"Do you have anything else to say?" Asked the masked man.
"Weren't you asking about the headquarters location? This Purrloin should know, right? I'll help you ask it!" Cole said, holding up the cat.
"Ask the Purrloin?" The masked man was confused.
How would that work?
Under the masked man's puzzled gaze, Cole looked at the Purrloin and asked in a low voice, "Do you know where their headquarters is? Tell me quickly, or once I hand you over, I won't be responsible for what happens to you."
"Meow meow meow~" — What are you talking about? I don't understand...
The Purrloin put on a pitiful expression, trying to gain his sympathy, but Cole wasn't falling for it. He knew that acting pitiful was a specialty of Pokémon like this one — if you actually believed them, they might turn around and scratch your face.
"If you tell me, I'll do my best to ensure your safety." He promised.
"Meow meow~" — Really?
Unable to deceive this human or escape his grasp, the Purrloin became more cooperative.
"Of course. If you don't tell us, we're both done for!"
"Meow meow meow~" — Alright, I'll tell you everything I know.
The masked man, it turned out, had been investigating a drug trafficking organization. He had caught one of the organization's members, hoping to extract information. But the dealer proved resolute — when the masked man's attention wavered, the dealer quickly took his own life.
During the struggle, the dealer's Pokémon — this very Purrloin — had managed to escape.
Though catching the Purrloin wouldn't have been difficult, the masked man had an idea: with the trail gone cold, why not use the cat to lead him forward?
He reasoned that the deceased dealer might have intended for the Purrloin to relay information back to the organization. Someone would surely contact it, giving him a chance to track down their hideout.
But the masked man hadn't counted on the cat's cunning. Though not particularly strong, it had discovered it was being followed and had nearly eluded him several times.
Their chase had become a game of cat and mouse.
The masked man had completely misread the situation, though. The Purrloin's master hadn't instructed it to relay any information, and even if he had, it wouldn't have complied — it despised the organization.
Having finally gained its freedom, the Purrloin would have been crazy to return to that trap. All it wanted now was to be free.
It had endured enough of that cursed organization, where not a single person showed any decency. Under its previous master, it had suffered daily beatings and constant hunger. That life had offered no future.
Now, caught by Cole and under threat to reveal the organization's location, it had no choice but to cooperate.
Although it had never intended to relay information back to the drug organization, the Purrloin did know their base's location. Having spent several years there while planning its escape, it knew the layout intimately.
After hearing the Purrloin's explanation, something clicked in Cole's mind. Could this be the same drug organization that kidnapped his teacher Omura? Such a coincidence seemed unlikely.
The masked man was taken aback by the boy's ability to communicate with the Purrloin. It seemed improbable that a mere child could possess such a rare talent — unless he was connected to the organization.
"I'll tell you the location you want to know, but you have to take me with you." Cole said. He needed to see for himself.
"Of course you're coming along — how else would I know you're not lying!"
Though the communication with the Purrloin appeared genuine, the masked man remained skeptical — the boy could simply be an excellent actor.
Without further delay, the masked man took Cole and the Purrloin aboard his Noivern, following the cat's directions as they flew away from Lumiose.
✲✲✲✲✲✲✲✲✲✲
The drug organization's base lay beyond Lumiose City's borders.
The masked man's courage was remarkable — he intended to raid their base single-handedly.
After flying half the night, they reached their destination before dawn. The base was nestled in a hidden valley dotted with caves, each entrance guarded by trainers and their Pokémon.
Cole noticed something peculiar: herds of Sawsbuck grazing in the valley's grasslands.
The masked man, concealed in shadows, gestured toward the sleeping Sawsbuck, "Their antlers are the main ingredient for the dealers' drugs!"
"Sawsbuck antlers?" Cole asked, startled by this revelation.
The masked man studied him carefully before explaining, "Yes. Sawsbuck antlers possess the power to create illusions. The organization exploits this property, combining it with other toxins to create a dangerous drug.
Those who take it become trapped in an illusory world, their vitality slowly draining as they waste away. What makes it truly horrific is its near-impossible addiction to break — this drug has destroyed countless families."
At this point, the masked man's tone grew severe and angry, though Cole couldn't see his expression behind the mask.
Looking at the patrolling guards, he asked the masked man, "Do you have a plan?"
The masked man replied with his own question, "Plan? What plan? Of course we're going to charge right in!"
"But there are so many people inside. You can't fight them all alone. Why don't we ask Officer Jenny for help?" Cole suggested.
Now convinced this kid had no connection to the drug organization, the masked man shook his head, "No need, I can handle this myself."
With that, he leaped out from the shadows.
"Ah..." Cole couldn't stop him, "This reckless fool!"
Shouts erupted throughout the valley as the masked man engaged the drug dealers. He commanded his Noivern and Mega Blaziken to wreak havoc, forcing the dealers to retreat steadily. The masked man proved formidable — these thugs were no match for him at all.
Meanwhile, Cole seized this opportunity to secretly call Officer Jenny and report the situation in detail.
Upon receiving his report, Officer Jenny was furious. The police had already located the dealers' base but had planned to wait and rescue the hostages secretly before taking action to ensure their safety.
Who would have thought that Blaziken Mask would burst in and disrupt everything!
Officer Jenny knew Blaziken Mask all too well. This "hero in the darkness" was famous in Lumiose, working in the shadows to punish evil and uphold justice. He was well-known not only to the police force but to the city's citizens as well.
The problem was that while Blaziken Mask had accomplished many good deeds, he also frequently disrupted police operations, causing them countless headaches.
To the police, he wasn't just a hero — he was a troublemaker.
When Cole suggested asking Officer Jenny for help, Blaziken Mask's immediate refusal wasn't just about confidence in his abilities — he knew that if the police came, they wouldn't praise him for helping with the case; they'd arrest him too.
Officer Jenny immediately mobilized her personnel to prevent the drug organization from relocating their base.
While awaiting police arrival, Cole observed the masked man's dominance over the valley — the dealers were thoroughly distracted. Seizing this opportunity, he slipped unnoticed into one of the caves.
✲✲✲
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