The sun sank toward the horizon, dusk settling in.
Watching the sunset over the open sea had a uniquely captivating charm. The enormous orange fireball dyed the entire ocean surface in warm amber hues as the cruise liner slowly sailed toward the fading light. Standing on the deck and gazing out, it felt as though the sunset itself was almost within reach.
Kael and the other three, hired as external security, had little to do during the day. They blended in among the passengers, quietly observing anyone who seemed suspicious and guarding against potential risks.
At night, however, they took turns accompanying sailors on patrols throughout the ship. Since they were being paid a generous wage—paid daily, no less—it was only right to put in the effort when it was time. Fair pay meant fair work.
Each person patrolled alone for two hours. On the first day, lots were drawn to determine the order. Kael had fairly good luck and drew the first shift. Cole was second, Lisa third, and the bald brute, Mondo, ended up last.
Drawing the final shift was the worst—patrolling from 1:30 a.m. all the way until 3:30 a.m. Kael's shift began after dinner at 7:30 p.m. and ended at 9:30 p.m.
The S.S. Anne had six levels in total: four deck levels above, plus two warehouse levels at the very bottom. Completing a full sweep from start to finish took almost exactly two hours.
Kael walked at the front alone, with two broad-shouldered young sailors following behind him. There was no conversation along the way, and their attitude was far from friendly. They didn't feel like fellow patrol members so much as sentries keeping an eye on him.
"So Captain Hardwin doesn't trust the bounty hunters he hired at all," Kael thought calmly.
Based on his earlier conversations with Cole, Kael could roughly infer that Captain Hardwin hadn't originally intended to hire outside personnel for the S.S. Anne's security. That decision likely came from Cole's so-called "boss"—Renard—the man who had announced the Pokémon tournament in the main hall that afternoon.
Kael himself didn't harbor lofty ideals like fighting crime or saving the world. His cooperation with the League investigators was purely because they offered greater benefits—and occupying the moral high ground carried its own advantages. In any world, having a legitimate banner mattered. Of course, if Team Rocket could offer even more tempting rewards, Kael wouldn't be opposed to doing business with them either.
A bounty hunter walked the gray line between black and white—eating from the lawful side while biting into the spoils of the underworld as well.
The two-hour patrol passed quietly amid Kael's aimless rounds. By the time he returned to his room, night had fully fallen, a curtain of darkness spread across the sky, studded with countless twinkling stars.
He released Lulu and Weavile from their Poké Balls, then turned the solid-gold faucet and filled the bathtub with steaming hot water. The bathwater was quite hot, so he didn't release Feebas.
As he helped Weavile remove the mechanical rings from her limbs, Kael said with a smile, "Everyone take it easy tonight. Rest well—we've got matches tomorrow."
"Wea~"
Weavile nodded and stretched her body. Ever since evolving, the gravity beads Kael had her wear had increased to five. The four mechanical rings together held twenty gravity beads—two hundred kilograms of constant load. And this was merely her daily weight. During special training, the gravity would be increased even further.
Evolution from Sneasel to Weavile was a true leap in lifeform quality. Her agility, muscle density, and tendon resilience had all undergone qualitative improvement.
Kael had tested her personally. Taking pure muscle strength as an example, Weavile's current power was roughly 2.25 times that of her Sneasel stage—a terrifying increase. Her speed, on the other hand, was about 0.77 times her previous level, since her evolved body was significantly larger.
And this still wasn't her limit. With sustained training over time, her strength and speed would continue to grow dramatically. By Kael's estimate, at her current rate, about two uninterrupted years of high-intensity training would push her to a natural ceiling. After that, further breakthroughs would require either another evolution or assistance from external factors—perhaps a special Pokémon item or extremely rare medicinal herbs.
Kael leaned back against the edge of the tub, the pleasant heat washing over his skin. After a long day, being able to soak in hot water like this was one of life's greatest pleasures.
Because of her Ice typing, Weavile disliked hot baths and quickly retreated to her self-made nest to rest.
A pair of small, pale hands slowly settled onto Kael's shoulders. Without opening his eyes, he already knew who was behind him.
"Not going to sleep yet?" Kael asked gently.
"Kael worked hard all day. Lulu should help him relax," Lulu's clear, airy voice echoed directly in his mind.
"Then thank you, little one."
The "massage" Lulu referred to was her self-developed psychic massage technique—using a Psychic-type Pokémon's powerful mental energy to stimulate cells, muscles, and skin, achieving a truly comprehensive massage from the inside out.
Years of training had given Lulu control over her psychic power down to a level finer than pores themselves. She could crush and expel stubborn oils, grime, and even parasites beneath Kael's skin—things that were normally hard to deal with—keeping his body in peak condition.
Ordinary people couldn't endure this kind of psychic massage. The all-encompassing numbness, tingling, and pain were simply too much for most. Kael, however, had gradually adapted over the years, to the point where he could now receive it with genuine enjoyment.