April 15th.
Aboard Lin Yu's rented private speedboat.
The ocean — the cradle of all life.
According to legend,
the first Secret Realm did not appear just over 200 years ago,
but far earlier, deep within the sea.
Yet the ocean is vast and mysterious,
its oldest secrets lost to time.
[Blue Entry (Ocean's Protection) — Within ocean territory, you are guarded by the sea. Gain a random buff in battle.]
This was the Entry he unlocked this week.
Out at sea, its power spoke for itself.
Manaphy darted through the waves, surfacing every few moments.
It loved to sing, and each night its voice drew crowds of Water-type Pokémon to the boat.
The captain had been terrified at first,
but once he saw the Pokémon meant no harm, he relaxed entirely.
They had been sailing for eight days.
The pull of the Precious Pokémon guidance was growing stronger by the hour.
A small island slowly emerged from the mist ahead.
Lin Yu's eyes lit up.
"Captain, right over there! That's the spot!"
"Kid, that island's flying pirate flags. We can't go near," the middle-aged captain called back from the cockpit. He was no skilled Trainer.
Sure enough, one kilometer ahead, several small boats bobbed near the shore, emblazoned with black pirate banners.
"Alright, thanks anyway."
With no other choice, Lin Yu summoned Gardevoir.
"Gardevoir, could you take me to that island?"
As for Dira —
she was a Psychic user herself.
She needed no help; she could fly on her own.
Right now, she was playing with Manaphy,
communicating through telepathy,
so Lin Yu couldn't hear their conversation.
"I like it! Latias likes Lin Yu… and Latias likes Manaphy too!"
"Like? Manaphy likes Latias and Lin Yu~"
"Mhm~"
Gardevoir floated out and nuzzled Lin Yu's cheek happily.
"Gardev~" (Of course~)
Gardevoir lifted Lin Yu gently and flew toward the island.
Dira followed close behind, carrying Manaphy in her arms.
"Hey, kid?!"
The captain called after them, deeply worried.
After a long sigh, he prepared to report the incident:
a young boy had flown straight into pirate territory.
"Sorry to trouble you for a while, Gardevoir."
Even in pirate territory, Lin Yu had countless Entries and buffs to survive at sea.
He wasn't afraid.
Most of all, Manaphy gave him confidence.
In just eight days,
it had risen from level 34 to 39.
A whole level per day.
"Gardev~" (Anything for you, Lin Yu.)
The graceful Gardevoir was more than happy to help.
This island was bigger than it looked.
Scanning with Aura Power,
Lin Yu noticed the pirate ships were empty… but people were being held captive onboard.
He snuck in quietly.
He ignored the prisoners for now,
following his Aura's pull
to the ship's storage hold.
This was clearly the pirates' treasure vault.
Inside, countless rare items were piled high!
They must have mined them from the island or stolen from others.
Ten-year Dragon Fire Fruits for Fire-types, Sea Blossoms for Water-types, Wood Berries for Grass-types… everything imaginable.
Only Psychic-type treasures were missing.
"Nice loot. All mine now~"
Lin Yu had no guilt taking from pirates —
a fantastic windfall.
He estimated the treasure was worth at least ten million.
But when he turned around, Dira stared at him innocently.
Earlier, back at the Water-type Gym,
Lin Yu had told her never to take others' things.
Now here he was, looting pirates.
Total hypocrisy.
How could he explain that pirates were different from Gym Leaders?
"Gardev~" (Lin Yu, there's more over here!)
Gardevoir sent a telepathic message from another ship.
Every vessel held piles of treasure.
"Lin Yu, over here!"
Latias didn't question a thing. She simply used Psychic to gather another stack of treasures.
After all, Latias was a Pokémon at heart.
She trusted Lin Yu completely.
Whatever he did, whatever he took — it was right.
Lin Yu was touched by her faith,
but he still wanted to teach this innocent girl right from wrong.
So he spent half an hour explaining who pirates were and what they did.
Then he teleported over to the bound prisoners.
"See these people? The pirates kidnapped them."
"Mhm."
Latias nodded, finally understanding.
She tilted her head cutely. "Should we save them?"
Lin Yu focused his Aura. "Wait. The pirates are coming back!"
The prisoners: ???
Wow. Real classy.
Using us as a teaching example.
"Hey, kid! I'm the CEO of Qingshui City Pharmaceutical Group! Save me, and I'll reward you greatly!" a middle-aged man in a suit shouted urgently.
This set off a chain reaction.
The seven or eight prisoners all announced their identities.
"I'm…"
Among them were business leaders, Trainers who'd lost their Pokémon, and even a few women.
Lin Yu sighed, then asked calmly,
"Can any of you sail a ship?"
They fell silent, exchanging awkward glances before shaking their heads.
"This is at least five or six days from shore. Without an experienced captain, it's no use."
With that, he tuned them out.
After long training, Lin Yu's Aura Power could stretch over two kilometers at full strength.
A dozen figures in blue-and-white pirate uniforms were heading this way.
"Let's go check it out."
"Gardev."
Gardevoir lifted Lin Yu without being asked. Together with Latias, they teleported above the pirates.
"Can you believe it? An S-Class Secret Realm on a tiny island like this! That Tyranitar is insane!"
"But the Sand Gems here are endless! We're rich!"
The pirates tramped along, carrying armfuls of treasure.
Beside them marched Golbat, Parasect, Beedrill, and other wild Pokémon.
Most were Gym-tier,
with two Lord-tier Parasect and Golbat leading the group.
They'd only planned to stop here to drop off treasure on their way back to base,
but had stumbled across a Secret Realm!
And inside slept the legendary desert tyrant, Tyranitar.
They'd snuck in while it slept and stolen all its stored Sand Gems!
"Tough opponents," Lin Yu muttered, eyeing the level-49 Parasect.
After a moment's thought, his eyes lit up.
A brilliant plan formed in his mind.
He was going to rob the pirates of their treasure too.