Once again, Looker was in Sinnoh. He had rented a small chamber in a hotel in Jubilife City and was now waiting for Drasna in front of a café, Croagunk at his side. While he was waiting, he watched with curiosity the spots on the giant screen on the Jubilife TV's building. Adds for the Pokétch or new Devon Corp products, for the Veilstone Department Store, and even a trailer for a new movie with Sabrina, the former gym leader of Saffron City who had recently started a career in cinema. But something else caught his attention. A spot for the Team Galactic. A cute girl with red hair in a sort of spacesuit was talking. The background behind her was showing a movie of planets, stars and galaxies, accompanied with lounge music.
"The Team Galactic acts to create a better world," the red-haired girl was saying energetically. "Through science and technology, we'll offer a better future to people and Pokémons, we'll reach the stars ! To realise this dream, we need donations. Help us, be part of this fantastic projet, join the Team Galactic !"
Again, it didn't look like anything suspicious. Every research institute needed money, and most of them could continue to exist thanks to these donations. And those spacesuits, Looker thought they were quite ridiculous, but they had probably contributed to the success of the Team Galactic, especially with young people.
While he was thinking about all that, a serious look on his face, Drasna appeared at the corner of the street and was graciously walking toward him. She was impossible to miss in the crowd with her big dragon fangs around the neck. Accompanying her was a young and beautiful blond woman dressed in black. Looker immediately recognised Cynthia, the champion of the Sinnoh League. She came from Celestic Town, but was too young to have become friend with Drasna and Looker when they were young and spending their holidays at Drasna's grand-parents' house. Drasna had really befriended Cynthia when she had moved to Sinnoh to study, because Cynthia was also interested in old myths and legendary Pokémons. Looker had only seen her a few times, but the young woman was friendly.
"Looker, we're here !" Drasna called happily as they walked toward him. Of course, she knew that in a public area, she had to call him by his code name, Looker. His serious look disappeared as soon as he saw her, replaced by a huge grin.
"Hey girls, how are you ? Cynthia, it's been such a long time !" They kissed each other on the cheeks, and Croagunk jumped into Drasna's arms. They sat inside the café and ordered three coffees and a poffin for Croagunk.
"What's new Cynthia ? A lot of challengers to defeat these days ?" Looker asked.
"Oh no, it's calm for the moment… You know, there's not a lot of trainers who can beat Volkner, so nobody comes to the League…" the blond woman answered.
"I see, so you have a lot of free time. Isn't it too boring ?"
"Well, I use this free time to continue my study of mythology. I've taken an interest for the Solaceon ruins for the moment, I think I can discover something crucial there, about the origins of Pokémons. Maybe even the origins of the world."
"Ahhh, that's a perfect job, being a champion," Drasna sighed, caressing Croagunk's head. "You meet all kind of interesting people, and you still have enough time for your own studies. Plus, it's well paid, isn't it ?"
"I can't deny it !" Cynthia replied with a snort. "You should become a champion too Drasna, I'm sure you could do it !"
"Yes, you should !" Looker encouraged her. "Nobody knows the dragon type better than you !"
"Oh no, that's not true," Drasna answered, drinking a sip of coffee. "There are some people who know it better than me."
"Who ? Lance and Clair ? I know them well, that's true that they are specialists in this field, but I'm sure you could surpass them if you trained enough." Cynthia said.
"Maybe, but I don't have time to train, my studies take me too much time."
"At least, think about it. I'll talk to Lance, I'm sure he could convince you."
"Or you could enter the International Police !" Looker proposed with a smile. "That way we'd always be together ! Wouldn't it be wonderful ?"
"Oh yes," Drasna laughed. "But I don't think I would be a good police officer. I'm too scatterbrained…"
"Ahaha, true ! For this job, you need to be very observant. It's dangerous also, and I wouldn't want you to get hurt."
"Speaking about that, you came here for work, didn't you ?" she asked. Looker drank a sip of coffee before answering, his face serious.
"Yea. I'm here to investigate on the Team Galactic."
"The Team Galactic ?" Cynthia said, surprised.
"Hum ? You know something about them ?"
"No, not much…" she answered, thoughtful.
"Anyway, I don't think they're suspicious, but my boss wants me to investigate, so here I am," he continued. "What do you think of them, Drasna ?"
"Uh ? I don't know, they published some good articles about Dialga and Palkia, I used them for my researches. Apart from that, I don't know much about them, but they seem quite popular. Cyrus thinks they are clever."
"Oh really ?" Looker asked, this detail catching his attention. Suddenly, he found the Team Galactic quite suspicious.
"Yes, he says that their researches could really make the world a better place."
"Maybe… Anyway, if you hear anything suspicious about the Team Galactic, tell me."
"Okay !" she agreed.
At this moment, her old pokégear rang.
"Oh, excuse me," she said, and went out to answer it. When she came back after a short time, she said that she had to leave.
"It was Cyrus, wasn't it ?" Looker asked, frowning.
"No, it was Dawn, Professor Rowan's assistant, a nice girl. She said Prof. Rowan agreed to take me to Lake Verity, so I have to go. I'm so sorry I couldn't help you with the Team Galactic issue."
"Oh, it's ok, don't worry," he answered, slightly relieved. "I don't expect to find anything anyway. Well, good luck with your studies." He got up to hug her. Damn, her skin smelled good... He didn't want to release her, even though it wasn't very comfortable because of the dragon fangs. After a while, she patted his back, sign to let her go. "Take care," he finally said.
"Yes, you too, and see you soon. You want to come Cynthia ?"
"No thanks, but say hello to Prof. Rowan for me."
"I'll tell him ! Well, good bye !" She said, and left, waving her hand at them.
"She forgot to pay for her coffee," Cynthia noticed with an amused look.
"Scatterbrained…" Looker sighed. "Well, it doesn't matter, I didn't have the intention to let her pay anyway. You neither."
"Oh, you're a gentleman, that's too rare nowadays. But I could buy the whole building if I wanted, so I guess I can pay for a coffee."
"As you wish," he smiled. "Why didn't you go with Drasna ? I thought you'd be interested by the Lake gardians."
"I am. But I can go there by myself, though I'd have been happy to see Dawn." Cynthia answered, sketching a smile. "But there's something I have to tell you."
"Uh ?"
"The Team Galactic, I think you really should keep an eye on them."
"Really ? I thought you knew nothing about them," he answered, surprised.
"I said 'not much', and that's true. But I have heard that someone from this organization stole a Pokémon."
"What ?" Looker almost shouted. "Are you sure ?"
"No, but if it's true, you'd agree that it's quite suspicious."
"Indeed…" he thought about it. "Even if it's true, it may just be the act of a single person and has nothing to do with the organization."
"Maybe. I hope you're right. Anyway, I'll tell you if I hear something else."
"Okay, thank you."
Cynthia wished him good luck for his investigations, paid for her coffee and left. Looker was troubled by this conversation. Why would the Team Galactic steal Pokémons ? A simple research institute should have no interest in illegal activities. Or maybe they weren't what they pretended to be ?
When he went out of the café, the Team Galactic spot was playing again on the Jubilife TV's screen. He still couldn't find anything suspicious in the cute red-haired girl speech. Why would the Team Galactic act so publicly and steal Pokémons behind everyone's back ? That made no sense. Yet, he would investigate more seriously on them from now on.