After parting ways with Laic, Jiang Han walked straight away from the noisy beach.
Behind him were the sounds of Laic laughing with the beautiful women and the crashing of waves against the shore, but none of it could enter Jiang Han's world.
His heart had already calmed down as he began preparing for the upcoming mission.
Slateport City truly lived up to its reputation as the largest port city in the Hoenn region, with a unique scent of sea salt, fish, and diesel permeating the air.
From the direction of the docks, the horns of massive cargo ships blared one after another, and seagulls circled in the sky, letting out occasional cries.
The streets were bustling with people; sailors, merchants, and Trainers rubbed shoulders, creating an atmosphere full of vitality and noise.
Every city in the League is equipped with a Pokémon Center, and Slateport City was no exception.
The iconic red roof was particularly eye-catching under the sunlight, like an eternal lighthouse providing sanctuary for weary Trainers.
Jiang Han pushed the door open and entered; a blast of cool air hit him, isolating the heat and clamor of the outside world.
There were quite a few people in the lobby, but at this moment, everyone's eyes were focused on the front desk.
A young Trainer, appearing no more than seventeen or eighteen years old, was red-faced and shouting at Nurse Joy at the counter.
"Why! Why won't you let me check in? Doesn't the League mandate that Trainers can stay at the Pokémon Center by paying league coins? What right do you have to refuse me?"
Nurse Joy wore a formulaic smile, as standard as if it had been measured with a ruler—polite yet distant.
"I am very sorry, guest, but because Slateport City is hosting the Ocean Festival soon, there has been a surge in tourists. All rooms must be reserved at least one week in advance. If you do not have a reservation, we cannot provide accommodation."
"I don't care! I've been traveling for three days, my legs are about to break, and my pokémon need treatment and rest!"
The Trainer was emotional and slammed a fist onto the service counter with a dull thud. "I must stay here today!"
Nurse Joy's smile remained unshaken, but a hint of impatience had already appeared in her eyes.
The surrounding Trainers whispered among themselves, most of them casting sympathetic glances.
It was normal for rooms to be hard to find during the Ocean Festival; this young man was clearly suffering from a lack of experience.
Jiang Han didn't want to waste time; he walked straight through the crowd to the other side of the front desk.
"I'd like a room."
His voice wasn't loud, yet it clearly suppressed the noisy shouting of the other Trainer.
Nurse Joy turned her head formulaically, about to give the same explanation, but the moment she saw Jiang Han, she swallowed her words.
Jiang Han didn't waste words; he took a card from his pocket and placed it gently on the counter.
It was a card made entirely of black gold, cold to the touch.
The League emblem on the edges and center of the card was a flowing dark gold, reflecting a low-key yet majestic luster under the soft lighting of the Pokémon Center.
A Direct Lineage Identity Card.
Nurse Joy's standard smile froze for an instant, and then, like melting snow, it transformed into a genuine, heartfelt warmth.
Her back straightened instinctively as she respectfully took the card with both hands and swiped it through the machine.
"Beep."
"Sir, your room is ready."
Nurse Joy presented the room key with both hands, her smile sweet.
"A luxury single room on the top floor, equipped with a full set of basic training facilities. Your pokémon can enjoy advanced-level care at any time, and all three meals will be delivered to your room by dedicated staff. I wish you a pleasant journey."
The entire process was seamless, taking no more than ten seconds.
Jiang Han took the room key, nodded expressionlessly, and turned toward the elevator on the second floor.
From beginning to end, he didn't spare a single glance at the noisy Trainer beside him.
This kind of disregard was more lethal than any mockery.
"On what basis!"
The Trainer completely exploded, his eyes bloodshot as he stared fixedly at Jiang Han's back before turning to roar at Joy again.
"On what basis can he do it! He didn't even have a reservation! Just because of some stupid card? This is discrimination!"
He looked as if he might jump over the counter and start a fight at any second.
To his surprise, seeing the Trainer's violent behavior, the smile on Nurse Joy's face vanished without a trace, replaced by a cold indifference.
She didn't bother to explain another word; she simply picked up the internal intercom on the desk and said calmly, "Front desk. Someone is causing trouble here and needs to be cleared out."
As soon as she finished speaking, the door to a nearby treatment room slid open automatically.
A plump Blissey stepped out with small steps, its expression as gentle as ever, but following behind it was a Machamp over two meters tall with bulging muscles.
Machamp crossed its four thick arms over its chest; just by standing there, it brought a powerful sense of pressure.
It didn't even give the Trainer time to react. Its four hands reached out simultaneously, easily picking up the still-shouting Trainer like a small chick.
"Let me go! What are you doing! I'm going to complain to the League about you!"
Machamp turned a deaf ear; with a flick of its arms, the Trainer drew a perfect parabola and was accurately tossed out of the Pokémon Center's main doors, landing squarely in a flower bed outside. He wasn't hurt, but his posture was pathetic in the extreme.
Having done all this, Machamp even patted its four large hands as if dusting off non-existent dirt, then turned and followed Blissey back into the treatment room.
The entire lobby fell instantly silent.
Everyone was stunned by this swift and decisive scene.
On the second floor, Jiang Han had already swiped his card and entered his room.
Hearing the commotion from downstairs and the fading scream, Jiang Han shook his head.
Idiot.
The Team Rockets' influence spread across Kanto and Johto, yet even they couldn't infiltrate every corner of this world.
But the Joy family could.
As long as it was within the League's sphere of influence, any town would have a Joy at the Pokémon Center and a Jenny at the police station.
They were the most inconspicuous yet most deeply rooted existences within the League system.
Daring to cause trouble here was purely seeking one's own death.
Jiang Han tossed his backpack onto the floor and let himself sink into the large, soft, luxury bed.
The comfort of the bed provided great relief from the exhaustion of several days of travel.
He took out the black-gold identity card and toyed with it between his fingers.
This card was a League identity processed for him by Team Rockets through special channels.
Its function was far more than just waiving the room fees at the Pokémon Center.
Using the League's own identity system to investigate the League's people was, in itself, a wonderful irony.
Jiang Han stood up and walked to the large floor-to-ceiling window.
From here, he could overlook most of Slateport City's harbor; the busy ships and the azure sea were all visible at a glance.
He released his pokémon.
As soon as Sandile came out, it skillfully found a spot on the carpet by the window with the best sunlight, lay down comfortably, and closed its eyes to enjoy a sunbath.
Inkay, on the other hand, floated curiously in mid-air, looking around the novel room.
Its two large eyes darted around, finally settling on the smart control panel on the wall.
The little fellow extended a tentacle and curiously poked it.
Instantly, the room's lighting began to switch wildly between a colorful disco mode and a dim midnight mode, and a rousing march began to play from the speakers.
A vein throbbed on Jiang Han's temple.
He appeared beside Inkay in a flash and delivered another light hand-chop to its head.
"Behave yourself."
Inkay clutched its head and looked at Jiang Han pitifully, its large eyes watery as if accusing him of being rough.
Jiang Han didn't bother with the little drama queen and directly turned off the control panel.
Since being forcibly captured by Jiang Han, Inkay had not only shown no signs of maladjustment but had instead become quite familiar with him.
It acted as if it had been Jiang Han's pokémon all along.
If it were any other Trainer, they would surely think this Inkay was incredibly well-behaved.
But Jiang Han knew this little thing had many schemes; it knew that being captured was inevitable and also knew that following Jiang Han wasn't a bad thing.
That was why it put on such a harmless, silly, and cute appearance.
However, Jiang Han didn't care either way; he only needed Inkay's strength.
Since it had become his pokémon, Jiang Han naturally wouldn't mistreat it.
Jiang Han would use every means to help it grow into the strongest; as for what Inkay actually thought, that wasn't important.
It only needed to know that by following Jiang Han, it could become stronger; that was enough.
This was Jiang Han's way of nurturing; for his partners, there was no emotional persuasion or friendship, only mutual symbiosis of interests and shared progress in strength.
As long as the other party had a heart that desired to become stronger, that would naturally become the strongest and firmest bond!
He took a hot bath, changed into dry clothes, and then turned on the computer in the room to start gathering all public information regarding the 'Ocean Festival' and Team Aqua.
A week's time was neither too long nor too short.
He needed to use this time to thoroughly investigate Team Aqua's background in Slateport City.
As night deepened, the harbor outside was brightly lit, resembling a river of stars.
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