Jorio, a team leader under Macro Cosmos Energy, arrived near the Sunset Forest three hours ago with detection equipment. To remain inconspicuous, he avoided the main entrance, entering the forest from a secluded edge.
About ten minutes into his walk, Jorio saw a tree trunk covered in talismans, which startled him. Cursing his bad luck, he kicked over the wooden sculpture placed in front of the tree.
While catching his breath, Jorio noticed the intricacy of the fallen sculpture, thinking it would surely please Oleana.
This brief pause proved fatal. Suddenly, Jorio felt a cold presence behind him, followed by an invisible hand pulling him into a strange space.
The black and white space was filled with decay and coldness, with Ghost Pokémon drifting around, terrifying Jorio. He ran frantically, trying to escape this nightmarish world.
Time in the Spirit Realm differed from reality, and no one knew how long Jorio ran. After fainting, a mysterious entity threw him out of the Spirit Realm, back into the reality he longed for.
"Ah, don't kill me... Ah, ghosts, all ghosts... Oleana, save me!"
Jorio woke up struggling and shouting, still immersed in the fear of the Spirit Realm.
Hearing "Oleana," Summer realized this guy was sent by her. Oleana, Rose's confidant, usually acted on his behalf, though sometimes she acted on her own for his sake.
"Who are you, and why are you here?" Summer asked coldly.
"Eek, my name is Jorio, I... Who are you! Why did you tie me up! This is a crime, you know!"
Jorio, recognizing Summer as a person, quickly reverted to his usual attitude.
Summer couldn't tell if Jorio was weak-willed or determined, but he clearly didn't remember shouting Oleana's name in his dazed state.
So, Jorio's presence in Sunset Forest was likely due to Oleana's initiative.
"Mr. Jorio, may I ask what the device in your backpack is for?"
"It's none of your business! Let me go!" Jorio shouted hysterically.
Summer replied calmly, "Looks like I'll need to ask your beloved Oleana. Ah, you mentioned something about seeing each other in the next life and loving only her..."
"Ugh... Ah...!" Jorio's pale face turned red, gasping heavily. His current torment was ten times worse than what he endured in the Spirit Realm.
If Oleana knew he acted without permission, she'd be disappointed. If it implicated her, he'd regret it deeply. And she mustn't know he liked her!
"It has nothing to do with her! It was all me! Don't involve her!"
"No, I believe Oleana is from Macro Cosmos..."
"I'm here to detect energy fluctuations!" Jorio shouted, interrupting Summer with wide eyes.
"We detected strange energy fluctuations in this forest earlier, so I decided to investigate. It was all my initiative; she had nothing to do with it!"
Energy fluctuations? Summer recalled the green light from the Meadow Plate spreading in Sunset Forest. Could that be it?
So, Macro Cosmos was monitoring energy fluctuations across Galar, likely searching for Wishing Stars, crucial for awakening Eternatus.
My guess was right—Rose is pursuing that plan.
But this guy hasn't actually broken any laws, so I can't detain him. Seeking explanations from Macro Cosmos would only draw Rose's attention.
It's better to leave him as an Oleana-obsessed fool, but I'll make sure he never dares to step into Sunset Forest again.
"In light of your honesty, I can let you go," Summer said with a gentle smile.
This only made Jorio more frightened, thinking Summer might kill him to silence him.
"Listen, you can't come back to this forest, or I'll post your statements online. Most importantly, you wouldn't want your dear Oleana to know, right?" Summer patted Jorio's hard shoulder.
"A loyal subordinate or a foolish one, which impression do you want to leave on her?"
"The answer is obvious, isn't it?"
"I agree! I'll pretend I was never here!" The vines binding Jorio loosened suddenly, and he nearly collapsed, never wanting to return to this forest.
"Good choice. Now get lost."
Jorio picked up his backpack and fled Sunset Forest, but Summer felt no relief, as his suspicions were confirmed.
Another issue remained: how many Ghost Pokémon escaped from the Spirit Realm Gate? Summer still had to verify their safety and count, giving him a headache.
"Phew, Nuzleaf, did you remember his face?"
"Yaha!" Nuzleaf nodded.
"Good, blacklist him and anyone in the same uniform. Please inform everyone."
"Yaha!"
After instructing Nuzleaf, Summer turned to Rillaboom and the admiring Ogerpon.
"Now we have work to do. Let's find the additional Ghost Pokémon."
"Rilla," Rillaboom nodded silently.
"Ogerpon!" Ogerpon was excited, seeing a rare side of Summer, like when it wore its Hearthflame Mask.
Though a massive task, Pokémon assistance made it manageable.
Hatterene had the most success, quickly locating Ghost Pokémon hidden in the forest with its sensing ability. It found a group of Sinistea capable of hosting a tea party.
Other Ghost Pokémon were found by Phantump and its search team, including three Misdreavus, five Pumpkaboo, and one Gourgeist.
Misdreavus posed little threat, only scaring people to collect terror energy without harming anyone. So, Summer kept the three Misdreavus.
Pumpkaboo and Gourgeist, being Grass-type, easily made a forest pact with Summer.
They wouldn't lure humans into the Spirit Realm, and Summer provided them a good home in Sunset Forest.
If not absorbing human energy, they'd spend most time in the soil, absorbing nutrients. Summer placed them in the serene Dream Forest, even planting an Aspear Berry tree nearby.
With this, all escaped Ghost Pokémon were dealt with, and Sunset Forest had a few new residents.
(End of Chapter)