Read advance chapters for both of my work, exclusively on Patreon at - www.patreon.com/Sniperwoof
-----------------
In the blink of an eye, five days had passed.
Early morning, out on the sea near the cruise ship—
Sato was sitting on a small boat, leisurely fishing with a rod. The boat's forward motion, keeping up with the cruise liner, came from the Tentacool and Chinchou harnessed at its bow.
The two Pokémon strained against the chains tied to the boat's iron railing, pulling it ahead.
Even though the Tentacool and Chinchou were giving it their all, the boat—its engine shut off—still gradually lagged behind the cruise ship.
Once the gap stretched to nearly a hundred meters, Sato reeled in his line and switched on the boat's motor. With the engine running alongside the Pokémon's pull, the small boat quickly caught up.
Two burly sailors helped secure the boat back to the ship's outer hull. Sato then returned to the deck with his two Pokémon, who had finished their morning stamina training.
"Tyler, got anything good to introduce today? That Tentacool you sold me last time was excellent—it's been amazing in battle."
"This is my friend Lane. She's also hoping to get a strong Water-type Pokémon from you today."
"Relax. As long as it's the right match, the price will definitely satisfy you."
A well-dressed young man led a blue-haired woman over, smiling as he addressed Sato.
After obtaining a fishing rod and bait, Sato had stopped competing with other anglers for business. Instead, he shifted focus toward the trainers aboard.
For any trainer, talented Pokémon were the ultimate pursuit—many were willing to pay dearly for them.
And Sato, with his system that could detect Pokémon aptitude, had a much easier time finding such talent than ordinary people.
Even so, with his fishing skills and the system's help, he had only managed to catch two quality Water-types over these five days.
Neither had reached gold-level ratings, but both were top-tier purple level—comparable to the ace Pokémon of most ordinary trainers.
Thus, selling them wasn't hard. Trainers with decent strength could usually recognize quality. When they saw the Pokémon Sato offered, they quickly chose to trade without hesitation.
So far, Sato had sold one Tentacool and one Remoraid, earning 600,000 PokeDollars—instantly replenishing his previously thin wallet.
Unfortunately, after training expenses, food, and other necessities, that sum had already dwindled to about 420,000 PokeDollars.
Still, selling Pokémon was a hugely profitable business. With the right eye, one could make money easily.
Having survived multiple close calls with wild Pokémon back on the mysterious island, Sato no longer believed in the naive idea that humans and wild Pokémon were always "friends."
Both sides simply fought to survive. There was no absolute right or wrong.
If humans had been weaker, Sato was certain they would have long been wiped out by brutal wild Pokémon.
Compassion, he felt, should be reserved for Pokémon who had earned one's trust—those who stayed through hardship and joy alike. They were the true family.
Thus, he felt little guilt about selling Pokémon for money.
Of course, he was careful in choosing buyers, only dealing with trainers who genuinely loved their Pokémon.
Take, for example, the young man before him—Hayden. He was from a wealthy family but had a simple heart.
Like Ash, Hayden was a child of the new era, deeply influenced by the League's ideals. His love for Pokémon was genuine. So, Sato had chosen to sell him a Tentacool with an individual value of 165.
"Sorry, Hayden. I've been busy with training lately, and luck hasn't been great. I don't have any good Pokémon right now."
As for the woman beside him, the trainer named Lane, Sato didn't know her well. He used the excuse of not having any available Water-types to decline a deal.
In truth, he had just caught a Shellder that morning, with an individual value of 165. He was still debating whether to sell it.
"Alright then. But if you catch something you don't need, let me know first thing. You have my number."
Hayden looked a little embarrassed—he had failed to deliver on his promise to the woman beside him—but he didn't press. He knew quality Pokémon were rare. With a nod, he left with Lane, whose expression had soured.
Once they were gone, Sato returned to his room to meditate, patiently waiting for lunch.
The cruise offered plenty of entertainment, but Sato, in order to maintain his cover as Tyler—a trainer whose parents had died, who had miraculously recovered, and who now lived single-mindedly for strength—avoided them all.
For five days, his routine was rigid: pre-dawn stamina training with his Pokémon, midday move practice, and evenings spent fishing for money or challenging other trainers aboard.
Such asceticism had already drawn attention. Many passengers speculated about his background, until one who knew Tyler explained his tragic past. After that, most people looked at him with newfound understanding.
At 4 p.m., in the cruise ship's paid training hall, Sato was instructing Tentacool and Lanturn in move practice.
After five days of special training, the two Pokémon had adapted to his demanding regimen. Their stamina and mastery of the moves they'd focused on had improved significantly.
Through a series of battles, they had also grown used to his command style, reaching level 29 and 27 respectively.
Just yesterday, his Chinchou had reached level 27 and successfully evolved into Lanturn, greatly strengthening his team.
Unfortunately, Lanturn's body was still too small to serve as a proper riding Pokémon.
Now, Sato's immediate goal was to raise Tentacool to level 30 so it could evolve into Tentacruel.
That way, even if a maritime disaster occurred, he would have a Pokémon capable of carrying him across the sea.
This was because, lately, during his meditation, he had faintly felt a sense of foreboding.