Into the Unown (Pokemon Fanfiction OC)

Chapter 147

Game Corners were technically not casinos. In fact, the entire industry itself, under the guise of the law, was not considered gambling either. Because, in a similar vein to the pachinko machines of Nina’s past life, there were no monetary prizes to be won, only other valuable items like TMs, Evolution Stones and so on.

One wouldn’t be faulted for thinking that this was all just inane semantics and that gambling was gambling. But consider the fact that pachinko parlours from Nina’s past life had shops located conveniently next door to them that valued those little noisy pachinko balls so much that they would willingly pay a generous sum to ‘purchase’ them from their owners.

In that sense, at least the Game Corners were actually rewarding their winners with items of value. So it had more similarities to arcades in a way. But then again, even in Japan, there were also shops next to arcades that would purchase any winnings at a fair market price. So would that be considered gambling as well?

In fact, people used to be able to win Pokemon in Game Corners of the past, until that got outlawed. It seemed Pokemon trafficking was too much even for the corrupt bureaucrats of the Celadon City. And it was indeed the suits running Celadon that were responsible for this audacious sham of an enterprise. 

The Game Corner industry was too big a revenue source for the Council, prompting them to fight tooth and nail against the Indigo League in their attempts to curb the practice, at least according to the explanation that Lilian provided. So the end result was containment as usual, which was why Game Corners could only be found in Celadon City, turning it into the Vegas to Kanto-Johto.

At this point, these legally distinct casinos were so ingrained in Celadon City’s DNA that removing them outright risked bankrupting the city in its entirety, since most other businesses had developed a reliance on the Game Corner clientele in some tangible way. No wonder the Celadon Council was so protective of it.

“... So we went into the Game Corner, just out of curiosity you know?” Cole scoffed at Charlie’s clumsy subterfuge, earning him a glare from his friend. “And it was there that we came across Nobita…”

Nina frowned. “So you’re saying that Nobita is related to the Yamaguchi family that owns the Game Corner?” She asked, feeling a little irritated at having to raise her voice above all the background noise.

The group of students had made their way over to a karaoke place that Lilian booked for them. It was their original destination before being distracted by Nina’s reunion with Charlie. And since the boy was being all evasive about talking in public, they decided to drag the two boys along with them.

The trio was now standing outside their group's assigned karaoke box, while the rest of Nina’s friends were partying inside. Nina also had Espy out with her just as an added assurance to ensure that Charlie wasn’t trying to hide anything from her.

“I don’t see why that’s a problem, C.” Nina continued. “We can’t exactly choose our parentage, you know?”

“You don’t get it!” Charlie exclaimed, looking all flustered. “Nobita… I hardly recognized him. And he pretended not to know me as well… But he still did the secret handshake!” 

“Here we go again…” Cole rolled his eyes, earning him another glare from Charlie. Only for Nina to hold a hand up to stop the two boys from breaking out into another argument. 

“Hold on a sec, what do you mean secret handshake, Charlie?” 

The boy sighed. “Me and Bobby and Nobita, we have a secret handshake that we used to do back when we were kids.” He explained. “Nobita's eyes… Something just felt wrong, you know? Like he was asking me for help…” That last part was said in a barely audible murmur. 

Cole snorted in ridicule while Nina frowned and fell into contemplation. She could understand why Charlie might be concerned, given his own bad experiences. “Question is, is he just projecting? Or is there really something that triggered an invisible part of his instincts.” 

“Heh. Sounds fishy to me.” Came a sudden, gruff voice, causing both Charlie and Cole to jump in fright. 

Nina sighed. “Let me guess, are your ninja senses tingling, Sebastian?”

The girl's shadow stirred and came to life. “Y'know, I had a think about it and I don't think I like being called Sebastian very much. Makes no sense either.” 

Nina snorted. “Too bad, it's too late now, Sebby. Name's stuck.”

Purple Shadow scoffed and just casually leaned against the wall in his usual belligerent way, completely ruining the fantasy of a dignified butler that Alfred painstakingly crafted for him. 

“Kid's right, his buddy's crying for help,” said Shadow. 

“Could just be that Nobita didn't feel comfortable getting all chummy with an old pal during work.” Nina argued, mainly just to play devil's advocate and cover all their bases. 

Shadow laughed. “How professional. Employee of the month right there. But if he really is the son of Noboru Yamaguchi, then that practically makes him the young master of the joint. Ain't no one got the chops to be sassing him.”

“Maybe it's an image thing, Nobita didn't want to be seen being too friendly with a pleb.” Charlie wilted at Nina's words, prompting the girl to gently caress his shoulder in assurance. 

“But Sebby, aren't you a little too invested in this? Are the Blackthorns interested in the Yamaguchi group perhaps?” Nina added. It was extremely out of character for the ronin to be so nosy like this. 

“Heh.” Purple Shadow smirked. “Not the clan, but the lil missy. ‘Bout time you repaid her generosity, don't you think?” He said in a suggestive tone, eliciting a look of confusion from Nina. 

***

“I believe it is only prudent that we go and inspect the anomaly surrounding this ‘Nobita’, don’t you agree?” Lilian said to Purple Shadow, with a little glint in her eyes.

Nina sighed, she had returned to her friends to relay Charlie’s concerns to Lilian as suggested by Purple Shadow. The girl didn’t bother to ask for a private conversation since she was hoping that the rest of the group could provide a more objective opinion. Unfortunately, most of them didn’t even know who Charlie was, let alone Nobita. So they just opted to remain silent, outside of a few inappropriate quips from Matsuri.

“Is it appropriate,” Nina continued. “For the scion of the great Blackthorn clan to be seen entering a Game Corner?”

Lilian nodded. “Under normal circumstances, that may be so. However, I have been fairly transparent about the intention of my visit. I’m scheduled to meet with Celadon’s councilmen in a few days, I don’t think it would be farfetched to ask for a guided tour of this city’s primary industry.”

“But you don’t even know what Nobita looks like? And how exactly are you planning on establishing contact with him without supervision anyway?”

Lilian smiled. “Which is why you will be joining me as well, my dearest Nina. I believe you still owe me one for Vermilion City. How is this any different? In fact, I dare say this outing will be much more pleasant than that… club you took me to last time.”

Nina coughed and averted her gaze, feeling like Lilian had her pinned against a wall there. The girl did indeed feel a little guilty about dragging her friend to that unsavoury fight club last year, despite both of them gaining a lot from that excursion.

That said, Lilian’s Noibat had been struggling to learn Kage Bunshin all this while. The prideful Blackthorn girl stubbornly persisted with her training though, much like Nina and Brucey for that matter.

“Fine, but Charlie is coming with us.” Nina said with a sigh, eliciting a frown on Lilian’s stoic face.

“I don’t see any justification for that. My affiliation with you is known to a certain extent. Your… friend on the other hand, others might find it odd that I have an unknown individual riding on my tailcoat. A mighty Dragon does not allow a Magikarp to climb her back.”

Nina laughed. “I don’t see how a Magikarp could Splash all the way up a Dragon’s back anyway. And besides, we can just have him dress up as a servant in training. Nobita obviously felt comfortable enough with Charlie to signal him, however vague he may have been. So he might try something again with him present.” Not to mention, it was easier for an unassuming servant boy to take independent action away from prying eyes.

In response to Nina’s logic, Lilian audibly exhaled and shut her eyes in consideration.

“Are we gonna be playing spies next?” Matsuri chimed in excitement as she lowered her voice by a few octaves. “My name is Cord, John Cord.” The girl then broke out laughing at her terrible impression of the famous fictional character.

Lilian smirked, sending a chilling sense of foreboding down Nina’s spine. “No, I shall only be accompanied by Nina and Charlie Rockford.” The girl said. “However, I would not be opposed to a bit of assistance.”

Nina stood up with a frown and gestured towards the door. “A word please, Lilian.” Nina was perfectly fine with involving just herself and Lilian since their background influence shielded them to a certain extent. Charlie as well, because the matter was brought up by him. But she was not okay with endangering the rest of their cohort.

“Alright, be honest with me, Blackthorn girl. What’s going on here?” Nina asked the moment that they stepped out the door.

Lilian crossed her arms and leveled an intense gaze towards Nina, as if contemplating what to tell the girl.

“I’m fine with playing along with whatever scheme you’re cooking up, Lilian. But I won’t let you put the others at risk, especially Kerry and the twins.”

Lilian smirked. “And yet you wish to include Charlie Rockford?”

Nina rolled her eyes at the girl. “Don’t try to change the subject, Charlie’s involvement is a given since he’s directly connected to Nobita. What I said earlier was valid and you know it. Rather, I find it weird that you’re so adverse to his presence. So spill it, girl — what are you looking to get out of this?”

Lilian sighed and averted her gaze, a gesture she often made whenever she wanted to seek counsel from her butler. Except, Alfred wasn’t with them today, so that was not possible.

“I am a flightless Dragon,” said the Blackthorn. “Naught but a pitiful hatchling confined in a gilded cage. I wish to soar the skies. But to do so, I require an act of bravery and resolve.”

Nina frowned, but held back her quip. Lilian might wear the facade of a confident noble most of the time, but Nina knew for a fact that the girl had her fair share of insecurities. And her eccentric way of speaking was just one of the ways in which these insecurities manifest themselves.

“Let’s see here… A flightless Dragon, meaning you are powerless despite your family name. A pitiful hatchling confined in a gilded cage — you are beholden to or held back by your elders. Wishing to soar the skies is easy — you want to achieve independence. And to do so, you want to gain some sort of merit or achievement to prove your worth. Did I get that right?”

Lilian nodded wordlessly in response.

Nina sighed and grabbed hold of her friend’s hand, causing the girl to stiffen at the contact. “You’ve been a great friend, Lil, and I want to help you. But I’m going to need you to be candid here. What’s the end goal? What exactly is wrong with the Yamaguchi family? You need to trust me to share some of your burden instead of just keeping it all to yourself. I’m not Alfred, you can’t just expect me to follow along with your whims without question.”

Lilian knitted her brows together, breaking the beautiful porcelain mask that was her face, as she squeezed Nina’s hand in response. “I… I wish to be Champion, Nina. But I can't do that if I'm constantly burdened by Lance's outstanding duties…”