Chapter 162: Miori’s Disguise
The video continued playing.
By the time Miori climbed out of Relic Castle’s underground palace, she was completely covered in dust and dirt, with sand still clinging to her hair.
Standing at the entrance to the ruins, she gazed toward the enormous setting sun at the far end of the desert and sighed emotionally.
"It’s so much better aboveground. I want barbecue."
Two bursts of golden electricity immediately erupted from Emolga’s cheek pouches.
It supported that proposal with all four paws.
"All right."
Miori took out her Pokédex and began searching.
"Let’s see whether there’s an affordable all-you-can-eat barbecue restaurant nearby..."
Before she could finish speaking, her communicator rang again.
Miori glanced at the caller ID.
Captain K.
"You can’t be serious."
Her smile froze.
"I only just climbed out of an underground palace. I haven’t even had a sip of water, and I already have more work?"
She took a deep breath and accepted the call, instantly switching into her Shiny Shinyko persona.
"Good evening, Captain K."
"Shiny Shinyko."
Captain K’s voice came through the communicator.
"You’re currently in Castelia City, correct?"
"That’s right. I’m touring Castelia City as part of my street-magic performances."
Miori spoke without the slightest change in expression.
"I just finished a show, and the audience response was extremely enthusiastic. I’m willing to donate all the proceeds from today’s performance to the organization!"
"That won’t be necessary."
Captain K failed to notice anything unusual.
"Report to Pier No. 4 in Castelia City at eight tomorrow morning."
"Has something happened?"
"It isn’t convenient to discuss over the phone."
Captain K’s tone became serious.
"You’ll understand once you arrive."
The call ended.
Miori stared at the communicator for three seconds before looking up at Emolga.
"Usually, this means one of two things: either it’s a classified mission, or the pyramid scheme is holding a motivational rally."
Emolga tilted its head.
"Emolga?"
"If it’s a classified mission, I’ll be one step closer to their core secrets. If it’s a motivational rally..."
Miori’s expression became solemn.
"Then I’ll need to figure out how to shout their slogans without laughing."
[Regular-Seat Chat Group]
"Miori: Just escaped the underground palace and immediately boarded the criminal ship. Certified Unova wage slave."
"That’s enough! Miori is already suffering! She didn’t even get to eat barbecue!"
"Barbecue is a luxury reserved for heroes. Miori can come back after she officially becomes one."
"Just you wait. The Dragon of Ideals will be kicking down your door any moment now."
[VIP Chat Group]
[Skyla]: Hahahahahaha! Miori is genuinely miserable! She only just climbed out of the underground palace, and before she could even drink any water, Captain K’s call came chasing after her!
[Valerie]: That child’s fate must be something like "never a moment’s peace." Wherever she goes, an endless pile of work is waiting for her.
[Volkner]: Honestly, Miori’s life is even more exhausting than mine. At least I could close my Gym and hand out Badges. She doesn’t even have the option of closing the doors.
[Flint]: Hearing you say that makes me feel slightly better about all my overtime.
[Lucian]: Likewise.
[Flint]: @Lucian, come back. The Sinnoh League’s employee benefits have improved. We can even work overtime on weekends now.
[Lucian]: Oh dear, my connection seems to be breaking up~
[Flint]: ???
[Bianca]: What exactly does Captain K want Miori to do? They aren’t genuinely dragging her to some kind of motivational rally, are they?
[Iris]: It’s hard to say, but I doubt it’s anything good.
The video continued playing.
At eight thirty the following morning, outside Warehouse No. 4 in Castelia City.
Miori appeared at the meeting point in an entirely new disguise.
She wore a white shirt with black trousers, a pair of sunglasses rested on her nose, and her hair had been combed into an immaculate low ponytail.
Here’s a new illustration of Miori~
"We’re meeting one of Team Plasma’s higher-ranking members today."
Miori lowered her voice as she spoke to Emolga.
"That means our disguises need to be upgraded."
Emolga adjusted its tie clip with one paw, puffed out its chest, and released an exceptionally solemn cry.
"Emolga."
Captain K emerged from the warehouse and froze when he saw Miori.
"...Shiny Shinyko?"
"Yes."
Miori adjusted her sunglasses, her sincerity utterly flawless.
"I may only be a trainee member, but I hope the organization will recognize my professional attitude."
Captain K stared at her for several seconds before slowly nodding.
"Your attitude toward your work is indeed commendable. Keep it up."
"Thank you, Captain K!"
As he watched Miori walk into the warehouse, Captain K couldn’t shake the feeling that something was strange.
However, he couldn’t identify exactly what was wrong.
Ever since joining, Shiny Shinyko had always displayed tremendous enthusiasm. She never arrived late or left early, and she completed every assigned task with complete seriousness.
The only oddity was that she wore sunglasses or ordinary glasses every time he saw her.
However, with the organization desperately short on personnel, such a trivial detail wasn’t worth considering.
Inside the warehouse, the other members arrived one after another.
Some wore uniforms, while others were dressed casually like Miori. However, every face displayed a varying degree of nervousness.
At exactly nine o’clock, the metal door at the back of the warehouse opened.
A green-haired young man entered.
The instant Miori saw him, her pupils contracted sharply.
N.
N walked to the projection screen and surveyed the assembled trainees.
"Thank you all for attending today’s training session. I am N, the leader of Team Plasma."
Enthusiastic applause erupted from the audience.
Miori symbolically clapped a few times while frowning inwardly.
Her suspicions had been correct.
Organization Z truly was Team Plasma.
"Today, I’d like to discuss an extremely simple question with all of you."
N turned around.
A photograph appeared on the projection screen.
A Rattata lay on a bed inside a Pokémon Center, its body covered in bandages.
"We found this Rattata in a forest last week. Its Trainer forced it to battle continuously for two entire days in an attempt to win a Gym Battle."
N pressed the remote.
A different photograph appeared on the screen, depicting several abandoned Pokémon crowded together inside a cramped cage.
"These Pokémon were discovered in an abandoned warehouse outside the city. Their Trainers discarded them because they weren’t strong enough, rare enough, or attractive enough."
N didn’t raise his voice, but every word seemed to nail itself into the air.
"Team Plasma’s objective is simple—to allow every Pokémon to obtain true freedom."
"If the relationship between a Trainer and their Pokémon can only be built upon enslavement and abandonment, then such a relationship has no right to exist."
Some of the members began applauding excitedly.
A female member with a ponytail quietly wiped the corner of her eye.
"However!"
N’s tone abruptly changed.
"I didn’t come here today merely to provide ideological instruction to our new members. There is also a more specific task that I need all of you to complete."
He pressed the remote again, and a blueprint appeared on the screen.
"In three days, a shipment of Pokémon from the Hoenn region will arrive in Nimbasa City."
"According to our intelligence, the shipment contains a large number of Pokémon that were captured illegally."
"Your mission is to assist our front-line members in intercepting the transport and safely relocating every Pokémon to one of our bases."
The audience immediately erupted into discussion.
Miori’s expression remained perfectly composed, but warning sirens were already blaring wildly inside her mind.
Nimbasa City!
Team Plasma was planning an operation in Nimbasa City!!
And she—the former Leader of Nimbasa Gym—was supposed to help Team Plasma intercept a shipment of illegally captured Pokémon right outside her own home.
I’m finished. I’m finished. I’m completely finished.
Being caught by her mother would only be a minor problem.
The real danger was being recognized by one of the local residents. Her reputation would be destroyed on the spot.
Miori took a deep breath.
Calm down.
The most important thing was to avoid exposing her identity.
"Shiny Shinyko."
Captain K’s voice pulled her back to reality.
"Why are you staring into space?"
Miori abruptly straightened her back.
"I wasn’t! I was thinking about how I could contribute to the organization!"
...
TL: Sorry late update.