Cynthia had already returned to Sun Heart City.
Nearly a week of searching had turned up nothing. Even Steven, who had been the most optimistic among them, had finally given up hope. Luther had vanished like a wisp of smoke, disappearing from the world without a trace.
Holding Luther's phone, Cynthia stared at the endless stream of text messages from people asking about his condition, yet she could never bring herself to tell them the truth.
But the truth could no longer be hidden. The celebration banquet, originally scheduled for the third day after the tournament ended, had been postponed once again.
After learning that Roark and Gardenia had both been mobilized, the Pokémon League quickly realized that Cynthia and the others had been carrying out a special operation.
Luther's disappearance had robbed everyone of any joy they might have felt over successfully crushing the Hodgepodge Organization. Lance had spent several days searching both the open sea and the inland waters.
Rumor had it that he had even encountered Lugia during his search, yet there was still no sign of Mira either.
If not for obligations she absolutely couldn't avoid, Cynthia would still be out searching for Luther herself. Tonight, Inspector Sister of the International Police will be hosting a meeting at the Dandelion Hotel in Sun Heart City.
The attendees included the Sinnoh League's key executives, along with everyone who had participated in the operation to eliminate the Hodgepodge Organization's leadership.
Cynthia didn't even need to think to know what it was about: Dr. Zishan. She had no idea how Sister had obtained the information so quickly, but she had rushed over to clean up the mess.
As the Minister of the Department of Safety and one of the International Police's core members, Dr. Zishan had somehow managed to build and operate the Hodgepodge Organization right under their noses.
If that scandal ever became public, the International Police, the organization they had worked so hard to establish, would likely be finished.
Cynthia had no choice but to attend. She had known everything from beginning to end, and it was she who had helped arrange for Dr. Zishan's death to be officially recorded as a casualty in the line of duty. If she didn't appear, Sister would almost certainly lose her composure.
Luther's phone sat charging in the corner. Just as Cynthia was about to leave, it chimed. It was another text from Mai, still asking what had happened.
Cynthia had instructed League officials to keep Mai calm and reassure her, but it was obvious she was reaching her limit.
Mai was becoming increasingly uneasy. After sensing that something was wrong, she had begun calling Luther's phone over and over again. When no one answered, she switched to bombarding it with text messages instead.
Cynthia took a deep breath and tried to steady herself. If they still couldn't find Luther... she would have to apologize to Mai in person. Whether Mai wanted to hit her, curse her, or hate her, it would all be her right.
---
Luther spat out a mouthful of seawater before collapsing onto the beach, coughing and retching. Azumarill scratched the back of its head sheepishly.
The situation Luther had feared the most had actually happened. Azumarill had been carrying him back to shore, but for some unknown reason, it suddenly lurched just as they were close enough to see the beach.
Luther had been thrown straight into the sea and ended up taking an involuntary saltwater bath. It had only lasted a moment, but Luther suddenly found himself missing that Wailord very much.
'I really need a Pokémon that can serve as reliable transportation...'
Once ashore, things became much easier. Darkrai resumed its role as transportation, carrying Luther until they finally found a nearby residence.
Luther's luck wasn't bad. The Wailord had entered the inland sea from the open ocean by passing between Iron Island and Fullmoon Island.
Azumarill had simply followed that same route, and the place where they came ashore happened to be beside Hearthome Forest. As long as they followed the nearby road, they would soon reach Hearthome City.
Darkrai sped along with Luther on its back.
Before the sun had completely set, it had already brought him safely into the city limits. Panting heavily from exhaustion, Darkrai sank back into Luther's shadow. Even fighting in the finals of the Lily of the Valley Conference hadn't tired it this much.
After entering the city, Luther originally planned to find a place to call Cynthia and let everyone know he was safe. Then an awkward realization struck him: he didn't remember Cynthia's phone number.
Having long grown accustomed to simply selecting names from his contact list, Luther could barely remember anyone's actual number.
After checking a street sign to confirm the route, he decided to head toward the Eterna City Gym instead. As long as he found Gardenia, every problem would solve itself.
"Grrrrooowl..."
As they walked, Luther noticed that Azumarill was falling farther and farther behind. Its nose twitched as it sniffed the delicious aromas drifting through the air. It shot Luther a sidelong glance, its tail spinning behind it like a fan.
Luther hadn't even managed to say "no" before his stomach rumbled in perfect harmony with Azumarill's.
They had spent the past several days surviving almost entirely on Berries. They barely filled the stomach, and now that they were surrounded by the aroma of real food, neither of them could resist any longer.
"We could've just gone to Gardenia's place and mooched a meal..." That was what Luther said, but he still walked over to Azumarill.
The street was lined with food stalls. Customers could order from the shops and then eat at the outdoor tables. Luther bustled around for quite a while, stopping at two or three different stalls before finally buying everything each of his Pokémon wanted to eat.
Aside from Gardevoir, who ate with graceful manners, every other Pokémon practically wolfed down their food. They had grown used to the carefully prepared Pokémon meals Mai made for them.
After eating nothing but Berries for days, their stomachs had long since begun protesting.
Luther himself was digging enthusiastically into his own meal when Houndoom suddenly sprang to its feet. Leaping clean over the table, Houndoom landed on the other side with its fangs bared and eyes blazing, staring fixedly at a man wearing a baseball cap.
Luther was just about to tell Houndoom not to make a scene when he suddenly remembered that Houndoom was normally gentle. It almost never wore an expression like this, not even during intense battles.
Gardevoir, who had been quietly eating with a spoon beside Luther, immediately moved in front of him, shielding him with her body. Darkrai silently slipped into the shadow beneath the table. Every one of Luther's Pokémon instantly shifted into combat readiness.
"Am I really that unwelcome?" The man removed his cap, completely ignoring Houndoom's exposed fangs.
Walking up to the table, he smiled warmly at Luther. "I was only passing through, yet somehow I ran into you again. Fate must have brought us together. Aren't you going to let me sit down so we can have a proper chat?"
Evergreen asked the question with a smile, though one of his hands remained buried in his pocket the entire time. That alone put enormous pressure on Luther.
The surrounding diners curiously watched Luther's table. Luther realized Evergreen was using the same old trick again, but he still didn't dare act rashly.
The last time, at Moonbow Commerce, Luther had managed to intimidate Evergreen into backing down because Evergreen had never intended to fight to the death.
But things were different now. That very night, the Hodgepodge Organization had suffered a devastating blow.
The internal strife that followed had only accelerated its destruction. Although Luther had no idea what had happened during the time he had been away, one thing was certain: the Hodgepodge Organization's situation could not possibly be good.
The Evergreen standing before him now was someone who truly might have gone mad.
Luther was no longer the helpless man who had once been forced to bluff his way through danger at Moonbow Commerce. What worried him now were the innocent diners around them, people who knew nothing of the situation and were simply enjoying their evening meal.
"Everyone, fall back," Luther ordered.
Houndoom continued glaring viciously at Evergreen, looking ready to spring forward and tear out his throat at any moment.
"Back," Luther repeated. "Finish your meal. He wants to talk, so let's give him the chance."
Luther remained remarkably calm. Times had changed. He now possessed more than enough strength to protect both himself and the people beside him. He was no longer the powerless man who could be toyed with and slaughtered at another's whim.
(End of Chapter)
You can read ahead up to 30 chapters on my Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/darkshadow6395