When discussing his research, Professor Sakuragi also requested that he could study Roy's Ghost type Pokémon during his Pokémon Journeys.
Roy's Ghost type Pokémon could each be the subject of a separate report.
Professor Sakuragi spoke these words with some caution. Roy was now a highly sought-after research subject, while he himself was just an unknown Researcher.
Roy, however, didn't see it that way.
Although Professor Sakuragi is currently just Researcher and can't bring him much Popularity Points, he knows that the other party will definitely become Pokémon Professor, so he readily nodded and agreed to Professor Sakuragi's request.
Professor Sakuragi was thrilled to see Roy agree.
"May I see your 3000-year-old Gengar?"
"Gengar, someone wants to see you."
Roy summoned the Ancient Gengar from its shadow.
Looking at this large, chubby purple creature, even taller Roy, could this be the Gengar from 3,000 years ago that sparked debate in the archaeological community?
Professor Sakuragi was examining his own body with a magnifying glass while muttering, "What a beautiful body."
The Ancient Gengar just thought this man was a pervert.
The fat man with the purple tattoo looked helpless, his whole body pressed against Roy's side, afraid that Professor Sakuragi might suddenly bite him.
How can some humans be more terrifying than Ghost type Pokémon?
About half an hour later, a whistle sounded in the distance.
A very familiar luxury cruise ship docked at the port of Vermilion City; it was the S.S. Anne Roy had previously traveled on.
Seeing Professor Sakuragi still studying the Ancient Gengar tattoo, Roy reminded him that it was time to board the ship.
Upon arriving at the boarding gate, the crew member standing guard also had dark circles under his eyes. When he saw Roy, he excitedly and accurately called out Roy's name.
This completely baffled Roy; how did everyone recognize him?
"And who are you again...?"
The crew member who greeted Roy identified himself as the young crew member from the previous encounter in Lilycove City.
Roy was somewhat surprised, as he had only met the other person once or twice, and more than a year had passed in between.
Could it be because I'm too handsome, so handsome that people can't forget me?
The crew member said he watched the live broadcast of the match between Roy and Lance in the Saffron City Ring Arena.
Because the crew members on board had very few forms of entertainment, the captain introduced live video battles to enrich their lives, so that the sailors could go to the screening room to watch the live streams together when they had free time.
When the S.S. Anne passes through a region, they specifically watch live broadcasts of that region.
Yesterday's Dynamax battle between Roy and Lance was so popular that it was featured on their homepage.
So it wasn't because I'm too handsome after all?
After learning the reason Roy boarded the ship with some disappointment and was led to his room by a crew member. Professor Sakuragi's room was right next to his.
Professor Sakuragi marveled at the luxurious decorations on the S.S. Anne.
Once aboard the ship, Roy, with no training duties and nothing else to do, found a fishing spot as usual.
They were still using the Lure Pokéblock they had made before and the Magikarp had given them.
A row of anglers were also surprised when they saw Roy. Several of them even exclaimed "Fishing God!" and then surrounded Roy, praying that they could catch a big fish that day.
Roy frowned. Why did it feel like the whole world knew him today?
Professor Sakuragi, who was standing next to him, provided the answer. He had seen a picture in the fishing area below the deck, showing a man holding an old fishing rod, catching a Wailord by hand.
The person in the picture is Roy, and there are quite a few coins at the bottom of the picture.
Roy is now a legend in the fishing area of S.S. Anne.
Everyone who comes to sea fishing throws a coin under his picture, praying that they will catch a fish that day.
Looking at the huge pile of coins at the bottom of his picture, Roy was speechless.
All Roy wanted to know was who came up with the brilliant idea of hanging his own portrait.
He hasn't even finished his studies yet and he's already receiving offerings?
No one mentioned the portrait, but several anglers told Roy about a strange phenomenon: many anglers hadn't caught anything, and this had been going on for several days in a row, not just today.
No fish?
After Roy threw the Lure Pokéblock into the sea, he waited at his fishing spot for a bite, but five seconds later the fishing rod suddenly shook.
Feeling the force coming from his hand, Roy was certain it was a big fish. He pulled hard, but the fishing rod was empty, and the Pokéblock on the hook had disappeared.
???
Roy handed the fishing rod to his Annihilape, who was usually a skilled Annihilape but had only caught one fish in the past half hour.
The fish was purplish in color, emitted a rotten smell, and had an unfinished Pokéblock in its mouth.
Just as Professor Sakuragi was about to touch the dead fish, Roy quickly stopped him.
He could tell at a glance that the fish was Poison, but it had just been caught; how could it be poisonous?
Could it have been preyed upon by Tentacruel in the sea?
It was the Ancient Gengar that picked up the dead fish and threw it back into the sea, thus proving Roy's suspicion that the fish was indeed poisonous.
That's a bit strange.
Seeing that even a fishing master like Roy wasn't catching any fish, the other anglers actually felt better. If even a fishing master couldn't catch any fish, it just proved that it wasn't their problem.
Not far from the S.S. Anne, a pair of beady eyes Lock-On onto Roy in the fishing area. Wasn't that the human who had given out free meals before?
He was about to approach the S.S. Anne, but then he remembered the two monsters beneath the ship and immediately stopped, lingering not far from the S.S. Anne.
The strange things that happened today made Roy's appetite worse; he only ate about ten bowls of ramen before he was half full.
As Roy was eating his eleventh bowl of ramen, he was about to take a bite of the Farfetch'd and then another bite of ramen.
A man of medium build, with tanned skin, wearing a white captain's hat and a white uniform with gold buttons, approached Roy.
The newcomer was none other than Captain Witte of the S.S. Anne.
The captain, who also had dark circles under his eyes, pulled Roy aside, indicating that he needed Roy's help.
A strange thing has been happening on the S.S. Anne recently: the ship sometimes stops inexplicably, as if it has hit something.
But such a thing is impossible, because the S.S. Anne's sailing route is fixed, and they know exactly where the reefs are, so there is no possibility of a grounding accident.
Moreover, every night, strange, Growl and clanging sounds would emanate from the ship.
These two incidents have caused the crew members to have trouble sleeping lately, and their daily condition has been poor.
Hearing the captain's words, Roy understood why the crew members he had seen all had dark circles under their eyes.
Therefore, the captain specially led several crew members with near- Pseudo-Elite Four- level strength to search the entire ship, but found nothing suspicious.
Then there's only one possibility: a paranormal phenomenon.