Hang on. We've been getting paid in monopoly money?

It takes him a moment...

Then his cheeks flushed red. Totally, utterly defeated. Played like a fiddle.

"No fair—"

". . . Who is sugma?"

Oh. Poor, poor Kieran.

Find a slugma...?

//: fr as frustrating as when a video gets removed from a YT playlist

At least tell me what it used to be!!

—

Whether Kieran would end up regretting it or not, he'd be Mable's assistant from now on.

"W-Wow, really? I—"

In an instant, the kitikami boy was pulled off the street and briefed on his new job as he was taken toward a nearby wild zone.
This blue-haired lady seemed all too eager to get somebody working for her..

Oh, golly. What did he just get himself into?

—

"Oh.." he nodded.

Pausing, thinking.
Was he really about to...? He didn't even know if he'd be qualified for a job like this.

"M-Maybe I could be-? If you need an assistant.
I-I, uh... could..."

"Oh...
I-I'm afraid I don't."

He says, not knowing who exactly it is that he's talking to.

"Let's start with our usual, Incineroar—! J-Just be careful, don't underestimate her."

The feline Pokémon turns and shoots a thumbs up towards its trainer, then lunged at the snail with a Fake-Out attack, hoping to make her flinch and open up another opportunity for attack.

— sent out after a seemingly normal woman.

"Th-That's a Pokémon, Incineroar!" He stammered. "We're battling! Trust me, okay?"

So... the 'shell' made of tablets along her back was the true body? So... weird.

"!!"

His eyes lit up. She... actually accepted?

Okay, okay. No time to waste.
Kieran removed a ball from his belt, tossing out his Incineroar to battle.

The fire type was reasonably confused to be —

— claim to her identity.

. . .

Alright, maybe there was a sliver of doubt. What made a Pokémon like this take on the form of a person, anyway?

"I'll.. I'll battle you-!" He exclaimed, "th-then catch you!

ᵐᵃʸᵇᵉ"

Those old pokédex entries did say the treasures cursed those who possessed them...

Kieran was silent as his golden hues observed the woman.
It was a bit hard to tell she was a Pokémon. He stared with the intent to find any non-human features.

... Not that he didn't believe her —

— strong Pokémon around."

. . . She really wasn't anything like he expected a Treasure of Ruin to be.
Kieran expected a malicious, cunning, hateful Pokémon from what little he knew of them.

Instead, she was... doting on him? Was it some kind of trick?

"I.. Uh, am a little lost. I came here a-after hearing there were —

"Whuh—!?"

That is... so much to unpack. Kieran doesn't know where to start. Staring bewildered at the snail lady standing over him.

"I.. Uh... Wuh..."

Weren't those 'Ruinous Treasures' haunted creatures from Paldea? What did this one want with him?

Nervously, he replied..

"I-I'm Kieran..."

"!!!"

Kieran stumbled back, startled by her sudden turning in his direction.

This happened every time he stared at a Pokémon. Sheesh...

But justified in this case! Something about the snail felt... ominous.