The Town Where the Wind of New Beginnings Blew

Because every person in the organization had remote monitoring permissions set on their Poké Balls, he could not take a single one with him if he wanted to escape.

Before leaving, Sato destroyed all of his identification tags and Poké Balls, casually tossing the fragments into bushes far from the tunnel before escaping through the hole Tyranitar had "gnawed" out.

The night was hazy, and tree shadows rustled. In an unnamed forest, a flock of sleeping Pidgey was suddenly startled awake.

Sato and Zorua quietly appeared beneath a Giant Tree. Amid its tangled roots, a small tunnel could vaguely be seen.

This tunnel was the passage Tyranitar had used to burrow underground before it evolved. Though small, it was large enough for a ten-year-old child to pass through.

"Everyone, follow me!"

After burying the tunnel, Sato called over the newly freed Zorua, Haunter, and Larvitar, which he had just caught but had yet to put into a Poké Ball.

Without the restraints of a Poké Ball, Zorua Didn't Care At All. Haunter, however, having suffered its "torture," hesitated. It could turn invisible and run away now; it no longer needed to be Sato's Pokemon.

Sensing Haunter's struggle, Sato stopped after taking two steps and turned around to wait for its decision. Although Haunter's potential had reached Pseudo-Elite Four Level—and even increased by A Trace Of after evolving—

It was still only Pseudo-Elite Four. Having been given another chance, Sato's Bottom Line was to reach the Pseudo-Elite Four level he had attained in his previous life. Haunter had merely just met that standard.

During This Period of Time, Haunter's strength had grown rapidly with Sato's help, and it had also played an outstanding role in Sato's escape plan. They could be said to owe each other nothing.

"Jiejie! Jiejiejie!"

After struggling and hesitating for a while, Haunter Floated Onto Sato's front. There was none of its usual Play Rough in its eyes, nor any fear left over from being cleansed by Dark Power.

Perhaps it was its desire to Become Stronger, perhaps it did not want to wander alone, or perhaps it was Zorua's expectant gaze beside it. In the end, Haunter offered its loyalty of its own accord, without anyone forcing it.

"You'll become stronger!" Sato solemnly made a promise that was not quite a vow, then turned and began to flee.

Behind him, Haunter regained its Sly Smile and drifted after Sato. Zorua let out soft whimpers, happy for Haunter and happy for Sato.

Larvitar, who had only just joined them, silently watched everything before it. Confusion and contemplation flashed In Their Eyes as it said nothing, moving its Short Legs to keep up with Sato.

In his previous life, Sato had participated in rookie trials many times under different identity ranks. He had even captured runaway newcomers for the organization, so he was extremely familiar with the surrounding area.

The Ghost Ship Organization's trial forest was located within a hidden forest on Indigo Plateau, the headquarters of the Pokemon League in the Kanto Region.

Have to Say, this Darkness Under the Lamp approach had indeed numbed the Pokemon League's people. However, Indigo Plateau itself contained a Large Amount Of Primeval Forest, and the Ghost Ship Organization had always traveled using Psychic-type Pokemon, making their movements difficult to trace.

Rather than heading to the nearest town, Sato cautiously Shuttled Through the forest. Using disguises and the Scouting Technique, he perfectly avoided the large Pokemon he could not handle.

Without affecting their escape schedule, he could even Take Time Off to train his Pokemon's abilities while gradually recovering from the lingering effects of the bodily stimulation and treatment.

When passing through a small town with only around a hundred villagers, Sato happened to help drive away a group of Raticate that had come out of the forest and ruined their grain. The Village Chief gifted him a set of plain yet brand-new clothes.

Running his fingers over the fine stitches, Sato found himself somewhat intoxicated by the feeling of receiving sincere gratitude and gifts after helping others.

After quietly putting the Village Chief's family savings back where they belonged, Sato put on the warm clothes and quietly left the village on an autumn night, fierce winds battering his new outfit.

Not At All cold.

Sato grinned, and the gloom lingering deep in his eyes gradually faded. Though he still seemed mature beyond his years, he now revealed the vigor that only youth had the right to possess.

"Kuso!"

Zorua keenly sensed that Sato had changed, though it did not know exactly how. Haunter still drifted about carefree, but the silent Larvitar Looked Up and noticed the curve of Sato's lips.

It seemed much wider than In the Past.

Over the following journey, whenever Sato passed through small villages, he helped them, to varying degrees, resolve troubles caused by Wild Pokemon. He had new Poké Balls now, and enough money for food in the short term.

A week later, Sato Returned To Cerulean City's wealthy district and saw his burned-down home. Because of Sato's sudden disappearance, all his assets had been impounded at the Police Station, left unclaimed.

To avoid affecting the lives of the surrounding residents, the burned villa had been tightly concealed behind green construction screens. Even so, several neighboring families had moved away.

After placing the one million League Coin he had hidden away into his Spatial Backpack, Sato was about to leave when he heard crying and commotion coming from his next-door neighbor's home.

Quietly approaching, he vaguely heard the neighboring Old Grandma's nagging voice Entered his ears once again.

"Little Sato, wherever you are, you must grow up healthy. Grandma is sorry for you. I don't know..."

Sato's chest felt tight. Other than Zorua, there were Unexpectedly Also unrelated people thinking about him? He forcibly held back the urge to rush inside. He did not dare drag down the last person who cared about him. He still did not know that the Red Card Killer had never entered his information into the system. Even if he showed himself now, the Ghost Ship Organization would have difficulty finding him.

But the Ghost Ship Organization was even more terrifying than he had imagined. On the surface, it was a pure assassination organization and thus dealt with both the underworld and legitimate society To a Certain Extent. Yet it was only after becoming a Gold Rank Killer that Sato had learned a little of the truth.

The Ghost Ship Organization was actually the Kanto Region's leading Underground Organization, Team Rocket's hidden force! This was why Sato wanted to extract himself so desperately. The waters ran too deep; it was not something an ordinary person like him could casually get involved in. Well, although he was not all that ordinary.

"Haunter, help me deliver this to the old woman in that house. Remember, don't scare her!"

"Jiejie~"

Haunter found the task boring, but under Sato's warning, it obediently passed through the wall.

Before long, sounds of ecstatic joy came from inside the room, and Sato made a satisfied note of Haunter's contribution.

Pulling down the brim of his hat, Sato strode away. From this day onward, he no longer had any attachments. Then what identity should he use to live again? Sato had long known the answer.

Half a month later...

Johto Region, New Bark Town, Pokemon Center. Sato brought Zorua to Nurse Joy.

"Please help treat my partners. Thank you."

"Of course, no problem."

These Past Few Days, I've been dealing with exams, so there'll be one guaranteed chapter per day, with irregular Extra Chapters afterward. More updates on weekends! You can save up chapters if you want, but New Book are difficult, so remember to vote with Recommendation Tickets and the like. Thanks for your support!