Noon sun streamed into the Pokémon Center guest room, finally coaxing Kai from a much-needed sleep. The past two days had been a whirlwind of trouble and unexpected recognition, and he was only just now catching up.
The Silver Conference had concluded with its closing ceremony yesterday. Ryo, the trainer who had advanced in Kai's place, had been soundly defeated in the finals, taking a respectable second place. He'd found Kai afterward, fire in his eyes, demanding a proper battle to determine the true victor. Kai had just shrugged it off. The conference was over; his focus was already elsewhere.
His journey in the Johto region had come to an end.
While brushing his teeth, Kai answered a call from Pummelo Island.
"Boss, that Ryo guy had nothing on you!" Fergus's voice crackled through the phone. "If Team Rocket hadn't pulled that stunt, your Poliwrath would've wiped the floor with him!"
"No point talking about that now," Kai mumbled, his mouth full of toothpaste. "Did you finish the job I gave you?"
"Of course! I've already arranged for them to pick up the goods at the pier. But Boss, where are we gonna put all these machines? The Recycling Station is full."
"Rent a warehouse at the pier for now. We'll figure it out when I get back. These are top-of-the-line models from a Team Rocket HQ, so make sure nothing gets damaged."
Kai hung up, quickly finished washing up, and packed his bag. After a final check to ensure he hadn't forgotten anything, he went to the front desk to say his goodbyes.
"Thank you for everything, Nurse Joy," Kai said with a genuine smile.
"You're most welcome," she replied warmly. "Have a safe journey, and we hope to see you again soon."
Outside, Kai held up the ticket for the airship that would take him from the Indigo Plateau to Mikan Island in the Orange Archipelago. A big question mark floated in his mind as he looked at the logo printed on it.
This airship… it's run by Team Rocket, isn't it? he mused. He remembered it clearly from the stories of his past life—the very same luxury liner that would eventually fall into mismanagement and be handed off to a certain bumbling trio. Its ultimate fate was no surprise.
This world had been Kai's home for ten years. His previous life had ended when a typhoon tore his house apart, and his soul had been reborn here. He'd once imagined a grand destiny for himself—conquering leagues, taming legends, and rewriting the very history he knew.
But reality had dealt him a different hand. He'd arrived too early. The Orange League was just beginning its push for development, and wooden sailing ships still dotted the sea. By his calculations, it would be another year or two before Steven Stone became the Champion of Hoenn. Lance was already an Elite Four member in Kanto, hailed as the youngest in its history. As for the journey of a certain Ketchum from Pallet Town? That was still a good four or five years away.
The same natural disaster that had brought Kai to this world ten years ago had also left many children on Pummelo Island orphaned. Whether it was the lingering trauma of that event, some obsession inherited from his body's original owner, or his own memories, Kai felt a deep, inexplicable connection to the Orange Islands. He longed to transform the region, to make it more than just a footnote tourist destination that never even got its own game.
Because I am here, he vowed, the Orange Islands will shine.
As the Orange League began promoting its island development plan, Kai quietly launched his own. He used relief funds to open a beach refreshment shop that boomed with the surge in tourism, earning him his first small fortune. With that capital, he bought a plot of land and established the Recycling Station, solving the island's growing waste problem while simultaneously creating a base of operations and gathering loyal followers.
Through these moves, Kai became a de facto leader among the island's youth and a budding entrepreneur. In a world where ten-year-olds set off on Pokémon journeys, a kid building a small business empire wasn't so far-fetched. After all, training Pokémon was an expensive endeavor. Unlike the creatures in a game, real Pokémon required immense resources. Without a solid economic foundation, how could anyone hope to be a top-tier Trainer?
With that secure, Kai had only begun training Pokémon in recent years. His plan for the Silver Conference was to make a name for himself and attract the attention of the Orange League's leadership. A strong, local Trainer from Pummelo Island would have a much better chance of influencing the region's future. The Orange Islands lacked their own distinct Pokédex, mostly featuring species from Kanto, which was a major reason it never became an independent region in the games. However, its unique geography, south of the Sevii Islands, created a distinct ecosystem. Pokémon with unique patterns were common, and he knew a Crystal Onix even existed on his home island. There was potential to study and officially establish them as regional forms.
Though he hadn't won the championship, the bizarre circumstances of his exit had made him famous overnight. In a way, he had achieved his goal through a happy accident.
"Still," he muttered, swinging onto Skarmory's back, "if this airship is still run by Team Rocket, are they going to try and get revenge?"
He urged Skarmory into the air, heading from Mt. Silver toward the airfield. Skarmory wasn't the fastest flyer, and as they crossed the mountain range, a flock of aggressive Fearow launched an attack. With Skarmory as his only Pokémon capable of aerial combat, Kai needed to end the fight quickly.
Pulling on a pair of insulated gloves, he held his Lanturn aloft.
"Thunderbolt! Pinpoint shots!"
Precise bolts of lightning erupted from Lanturn's antennae, zapping the pursuing Fearow one by one without a single stray arc touching Skarmory.
After the brief but intense skirmish, they arrived safely at the airport. It was a small but well-equipped facility nestled in a town surrounded by green mountains and clear water. Because the airship route was currently profitable, the terminal was already bustling with passengers traveling from Kanto to the Orange Islands.
A staff member in a crisp blue uniform hurried over as Kai landed. "Sir, there is still one hour until departure while our technicians perform final inspections. Please feel free to rest in the waiting lounge. We will announce when it is time to board."
Say what you will about Team Rocket, but when you paid for their luxury services, the experience was impeccable. The ticket even included a meal at the airport's exclusive restaurant.
An hour later, an announcement called the passengers to board. Kai found his private compartment, and as the airship's moorings were released, the massive vessel began its ascent.
This ill-fated airship was officially on its way, carrying him toward his future.
***
(End of Chapter)
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