Chapter 823: The Prodigal Returns

The screen froze.

The narrator popped up.

【At the age of thirteen, you were arrested for causing trouble everywhere while attempting to join Team Skull.】

That's criminal!

To be so criminal at such a young age!

All Baimu watched the simulation subject speechlessly.

He had also once been involved with an evil organization, but that was a matter of necessity; if given the choice, he would have to be insane to join something like Team Sand.

And Team Skull...

It had even less of a future than Team Sand!

Therefore, he looked at the unruly simulation subject with the gaze of a subway old man looking at a smartphone, and the NPC prototype of this guy came to mind—

Bad Boy!

It's a real waste that 【Villain Character】 wasn't an optional talent...

No, wait.

It seems he hasn't joined yet?

As he was guessing, a police officer walked in from outside the frame, pulled him out of the detention cell without the slightest courtesy, and pushed and shoved him outside.

【You look at him with resentment, just about to curse a couple of times, when you suddenly see your grandmother standing there, looking incredibly anxious.】

The abusive characters above Bad Boy's head instantly turned into an ellipsis.

【You are speechless; your grandmother does not scold you either, but only thanks the officer again and again.】

The two left the police station.

Most likely there was little conversation on the way, and the scene shifted directly to the front of the house.

Bad Boy stood at the door, refusing to go in.

【You tell your grandmother, who is trying hard to persuade you, that you must join Team Skull, and after saying that, you leave home again.】

The rebellious phase, huh!

All Baimu watched Bad Boy running on the street and couldn't help but click his tongue twice.

Although the current information was still scarce, he boldly guessed that Bad Boy was likely a "left-behind" child; otherwise, he wouldn't have needed his grandmother to come to the police station to fish him out.

The yearning for Team Skull could also be called the willfulness of adolescence.

As for the consequences and the price that needed to be paid, Bad Boy certainly hadn't considered them...

So, where was the turning point?

All Baimu carefully observed the simulation content and saw Bad Boy suddenly stop in front of an alley. The screen moved up, revealing a group of serious-looking Team Skull members and a middle-aged man.

He saw Team Skull and their Pokémon lying all over the ground, and beside the middle-aged man stood a Krookodile baring its fangs and brandishing its claws.

【You stare at them, dumbfounded.】

Bad Boy clearly hadn't expected that the Team Skull he yearned for would be beaten to the ground by one person. In his cognition, Team Skull was a group of powerful Trainers who disdained participating in the Island Challenge.

How could this be...

【You suddenly notice the other person's shoulder badge, realizing that the other person is a police officer, and remembering that you were just released on bail, you realize that if you get caught again, you're done for.】

Bad Boy turned to run, but unfortunately, it was too late.

The Krookodile rushed over fiercely, suppressing his entire body.

【You struggle desperately and shout, trying to scare the other person, but you didn't expect to actually succeed.】

The Krookodile let him go, and Bad Boy scrambled to get up and ran away staggeringly. But just before he escaped completely, several lines of black text flashed rapidly in the bubble above the middle-aged man's head.

【You hear him say that children shouldn't imitate bad guys when they have nothing to do, and anger makes you stop in your tracks.】

Bad Boy, who didn't know the immensity of heaven and earth, was single-mindedly set on joining Team Skull, so naturally, he couldn't stand others casually criticizing the organization that was incredibly sacred in his eyes.

【You loudly tell him that Team Skull are not bad guys; you just can't stand the old, long-outdated, rotten things like the Island Challenge.】

Good fellow!

All Baimu, from the third-person perspective, almost laughed.

He hadn't expected Bad Boy to actually agree with the philosophy of that jerk Guzma. That guy hated all "external things" and following the rules; the Island Challenge and Z-Moves were points he attacked.

For this, Guzma didn't hesitate to fall out with his former teacher Hala and his fellow disciples Kukui, changing from his normal black hair to a punk-style white.

That would be one thing.

This guy also gathered a bunch of thugs who hadn't passed the Island Challenge to cause destruction everywhere and make trouble for those participating in the Island Challenge.

It made people feel that his perspective and bearing were quite small.

The middle-aged man in the picture also smiled and asked Bad Boy if he had ever participated in the Island Challenge.

【You stammer and cannot answer, because you don't even have a Pokémon.】

Then the other person asked again, since he hadn't participated in the Island Challenge, why did he think it was an old, rotten thing?

Bad Boy was silent.

"Can't argue back, huh?"

All Baimu was a bit surprised. He had thought Bad Boy would say a lot of twisted logic, but he didn't expect him to be so vulnerable.

And the middle-aged man was also very surprised, continuing to reason, telling Bad Boy to use his own eyes to see and not to follow the crowd.

Furthermore, taking a step back, being old didn't mean it had to be overthrown; even if it really had to be overthrown, causing trouble everywhere and doing bad things wouldn't succeed.

Bad Boy remained silent until the sound of police sirens approached.

【You flee like a frightened bird, and what echoes in your ears is that person's call for you to stop doing bad things.】

The screen changed rapidly.

"I didn't expect Nanu to have such a time when he tried so hard to persuade people to turn back from the wrong path."

All Baimu chuckled.

The middle-aged man commanding the Krookodile was undoubtedly Nanu, the Kahuna of Ula'ula Island and a police officer, but whether he was the Kahuna in the simulation was hard to say.

Besides.

Nanu had become quite lazy in reality, not even wanting to take on the responsibilities of a Kahuna. When Ash came to him, he claimed he wasn't Kahuna Nanu, saying he was out on patrol when he was actually finding a place to take a nap.

As a result, he was caught by the real patrolling Officer Jenny, almost losing all the face he had as a senior.

I didn't expect him to have such a diligent time.

——

In the picture.

Bad Boy fled back home.

【You lie on the bed, finding that your mind is full of that person's voice, which makes you very unhappy.】

It is difficult for a teenager in the rebellious phase to listen to others, and even if he really listens, he may not be willing to admit it due to his gradually rising self-esteem.

So he was still aiming to become a member of Team Skull, spontaneously following Team Skull members to make trouble everywhere.

However, Nanu's words ultimately left some traces. He began to pay serious attention to the Island Challenge, and at the same time, he probed from the Team Skull members, discovering that everyone had participated in the Island Challenge.

And then gave up for various reasons.

【You gradually realize that what that person said might not be incorrect, which makes you a bit confused and shaken.】

He hadn't participated in the Island Challenge.

And the members of Team Skull had basically all participated; the only one who hadn't was the boss, Guzma.

Bad Boy began to retreat.

Some of the truths he once held also became no longer so convincing to him.

But because teenagers always wear their thoughts on their faces, the others in Team Skull seemed to have discovered the abnormality of this tag-along.

So.

This day, the only executive of Team Skull, the big sister Plumeria, suddenly appeared.

【You hear the big sister agree to let you join Team Skull, and everyone even helped you prepare a Pokémon, and you are overjoyed.】

The wish he had been thinking about for so long was fulfilled.

For a moment, Bad Boy threw Nanu's warning and his recent thoughts to the back of his mind.

He watched happily as a Team Skull member took out a cloth bag.

Inside the cloth bag lay a sleeping Alolan Meowth.

The Team Skull member said that they had recently been targeted by a police officer named Nanu, so they stole the Alolan Meowth he was raising at home.

This Meowth was the Pokémon they had prepared for Bad Boy.

Stealing a Pokémon!

【You are struck by lightning, and the first thing you think of is that man with the Krookodile.】

He had been following Team Skull to make trouble everywhere, but those could only be called small pranks; stealing someone else's Pokémon...

The joy receded like a tide.

【You watch the Team Skull members burst into hearty laughter, but you can't laugh no matter what.】

After dropping off the Meowth, the Team Skull members left, telling Bad Boy before leaving that the team uniform and equipment needed to be purchased at his own expense.

Bad Boy didn't seem to hear any of this; he looked at the Meowth in the cloth bag, his heart struggling and resolving incomparably.

"Is the moment to decide the future here?"

All Baimu certainly knew the ending, but he was also looking forward to how Bad Boy would make his choice, just like when he read a novel and knew the protagonist would be invincible, yet he was still very curious about the content.

Fortunately.

Bad Boy ultimately stopped before falling completely.

He took the Meowth in the cloth bag to the police station, intending to return it to Nanu, but who would have expected a dog-blood scene to occur.

Because the police officer at the station knew him and knew he was a member of Team Skull who caused trouble everywhere, and seeing the sleeping Meowth, he controlled Bad Boy without a word.

【You try desperately to explain, but the other person doesn't listen at all, which makes you start to regret your choice.】

But just before Bad Boy completely turned dark.

Nanu returned from patrol.

He learned the ins and outs, let the officer release Bad Boy, persuaded the latter, who was indignant and wanted to leave, and brought him into an office.

【You hear him ask why you sent the Meowth back, and feeling mocked, you indignantly express that you were blind.】

The encounter just now had once again triggered Bad Boy's rebellious emotions, but Nanu didn't care and chatted with him very patiently.

Nanu said he had deliberately let the Meowth be snatched away by Team Skull, and to prove it, he even deliberately let the Meowth in the cloth bag "wake up."

The goal was to find Team Skull's lair and teach their boss behind the scenes a lesson.

He didn't expect the Meowth to be given to Bad Boy by those people.

He asked Bad Boy again if he still thought the Island Challenge was an old system?

【You wanted to nod, but thinking of the information you had collected these days, you didn't speak.】

Nanu didn't seem to care about Bad Boy's answer and suddenly asked if Bad Boy was willing to adopt the Meowth. Bad Boy was stunned.

He hadn't expected Nanu to entrust the Meowth to him at all.

After all, their two meetings couldn't be considered pleasant, and he was still a member of Team Skull that Nanu was trying to punish.

【You ask him for the reason, and he says that you were willing to bring the Meowth back, which shows that you still have your conscience, and you need the strength to protect yourself and your family.】

Bad Boy was puzzled.

Nanu told him that the scene of him coming to the police station to return the Meowth had already been seen by Team Skull.

【You are shocked and angrily question who betrayed you.】

An ellipsis appeared on Nanu's forehead, telling Bad Boy that he had betrayed himself; the act of returning the Meowth was too blatant.

And he even entered through the front door of the police station specifically to find him to return it, as if he was afraid others wouldn't see.

Bad Boy was dumbfounded.

"Hahahaha!"

All Baimu, from the third-person perspective, burst into laughter.

There aren't many smart kids in the Pokémon anime world, including the protagonist Ash, who all have a kind of unworldly beauty.

Besides, Nanu is likely a retired International Police officer, just like in the game.

Finally.

Bad Boy took the Meowth away. The narrator indicated that he had long wanted to have a Pokémon, but due to various reasons, he never had the chance.

No chance? Alola is full of wild Pokémon.

Under such circumstances, to have his first Pokémon at thirteen, it must be due to family factors, right?

All Baimu thought of the spicy girl in the theatrical version "Everyone's Story" who was in a regular high school; she was almost an adult before she caught an Eevee with Ash's help.

What was Bad Boy's situation?

He looked at the light screen, and just in time, Bad Boy was surrounded by other Team Skull members in the picture.

This group was undoubtedly here to hold him accountable.

Bad Boy was not good with words and couldn't argue his case.

【You try to prove that you didn't betray Team Skull, but you fail to gain their trust.】

Just before they were about to fight.

The big sister Plumeria appeared again. She felt it was too much trouble and directly expelled Bad Boy, who had just joined the team, from Team Skull.

Bad Boy was certainly unwilling, but he had no choice but to accept it.

However.

This matter did not end there.

Before Bad Boy could beg Team Skull to accept him again, they took the initiative to come to his door, but they didn't bring goodwill.

In the past, he always followed Team Skull to make trouble everywhere and add trouble to others.

Never thought...

【You and your home were targeted by them.】

Smashing windows, blocking sewers, cutting off electricity, dumping trash at the door, destroying the plants Bad Boy's grandmother had planted.

All of this was behavior Bad Boy had once done, thinking it was resisting tradition.

But when the hammer hit him instead, he knew how painful it was.

【You endure it, thinking this is the punishment for betrayal.】

Bad Boy, who was obsessed and didn't realize his mistake, still held fantasies about Team Skull, enduring it raw, just acting as if nothing had happened, making All Baimu sigh that there are really many fools.

But the reason Bad Boy could endure it wasn't just Team Skull, but also the existence of Meowth.

This Meowth of Nanu's was not only smart but also had a very stable personality. It also discovered Team Skull members sneaking to the door many times and tried to resist their bad behavior.

Even if blocked, it didn't pour its anger on the cowardly Bad Boy, but instead comforted him pityingly, solving the trouble caused by Team Skull together with Bad Boy.

It simply didn't look like a Dark-type Pokémon.

Influenced by Meowth, Bad Boy's thoughts began to change, from initial self-pity to anger at Team Skull's behavior, reflecting on his past actions.

Until one day.

Bad Boy's grandmother fell down a hillside because she was entangled by Team Skull and was admitted to the hospital.

【You are stunned, only feeling stars in your eyes.】

Bad Boy rushed into the hospital like a madman. Fortunately, his grandmother was not in serious trouble, just some minor contusions and a fright, needing to rest.

Bad Boy's parents also finally appeared.

According to the narrator, both of them worked in other regions. Bad Boy was taken by them until he was ten, and after ten, due to the intensity of their work, they had to send him back to his hometown, Alola.

Sure enough, a left-behind child.

All Baimu sighed. Sometimes people only know pain after paying a certain price, and some prices are hard to bear.

Fortunately, Bad Boy was lucky enough and young enough to have room to make mistakes.

As he expected.

After returning home, Bad Boy locked himself in his room for a day and a night. Even Meowth couldn't get in to comfort him, only able to worry endlessly outside the door.

【You finally understand.】

This was the first sentence that popped up after Bad Boy came out.

He took Meowth straight to the police station and found Nanu.

Then.

【You kneel down, stating the mistakes you made incredibly seriously, begging him to teach you how to become strong.】

Nanu agreed. ===== CHAPTER 824 =====