"Hello? Can you hear me?"
Officer Barrett adjusted his webcam, a warm, amiable smile spreading across his face.
"Loud and clear! Good afternoon, Officer Barrett!"
"Well, you look like a bright young man," Officer Barrett said, studying Miles with a smile. His tone was as relaxed as if he were chatting with a neighbor's kid. "Starting your streaming career at such a young age? How old are you this year? Are you a legal adult?"
"I'm an adult!" Miles declared, his face turning completely serious. "I just turned eighteen! A fully legal citizen!"
[Live Chat: Bro's survival instinct is maxing out!]
[Live Chat: LMAO where's that energy he had roasting trolls? Bro folded the second he saw a cop!]
[Live Chat: Officer Barrett's smile... why do I feel a chill down my spine?]
"Eighteen, huh? That's a good age," Officer Barrett nodded.
Suddenly, his tone shifted. A sharp gleam flashed in his previously smiling eyes.
"Young man, I won't beat around the bush. To be honest, I connected with your stream today because, aside from my own observations, I received multiple reports from the public."
"Reports?" Miles looked at him with a strange expression. "Reported... for what?"
Officer Barrett picked up a file from his desk and read softly, "We received reports claiming your stream is involved in scripted performances, false advertising, and internet fraud."
"And there are quite a few of them."
"They say you hire shills to act alongside you, that you can talk the dead back to life, make trash smell like perfume, and even pass off a female Pokémon as a male... all to fleece the viewers out of their donations."
"Comrade Miles, what do you have to say about these allegations?"
Boom!
Miles was left utterly speechless as these massive accusations crashed down on him.
Damn it.
Scripted? Fraud?
Which malicious, smoke-blowing bastard reported him?
Was it that skinny monkey who had just made a fool of himself? Or those scumbags from yesterday?
"I'm innocent, Officer Barrett! I'm a law-abiding citizen!" Miles protested earnestly. "I swear to the heavens, my stream is built entirely on authenticity! Where would I even get a script?"
"If I had the money to hire actors, would I still be living in this ten-square-meter rented room? Would I be feeding my Munchlax basic compressed rations?"
To prove his point, Miles grabbed his Munchlax—who was currently busy chewing on its own fingers—and shoved it right up to the camera.
"Look at it! This is my Pokémon! It's practically skin and bones! If I were a scammer, would my partner be living in such poverty?"
Munchlax stared blankly at the lens, still clutching a half-eaten Pokéblock in its paw.
Munch? 'What's going on? Is the police officer going to arrest me for sneaking a snack?'
This absurd scene immediately cracked up the viewers in the chat feed.
[Live Chat: Pfft... I feel bad for the streamer, but Munchlax is just too damn funny.]
[Live Chat: Fair point. What kind of scammer is this broke?]
[Live Chat: Officer Barrett, streamer has a sharp tongue but he ain't lying. I went to check out that Gloom in person last night, it actually smelled sweet!]
Officer Barrett glanced at the chat feed, then back at Miles's cramped but tidy room. His gaze softened slightly.
"Calm down, calm down," Officer Barrett waved a hand. "I'm just here to verify the situation. If there's evidence proving your innocence, we naturally won't wrong a good person. And anyone filing false police reports will definitely be dealt with severely."
"However..."
He paused, throwing out an even deadlier question.
"Setting the script allegations aside. I watched a few of your recordings earlier. You constantly market yourself as a 'professional Pokémon appraiser' who can 'determine the truth with a single glance.'"
"So tell me, Comrade Miles, do you possess a Primary Pokémon Appraiser Certificate or higher? Or perhaps a Pokémon Breeder License?"
"..."
Miles froze.
It was like a snake being pinched right at its vital weak point. All his defensive bluster vanished instantly.
A certificate? He didn't have a damn certificate!
He hadn't even made it into university, stepping out into society right after high school. Where was he supposed to get a high-level license like that?
"Well, you see..." Miles coughed awkwardly. "Officer Barrett, I'm... self-taught! A grassroots expert! Yes, a folk master!"
"You don't exactly need a specialized license to stream these days, right?"
"Be that as it may, but..." Officer Barrett's smile faded, replaced by strict professionalism.
"Comrade Miles, you can eat whatever you want, but you can't just say whatever you want."
"Conducting appraisals in your stream under the banner of a 'professional' without the relevant qualifications borders on illegal business operations and false advertising."
"Although the laws regarding livestreaming are still being refined..."
"But!"
Officer Barrett's tone grew heavier.
"You know how important Pokémon are nowadays. If an incorrect appraisal from a streamer leads to a Pokémon getting injured or killed, or causes a Trainer to suffer significant financial loss, that streamer will be held legally responsible!"
"When that happens, you won't just get your account banned—you'll be sent behind bars to stitch prison uniforms!"
Miles genuinely understood the weight of those words.
He had to admit, the officer was completely right.
The stream's chat feed also quieted down instantly as everyone realized this was no joke.
[Live Chat: True, operating without a license is a fatal flaw.]
[Live Chat: Streamer is on thin ice. Bro has skills but he's a total amateur.]
[Live Chat: Officer Barrett is just giving a friendly warning. Imagine a half-baked streamer giving blind advice and killing a Pokémon. Too many streamers just out to fleece chat.]
[Live Chat: W take. Scummy streamers are the worst.]
Seeing the look of understanding on Miles's face, Officer Barrett softened his tone.
"Relax, young man. I'm mainly here today for a routine inquiry, and to explain some of the new policies that are about to be implemented."
"I can tell that even though you don't have a license, you actually know your stuff. You handled that Squirtle case quite well last night and prevented a tragedy."
"That's the real reason I reached out to connect with you."
Hearing this, Miles understood perfectly.
So that was it.
Noticing Miles's realization, Officer Barrett waved his hand. "Alright, back to business."
He shifted his posture, stepping out of his strict official persona and adopting the caring tone of an elder mentoring a junior.
"Miles, personally, I see a lot of potential in you. If your ability to 'diagnose the root cause at a glance' isn't scripted, then you truly have a remarkable gift."
"But the unlicensed amateur route will only take you so far. Without a certificate, you'll always be 'operating illegally' and constantly face the risk of being reported."
Officer Barrett offered some earnest advice.
"Listen to your uncle here. While you're still young, and before the policies tighten up completely, hurry up and take the exam for a Pokémon Appraiser Certificate or a Breeder License."
"Even a beginner-level one will give you official legitimacy."
"Once you have a certificate and official backing, combined with your actual skills... I believe you'll definitely become a top streamer in our city, maybe even the entire League!"
These words left Miles feeling warm inside.
He could tell the officer wasn't here to pick a fight; he was genuinely trying to guide him.
"Thank you, Officer Barrett! I'll take your advice to heart and sign up for the exam right away!" Miles nodded firmly.
"Good, I'm glad you have that kind of awareness," Officer Barrett smiled.
Then, his expression shifted, a hint of slight embarrassment creeping onto his face.
"Um... apart from the professional warning, I actually connected with you today because I have a small, private favor to ask."
"A private favor?" Miles was taken aback.
"Yes." Officer Barrett glanced over his shoulder before lowering his voice. "I've actually been following your stream for a while. Since you claim to 'specialize in incurable diseases' and could even diagnose a Squirtle with hydrophobia..."
"Could you help me... no, help a colleague at our station, take a look at a Pokémon?"
As soon as he said this, the chat feed exploded once again.
[Live Chat: Am I hearing things? A cop is asking the streamer for an appraisal?]
[Live Chat: Holy crap! The prestige! Is this that official gold-star certification?]
[Live Chat: Coming to a streamer for a problem the police couldn't solve? If he gets this right, bro is ascending to godhood!]
[Live Chat: Where are the haters who said he was going to jail? Come out and take your L! Streamer is about to get officially recruited!]
Miles felt a surge of joy upon hearing this.
This wasn't a police raid; this was official promotion delivered right to his door!
As long as he could solve the police's problem, who would ever dare call him a fraud again?
With the golden signboard of "Police-Citizen Cooperation" hanging in his stream, wouldn't he be unstoppable?
He was going to be rich.
"No problem! Bring it out, Officer Barrett!" Miles sat up straight, brimming with confidence. "As long as it's a Pokémon issue, there's nothing I can't see through!"
"Good lad, quite the big talker." Officer Barrett chuckled and turned around, and then...