Alex was determined to get in on the action, so he headed to Cinnabar City as soon as Rhea finished loading him with a much larger space bag and some extra underwater gear she had been tinkering with in her spare time.
The space bag was bulkier than his usual lightweight pack but could easily hold several shipment containers' worth of loot. As long as he focused on ammunition, he could carry enough to defend against another Pokemon flood.
The underwater gear, called the D.E.E.P. Suit (Dynamic Environment Exploration Platform), was designed to help Alex survive underwater battles alongside his water team, especially given the location of the enemy base.
The fully enclosed metal suit could withstand Elite-ranked damage and resist underwater shockwaves from combat. It was also heat resistant, allowing Alex to endure splashes of lava near volcanic vents, though not dive directly into molten lava.
The suit featured a jet pack for swift underwater movement; while it lacked the power for flight, it could slow his fall enough to survive skydiving without injury.
Once fully equipped, Alex teleported to Viridian City with his Arcanine, then took to the skies on Hydreigon, soaring over wide plains and scattered farms on the way to Pallet Town. The journey spanned the entire day due to the long distance, but at last, he arrived.
Pallet Town was a quiet, modest settlement best known for its ties to Professor Oak and Red, two Champions who had deliberately kept the population small by limiting new residents. Oak's top-secret laboratory and prized Pokémon ranch justified the restrictions, preserving the town's calm and secluded atmosphere.
Despite its size, Pallet Town had become a tourist destination. Visitors, especially wealthy families, were drawn to Oak's Lab, which offered educational tours of the facility and ranch. The town's reputation as a hub of Pokémon knowledge and history made it a charming stop for trainers and travelers alike.
Alex set up camp just outside the town, giving Hydreigon a chance to rest while Arcanine and Gardevoir familiarized themselves with the surroundings. Come morning the next day, with the team fully recovered and alert, Alex mounted Hydreigon's back and set off southward across the open sea.
As they flew over the deep waters, Alex spotted scattered nests and roaming Pokémon, some visible only as silhouettes beneath the waves. Tentacool drifted in swarms just below the surface, their jelly-like bodies pulsing gently, while larger Tentacruel loomed deeper. Magikarp splashed in noisy schools, occasionally scattered by Gyarados bursting from below. Further down, Horsea zipped through coral pockets while Shellder clung quietly to the rocks, blending into the seafloor.
Islands could be seen sparsely strewn as they continued their journey, many of them home to Pokémon that thrived in isolation. Craggy shores sheltered clusters of Krabby and Kingler scuttling over basalt outcrops, their pincers clicking as they competed for space in the sun. Psyduck and Slowpoke dozed lazily near warm tide pools, unbothered by the occasional splash from a hunting Golduck or the slow patrol of a passing Slowbro.
Given the distance of the journey, Alex would allow Hydreigon to rest while the team fended off nests on these islands. Not that there were any that dared oppose the number of Elite auras Alex and his team radiated. Even the most territorial Pokémon kept their distance once his presence settled in, allowing the party to rest.
Three days of flying south on Hydreigon later, they finally arrived at Cinnabar City.
It was a gleaming beacon of innovation, unrecognizable from its pre-eruption days. The original island had long since expanded outward using massive gyroscopically-stabilized floating platforms, creating a sprawling metropolis that shimmered like a mirage above the ocean. Layers of reinforced glass and steel formed streets over water, and towering buildings emerged like crystalline spires from the sea, catching the sun as they swayed ever so slightly with the waves below.
The platforms themselves were marvels of engineering, each one recalibrating its balance in real time thanks to embedded gyro systems. They remained perfectly level even as the ocean churned around them, offering stability akin to solid ground. Beneath the platforms, aquariums, research centers, and hydroponic farms thrived, creating a blend of science and sustainability that had made Cinnabar a hub for both technological development and Pokémon ecological research.
This new Cinnabar had become a magnet for travelers, engineers, and trainers alike. Its lower levels bustled with commerce and shipyards, while the upper tiers housed the wealthy, private labs, and fortified compounds. The contrast between the calm sea below and the glass-and-metal jungle above gave the city a surreal, almost otherworldly charm, one befitting a place where ambition literally floated above the deep.
Alex checked into a luxury hotel upon arrival before heading out to explore the commercial district. Though he had no immediate plans for scouting, he intended to sightsee since Cinnabar City was clearly a cut above the rest in technological advancements. He even believed it surpassed Saffron City, the strategic hub of commerce and trade in Kanto.
Gym Leader Blaine had a clear vision when he first proposed transforming Cinnabar Island. He championed scientific progress, attracting the best minds Kanto had to offer, and worked tirelessly to build the city it is today.
Alongside the city's expansion and technological leaps, Blaine supported adding two new gyms, one Ice type and one Water type, to help manage the growing metropolis.
Beneath the surface, however, rumors swirled about Blaine dealing under the table with the Underworld behind the League's back. It was not a major concern; Blaine's obsession with science seemed to justify even dealing with his supposed enemies. So it was no surprise to Alex when he noticed the growing presence of criminal elements throughout the city.
There was no overt display of crime, but Alex noticed the city's atmosphere carried an undercurrent of tension. People cast lingering, wary glances, their eyes shifting too often to be casual. Many walked with a readiness in their posture, hands never far from their Poké Balls. Most telling of all was the noticeable lack of police presence on the streets.
Once he reached the commercial district, however, the atmosphere shifted from tense to volatile, like a powder keg waiting to ignite. The air was thick with pressure, and Elite ranked auras pulsed from every corner. Hidden among them, Alex could even sense the presence of Champion ranked aura.
"Gravik's bounty was a lot more significant than I thought. I definitely cannot get involved in whatever is going on here," Alex decided, turning away from the area without hesitation.
His plan was relatively straightforward. He intended to steal Gravik's supply of bullets, move crystals, and energy crystals while the man was distracted by the flood of trainers drawn in by his bounty.
Alex had realized early on that Gravik was a hot commodity, someone Elite and even Champion rank trainers would level a city to capture.
Now, having seen it firsthand, he felt like a noob just stepping out of the starter village. For the first time in a long while, he no longer considered his accomplishments impressive compared to what older trainers had likely achieved. His previously successful bounties now felt like scraps at the adult table of the Pokémon world. The real bounties came with credit, not just money.
"Let's hope the underwater facility has better loot. It's not like I have much room in my pack anyway."
Alex returned to his hotel room and decided to relax for the rest of the day. After flying for over four days straight, he was exhausted and needed a proper night's rest in a comfortable bed to recharge.
As for the risk of staying in a city packed with trainers ready to clash at any moment, he wasn't particularly concerned. The hotel he had chosen was located on the northwestern edge of the city, far from the commercial district and Gravik's underwater facility, which were both situated in the southeast.
Waking up early the next day, Alex headed for the docks where he released his water team. Gyarados, Milotic, and six Wishiwashi who happily played in the water before turning to Alex who wore his Deep Suit.
The Deep Suit was a sleek blend of tactical armor and diving gear, built for underwater missions without losing mobility. Its outer layer was a black polymer composite lined with glowing blue fibers that pulsed softly with energy. The fully enclosed helmet featured a curved visor that provided a wide view enhanced by sonar and display overlays.
Flexible plating at the joints allowed smooth movement while keeping the suit sealed. A large propulsion unit on the back provided quick bursts of motion or prolonged underwater propulsion, and a compact pack housed both a rebreather and power source.
Minimal in design but clearly advanced, the suit prioritized function and durability, made to withstand deep sea pressure while supporting long operations.
"It's a bit bulky, but I should still be able to throw a proper punch," Alex judged. "Feels like light full plate armor from medieval times."
Alex dove into the water and played around with the propulsion system before riding on Gyarados's head and pointing to the deep waters southeast of the city.
Gyarados surged ahead with a burst of speed while Milotic held the rear, graceful and vigilant. The six Wishiwashi followed closely in Alex's slipstream, small and unimposing in their solo forms but poised to become a formidable force once enough of their kind gathered nearby to trigger Schooling.
Once Alex arrived at the coordinates on the assassination profile, he was shocked to discover he was late to the party.
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