"Oh, right—almost forgot to tell you."
Cole, who was driving a beat-up jeep, suddenly slapped the back of his head. "After you obtain permanent breeding rights for Chansey, there's still a three-month observation period. During those three months, once a month you'll need to bring Chansey to the local Pokémon Center for a full physical checkup by the Nurse Joys. If they find any signs of mistreatment or improper care, your permanent rights will be revoked immediately—and you'll be blacklisted by the Pokémon Center."
"Understood," Kael nodded.
For now, his Godbird V motorcycle was parked in the underground garage of the Pokémon Center. The reservoir construction site they were heading to was deep in the mountains—riding a motorcycle in there would likely damage it. Besides, after spending 580,000 on the fully loaded Godbird V, Kael wasn't about to treat it like a cargo hauler. So he opted to ride in Cole's jeep instead.
"Hmm?"
While sitting in the passenger seat and pondering how to arrange Chansey's move set, Kael suddenly spotted a familiar figure walking out from a street corner.
Her once flowing red hair had been cut into a short style that framed her ears.
"Pull over. I see someone I know," Kael said.
"A woman?" Cole grinned mischievously. "You mean that red-haired beauty at the intersection? Nice choice."
Kael ignored him.
Finding no reaction, Cole shrugged and steered the jeep toward the crossroad.
"Miki!"
The familiar voice rang out. Miki froze in shock, the bag of fresh produce in her hands slipping to the ground. She quickly turned around—and that familiar smile came into view again.
"Kael!"
She cried out excitedly, tears glistening in her eyes.
"Kael, this is wonderful… really wonderful… I always believed you were safe."
Perhaps from excitement, Miki spoke somewhat incoherently after climbing into the jeep.
Kael understood her feelings. He smiled and explained, "When the Gyarados unleashed their group Dragon Rage, we were blown apart. I drifted to an uninhabited island and survived there for five days. After that, I built a small wooden boat and managed to escape."
Miki wiped the tears from her eyes. "Ash and the others were blown onto a large island with a theme park. It was full of giant mechanical Pokémon—each over ten meters tall, like small hills. We thought they were real at first. Ash even accidentally damaged a few of the machines."
At the memory, she suddenly burst into laughter.
Kael handed her a packet of tissues and asked gently, "So what are you planning to do now? The S.S. Anne sank… what about your job?"
At the mention of it, Miki scratched her head shyly. "Actually, I've been studying under Miss Suzie on Beauty Street to become a Pokémon Breeder. Though… I don't even own a Pokémon yet."
"A Pokémon Breeder?" Kael nodded thoughtfully. It was indeed a profession with strong demand—especially in economically developed cities. A skilled breeder could earn unimaginable sums.
But pouring your energy into raising clients' Pokémon wasn't easy. After all, they weren't your own. It was like parents devoting everything to raise someone else's child—most people would struggle to truly give it their all.
"Ash and the others left for Saffron City after challenging the Celadon Gym. If they knew you were safe, they'd be so happy."
Miki was in exceptionally good spirits today. The gloom and worry she had buried deep inside had finally dissipated.
...
"This is Suzie's Breeding House!"
Miki pointed to the fifth storefront on the right as soon as they entered Beauty Street. Compared to the many luxurious beauty salons around it, this shop looked rather modest.
The straight, thousand-meter-long street was Celadon City's famous beauty district—a must-visit attraction for female tourists.
From the neighboring metropolis of Saffron City, wealthy socialites often drove their sports cars here, bringing their beloved pets for regular grooming.
This beauty street didn't serve only human customers. Many salons catered specifically to Pokémon. After all, many male Trainers wouldn't spend money on their own grooming—
—but they would gladly pay top dollar to keep their Pokémon looking immaculate.
Suzie's Breeding House specialized in full-service Pokémon care: grooming, shaping, massage, conditioning, and more. Though it occupied only about a hundred square meters and featured simple décor, it was one of the most profitable shops on the entire street.
"Miss Suzie is a very well-known Pokémon Breeder," Miki explained as she pushed open the glass door. "Miss Suzie, I'm back."
"That's you, Miki. I'm currently giving an Arbok a massage. You can come take a look."
"Wow… that voice," Cole inhaled deeply, looking intoxicated. "Gentle with a hint of sweetness—and a touch of allure. If I'm not mistaken, Miss Suzie must be a long-haired, elegant beauty."
They stepped into the main hall of the breeding house.
A blue-green-haired woman was carefully giving a full-body massage treatment to an Arbok lying on a cushioned bed.
She wore a fitted white uniform reminiscent of a nurse's attire, her expression deeply focused.
Her face wasn't strikingly beautiful by Kael's standards—perhaps slightly above average. But what truly stood out was her aura.
Calm. Intellectual. Gentle.
Like a clear spring flowing quietly down a mountainside—something about her presence made you feel at ease the moment you saw her.