**Vermilion City, harbor**
Three figures moved stealthily.
In the salty sea breeze, Meowth kept his head down, typing intently on a little machine.
*Bang!* Jessie landed a punch, raising a bump two centimeters tall on Meowth's head.
*Bang!* James landed a second punch, doubling its size.
"What are you two doing, nya!? You've been hitting me ever since I got back!" Meowth pointed at them angrily.
"This is workplace bullying—bullying! I'm going to complain to the boss, nya!"
"Tch, complain about what? The Boss just told us yesterday to work hard and not bother him all the time," Jessie said fearlessly, then added,
"Besides, we were just making sure you weren't a ghost. We did it out of kindness~" She cradled her own face dramatically.
"That's right, Meowth. To keep you from sticking your nose where it doesn't belong, Jessie and I can only keep teaching you a lesson," James said, cracking his knuckles.
"What do you mean sticking my nose in, nya?" Meowth asked, puzzled.
"For example, those Blastoise from when you disappeared," James sighed.
"Oh, that! Actually, it was three Blastoise, nya. Let me tell you, it was a love triangle, and—nya!!"
Before he could finish, two more bumps swelled on his head.
Jessie and James pulled back their fists, glaring as they shouted in unison:
"No matter what Pokémon it is, no matter what kind of romance it's in—you are not allowed to get involved, Meowth! Got it!?"
"Got it, nya…" Meowth clutched his head, utterly confused about why Jessie and James were so furious, looking like his life was about to end.
He'd only wanted to share some juicy gossip. But since their fists were bigger, he decided to stay quiet and just kept typing away.
"Meowth, what have you been fiddling with all these days anyway?" Jessie finally asked.
"This is our future funding, nya! Just one Pokémon species language translation sells for ten thousand pokedollars to the Natsume Research Institute, nya!"
Meowth excitedly shook the recorder in his hand, declaring that inside was a gold mine worth tens of millions.
*Bang!* Jessie smacked him again.
"Don't forget what the Boss told us yesterday! Our target is every single Pokémon aboard the St. Anne!"
She gave Meowth another punch for good measure.
"Look, those brats are coming!"
James's eyes lit up as familiar figures appeared in his sight.
Misty and Brock.
"Huh? Why are the two of them alone?" James blinked.
"Isn't that even better, nya? The researcher guy isn't here, and the brat's missing too!"
Meowth stared at Brock and Misty in surprise.
"Wait, wait, wait—but both Pikachu are with them!"
Sure enough, Misty and Brock were each carrying Pikachu and the Midchu.
The three instantly realized this was a golden opportunity.
"Let's go too, nya."
The trio stepped out of the shadows.
"Don't embarrass us, Meowth! We're tourists here on vacation now," Jessie said, dressed up like a noblewoman, holding Meowth in her arms like a pampered pet.
Beside her, James wore a breezy tropical outfit.
Following behind, Jessie and James watched as Misty and Brock had their tickets checked and boarded. They pulled out two of their own tickets, ready to hand them over.
"Strange… Natsume and the others disappeared all morning. Where did they go?"
"No idea. They just said we'd meet on the ship."
Misty and Brock chatted as they walked farther inside.
Jessie and James lifted their feet to follow, but before they could, the ticket inspector stopped them.
"Hold it right there. You two—there's a problem with your tickets!" The inspector's voice was sharp and unyielding.
"What?"
The trio froze.
Problem with their tickets? Impossible! These were given to them by the Boss himself.
Tickets from the owner of the St. Anne!
"Hey, hey, hey! Did you mess something up!?" Jessie was about to explode.
Suddenly, a light chuckle came from behind.
"Well, well. I told you not to let every country bumpkin show up here."
Turning back, they saw a flashy blond man. A gold watch gleamed on his wrist, and each of the Luxury Balls on his belt was set with dazzling gems.
His entire outfit screamed one message—*I'm a spoiled rich kid*.
"Hey, hey, hey! You looking for trouble!?" Hot-tempered Jessie was about to throw out a Pokéball.
"Wait, nya! Don't forget the Boss's mission, you idiot!" Meowth quickly stopped her.
Jessie froze, only just realizing that a crowd had gathered around them.
And it was still growing.
Worse, every look directed at them carried scorn, contempt, and even pity.
As if they'd already been branded as stowaways.
What was going on?
"Wow! Isn't that Young Master Morgan of the Sacredwood family—the wealthiest family in Vermilion City?!"
Suddenly, Ash's voice rang out from within the crowd.
*The brat?*
The trio instinctively scanned the people around them, but couldn't find Ash anywhere.
Still, because of his words, the spectators began whispering excitedly.
"Hmph. You country bumpkins, let me tell you—this is what a Luxury Ticket looks like!"
Young Master Morgan flamboyantly pulled out a stack of tickets and handed them to the inspector.
"Sir, this is…"
"I'm using ten tickets just for myself. Got a problem with that?" Morgan shot the staff a glare.
"N-No problem, of course not."
"Hahaha! Let me tell you, my dad's got business with the owner of the St. Anne. I bought out all the tickets long ago!"
"You bumpkins can only watch from the shore!"
His voice boomed so loudly that everyone nearby heard him clearly.
"Don't stop me—I'm gonna pound him into the ground!"
Jessie finally lost it, rolling up her sleeves and ready to enter full Fighting-type mode.
Just then, a stir rippled through the crowd.
A tall man and short woman in sunglasses and suits appeared.
The once-arrogant Morgan instantly plastered a fawning smile across his face.
"Mr. Natsume is here!"
Giselle, wearing sunglasses, strode ahead, cutting a path through the crowd with arrogant airs.
Her natural presence alone was enough to silence many onlookers.
Behind her walked Natsume—dressed sharply in a suit, carrying a warm professional smile, practically radiating successful businessman.
"What! That's the owner of the St. Anne—Mr. Natsume!"
In the crowd, Ash held up a little slip of paper, glanced at it, then loudly shouted again.
"Hahaha, Mr. Natsume, how did you find our last partnership?" Morgan laughed, stepping forward.
But before he could say another word—
*Smack!* Giselle rushed ahead and slapped him hard across the face.
In an instant, a bright red handprint bloomed on Morgan's cheek.
"Mr. Natsume… why did you have her hit me!?" Morgan looked utterly stunned.
But Natsume didn't spare him so much as a glance. Instead, he walked straight to James, took his hand, and with a sudden flourish, tore off his suit—revealing an immaculate butler's uniform beneath.
Then he dropped to one knee.
"Welcome back to your rightful place, Young Master James!"
You can read more (around 80+ free chapters) of Natsume's adventure ad-free at [https ://ravenarchives .com/book/pokemon-who-let-him-leave-pallet-town]. Bulk uploads is a mess here, so updates here might be irregular.