Ledger:
Razor Claw: 150,000
Seven-Day Vacation Villa + Private Beach: 50,000
Living Expenses: 45,000
Feebas Investment Costs: 135,000
These were Hisoka's expenses over the past week, totaling roughly 380,000. He had previously sold his villa in Viridian City for a 200,000 deposit and earned another 150,000 from the Cerulean Gym defense mission. Without realizing it, Hisoka found himself facing a financial crisis once again.
If it weren't for the fact that he had recently passed his Ace Trainer certification, which prompted the League to send a 20,000-Poke-Dollar subsidy, Hisoka felt he might not even have enough money left to eat.
Fortunately, there wouldn't be any major expenses in the near future. Once this week-long escort mission ended, he would receive 170,000, which would serve as a makeshift solution to his economic woes.
"It looks like I need to pick up missions faster!" Hisoka thought as he closed his ledger. He had to earn more money as quickly as possible to ensure that the next time a Prism Scale appeared on a trading site or at an auction, it wouldn't be snatched up by the Sootopolis Gym with a buyout price he couldn't match.
In truth, most Prism Scales found in the wild appeared along the coastline. Elderly Milotic, sensing the end of their lifespan, would seek out a secluded cave in the depths of the ocean to wait for death in peace. As the years passed and the tides shifted, their dream-like, beautiful forms would turn into bone, and ocean currents would often wash the shed scales onto the beaches.
If someone were to pick up a Prism Scale on a beach today, it likely belonged to the Outrage scale of a Milotic that had died decades, or even centuries, ago.
A Prism Scalethe miraculous item required for Feebas to evolvewas a must-have for Hisoka. If he were lucky enough to find one and money couldn't solve the problem, he wouldn't mind using "special" means to acquire it.
...
Vroom! Vroom!
With a massive blast of a ship's horn, the S.S. Anne, which had been docked at Vermilion Harbor for an entire day, prepared to set sail once more. The terrifying metal anchors, each as tall as a two-story building, were slowly hoisted from the sea.
Hisoka checked the time. He had boarded at 7:00 to apply for the security position, and it was now nearly 8:30. He had rested for about an hour and a half, which aligned perfectly with the departure time on the ticket.
Staying in the room was boring, so he decided to take a stroll. It was a world-famous luxury liner, after all; it would be a waste not to explore it while he was on board.
He changed into a crisp white short-sleeved shirt, sky-blue ripped jeans, and red and white canvas shoes. He tied his hair back with a silver hollowed-out headband and topped the look off with a black baseball cap.
The ponytail youth in the mirror looked exceptionally sunny and handsome after dressing up.
"You two, would you care to join me for a tour of this luxury liner?" Hisoka asked with a smile, leaning against the door frame as he looked at his two companions staring back at him.
"Lulu wants to go!" Kirlia responded via Telepathy before instantly using Teleport to appear by Hisoka's right leg, reaching out a tiny, pure white hand toward him.
Hisoka understood, smiling as he took her small hand in his.
Weavile still wasn't used to such intimacy; then again, cats were notoriously tsundere. He leapt from his small nest, landing by Hisoka's left leg. He adjusted his signature red collar and crossed his arms over his chest.
After recalling Feebas from the bathtub into its Poké Ball, Hisoka opened the door and stepped out. He didn't feel comfortable leaving Feebas alone in the room. He had a premonition that something would definitely happen during this seven-day voyage.
Otherwise, the captain of a world-class luxury liner would never recruit Bounty Hunters as external security, as these profit-driven men were inherently unstable factors.
Hisoka felt that, in the eyes of that decisive captain, he and the other three Bounty Hunters were likely viewed as nothing more than cannon fodder.
Regardless, he would cross that bridge when he came to it. If trouble started, Hisoka would lend a hand, but if things spiraled out of his control, he was prepared to flee. Throwing one's life away for a mere 170,000 was a fool's errand. He imagined his colleagues felt the same; a hyena's sense of smell was the sharpest, after all.
...
The central deck hall of the S.S. Anne was the definition of luxury. A massive crystal chandelier sparkled with a kaleidoscope of colors. Following the ship's tradition, a morning party was held on the first day of boarding.
There was an unlimited supply of free drinks and alcohol, along with exquisite, fragrant breakfast pastries laid out across rows of long tables. Trainers and tourists from all over the world chatted freely in the hall, sharing stories of their travels or exchanging training tips.
Naturally, merchants weren't about to let such an opportunity pass. The tourists aboard the S.S. Anne were generally well-off. The stall area designated by the officials was bustling; merchants had to pay a hefty rent to the S.S. Anne just for a spot there.
Hisoka wove through the crowd, occasionally picking up snacks from the tables. He took two strawberry-flavored Poké Puffs, giving one to Lulu and one to Weavile. As for himself, he was a carnivore and headed straight for a thick chicken roll.
"Hi!"
Someone suddenly tapped Hisoka on the shoulder. He turned around to see a pretty, youthful face.
"What a coincidence. I should thank you again for the ticket," Hisoka chuckled, raising his cocktail glass. "Would you like a drink?"
The newcomer was the red-haired girl who had given him the ticket in Vermilion City. However, she wasn't wearing her sexy sailor uniform today. Instead, she was dressed as a waitress in a small black suit jacket and a fitted skirt paired with black stockings and five-centimeter heels. The outfit was less revealing than yesterday's, yet it made her look even more alluring.
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