Watching the old man lead Meiyu under the gaze of many, they walked to the wall at the entrance of the bar.
There were many pirate bounties posted there.
But beyond that, there was another purpose.
It was to issue commissions.
For this reason, the bar specially built a small wooden platform in front of the wall, and once someone stood on it, it meant they needed to issue a commission.
For many who make a living this way, it's naturally a valuable job.
Then, Meiyu's grandfather hunched over as he ascended the wooden platform.
He seemed very familiar with the bar's rules.
As he stepped onto the platform, the originally noisy bar suddenly quieted down.
Meiyu held tightly onto the old man's clothes, hiding behind him, looking scared.
"Ahem, my name is Kage." The old man coughed.
Whether intentionally or unintentionally, as he slowly straightened his back, the clothes he wore revealed a few Pokeballs underneath, which made many ill-intentioned strong men restrain themselves.
"A glass of rye beer for each person, my treat."
Kage didn't state his purpose directly, but first generously treated everyone in the bar to a beer.
"Whoa——"
Such an act definitely pushed the quiet bar back to a climax.
Despite his age, having Pokémon ensured others didn't underestimate him, and his generosity naturally earned him a lot of goodwill from everyone.
This "Black Shark Bar" now had over a hundred people, and a large sweep of the arm could mean spending tens of thousands of league currency.
Natsuhiko took a small sip from his glass, watching him with interest.
The bartenders in the bar became busy because of his words.
As the cheers gradually subsided, Kage continued: "I need to hire one or two bodyguards, possessing at least Senior Level Pokémon!"
Bodyguards?
Many in the bar looked at each other.
It's not that this kind of commission was uncommon; hiring bodyguards might be the biggest part of all commissions at the bar.
What surprised them was Kage's requirement.
Having at least Senior Level Pokémon was no small price to pay.
But Kage's earlier act of treating everyone to drinks dispelled many doubts about his financial capacity.
"I'll do it!"
Quickly, someone stood up and shouted.
"'Mole' stop pretending, let me handle it!"
"'Big Block' are you that strong? Old man, consider me instead."
"..."
Many stood up to recommend themselves.
Kage squinted his eyes, scanning the crowd, making no immediate decision, instead saying: "I'll be waiting for you in Booth 9, come if you think you have the ability! The reward is generous!"
He emphasized the words "reward is generous".
After speaking, he pulled Meiyu towards the empty Booth 9.
Natsuhiko witnessed the entire process, but didn't react, only curious as to why the grandfather and granddaughter were hiring bodyguards?
Did they sense the Saint Anus might encounter danger?
Or did they know they might be targeted?
He shook his head.
He didn't want to get involved.
Thus, sturdy men entered Booth 9 one by one, and soon exited, either shaking their heads or with smiling faces, who knows why.
Meanwhile, Natsuhiko, who continued waiting silently, still didn't see anyone entering Booth 7.
"Perhaps they already know Pates is dead, or they have already confirmed it, or maybe the agreed upon time hasn't arrived yet..."
Bam.
He put down his glass and dusted off his clothes.
"No need to waste time like this; if luck brings something, that's great, if not, so be it. I planned to let the Pokémon rest today anyway, with two days until departure, tomorrow I'll explore the surrounding wilderness and conduct special training, maybe even earn some extra money."
With this thought, Natsuhiko stood up to leave.
"Hey! Sir, your prize." At this moment, the bartender called out to him.
He placed a thick wad of bills on the counter.
Natsuhiko wore a peculiar expression.
He didn't expect that by betting 1000 league currency randomly, after several rounds of betting, it returned to him as over 20,000 league currency, nearly double.
This was unexpected for him.
'I really have such a lucky day.'
He pocketed the money.
Ignoring the slightly disappointed gaze of the bartender, he strode towards the bar's exit.
Tipping?
Treating everyone to a drink?
You're joking!
Do I look like a fool?
Now the bar was truly at its peak, with people entering one after another, and not limited to just burly men.
There were some scantily clad women too.
As for why they were here...
Certainly for a living.
Natsuhiko shook his head, stepping out the bar door, "Life isn't easy..."
Suddenly, a faint fragrance drifted into his nostrils.
It was a very unique scent.
"Hmm?"
But when Natsuhiko turned around, he couldn't locate the source of the scent.
"That's certainly an appealing way to attract men."
After leaving the bar, he found a secluded spot, removed the Ditto mask, and changed back to his original clothes.
...
...
The next morning.
Natsuhiko woke up in the Poke Center in Big City.
He'd come to the Poke Center to rest the night before, and had the Pokémon undergo a thorough examination, healing some previously undetected injuries, completely eliminating potential threats.
He went to Miss Joy to retrieve some Pokémon that required intensive treatment, including his Beedrill.
After a night, the Pokémon were all very comfortable.
Looking through the glass of the Pokeballs, their condition appeared excellent.
"This Beedrill has been very well trained, you must be an excellent Trainer."
While handing over the Pokeballs, Miss Joy of the Big City Poke Center couldn't help but praise.
Because of the region, this Miss Joy had a darker complexion, revealing a healthy bronze glow.
With a smile, Natsuhiko thanked her, and then asked: "Miss Joy, do you know of any good places around Big City for Trainers to train and explore?"
Miss Joy lowered her head in thought for a bit.
"Hmm... for training and exploring, the great plains north of Big City are good, but there are frequent thunderstorms, so be prepared for that. The Laplace Beach to the northeast is also nice, if you're lucky, you might even see a Lapras. There is a forest to the southeast with many Wild Pokémon, but it's not recommended for under-skilled Trainers to enter."
She smiled again after speaking.
"However, someone of your prowess should have no problem."
Natsuhiko had his sights set, but he wanted to hear what Miss Joy would suggest.
Working here, surely she would encounter many injured Pokémon requiring treatment, and she'd know more than Natsuhiko was aware of.
"Is that so? Thanks for the information."
After thanking her again, Natsuhiko left the Poke Center.
He took a cab to the northeastern coast of Big City.
This too was a beach, but because of the many jagged rocks in the sand, it wasn't as popular as Little Orange Beach.
Moreover, compared to the safety of Little Orange Beach, the Wild Pokémon here were undisturbed to protect the environment for the Wild Lapras, making it comparatively more dangerous.
The most important point is, the wind here on the northeast is particularly strong, often whipping up sandstorms, creating a harsh environment.
Especially the biting winter sea breeze, compared to the south's Little Orange Beach, it felt like a different season altogether.
So, when Natsuhiko arrived here, besides the occasional whirling sand, and the Wild Pokémon active on the beach, there were almost no other people in sight.
That certainly saved him a lot of trouble.
He threw out his Pokeballs, releasing his Pokémon.
"If lucky, maybe I'll catch a Lapras, those things fetch a ridiculous price here in the Kanto Region..."