Sinnoh lay in the northern part of the Eastern Hemisphere, and its temperatures were far colder than those of Hoenn, Johto, or Kanto. The areas farther north around Mt. Coronet were completely blanketed in snow. Fortunately, Liu Qing had bought everything he needed before setting out; otherwise, he might not have been able to endure the cold. After spending the morning training beside a hot spring, he spread out a picnic cloth and enjoyed the lunch Blissey had prepared with his Pokémon.
"Lady J, we've spotted several rare Pokémon!" Somewhere high above Liu Qing, aboard an invisible airship, a uniformed man addressed a silver-haired woman in a black trench coat seated on a raised platform. At the same time, the video feed switched to a view of Liu Qing eating with his Pokémon.
"Oh, Togekiss, Roserade, Blissey, and two Pokémon I don't recognize. Rare Pokémon indeed. They should fetch a good price," the woman said without a trace of emotion.
"Blissey, this is delicious. Your cooking has gotten even better!" After a few bites of the food Blissey had prepared, Liu Qing smiled at her, his expression full of enjoyment. The other Pokémon clearly agreed and called out to Blissey, who immediately looked delighted. Then her expression abruptly changed, and she looked behind Liu Qing. The other Pokémon stopped eating as well. Turning around, Liu Qing saw several black dots rapidly growing larger in the sky behind him. Only as they drew closer did he make out a Salamence and three small airships heading straight toward him, beginning to surround him.
"Pokémon hunters?!" Liu Qing watched the approaching Salamence. Standing on its back was a silver-haired woman wearing a black trench coat and sunglasses, with a strange device on her left arm. An Ariados stood beside her, while each of