The next morning, after completing my usual morning exercise, I sent the Leaf Stone to Brock.
While running around the city, I discovered many interesting places in Vermilion Leaf, this bustling port city.
For example, I passed by a venue with a large banner:
"Pokémon Ping Pong—A Competition Between Pokémon and Trainers! Sign Up Now!"
It looked like a table tennis training center.
I had never seen Pokémon table tennis before, making it a novel sight. Another banner outside the Pokémon School advertised Pokémon Orienteering.
Thanks to Pokémon's popularity, even though not everyone could become a full-fledged trainer, most people still owned Pokémon. However, due to a lack of training or natural talent, the Pokémon they owned were generally weak.
That didn't stop people from creating activities centered around Pokémon. Maybe this was why people and Pokémon coexisted so harmoniously.
Of course, in the wilder, more remote regions, the law of the jungle still reigned, but most cities under League jurisdiction enjoyed a peaceful way of life.
As I passed a house belonging to a researcher named Professor Cerise, I turned a corner and headed toward the Bounty Hunter Center.
After careful consideration, I accepted a B-rank mission worth 300,000 Pokédollars, my increased rank granting me access to higher-level tasks.
If I completed five more B-rank missions, my hunter rank would be upgraded to B-rank.
According to Nurse Joy, this would allow me to take on three B-rank missions simultaneously, significantly increasing my income.
A-rank missions, however, were a different story. Even if I was capable, there weren't many A-rank missions available in a single city per year.
For most bounty hunters, long-term B-rank and lower missions were the primary source of income.
I called a nearby Dudrio taxi, swiped my card to pay, and instructed it to take me to the city outskirts.
Then, I released Pidgeot from its Poké Ball, secured myself to its claws, and let it take flight toward our destination.
After seven or eight minutes of steady flying, I spotted a cliff and the coastline below.
This was Routes 24 and 25.
Also known as the White Cape, this northeasternmost point of Kanto earned its nickname due to its pure white sand.
It was also a well-known tourist destination, popular among couples for dates.
If the anime was to be believed, this would soon become the site where Bill, the Pokémon researcher, summoned the mysterious giant Dragonite near his lighthouse.
But in this world, that seemed highly unlikely.
The area was already recognized as an official outdoor training ground by many trainers. Over time, it had even developed into a small town with well-established facilities.
Even if Bill, as a researcher, wanted to conduct experiments here, it was impossible for him to claim the entire area and forbid trainers from entering. That would cause a massive uproar.
After all, Bill was originally from Goldenrod City in Johto, not Kanto, creating a cultural divide.
At most, he could requisition a small portion of the cliff for his lighthouse.
But who knew if that event would even happen?
I patted Pidgeot's leg, signaling it to descend.
Pidgeot understood and began to lower its altitude gradually.
Upon landing in the designated area, I unstrapped myself, thanked Pidgeot, and returned it to its Poké Ball.
Around me, countless trainers were coming and going.
Flying-type Pokémon frequently arrived with their trainers, and while Pidgeot was a common sight, mine was an exceptional specimen—its striking appearance drew a few admiring glances.
Just as I was about to leave, a Charizard landed beside me, its trainer still on its back.
The surrounding trainers immediately turned to stare, eyes filled with envy.
A fully evolved Charizard, one of Kanto's three starter Pokémon, was a rare and powerful sight.
Beyond its strength, Charizard's fiery, dragon-like form made it a fan-favorite—a symbol of power and prestige.
I didn't linger to admire it. Instead, I quickly stepped out of the landing zone. I planned to stay here for a while, primarily to prepare for evolution, but also to train Pidgeot.
Looking around, the town bustled with activity.
Most of the buildings were wooden and stood at a safe distance from the shoreline.
Shops, Pokémon Centers, inns, battle arenas, and even a Bounty Hunter Center dotted the area.
I wasn't sure if the missions here were the same as those in the city, so I had taken a B-rank mission in advance to avoid wasting time.
With Pidgeot's speed, a round trip to the city would take only twenty minutes. If I wanted to make money, I had to push past my fear of heights.
I entered the Pokémon Center and booked a room for two weeks.
For the next fourteen days, this would be my base of operations.
After dropping off my belongings, I grabbed my three Poké Balls and trainer ID before heading out to explore the town.
I needed to wait for the training supplies Brock had ordered to arrive before starting serious training. They were expected to be delivered in the afternoon.
In the meantime, I planned to familiarize myself with the area.
Though I had researched it on the Pokémon forums, the descriptions were vague. They only mentioned that this was a "great training location" but failed to explain why or how.
After asking Nurse Joy for some insight, I began my exploration.
After reading the manual given by Nurse Joy in detail, Tetsuya finally understood the purpose of the training here.
Between the White Cape's cliffs, the largest and most intense tidal currents in Kanto surge with relentless power. Here, the best way for trainers to train their Pokémon is by having them battle against the fierce tsunamis and ocean currents in the seaside training grounds.
Through this process, Pokémon not only build endurance but sometimes even learn advanced techniques. Tetsuya now understood why veteran trainers on the Pokémon forums always said that here, one could truly feel the supreme power of nature.
Most likely, these trainers had struggled against the raw force of the ocean while training their Pokémon, and they wanted future trainers to endure the same trials—and reap the benefits. That said, the training results here were undeniably effective, which was why the place attracted so many trainers.
At the end of Nurse Joy's guide, a very clear safety warning was listed:
Trainers must never bring Fire-type, Rock-type, or Ground-type Pokémon near the sea—or worse, throw them into it—especially if they cannot swim. Doing so could lead to irreversible consequences.
This warning was clearly directed at novice trainers. Despite the Pokémon League's comprehensive education system, many beginners still lacked a solid understanding of type advantages and weaknesses. One could only imagine the sheer terror a Fire- or Rock-type Pokémon would feel if suddenly submerged in the raging sea.
Fortunately, Tetsuya wasn't foolish enough to make such a mistake. His main goal this time was to train Pidgeot, while his other two Pokémon were currently in a stage of accumulating energy for evolution.
For Pokémon of different types, there were alternative training grounds available, but compared to the unforgiving, yet rewarding, trials of nature, these facilities came at a cost.
As Tetsuya strolled through the streets of the coastal town, he overheard conversations between trainers, their voices filled with excitement and tension.
"Oh man, I was terrified! My Tentacruel was almost swept away by the waves, but thank Arceus, the safety measures were in place."
"That's nothing! My Kingler disappeared into the ocean on its own. I didn't see it for two days—I thought it was gone for good! Turns out, I found it chilling on the beach all by itself."
White Cape felt like an entirely different world, far removed from the hustle and bustle of city life. The people here were almost exclusively trainers, and their conversations revolved around their experiences in battle, their observations of Pokémon, and their training methods.
Of course, not everyone came here for training. Many couples visited to witness the breathtaking sunset and the mesmerizing tides.
However, there was a strange and rather unsettling local tradition—according to unofficial statistics, at least ten couples jumped off the cliffs of White Strait every year. They claimed it was a way to "prove the eternity of love," but Tetsuya found it utterly incomprehensible. (●—●)
As he wandered into a fruit shop, he scanned the prices of the items on display. Buying in bulk wouldn't be much different from purchasing through the Hunter's Guild, which explained why many trainers chose to sell common resources like berries as a stable source of income.
One particular fruit caught Tetsuya's eye: the Sand Scale Berry. The store had placed it in the center for promotion, showcasing its rarity and significance.
The Sand Scale Berry was known to enhance a Pokémon's speed and overall physical development. However, artificial cultivation had never been successful, and only a handful of trainers had ever found one in the wild or deep within rarely explored forests. Even then, a Sand Scale Berry tree only bore one or two berries at most, making them incredibly rare.
The so-called Sand Scale Berry in the store, however, was just a projection on a screen.
Curious, Tetsuya asked the shopkeeper about it.
The man chuckled. "It's our store's treasure—purely for publicity. I do have one in my possession, but it's not for sale."
As for stealing it? That was impossible.
The shopkeeper had originally obtained two Sand Scale Berries. One had been given to Professor Oak's research lab for study, while the other remained preserved within the institute, under tight security. In return, the shopkeeper himself was also well-protected.
Tetsuya could only admire the man's incredible luck. Why hadn't he used the berry himself?
The shopkeeper explained that by the time he had acquired it, he had already reached the peak of his performance in the regional Unlimited Conference. His Pokémon had hit their natural limits, and using the Sand Scale Berry would have been a waste.
After retiring from competition, he returned to his hometown in Vermilion City and opened this store. Using the Sand Scale Berry as a promotional tool, he successfully attracted customers and made a fortune in Pokémon League currency.
Everyone had their own way of living, and the shopkeeper's approach was certainly a profitable one.
After finishing their conversation, Tetsuya purchased a large batch of berries and arranged for them to be delivered to his room before heading out.
This purchase left his already thin wallet even lighter.
Ever since he asked Brock to help him procure special evolution stones, Tetsuya had been left with only 3 million Pokédollars. After spending another 500,000 on berries, he was down to 2.5 million.
There was no way around it—although he could get resources from Pewter Gym at half price, the supply wasn't unlimited. The amount of special stones required for his Onix's evolution meant that most of his allocated resources would be spent there.
For common supplies like berries, it was smarter to buy them outside.
Next to the fruit shop was a rented training facility, fully equipped with various battle equipment. It wasn't as good as Pewter Gym, but it was decent enough.
The rental price? 100,000 Pokédollars per day.
Given the venue's maintenance costs and equipment repairs, it was a fair price.
Realizing he had been carrying unnecessary training equipment, Tetsuya returned to his room and sorted through his gear. Now that he knew about the facility, he didn't need to carry so much in the wild. Keeping only the essentials, he sold half of his six training devices at a discount, earning 400,000 Pokédollars.
It wasn't enough to recover his berry expenses completely, but at least it helped.
After checking the time, Tetsuya hesitated for a moment before making a decision.
He should take advantage of this window to complete a B-rank mission. If things went smoothly, he could be back by early afternoon, turn in the mission, and still have time to check out the seaside training grounds.
It would also be the perfect opportunity for Pidgeot to get some exercise.
Setting his sights on the nearby mountains, Tetsuya adjusted his backpack and took off towards his next challenge.