After rushing back to the station, Officer Jenny found the police chief leisurely eating breakfast in his office—while reading through the latest Pokémon research paper by Kazuki and Bill.
In the Pokémon world, even those who weren't Trainers paid close attention to anything concerning Pokémon.
The Vermilion City police chief, being a rare Pokémon enthusiast himself, was no exception.
So when Jenny handed over Kazuki's Pokédex and explained he needed urgent help, the chief didn't even finish his breakfast.
He immediately sprang into action—personally leading a team of officers to the docks.
"Kazuki! Kazuki!" the chief called out as soon as he stepped out of the car.
"Ahaha, Kazuki, who would've thought you'd be here in Vermilion City!"
"You lot! Search that ship thoroughly!" he barked at his officers.
"The S.S. Anne is the pride of Vermilion City, and now Kazuki himself has reported a criminal plot!"
After giving his orders, the chief eagerly shook Kazuki's hand.
"Ah, Kazuki! I'm a huge Pokémon fan myself, you know!"
"I've been reading your and Bill's paper word for word!"
"Tell me—does that enormous Pokémon in your video really exist?"
"Of course!" Kazuki replied vaguely, not mentioning that he'd filmed the footage while riding on a Pidgeot.
"Wow!" The chief gasped, glancing around before hurriedly pulling over a subordinate.
"Quick, quick! Get a camera—I want a photo with Kazuki!"
Click! Click!
"Chief! We've found suspicious individuals and dangerous equipment aboard!"
"What?!" The chief's expression turned serious.
"Kazuki, your safety is important—please stand back. It might get dangerous!"
With that warning, the chief drew his sidearm and charged onto the S.S. Anne.
Despite his rather portly appearance, he had guts when it counted.
Thankfully, the anticipated fierce gunfight never happened.
Team Rocket operatives were armed only with stun guns and specialized Poké Ball absorbing devices.
Even the trio of Jessie, James, and Meowth—who hadn't boarded yet—panicked at the sight of so many armed officers and fled immediately.
Thus, Giovanni's plan for a trainer hostage party aboard the S.S. Anne was crushed before it even began.
[Ding! Successfully thwarted the S.S. Anne conspiracy!]
[Water-Type Pokémon EXP Pack received. Please designate a recipient.]
[Beginner Fishing Master Aura applied.]
[Justice Reputation +1]
Watching Officer Jenny escort Team Rocket members off the ship, Kazuki casually assigned the EXP pack to Wartortle.
He then fed his remaining three Basic Rare Candies to it as well.
[Pokémon: Wartortle]
[Level: 22 → 30]
In a flash, Wartortle gained eight levels—stepping into the Advanced tier.
Excited by its newfound strength, Wartortle celebrated with a powerful Water Gun burst.
By the time the last Rocket agent was loaded into a police van, the sun had fully risen, bathing Vermilion City in golden light.
Misty and Delia arrived at the docks just as Kazuki was receiving thanks from Officer Jenny and the S.S. Anne's captain.
"Kazuki, thank you so much for protecting the honor of Vermilion City!" Jenny said, her arm half-lifting as if to hug him, but with so many eyes watching, she settled for a hearty handshake instead.
"Next time you're in town, look me up! I'll personally show you around! And I can't wait to read more of your amazing Pokémon research!"
"Good luck, Kazuki!"
With that, Jenny threw herself into the task of interrogating Team Rocket members.
The captain, however, didn't hold back. Laughing heartily, he pulled Kazuki into a full-on bear hug.
"Ahaha! Young man, thank you for saving the S.S. Anne!"
"Without you, I shudder to think what disaster might have befallen us!"
"To show my gratitude, please accept this—an exclusive VIP cruise ticket!"
"You'll have the best room, gourmet meals, and full Pokémon care during your journey!"
Misty and Delia approached Kazuki, both still dazed.
"Kazuki... you were just eating barbecue with us last night..."
"And now... you're suddenly a citywide hero?!"
The captain, sharp as ever, caught sight of them.
"Ah! Family too? Then I'll prepare three VIP tickets—please, ladies, enjoy the cruise alongside Kazuki!"
The S.S. Anne's captain wasn't just generous—he was astute.
Seeing Misty and Delia, he immediately extended the best hospitality.
"Eh? We... we get to cruise aboard the S.S. Anne too?" Misty gasped.
As the daughter of a Water-type Gym Leader, she knew full well just how prestigious the S.S. Anne was.
Even if you had money, seats were notoriously difficult to book.
And now, thanks to Kazuki, they were being invited as honored guests.
Still bewildered by the sudden turn of events, Delia and Misty grabbed Kazuki's arms and shouted joyfully in unison:
"Long live Kazuki! Long live Kazuki!"
The next Gym Badge awaited in Saffron City.
Between Vermilion and Saffron, there were two routes—one by land, one by water.
Conveniently, the S.S. Anne's cruise route overlapped with the water path to Saffron City.
Having earned the VIP tickets and cleared Team Rocket's threat, Kazuki was more than happy to enjoy a luxurious sea voyage.
Grateful for the opportunity, Delia and Misty volunteered to return to the hotel to pack their luggage, leaving Kazuki free to board early and bask in the sea breeze.
No sooner had he stepped aboard than the system chimed again.
[Ding! Perfect Challenge Mission: Defeat Saffron Gym Leader Sabrina and make her smile again!]
[Mission Reward: Prismatic Poké Ball — Allows capture of Pokémon even against their will without lowering affection!]
[Sabrina Affection Boost — Degree depends on task performance; all progress counts toward Perfect Romance Mission!]
Sabrina.
The Gym Leader of Saffron City.
A tall, sharp green-haired woman clad in black stockings—an absolute queen of cold beauty.
But anyone foolish enough to chase her looks and cause trouble in her Gym...
Would quickly find themselves turned into a doll.
The Saffron Gym was infamous: the Gym Leader herself was far more dangerous than her Pokémon.
Sabrina had awakened psychic powers in childhood—and now, as an adult, her psychic abilities likely surpassed even Kazuki's Aura Power.
Still, thanks to his recent 50% boost in mental resilience, plus the support of Aura, he wasn't easy prey.
But defeating her wasn't enough—the real challenge was making her laugh.
Seriously, system?
Beat her and coax a smile out of her?
Talk about emotional torture.
Still, the badge was necessary.
And that Prismatic Poké Ball sounded ridiculously strong—perfect for tough captures like Clefairy and beyond.
Its ability to capture without reducing affection... was basically the marriage-first, love-later approach.
If he ever captured a Tier-1 Legendary, it'd be totally worth it.
And if the new catch was too much to handle, well—he could always send it to Professor Oak's lab for "community service."
As for the affection boost reward... it sounded a bit vague.
But since it directly contributed to the Perfect Romance Mission progress, it was still worth pursuing.
Overall, the mission was challenging but juicy.
But for now—
It was time to enjoy the cruise!
"Mr. Kazuki, the captain specially prepared this wine for you. Please enjoy!"
A stunning maid in checkered uniform, with an alluring figure, presented him a glass of red wine.
Kazuki's eyes glinted with mischief as he watched her swaying hips.
"Hey, Kazuki, Kazuki!"
Just in time, Delia and Misty had finished packing and joined him on deck.
Fine wine. Beautiful women. Luxurious ship.
Everything was ready.
Time to indulge.
---
Next Goal:- 600PS
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