Chapter 163: The Time Has Come for the Organization to Test You!
[VIP Chat Group]
[Lance]: This N is actually quite intelligent. Using real cases to explain the organization’s ideals is certainly more persuasive than merely shouting slogans.
[Gary]: But every case he presented was an extreme example. Abandoned Pokémon obviously need to be rescued, but the existence of irresponsible Trainers doesn’t justify condemning every Trainer.
[Iris]: Just like Miori said last time, many Pokémon choose to remain with their Trainers. Forcing those Pokémon to leave would itself be a form of deprivation.
[Alder]: Illegally capturing Pokémon is indeed a widespread crime, though. I’m rather curious to see how Miori handles this situation.
The video continued playing.
"Shiny Shinyko, you’ll be responsible for guarding the rear entrance."
Captain K slapped a hand-drawn map into Miori’s hands.
"No outsiders are permitted to interfere with this operation. Your responsibility is to ensure that the rear passage remains absolutely secure. You cannot allow anyone to break in through your position. Do you understand?"
"Absolutely secure."
Miori nodded.
"Even if my own mother appears, I absolutely won’t let her pass through the rear entrance."
Captain K patted her shoulder approvingly.
"Excellent. The organization needs members with exactly that kind of dedication."
The moment Captain K left, Miori’s expression changed completely.
"Being an undercover agent is far too difficult!!"
Emolga poked its head out from atop hers.
"Emolga, emolga, emolga~" (You’re only guarding the rear entrance. Your identity shouldn’t be exposed, right~?)
Miori slapped a hand against her forehead.
"The problem is that we don’t know what Team Plasma intends to do with these Pokémon after obtaining them. To prevent another incident like Ampharos losing control, we can’t allow this shipment to fall into their hands."
Emolga jumped to the ground and used one paw to draw a crooked diagram in the dirt:
A flying squirrel, an arrow, and a letter.
"You’re suggesting that you deliver the information?"
Miori studied the drawing.
"That way, Officer Jenny can arrive in time without anyone suspecting that I leaked it?"
Emolga planted both paws on its hips and proudly puffed out its chest.
The roar of truck engines came from beyond the rolling shutter.
Miori rose and brushed the dust from her knees.
"All right. We’ll use your plan. You go report the situation while I keep everyone occupied and delay the loading process as much as possible."
Emolga spread its wings and slipped through the narrow ventilation opening above the rear entrance, disappearing into the night.
Miori watched it fly away before pushing her sunglasses higher and turning to open the rolling shutter.
"My fellow members! You’ve all worked so hard!"
Miori adopted an exceptionally attentive smile.
"Why don’t I help move the cargo? I may be a girl, but I’m very strong!"
The members carrying boxes froze and exchanged glances.
A bald man who appeared to be the squad leader waved her away.
"Z-5253, focus on guarding the entrance. This isn’t your responsibility."
"No, no, no! How could anyone pick and choose when contributing to the organization?"
Miori quickly walked over and lifted one of the crates.
The instant its weight settled into her arms, her knees abruptly bent.
"...What is this? Is there a Snorlax inside?"
The bald man scratched the back of his head.
"Uh, it contains three Rhydon."
The corner of Miori’s mouth twitched.
"You put three Rhydon inside a single crate?"
"We didn’t have enough crates."
Miori took a deep breath, hoisted the crate over her head, and walked toward the truck.
Once she had moved some distance away, the truck driver leaned toward the bald man.
"Captain, should we tell her that she can use a trolley to move the crates?"
The bald man watched Miori carrying the crate at a brisk pace and remained silent for a moment.
"I don’t think she needs one..."
[VIP Chat Group]
[Dawn]: Isn’t Miori’s strength a little abnormal?! Those are three Rhydon!!
[Korrina]: Her movements haven’t become unsteady at all! That means the weight is nowhere near her limit!
[Bruno]: Good! Good! Excellent! That girl has the makings of a Fighting-type Elite Four member!
[Volkner]: Hey, hey, hey! Miori is the pride of Electric-type Trainers! Don’t even think about stealing her from us!!
[Steven]: This is clearly Brother Asher’s genes revealing its power!!
[Wallace]: You’re dragging Asher into this again?
[Asher]: I already know that my genes are excellent. I don’t need you advertising them for me.
[Steven]: Look! Brother Asher admitted it himself this time!
The video continued playing.
It took more than three hours to finish loading all the cargo.
Miori had deliberately avoided using a trolley to delay the operation for as long as possible. It also gave her plenty of opportunities to tamper with the trucks.
Three minutes later, the member responsible for checking the crates jumped down from the rear compartment and shouted toward the bald man:
"Boss! The quantities have all been confirmed! We’re ready to leave!"
"Good! Prepare to move out!"
At the bald man’s command, the truck driver turned the key.
The engine released a loud roar.
The entire truck shuddered once—
Then the engine died.
The bald man shouted:
"What are you doing? Start the truck!"
"I don’t know what happened!"
The driver looked ready to cry.
"It was working perfectly a moment ago! The instant I put it in gear, it did this!"
Miori walked over to the truck.
"Captain, has the vehicle broken down?"
The bald man massaged his temples.
"Apparently. What terrible timing."
Miori smiled.
"Captain, could you allow me to examine it?"
"You know how to repair vehicles?"
"I possess a little experience."
Miori spoke with complete confidence.
"When I worked as a street magician, I always repaired my own equipment van whenever it broke down."
Before she had even finished speaking, Miori walked to the front of the truck and expertly opened the hood.
The bald man remained silent for a moment before turning toward the driver and lowering his voice.
"Does a magician’s equipment van have the same mechanical structure as a cargo truck?"
The driver lowered his voice as well.
"I don’t think so."
"Neither do I."
Miori raised her head.
"Don’t worry, you two. The underlying principles are all connected. With my skills, I’ll have it repaired in no time!"
At that moment, a Team Plasma member stumbled through the rear entrance.
"Captain! Something terrible has happened! Officer Jenny has surrounded this place with several police vehicles! The front entrance has already been breached!"
The bald man jumped down from the truck.
"What?! How did Officer Jenny find this place?!"
"I don’t know! And she isn’t alone—the Leader of Nimbasa Gym is here too! Our people can’t stop her!"
"The Leader of Nimbasa Gym?"
The bald man’s face instantly turned pale.
He then spun toward Miori.
"Z-5253, the time has come for the organization to test you! The Nimbasa Gym Leader is too powerful. We need you to hold her back!"
Miori adjusted her sunglasses, her expression solemn.
"Rest assured, Captain. As long as I’m here, not a single person will pass through this entrance."
"Excellent! The organization will never forget your contribution! Once you return, I’ll personally promote you to a full member!"
The bald man was overjoyed.
...
TL: Each Rhydon weighs about 120 kg, or 264.6 lbs in freedom units, so that’s about 360 kg total.
+ Rest of the Chapters tmr.