"This doesn't make sense..."

Johan turned to look at the pile of flopping Magikarp on the boat, along with a few Shellder and Goldeen.

No need to guess—other than the Magikarp, the rest were caught by Cynthia and Aaron.

"Top-tier golden fishing gear, top-tier bait... Did I sign some sort of contract with Magikarp? Something must be off!"

But for now, Johan couldn't figure outwhatthe problem was.

At the top of the leaderboard was Lana.

She had already reeled in two Chinchou, a Luvdisc, two Starmie, and a bunch of other high-scoring Water-types,not to mentionan absurd number of lower-point Pokémon.

"Forget it. I give up."

Since he couldn't figure it out, Johan decided to justgo with the flow.

At least he wasn't going home empty-handed.

Besides, hisrealgoal today wasn't fishing.

"Marsha?"

From the shadow of the boat, Marshadow emerged, gazing at the pile of flopping Magikarp with a thoughtful look.

Are we making Magikarp stew tonight?

Magikarp stew... didn't sound bad.

But it had to be the biggest and fattest one!

Marshadow's eyes swept over the pile of Magikarp—

Before locking onto thelargest and plumpestone.

Slurp—

Marshadow swallowed its saliva.

And the Magikarp, sensing its gaze, shivered.

Magikarp: (_.)

SPLASH!

It instantly used Splash Attack, sending water splatteringall overMarshadow's face.

"Ka-kaah~! (*σ´∀｀)"

Gengar pointed at Marshadow and burst into uncontrollable laughter.

"Marsha! (◣_◢)"

Marshadow's eyes sharpened.

Magikarp froze in fear.

The next moment—

A dazzling white lightburstfrom its body!

Marshadow blinked in confusion.

Johan and the others also turned their heads, drawn to the sudden glow.

"Wait... did it just...?" Aaron wobbled his ahoge.

"It evolved?" Cynthia said with slight surprise.

Johan instinctively looked at Gengar.

"Ka-kaah! Ka-kaah!"

Gengar waved its hands frantically.

Not me! I swear! I didn't even touch it! It was Marshadow!

Without hesitation, Gengarsold Marshadow out.

Johan turned to the corner of the boat—

Marshadow hadjustrealized what happened. Seeing Johan's gaze, it panicked, turned around, anddove back into the shadows.

Johan's eye twitched.

Why does this always happen around me?

"RAAAARRGGHH!!"

The expanding white light was followed by a deafening roar!

"It's agiganticGyarados!"

The announcer finally took notice of their boat.

A normal Gyarados was about6.5 meterslong—

But this one, originally a massive Magikarp, had grown toover 7.5 metersafter evolving!

Gyarados was already a high-scoring Pokémon. With itssize bonus—

"RAAAAARGH!! GLUB GLUB—"

SPLOOSH!

Johan's little fishing boatcouldn'thandle a Gyarados that huge—

So Garchomp immediatelyyeetedit back into the ocean.

When Gyarados surfaced again, it looked...confused.

It turned and saw Garchomp's expressionless face—

And Gengar'smenacing grinas it cracked its knuckles.

...

This was not how it imagined its evolution going.

"Ka-kaah~~"

I'm happy for your evolution, but I didn't like your attitude earlier.

Gengar put on its swim goggles—

And jumped in first!

Blub blub blub—

Garchomp snorted.

A dragon like me has no business in the water.

But before Gengar could reach Gyarados—

It suddenly popped back up, eyes gleaming with excitement.

"Ka-kaah!!"

BIG TOOTHY FISH!!

It gestured wildly, puffing up its cheeks in an exaggerated motion.

Toothy fish?

Johan blinked.

How big?

"Ka-kaah!"

Gengar pointed at Gyarados.

BIGGER THAN THAT!

Bigger than a 7.5-meter-long Gyarados?

Was it Kyogre?!

Johan glanced toward Lana's direction—

The water was calm.

...So probably not.

Or maybe—

Team Rocket's submarine?

But weren't they still busyfilming a movie?

And let's be real—Team Rocket's taste in submarines leaned more toward Magikarp or Gyarados, not Sharpedo.

Suddenly—

Johan pulled out his phone and called Anabel.

"Johan-sensei?" Anabel answered.

"Anabel, do we have surveillance underwater?" Johan asked.

"Underwater?" Anabel sounded confused.

Herhesitationconfirmed it—

The International Policehadn'tset up any underwater monitoring. They were only watching the boats on the surface.

"What's going on?"

Cynthia noticed Johan's change in expression and asked.

"I think... we've found the Pokémon hunter gang," Johan said gravely.

"Pokémon hunters?"

Cynthia's eyes widened slightly before her expression grew serious.

"Gengar," Johan called out.

"Ka-kaah?"

Gengar floated on the surface.

"See if you candrag them out!"

Gengar turned to the dazed Gyarados—

And grinned wickedly.

"Ka-kaah..."

Itvanishedinto a cloud of black mist, reappearing on Gyarados's head.

It patted Gyarados's crest.

Behave and take me down there—

Or else...

"RAAAAAAARGH!!"

Gyaradosroared in furyand prepared to lash out.

BZZZZT—

Electricity crackled ominously from Gengar's palm—

Dancing right in front of Gyarados's eyes.

Gengar'stwisted grinreflected in its pupils—

Amidst the flickeringblue lightning.

Or else I'll fry you.

"...RAAAARRGHH!!"

Gyarados immediately surrendered.

Every Pokémon had a duty to capture criminals!

It flipped over anddarted toward the target,with Gengar proudly surfing on its back—

Like a ghostly warrior riding the waves!

"Milotic, Gastrodon—go help!"

Cynthia tossed two Poké Balls.

Her Pokémon dove in and followed after Gengar and Gyarados.

At the same time—

The International Police officersall receivedAnabel's urgent message in their earpieces.

"All units, we've found the target! Keep your eyes on Gengar—Johan-sensei will bring them out!"

Handsome, who was rowing a boat,immediatelystraightened up.

So the hunters really were sneaking through underwater...

He had suspected it earlier—

But lacked the means to confirm it.

He turned to his Croagunk.

Croagunk:凸(｀△＋）

"Ka-kaah!!"

Gengar shouted.

FISHING ROD!

Ghostly surfer Gengar zoomed past—

Croagunk grabbed Handsome's fishing rod andthrew ittoward Gengar without hesitation.

Then—

With an evil grin, Gengar whipped the rod forward!

The hook latched onto the giant Sharpedo.

"Ka-kaah!!"

GET OVER HERE!!

Sharpedo started surfacing—

And the Pokémon hunters realized—

They had been found.

—

Inside a massive submarine shaped like a Sharpedo—

"Boss, something's latched onto the hull!"

The leader of the Pokémon hunters smirked.

"Who cares? Justramyour way through!"

"Full speed ahead!"

The sudden movementinevitablydrew the tournament's attention.

"T-That's agiantSharpedo!!"

"One contestant is locked in a battle with it—it's... it's...?"

When the announcerfinallysaw who was reeling in the Sharpedo—

They froze.

"The one fishing is... is... GENGAR?!"

The entire audience erupted.

Meanwhile—

Johan rode his Dragonite, Cynthia crouched on Garchomp, her golden hair whipping in the wind—

And Aaronsurfed inon his Masquerain.

"Let's lure themoutof the tournament area first," Johan ordered.

"Understood!"

The International Policeallresponded in unison.

The hunt had begun.

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Powerstones?

For 20 advance Chapters: /michaeltranslates

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by lotustale.com