Because the center of the battlefield had been surrounded by wild Pokémon, the customers and employees had actually captured very little footage.
Most people only saw flashes of movement.
Some only saw shadows.
Others saw people flying through the air.
A child tugged at his mother's sleeve and pointed excitedly.
"Mom! People are flying!"
The adults, however, had already forgotten about the Rainbow Bikers.
Their attention had shifted entirely to the countless wild Pokémon gathered around the Breeding House.
"Why are all the wild Pokémon listening to him?"
"They're protecting the breeding house!"
"What's happening here?"
The sound of approaching sirens echoed down the road.
As the police vehicles approached, the crowd instinctively moved aside, opening a clear path.
Austin looked toward the gathered Pokémon.
"Everyone can head home now."
He smiled.
"I'll prepare extra food for all of you tonight."
"Pidgeot!"
"Star!"
"Fearow!"
The Pidgeot, Staraptor, and Fearow each called out and began leading their flocks away.
"Ros!"
Tauros lowered his head.
The herd began retreating.
Luxray disappeared into the forest.
The Bidoof returned toward the riverbanks.
Rapidash galloped back toward the foothills.
Within moments, the wild Pokémon dispersed in an orderly fashion. The scene left the arriving officers completely stunned. On the ground, the Rainbow Bikers lay scattered in painful positions.
Their Pokémon were piled together nearby, all incapable of continuing the battle.
Dai Yui stood with Incineroar beside him.
Ryu and Agni remained alert.
Nearby, Leon held his shovel and continued digging into the ground one scoop at a time. The scene somehow made him look as though he were preparing to bury evidence.
Several officers simply stared.
The entire situation exceeded their understanding.
Officer Jenny, whom Austin had met the previous day, walked over and nodded.
"We'll need to take your statement."
Before Austin could answer, her phone suddenly rang.
Jenny glanced at the screen.
Chief Zorro.
Her back instantly straightened.
"Yes, sir!"
"Understood!"
"You can rest assured!"
While Jenny spoke on the call, the officers began documenting the scene.
Cameras flashed.
Measurements were taken.
One officer, wearing gloves, rolled over the blond biker lying face down.
He nearly jumped backward.
"His face..."
The man had swollen so badly that he barely resembled himself.
Another officer checked his breathing.
"He's fine. Still breathing."
Dai Yui folded his arms.
"I held back."
The officer looked up.
He met the gaze of Dai Yui.
He looked at Incineroar.
He looked back at Dai Yui.
"...I believe you."
With Dai Yui's physique, if he had truly attacked without restraint, broken bones would have been the least of their concerns.
Another officer inspected the motorcycles.
"Illegal modifications."
"No registration plates."
"Several violations."
Jenny returned.
"We'll take the statements inside your house, if that's alright."
Austin blinked.
"Of course."
However, things quickly developed differently than he had expected.
Because Lance and Cynthia sat down as well.
Austin looked between them.
"You're conducting the interrogation too?"
For a brief moment, he genuinely wondered whether he had somehow become the suspect.
Lance crossed his arms.
"I am the Chief Investigator."
"I can participate in any investigation."
In reality, it had been Lance who contacted Chief Zorro.
Though the suggestion itself had come from Cynthia.
Fortunately, Austin was overthinking.
The statement process itself was straightforward.
Austin described the incident.
Dai Yui provided testimony.
Several customers submitted their recordings.
Others described the threats.
Lance and Cynthia had watched the entire incident through the surveillance system.
Even so, official statements still had to be completed.
One witness said:
"They arrived and immediately had Nidoking use Earthquake."
Another added:
"They destroyed the entrance gate."
A young man raised his phone.
"They said they wanted money. I recorded it."
Jenny carefully took notes.
"Extortion."
"Destruction of property."
"Threatening civilians."
"Possession of weapons."
She nodded.
"Thank you for your cooperation."
After Austin submitted the surveillance footage from the entrance cameras, his statement officially concluded.
Jenny closed her notebook.
"After we finish questioning them, we'll notify you of the outcome."
Under normal circumstances, officers would likely remain behind. Austin might even have been asked to visit the police station.
However, this was far from a normal case.
The presence of the League Alliance's Chief Investigator changed many procedures.
One by one, the seven bikers, now bandaged and thoroughly defeated, were escorted into police vehicles.
As the doors closed, a familiar mechanical voice suddenly echoed inside Austin's mind.
Ding!
[Side Quest Completed: Protect the Breeding House]
Reward: Melee Combat (Intermediate)
Melee Combat (Intermediate):
You can skillfully combine basic combat techniques, possessing practical combat awareness, adaptability, and close-quarters fighting experience.
Austin froze.
He had never received any formal combat training. That was precisely why he had allowed Dai Yui and Ryu to handle the confrontation. If he had rushed in earlier, they would have needed to protect him.
But now.
Knowledge suddenly flooded his mind.
Footwork.
Distance management.
Feints.
Counters.
Punch combinations.
Joint locks.
Chokeholds.
Defensive positioning.
Close-quarters awareness.
Thousands of movements and instincts rapidly merged into his consciousness. It felt as though years of training had been compressed into a few seconds. Austin slowly clenched his fist.
For the first time, he finally possessed the ability to protect himself.
Not as a trainer or as a breeder, but as a fighter.
As Austin recalled Dai Yui's battle against the seven bikers, their movements suddenly appeared completely different.
The way they gripped their bats.
Their unstable stances.
The flaws in their footwork.
The openings in their attacks.
Every movement now seemed filled with weaknesses.
Austin finally understood why Dai Yui had been so confident from the very beginning.
Against monsters like Dai Yui or Bruno, Intermediate Melee Combat might still be insufficient.
But against ordinary criminals?
It was more than enough.
At the very least, he now possessed the ability to protect himself.
He slowly clenched his fist.
The unfamiliar knowledge already felt strangely natural.
Just then, Amanda walked over.
"Is everyone alright?"
Her gaze swept over the employees and customers before finally settling on Daniella.
"Especially you, Daniella."
Rose quickly shook her head.
"I'm fine."
Only after confirming that every employee and customer was safe did Amanda finally breathe a sigh of relief.
She turned toward Officer Jenny.
"We're truly grateful for your help."
Officer Jenny lowered her head slightly.
"Your words only make me feel more guilty."
"This should never have happened."
As the city's law enforcement officer, she genuinely blamed herself.
Amanda tucked a loose strand of hair behind her ear.
"No."
"You've already done an excellent job maintaining order in Jubilife City."
Jenny looked slightly relieved.
Nearby, Lance had somehow changed clothes again. The Champion had once more disguised himself as an ordinary police officer and was preparing to leave with the police convoy.
He looked toward Austin.
"Leave this matter to me."
"You can continue operating the breeding house without worry."
"I promise this won't happen again."
In Lance's eyes, the seven bikers had clearly not acted alone.
Someone had encouraged them.
Someone had supplied them.
Someone might even have sent them.
He intended to follow every lead until the entire group had been uprooted.
Leon watched Lance board the police vehicle.
"What a reassuring Champion."
Cynthia had also changed into simpler clothing.
With sunglasses and a winter cap covering her appearance, she prepared to leave alongside Lance.
Before departing, she looked at Austin.
"I'm leaving as well."
"I'll make sure this matter receives a proper resolution."
Austin wanted to tell her it wasn't necessary. The Black Crest Jubilife Breeding House had suffered only minor damage. The entrance gate could be repaired. The walls could be rebuilt.
Renovation plans had already been discussed anyway. At worst, they would simply renovate everything together.
Inside the police vehicle, Cynthia quietly looked out the window.
The city scenery passed by slowly.
Yet her thoughts remained far from calm.
Broad daylight.
Criminals using Pokémon to threaten civilians.
Extortion.
Violence.
Intimidation.
Fortunately, this time, they had encountered Austin and Dai Yui.
People capable of protecting themselves.
But what if the victims had been ordinary citizens?
What if they had been children?
What if they had been elderly people?
Would they simply have been forced to surrender?
Would they have had no choice but to endure the violence?
The more Cynthia thought about it, the colder her expression became.
Outside the window, the streets of Jubilife remained peaceful.
Inside the vehicle, the Sinnoh Champion silently reached a decision.
The security of Sinnoh's towns and cities could no longer remain as it was.
Her golden eyes reflected the passing scenery.
A quiet determination settled in her heart.
The major cities of Sinnoh needed reform.
. . .
Please do leave a review and powerstones, which helps with the book's exposure.
Feel like joining a Patreon and subscribing to 30+ advanced chapters?
Visit the link:
[email protected]/GRANDMAESTA_30
Change @ to a