"Ahh~ I'm exhausted…"
Inside the Pokémon Center of Songzao City, a Nurse Joy let out a long sigh as she looked at all the fully healed Pokémon.
Though there was fatigue in her eyes, it was also filled with the satisfaction of having treated them.
This was the real Nurse Joy of Songzao City.
Seeing how tired she was, Qiao Yixue felt a bit apologetic.
"Sorry… you're this busy, and I didn't even come to help. But don't worry—I'll apply to the family to send more Nurse Joys over."
Hearing this, the Songzao Nurse Joy smiled.
"This is my job. I can handle it."
Then she looked at Qiao Yixue with curiosity.
"Oh right—did the Songzao Gym pass the inspection?"
As the local Nurse Joy, even though she wasn't close to Red , she still hoped the Gym would pass.
Hearing this, Qiao Yixue showed a rare hint of embarrassment.
Because she had completely forgotten about the inspection—
Even observing the main target had been… neglected.
She subconsciously rubbed her still slightly sore backside, her expression stiffening for a moment.
But she quickly regained her composure and smiled.
"Based on my observations, Gym Leader Red isn't quite strong enough to qualify as a Gym Leader yet."
"But given his progress, it won't take long for him to become a competent one."
"Is that so? That's great news!" the Songzao Nurse Joy said with a bright smile.
After chatting for a while, Qiao Yixue left the Pokémon Center.
Looking at the bustling streets, she hesitated for a moment—
Then decided to go somewhere.
For some reason, she had a gut feeling that something about that second-generation trainer, Meng Hua, was off.
As for the Gym inspection task—
She had already completely tossed it to the back of her mind.
Arriving at the police station, Qiao Yixue quickly found Officer Jenny in charge.
Seeing her, Officer Jenny paused for a moment before asking:
"May I ask—which Nurse Joy are you?"
Clearly, aside from Brock, even Officer Jenny couldn't distinguish between members of the Joy family just by appearance.
This time, Qiao Yixue didn't hide her identity.
She took out a Red folder.
On its cover was a Poké Ball with angel wings, along with the League emblem.
The moment Officer Jenny saw it, her brain froze for a second before she immediately straightened up.
"Respected Investigator, hello!"
That's right—although Qiao Yixue served as a Gym inspection officer, she also belonged to the League's investigative division.
Officer Jenny stood up and saluted, then asked cautiously:
"How can we assist you?"
"Nothing much. I just want to see someone—the one you arrested this morning."
Hearing this, Officer Jenny hesitated.
Qiao Yixue frowned.
"You didn't release him already, did you?"
"Absolutely not! It's just that a lawyer is currently meeting with him. You may need to wait a bit."
Hearing the explanation, Qiao Yixue's expression softened slightly.
"Then I'll come back this afternoon."
"Understood. Take care."
...
After leaving the police station, Qiao Yixue didn't go far.
Instead, she entered a small alley nearby.
"Forget it… I'll just go in now."
She pulled out the necklace hidden beneath her clothes, gripping the Poké Ball hanging from it, still warm from her body heat.
"Please, Latias—can you teleport me inside?"
The Master Ball opened.
A Pokémon with a Red -and-white body resembling a jet aircraft appeared in the alley—
The legendary Pokémon, Latias.
Hearing her request, Latias happily circled in midair.
Its eyes glowed with a faint blue light.
The next second—
Qiao Yixue and Latias vanished.
Normally, places like police stations were equipped with devices that prevented Psychic-type Pokémon from using teleportation.
But trying to stop the guardian of Alto Mare—
Was nothing more than wishful thinking.
Not long after they disappeared , three figures arrived at the alley.
They were, of course— Red , Gary, and Xiaowen.
Looking at the dim alley, Gary and Xiaowen stared at Red in confusion.
Xiaowen asked:
"Gym Leader… what are we doing here?"
"Yeah, Master, weren't we going to the police station?"
Facing their puzzled looks, Red coughed lightly and glanced around to make sure no one was nearby.
Then—
He pointed downward.
Seeing this, Gary's eyes widened in excitement.
"Master… don't tell me there's a secret passage straight into the police station?!"
"…Something like that."
Under Gary and Xiaowen's increasingly horrified expressions—
Red lifted a manhole cover.
"I checked earlier. A lawyer is currently meeting Meng Hua. If we want to overhear anything, this is our best chance."
Although Red 's words were tempting—
Looking at the sewer entrance, both Gary and Xiaowen couldn't help but twitch.
"Don't worry. It's clean down there."
Only after hearing this did they reluctantly climb in.
Gary, who had mild germophobia, stared into the dark tunnel and couldn't help asking:
"Master… how do you even know there's a passage here?"
Hearing this, Red 's mouth twitched slightly as he thought:
Because of that useless old man… always getting drunk and causing trouble, ending up at the police station every few days. After it happened too many times, he got embarrassed and built this tunnel himself…
Of course, he didn't say that out loud.
Instead, he replied calmly:
"This is part of the Songzao Gym's heritage."
◇ You can read 60+ chapter ahead on P@treon if you're interested:
patreon.com/ElaraVance1
✨ Bonus Chapter Goals ✨
10 Reviews = 1 Bonus Chapter
100 Power Stones = 1 Bonus Chapter