An unnamed archipelago in the waters northeast of Mossdeep City.
Judging by its location, this was already the very edge of the Hoenn Region. Another dozen or so nautical miles ahead, and one would leave Hoenn entirely and reach this world's international waters!
Carrying Xia You and Misty, Dragonite had left Mossdeep City and reached the skies above this archipelago after just over an hour of flight.
The sky was still thick with dark clouds. There was no telling whether those heavy cumulus clouds had formed naturally or been caused by some strange power, but fortunately, they also provided excellent cover.
Beneath those clouds, Dragonite looked like a tiny black dot. Even someone looking up would have trouble noticing it.
Following the coordinates, Dragonite landed on one of the smaller islands.
On a shoal by the sea, Xia You saw Shelly again.
Shelly was sitting atop the cabin of a submarine identical to the shark-shaped one that had sunk earlier. Leaning back with her legs crossed, she wore a leisurely expression on her pretty, slightly dark-skinned face and looked quite comfortable.
At Xia You's arrival, Shelly merely waved a hand in greeting.
Xia You and Misty swung themselves down to the ground, then briskly walked over to her.
After looking the speedboat over, Xia You looked up at Shelly and asked in surprise, "Wasn't your last one destroyed? Where did this come from?"
"'Borrowed' from another Team Aqua base, of course." Shelly stretched and jumped down from the submarine. "These things are hidden in Secret Bases all over Team Aqua's territory. Even they don't know exactly how many there are. Just find an unguarded base, and you can slip one out without anyone knowing. Nothing to be surprised about."
Although she made it sound simple, Xia You knew it was