Pokémon Center

While Roy and Officer Jenny chatted, the bored Litwick poked its head out from Roy's shoulder.

So Roy was a trainer of Ghost-type Pokémon.

No wonder Scarface had been scared witless.

Officer Jenny did not react like the Bug Catcher and Scarface. Instead, she studied Roy's Litwick.

The Jenny family had a considerable store of knowledge.

They understood Pokémon of every type, and every Officer Jenny received training before taking up a post. So she was more curious about Ghost-type Pokémon than afraid of them.

She had handled several cases where Ghost-type Pokémon had suddenly appeared in citizens' homes. She had even captured them in Poké Balls and released them into the wild.

And from the address on Roy's ID Card, she had already guessed that Roy was no ordinary trainer.

Beep! Beep! Beep!

The police alarm rang.

A black-and-white police car came roaring over and stopped steadily not far from Roy and Officer Jenny.

The door opened, and another Officer Jenny and three ordinary officers stepped out.

"Liya, you really caught him."

The Officer Jenny walking in front ran over and linked arms with the Officer Jenny named Liya.

So Officer Jenny's name was Liya?

"Quit messing around. Take that Scarface on the ground back to the station."

"Yes!"

The four of them stepped forward and immediately smelled something foul. They saw that the poacher had been frightened into wetting himself.

They could not help imagining what their captain had done to this poacher.

"Since there's nothing else, I'll be leaving. I still need to catch the bus. I'll come collect the reward later."

With that, Roy prepared to leave. After all, the bus to Rustboro City departed on schedule and would not wait for anyone.

"Wait."

After learning that Roy was also heading to Lilycove City to take a bus to Rustboro Academy,

Officer Jenny mounted her Arcanine, shifted forward to make room for Roy, and motioned for him to climb on.

If Roy kept traveling on foot like this, he probably would not reach Lilycove City until nightfall.

By then, let alone a bus, he might not even see another person.

But Officer Jenny agreeing did not mean Arcanine agreed. It did not let just anyone ride it.

"Woof!"

"Please, Arcanine. I'll give you an extra meal tonight."

Arcanine remained unmoved.

"Make that two extra meals."

Only then did Arcanine reluctantly crouch down and allow Roy onto its back.

After leaving behind the words, "I'll leave this to you," Officer Jenny Liya ordered Arcanine to depart.

Watching the two ride away, the remaining Officer Jenny asked the three ordinary officers:

"Have you ever seen the captain let someone ride the same Arcanine as her?"

The three officers shook their heads almost at the same time.

Sitting behind Arcanine, Roy finally experienced what it felt like to race along like the wind. At the same time, he could not feel any heat from the flames on Arcanine's body.

Smelling the delicate fragrance drifting from in front of him, Roy felt the atmosphere was rather awkward and took the initiative to start a conversation.

"Officer Jenny, how do you plan to deal with that man?"

Officer Jenny in the front rolled her eyes. It was none of Roy's business, but after thinking for a moment, she turned around, made a throat-slitting gesture at Roy, and said:

"Someone wants him dead."

Good. Dead was good. A dead poacher was a good poacher.

After another round of awkward conversation, the outlines of a massive cluster of buildings appeared before Roy's eyes.

This was the first time he had seen a city in Hoenn since arriving in this world.

Lilycove City.

With Officer Jenny's help, Roy finally reached the city. Before entering, Officer Jenny warned him not to casually let his two Ghost-type Pokémon out, or they could easily cause panic. Roy understood the reason well enough.

Lilycove City was far larger than it had been in the anime. The streets were packed with a sea of people flowing like waves.

Hoenn lay in the southern part of the Pokémon World, where snow was rarely seen all year round. It was unlike the northern Sinnoh Region, where the land north of Mt. Coronet was covered in snow year-round.

Especially in summer along the coast, many beautiful women on the streets wore very cool outfits. Roy's eyes could barely keep up.

Passersby who saw a boy riding behind Officer Jenny on Arcanine were curious about his identity.

But there was no time to admire all those dazzling sights. Arcanine carried Roy and Officer Jenny onward at full speed.

When Arcanine brought Roy and Officer Jenny to the station, they discovered they were still too late. The staff informed them that the last bus had left an hour ago.

Seeing this, Officer Jenny took Roy back to the police station.

A Pidgeot appeared in the plaza outside the station. Its feathers were mainly brown, most of its body feathers were cream-colored, and there were black markings around its eyes. The feathers atop its head were red on both sides and yellow in the middle.

Around Pidgeot's neck hung the exclusive insignia of a League Police Bureau rank. This Pidgeot was a mount used specifically by the League Police Bureau.

"This is the police station's dedicated aerial mount. It can take you to Rustboro City tomorrow."

When Officer Jenny saw Roy remain silent, she assumed he was afraid of heights and asked again.

"Huh? Of course I'm willing!"

Of course Roy was willing. He could save on bus fare, ride a Pokémon mount instead, and soar through the sky.

And among all the regional birds, Pidgeot was the coolest in Roy's eyes. Not to mention that its looks rose to another level after Mega Evolution.

He had been so focused on admiring Pidgeot's appearance that he had forgotten to answer Officer Jenny's question.

"Officer Jenny, I have one more request."

"Go ahead."

Roy suddenly leaned close to Officer Jenny's ear. The warm, moist air from his mouth made Officer Jenny Liya's ear instantly flush red, but after hearing what Roy said next, Officer Jenny Liya turned back toward him with a puzzled expression and replied:

"It's possible, but do you really want to add those three words?"

"Yes, they have to be added."

Roy nodded heavily. It only had meaning with those three words added.

Night had fallen.

Officer Jenny arranged for Roy to stay at the Pokémon Center for the night and leave the next morning.

The Pokémon Center differed from those in the games and anime. It stood a full four stories tall, with a giant red-and-white Poké Ball model hanging at the very top. In that respect, it looked much like the ones in the games.

There were also two guards outside. They appeared to be League trainers, and guarding earned points as well.

Roy followed Officer Jenny inside.

The place was more like a comprehensive service center, with a treatment area overseen by Joy, a League Shop, a League Mission Reception Center, and a League Battle Assessment Station.

Officer Jenny made her way skillfully to the treatment area and found Joy. The two clearly had a good relationship, probably best friends.

As they talked, Joy occasionally glanced at Roy.

Thanks to Officer Jenny pulling strings, Roy was granted the privilege of resting at the League center despite not having League trainer certification.

"All right, stay here tonight. Come to the police station tomorrow and find Pidgeot."

After Officer Jenny left, a round pink figure wearing a white nurse's cap on its head, Chansey, came over to Roy.

"Chansey, Chansey."

Led by Chansey, Roy arrived at the lodging room. It was much like a hotel room from his previous life, and Roy lay down on the soft bed.

Yet he felt that even this large bed was not as good as the lid of his coffin.

But Roy did not intend to sleep yet. Just as Chansey was about to leave, he asked:

"Chansey, do you know where the battle arena is?"

"Chansey, Chansey."

Chansey thought for a moment, then curled its little chubby hand in a beckoning gesture, signaling Roy to follow.

Since it was already late, the more than two-hundred-square-meter League Battle Practice Room was completely empty. There was no one there but him.

Roy's plan to demonstrate Ghost-type Pokémon battle techniques and raise his Popularity Points was shattered.

Bored, Roy let both Litwick and Duskull out.

"Duskull, Litwick, it's time for intelligence training!"

"Litwick, no~~~"

No was not an option!

"I'm the landlord this round!"

And so, one human and two Pokémon began playing Landlord.

That was right, intelligence training meant playing cards with Roy.

Before long, Roy had covered Litwick and Duskull with strips of white paper.

"Chansey, Chansey."

Chansey had not left the battle room. Instead, it sat on the floor and watched Roy play cards with his two Pokémon.

It looked rather interesting.

Just as Duskull was about to play a three, a chubby pink hand reached over and pointed at Duskull's king, signaling it to play that card.

Roy found the sight very amusing and casually asked:

"Chansey, do you want to play a round?"

"Chansey, Chansey!"

Chansey pointed at itself, asking if it could play too.

Roy nodded.

Chansey then applied to join the card game.

Its plump body squeezed between the three of them and directly shoved Duskull out.

Seeing this, Duskull got into its Poké Ball before Litwick and went to sleep.

Whether Chansey was a card-playing genius or not, after watching only a few rounds, it had already understood the rules.

It even stuck several strips of white paper onto Roy's face.

Under Roy's tyranny, Litwick had no choice but to cooperate with Roy's Mind Communication, transforming from a farmer into the landlord's servant.

Before long, Chansey was covered in white paper strips, as though it were wearing clothes.

Chansey remained thoroughly entertained. It seemed a little addicted and kept playing with Roy and the others until midnight, when Joy repeatedly called for Chansey throughout the Pokémon Center.

Only then did Chansey realize it had played too late. It shook the little paper strips from its head and reluctantly stood up, preparing to say goodbye to Roy and Litwick.

"Wait, Chansey."

Chansey turned back to look at Roy, who had called out to it.

"This is for you."

Roy gathered up the entire deck of cards, placed it in a small wooden box, and handed it to Chansey.

"Chansey!"

Chansey stared at the deck of playing cards in its hands, then looked at Roy in disbelief.

"It's really for you."

Seeing that Roy was not joking, Chansey was overjoyed and tucked the cards into the pocket at the front of its apron.

This way, even when Roy was gone, it could still play cards.

As though it had thought of something, Chansey rummaged through its pocket. In the end, it only pulled out a red Haban Berry. It seemed to have nothing else it could give Roy.

This made Chansey feel a little embarrassed.

"It's not an exchange. Just keep it."

His two Pokémon did not like playing anyway, so he might as well give the cards to Chansey. He hoped it could carry on and promote the game.

In the end, under Chansey's insistence, Roy accepted Chansey's Haban Berry.

Roy did not know that this act of his would bring all sorts of changes to the future Lilycove City. A generation of card gods was quietly "Chansey-born."

Opening the System Panel, Roy discovered that his Popularity Points had increased by twenty today.

He should have swaggered all the way to the League Police Bureau with Scarface in tow.

It was too late for regret now. The man had long since been taken away by the three trainee officers.

The next day.

Officer Jenny Liya still had official duties to carry out, so she said goodbye to Roy.

Roy rode on Pidgeot's back. Unlike Arcanine, Pidgeot was very obedient to Officer Jenny and carried Roy into the sky.