Chapter 44. Bill
Before long, the group arrived outside the lighthouse.
It looked close, but actually getting to its door took them quite a bit of time.
Except for Natsume—he stood on his Poké Ball Rotom and flew straight up.
Bill's Lighthouse.
From afar, they could see Natsume waving at them.
Silent, like he was summoning a spirit.
Hands on her hips and panting, Misty saw Natsume and immediately bristled.
"Na—mmph?"
She had just opened her mouth when Natsume covered it.
"I've got this!"
Honora yanked Natsume's hand away and clapped her own over Misty's mouth.
Misty was speechless.
When did you turn into his lackey?
Even with Honora's hand over her mouth, Misty kept shooting Natsume a resentful look.
She really wanted to ask why he couldn't just have Poké Ball Rotom haul them up one by one.
All of a sudden, Misty noticed something odd around Natsume.
After a closer look, everyone realized it.
The Rotom that always circled Natsume for no reason was gone, like he'd returned it to its Poké Ball.
Such an unusual sight made Ash curious.
"Na—mmph?"
Natsume covered Ash's mouth.
"???"
Everyone wondered if there was some no-talking rule or a weird ghost story about the lighthouse.
Natsume made a hush gesture and pointed at the door.
On the lighthouse's door were many intricate carvings.
Embedded among the patterns were oddly shaped Pokémon fossils.
No one knew which were newly found and which were old.
"Mm, those are all real Pokémon fossils.
The lighthouse's owner is pretty extravagant."
Brock stroked his chin, gave the door a once-over, and sighed in admiration.
Natsume pointed at the door again.
Looking where he indicated, they saw a button.
Were they supposed to press it?
Brock pressed it casually.
"Idiots, have you learned nothing?"
Misty's face showed lingering dread.
She glanced over and, sure enough, Natsume was standing well away from the door.
She hurried to join him.
Seeing this, Honora also moved to stand beside Natsume.
Unexpectedly, nothing weird happened this time.
The door didn't explode, didn't collapse, and no vicious Pokémon suddenly jumped out.
That button seemed to connect to the lighthouse's owner.
After it was pressed, a light, pleasant chime played.
After a while, a hearty male voice came from the door.
"Hello, this is Bill's lighthouse."
"Ah, hello, Mr. Bill.
We're Trainers passing through and would like to stay the night if we may.
Here's my Pokédex."
Ash spoke with easy familiarity, holding his Pokédex up to the button whether or not the other side could see it.
"Oh, is that so?" the voice behind the door said, as if considering it.
"Yes, and could we borrow your kitchen if necessary?
I can cook anything!" Brock followed up quickly.
"Can you make fried noodles?" the voice suddenly asked.
"I can!" Brock nodded vigorously.
"Then come on in."
"Thank you, Mr. Bill!"
Seeing no danger, Misty stepped closer and offered thanks.
Beep—beep—beep—
As Misty drew near, the door blared an alarm.
"Huh? What's wrong?" Misty flinched at the sudden sound.
Beep—beep—beep— Detected an external Electric-type Pokémon!
"An external Electric-type Pokémon?" Ash muttered, lifting Pikachu.
"It's my Pikachu.
Is there a problem, Mr. Bill?"
"So it's Pikachu.
I was just being overly cautious.
Come on in."
As Bill spoke, the lighthouse door gave a soft click and slid open from both sides.
They stepped inside and found it like a medieval castle.
"So creepy, like a Ghost-type Pokémon could pop out any minute," Misty said, hiding behind Ash.
"What?
I'll catch Ghost-type Pokémon too."
Ash waved it off.
Clearly inflated with confidence, a scene like this was nothing to him now.
"Hmph, if you're so tough, get in front of Brock then."
"Everyone," Brock, leading the way, suddenly stopped.
They looked up and saw, on a nearby seat, a huge shelled bug.
"Aaah—" Misty screamed and shut her eyes.
"Kabuto, the Shellfish Pokémon.
A Pokémon regenerated from the fossil of an ancient organism."
Hearing the Pokédex's entry, Ash reflexively pulled out a Poké Ball.
But then the Kabuto spoke.
"Please don't be afraid," said the same voice from before.
"Mr. Bill?" Brock asked cautiously.
"That's right, it's me.
This is a Kabuto costume I built," Bill said.
"Could you help me with something?
There's a button on the second leg on the left of the costume.
I can't open it from inside."
Everyone froze, then realized Bill was stuck in there.
Ash stepped forward and quickly freed Bill.
With a puff of smoke from the costume, a figure emerged.
He wore glasses, had short brown center-parted hair, and a white lab coat.
"Hahaha, thank you so mu—Natsume!!!"
Bill's face changed at once, and he frantically hammered a button beside the seat.
The next second, the entire floor tilted toward the doorway, and, like taking out the trash, they were dumped outside.
Bang—
The door slammed shut.
"Natsume, just how obnoxious are you?!"
Misty staggered to her feet, still found the strength to complain.
Everyone stood up and turned to stare at Natsume in unison.
No wonder he hadn't let them talk from the start.
Judging from Bill's reaction, if he'd heard Natsume's voice right away, they might never have gotten into the lighthouse at all.
"Possibly…" Natsume pondered a moment, then said seriously, "he's jealous of my brilliance."
"Mr. Natsume, what do we do now?"
Honora looked to Natsume.
The next second, Natsume hoisted her high.
"Senior, this is the assistant I took on.
Won't you give her a welcome gift?"
Holding a beet-red Honora up high, Natsume shouted toward the top of the lighthouse.
At a window, a vein popped on Bill's forehead.
His junior looked quite cute.
He hoped Natsume wouldn't lead her astray.
However, there was no way he was letting Natsume in at night over the next few days.
That guy would be here any moment, and a huge variable like Natsume absolutely could not be around!
He was about to ignore them when Natsume's voice rang out again.
"My Pokémon Dynamaxed last time at Mt. Moon—"
Bang—
The door suddenly opened.
Bill poked half his head out and eyed Natsume suspiciously.
"Really?"
He'd kept vigil here day and night for the Pokémon rumored to be a Kanto-region case of Dynamax.
Not long ago, he'd heard there had been an anomaly related to Dynamax at Mt. Moon as well.
He had planned to finish up here and then go see Professor Oak.
After all, that was his life's goal!
"Of course.
They can testify."
Natsume released his Poké Ball Rotom.
Beside him, Ash and the others nodded frantically.
"Mm."
Bill hesitated a moment, then agreed to Natsume's request.
He had heard about Natsume's Poké Ball Rotom from Professor Oak.
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