The onlookers stared at the abnormally massive Gyarados in the air, their faces filled with shock. They quickly began discussing it among themselves.
"Holy crap... is that a Gyarados? It's way too big... and why does it have claws? That's insane."
"That's so cool... it looks just like a dragon!"
"Awesome... this has to be a Pokémon's Primordial Lineage awakening."
"Champion Drake's strongest Pokémon, Dragonite, underwent a Primordial Lineage awakening too."
"Why would such a rare Pokémon appear here?"
"Look closely... it seems to be above Haven Children's Home. Did something happen?"
"Come on, let's go take a look. Don't tell me the Donovan Group is bullying people again."
"The Donovan Group is rotten to the core. They seized our land by force and didn't pay us a single cent. When we refused, they had us beaten."
"My family called the police... and my husband is still locked up at the station. The Donovan Group acts like it owns Grit City. Ordinary people like us have nowhere to turn."
"Those poor kids at Haven Children's Home. If they get driven out, who knows where they'll go?"
...
Everyone rushed toward the area around Haven Children's Home.
They saw the thugs and the blond thug sprawled miserably on the ground.
Aaron stood at the entrance of Haven Children's Home.
One man alone, holding the line.
The thugs and their Pokémon were blocked outside by Aaron, trembling all over and unable to move.
Just then—
WEE-OOO! WEE-OOO!
The sound of Pokémon police sirens rang out.
Several Pokémon police cars drove down the road, followed by a stretch Lincoln and a few black cars.
The large convoy pulled up in front of Haven Children's Home.
The doors opened.
More than twenty Pokémon police officers stepped out.
The leader was a round, overweight middle-aged officer. As soon as he got out, he hurried straight to the Lincoln, wearing a flattering smile as he opened the car door.
Donovan stepped out of the car.
He took a puff from his cigar, exhaled a mouthful of smoke, then looked at the officer, who was even fatter than him, and smiled faintly.
"Deputy Chief Harris... thank you."
"Oh, Mr. Donovan, you're far too kind. It's the least I could do."
"Please, watch your step."
This overweight man was Deputy Chief Harris, the second-in-command of the Grit City Pokémon Police Department.
Another man stepped out behind Donovan.
It was Hank.
The moment Hank got out of the car, he felt the heavy pressure above his head. He quickly looked up, and his pupils shrank sharply.
He saw the enormous Gyarados in midair.
And it even had limbs and dragon horns?
"A Primordial Lineage awakening?"
Hank's expression changed, and he blurted it out.
"Hm?"
At that moment, Donovan also noticed Hank's strange reaction. Following Hank's gaze, he looked up at the sky.
"Holy shit..."
His legs went weak at once, and he nearly dropped to his knees.
"Oh my... Mr. Donovan, are you all right?"
Deputy Chief Harris hurriedly supported Donovan and asked with concern.
"Whose... whose Pokémon is that?"
"It's that huge, and they still released it in the city? Are they trying to scare people to death?"
Donovan pointed at the Gyarados circling in the air and shouted at the crowd.
"Whose Pokémon is that?"
"Don't they know large Pokémon aren't allowed to be released inside the city?"
"Cuff them and take them in. Lock them up for a few months! Damn it, they frightened Chairman Donovan. Even putting that Pokémon down would be too light!"
Deputy Chief Harris also saw the Gyarados in the sky and immediately knew this was his chance to show off in front of Donovan.
He put on a stern face and shouted at the crowd.
The other Pokémon police officers drew their specialized sidearms one after another and aimed them at Gyarados in the air.
"ROOOAR!"
Gyarados seemed to sense the provocation.
With his violent temper, there was no way he would tolerate such a threat.
He immediately let out a tremendous roar at the Pokémon police below.
Fierce winds swept through the area, as if a storm had been summoned out of nowhere.
The Pokémon police officers below could not help swallowing hard. Even the hands holding their pistols began to tremble slightly.
"What do you think you're doing?"
"Planning to fight the police?"
"Whose Pokémon is this?"
"Recall it immediately, or this Pokémon will be put down on the spot."
Deputy Chief Harris might have been fat, but he had seen his share of strange things. His expression only changed slightly before he barked out the order with a dark face.
"My Pokémon."
"You said you're going to put down my Pokémon?"
At that moment, a calm voice sounded in everyone's ears.
Everyone turned toward the speaker.
He wore a black trench coat, with flowing hair and a young, handsome face.
A graceful, elegant young man.
It was Aaron.
When Deputy Chief Harris saw Aaron's calm, unbothered expression, anger surged up at once.
You're really going to disrespect me like this?
Unbelievable.
Deputy Chief Harris flew into a rage. He pointed at Aaron and roared furiously,
"Kid... did you not hear me?"
"You're already acting like this at your age? What happens when you grow up?"
"Recall that damn overgrown bug right now, or I'll authorize lethal force!"
Harris glared at Aaron like an enraged bull, throwing his badge around as if it made him untouchable.
The people around them all fell silent.
They wanted badly to speak up for Aaron, but the man was the deputy chief of the Pokémon Police Department. He held real power, and no one nearby dared to say a word.
Donovan watched the scene with a satisfied smile.
"Hmph... a bunch of lowly commoners, and they still want to fight me?"
"Crushing them would be as easy as crushing ants."
Donovan thought with smug satisfaction.
In Grit City, Donovan was king.
He could decide other people's fate as he pleased.
Hank pulled his eyes away from the Gyarados in the sky and leaned close to Donovan's ear.
"Mr. Donovan... this Gyarados is not ordinary. There's a strong chance it's a Pokémon with an awakened Primordial Lineage."
"Not just anyone can own a Pokémon like this."
"Should we look into this kid's background first?"
Hank's voice carried a trace of hesitation and caution as he whispered to Donovan.
He was the Trainer Donovan had hired at a high salary to protect him.
Over the years, Donovan had treated him well. It could be said that he was one of Donovan's trusted aides.
He felt obligated to warn Donovan.
Whether it was the powerful Pokémon or the young man who remained completely calm while facing more than twenty Pokémon police officers, Hank felt this teenager was no ordinary person.
...