Chapter Fifteen: An Unexpected Windfall

"What was that?" Zhao Fang turned his head in confusion, only to see that the burly man who had looked so fierce moments ago was now lying on the ground, his face marked by two claw scars—as if he'd been attacked by something.

He glanced around but saw nothing. Meanwhile, Officer Junsha, who had taken advantage of the trainers being knocked down, managed to defeat two Tentacool, but she was still dealing with Sharpedo and Crawdaunt, clearly too busy to assist him.

"Dragapult, perhaps?" A thought flickered in Zhao Fang's mind—the faint blue hue he'd glimpsed now seemed to match the shiny Dragapult he'd seen before.

But this was no time to dwell on such matters. Zhao Fang quickly rushed to Magikarp's side, gently feeling its body. Magikarp showed no obvious changes and could still flop about, though its movements were noticeably slower than before.

He pulled out a bottle of potion and sprayed it over Magikarp. The medicine seeped into its scales, and Magikarp’s color visibly improved.

Unlike in the games, where potions instantly restore a Pokémon's hit points, in reality, they heal wounds and hasten recovery, with the effectiveness varying according to the Pokémon’s constitution.

"You’ve worked hard, Magikarp. I'll cook you a grand feast later to help you recover." Zhao Fang sighed in relief as Magikarp regained its vigor, then recalled it into its Poké Ball.

He surveyed his surroundings—no trace of Dragapult. But that swift attack, he was sure, had come from it. Zhao Fang whispered a soft thank you, then turned his attention to Officer Junsha.

"Machoke! Use Cross Chop! Pidgeot, Wing Attack!" Junsha gave orders with practiced speed. Machoke roared, raised its arms, and brought them down in a cross, striking Sharpedo squarely.

However, due to Sharpedo’s ability, Machoke's hands were lacerated by the shark’s rough skin, yet the fighting-type move was super effective against the dark-type foe. Sharpedo, grievously wounded, had no time to resist and was struck again by Pidgeot’s wings.

Sharpedo's eyes rolled back; it collapsed, unable to battle any longer.

With Sharpedo defeated, the remaining Crawdaunt were quickly subdued, falling in succession. Officer Junsha turned to Zhao Fang.

"Thank you, young trainer." She pulled a potion from her pocket, tending to her Pokémon’s injuries as she thanked him.

Despite the chaos of battle, she had witnessed Zhao Fang ambushing the two Aqua Team members. Without him, she would have been overwhelmed. Pokémon with a trainer’s guidance fight far better than those without.

"It was nothing, Officer Junsha Ling. I heard you were here from Nurse Joy Chun," Zhao Fang replied, waving his hand. He felt slightly foolish—he should have taken advantage of Junsha's distraction with Sharpedo to stealthily loot the two villains.

A missed opportunity!

"Do you have a Pokédex?" Officer Junsha wrapped Arcanine’s wounds with gauze and looked to Zhao Fang.

"A Pokédex? No, I’m just a civilian trainer." Zhao Fang shook his head, surprised.

Having a Pokédex—the precious device every game protagonist possesses—is not so easily obtained in reality. It’s a mark of strength and status among trainers. As seen in the anime, when Junsha saw Ash with a Pokédex, her suspicions vanished.

The benefits of owning a Pokédex are countless: most Pokémon Center treatments are free, goods are discounted, you can request Officer Junsha’s help nearby, and, as May once told him, holders have a special group to share battle strategies.

How does one acquire a Pokédex? Simple: either a Professor gives you one, or you’re the child of a Gym Leader or Champion.

Officer Junsha immediately understood. She glanced at the two Aqua Team members beside Zhao Fang, her brow furrowing. Normally, she would arrest both and thoroughly investigate their possessions, which would be confiscated. But Junsha knew the hardships civilian trainers face.

"Would you mind coming with me to the Rustboro Police Department? There’s something I need to handle with you." Officer Junsha flashed a spirited smile.

"Eh?" Zhao Fang was a little bewildered, but he nodded—he was headed to Rustboro anyway, so he might as well report to the police first.

He followed Officer Junsha into Rustboro City. Before entering the police station, Junsha took Zhao Fang to the Pokémon Center, contacted Nurse Joy Chun, and left her Pokémon for treatment.

"Please come with me," Officer Junsha said, smiling with relief as her Pokémon were taken to the treatment room, then turned to Zhao Fang.

When Zhao Fang and Officer Junsha finally escorted the two Aqua Team members into the police station, Junsha had Zhao Fang wait in a chair while she led the criminals into the interrogation room.

After a short while, Officer Junsha returned, handing Zhao Fang a brown paper bag.

"Their possessions totaled 4,300 league credits, plus a bounty issued by a merchant from Galar. This is your reward," Junsha Ling said with a bright smile.

She had already decided: rules are rules, and as a member of the Junsha family, she must uphold them. All confiscated property would be processed officially, but she could privately reward the civilian trainer who had helped her so much.

"Ah? This... thank you very much!" Zhao Fang accepted the bag with delight; it was satisfyingly hefty, solving his urgent need.

"The merchant’s bounty for these two was ten thousand league credits, but since we didn’t recover the stolen goods, I can only give you five thousand," Officer Junsha patiently explained.

Zhao Fang nodded—five thousand league credits was still a considerable sum. Receiving 9,300 league credits in total was a small fortune for him.

Yet Officer Junsha’s words stirred Zhao Fang’s thoughts—the merchant from Galar, the stolen goods, and the Aqua Team.

Stolen goods equals Dragapult?