The Ghost Specialist

Sam sucked in a breath as Redi leaned forward in her chair, setting her hands on the table. He watched as she interlaced her fingers like Mr. Pokémon had done seconds before. This was no longer just a casual conversation. This was now a discussion of an actual deal.

“A sponsorship,” Redi repeated. “You’re offering us a sponsorship?”

She tapped her fingers in a wave. Despite Mr. Pokémon being the businessman within the room, Sam could tell Redi was trying to wrest control of the conversation.

“Yes, a sponsorship!” Mr. Pokémon said again. “A minor one, however. How much do you know about how they work?”

“Not much. A little bit,” Sam answered. “I know businesses and Professors can sponsor a trainer and send them money for their teams.”

He adjusted how he was sitting in his chair to try to sit up a bit taller. He suddenly felt as though he was seated next to a pair of giants in the form of Redi and Mr. Pokémon.

Thankfully, the businessman leaned back, reentering a casual position. Mr. Pokémon rubbed his mustache consideringly. He hummed as if trying to find the best words to speak.

“The way I see it, there are three main types of sponsorships. Business, research, and one-way sponsorships that merely exist for support. That third version is basic enough. A private citizen or someone else gives money to a trainer without anything expected in return. Quite regularly, Pokémon Gyms and the League itself will grant these to support impressive local trainers and those they eventually want to hire. However, in those cases, the money is generally expected to be primarily used to train a team.”

“...Is that what you want to give us?” Sam asked hopefully.

Mr. Pokémon shook his head.

“I’m considering one closer to how businesses and Professors sponsor trainers. Those sponsorships have expectations, but I’d keep any light.

“For business sponsorships, companies and wealthy investors will pay trainers and generally provide services such as Pokémon stabling, tutoring, and free or discounted supplies. In exchange, trainers are expected to help advertise the business sponsor. That means multiple, required appearances in public tournaments around the year, rights for their image to be used in advertising, and if the trainer is popular enough, a business sponsorship could even lead into merchandising—”

Redi scoffed.

“Being a sell-out, you mean.”

Mr. Pokémon chortled and shook his head.

“That’s not what we’d be going for,” he said. “No, while I am a private investor, the sponsorship I’d like to provide is one more dedicated to research.

“Essentially, research sponsorships are usually given out by Professors, with lesser ones provided by general researchers, too. For these sponsorships, the same funding and services are provided, but trainers are expected to help their sponsor’s studies in one way or another. The most famous example of these are the sponsorships provided by a region’s primary Pokémon Professor. Whoever is leading research in a region will provide rare Starter Pokémon, monthly funding, and unlimited stabling in exchange for the scanning data obtained via the latest version of the Pokédex.”

Sam balked at that idea, though he ignored the part about the Pokédex. Something else had caught his attention when Mr. Pokémon explained his point.

“Unlimited stabling? How many Pokémon does one person need?”

“Ah, well, my understanding might be influenced by the discussions I’ve had with Professor Oak. He provides unlimited stabling, yes, but I know Elm is much more limited, and I doubt others have the same level of influence or wealth.”

Of course he knows Professor Oak.

Sam wanted to ask if the man knew his grandfather, too, but based on how he’d been treating them, he had a feeling Mr. Pokémon didn’t.

“So what are you going for?” Redi spoke up to ask. “A sponsorship is easy enough to understand. You want to give us money to support our teams. But why? What do you get out of this? Other than general research?”

At this point, Mr. Pokémon seemed to be finished with his base explanations, and he leaned forward once more to emphasize his focus. His mustache-hidden smile was replaced with a much more serious expression. Now was the time for business.

“I'll remind you of my goal,” he started. “I desire to spread the knowledge of Pokémon, and by that, I mean making previously unknown or limited information much more commonly known. I have my investments. I have my connections. What I'm looking for are ways to push the modern understanding of Pokémon.”

Sam fidgeted in his seat.

“Indigo is...” Mr. Pokémon hesitated. “Not necessarily isolationist, but it's definitely set in its ways. While there has been a concerted effort to reach out, not everyone is enthused about the League’s growing ties with other regions. I want to remind people that there’s more to be found than just what’s in their immediate surroundings. I want them to understand that there’s so much more to the world than just their local towns!”

“So you want us to show off our Pokémon's evolutions, if they’re successful,” Sam stated. “But they’re still local species—at least to Johto. How does that help your goal at all?”

Mr. Pokémon’s eyes seemed to sparkle as Sam asked his question.

“Truthfully, what species they are doesn’t matter. What matters is the feeling that seeing a previously unknown species invokes. I admit, the researcher in me wants to know if rediscovering those two lost evolutions is at all possible, but I also want to spark that drive for discovery in as many people as I can. I want to challenge what people think they know and show that there’s so much more we still have yet to discover.”

He chuckled to himself slightly.

“And for your two Pokémon, yes, I want you to succeed in their evolutions and brag about them to the entire world come the Silver Conference,” Mr. Pokémon said. “But most importantly, after that Conference, I don’t want you to hide the methods you used to achieve those evolutions. Thus, my sole requirement for this sponsorship is that you publicly share the steps you took to evolve your Pokémon.”

Right away, Sam couldn't stop his frown. Yes, Hisuian Typhlosion and Ursuluna would likely shock Indigo exactly as Mr. Pokémon intended. Yet, Sam didn't want to share his information.

The New Pokédex was never going to be secret forever. People were eventually going to figure out how to obtain all of its unknown species. However, Sam didn’t want to sell off anything found within. He could admit that he was being a little possessive, but it was his book, and the idea of effectively selling bits of it to the highest bidder didn’t sit right with him.

His grandfather might have never opened the package that contained the book, but the man had placed it inside a chest alongside what seemed to be his treasured possessions. To include its information in a deal, directly or not, simply felt wrong.

It was like Mr. Pokémon was trying to convince him to trade a bit of his grandfather away.

I'm going to decline it.

Screw the money. We’re fine on our own. We can earn what we need from battles and tournaments and Gym fights, and with the visit to the Sinjoh Ruins coming up—

Sam breathed out.

But what about Redi’s Peat Block?

They had no way of knowing if any bit of peat from Sinnoh’s swamps would be enough to evolve Ursaring. Mr. Pokémon had brought up the point that the environment itself might have changed, and that carried the possibility of Ursaring’s next evolution being impossible without dedicated assistance.

Mr. Pokémon could help Redi with that. If peat from the swamp didn’t work, he could potentially get her the needed mud from elsewhere or even pay people to try to figure out the right mineral composition.

Sam sent a side-eye to Redi, trying to hide his stare. She didn’t notice and was still looking directly at Mr. Pokémon.

Sam then had a second thought.

Could Mr. Pokémon help us get an Upgrade for Porygon, too?

“So then, what are you specifically offering us? Cause I can't help but notice you've talked about your hopes and dreams and whatever, but you haven't actually shared any numbers,” Redi said.

Mr. Pokémon smiled at her brazenness. He hadn’t once stopped looking amused.

“I'd provide you with one thousand dollars, each, twice a month. It’s not much, especially once you fill out your teams and obtain more Pokémon, but it should take away some of the pressure on your shoulders and let you try for evolution a bit more freely. No, the real benefit I’ll provide is serving as a source of items you wouldn’t be able to obtain normally. As part of our agreement, if you provide me with a written request for a specific item that details why it’d be needed for an evolution, I’d do my best to obtain it for you at no additional cost.”

Sam suddenly felt as though he was choking on blood. Between his and Redi’s teams, they only had two held items: the Cleanse Tag, which was a special case, and Quilava’s piece of Charcoal, which they’d essentially been given for free. The Cleanse Tag was hand-made, technically cheap to make but unable to be priced. As for the Charcoal, items like it that were rated for battles were worth literal thousands. More than that, even with its ridiculous price, a Charcoal itself was considered to be one of the “weaker” kinds of held items out there.

For Mr. Pokémon to say he’d acquire any item for them just like that...

Of course, the items would have to be for the purpose of discovering new evolutions, but Sam could already think of a few arguments he could use to stretch that.

“...And how many items would you be willing to provide?” Redi asked cautiously.

“Hopefully not too many. I may be wealthy, but not unimaginably so. I can provide what you need within reason as long as they support the pursuit of your Pokémon’s evolutions.”

She paused, hesitant. For once in this conversation, her confidence seemed to wane.

“Just for Quilava and Ursaring’s evolutions?” she asked.

Mr. Pokémon’s gaze sharpened, recognizing the double meaning behind her words.

“That's quite an interesting question. I suppose you could be referencing the rest of your teams’ evolutions, but I do need to ask: Are you striving for any other unknown evolutions I should know about?”

Redi smirked ever so slightly, but she also looked away as if caught in a lie.

“No?”

Sam wasn’t sure if she had really accidentally hinted at other evolutions or if she purposefully dangled that thought before Mr. Pokémon to try to get more out of him.

Right away, the man reached into a drawer of his desk and pulled out a thin notebook. He flipped through, mumbling under his breath as he did. Sam could hear him quietly say the names of various Pokémon on their teams.

“An alternate Gengar? No, unlikely. Mismagius is a known quantity, so perhaps there’s an evolution past that? Porygon is still a relatively unknown species, but everyone is trying to see if it can evolve, so that’s nothing too special. And young Samuel’s Primeape has reached its final form, unless—!”

His eyes snapped to Sam.

Sam wasn't a negotiator, so he said nothing. He kept his expression perfectly level and emotionlessly stared back.

“I do know of your Porygon, young Redi,” Mr. Pokémon said, slowly bringing his gaze over to her. “It’s an exceptionally rare species, first designed intentionally, now appearing as a consequence of systems that contain too much intelligence.”

That wasn't in the New Pokédex.

“Really?” Redi asked.

“Indeed. I've heard stories of Bill himself complaining when weeks of work were wiped after one of his programs accidentally developed into a Porygon.”

Redi seemed to be at a loss for words. Sam definitely was. Bill was almost as well known as Oak for his development of modern computer systems. This was the second time Mr. Pokémon had casually name-dropped someone so extremely famous.

But he doesn’t know my grandfather. He never acted like he recognized me or mentioned that connection in this discussion.

Sam briefly closed his eyes to try to stay focused, and Redi shifted in place in an attempt to maintain her serious demeanor.

“I... see,” she said carefully.

“Bill and a few others have theorized that a Porygon can evolve. I can't say I know him as more than a casual acquaintance, but I still should be able to send you his way, given you’ve acquired an incredibly rare Pokémon for yourself, hm?”

Redi nodded, dazed. Mr. Pokémon glanced back at Sam and chuckled, his thick mustache bouncing with each exhale.

“And if you happen to stumble on any other rare evolution, I'll assist you with them too, yes?”

“...Okay,” Sam said.

Mr. Pokémon clapped his hands.

“But I think that’s enough excitement for one conversation. None of us will be signing or agreeing to anything official today. I’ll draft up a contract and see it sent your way, and you two have the more important role of considering my offer and contacting your parents.”

There was a brief yet noticeable pause after Mr. Pokémon’s declaration.

“Parents?” Redi repeated.

“Or equivalent legal guardian,” Mr. Pokémon said. “I understand that as Pokémon trainers, you have the legal right to make decisions for you and your teams, but I cannot in good faith make deals with trainers under the legal age of maturity without informing their parents first.”

Sam wanted to talk to his mother, regardless. He hated the idea of selling off information from the New Pokédex, yet he couldn’t deny that Mr. Pokémon’s help would be invaluable. Being able to request specific items could make evolving Quilava and Primeape so much easier. His mother would be able to help him weigh the pros and cons of this agreement, and she’d be able to walk him through the legal jargon of the deal itself. She also had enough business acumen to know if it was worth taking in the first place.

Also, he just wanted to talk about the situation. Sam’s grandfather was her father, and it didn’t feel right to make a deal involving something that belonged to him without her input.

“I can do that,” Sam said, though he didn’t hear Redi say anything in agreement. He turned her way only to see her mouth had closed into a frown, and her shoulders had slumped without her even noticing.

She saw him staring, and her posture entirely shifted. A smirk returned, and she barked out a single laugh.

“Yeah! That's no problem! I'll give ‘em a call!” she said.

Sam had known Redi for long enough to tell when she was lying.

...I don't remember Redi ever calling her family before.

Mr. Pokémon didn’t catch on to her lie, and he happily nodded along. Sam spoke up for the final time, sensing the end of their discussion.

“We're going to head out pretty soon, but it’s no problem if we don’t contact you until after we reach a city and have time to think, right?”

“By all means!” Mr. Pokémon merrily held out his arms. “Take all the time you need. I don't expect you to or want you to rush your Pokémon's evolutions. And, even if they never happen, that's no problem at all. Something like this is worth a shot, no matter how impossible it seems.”

Sam bowed his head gratefully and stood up, thanking Mr. Pokémon for his time. Redi did the same before stiffly leading their walk out of the room.

“Do you want to take the deal?” Sam said as soon as they were out of earshot. That butler wasn’t anywhere nearby.

“I want to,” Redi said. “I mean, if people are going to figure all of this out eventually, the cost is nothing. We'd reveal their evolution methods no matter what, right? And even if we do keep them secret, someone would figure them out. It makes sense to take it.”

Sam hesitantly nodded his head.

The logical reasoning was sound, but the emotional reasoning wasn’t quite there for Sam. He wasn't sure if he wanted to take the deal or not, but thankfully, Redi didn't push.

They went back to their guest rooms and gathered their stuff to pack. Sam tried to think about the offer, but he decided to put it off until he saw the exact terms of the deal. Instead, he tried to distract himself with the future developments he wanted for his team.

Dream Eater. Nightmare. Destiny Bond? More coverage moves for sure. Maybe Agility or Double Team for Quilava, too. ...Misdreavus needs a Dusk Stone if she wants to evolve.

He met Redi outside the room, where she had been waiting for him in the hallway. Haunter was lingering toward the entrance gate, and Misdreavus reappeared to lazily drift near Sam's side.

“So I've been thinking,” Redi said.

“You can do that?” Sam asked, feigning amazement.

She stuck her tongue out at him as Sam laughed at her reaction.

“Yes, I can,” she replied flatly. “And what I’ve been thinking about is...”

She paused.

“What if we don't visit Cherrygrove City?”

“What do you mean?”

“I mean that, yeah, we’re looping around the region, but this part of Johto is known for only really having weak Pokémon. We can relax and take it easy for a while, but after everything that’s happened to us recently, I want to go somewhere without other people.

“Sam,” she continued, “our Pokémon are strong. We still have extra medical supplies from after Petrel. And we have a Pokégear for emergencies. So let’s head north to Blackthorn City.”

“You want to go through Dark Cave?” he asked.

Redi shook her head.

“No. Not that. I think we should try a different sort of challenge. Let’s skip toward Blackthorn City by traveling off-route. We’ll go through areas where Ranger patrols are less common, see what the wild Pokémon are like, and maybe... maybe I can catch a new Pokémon for my team. We’re at that level. I think it would be worth it.”

Sam thought about it for less than a second before he readily agreed.