Interlude XXIII - Law

At the Saffron Police Department, Interpol Agent Looker (Masaki) and Saffron Police Director General Tsunemori observe an exhausted Red. Looker is deeply paranoid, trusting neither Red—suspecting his unprecedented powers are the product of a secret conspiracy—nor Tsunemori, fearing the regional police might be complicit in Team Rocket's rise. During the interrogation, Tsunemori plays the supportive ally while Looker acts as the aggressive interrogator. Red admits that his sakki technique can turn any pokemon lethal, not just those conditioned by renegades. Recognizing the terrifying implications of his abilities, Red drops a bombshell to prove his commitment to stopping Team Rocket: he confesses that he can completely hide his thoughts from other psychics.

Looker is internally stunned but outwardly furious, only to learn that Sabrina had already reported this capability to the League. Red explains he came forward because Archer's broadcast made him terrified for the future of all psychics, and he wants to help the police combat the new renegade faction. In an attempt to establish meta-honesty norms, Red warns them he is still harboring other people's unrelated secrets. Looker outwardly rejects the condition to deny Red leverage, though he privately marvels at the boy's composure.

On the roof, Tsunemori and Looker negotiate their own fragile alliance. Acknowledging his justified suspicions of regional corruption, Tsunemori offers Looker expanded authority over the Indigo police in exchange for his respect for local civil liberties. Looker agrees, though his mind immediately turns to the mechanics of the Prisoner's Dilemma. Believing Red is either manipulated or playing a deeper game, Looker decides the only way to ensure Red's cooperation is to isolate him and manufacture a scenario where defecting to the police is his only viable choice.

Back in the interrogation room, Looker shows Red AI-generated sketches of "Archer," the suspected Rocket leader. Red doesn't recognize him. Looker then shares a devastating deduction: by releasing the hostages early, the renegades created the perfect cover for a non-Dark collaborator to slip in and teleport out with the stolen Master Ball prototype. Crushed, Red fears his world-altering confession was for nothing, since they still used Miracle Eye to capture the remaining stragglers. Tsunemori, however, restores his resolve. She delivers an impassioned defense of the law—not as a rigid set of rules, but as the fragile accumulation of society's hope for a better, safer world. Moved by her conviction and her promise to protect innocent psychics, Red agrees to help them hunt Team Rocket.