Petalburg City—a place where people live in harmony with nature.
Traffic bustled along the streets, tall buildings lined the horizon, and the city was alive with energy.
Silas stood at the roadside, momentarily lost in thought as he took in the sight of this thriving city.
He recalled Mira's words when they had parted:
"Silas, my student, you must forget the hardships of the past. You have been reborn. One day, your name may be written on the most glorious pages of the League's history."
Over the past year, Silas had changed. He was no longer the naïve boy he once was.
Cruelty when necessary, caution in danger, and adaptability in the face of adversity - these traits Mira had instilled in him.
If his name ever did appear in the annals of the Pokémon League, he would never forget the mentor who had shaped him.
Clad in a simple adventurer's outfit, Silas blended in with the crowd, walking like any other traveler.
"So the Petalburg Gym isn't built yet… looks like the timeline's still a little early." he muttered, flipping through the Pokédex for confirmation.
After some thought, he decided to head to the Pokémon Center first and get settled.
.....
That evening, in the Center's cafeteria, Silas sat in a corner seat, eating quietly. His corphish and Carvanha munched happily on their own Pokémon food beside him.
Around him, other trainers ate with their partners, though most had smaller Pokémon. After all who would dare wheel a giant Onix into the Center? Nurse Joy's Chansey would definitely make them regret it.
Pink Devil Warning!
"Now this finally feels like a real trainer's journey," Silas thought as he ate.
With his forged identity now "cleansed," he was recognized as a legitimate League trainer. That meant privileges: free meals, free lodging, and even priority treatment at Pokémon Centers things most ordinary trainers could only envy.
The fake identity was flawless, too: parents listed as island wardens, himself an orphan raised on a remote isle.
...
After dinner, Silas made his way to the busy Center lobby. Trainers crowded in for the night, many preparing to head toward the famed Petalburg Woods the next day known for rare Pokémon and hidden treasures.
At a self-service machine, Silas slid in his trainer ID. His new identity details lit up instantly across the screen.
He had memorized it all already; no one could find a flaw.
"No wonder so many dream of becoming League direct trainers," he thought. "Forget the privileges-just this hidden exchange list alone would shock ordinary civilians."
The screen listed rare Pokémon, evolution items, Pokéblocks, and manuals. All locked behind Alliance Points, a currency only direct trainers could earn by completing official missions.
"A Corphish breeding manual… 200 points," Silas noted.
On the black market, even a starter Pokémon could fetch around two million Pokédollars, depending on its moves and stats. Here, it was all tied to points.
"So 10 points equals roughly 10,000 Pokédollars' worth… Now I understand why the League's control is so unshakable."
Knowledge was power, and the League hoarded it. Even if a civilian captured a pseudo-legendary, without training methods, it was useless. The manuals-the distilled wisdom of centuries were the true leash on civilian trainers.
"Good thing I've boarded this League ship now. Next step: earn points and redeem Carvanha's training manual."
Pulling out his card, Silas noticed the envious stares around him.
"It's the direct-trainer status they're jealous of," he guessed, suppressing a smirk.
At the front desk, he approached politely.
"Hello, Nurse Joy. I'd like to register for the League challenge."
Joy smiled warmly, taking his ID and slotting it into her system. Without hesitation, she skipped over the trainer already waiting in line.
That was the privilege of a direct League trainer. The others grumbled but didn't protest; this was normal. They only looked at Silas with envy.
"Alright, Trainer Silas," Joy said kindly. "Please fill in your details."
On the screen appeared the form:
________________________________________
Name: Silas
Gender: Male
Age: 17
Birthplace: Hoenn, Shallows Island
Current Pokémon: Corphish, Carvanha
Regions traveled: Hoenn, Kanto
________________________________________
He left Fearow unlisted - a precautionary habit, always keeping one trump card hidden.
Joy didn't mind. With her family's vast database, any Pokémon he brought to a Center would eventually be logged anyway. That was the power of the Joy family - the family that never falls.
"Dear Trainer Silas, to qualify for next year's Hoenn League Conference, you'll need to collect eight Gym Badges," Joy explained softly, her voice drawing more envious stares from the trainers nearby.
Even her tone was gentler than usual. Civilians could only dream of being addressed like that.
....
Later that night, Silas lay in his Pokémon Center room ,larger and cleaner than most hotels, and free.
He couldn't help but think of the greedy fat boy, Julian Hart, still running errands back on the Great Shark.
'Without him, I've got to handle everything myself now.'
With that thought, Silas closed his eyes, his mind already reaching toward the future.
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(End of chapter)