Gastly, Haunter, Drifloon, and Misdreavus.
A large group of Ghost-type Pokémon stared at Vincent Stone and the old butler James with guarded eyes, their gazes filled with hesitation and reluctance.
Wild Pokémon, with the exception of a few like Slowpoke or Psyduck, generally possessed decent intelligence. They knew they were occupying a human's property. If no humans came, they could continue living here happily. But now that humans had arrived, they would have to leave this home.
Vincent scratched his head. Among these Ghost-types, only Gastly and Haunter slightly piqued his interest for capture. However, he quickly dismissed the idea, as none of them particularly stood out to him.
Catching Pokémon didn't need to be rushed anyway.
"Hmm?" Just as Vincent was about to step inside, he noticed a lamp on the ceiling. It looked ordinary, but something felt off. The mansion had no electricity or water, so how was this lamp lit?
Chandelure.
Vincent recognized this Pokémon, though it surprised him. Chandelure wasn't commonly seen in the Hoenn region. Its evolution conditions were unique, making natural evolutions rare.
"Young Master Vincent, should we clear them out?" James asked indifferently. The number of Pokémon inside didn't concern him. A few moves would suffice, and as the mansion's legal owners, they had every right to remove these uninvited guests.
In fact, even if they didn't take action, the League would handle it. Otherwise, these old properties would remain unsold.
"No need," Vincent shook his head. He had another idea.
Petalburg Woods wasn't an ideal place to live—too many bugs and too far from the city, making it inconvenient for Vincent. But this mansion could serve another purpose.
In his past life, popular films often attracted crowds to shooting locations. Like the staircase from Joker, where people gathered to take photos and even reenact the dance. Even after the hype faded, the spot retained some fame.
Vincent had full confidence in his movie, thanks to the abysmal state of horror films in the Pokémon world.
His work was destined to become a milestone.
Dead Silence would undoubtedly draw horror fans. As the filming location for Mary Shaw's puppet theater—the most expensive set in the movie—this mansion would gain attention. Opening it as a tourist attraction could generate profit while solving the Ghost-type Pokémon's housing issue.
For the puppet theater scenes, the puppets needed to move. While mechanical setups could achieve this, Vincent wanted something more organic.
A puppet mechanically turning its head couldn't compare to one with genuine intent to scare. These Ghost-types could manipulate the puppets freely, creating the exact effect he desired.
Moreover, with these Pokémon around, the puppet theater could operate sustainably. Tourists would pay, the Ghost-types would have a home, and they could feed on visitors' fear—a win-win.
A steady stream of visitors would also boost the movie's reputation. Even those who hadn't seen Dead Silence would grow curious after visiting the theater, driving up viewership.
"Young Master, your idea is truly ingenious," James remarked, impressed. It seemed the young master truly inherited the business acumen of the Stone family.
Vincent smiled and stroked Little Mimi in his arms, soothing her eagerness to battle.
"Would you like to work with me?" Vincent offered openly. He hadn't whispered his plan earlier, speaking normally instead.
At least some of these Pokémon must understand.
Soon, a Mismagius floated forward, eyeing Vincent curiously before focusing on Little Mimi.
Vincent was surprised. While Misdreavus were common, wild Mismagius required special items to evolve. Was this coincidence or something else?
The Pokémon chattered in their language, which Vincent couldn't understand. But when Mismagius used dust to form a sheet of paper and a pen in front of him, he got the message.
They wanted a contract.
"Of course, but you'll need to cooperate during filming. No mischief," Vincent agreed. Signing a contract was fine, he had no intention of backstabbing or using shady clauses.
The mansion was nice, but Vincent didn't want to live here. Otherwise, he'd be stuck playing rock-paper-scissors daily with that obsessive Gengar.
Mismagius nodded. As the leader here, it could keep the others in line.
With James's help, the contract was drafted and delivered promptly. Vincent signed his name, while Mismagius scrutinized the document. Vincent watched curiously.
Could Pokémon even understand human contracts? Contracts weren't something to sign lightly—without careful reading, one could easily fall into traps with no escape.
Any document requiring a signature demanded extreme caution, a lesson Vincent had learned well in his past life as an overworked office drone.
Mismagius looked up, hesitation flickering in its eyes. It clearly didn't comprehend the text.
Vincent wasn't worried. Timing-wise, it should be about right.
"Is this where the notarization is needed?" A girl's voice chimed in as she knocked on the door.
Vincent turned. She wore a League uniform and smiled warmly.
"Young Master, this is the League's official notary for Pokémon employment contracts," James explained softly. His arrangements were thorough.
Vincent nodded. With a notary present, the contract would hold legal weight.
(End of Chapter)