Once the three of them entered the city, they finally saw other residents around, which somewhat dispelled the eerie atmosphere lingering over Gringey City.
"It's dinnertime. Should we eat nearby, or go on for another half hour to reach the Pokémon Center?"
Kazuki studied the city map and asked the two girls for their opinion.
"The streets here… they feel kind of…" Misty glanced around at the black, white, and gray buildings.
"Feels like if we walked into a restaurant, they'd serve us poison!"
"I feel the same. Even the lighting in the feed shops is super dim," Suzie added, echoing Misty's concerns.
"Thank goodness for you, Suzie!" Misty clung to her affectionately.
"If it weren't for you, I swear if we bought Pokémon food from Gringey City, our Pokémon would all grow black fur!"
Misty was the most shamelessly affectionate among the trio—kissing Kazuki one moment, cuddling Suzie the next—without a shred of the restraint Suzie always showed.
But that was also Misty's way of helping Kazuki.
By letting Suzie feel a twinge of envy and a longing for intimacy, she was helping nudge Suzie into becoming part of their shared relationship.
Misty noticed the flicker of emotion on Suzie's face and smiled slyly before returning to the topic.
"Let's eat at the Pokémon Center's cafeteria! Miss Joy will be there, and the food will be safer. The warm environment will help our Pokémon's appetites too."
"Sounds good. Let's head to the Pokémon Center then."
Kazuki didn't really care where they ate. His mind was on the bigger picture—preparation and control.
"Hello? Is anyone here?"
They walked into the brightly lit Pokémon Center, but the lobby was completely empty.
When Misty called out, Nurse Joy finally emerged from the back hallway, yawning sleepily.
Suzie looked at Joy's tired expression and glanced at the clock on the wall.
"Is it already rest time at the Pokémon Center?"
"Ah? Hahaha! No, not at all!" Joy smiled sheepishly and walked over to Kazuki.
"It's just that Gringey City's skies are so dark, it always feels like bedtime!"
"The other Nurse Joys we met did say the one in Gringey City is kind of quirky," Suzie murmured, recalling their previous conversations.
Joy poked Suzie's cheek playfully.
"Calling your big sis weird right after meeting her? That's rude~!"
Kazuki stepped forward and explained their background and purpose for coming.
"Oh! You're all Trainers!"
"But don't listen to what my sisters say. They're the weird ones!"
"Alright, hand over your Poké Balls. I think the cafeteria still has food left—go eat while I take care of your team."
Just as Joy took their Poké Balls, the lights in the Pokémon Center began to flicker… and then shut off completely.
At the same moment, Kazuki heard a familiar system notification in his ears.
[Ding! Mission triggered—Emergency Pokémon Center: Resolve the Gringey City Power Plant Crisis! Capture the Muk Boss causing the disruption!]
[Mission Reward: Initial Affection with Zapdos +50, Heartfelt Reputation +1]
Kazuki's eyes lit up at the reward.
Progress with Nurse Joy had been slow until now, but this Heartfelt Reputation point would definitely help.
Although... this Joy was rather cheeky and laid-back—not exactly someone who'd be moved by affection alone.
Still, the reputation wasn't the point. The real reward was—
Zapdos.
Zapdos, Articuno, and Moltres—the three Legendary birds of Kanto. All mythical-level Pokémon.
Now the system was offering an affection bonus with Zapdos. What was it planning?
In the original canon, Zapdos resided in the Orange Islands.
In some game versions, it could be encountered at the abandoned Power Plant.
But with his current level—even if he had a Prismatic Poké Ball—was he supposed to send Pikachu in for another fifty-fifty shot at godslaying?
Heh. Hehehe.
Still, boosting Zapdos' affection now was solid preparation for the future.
Zapdos would like him. Articuno could be handled by Charizard. Moltres… well, that could wait.
"Oh no! The power's out! Some of the Pokémon are still in the middle of treatment!"
Joy's earlier playful expression disappeared, replaced by worry.
"Could you please go check on the Power Plant? Without electricity, I can't finish their healing!"
"Don't worry, Nurse Joy! We'll head there right away!"
Mission triggered—how could Kazuki refuse?
"Could I bring Charmeleon and Gastly with me? Just in case we run into something unexpected."
Kazuki didn't have any Pokémon that directly countered Poison-types.
Only Gastly's Ghost typing gave him an edge, and with its high-level Dark Pulse, it could easily repel the Muk wreaking havoc at the Power Plant.
Plus, Gastly hadn't participated in any battles during the day, so it was the only one still at full strength.
"Pikachu, stay here and rest in the Pokémon Center, okay? We'll go fix the power and be right back."
After gently soothing his fatigued Pikachu, Kazuki led Misty and Suzie toward the Power Plant.
As they approached, a bolt of lightning cracked through the clouds overhead.
Kazuki paused at the entrance and looked up. He had a strange feeling something was hidden in those clouds…
But his Aura Power couldn't sense anything that high up.
"Kazuki! What are you doing? Let's go in!"
Misty and Suzie, who had started ahead, turned back quickly—spooked by the pitch darkness inside.
Both girls pressed close to Kazuki, one on each side.
"It's really dark… I'm scared~"
Misty, as the girlfriend, activated her clingy mode. Suzie just leaned silently into him.
"Alright, let's go."
"Charmeleon, we need some light!"
Charmeleon didn't have much stamina left, but it could at least act as a flashlight.
The trio followed the dim corridor, and soon Kazuki's Aura detected multiple fast-moving figures around them.
Just then, a light appeared from around the next corner, and Suzie and Misty perked up—only to breathe a sigh of relief when they saw two people.
"Excuse me, are you staff here?"
The two Power Plant workers were equally relieved to hear human voices.
"Yes, we work here. Who are you? Why'd you come to the Power Plant?"
Misty excitedly stepped forward, relieved it wasn't a ghost.
"We're Pokémon Trainers! There are Pokémon in the Center who urgently need power to complete their treatment!"
"Nurse Joy sent us to check what's going on!"
"Ah, I see! We were just about to check the lower hydro tunnels.
But when we went down, we saw all these dark figures—and the stench was unbearable. We had to retreat!"
"We were about to go look for help!"
The stench from Muk had completely overwhelmed them.
"We'll check it out for you. Stay in the control room and prepare the system for reboot."
Seeing Charmeleon beside Kazuki, clearly high-level, the workers nodded gratefully.
Under their guidance, the trio reached the downward tunnel entrance.
Misty and Suzie peeked in and immediately gagged from the reeking stench.
"Kazuki, this is impossible! I'm gonna pass out down there!"
Kazuki winced too, eyes watering.
"Oh god—it's that bad?! I don't have any resistance to stink either! I can't handle this…"
Wait—resistance to stench… scent isolation…
Premium Perfume!
Kazuki suddenly remembered the Premium Perfume he'd thought was only good for charming girls—it had found its true calling.
He quickly sprayed some on himself, Misty, and Suzie.
As expected of a system reward—it worked instantly.
The overpowering stench was completely blocked out.
"Mmm, it smells lovely… and I can't smell the stink at all!"
Suzie sighed in relief, letting go of her pinched nose.
Misty tested the air with a sniff.
"Wow, you're right! But Kazuki, this isn't that perfume for us girls, is it~?"
"Nope. I bought this from a mysterious old man back in Celadon City. He said it had 'magical effects,' so I kept it just in case. And now we've got a use for it!"
Kazuki played it off casually. With how unpredictable the Pokémon world was, it wasn't hard to justify magical items.
"Kazuki, you're the most reliable man I've ever met. Love you~"
The perfume's charm bonus kicked in instantly. Even in the dark, dangerous underground, Misty kissed him on the cheek.
Suzie, watching from the side, felt her heart stir.
With Kazuki around, everything felt so safe…
If I were traveling alone and encountered something like this… I'd be helpless.
Misty could kiss him, but I… I'm not even brave enough to hug him…
What am I thinking? Misty's his girlfriend. And I'm just…
Suzie's thoughts spiraled as she gazed at Kazuki, forgetting what they were even doing.
"Alright, we're going in! Charmeleon, let's go!"
He sprayed perfume on Charmeleon too, then turned to Gastly.
Gastly shook its head—no need. It couldn't smell anyway.
"Right, right… ghost Pokémon wouldn't notice scent."
"Alright, follow me closely. I'll lead the way."
The three of them descended into the dark tunnel.
"Gastly," Misty said to the floating specter ahead of them, "If you run into your ghost buddies down here, tell them we're allies, okay? Don't scare us!"
Creee~
Gastly chuckled and agreed cheerfully.
CLANG!
"Ahhh! Ghost!!"
Misty shrieked and leapt into Kazuki's arms.
The sudden noise also startled Suzie, who lost her footing and nearly fell into the waterway—
But Kazuki's Aura flared, and he caught her waist just in time.
Landing in Kazuki's embrace, Suzie's panicked heartbeat only accelerated.
Her soft curves pressed against his chest with every thump.
Kazuki… so strong…
Such solid muscles… I want to trace their lines with my fingers…
Clutching his torso, Suzie couldn't help but daydream.
"You two head into that side corridor and check the valves. Something's coming this way!"
Kazuki used Aura to assign the girls to a safe path while he prepared for combat.
"Charmeleon, Flamethrower!"
A blazing jet of fire lit up the tunnel, revealing dozens of Grimer pouring from the ventilation ducts.
All low-level—but there were a lot of them.
"Gastly, Dark Pulse!"
Gyaaa~!
In such a cramped, shadowy space, with unknown numbers, Kazuki didn't hold back.
A dense purple wave surged forward, spreading through the sewer tunnel.
All the Grimer caught in the wave were inflicted with Fear and leapt into the water, fleeing in a panic.
With the passage cleared, the control room technicians were able to resume the power grid.
Lights slowly returned to the tunnels.
But Kazuki stayed alert—his Aura had sensed something else.
As the tunnel lit up, it revealed…
A massive Muk at the end of the corridor.
Their eyes met.
"So big… must be Elite-tier," Kazuki muttered.
"In that case—Charmeleon, Gastly, you're up! Work together and bring that thing down!"
Muk was too strong to be countered by type advantage alone.
To guarantee its capture, Kazuki would have to use precise strategy and full coordination between his Pokémon.
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