"Trainer Silas Alaric, number 22.
The Pokémon you left at the Center have finished recovering.
Please proceed to the front desk with your tag to claim them~"
Nurse Joy's sweet and familiar voice echoed through the modestly sized Pokémon Center.
Silas, who had been resting with his eyes closed, opened them and rose to his feet.
Compared to the Kanto region, the Johto region—while technologically capable—favored a much more traditional lifestyle.
For example, when retrieving Pokémon from the Pokémon Center:
Even the relatively old-fashioned Kanto had already switched to sending digital notifications directly to a trainer's wrist device.
But Johto insisted on doing things the old way—calling out numbers by hand.
Perhaps it had something to do with Johto's many ancient legends involving Legendary Pokémon and its long, culturally rich history.
After so many years of carrying on such traditions, this style had simply become one of Johto's defining characteristics.
As someone newly arrived, Silas found it unfamiliar but also charming in its own way.
"Thank you, Nurse Joy."
Approaching the front counter, Silas handed over the wooden number tag and received the six Poké Balls belonging to his partners.
"You're welcome. I hope you have a wonderful stay here in Cherrygrove City."
Nurse Joy replied with her usual elegance.
Cherrygrove City was the place Silas came to rest after completing the mission at the capital waterfall.
Calling it a city, however, was a stretch—Cherrygrove was barely larger than New Bark Town.
Serving as the only midpoint linking New Bark Town and Violet City, Cherrygrove had only a single, fairly unremarkable one-person Gym stationed here for basic security.
That was likely because, due to Cherrygrove's location, nearby towns could provide quick assistance if wild Pokémon ever attacked.
But the more important reason was this:
Near Cherrygrove—famous for its sea breeze and the fragrance of flowers—stood a waterfall known as the "Blue Full-Moon Falls."
A colony of Quagsire lived there, and they had taken it upon themselves to protect Cherrygrove.
Don't underestimate Quagsire just because they look dopey; as carnivorous Pokémon, a group of wild Quagsire could be quite intimidating.
These Quagsire had protected Cherrygrove silently ever since the town was founded.
To this day, no one knew why.
But in gratitude, during the annual Quagsire Festival, people offered the Quagsire round, ball-shaped objects that the Pokémon supposedly favored.
Strangely enough, those objects always drifted back down the river the next day.
This was one of the major differences between Johto and Kanto.
In Kanto, it was common to see wild Pokémon and humans in open conflict, fighting for territory and survival.
Many cities had lurking wild Pokémon hiding in corners, watching humans cautiously.
But in Johto, you saw something totally different—humans and Pokémon living harmoniously.
People in Johto generally believed that wild Pokémon wouldn't harm them—some even believed wild Pokémon protected them.
Many towns even revered certain species as local totem Pokémon, cherished as guardians.
If one were to search for a deeper reason, Silas's personal theory was that it all stemmed from the Johto people's long-held desire to someday call Ho-Oh back.
According to the travel guide he picked up at the Pokémon Center, the next Quagsire Festival wouldn't begin for another two months.
Silas could only regret that he wouldn't get to witness the spectacle himself.
"If you're interested," Nurse Joy said kindly as she noticed Silas flipping through the guide, "you could try fishing at the seaside. Enjoying the gentle nighttime sea breeze while fishing is one of the joys of traveling."
Fishing, huh?
Silas paused to consider it.
Not a bad idea.
After all, he hadn't gone fishing since the time he fished aboard the S.S. Anne.
While the water-type Pokémon living in Johto were generally similar to those in Kanto, there were still some unique species and this trip would be a good opportunity to enjoy it again.
"In that case, could you recommend where to buy a fishing rod, and the best fishing spot?"
Silas closed the guide and asked decisively.
Whenever you arrived in a new city and weren't sure what to do, you could always ask Nurse Joy.
They were the living maps of every town—one of the golden rules for Trainers.
"Hmm~"
Nurse Joy leaned forward adorably, placing her finger gently at her lips as she thought.
"It looks like you're not much of a fisherman—you don't even have your own gear."
She giggled softly.
"In that case, I recommend visiting a shop called 'Isle Fishing Gear' on the west side of the city.
The owner is the most experienced fisherman in Cherrygrove.
He also runs the Isle Fishing Spot, which is the best seaside fishing location in town."
Her cheerful answer struck Silas right in the heart.
"No, no, I'm not like Brock…"
He repeated internally, trying desperately to calm himself.
One had to admit—Nurse Joys truly were among the gentlest people in the Pokémon world.
Before you even realized it, you would find yourself influenced by their warmth.
No wonder there were people whose life goal was simply to pursue various Nurse Joys.
Of course… whether they were chasing the Joy herself or the Joy family as a whole, only those people knew.
After thanking Nurse Joy several times, Silas walked off toward the direction she pointed out, stepping into the fading glow of the evening sun.
Cherrygrove City truly wasn't large.
Following Nurse Joy's instructions, Silas walked through only three streets before spotting the fishing shop she mentioned.
It wasn't run-down, but it looked very old—so old that even the front door was a hand-pulled rolling shutter.
"Knock, knock~"
Silas tapped on the pillar beside the entrance.
"Hello? Anyone here? I was recommended by Nurse Joy—I'm here to buy a fishing rod."
No response.
He repeated himself.
Still nothing.
Seeing the 'Open' sign hanging by the doorway, Silas hesitated for a moment and then stepped inside.
"Whoa…"
The moment he entered, Silas was drawn in by the sight of the fishing rods displayed across the walls.
Exclusive limited-edition rods from major fishing spots across both Kanto and Johto were casually hung up.
There were even a few Super Rods signed by certified Fishing Masters.
Now he fully believed Nurse Joy when she said the shop's owner was a fishing expert.
A Super Rod wasn't easy to come by.
Among fishing equipment, it was considered a top-tier tool—rare enough to rival some actual Pokémon items.
And a Super Rod personally signed by a Fishing Master?
That was even rarer.
Such rods were typically gifts given only to challengers acknowledged by the Masters themselves. Ordinary people had no chance of obtaining something like that.
"Hm?"
As he browsed, Silas spotted a map of Cherrygrove City hanging on the wall.
But something about it made him instinctively voice confusion.
Unlike the city map he remembered, this one showed a rather large island sitting just offshore from Cherrygrove.
But that didn't match anything he knew.
"That's Isle."
A deep male voice sounded beside him.
"Isle?"
Silas asked, curious.
The man hadn't startled him—his trained senses weren't for show.
Even without raising his awareness to its highest level, he would never fail to notice someone approaching him.
"Yeah," the man—the shop owner—replied lazily.
"That's also where this shop got its name."
"So Nurse Joy sent you, huh?
How much money are you prepared to spend?"
The shopkeeper stepped behind the counter and asked the question quite directly.
"Uh… no real upper limit?"
Silas replied hesitantly.
Having just come into a nice amount of money, he felt confident enough to say it.
The shopkeeper chuckled.
"No upper limit? That's not very realistic.
Fishing rods are tools, not treasure items.
Looking at you, you seem to be in excellent physical condition. For a first-time fisherman, I recommend this type of Good Rod."
He naturally pulled a medium-sized box from beneath the counter, then took out a long, bright-red fishing rod that looked somewhat unorthodox.
Silas accepted it and weighed it in his hands.
Without focusing on the feel of the rod, his curiosity pushed him to ask:
"I want to know… does that island truly exist?"
His instincts told him that the island probably held something valuable.
The shopkeeper glanced at him.
"A lot of Trainers have asked me the same thing. All I can tell you is that the island does exist—because I've been there myself. As for anything more specific…"
The shopkeeper smiled again.
"That'll cost extra."
.....
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