assisted.
"For the detailed situation, please allow us to go inside to explain."
On the other side, Zorro was also making arrangements.