As the fastest and most stable land transportation currently available, maglev trains were naturally not cheap.
Even the most basic economy tickets cost over a thousand Pokédollars, difficult for ordinary people to afford.
However, for trainers, a few thousand Pokédollars was quite manageable, and exchanging that for faster arrival at destinations was absolutely worthwhile.
The first-class ticket in Sieg's hand cost over ten thousand Pokédollars. After all, some trainers and wealthy individuals were willing to pay for a more comfortable journey.
"Hello, welcome aboard the 'Wellspring' train."
A uniformed staff member smiled and bowed, simultaneously reaching to help Sieg with the backpack on his shoulders.
Sieg waved his hand, politely declining the offer.
In the Hoenn region, there were fewer than ten maglev train lines total. After all, with numerous waterways here, primary transportation still relied on boats and cruise ships.
Worth mentioning: nearly all maglev trains were named with clearly regional characteristics, "Spring," "Water," "Sea," "Stream," and similar words.
His first-class compartment was less a seat and more a small room.
The chairs inside could fully recline, even serving as beds for sleeping. The space was also quite spacious, releasing three or four small pet-type Pokémon would be no problem.
"Excuse me, sir, would you like any beverages?"
An attractive attendant knocked on Sieg's luxury compartment door, asking in a gentle voice.
Sieg politely declined. He was always extremely cautious about food and drink purchased from strangers.
Moreover, he'd prepared his own supplies in his backpack.
After locking the compartment door, Sieg finally relaxed completely. These past days' intensive research on training plans had left him mentally and physically exhausted.
This train journey was perfect for some proper rest.
"I just wonder what Team Rocket is planning..."
Truth be told, he didn't want to get involved in this mess. But if he didn't go, his identity's prolonged absence would inevitably raise suspicion, eventually drawing Team Rocket's attention anyway.
Given that, might as well face it head-on.
After all, Team Rocket, as an underground organization spanning multiple regions, powerful enough to stand toe-to-toe with the League, represented an excellent additional avenue for Sieg. Whether for future development or emergency escape routes, this connection was invaluable.
"Fortunately, that psychic Team Rocket member had no close acquaintances in the Hoenn region."
Through various history logs and information on the computer these past days, Sieg had gleaned some details about this identity.
The identity he'd assumed belonged to a psychic man who'd been part of Team Rocket's Saffron City base.
His original duties were those of a squad leader, commanding several dozen external contractors and ten Team Rocket grunts.
However, after urgently receiving transfer orders to come directly to the Hoenn region, he'd been killed by Sieg before even reporting to headquarters.
"Fate plays strange tricks. But being from Saffron City and also a psychic, that makes it hard not to suspect connections to the Psychic-type Gym, and Sabrina..."
Sieg thought this while releasing several Pokémon. Of course, not Crawdaunt and Sharpedo, those two were far too large.
"Sandile, stop baring your teeth at other Pokémon and people!" Sieg scolded the bristling, fierce-looking Sandile.
Perhaps due to its survival-of-the-fittest childhood experiences, it maintained extremely high vigilance toward all Pokémon and humans except Sieg, constantly baring its teeth at others.
Even with Crawdaunt as a teammate, they only coexisted peacefully through Sieg's mediation.
Sieg retrieved a specialized chewing toy from his backpack and stuck it in Sandile's jaws. Without this during the journey, peace would be impossible.
Just as Sieg prepared to arrange the seats together for a brief nap, his Pokédex suddenly chimed.
Looking closer, he saw it was a payment notification.
"Just designing a custom training plan earned 2 million Pokédollars in fees, not to mention the substantial profits from each subsequent batch of 'Verdant Glow' Pokéblocks."
"No wonder those highly respected Intermediate Breeders disdain earning money through simple Pokéblock sales. With this setup continuing until the Pokémon reaches Elite level, it probably costs at least 5 million Pokédollars total."
Thinking this, Sieg suddenly understood why even Joy family main branch members were passionate about becoming breeders.
Because it was simply too lucrative!
Not to mention subsequent continuous fees.
Take his designed Chikorita training plan as an example.
Later, once Chikorita became an Elite-level Pokémon above level 40, would training really stop?
At that point, wanting more advanced training plans, they'd naturally seek Sieg, the breeder who'd already established continuity.
Otherwise, if two breeders' training philosophies conflicted or their plans clashed, it would inevitably negatively impact the Pokémon.
These subsequent expenses probably numbered in the tens of millions, this was the real money-making strategy's core.
No wonder so few people could afford dedicated breeders for custom training plans. Setting aside whether you even knew such breeding masters personally...
The fees alone weren't affordable for ordinary families.
Even some minor family clans might not be willing to invest such resources in their heirs.
Sieg's train journey passed quite peacefully. The route, under six hours total, was already more than halfway complete.
Currently passing the junction between Route 113 and Route 111, heading straight south would reach the destination, Mauville City.
"According to the League Pokédex, Route 113's surroundings have large Surskit populations."
Surskit was quite an interesting Pokémon, Bug/Water-type, typically inhabiting weed-covered ponds or swamps.
Its Swift Swim ability and hidden Rain Dish ability made it quite suitable for rain teams.
Of course, Sieg found it interesting not because of how powerful this Pokémon was.
Rather, because Surskit's head secreted a liquid sweet as maltose, the preferred choice for numerous dessert shops making sweets.
Most famously, this liquid was made into a certain syrup brand visible in practically every store.
"Umbreon reslly likes sweets. Unfortunately, this maglev train doesn't make intermediate stops. Next time there's an opportunity, I should catch one."
Sieg watched the scenery rapidly sliding past outside, stroking Umbreon lounging lazily in his arms, his heart rarely peaceful.
Because upon reaching Mauville City, he'd need to face Team Rocket's unknown situation.
People feared darkness not because of danger, but because of the unknown.
"Hope everything goes smoothly."
Sieg let out a sigh.
Simultaneously, he retrieved a note from his hand, recording contact information for Norman and young lady Luna.
If danger arose and he couldn't escape, these two contacts were his final escape routes, also his greatest confidence and support for walking the gray path.