It wasn't long before people discovered that the Death Nen within the Harimu Ruins had mysteriously vanished.
The news spread like wildfire, instantly drawing in countless ruin hunters.
With no Death Nen obstructing their path, they were able to make their way unimpeded into the inner chambers.
Inside, they found nothing but murals etched along the passage walls and a lone, desolate altar. The only other signs were the scars of a violent battle.
As for Pete and the two bodyguards, their bodies had long since turned to ash. No one noticed their absence, simply assuming they had gone missing during the expedition.
In the end, it was the remaining murals that became the greatest prize for countless ruin hunters.
These murals revealed the origins of the Harimu Ruins and hinted at the reason for its downfall.
One particular ruin hunter, who knew fragments of hidden truths, investigated further and realized that this place bore a connection to the Dark Continent.
After reporting to the Association's upper echelon, the inner chambers of the Harimu Ruins were once again sealed off, strictly prohibiting entry to unauthorized personnel.
The ruin hunter who filed that report—was none other than Jin!
While the world was still abuzz with talk of the Harimu Ruins' sudden change, Linck had already boarded an airship, bound for the eastern lands of the Yorbian Continent.
It was said that here lay the largest desert in the world—the Samok Desert.
The Samok Desert belonged to the Saheilta Union, not far from the location of the Harimu Ruins. This was one reason why Linck chose to come.
The other was his desire to test a theory, whether his earlier conjectures about the rules of Pokémon nurturing were correct.
This vast desert, occupying nearly one-third of the Saheilta Union, was to be his testing ground.
And, as expected, the very moment Linck stepped into the boundaries of the Samok Desert, the progress bar in his mind, the one that signified the nurturing of a Pokémon, appeared once more.
Linck showed no great surprise. Aside from a spark of anticipation, his expression remained calm. After all, this place bore the title of "the largest desert." That it could nurture Pokémon was only natural.
But what he wished to know was—which Pokémon would it be?
Though most of the Samok Desert was buried in endless seas of sand, there were still people who made their homes here.
From its harsh nature, they had even developed a thriving tourism industry.
The first sight to greet Linck was the largest city on the desert's edge, the place where most travelers began their journey—Taku City.
Its massive black-brown walls stretched endlessly, blocking out the vast majority of the desert's dust storms. Only a thin veil of drifting sand occasionally slipped through from the skies, settling into deserted corners of the city, quietly reminding all that this was indeed a city of the desert.
Inside, the people, locals and outsiders alike, were dressed in near-identical garb: white clothing to ward off the heat.
Many also wrapped their heads with strips of cloth wound tightly in circles, resembling the attire of Middle Eastern people back on Blue Star.
Their skin, too, bore resemblance, darkened to deep bronze and black from years of blazing sun exposure.
Linck couldn't help but muse: If that hip-hop guy were here, he'd blend right in with the locals without issue.
Because of the desert's vastness, its people had, over generations, domesticated creatures suited for transport.
The most common among them was the Three-Humped Camel.
It looked much like the camels of Blue Star, save for the extra hump on its back.
Since a camel's hump stored energy and water, an additional hump meant greater endurance. These camels were born of the desert, boasting remarkable stamina and resistance to both heat and drought. They were cheap to keep, hardy, and reliable—an unmatched companion for desert life.
For the tourism trade, they were the most cost-effective mount available, supporting much of the region's prosperity.
As Linck gazed down the busy streets filled with Three-Humped Camels, he recalled the words of the old man who had rented him his mount.
The man hadn't lied—Linck could already feel the truth after a short ride.
But these camels came with one major flaw: they were slow.
Their gait was like that of an old man taking a leisurely stroll. As a sightseeing mount, they were fine. But for urgent travel? Absolutely not.
Linck, however, wasn't bothered. Watching the progress bar tick steadily forward, he thought, This trip is more for leisure anyway. Speed can wait.
Taku City was vast, though its buildings were sparse and generally short. Perhaps this was because of the drifting sands that floated constantly in the skies above.
Most of the structures were sun-baked earthen houses, low and compact, no more than one or two stories high.
Their thick outer walls bore many tiny holes and small windows,designs meant to reduce the burden of heat.
Crude though they appeared, these homes told the tale of adaptation to the harsh desert.
Yet Linck's true interest wasn't in the houses, but in the city's heart, the bustling marketplace.
Tourism was the city's lifeblood, and nowhere was it clearer than here.
Guesthouses, inns, and hotels dotted the streets; every few blocks, there were stables and camel rental shops. And at the very center of it all, like a beating heart, stood the great market district.