Pokemon: Lord of Fear

"Master Edward, breakfast is ready." Looking at the respectful butler in front of him, Edward put away the item in his hand.

"Robert, you seem so cheerful—did something exciting happen?" Edward smiled and asked the elderly butler who had always taken care of him.

Robert had been the Devon family's butler for decades. It was said that he had served the family since Edward's father, Joseph Stone, was young. He was a trusted and reliable presence in their household.

"Master Edward, Master Steven's Champion inauguration ceremony is taking place today." Robert's wrinkled face broke into a wide smile.

His pride was evident and unmistakable.

Edward paused for a moment. His older brother had indeed become the Champion of the Hoenn region, just as he had expected.

Oh, right—he'd already received Steven's message about it yesterday.

As a reincarnator, Edward had always known that his older brother would eventually claim the title of Hoenn Champion, but he hadn't expected it to happen now.

Seventeen years ago, Edward had woken up from a nap while working from home only to find himself transformed into a baby in his mother's womb. He later discovered he had transmigrated into the Pokémon world as the second son of the prestigious Devon family.

Seventeen years had passed since then, though he remembered that in the animated series, Steven seemed to ascend to the Champion role even earlier.

Still, considering his own "butterfly effect" of being born as the Devon family's younger son, he wasn't too surprised that Steven's coronation had been slightly delayed.

"My brother really did become Champion, huh." Edward touched his face thoughtfully.

At seventeen years old, Edward couldn't help but compare himself to his older brother. Steven was only eighteen yet had already claimed the Champion title. And himself?

What was he going to do?

Edward had pondered this question many times before but had never found a satisfying answer—until now. Now, he had a new idea. He was determined to give this world a unique gift.

Following the cheerful Robert downstairs, Edward found his father, Joseph Stone, in the living room.

The President of the Devon Corporation.

"Edward! Come here—today is your brother's Champion inauguration ceremony!" Joseph waved enthusiastically at his younger son. The stern and authoritative demeanor he usually carried at work had vanished, replaced by a warm, fatherly smile.

"I already know, Dad," Edward replied, slightly exasperated, but he still walked over. Pressing his lips together, he gripped the folder in his hand a little tighter.

Standing nearby, Robert observed the scene with a kind smile.

The eldest son had already reached the pinnacle as a Pokémon Trainer. Now, it seemed the younger son was finally about to take his first step on his own path.

Joseph focused intently on the television as Edward followed suit.

On the screen, Steven stood proudly on the podium of honor, formally swearing in as the Champion of the Pokémon League's Hoenn region. Golden confetti rained down from the sky, and Steven's Pokémon basked in the glory of their victory alongside him.

The crowd below erupted in cheers, and camera flashes sparkled like stars, consuming countless rolls of film.

By the next day, newspapers across Hoenn—and perhaps the entire League—would surely feature Steven's inauguration as their headline story.

As the ceremony concluded, the television began broadcasting a highlight reel of Steven's battles. Accompanied by rousing music, the footage was so inspiring that it sparked an almost irresistible urge to challenge a Gym.

"Edward, it looks like you're holding something?" Joseph glanced at his younger son with a faint smile.

"Ahem… Dad, I've decided what I want to do." Edward handed over the folder he had been holding. Joseph received it with a smile.

He had already resolved that no matter what his younger son intended to pursue, he would support him. After all, it was rare for Edward to take the initiative to plan something, and Joseph was willing to encourage him even if the idea seemed outlandish.

Opening the folder, Joseph was greeted with a striking title:

"Horror Film: Dead Silence—Project Proposal and Future Development Plan"

It was… a very commercialized proposal.

Yet it seemed a bit immature and lacked the polished professionalism expected of a corporate document.

Joseph instinctively straightened in his seat.

As the head of the Devon Corporation—the leading powerhouse in Hoenn—he reviewed countless proposals daily. He could tell that his son's document was far from the standard required to pass through the company's rigorous processes; it wouldn't even make it past his secretary.

But this was a personal conversation between father and son, and such formalities weren't necessary.

"You're planning to make a movie?" Joseph skimmed the document, quickly piecing together his son's intentions.

"Yes. Horror films are… quite rare in the League." Edward nervously fiddled with his spoon.

He had noticed that while the Pokémon world had movies, they tended to focus on traditional themes—such as the journey of an ordinary person becoming a Champion, an Elite Four member, or a Gym Leader.

There were also films about love or adventure, but horror? Those were few and far between, and the ones that did exist were overly simplistic—usually involving a Ghost-type Pokémon suddenly jumping out to scare people.

In Edward's eyes, it was a tired and uninspired trope.

That was why he wanted to introduce true horror as a gift to this world.

However, filmmaking wasn't cheap. The costs of production, promotion, and negotiating screening schedules with theaters would add up quickly.

"Hmm." Joseph continued reading. Turning past the title page, he found a synopsis of the horror film Dead Silence.

As he read, Joseph's posture grew straighter. Line by line, he became increasingly engrossed in the script. His eyes widened in astonishment.

Was this really written by his younger son?

Even in broad daylight, the story sent shivers down his spine.

It felt as though the eerie Mary Shaw and her unsettling ventriloquist dummy were placing their hands on his shoulders, waiting for him to scream so they could rip off his jaw and claim his life.

The story was terrifying, yet he couldn't put it down. He had to keep reading.

When Joseph finally reached the end and turned to the next section—a market analysis of current films—he exhaled deeply. Only then did he realize that reading the script had left him drenched in cold sweat.

"Edward, did you write this script?" Joseph asked, his eyes brimming with excitement. He had never encountered a story this gripping and chilling.

"Yes." Edward cleared his throat, proud to claim authorship in this world.

(End of Chapter)