"Mysterious Girl: Let me go! I'm not a thief!"
"Handsome Researcher: Oh really? I don't believe you. Tell that to Officer Jenny!"
"Mysterious Girl: Just let me off this once, please! I swear I'll never trick anyone again!"
"..."
No one knew what kind of "secret agreement" the two eventually reached.
In any case, the mysterious girl suddenly broke free from his grip.
She shot Red a fierce glare—who had been watching the scene from the sidelines—then bolted down the corridor like a startled rabbit, disappearing at the end of the laboratory hallway.
Only then did the Researcher Baturn around, as if he had just noticed Red.
"Handsome Researcher: Yo, Red. Long time no see. Nice weather today—well, I'll be heading out."
The scene ended.
Inside the research institute, three pairs of eyes instantly focused on Blue.
Blue herself had turned completely red—from her neck all the way to her ears. Her cheeks were so hot they could practically fry an egg.
She covered her face with both hands, wishing she could crawl into a crack in the ground.
H-How did he even manage to put something like that into the game?!
Having one of her darkest embarrassments publicly reenacted felt like live execution. She was about ready to murder someone.
"Wait."
Red suddenly noticed something odd, his face full of curiosity.
"If I had chosen the female character at the beginning… then the one Brother Rei Akagi grabbed like a chicken just now… would that have been me?"
"Hmph."
Green snorted and mercilessly exposed him.
"Your Venusaur was originally stolen from the old man too. The only difference is that the one who caught you red-handed wasn't Brother Rei Akagi—it was the old man himself."
"Heh heh…"
Red scratched his head with an embarrassed grin, clearly recalling a painful memory.
He quickly changed the subject.
"Let's go! Viridian City!"
But the moment Red's character stepped out of Pallet Town, the entire game screen froze.
An error window popped up.
Then the screen went black.
The four of them: "..."
They stared at each other.
Apparently, they had encountered a serious, game-breaking bug.
Moonlight streamed through the window, spilling across the beds in the research institute dormitory.
Rei Akagi was awakened by the constant ding-ding notifications from his phone. He yawned widely and sat up, rubbing his sleepy eyes.
On the screen, the Group chat had been completely flooded by Red and the others' bug reports. The dense sea of red notification dots made his head hurt.
System Notification had also sent a notification.
It was feedback generated while Red and the others were playing the game. However, the Battle Points gained were pitifully small—just a few points—so Rei Akagi didn't pay much attention.
"Tsk… so many bugs… I'll deal with them later. I've got real work to do first."
He casually switched his phone to silent mode and tossed it back beside his pillow.
After all, he still hadn't finished Professor Oak's assigned research task.
Knock, knock, knock—
A steady, unhurried knock sounded at the door, especially clear in the quiet night.
Rei Akagi rubbed his temples and got up to open the door.
The sight outside made him pause.
Under the cool moonlight stood a tall woman with an elegant figure.
Her high heels tapped lightly against the floor, producing crisp echoes.
Brilliant golden hair cascaded down her shoulders like a waterfall. Her perfectly tailored black trench coat outlined a slender waist and breathtaking curves.
She looked about twenty years old, with strikingly beautiful features.
But the most captivating thing was her eyes, shimmering faintly like starlight. When her gaze swept over him, it carried a subtle pressure—as if it could see straight through a person's soul.
Hmm… she kind of looks like my wi—
—Wait. Cynthia?!
Rei Akagi snapped fully awake and put on a professional smile.
"Good evening…"
"Good evening, Mr. Rei Akagi."
Cynthia's voice was cool and pleasant.
Her gaze lingered on him briefly, and her elegant brows knit together almost imperceptibly.
Strange…
There seemed to be a faint aura around this researcher—something oddly familiar that stirred a subtle flutter in her heart.
But the discipline of a Champion quickly brought her back to focus.
She efficiently presented her credentials.
"I am Cynthia, the current Champion of the Sinnoh Region. At the request of the Kanto League, I have been temporarily assigned by the Pokémon League to oversee Professor Oak's security in Eterna City."
She got straight to the point.
"Regarding the source of the Ghost-type energy tide spreading through Eterna City, Professor Oak has already made a preliminary identification. He requires you to bring specialized equipment to the site and record the core energy data."
She paused, looking directly at Rei Akagi.
"My task is to ensure your safety during this mission. A pleasure to meet you."
"Always ready."
Rei Akagi straightened his back and replied seriously.
"Please wait a moment while I prepare the equipment."
He turned and went back into the room.
While rummaging around for the device—which looked suspiciously like a metal detector—System Notification suddenly popped up.
"Assistant A Reminder: A new Trainer appears to be facing a difficult situation! Please help resolve her predicament. As a qualified savior, expanding your network is always the first step."
Reward:
• 100 Battle Points
• Random Apricorn Ball ×1
A new Trainer?
Rei Akagi subconsciously glanced toward the doorway, where the woman with an overwhelming aura—Sinnoh Champion Cynthia, whose partner Garchomp was infamous—was waiting calmly.
Who?
Miss Cynthia?
Assistant A… you really have a keen eye.
So exactly how did you determine that she's a new Trainer?
Rei Akagi complained internally while maintaining a calm expression.
Finally, he dug the dust-covered energy recorder out from a pile of clutter.
"Where are we heading, by the way?"
"The Mausoleum of the First Emperor."
A faint smile curved Cynthia's lips. That slight expression instantly softened the oppressive aura around her, revealing a pair of eyes filled with pure curiosity and excitement.
"A place filled with ancient legends and mysteries. I'm quite interested."
Preparations complete, the two of them set off into the night.
The Mausoleum of the First Emperor.
A five-star tourist attraction.
Only after arriving did Rei Akagi learn that due to the Ghost-type energy tide affecting Eterna City, the site had been closed to the public for a month.
He activated the detection device.
Lines flickered across the cold screen.
Based on the scanning data, Rei Akagi quickly identified the route with the strongest energy signature.
Using special access permits, the two entered through a side door of the exhibition hall and proceeded deeper into the mausoleum.
Rows of Terracotta Warriors stood in strict formation.
But unlike what Rei Akagi remembered from his previous life, the ancient ranks now included lifelike Pokémon statues among them.
For example:
A majestic Mightyena, standing proudly.
A Rapidash, rearing its head and neighing silently.
And even a Haunter, curled quietly in the corner.
They continued searching until they reached the main burial chamber area of the First Emperor's tomb.
At last, the flashing red dot on the device stabilized.
"The source of the energy spread should be nearby—"
Before Rei Akagi could finish speaking, the solid ground beneath their feet suddenly trembled.
The vibration was subtle—but unmistakable.
His body reacted faster than his thoughts.
He stepped forward instinctively, positioning himself in front of Cynthia.
His eyes scanned the surroundings with sharp vigilance.
Then—
The patterns carved into the stone floor suddenly lit up.
The path behind them had somehow become shrouded in thick fog.
The change happened instantly.
The Terracotta Warrior formation ahead split apart like dominoes, opening toward both sides.
Behind the formation, the rolling fog slowly receded.
And then—
Without warning—
A magnificent golden palace appeared out of thin air.
Its presence was grand and imposing.
Above the main gate hung a massive black plaque.
Engraved upon it in ancient Qin seal script were three powerful characters, radiating immense authority.
Grand Palace.
Grand Palace?
The First Emperor's… bedchamber?