1. Ash's Story (Part 10: Galar)

Chapter 33: Haunted Help

Fog settled over the northern Wild Area before Hammerlocke could fully show itself. The towers were somewhere ahead, but the overcast sky pressed low enough that the road felt wrapped in gray cloth. After rain, snow, fossils, Cramorant, Cufant, and Sirfetch'd, I almost expected the weather to ask for its own place on the team.

Pikachu sat on my shoulder with his ears lowered, watching the fog curl through the grass, "This road is not empty. It is only hiding who is already there."

"That is comforting and not comforting at the same time," I said.

Alice looked toward the pale shape of the bridge behind us. "Galar keeps changing the test."

Gloria walked closer to Scorbunny, who kept pretending the fog was not making its fur fluff up. Flora had her coat pulled close, while Helen moved with the calm patience of someone used to keeping Fire types steady through bad weather. Elena kept checking the direction, guiding us without hurrying.

Before we committed to the next stretch, Rotom buzzed from my pocket. The screen flashed with Hammerlock Academy's Pokémon Job board, and Jane's name appeared at the top of the call.

"Good timing," Jane said through the phone. "The Ghost-type practical module opened. You are close enough to handle one job before Hammerlocke, if the weather does not swallow you first."

Elena leaned closer to the screen. "You sound too cheerful about that, Jane."

Jane laughed. "Sisterly concern includes reminding you not to let fog eat the students."

The job board opened with more purple icons than I expected. One listing from Cozy Fried Kitchen wanted four Pokémon that could bring people's orders with a dash of horror. Macro Cosmos Media asked for six terrifying Pokémon for a horror show. MC Insurance wanted seven Pokémon that looked like they had seen the afterlife, which made Meowth stare at the screen like he wanted to file a complaint.

Macro Cosmos Television requested eight Pokémon for haunted photos. Bookmark wanted nine Ghost-type Pokémon to advertise an occult book section. Macro Cosmos Tech wanted ten haunting Pokémon to help solve inexplicable mysteries. Telescreen wanted thirty Pokémon for complaint management involving grudges and curses.

Then the last listing appeared.

The client name was only a question mark. The text staggered across the screen in uneven letters: wE ARe searChing for somE HelP. THE wOrk MUst be kepT coMPletEly secreT. We wiLl PAY You HANdsomly.

"What in the world is the last one?" I asked. "And it is a Level Ten Poké Job?"

Flora frowned at the screen. "It is secret, but not in a comforting way. Why are there so many Ghost-type jobs today? Surprises, hauntings, grudges, curses, occult books..."

Gloria's eyes shone with interest. "I think I like it."

Scorbunny glanced up at her, then at the fog, trying very hard to look brave.

Jane's voice sharpened just enough to sound official. "You are not taking the question-mark job. Level Ten jobs need special academy clearance, and that one is too vague. The module requires one approved Ghost Job, not every spooky request on the board."

"Only one job," Alice said, glancing at me because she knew I needed the reminder too.

I nodded carefully. "One job only."

Jane highlighted Cozy Fried Kitchen's request. "Take this one. Four Pokémon, clear workplace, controlled scare rules, and a small event patio built over a registered Power Spot. It is perfect for the Ghost module and Max Phantasm."