At 7:00 AM, John sat at a worn wooden table in the Pokémon Investigators' headquarters alongside Mira and Hugh, enjoying a hearty breakfast. After the previous night's ordeal, John had loaded his plate with two fried eggs, thick-cut bacon, a stack of buttermilk pancakes, and a steaming mug of black coffee. Nothing beat a good meal after a long night's work.
Just hours earlier at the base of Team Asura, John had confronted and eliminated Owl. John felt no remorse for taking down a murderer whose hands were stained with the blood of countless innocents. As for Owl's Houndoom, John hadn't killed it, he'd simply released it back into the game, effectively ensuring it would never appear in this world again.
After leaving Hoshino City, John had headed to White Bridge, but Team Asura's operations there had been handled more efficiently than those in Hoshino. By the time John and his partners arrived, the other agents were already cleaning up the battlefield. They later learned from the local Pokémon investigator that the remaining three bases were in similar states of cleanup, so the trio returned to headquarters.
As John shoveled a forkful of pancake into his mouth, Senior Agent Zachary walked in.
"Hey, boss. How'd it go?" John asked between bites.
"The organization's leader was captured by you, and their second-in-command was taken down by you. How do you think it went?" Zachary replied with a crooked smile. He walked over to John's side and clapped him on the shoulder. "Come on, let's chat in my office."
John stood up and followed Zachary, but not before shooting a warning glance at Mira, who was eyeing his untouched bacon with obvious interest.
Mira simply scribbled on her notepad and held it up: "Wasn't going to take it anyway," before putting her fork down with a theatrical huff.
"Take a seat," Zachary said as they entered his office, pouring two cups of coffee. "You did exceptional work taking down Team Asura."
"So, is there a reward?" John rubbed his thumb and forefinger together. "Maybe some rare Pokémon items or something? Tangible benefits are more motivational than verbal praise."
"Of course there are rare Pokémon items coming your way, and not just one!" Zachary smiled.
"Huh?" John's eyebrows shot up in surprise. "Are you Pokémon Investigators loaded or something? Taking down one criminal organization nets multiple rare items? Makes me want to join the Investigators full-time!"
The Gym Leader position officially provided three rare Pokémon items as yearly salary, one every four months. Working as a Pokémon Investigator might mean four items a month, which would easily outpace what he earned as a Trainer with his trusty Gameboy.
"If you want to join the Investigators permanently, I'd welcome it," Zachary said, "but I should warn you, this is unusual. Since I joined, this is the first time we've gotten such a massive reward."
Zachary leaned forward. "This haul was special. We finally cracked Team Asura's vault and recovered a legendary Pokémon item. That's why headquarters promised three rare items as a reward for you, the hero of this operation."
At the mention of a legendary item, John's eyes widened with curiosity. "What legendary item?"
"That's classified information. Only high-level Investigators have clearance. I can't tell you." Zachary shook his head.
"Is that so? Forget it then..." John sighed, though he was merely curious. There was no point dwelling on legendary items that had already been claimed by the government. Besides, he didn't particularly need any legendary items at the moment.
Getting three rare Pokémon items was already a significant windfall, equivalent to a full year's salary as a Gym Leader. He'd hit the jackpot on this mission.
"However..." Zachary said suddenly, "I have a proposition for you. If you're interested, I might be able to share more information."
John raised an eyebrow. "You're baiting me, boss!"
"Tell me what you want from me. You know I'm a Gym Leader. If you want me to work as an Investigator, you'd better make sure it's worth giving up my current position."
"Of course," Zachary nodded, having clearly anticipated this response. "Considering the exceptional skills and combat effectiveness you demonstrated during this operation, Pokémon Investigator Headquarters wants to bring you on board."
"However, given your status as a Gym Leader, after discussions at headquarters, we've decided to offer you a position as an Honorary Pokémon Investigator."
"What are the responsibilities and benefits of this position?" John asked calmly, not particularly interested in honorary titles.
"I appreciate your directness," Zachary said with an approving smile. "The Honorary Investigator position doesn't come with many obligations, it's more like being a specialized contractor."
"No obligations means no specific responsibilities. You won't need to participate in regular investigator work, but when we encounter situations similar to Team Asura, we'll extend an invitation. You can choose to help or refuse. During missions, headquarters will determine your compensation based on your performance and the operation's outcome, just like today."
"As for benefits, as an Honorary Investigator, you'll have access to Investigator bases within the Trainer Association, just like regular Investigators. You'll also have clearance to view certain information through the Investigator database and receive some perks."
"Alright, I accept," John said without hesitation. No responsibilities, complete freedom to choose missions, and some Investigator privileges, only a fool would refuse such an offer.
"Excellent! Here's your appointment letter. Sign it, and you'll officially be an Honorary Pokémon Investigator." Zachary pushed a document across the desk.
John picked up a pen and signed his name. He'd been practicing his signature lately, anticipating future autograph sessions once he became famous.
"Now, boss, can you tell me which legendary Pokémon that legendary item came from?"
Zachary nodded and lowered his voice: "Mew. The Genetic Pokémon."