Chapter 64 - 64 - How Are You, Detective Trevor?

Walking through the wide and diverse- dominant corridor as shoppers and staff do their roles and jobs, Rico and his group are looking around that floor in wondering how the mall is large and filled with color and various kinds of fun and recreation. Shops, restaurants, and stands are busy that time of day, and many engaged in their conversations and fun times. The atmosphere around that floor was averagely busy.

"Wow, this mall is so huge!" Rico commented as he go around while walking. Riolu and Litleo then responded with wonder.

"This is one of the city's largest malls, you know," responded Juan brightly as he crossed his arms and his Oshawott is on his right shoulder. "I think Professor Campillo is in the second floor at a restaurant that offers vegetable-filled pastries and chocolate and strawberry desserts." They then take the escalator to the second floor.

"Wait, such restaurant existed?" Rico raised a question.

"Yeah, that restaurant was popular here," Juan explained about it with positive comments. "It's a restaurant that offers those kinds of food, especially the banana split with mocha and dark chocolate ice cream instead of the usual vanilla and chocolate ones." Clenching his fists in enthusiasm and with a sense of trying something new, Rico responded, "Wow! That'll be delicious and sweet. I would like to try that!"

Later on, they arrived at their destination: Jane's Vegetable and Dessert Restaurant. The place was huge and roomy, with fire brick red, navy blue, and rhino grey plastic and metal seating and tables, white and wine red cashiers' desks, and a big kitchen full of chefs and other kitchen staff working on as fast as they can with caution. The place was decorated with colored and patterned wall decorations that show designs of books, pens, pastries, and cups in various colors, types, shapes, sizes, and positions, often with various and colorful banners that shows inspiring quotes like, "Don't give up!" In addition to wall decorations, the restaurant was decorated with small bookshelves filled with books and lampshades in modern and colorful types. All of this makes the restaurant a distinctive and unique place to eat at any time of the day. Outside, the business sign above the entrance doors is in bold, coronet-style typeface and in black color. Beside the entrance door is a standing sign that shows the restaurant's promotion of a meal for four people in half the price of the four meals. The outside was painted in forest green and red, and had extra tables and chairs so the customers have a place to settle down just in case the interior was full. At this midday time, customers and shoppers flocked into the place to eat up and have conversations.

As they enter the restaurant, they stopped halfway to the cashiers' desks and start looking around for Campillo and Emerson's table while the cashiers greeted them with friendliness. Luckily for Rico and Juan, Campillo and his friend occupied a table for four, believing that the two kids would come. The search didn't take long when Campillo waved his hand in getting their attentions. Upon seeing their professor waving, Rico, Juan, and their teams became delightfully happy with it and walked to Campillo's table with positive excitement. Upon arriving at the said table, the two kids settled on the remaining seats and their Pokémon gathered around them. The atmosphere there was calm and warm, with aromas from different dishes and hot drinks permeated across the place.

"Hi there, Rico Titus and Juan," Campillo greeted them with a friendly and welcoming expression. "How are you two?"

"We're fine, dad," Juan responded back brightly. His Oshawott then responded with happy saying.

"Hi, Professor Campillo," Rico greeted Campillo. His Riolu, Litleo, and Piplup then responded with greeting. Then, Professor Emerson, who had long, emerald green hair and arctic blue eyes, became amazed at the kids' appearances, especially Rico's dark brown, loosed hair and bright green eyes.

"Wow, so this is the kids you're talking," she commented to Campillo.

"This is Juan, my son," Campillo happily introduced the kids to her, "and this one is Rico Cruz, the son of Lucas Cruz." Juan and Rico then exchanged handshakes with Emerson.

"Wow, you two looked very cool and smart," Emerson commented their looks and attitudes.

"Thanks," Rico and Juan replied back happily. After that, Rico and Juan immersed themselves into the menus to order lunch. The selections are complicated and delicious-looking, at a reasonable price. The drinks available are mostly made of fresh fruits like lime, mango, and apple, and can be selected either with ice or without ice. For. dessert, the ice creams available are different, as if most of the flavors are strange. But still, the original and common flavors are still in the menu. Most of the desserts also includes add-ons like syrups, nuts, small fruits, and other side sweets. Then, after a full two minutes of choosing and changing of choices, the two kids called a waiter and told him the following requests: 2 plates of vegetable-filled croissants, two slices of apple pie, two small bowls of banana splits with a scoop of mocha ice cream and one scoop of dark chocolate ice cream, and a big plate of fried french fries with ketchup on the side. For drinks, they requested two glasses of cranberry juice with ice. Jotting down their requests on his little notepad, the waiter told them to wait for a quarter of an hour before turning back and left their table.

12:47 p.m. Rico's and Juan's orders had arrived, hot, crispy, and frosting sweet, and the kids dig in with hunger and an appetite. They were allured by their taste and spices, especially the vegetable-filled croissants, which was hot and fresh from the kitchen. Campillo and Emerson were happy with this.

A few minutes later, the four of them discussed about the said stadium and its concerns, especially its structure conditions, which was a bit bad and on the brink of disuse. A few new arenas and stadiums had been built in the city for the last decade. Rico and Juan, listening to this discussion, became fascinated and intrigued by this topic. Campillo also added that the stadium is also an archeological site of a previous civilization, making the arena a historical and an important place in history. Emerson stated that the government is doing its best to preserve and restore that place of history. But the problem is: the stadium is getting weaker and weaker, making the restoration harder and harder. To make matters worse, Golems are guarding and patrolling the underground tunnels, producing shaking noises and motions and make the workers startled and eventually made the work more difficult and terrifying. These Golems are ȧssigned by the last emperor of the civilization that used to rule the modern-day Komati City to guard the underground tunnels that contains treasures of gold, emeralds, ŀȧpis lazuli, and silver, priceless books, and the tombs of the emperor and his predecessors. The government, however, didn't even try to interfere the Golems' territory and negotiate with them. The reasons were unknown.

"Wow, that was not good," Rico commented in concern.

"Yeah, that place will be collapsed at any time," Juan added a comment.

"Yeah, and we needed help from anyone who is willing to volunteer," responded Emerson back. Rico and Juan think about it, but suddenly, they turned towards a man across the aisle eating his meal. With his black cape, it was Detective Trevor, one of the first allies Rico had. Rico became familiar with his face and clothes, and then stand up and walk to him across.

"Is that you, Detective Trevor?" Rico asked him carefully. Hearing him asking, Trevor interrupted his eating and turned around. He then got surprised a bit and then let out a slight smile. "Rico, it's been a long time since we had first met." Rico was surprised at first, but then got overjoyed and happy to see him again.

"Detective Trevor! How are you?" Rico asked him. Detective Trevor still recognized the kid even though Rico changed clothing.

"I'm fine, Rico," answered Trevor back with mild positivity. "How's your Pokémon training?" The rest of the four got very surprised at this discovery, with Juan commenting, "What? Rico, you knew that guy?"

"Yes, son," responded Campillo to his son, "This is Detective Trevor, a detective from the Tahod region." Emerson and Juan got really surprised by Trevor's looks. Trevor then took a look at Rico's Pokémon.

"Wow, it seems you had stronger Pokémon," he commented with positive feedback.

"Yeah, but I had a fourth Pokémon, you know," responded Rico. He then get Starly's Poké Ball and called it, and it came out with the flapping of its wings. Trevor and Emerson got surprised by it.

"Wow, a Starly."

"Another Sinnoh Pokémon."

Starly then perched on the chair in resting its brown wings. After all that commotion, Rico introduced Trevor to Juan and Emerson and revealing his work. In turn, Juan and Emerson exchanged handshakes with Trevor with positive friendliness. Shortly thereafter, while joining them for lunch, Trevor think about something that he haven't wonder yet: If Rico had been his friend and ally, how strong Rico is? With this in mind, Trevor asked Rico for a Pokémon battle after lunch, challenging his strength and power in battle. Juan then interrupted him, insisting that he goes first before Trevor. Without any contempt, Trevor accepted his request, and asked Rico if it is okay to battle him and Juan.

"Yes, I can do that!" Rico accepted it with determination and confidence. Riolu, Starly, and Litleo responded with acceptance and determination. But, can Rico handle this kind of battle?