Chapter 72
Mike had no idea how he had ended up inside a movie theater.
He had seen a poster outside advertising Diantha’s new film, and on a sudden impulse, he walked in.
Then, after some enthusiastic persuasion from the staff and a painfully reluctant look from Gengar, Mike bought several tickets and entered the screening room.
He had originally planned to buy popcorn too, but once Gengar realized what he was trying to do, he stopped him.
No matter how much Mike argued, Gengar refused to let him buy any.
In the end, Mike obediently sat down beneath Gengar’s reproachful gaze and ate the snacks he had already bought for him.
Although Gengar had clearly been upset about Mike spending money on movie tickets, once the film began, he became completely absorbed.
He sat in his seat with a bag of chips in his arms, swinging his little feet as he watched with great interest.
Glameow wasn’t interested in the movie at all.
She simply lay across Mike’s lap with her eyes closed, sleeping peacefully.
Snivy sat on Mike’s other side and watched the film with him.
Mike had recalled Beedrill into his Poké Ball.
Beedrill would have been bored out of his mind sitting through a movie, so he might as well sleep inside.
Not long after the film started, Mike began regretting his decision.
Diantha was undeniably beautiful, but her acting was somewhat...
And the story itself was rather dull. It was one of those slow, artistic films.
Mike had wanted to leave, but when he saw Gengar watching so intently, he couldn’t bring himself to interrupt him. He remained in his seat and patiently endured the rest of the film.
As he stroked Glameow on his lap and watched the screen, a sudden thought occurred to him.
Perhaps he could try making a movie himself.
As for what kind of movie...
He could have Pokémon help with the filming.
If he used his own Pokémon, there was Gengar, Beedrill...
’Wait! An action movie!’
Gengar could star in an action movie!
There wouldn’t even be much need for special effects in this world, since Pokémon moves already looked spectacular enough.
As for the story...
The Return of the Condor Heroes, The Holy Sword and Dragon Saber...
Hell he could even make something like Kung Fu Gengar!
’This has real potential!’
The more Mike thought about it, the more promising the idea seemed.
The movie industry in this world seemed to recycle the same kinds of stories over and over.
He could borrow plots from his previous life, adapt them into films, and upload them to his account.
Perhaps a movie theater would even contact him for a partnership.
Travel could become boring at times anyway, so he could use that spare time to film.
And once he encountered more Legendary Pokémon, maybe he could convince them to make guest appearances.
"System, do you have any equipment suitable for filming movies?" Mike quietly asked.
{A movie-filming function has been installed on the drone. You may control the drone during filming. It will automatically select suitable camera angles, and all recorded footage will be synchronized with the tablet.}
"That’s amazing! I promise I won’t call you a greedy merchant again."
For the first time, Mike found the system unbelievably lovable for giving him something for free.
{Night of Legends: As an outstanding photographer, you must also learn how to film movies. You clearly possess exceptional scripts, but you still lack enough actors. To gather a suitable cast and build anticipation for your future films, you have decided to embark on a journey in search of Legendary Pokémon.}
{Photograph more Legendary Pokémon, communicate with them, and convince them to participate in your films. Each Legendary Pokémon who agrees to appear will earn you a generous reward.}
{Legendary Photographer, for your dream, your ambition to become a director, and Gengar’s dream of becoming a wandering hero, begin your journey to find Legendary Pokémon!}
{Perhaps you could head toward Crown City?}
Mike fell silent as he read the sudden wall of text.
’I only thought about it for a moment, and you already gave me a mission?’
’You even expect Legendary Pokémon to act in my movies?’
’Do you really think I have that much influence?’
’Crown City... You might as well directly tell me which three Pokémon you mean.’
Mike remembered the Shiny Suicune he had encountered for the first time. It seemed to have come from Crown City.
Still, the idea of searching for Legendary Pokémon...
He could give it a try.
His main goal in traveling was already to see more Pokémon, meet more people, and turn his photographs into albums to send home to Grandma.
Looking for Legendary Pokémon didn’t conflict with that purpose.
In that case, it was decided.
He would continue north toward Crown City and search for the Legendary Pokémon there.
That would also connect with the mission he had received after meeting Shiny Suicune, as well as his new idea of making movies.
Mike was especially curious about how generous the system’s so-called "generous reward" would actually be.
Surely it wouldn’t just be more Viewership Points.
He already had more than enough of those.
Mike opened his status panel and found that his Viewership Points had indeed exceeded ten thousand.
Remembering that he still owed Beedrill a Toxic Orb, Mike, now flush with points, immediately bought one.
This was what it meant to be rich!
While Mike planned the route for the next stage of their journey, the movie approached its ending.
"Gar—"
[Waaah...]
The sound of crying beside him pulled Mike’s attention back.
He turned toward Gengar and found tears streaming down his face.
’What happened? Why is Gengar crying?’
Mike looked at the screen.
The story had reached its tragic farewell.
To summarize it in one sentence, the male lead had confronted an evil organization to protect the female lead, played by Diantha, and ultimately died at the villains’ hands.
’What an old-fashioned plot...’
Mike felt somewhat speechless, but seeing how deeply moved Gengar was, he didn’t have the heart to mock it.
He simply took out a tissue and handed it over.
"Wipe your face."
When the movie ended, Gengar’s already crimson eyes had become even redder.
The lights came on, and he reluctantly rose from his seat.
"Did you enjoy it?" Mike asked.
Gengar grinned and nodded.
"As long as you enjoyed it. That means the money wasn’t wasted."
Mike tugged on his cheeks.
Glameow also woke from her nap. She sat on Mike’s lap and yawned repeatedly.
Mike looked toward Snivy, curious whether the naturally gentle Pokémon had cried too, only to be thoroughly disappointed.
Snivy stared at the screen without expression.
When she noticed Mike looking at her, she turned and gave him a gentle smile.
Mike picked up Glameow, stood from his seat, and led Gengar and the others out of the theater.
...
The evening breeze was pleasantly cool.
Once they reached an area with fewer people, Glameow jumped from Mike’s arms and walked elegantly ahead on her own.
Mike watched her graceful figure before turning toward Gengar.
"Gengar, would you like to try acting in a movie?"
"Gar?"
[Acting in a movie?]
"I’d make you the main character. You could play a great hero and let more people learn the name of the mighty Gengar!"
Gengar: "!!!"
Mike could clearly feel his breathing quicken.
The next second, Gengar tightly grabbed his hand.
"GAAARRRR!"
[I want to do it! I want to play the great hero Gengar!]
"All right. Then we’ll need to change the direction of our journey."
"Gar—"
[Okay.]
"Once we finish everything we need to do in Jubilife City, we’ll head toward Crown City."
"We’ll search for Legendary Pokémon and ask them to play supporting roles in your movie."
"Gar?"
[What’s a supporting role?]
"They’re characters who help you perform. They could be villains, or they could be your subordinates."
"Just imagine it—a Legendary Pokémon plays the villain, and you defeat it with a single slash!"
Gengar: "!!!"
[Serious face.jpg]
"Gar!"
[Let’s go now!]
"I know, I know. We still have things to do in Jubilife City, so don’t rush me."
"I haven’t even finished planning the script yet."
"Hey, stop licking me! You didn’t use Lick, did you?"
"M-My face... is going numb..."