"System, I want to see my current Pokémon information."
"Ding, Haunter, Combat Power 1300 points. Evolution Value: 75%."
..."Beedrill: Combat Power 960 points."
..."Muk: Combat Power 1050 points. Evolution Value: Cannot increase."
..."Tentacool: Combat Power 700 points. Evolution Value: 65%."
..."Magikarp: Combat Power 500 points. Evolution Value: 10%. Skills mastered: Splash (Just jumping in place, no damage whatsoever.)"
Hmm? This Tentacool has grown quite a bit stronger after this battle. It seems battling can also increase Combat Power and experience evolution value. In that case, unless absolutely necessary, I can't let Haunter and the others absorb other Pokémon to raise their abilities anymore.
Anything acquired too quickly always has problems. Just like in the anime of my previous life, many Villains who used machines to enhance their abilities either met a tragic end or were soundly defeated by Trainers like Ash, who steadily improved their abilities.
Alex Carter couldn't follow in their footsteps; if he was going to do something, he would do it outstandingly... As Alex, Ash, and their group aimed for Golden City, they arrived at...
"Ah, I see the harbor!" Misty exclaimed in surprise.
"We're here, we're here! Our next stop, Maiden's Peak Harbor, is almost here!" Ash said excitedly.
"Yes, the carefree sea breeze also carries the scent of autumn. This summer was quite boring," Brock said wistfully.
"Huh? But I feel like a lot has happened," Ash looked at Brock in confusion.
"Hmmph? I think Brock is sad because he hasn't had any romance, hahahaha," Alex said, walking out of the cabin with a laugh.
At the stern of the ship.
A hemp rope was tied to the railing, and below it was a large wooden basin, in which sat the Team Rocket Trio.
"Why are we back here, Meowth?"
"We don't want to come, but we have to."
"The budget ran out, but it doesn't matter. No matter what method we use, as long as we can cross the sea, it's fine," Jessie said helplessly...
"The communication ship from Verdant Beach Harbor has now arrived at Maiden's Peak Harbor. A summer festival is currently being prepared in Maiden's Peak," the etiquette lady announced.
"Wow, a festival! I've never seen one before!" Ash said excitedly.
"It looks really interesting, doesn't it? Should we go check it out quickly?" Alex also looked curious.
"A festival of love, a belated festival. Huh? Is that person...?" Brock turned his head and saw a beautiful girl standing on the other side of the pier, with long purple hair fluttering in the wind, wearing a white dress, and looking melancholic.
"So beautiful!" Brock's eyes turned into heart shapes after he said that.
Suddenly, a large group of tourists rushed past Brock, and when Brock looked up again, the girl was gone.
"Ah, she's gone, sigh," Brock sat on the ground, saddened.
"Cheer up, let's go play at the festival!" Ash and Misty said, pulling Brock up and heading towards the festival.
"Strange, I think I also saw that beautiful girl just now. She seemed to have looked at me, but how did she disappear?"
..."I heard there's a festival here!" James poked his head out from the pier.
"Heh heh, talking about festivals makes me think of crowds, and crowds mean people losing their wallets. In that case, I'll have plenty to pick up, I'm going to get rich, hahahaha," Jessie said, poking her head out from the side with a laugh.
"We're really bad, aren't we! Wow, so beautiful!" James suddenly also saw the girl Brock had seen earlier, and his eyes immediately turned into pink hearts.
"Hey! What are you spacing out for? It's work time now!" Jessie and Meowth, one person and one Pokémon, hit James on the head.
"To the festival, to the festival, quickly!"
When James looked back, he found that the girl was gone...
"Don't run!" An old voice suddenly came from behind Brock.
"Yes!" Brock, who was just thinking about the beautiful girl on the pier, suddenly turned around at the sound.
"Ah!" Brock was startled by the old woman who suddenly appeared in front of his face and sat on the ground. "A dried, dried Kappa."
"Who's a Kappa? Listen up, don't mind my appearance, but be wary of beautiful women! If you don't listen to an elder's words, you'll definitely suffer!" The old woman said, holding out a magnifying glass and staring.
"Beautiful women, does she mean her?" Alex couldn't help but think of the mysterious woman on the pier.
"Oh, come on! How could I do anything bad to Brock?" Misty said shyly, covering her face.
"I'm talking about beautiful women, not some wet-behind-the-ears kid!" The old woman said sternly.
"Pfft, kid," Alex and Ash both burst out laughing at the same time.
"Thud." Ash and Alex each got a hit on the head from Misty, who angrily said at the same time, "Kid? Then what are you two, kids! Alright, you guys hurry up and go!"
"Beautiful women, suffering a loss... for her, I'm willing to suffer a loss," Brock said with a lovesick expression.
..."Nothing, nothing, why isn't anyone dropping money!" The Team Rocket Trio crawled around on the ground with magnifying glasses, but didn't pick up a single coin.
"Forget 100 or 10, there's not even a single cent!" James sat on the ground dejectedly.
"This festival is too shabby, Meowth."
"Hey! It's five dollars!" James excitedly picked up the money.
"Wait a minute." The old woman who had spoken to Brock earlier was now holding a magnifying glass and speaking to James.
"You saw it?"
"Yes, I saw it. I often see bad things," the old woman said, leaning on her cane.
"You? Why should I give you the money I found?" James said with a teasing look.
"I, this old woman, am not here for your money. You need to be wary of beautiful women. Otherwise, you'll suffer a loss!"
"My suffering didn't just start now; I've been suffering all along, okay?" James said dejectedly.
"What's wrong with you? If you have trouble, just call 911. I'm always ready to serve you!" Officer Jenny suddenly appeared in front of Team Rocket.
"You found money, and even though it's only five dollars, it's truly remarkable that you're returning it!" Officer Jenny took the five dollars from James's hand.
"Please, you few, come with me to the Police Station. I need your help to take some statements. Please follow me this way," Officer Jenny said with a smile.
"Ah haha, no need, no need, you can handle it yourself. Just write whatever, write whatever, ah, I'm sorry, goodbye!" Jessie said, then pulled James and ran off...
At this moment, Alex and the others were in front of an exhibition.
"It's starting! The Maiden's Shrine Treasure Exhibition Ceremony is about to begin!"
"This painting is a treasure passed down from Maiden's Shrine for two thousand years!"
"Please, everyone, appreciate it with your hearts!"
The beautiful, clenched-fisted girl depicted in the painting was none other than the woman James, Brock, and Alex had seen earlier at the pier.
"Strange, why does she look so familiar?" Jessie felt that this person looked somewhat familiar.
"This girl passed away two thousand years ago."
"The girl had a lover."
"But her lover went off to war by ship. The girl waited and waited, she kept waiting for her lover, but he never returned. The girl waited endlessly, and legend says she eventually turned into a rock. She is still waiting for her lover to return."
"Holy crap, they even brought out the 'Waiting for Husband Rock'?" Alex couldn't help but inwardly complain.
In front of Maiden's Rock, Brock said fanatically, "That's Maiden's Rock! How beautiful it is! If she were a Pokémon, I would never leave her for my entire life!"
"That's right, that's right! I won't let anyone have a chance to take her away. She can only belong to me alone!" James said just as fanatically.
"Strange. Why do I also feel an urge to stay with her, but it's not that strong."
"What are you being silly about? There's no way to steal a rock that big, okay?" Jessie said speechlessly.
"That's impossible, but that is possible. Pokémon are money, gold coins are money, and paintings are also money. So we can steal that painting and sell it for a good price," Meowth said from the side.
"That's right! We can steal the painting, then sell it, and make a huge profit! We'll be rich!" Jessie said, rubbing her hands.
"Even if I get my hands on it, I won't sell that painting. Don't even think about it!" James said frantically.
When the curfew came at night, Brock was still looking at the rock and hadn't returned to the Pokémon Center.
Alex and the others couldn't help but worry a little.
Meanwhile, Team Rocket was in sleeping bags outside the shrine.
Meowth woke up and was about to call Jessie and James to do mischief.
Suddenly, he saw the soul of the girl floating out of the shrine.
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