The next day arrived with the early morning sun.
As soon as Jacob stepped outside, he spotted Layne waiting for him at the door once again.
Since they had met before, Jacob enthusiastically waved at Layne, treating her like a lucky charm. "We meet again, Layne. What brings you here this time?"
Hearing Jacob's greeting, Layne's already displeased expression grew even darker. She couldn't fathom why Raya would be fond of such a smooth-talker.
Despite her personal feelings toward Jacob, Layne maintained her professional demeanor. She chose to brush off Jacob's comment and handed him a small box.
"Take this," Layne said coldly, making her irritation with Jacob abundantly clear.
"What's inside?" Jacob asked, glancing at Layne with a smile.
He couldn't help but think of her as his lucky charm—good fortune always seemed to follow whenever she appeared.
"It's a satellite phone."
After happily accepting the satellite phone, Jacob's solo journey officially commenced.
Initially, he had intended to make the Sundawn Plateau Wilderness Area his first destination.
However, following Roger's death, the Pokemon Association had temporarily sealed off the entire Sundawn Plateau Wilderness Area, preventing public access.
Left with no choice, Jacob had to reconsider his plans. After much deliberation, he finally settled on making Sun Mountain in Sun City, Greenvale Province, his first stop.
Sun Mountain is divided into two distinct sections.
The first is the Sun Scenic Area, which welcomes the general public to admire the breathtaking landscapes of Sun Mountains—famously known as the most magnificent mountain under the heavens. Naturally, numerous restrictions apply here, including prohibitions against riding Flying-type Pokemon, entering the Sun Wilderness Reserve, and venturing beyond designated zones.
The second section is the Sun Wilderness Reserve, accessible only to a select few individuals. Compared to the Scenic Area, the Wilderness Reserve enforces even stricter regulations.
Not only are visitors' identities thoroughly vetted before entry, but similar to the Sundawn Plateau Wilderness Area, a substantial fee is required to capture wild Pokemon within the Reserve. Additionally, visitors are limited to catching only one Pokemon every two years.
Jacob naturally opted for the Sun Wilderness Reserve, as it offered the perfect combination of stunning natural scenery and opportunities to catch Pokemon with excellent potential.
It represented an ideal fusion of travel and training.
To conceal his true identity, Jacob shamelessly approached Colby before his departure and obtained an identification certificate bearing his signature and official stamp.
With this certificate in hand, Jacob could enter most Wilderness Reserves without any obstacles. This arrangement allowed him to maintain his anonymity while enjoying the privileges he deserved.
Sometimes, a powerful person's signature holds more value than a fortune in gold. At least, that's how Jacob felt about it. Clutching the certificate signed and stamped by Colby, Jacob knew he could walk through the Sun Wilderness Reserve with complete confidence.
Such was the allure of authority.
Upon entering the Wilderness Reserve, Jacob lifted his gaze and peered into the distance at the magnificent mountains, feeling as though he'd stepped into a mystical realm.
For this expedition, Jacob brought along his entire Pokemon team.
Team One consisted of Noivern, Sceptile, Charizard, Fraxure, Shelgon, and Drakloak.
Team Two included Indeedee, Haunter, Cinderace, Diancie, and Darkrai.
Finally, there were the powerhouse Iron Valiant and the Association's Alakazam—every single one accompanied him.
The only exception was his recently caught Dondozo, which Jacob had left in his master's care.
After gathering his Pokemon, Jacob released Noivern, climbed onto its back, and soared toward the towering peaks that pierced through the clouds within moments.
As for why he didn't ride Charizard—the reason was straightforward. Jacob's Charizard was an exceptionally rare Shiny Pokemon.
Its distinctive black coloring would immediately expose his identity to anyone who laid eyes on it.
Throughout the Sun Wilderness Reserve, countless majestic and treacherous peaks rose from the landscape. Jacob sat comfortably on Noivern's back as cool breezes rushed past him.
He gazed down at the imposing and dangerous mountains below.
He glided through the billowing sea of clouds.
Jacob was thoroughly enjoying the spectacular scenery when a flock of Swablu suddenly emerged from the dense fog, led by two Altaria at the front.
Upon spotting Jacob and Noivern, the Altaria released warning growls, their eyes gleaming with hostility. If Noivern dared venture any closer, they would attack without hesitation.
"Noivern, descend to that mountain below," Jacob said after briefly assessing the potential of both Altaria. He decided to avoid confrontation.
Upon receiving Jacob's command, Noivern swiftly folded its wings and descended toward the mountain beneath them.
Accompanied by rushing wind, Noivern touched down on the mountainside below.
After landing, Jacob released his Pokemon team and began walking through the mountain forest.
Following a half-hour trek through the woodland, Jacob finally discovered a suitable location to establish his camp and savor this peaceful camping experience.
He set up chairs, tents, and tables, then arranged barbecue supplies, beer, and fresh fruit.
While admiring the beautiful scenery and watching the clouds drift by, Jacob sipped beer and cola while enjoying grilled food. He relished this comfortable traveling lifestyle.
As for his Pokemon, Jacob had released them all, allowing them to enjoy some well-deserved leisure time.
Closing his eyes and taking generous bites of barbecue, followed by gulps of ice-cold cola, Jacob listened to the gentle gurgling of the nearby stream.
He couldn't resist the urge to shout with joy—this kind of life was absolutely perfect. It would be even better if he could watch a movie or play video games right now.
"Indeedee, please open a beer for me." Upon hearing Jacob's request, Indeedee's eyes sparkled briefly. Its Psychic energy flared, retrieving a can of beer from the nearby stream and placing it on Jacob's table.
"Thanks, Indeedee."
Hearing Jacob's gratitude, Indeedee's face lit up with a smile while continuing to quietly practice its Psychic abilities.
By this point, Jacob had already consumed several bottles of beer and felt pleasantly tipsy. With his mind wonderfully empty, he lay down on the ground, staring at the sky before slowly drifting into sleep, snoring gently.
When Jacob finally awoke, noon had already arrived. Sunlight filtered through the rustling leaves above, falling warmly upon Jacob's face.
Without realizing it, Jacob had slept for several hours. He sat up and stretched his body.
Having stolen half a day of relaxation, he knew it was time to focus on his actual objectives after resting.
After packing his belongings and recalling his Pokemon, Jacob seized the opportunity and began his exploration of the Sun Wilderness Reserve. He planned to spend only one or two days at Sun Mountain.
The Sun Wilderness Reserve boasts an impressive variety of Pokemon species, from ground-dwelling creatures to aerial flyers. However, the most renowned Pokemon found in the Sun Wilderness Reserve are Flying-types, Water-types, and Rock-types.
Besides the Altaria Jacob had initially encountered, other famous Flying-type Pokemon residing here include Oricorio, Squawkabilly, Bombirdier, and Swellow.
However, Jacob wasn't particularly interested in Flying-type Pokemon since he already had plenty on his team. Instead, he was most interested in Rock-type and Water-type Pokemon.
Regarding Rock-type Pokemon, the Sun Wilderness Reserve hosts populations of Garganacl, Rockruff, and Shuckle. These Pokemon are all remarkably powerful.
As for Water-type Pokemon, the Sun Wilderness Reserve contains an exceptionally diverse array of species, including Ludicolo, Surskit, Whiscash, Milotic, Floatzel, Panpour, and Golisopod—all of which have been documented within the Sun Wilderness Reserve.