Chapter 285: Latias
On his way to the interrogation room, Gary was filled with anticipation.
In his mind, interrogations were something only Asahi, Green, and Sabrina had ever been involved in.
And all three of them were undeniably core members of the Kanto Division.
To Gary, participating in an interrogation was equivalent to being recognized as an important member of the division.
He knew Asahi had captured high-ranking members of Team Magma and Team Aqua.
So if Asahi was calling him to the interrogation room, there was only one explanation.
He, Gary Oak, was about to become a core member of the Kanto Division!
Suddenly, everything made sense.
Why had Asahi personally brought him to Hoenn?
Why had Asahi let him witness the capture of Rayquaza?
Why had Asahi even appointed him as the Kanto Division's spokesperson?
He had previously thought Asahi was messing with him.
But now—he realized Asahi had been grooming him all along!
The revelation struck him like lightning.
Determined not to let Asahi down, Gary straightened his clothes, fixed his hair, and knocked on the interrogation room door with utmost seriousness.
Knock, knock.
"Come in," Asahi's voice called out.
Gary stepped in with purpose.
---
Asahi looked at Gary and immediately felt something was off.
His posture was ramrod straight.
His clothes were perfectly neat.
His expression was dead serious.
For a moment, Asahi wondered if someone had impersonated him.
A quick Aura check confirmed—it was indeed Gary.
But…
Just this morning, when they trained together, Gary had been grumbling like he was dying.
So why the sudden transformation?
Asahi couldn't figure it out.
Just as he was lost in thought, Gary spoke.
"Minister, I'm here."
"…"
Asahi was completely stunned.
What the hell… was going on?
Did Gary hit his head?
Had he been under too much pressure lately?
But before he could question it, there was a more pressing matter at hand—interrogating Courtney.
So Asahi simply asked, "Do you have your sister's number?"
"…Huh?"
This wasn't what Gary expected at all.
Shouldn't Asahi have told him to sit down and assist with the interrogation?
"Your sister, Daisy Oak. Do you have her number?" Asahi repeated.
Still confused, Gary nodded. "I do… but why do you need it?"
As he spoke, he pulled out his communicator and found Daisy's contact.
A thought flashed through his mind.
Did Asahi seriously call him here just to ask for a number!?
Without knowing what Gary was thinking, Asahi grabbed the communicator, dialed the number, and waited.
Soon, a familiar figure in a research coat appeared on screen.
"Gary? Oh—Asahi?" Daisy Oak looked surprised.
As Professor Oak's granddaughter and Gary's sister, Daisy was quite familiar with Asahi.
Given her grandfather's praise and Gary's constant complaints, Asahi had left a strong impression on her.
Because of that, she was curious.
Why was Asahi contacting her through Gary's device?
Did something happen to Gary!?
Her heart tightened.
But the next moment, she saw Gary peeking from behind Asahi, completely fine.
Her worry faded.
Instead, her confusion grew.
"Asahi, is something wrong?"
"Nothing major. I just wanted to ask if you recognized someone."
Asahi tilted the communicator, revealing Courtney on screen.
Daisy's eyes widened.
"Wait—you're… Courtney?! Why are you…"
Her gaze fell upon Courtney's Team Magma uniform.
She was stunned.
Back then, they had competed in Pokémon Contests together.
Now, Courtney was part of a criminal organization?
Courtney lowered her head, unwilling to face her old friend.
Seeing that his goal was achieved, Asahi smirked and ended the call.
Gary, meanwhile, realized—
He had just been used as a contact tool.
Gary was lost in thought, while Asahi turned to look at Courtney, who still had her head lowered.
"What's wrong? Can't face an old friend?"
"A girl who once dreamed of competing in Pokémon Contests… now a member of Team Magma."
"Quite the transformation…"
"But what's even more surprising is that, even as a Team Magma executive, you still carry this with you."
Asahi pulled out a ribbon badge and casually twirled it in his fingers.
Courtney's expression changed instantly. "Give that back!"
She had thought she had lost her Contest Ribbon during the battle. She never expected it had ended up in Asahi's hands.
This was something precious to her!
Asahi smirked but didn't tease her further—he simply tossed the ribbon back.
The moment Courtney caught the badge, Asahi's voice rang in her ear.
"Team Magma is falling apart. In Hoenn, you're all public enemies. Do you really want to live the rest of your life as a hated Team Magma executive?"
Courtney narrowed her eyes. "What are you trying to say?"
"I'm giving you another choice," Asahi said. "Join us—cut ties with your past."
In the original storyline, Courtney helped Brendan stop Groudon and Kyogre at the cost of her life. Unlike the fanatics brainwashed by Team Magma's ideology, she still had hope for redemption.
Hearing Asahi's words, Courtney hesitated.
"You're… not from the Pokémon League?"
She knew that no League official would say something like this.
"Of course, I'm with the League. But my department is… special. Ever heard of the International Police?"
Courtney fell silent.
She was well aware of the International Police—she had even fought them before.
But she had never met one like Asahi, someone who completely crushed her without giving her a chance to resist.
Asahi continued, "We're planning to wipe out all of Team Magma and Team Aqua in Hoenn. Your group isn't strong, but you're damn good at hiding."
"That's why we need someone to help us."
"I know you're not as devoted to Team Magma's ideology as you pretend to be…."
"And since you know Daisy Oak, I figured I'd give you a chance. So? What do you think?"
If Asahi had asked her this at the start, she would have immediately refused.
But now…
She felt like Asahi could see through her completely.
For the first time, she didn't know what to say.
And in situations like this—silence was an answer.
She was wavering.
Seeing her hesitation, Asahi didn't press further.
He simply smiled, then turned to Gary.
"Let's go."
Gary, who had witnessed the entire process, completely abandoned his previous thoughts.
At this moment, he was utterly terrified of Asahi.
"She's going to accept, isn't she?" Gary asked.
Asahi shook his head. "Not necessarily. This was just the appetizer."
"We're still missing one last, most crucial step."
Gary frowned. "What else is left? She's already on the verge of switching sides!"
Without answering, Asahi walked over to the room next door.
With a slow creak, the door swung open.
Gary immediately felt a pair of eyes lock onto them.
Inside the room, Maxie sat bound to a chair, being guarded by Eevee.
His seat was positioned directly across from a glass wall.
Through it, he had a clear view of the interrogation room—
And of Courtney's conflicted expression.
Not to mention…
The lie detector screen next to her.
Asahi smirked.
"Maxie, how does it feel knowing your subordinate is about to switch sides?"
Maxie scoffed coldly. "She's just one executive… I'll never forgive you all."
Instead of feeling threatened, Asahi nodded in satisfaction.
Then, he pulled out a voice recorder and handed it to Gary.
Gary: "…"
Asahi's ruthlessness remained as consistent as ever.
Was this how he tricked Sabrina into joining, too?
Grumbling silently, Gary left the room.
When Courtney finished listening to the recording, Asahi calmly pressed a button.
The one-way mirror instantly turned two-way.
Through the glass, Courtney could now see Asahi waving at her.
And beside him…
Maxie sat coldly, staring directly at her.
"…"
She knew.
She had no way out now.
---
Courtney's defection to the Kanto Division didn't shock anyone too much.
After all, compared to a Team Rocket executive or Giovanni's own son, a former Team Magma executive was hardly worth mentioning.
"Let's welcome our new member, Courtney!" Asahi announced.
Under everyone's gaze, Courtney remained silent.
She wasn't usually reserved, but switching sides like this still felt strange.
Among the crowd—
Gary, who had witnessed Asahi's entire persuasion process, was still processing everything.
Green and Sabrina already knew Asahi had planned this, so they weren't surprised.
Only Zinnia was shocked.
"You!?"
Back when Zinnia infiltrated Team Magma and Team Aqua to earn Rayquaza's recognition, she had fought Courtney before.
Courtney also recognized her and was equally surprised to see Zinnia here.
"You're in this organization too?"
Before she could ask, Asahi cut in.
"Oh, right—I forgot to mention. Our full title is International Police Kanto Division."
"Courtney, just like Zinnia, you're still an intern."
Hearing this, Courtney looked at Zinnia with curiosity.
So she wasn't a full-fledged member yet?
Was she recruited the same way?
Questions filled her mind, but she kept them to herself.
Instead, Asahi spoke first.
"Do you know the locations of Team Magma's remaining bases?"
Courtney nodded.
Taking a Hoenn map, she marked several key locations.
Soon, over ten circles dotted the map.
Placing the pen down, she said, "These are all the major Team Magma bases."
Asahi compared them to his own intel.
Her information tripled what he had—completely surpassing his previous knowledge.
It seemed Courtney could be trusted.
"What about Team Aqua?"
She marked a few triangles on the map.
Not as many as Team Magma's, but still valuable intel Asahi didn't have.
"Figures—you guys knew more about Team Aqua than anyone else," Asahi muttered.
"If you need more detailed info, Shelly should know everything," Courtney suggested.
Asahi, however, already expected that.
But unlike Courtney, Shelly was a fanatic.
She believed in Team Aqua's ideals wholeheartedly.
Asahi had no interest in bringing a time bomb into his department.
Besides, these locations alone were more than enough for now.
Snapping a quick photo, he sent the intel to Steven.
Let him deal with it.
With that done, Asahi was about to end the meeting and let Sabrina—an experienced defector—help Courtney settle in.
But suddenly—
"Mew~!"
A familiar voice.
Mew?
Asahi instinctively turned his head—
And froze.
Mew was standing right behind him, holding the hand of a girl in a white dress.
The girl smiled and waved.
Instantly, everyone in the room turned to Asahi.
They had no idea what was happening—but looking at Asahi was always the safest bet.
Asahi: "…"
Why is everyone looking at me?
I don't know who this is either!
Before he could react, the girl extended her hand with a bright smile.
[Hello!]
[Thank you for saving Hoenn!]
Hearing the voice directly in his mind, Asahi immediately guessed her identity.
With a wry smile, he shook her hand.
The moment their hands touched—
A flash of light.
The girl's form shifted.
In her place—
A Pokémon with a white upper body, red lower half, and sleek red wings floated before him, grinning playfully.
Latias!
Asahi's expression twitched.
Mew, you were gone for just a little while—
And you brought home a Latias!?
Are you a traveling frog?
As that thought crossed Asahi's mind, Mew let out a cheerful "Mew~!" and gestured toward him.
It didn't take long for Asahi to understand what Mew was trying to say.
---