At two in the afternoon, Xia You and Erika crossed the grassland and arrived at a Pokémon Center built out in the wilderness.
After leaving Ecruteak City, they had walked for several hours straight, until their calves ached and they were exhausted in both body and mind. Now that they were here, they finally had a chance to rest and recover their strength.
It was worth mentioning that they had encountered a group of Sunkern on the grassland. Erika had acted decisively and successfully caught one, making it the second Grass-type Pokémon she had caught since coming to Johto.
Seeing herself draw ever closer to her goal had left her in especially high spirits.
Geographically, this Pokémon Center stood where the forest met the open plains, at a three-way intersection. Perhaps because so many Pokémon Trainers passed through and stopped here to rest every day, the Pokémon League had paid particular attention to the place and built this Pokémon Center on quite a grand scale!
The automatic doors slid open to either side. When the two entered the three-story Pokémon Center, they found at least several dozen Pokémon Trainers gathered in the lobby alone!
As the soundproof barrier disappeared, people's conversations and the cries of Pokémon washed over them.
"Wow, it's so lively!"
Seeing so many people, Erika couldn't help exclaiming.
The Pokémon Center's facilities were clearly very comprehensive. Televisions, satellite phones, and desktop computers were all available for Pokémon Trainers to use freely. There was even a swimming pool outside, where seven or eight Water-type Pokémon were splashing around and playing.
"It certainly is lively. The facilities almost rival those at the Indigo Conference. All right, let's stop looking at all this for now. I'm practically starving. Let's hurry up and get something to eat."
At Xia You's urging,