"Nurse Joy, I'd like to accept the castle investigation request."
Holding Reiji's trainer ID, Nurse Joy looked up again. "Reiji, are you sure you want to take that one? Trainers who've accepted it have all run into Ghost-type Pokémon."
"I'm sure." Reiji nodded, took back the ID, and asked, "Nurse Joy, has anyone actually died in that castle?"
"No deaths," she said with her gentle smile that somehow blunted the chill of her words, "but trainers who came out were weak for a long time. They were probably drained by a Ghost-type. Please be careful."
"Thanks for the warning." Reiji turned to go.
"I've registered the request to your name," she added. "The client is Mrs. Suzushiro. When you step outside, turn right—her house is about two hundred meters ahead."
"Thanks." Reiji thanked her again and left the Pokémon Center.
The request sheet already listed the client and address; he'd copied them down earlier. It was a little past eleven—hard noon sun, the brightest time of day. Ghost-types shouldn't love this weather. Perfect window to scout the castle. If it turned out to be a mess, he wouldn't get involved—just catch a Gastly and leave.
First, he stopped by the Pokémon food shop and bought Ghost-type energy cubes—the life-essence blends tailored to their taste. Prices here were different from Kinnow Island: Kinnow favored Fighting, Electric, and Grass; Murcott Island favored Bug and Water, so those cubes were pricier and better stocked.
Other types moved slowly. Ghost cubes especially—hardly any trainers raised Ghost-types, never mind buying premium cubes. Even so, the life-essence sets weren't cheap: eight thousand a box, no discount, and not much stock left. The clerk said the last shipment was half a year ago; out of a hundred boxes, ten remained.
Reiji bought all ten—eighty thousand—then walked out muttering that no wonder they'd sat on shelves for months at that price.
Mrs. Suzushiro's place was a plain wooden cottage by the road, like most homes on Murcott. Apart from the Pokémon Center and the police station, nearly everything here was wood. A small plaque by the door read "Suzushiro." Reiji knocked.
Knock, knock, knock—
"Who is it?"
The voice was dry and low, like a throat that hadn't seen water in a while. The door creaked open and an elderly woman with white hair and a cane peered out. "And you are?"
"I'm the trainer who accepted the castle investigation. Before I go, I wanted to ask if there's anything I should watch for."
"The castle request, hm? Come in," she said, turning. "Saya, make our guest some tea."
A girl popped her head out—fourteen or fifteen, white dress, black hair in two tidy braids. She gave a quick wave. "Hi, I'm Saya."
"Hi, I'm Reiji," he said from the threshold. He didn't step in. "I'm tight on time—if there's nothing urgent to warn me about, I'd like to head to the castle now."
"In that case, let's talk as we walk," Saya said, setting the teacup down. She called toward the back, "Grandma, I'm going out with Mr. Reiji. I'll be back by evening."
"Be careful on the road—and don't stay at the castle after dark," the old woman said, closing the door.
Reiji glanced once at the grandmother—nothing seemed off—then followed Saya down the lane.
"You're going to the castle now?" Saya asked, fishing for words and landing on the obvious topic.
"I'll take a look in daylight. You coming with me?"
"In the daytime there's nothing," Saya said. "The laughter only comes at night."
"That one?" Reiji asked as the seaside castle came into view, red spires and white walls bright against the green.
"Yes." Worry flickered in her eyes.
"It's beautiful," Reiji said. "Red turrets, white stone, all the greenery—great view in any season."
"It is," she murmured, warmth softening her voice. "Most of my memories are there."
"With a place that pretty, are you two moving back?"
"We can't. My dad wants to sell it," she said.
"Not you and your grandmother who posted the request?" Reiji asked. The pieces clicked: Dad wanted it cleared and sold; Grandma and Saya were the ones dragging their feet.
Saya didn't answer that part. Instead: "Aren't you scared? The laughter in the castle?"
"It's daytime. What's there to be scared of?" Reiji smiled. If the "haunting" was their pushback against the sale, he got it—but unless the Ghost in there was Champion-tier, someone strong would clear it eventually.
Saya fell quiet, thoughts elsewhere. They didn't talk much the rest of the way and reached the iron gate. She unlocked it and led him into a grounds-gone-wild garden. Even so, a few flowers had hung on.
Ting-ting-ting, ting-ting—
"Wind chimes?" Reiji looked toward a pavilion where a string of bells swayed in the breeze, scattering clean, glassy notes in the sun.
They passed through the garden and into a wide main hall. It was empty now, the glossy white pillars catching what light they could. The floor was reasonably clean but still wore a thick coat of dust—someone had kept up for a while after moving out, then stopped.
"This is the main hall. Everything's been cleared, so… not much to see. Want to check the rooms upstairs?" Saya asked, eyes straying to the carved pillars. Pokémon figures ran along the capitals. You could almost see a younger her racing through here with partners at her heels.
"Sure. Lead on," Reiji said. If Saya could stroll in, she clearly wasn't afraid of whatever was inside.
Before they climbed, he flicked a Ghost-type cube onto the floor behind them. As they reached the stair's turn, something black zipped out—too fast to see—and the cube was gone.
"This used to be my grandmother's room," Saya said, opening a door.
"You two really look alike," Reiji said, spotting a portrait of a young woman whose face mirrored Saya's almost exactly.
"So people say," she laughed, hand to her mouth.
They moved from room to room while she explained what used to be where. Neither of them noticed the shadow that slipped from under a bed to trail them down the corridor, covering its mouth to snicker.
Reiji heard the quick, playful laugh. He turned—nothing. Ghost-type, most likely. No proof yet.
They wandered the castle for more than two hours. When Saya finally tired, they found a terrace, brushed the dust from two chairs, and sat in the gentle sun to eat a simple lunch.
(End of Chapter)
[100 Power Stones = Extra Chapter]
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