Cherreads

Chapter 340 - Chapter 340. Sevii Islands 2

Three Island was regarded as the economic hub of the Sevii Islands due to hosting the largest berry farm in active operation. The farm supplied all the berries consumed by both residents and their Pokémon, making it a critical pillar of daily life across the archipelago.

Originally, the area had been a dense and untamed forest of berry trees. As the local population grew, the harvest became increasingly unreliable. Wild Pokémon posed constant dangers, and over-foraging slowly reduced yields. In response, the island's leadership chose to restructure the forest into a fully industrialized farm. Wild Pokémon were either captured, relocated, or domesticated, and the land was carefully organized into managed plots.

The results became apparent over time. Berry yields rose sharply, food prices dropped, and the Sevii Islands were no longer dependent on imports. With stability came growth, and more residents settled on Three Island, solidifying its position as the region's economic center.

Alex and his group explored the island thoroughly and opted for a full tour package. The experience included riding tractors through long, orderly rows of berry trees, their tires rumbling along packed dirt paths, while farm Pokémon moved calmly alongside the machinery and their operators.

Along the way, they sampled premium berry juice produced by Champion ranked Shuckle, its carefully fermented blends served fresh and chilled. They were also allowed to eat fruit harvested directly from Champion ranked Tropius, the massive Pokémon lowering their necks to offer sweet, nutrient-dense produce.

Between stops, the tour guide provided generous portions of premium honey sourced from a carefully managed nest of Combee and Beedrill. As with the berries, guests were free to partake as much as they could reasonably consume during the trip.

Within the group, the tourists naturally fell into three distinct types. The first were the children, who embraced the trip with open excitement. Alvera, Malia, and Nohea darted between the rows, their hands and dresses stained with dirt and berry juice, their voices full of enthusiasm.

The second were the adults, who mostly enjoyed the food, calm atmosphere, and open scenery. This group included Alex, Marlo, and most of the girls, content to take in the beauty of the place and the novelty of the experience without lingering on the details.

The third were the investigators, those who directed a steady stream of questions at the tour guide, who seemed more than happy to answer. Kaia focused on improving her farming knowledge, Celise examined the financial structure behind the farm's management, and Maris listened closely, clearly interested in the business side of the enterprise.

Clarissa, meanwhile, was able to join them in public thanks to Zoroark's illusion, which subtly altered her features, and the cover badge, which modified her aura to make her appear as a weak Expert rank Ice type trainer. She genuinely savored her conversations with the girls, their discussions spanning every topic she could think of, from clothing and makeup to hair, accessories, spa treatments, social media, food, luxuries, and even gossip. For the first time in a long while, she felt included rather than treated as an expensive decoration that required careful handling.

By the end of the day's activities, they were thoroughly stuffed from the sheer amount of berry-based food they had consumed. This included plenty of ice cream made from milk supplied by the local Miltank. 

From Alex's experience, Moomoo Farm still had this place beat by a wide margin, a sentiment his Pokémon readily agreed with. Their wine, however, was top notch, and he ended up buying crates of it.

As evening fell, they made their way to the docks, the sky streaked with pink and gold as the sun sank toward the horizon. Their ship's storage, loaded with crates of wine, berries, seeds, and fertilizer. They set sail for Two Island overnight, the gentle sway of the waves rocking most of the group into a deep, drowsy sleep as the lights of Three Island gradually disappeared behind them.

The next day, they awoke to the bustling hub of Two Island, widely regarded as the international trade center of the archipelago. The streets were filled with shops selling foreign goods, and trainers from all over the world moved through the town, some preparing to tour the island, others departing satisfied with their visit. 

Among the attractions was a game corner, which Alex privately considered little more than gambling for children. He still remembered the disappointment of visiting the one in Celadon City, expecting a gritty casino but finding a quaint, old-fashioned game hall instead. Maybe he should open a real gambling den in this world, he thought wryly. 

As usual, the girls spent most of the day shopping while the kids played in the game corner, accompanied by the happy couple from Alola. Alex joined the girls, of course; he didn't have much to do on this particular island since he didn't have a starter Pokémon capable of learning the special versions of Hyper Beam that the old lady atop Cape Brink was rumored to teach. 

By the end of the day, they had thoroughly enjoyed themselves, their space bags filled with all sorts of international snacks and knickknacks, while the kids' energy was completely spent.

Finally, they said goodbye to their new friends and impromptu tour guides from Alola, who had kept the kids entertained throughout the day. Soon, they would board a ship at the dock that would take them from Two Island to Alola.

"Can't they go to school at the base?" Alvera complained, hugging the twins tightly, unwilling to let her new friends go.

"They have their own home and life in Alola, sweetie," Vera said softly. "I promise we'll see them again someday."

"You're welcome to visit any time," Leilani added. "Just give us a call, and we'd be more than happy to host you and your family on the islands."

Alvera turned to the twins, tears welling in her eyes. She hugged them tightly once more, lingering for a moment before whispering her farewells and returning to Vera's side.

Alex stepped forward and shook Marlo's hand. 

"Let us know when you're back in Kanto. We'd be more than happy to host your family as well."

"We'll definitely take you up on that, Alex," Marlo replied with a warm, appreciative smile as he returned the handshake. "You've gone above and beyond for us out here, and we won't forget it. Next time you're in our neck of the woods, the hospitality is on us. Alola friend."

"Alola," Alex greeted back.

After a few final smiles and waves, the couple and their twins boarded the cruise liner. Alex and the girls watched until the ship began to pull away, knowing that Marlo, Leilani, and the twins would soon enjoy the final leg of their journey in the luxury suites he had arranged through Nyx.

Once the ship was far enough away, Alex and the girls returned to the yacht and set sail west toward One Island, the final stop on their tour of the Sevii Islands.

One Island was the primary natural gateway to the Sevii Islands from Kanto, known for its scenic coastlines, volcanic hot springs, and the famous Treasure Beach. The beach was a popular destination for visitors and locals who scoured the sands for rare items washed up by the ocean. The Ember Spa along Kindle Road was also a major attraction, its healing waters potent for both Pokémon and humans.

Originally, the northern stretch of Kindle Road was a rugged, wild path with a diverse array of Pokémon. As human traffic increased, the road was systematically tamed and paved for public access. This development led to intensive over-catching by passing trainers, leaving the area with a sparse Pokémon population. In response to this depletion on One Island, the island's leadership chose to protect the remaining untouched wilderness elsewhere, transforming Sevault Canyon on Seven Island into a strictly managed nature reserve.

These changes redefined the island's role. Kindle Road became a safe, accessible route for tourists, while conservation on Seven Island preserved the archipelago's rare biodiversity.

Mt. Ember, the island's most infamous landmark, was a designated danger zone due to the consistent, perilous presence of the legendary Pokémon Moltres, which claimed the active volcano as its permanent nest. Consequently, strict regulations were enforced; no trainers below the rank of Champion were permitted to set foot on the mountain, ensuring visitor safety and protecting the legendary bird's volatile habitat.

Alex and the girls began their final day in the Sevii Islands at Treasure Beach, joining the dedicated locals and the enthusiastic tourists. While the residents took their scavenging seriously, the group along with the tourists spent more time building sandcastles than digging for riches, though they eventually came away with a few pearls for their trouble.

Later in the afternoon, the group traveled north along Kindle Road to the famous Ember Spa, where Alex reserved a whole cavern for them. It was as expensive as expected but worth the price for the private and secluded experience it offered. Clarissa was there with them, surprisingly unconcerned about wearing just a bath towel in the hot spring, fitting right into the relaxed and personal mood of the place.

"I didn't know how much I needed this until I got in here," Clarissa commented with a pleasure-filled sigh.

"Can't we make one at the base?" Rhea asked, fully submerged except for her face.

"Ask the expert," Nyx said beside her.

"No," Sable said simply. "There's no volcanoes anywhere near the mountain range near the base. It's all dormant granite and sedimentary rock. If there was even a hint of geothermal activity, I would have been the first one to have Alex make a hot spring."

"We could always buy the bath salts they sell here," Kaia recommended.

"Those are all shipped from Kanto," Maris noted. "I don't think they even produce those here."

"Well, they should," Talia chimed in. "The healing properties are simply astounding."

The group continued to relax leisurely until a sudden tremor shocked them out of their tranquil state. It was accompanied by Rotom blaring out a loud warning to call for Alex and Clarissa's attention.

"Emergency Alert! All Champion ranked trainers and above in the vicinity of One Island, report to Mt. Ember immediately. A rogue Heatran has emerged from the subterranean magma chambers and is currently engaged in a violent territorial dispute with the resident Moltres. Your immediate assistance is requested to suppress the conflict before a full-scale eruption occurs."

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