Chapter 97: Acquaintances in Jinhuang City

“Make way! Haven’t you seen our boss and big sister coming?”
“Damn it, what are you all staring at?”
“See that huge fist?!”

……

As soon as Am arrived in Golden City, he ran into this chaotic scene of ruffians clearing the streets.
If it had been someone else, Am would have actually enjoyed the chance to play hero and slap faces, but…
Now it was Pikachu and Gengar, walking in front to clear the path for Am and Xiaoxia!
This was rather awkward. If not for promising those two during yesterday’s training that he would take them sightseeing in Golden City today, Am would have long since stuffed these embarrassing pests back into their Poké Balls.
“They definitely did it on purpose…” Am kept his head lowered, nearly hiding his face, but passersby still laughed secretly while pointing and gossiping.
Right, it was Pikachu and Gengar!
Even the latter…
Although they were Ghost-type Pokémon, although their expressions looked like sinister grins, although their eyes were blood-red…
They could only scare people in the dark or in sparsely populated places. In broad daylight, everyone would simply notice their chubby, meaty bodies!
These two had attitudes that grew more arrogant by the second, yet in the eyes of the locals there was no real deterrent force.
The good news was no need to worry about someone seeking revenge, but the bad news was that Am was being mocked and pointed at the entire way!
Seeing Xiaoxia make no reply, Am raised his head slightly and realized she had already wandered far ahead…
And when Xiaoxia saw Am glaring at her resentfully, she immediately “pretended” to be contacting someone through the Pokédex remotely—though it wasn’t entirely an act, she really was using the communication function.
“Mmm mmm, we’re here!”
“What event happened over there?”
“Good! Meet at the Pokémon Center!”
Hearing the mention of an “event,” Am guessed with his feet who she was calling.
“Garden? Have they arrived in Golden City too?” Am quickly joined them, pretending he didn’t recognize the pair.
“Yes, and they have local friends to introduce us to. For the next couple of days we can tour Golden City together with them!” Xiaoxia said eagerly.
If Rainbow City is the center of Kanto, then Golden City is the center of Eastern Kanto, and… historically Golden City carries even deeper heritage.
Because after the League era, Rainbow City was built by developing part of Viridian Forest; a hundred years ago it was still a vast forest!
Therefore, while Rainbow City remains Kanto’s largest city, Golden City is far better suited for sightseeing.
“You’re from Eastern Kanto, right? You’ve never been to Golden City before?” Am asked, puzzled.
Viridian City is also in Eastern Kanto…
Even counting, Am had spent more time in Eastern Kanto, since Matsubo Town borders Celadon City and is part of Eastern Kanto.
Still, Am had only visited Celadon City before, so in terms of “footprints” he was actually more active in Western Kanto.
“No, since childhood I only went out when Dad occasionally took me for competitions. I rarely traveled far.” Xiaoxia spoke with a hint of resentment.
After Xiaoxia “ran away from home,” she flew straight to Western Kanto.
In the end, both Am and Xiaoxia, the two “Eastern Kanto natives,” had never properly toured Golden City.
When they reached the Pokémon Center, Am also spotted the “acquaintance” of Xiaolan and Garden—a girl who looked roughly the same age as the two, sporting a high ponytail and a face Am found vaguely familiar.
It seemed almost familiar… but… anyway, the high ponytail sealed it!
“Xiaoxia, Am, over here!” Garden beckoned.
“Young little miss! Are you also the boss’s girlfriend?”
“That won’t do—needs to be more unrestrained.”
“Our boss… though he’s a bit face-blind, he’s still very picky!”
Garden: ???
The three stared blankly at Pikachu and Gengar before them…
“Am, are these your newly captured Pokémon?” Garden asked, utterly helpless.
“No, I don’t know them at all.” Am flatly denied.
“Earlier Yumi mentioned… you caught a Pikachu and a Gengar in Moonview Mountain, and apparently their potential is excellent?” Xiaolan clearly wasn’t so easily deceived.
“Yumi that big mouth…” Am muttered under his breath.
At the time in Moonview Mountain he hadn’t seen Yumi, but she must have been transferred to Golden City; after all, in Nibi City she had handled several major cases and stopped Kid’s burglary.
Although Am and Xiaoxia hadn’t wasted time on the road, they had been rushing nonstop, yet still not as fast as a motorized Kingsha. Yumi must have heard from her colleagues about their encounter in Moonview Mountain.
“This is the good friend Garden and Xiaolan mentioned, right? Hello, I’m Am.” Am tried to steer the conversation elsewhere, but…
“My name is He Ye, please look after me, hehe hehe…” He Ye laughed dryly and avoided shaking Am’s hand.
Am shot the two Pokémon a vicious glare…
Sure enough, Pikachu and Gengar dragged down his image!
To He Ye, adorable Pikachu and Gengar could never have bad intentions.
They must have been corrupted by their Trainers!
Am felt utterly helpless. Fortunately Garden and Xiaolan had known him for years and were now merely curious about Pikachu and Gengar.
“Did you give them names?” Garden asked curiously.
Am was the type who liked naming Pokémon—though academically there was debate whether Pokémon should even be named.
Because in their species, Pokémon themselves had no names.
They didn’t communicate through simple language like humans; in Moonview Mountain, when one Pikachu spoke to another it didn’t call out a name but used its own unique manner to let its kind know which individual it was among a crowd.
Thus many believed Trainers should not name Pokémon but instead follow their natural habits, and as long as the bond was strong enough they wouldn’t get confused…
“Good question!”
“I’m Pikachu!”
“I’m Gengar!”
Pikachu and Gengar, tickled by the question, struck poses to introduce themselves.
“Huh?” Garden looked at Am in confusion.
“No, they chose those names themselves… saying that when I call them out they can confuse enemies.” Am replied with a deadpan stare.
Garden: …
“Speaking of which, where’s that little ghost?” Am glanced around, puzzled.
Could Conan’s card-view technique have improved to the point he was invisible even normally?
“Conan… he and Heiji are still investigating the incident from before!” Xiaolan said, still worried—mainly that he would cause trouble for Heiji.
Heiji…
Am hadn’t been surprised either; he had already braced himself when He Ye introduced herself.
They must have met Yumi because of the event, so Yumi’s “luck” clearly hadn’t run out yet!
“We don’t need to worry about Heiji—he’ll take good care of Conan! Let’s eat first, then head straight to the Tower of Heaven to meet them.” He Ye spoke as if fulfilling a host’s duty for Heiji.
Don’t judge her by her dissatisfied expression; in her heart she was actually looking forward to seeing Heiji after the case was solved.
As for what kind of incident, Am had zero interest in knowing.
Am and Xiaoxia checked into the Pokémon Center, stored their luggage, freshened up, and additionally…
Am tried to bewitch… no, honestly explained to Pikachu and Gengar about another fun spot: Mr. Wood’s Institute, so they could swap Nidoking and Ameng back as soon as possible!