Read up to 30 advanced chapters exclusively on my Patreon at - patreon.com/LoverrBoy
---------------------------------
Silver Rock Isle wasn't exactly close to Red Rock Isle. Normally, people traveled between the two islands by ship — but even by ferry, the journey would take more than half a day.
At that moment, Aerodactyl sliced swiftly across the calm sea, leaving two long trails of white foam behind it.
Sitting on Aerodactyl's back, Liam had a lot on his mind. He worried about Delia, thought about the Masked Man's movements and the organization behind him, and even pondered the matter of Harribel from before — enough to give him a headache.
Two issues, in particular, weighed on his thoughts.
The first was the Masked Man, whose next move remained unknown — the most troublesome part for Liam. He had previously guessed that the Masked Man, possessing the Silver Wing, would inevitably come to the Whirl Islands to capture Lugia. That was why Liam had arranged his operations here.
But even after a month of effort — investing manpower and resources — though he'd found traces of some agents, the Masked Man himself had never shown up. This left Liam uneasy and uncertain.
The second thing that concerned him deeply… was Harribel.
Liam knew a little about her.
She was one of Johto's Elite Four, specializing in Water-type Pokémon. Her hometown was the Water Capital of Alto Mare, a sea city not far from the Whirl Islands — and she was said to be the strongest among the four.
Liam only knew two of the Pokémon she used — Feraligatr and Mantine — clearly, that wasn't her entire team.
But what caught Liam's attention most wasn't her background. It was the sound of the system notification that had echoed in his mind the moment they met.
[Ding!]
[Emergency Mission Issued!]
[The Guardians of the Water Capital ×2!!][
[Mission Objective: The legendary Water Capital, Alto Mare, is said to be protected by a pair of mysterious Pokémon. Discover their true identities. Obtain a reference sample — blood, fur, or scales — from the guardians.
[Reward: 2,000 Exchange Points + 2 Mystery Gift Packs.]
[Note: This mission has no penalty and can be ignored without any consequence to the host.]
That prompt was what made Liam take notice — not just of Harribel herself, but of the Guardians of Alto Mare rumored to accompany her.
As for who those Guardians were, Liam didn't even need to guess — he already knew.
Two legendary Pokémon, capable of becoming invisible at will. Their strength should be extraordinary. In these uncertain times, such power might prove invaluable if used correctly.
So Liam had chosen not to expose them. Instead, he kept quiet — leaving that card face-down for the right time.
"Man… I came here for a vacation, and somehow got dragged into all this trouble," Liam muttered, gazing up at the drifting white clouds overhead from Aerodactyl's back. "Once this is all over, I really need to make it up to Delia... Ugh... wait, did I just jinx myself?"
...
The next morning, the semi-finals of the Whirl Cup began with booming fireworks and roaring cheers.
Four contestants faced off in pairs of two-on-two battles, and at the end, only two would advance to the finals — to compete for the title of Hero of the Sea.
"Ladies and gentlemen, the moment you've all been waiting for has arrived!" the host's voice boomed across the arena. "The Whirl Cup has reached its grand finale! After this battle, our new Hero of the Sea will be crowned! Without further ado, let's welcome our two finalists!"
"First, on the left side — hailing from the Hoenn region — it's the talented Fang! His Kingler has left an unforgettable impression on us all, with its incredible strength and power! Up till now, we still don't know what his second Water-type Pokémon is — will he sweep through yet another match today?"
At the host's announcement, a handsome fifteen- or sixteen-year-old boy walked confidently out from the left tunnel, waving with a bright, charming smile that made the crowd — especially the girls — scream in excitement.
"Ahem! Fang sure is popular, huh? Alright then — now for his opponent! Our second finalist also hails from another region — this time, from Kanto! Please welcome Miss Delia from Pallet Town!"
As soon as the host finished speaking, Delia stepped gracefully out from the tunnel, smiling softly as she took her place and gave a polite bow to the audience.
"Delia! You can do it! You've got this!! …Hey! You! Say something too!"
In the stands, Kim jumped up and shouted encouragement at the top of her lungs. After a few calls, she turned to glare sharply at the man beside her.
"Uh… Go… Go, Delia…"
Yasha muttered half-heartedly, barely raising his voice.
Kim: "..."
The host continued, "Now, let's review the rules for the final match! Each contestant will use two Water-type Pokémon! No substitutions are allowed during battle — the match ends when both Pokémon of one side faint or surrender! The other trainer will then be declared the victor! Let the battle begin!"
"Go, Kingler! Time to shine!"
"Krraaaab!"
At the sound of the starting call, Fang released his Kingler. The giant crab landed atop one of the stone pillars rising from the arena's waters, waving its huge pincers and spitting dense streams of bubbles.
"Alright, it's our turn! Go, Wartortle! I'm counting on you!"
"Wartortle, Wartortle!"
Delia threw her PokeBall, and her Wartortle appeared in a flash of white light, landing neatly on another pillar.
But before the referee could even signal the official start—
"My, what a beautiful lady. Your name is Delia, right? Truly, your name suits you — like standing in a field of flowers. I'm very glad to meet you. I really admire you. So… would you like to be my girlfriend?"
The crowd fell silent.
Delia: "..."
Host: "..."
Audience: "..."
"I'm sorry," Delia said with a serene smile, raising her hand. "You're a nice person, but I already have a fiancé."
The sunlight glinted off the elegant engagement ring on her finger.
"Ah… what a pity," Fang sighed dramatically. "So someone's already beaten me to it, huh? Oh well—"
He suddenly turned, flashing another bright smile toward the stands.
"You there! The lovely lady who just cheered for Delia! You're beautiful too — how about you be my girlfriend instead?"
"Grrr—what did you just say!?"
The growl came from Yasha beside Kim, his voice sharp with fury. "Hands off my girl, you punk!"
Kim giggled behind her hand, utterly delighted. "Ohoho~ sorry, but I'm already taken too~"
Fang: "..."