At dawn the next day, while Mauville City's streets were still shrouded in morning mist, Lin Mo had already left the hotel with his backpack. His shoes made soft tapping sounds against the damp stone pavement.
Following the list he had made yesterday, Lin Mo first headed straight for an outdoor supply store in the city center.
The owner was a bearded middle-aged man. Seeing Lin Mo's backpack, he immediately guessed where he was headed.
"Going to the Zabe Desert at the end of Route 110, right? Quite a few Trainers have been heading that way lately."
Lin Mo nodded and pointed to the first item on his list. "I need a tent that can withstand sandstorms. Preferably lightweight, but sturdy enough to hold up against the wind and sand."
The owner took down a khaki tent bag from the shelf and patted it with a loud thump.
"You can't go wrong with this one! It was specially made for desert travel, and even the guy lines have been reinforced. As long as you don't venture into the sandstorm core at the deepest part of the desert, this tent will keep the wind and sand completely out."
Lin Mo also picked out goggles from the same brand. The outer layer was reinforced, sand-resistant glass, while the inner layer had a UV-protective coating.
The owner specifically had Lin Mo try them on. They were pretty good—nothing was glaring under the sun, and his vision remained clear, as though he was not wearing anything at all.
After that, Lin Mo went to a shop to stock up on medicine and antidotes, along with specially formulated ointment for desert insect bites. He did not miss a single item, stuffing everything into the side pockets of his backpack.
As for food, Lin Mo did