Chapter Sixty-Seven: The Seasoned Driver Growlithe

The entire inquiry process was much quicker than Tang Yi had expected. Of course, he was only there as an ordinary witness to provide a statement. When Tang Yi stood up, he didn’t leave immediately. He glanced at Ralulu, who was also looking at him with a puzzled expression. After a moment’s thought, he spoke again.

“Is Feebas still here?”

Officer Wang had already packed up. She paused at Tang Yi’s question, then immediately understood and shook her head. “Our police station can’t just keep a Pokémon girl who hasn’t broken any laws for an extended period. Right now, she’s staying at the Changle Welfare Home.”

“I thought the paperwork wasn’t done yet?”

“That’s right, so she’s only staying there temporarily. She can only settle there long-term after our approval process is complete.”

A thought crossed Tang Yi’s mind, and he frowned. “What if the approval doesn’t go through?”

Officer Wang sighed, already anticipating this question from the young man. She hesitated, but answered, “In theory, if the approval fails, according to regulations, Feebas will have to be sent back to Yuanshui City.”

Tang Yi’s eyes widened in anger. “Sent back? Doesn’t that mean returning her to that awful trainer? That’s ridiculous!”

Just as Coach Li Yaowen had said, at least getting Feebas away from that scum of a trainer was a good thing. But if even that couldn’t be achieved, it was simply too cruel for Feebas.

Officer Wang waved her hand, her tone more serious. “That’s why I said ‘in theory.’ Please trust us. Even though we can’t convict Feebas’s trainer under the law, we will make absolutely sure she’s taken care of properly.”

“I believe you,” Tang Yi replied, calming himself. In this matter, all he could do was choose to trust them.

“Can we go see Feebas?” Ralulu suddenly spoke up. The unfamiliar environment made her voice timid, but she still mustered the courage to ask.

Tang Yi wasn’t surprised. He had guessed this was Ralulu’s intention when she insisted on coming today, though he hadn’t expected Feebas wouldn’t be at the police station.

While Officer Wang was still considering, the Growlithe girl who had accompanied them suddenly smiled.

She spoke gently to Ralulu, “You and your trainer are both good people. When we brought Feebas in for questioning, she told us that someone had bought her lots and lots of delicious food that day. That must have been you two.”

The Growlithe girl then looked at her trainer, Officer Wang, and gave an adorable little shake of her canine ears. “I think it would be good to let them visit Feebas—maybe it will help with her recovery.”

“I trust your judgment,” Officer Wang nodded at Growlithe, then said, “I’ll give you a half-approval for the visit. I’ll let the welfare home staff know, and then you can go straight there.”

“Thank you so much,” Tang Yi said, not having expected such an opportunity.

“No, we should be the ones thanking you—and thanking you on Feebas’s behalf,” Officer Wang replied with sincere gravity. “She said that after wandering all the way from Yuanshui City to Qingjiang, you were the only ones who bought her food. That day was the only time she ate her fill.”

Tang Yi and Ralulu were both visibly moved.

Officer Wang quickly arranged the paperwork for their visit; it took hardly any effort. She seemed to have a particular appreciation for this young man. As Tang Yi was about to leave, she had a sudden thought, called him back, and asked him to wait a moment.

When Officer Wang returned, she had changed into casual clothes and was holding a set of car keys. She walked over briskly, saying as she went, “We happen to have somewhere to go, so we’ll give you a lift to the welfare home.”

“Thank you very much,” Tang Yi replied, not refusing the offer.

“No need to be so polite,” Officer Wang said.

Tang Yi and Ralulu settled into the back seat. To his surprise, Officer Wang sat in the front passenger seat, while the Growlithe girl took the wheel.

The car started smoothly; Growlithe was quite a skilled driver.

Tang Yi kept his thoughts to himself, but Ralulu looked at her trainer with wide ruby eyes, clearly surprised. “So, we Pokémon can drive, too?”

“She’s a police partner—it’s not the same,” Tang Yi explained.

“Oh, I see,” Ralulu replied, a little disappointed; she’d never thought about becoming a police officer.

Tang Yi breathed a small sigh of relief, realizing what Ralulu was thinking.

The girl disliked staying in her Poké Ball. Walking around nearby was fine, but for longer trips—like coming to the police station today—they’d have to take the bus, and then she’d be required to stay in her ball according to the rules.

That idea needed to be nipped in the bud.

The Growlithe girl glanced at the two harmonious pairs in the back through the rearview mirror, and laughed softly. “That’s not quite true. Most Pokémon, once they’ve passed the exam, can get a driver’s license. For my job, I have to have one.”

Officer Wang smiled and added, “Not only that, if you have a flying-type Pokémon girl, you can even get a pilot’s license. But the requirements for that are extremely strict—ordinary people can rarely get one.”

Ralulu’s eyes lit up as she glanced at Tang Yi.

Hmph, caught you lying to me!

Well, Tang Yi didn’t mind. Even if they got a license, he couldn’t afford a car anyway.

From the history books he’d been voraciously reading lately, Tang Yi knew it was common in this world for Pokémon to work as drivers. Before the advent of cars, in the days before the First and Second World Wars, Rapidash, Ponyta, Arcanine and similar Pokémon girls would pull rickshaws, earning a meager wage for themselves and their trainers.

Modern times had seen the rise of automobiles and the swift disappearance of rickshaws, but the tradition of Pokémon drivers persisted. Many trainers with cars would have their Pokémon get a license as well—not just as a convenience, but also because if they ever went out drinking, having a Pokémon partner who could drive was invaluable.

Along the way, Growlithe and Ralulu found themselves chatting happily about cars and driving. Growlithe seemed to be an old hand at it, and told Ralulu that many companies now design cars specifically for Pokémon drivers.

For example, the driver’s seat she was in now had a special cutout in the cushion, so Pokémon girls with tails could sit comfortably while driving, greatly improving their comfort behind the wheel.

Tang Yi listened, somewhat dazed; these inventions sounded odd, but in a world where Pokémon girls and humans lived side by side, they made perfect sense.