Bottom-tier trainers in the Pokémon world

Thump, thump...

The slow footsteps and the sound of wood striking the ground grew closer and closer.

Gradually.

A hunched, short figure appeared at the corner, leaning on a wooden cane that was wider at one end than the other. She was dressed in the clothes of an elderly neighbor, with a white apron tied around her waist.

Upon seeing the old man, Xia Yan's pupils constricted sharply.

This is......

Juzi?

Kiku, one of the Ghost-type Elite Four in the Kanto region?

"Be extra careful behind you and in the shadows on a dark night." Kikuko's lips curled into a sinister smile.

Upon hearing this, Xia Yan was startled.

She hurriedly turned around and saw a Gastly that had appeared behind her at some point, holding a card in its hand, and flying back to Kikuko's side with a strange laugh.

Xia Yan's face was gloomy, but he wisely remained silent.

As the Elite Four member of the Ghost type, Kikuko has had an eccentric personality since childhood. Anyone who gets close to her will be chased away by her.

It wasn't until Professor Oak appeared that he approached Kikuko with his exceptional abilities, attempting to help her. However, Kikuko eventually became infatuated with Professor Oak.

However, Professor Oak later devoted all his energy to research, which Kikuko felt led to a significant decrease in his combat strength, making her feel betrayed.

His temper became even more irritable.

This is Xia Yan's impression of the Elite Four member in front of him. Kikuko, who has a history of unrequited love with Professor Oak, is not an easy person to get along with.

Kikuko glanced down at the card Gastly handed her, then looked at Natsuhiko's expression as he had to suppress his anger, and the smile on Kikuko's face became even more sinister.

“Xia Yan, a beginner trainer... Interesting.”

He remained unfazed by the three large wolfhounds; judging from the strength displayed by his Pokémon alone, he was no ordinary novice trainer.

What Gastly took from him was Xia Yan's League Certificate.

It's nothing important, I just don't quite like Kikuko's approach.

After confirming Natsuhiko's identity, Kikuko flicked her finger, and the card flew towards him.

Snapped.

It's firmly held in my hand.

Kikuko started walking slowly again. "Find some time to get my Rising Star Trainer status verified. Just say it was me who said it."

Certified Rising Star Trainer?

Is this considered compensation for being rude?

"Wait a minute," Xia Yan suddenly called out to her.

"Ok?"

Kikuko turned her head away menacingly, her long, narrow, cold eyes piercing through her hair and landing on Natsuhiko.

Xia Yan's heart skipped a beat when she looked at him like that.

That's too creepy.

She swallowed hard. "I want to know... who are they?"

The three mustachioed men lying on the ground, along with their Pokémon, were being tossed one by one into the shadows by Gengar.

Hearing Xia Yan's question, Kikuko chuckled softly and tapped her cane on the ground.

"The people who created this chaos are some outsiders."

Upon hearing this, Xia Yan felt a chill run down his spine.

The chaos that Kikuko mentioned is probably due to the excessive activity of wild Pokémon around Goldenrod City.

This also confirmed Xia Yan's guess: the two Heavenly Kings came to Golden City not just for the so-called Heavenly Kings exhibition match, but perhaps it was just a pretext.

"They're just a few small fry."

Small miscellaneous fish...

Perhaps in Kikuko's eyes, Xia Yan was just another nobody, but because he was an outsider with the status of the Alliance, she would talk to him a few more times.

After Gengar finished capturing the three mustaches and their Pokémon, it slowly disappeared into the shadows, while Agatha's figure also vanished around the corner.

He left behind a casual remark.

"While intermediate-grade dark stones aren't expensive, they do easily attract those who covet them. Be thankful, little guy, you don't look like him..."

he.

It must be referring to Professor Oak, right?

What a dramatic scene of a resentful woman confined to her boudoir... Xia Yan thought to himself.

Not daring to linger here, they hurried back to their lodgings.

"We can't stay here any longer. Pack your things and leave tonight!"

They're already being watched; staying here any longer is tantamount to suicide. Once that group confirms the disappearance of the three men with the mustache, they'll definitely find them.

Simultaneously.

Xia Yan also figured out why they were targeting him because he had the Dark Stone.

He never revealed the Dark Stone.

If there's any possibility of being discovered, it's either that during the previous gathering, the "breeder's" night patrol spirit sensed the subtle fluctuations of the Dark Stone on its body.

Or...

It was during the sale of that giant onyx that he was targeted by someone at the gathering who belonged to the same organization as the man with the mustache.

After all, the only thing connected to the Dark Stone is the Onix, and the underground tunnels of the Dark Ruins connect to Goldenrod City, which may also be related to that unknown organization and the unrest among the wild Pokémon around Goldenrod City.

Let's assume that the underground tunnel is a point of exploitation by the other side. They might also know about the existence of Onix and the Dark Stone, and it wouldn't be difficult for them to confirm that the other side has the Dark Stone based on the Onix.

Old Bill, who was the organizer of the gathering, knew his identity and address.

"In short, the problem definitely lies with that party. Whatever the reason, you can't attend that party again."

As he walked, Xia Yan reviewed the events.

"We weren't cautious enough, and we were too presumptuous. That giant onyx shouldn't have been sold so soon. We were swayed by what was about to happen and were too eager to acquire resources..."

I examined some of the things I didn't do well.

Based on Kikuko's words, the behavior of the three with the mustache, and the types of Pokémon, Natsuhiko made a deeper guess.

"Outsiders? Perhaps they don't mean people from outside Goldenrod City, but rather people from outside the Kanto region... So it's very likely they're from... the Hoenn region?"

Things seem to have become more complicated.

It involved two regions and even mobilized two of the Four Heavenly Kings.

Chapter Fifty-One: On the Utilization of European Qi

"Snapped--"

In a dark, underground chamber somewhere in Golden City, a flash of red light streaked across the room, followed by the crisp sound of a slap.

In the shadows stood a gaunt figure, and in front of him, a person covered their face and staggered to their feet, standing before the gaunt man.

"Just for a mid-grade Dark Stone, you alerted two Heavenly Kings who secretly came here. What's wrong with your brains?" The gaunt man's cold voice came from the shadows.

"They...we...didn't expect Kikuko to show up."

The value of intermediate-grade dark stones is already quite high, so many people below will be unable to resist.

The gaunt man leaned forward slightly, his cold eyes fixed on the somewhat trembling man before him. He said, enunciating each word clearly, "So, even without Kikuko, you think the Rockets aren't paying enough attention to us? Have you really thrown the league's vigilance into the gutter? Hmm? Captain Bage?"

Bage's body trembled.

He knew all too well what kind of person this official was. The reason this mission was given to this official was precisely because of his ruthless nature.

“Baj, the plan is now in its final stages. Regardless of whether it succeeds or not, I don’t want anyone to trace it back to this point. Do you understand what I mean?”

The moment Bage's leather shoes touched him, he immediately straightened up and hurriedly replied, "Yes, Lord Tamechi!"

Tamechi ran his fingers through his blond hair. "Many people covet the captain's position. Don't disappoint me, Bage."

As he spoke, he slowly walked into the deeper shadows.

Bage let out a long sigh of relief, then quickly asked, "Lord Tamech, should we deal with that kid?"

"Can you still find him?" A soft laugh came from behind.

Upon hearing this, Baj was taken aback.

...

...

the other side.

Xia Yan hurriedly packed his things upon returning to his residence.

Actually, he didn't have much to bring. He carried most of his valuables with him. Apart from his laptop and some paper documents at home, most of the other things in the villa were left by the original owner.

After placing a stack of 5,000 Alliance Coins on the table as compensation for the backyard repairs, he disappeared into the hazy night of Golden City.

After walking through several streets, I found an inconspicuous hotel and checked in.

This incident taught him a lesson.

Pokémon captured in the wild cannot be sold casually, as this could attract the attention of unscrupulous individuals.

And you should try to attend as few of these kinds of gatherings as possible.

Rather than believing their words, it's better to believe that the elven world will usher in true peace.

But this incident also further confirmed Pokerby's luck.

If Togepi hadn't unleashed a massive burst of flame that shattered the wall with a flick of his finger, he might not have known that someone was watching him and eyeing the Dark Stone in his hand.