Viridian is a symbol of everlasting verdant green.
Viridian City is a city that loves nature, blooming with flowers all year round.
And the reason this city is hailed as one of the most prosperous cities in the Kanto Region is due to the nearby Viridian Forest.
The boundless sea of green, filled with various rare resources and exotic Pokémon, attracts countless adventurers to explore.
It is known as one of the top three must-visit exploration sites in the Kanto Region, standing alongside Cerulean Cave and Mt. Moon, which speaks volumes of its value.
Even disregarding those who risk breaking the law to capture and sell rare Pokémon, the mere profits from harvesting rare medicinal herbs in Viridian Forest are enough to stir envy.
At this moment, on Route 1, a man and a woman, a beautiful lady and a young man, walk side by side.
"Lady Metako, is it really safe for someone like me to walk around in the city?" Sieg asked anxiously.
After all, he was undocumented. Viridian City was not some backwater town, he had heard plenty about the terrifying authority of the Officer Jenny family within.
Metako glanced at the Swellow circling overhead, ever-vigilant and protecting them.
"Don't worry, little Sieg, as my apprentice, I will naturally take care of your identity issue," Metako said with a sway in her step, her tone full of confidence.
The two continued along Route 1's wilderness, but instead of entering the city, they took a winding path straight into the forest.
"Lady Metako, what's this?"
He watched as she unfolded two small, black pieces of cloth, revealing two large black cloaks!
Sieg changed into the inconspicuous cloak and silently followed behind Metako.
Eventually, the two slowly entered a large hollow in a giant tree, revealing a hidden world inside.
After passing through a pitch-black corridor, a wave of noisy and lively market energy greeted them.
Sieg couldn't help but feel dazed after spending a year at sea, he had long forgotten such a scene.
The black market!
As the name suggests, it is a marketplace hidden in darkness.
It is not recognized by official League authorities, as selling Pokémon, including Pokémon eggs, is explicitly banned by League law.
To buy one legally, you must go to a League-certified breeding center.
But in this world, there will always be those who risk everything to earn a fortune, hence, the black market was born.
Gradually, more black markets emerged, and their scale grew into a full-blown industrial chain, forming an illegal shadow zone.
The League, though disapproving, tacitly allowed its existence, after all, they wanted to leave a sliver of hope for the underprivileged and didn't want to push everyone into rebellion.
But more importantly, the profits were simply too enormous. Even some high-ranking League officials participated in carving up the spoils.
"This is the black market. Try not to speak much to avoid being tricked. Everyone here is cunning, and if you're not careful, you'll slip up," Metako whispered from the front, genuinely treating Sieg like a proper apprentice, sharing everything she knew.
The entire black market was divided into two zones, the stall area and the commercial street.
The former was lively and noisy. More than half of the people, like Sieg, wore black cloaks that fully concealed their identities.
But everyone had a Pokémon beside them, often displaying fierce expressions to intimidate others.
Few walked without a Pokémon, as that would signal weakness and make them a target.
As they walked, Sieg saw a burly man provoking someone without a visible Pokémon. Just as the crowd thought the lone person was doomed,
he suddenly released a powerful Nidoking, instantly killing both the burly man and his Pokémon.
"Indeed, this place is full of hidden dragons and crouching tigers. That Nidoking must be at least level 30," Sieg thought to himself.
Though he made a show of power and killed the provocateur, the man was soon taken away by the market's enforcer squad.
He didn't even resist, simply following obediently?
As Sieg wondered about the black market's enforcement process,
"That guy only needs to pay a fine to be released. Inside the black market, there's some order, but in the end, profit comes first," Metako explained again, giving Sieg another lesson.
Beside Metako walked a Swellow, which was her Pokémon.
Thanks to that, the two passed unchallenged. In the black market, no one would foolishly provoke others without cause.
"Pokémon eggs for sale, Pokémon eggs for sale, 50,000 each," a vendor shouted.
After getting Metako's nod, Sieg stepped closer.
He saw over thirty identically-colored Pokémon eggs laid out on the stall.
As more people gathered around, someone couldn't help but ask, "What kind of Pokémon are these eggs?"
"All Spearow. Fixed price at 50,000 each, no bargaining," the vendor replied succinctly.
Sieg felt squeezed by the growing crowd and quickly backed away. Metako said, "All Spearow eggs. Seems this person took out an entire flock."
Sieg was surprised by the vendor's strength, but what puzzled him more was why such an ordinary Pokémon egg would sell for 50,000 Pokédollars? That price seemed steep.
"That's not strange. Spearow has average potential but evolves quickly, by level 20 it becomes a Fearow, making it a very practical flying-type Pokémon."
"So many people raise one to use as flying transport. Even if you later sell it, you won't lose much," Metako patiently explained.
Sieg looked at the crowd, already seeing several people handing over money and picking up eggs. He kept a neutral face, but deep down, he was envious.
Soaring through the skies has always been a dream for humans.
He was no different. Having a flying-type Pokémon as a mount or scout would be fantastic for someone like him, who had spent years drifting at sea.
"Want one? Then go buy one," Metako said, noticing Sieg's longing.
But Sieg felt awkward. After all, he only had about 10,000 Pokédollars to his name.
That was all he'd earned doing odd jobs for pirates and sailors. Others in his cohort were likely even worse off, some probably didn't have a single coin.
Metako seemed to read Sieg's embarrassment and chuckled, "Go pick one. I'll pay."
"Ah, really? Is that okay?"
Sieg looked surprised on the surface, but inwardly he was thrilled. His eyes, hidden beneath the black hood, were already drifting to the eggs.
"We came to the black market anyway to get supplies for you. As my apprentice, I won't let you suffer," Metako whispered, just for Sieg to hear.
Sieg finally stepped forward and chose one. They also paid an extra 5,000 Pokédollars for a cheap incubator.
Buying a common Spearow for 50,000 coins seemed like a loss, but Spearow is a temperamental and flock-oriented Pokémon.
Who among ordinary trainers could handle a whole tribe of aggressive Fearow and Spearow?
Catching one alone in the wild is no easy task.
This also told him a lot about the vendor's strength, being able to take out a small tribe of aggressive Pokémon alone meant he was no ordinary trainer.
Moreover, wild Pokémon retain their feral instincts. Taming them is risky, they might turn on you at any moment. Compared to that, raising one from an egg is far safer.
And who knows, with a bit of luck, you might just get a high-quality Spearow with inherited moves from one of these mystery eggs.
Afterward, the two strolled quickly past the stalls and moved on to the commercial street.
Compared to the previous noisy environment, this place seemed rather quiet, with very few people entering the shops.
However, the people entering were clearly of a higher class, and the Pokémon by their side were almost all above level 30, thus very powerful.
"Come along, this time we'll completely resolve your undocumented status," Metako led Sieg into a cold, deserted shop.
The shop was a mess, with cobwebs in the corners and dust floating through the air.
At the counter sat an old man with a white beard, lounging in his chair without a care.
Metako walked up and tapped on the counter.
"If you want something, just take it. The price is listed on top," the old man said, then closed his eyes and continued pretending to nap, not looking like he was doing business at all.
Metako didn't seem angry, just chuckled and said, "Take us to the second floor."
As soon as she spoke, the old man jumped up in surprise. His lazy attitude was gone, immediately replaced by respectful obedience as he led them upstairs.
A long while later, Sieg and Metako walked out of the shop.
"I didn't expect getting a legal ID would be that easy," Sieg said in awe.
In his hand was a card representing his new identification, "Siegfried" clearly printed on it. From now on, he was officially a registered citizen of the League.
Hearing Sieg's amazement, Metako said, "Some people inside the League also do business in the black market. The owner behind that shop is probably someone high up in the League's civil affairs department."
She glanced at Sieg, who looked quite pleased, and offered some timely advice, "This ID lets you move freely in the city, but if you're investigated by high-ranking officials or a Gym, it won't hold up."
Sieg's cheerful mood immediately cooled.
"But even so, it's enough for now."
After that, Sieg followed Metako around to purchase large amounts of supplies, including mostly Water-type Pokémon and a variety of rare herbs that could only be found at sea.
They used the difference in resources between the two regions to resell Pokémon and goods. The Hoenn region was rich in water and had vast seas.
Kanto, on the other hand, was the complete opposite.
Before leaving the black market, Metako even bought Sieg a Pokédex from one of the stalls.
"This Pokédex isn't the latest model, but it's the third-generation version. It has nearly all the essential functions."
Sieg bowed deeply to Metako once again in gratitude.
...
Viridian City.
"Lady Metako actually let me move around freely, isn't she afraid I'll run off?"
Even though he thought this way, Sieg had no intention of escaping. Metako held far too much leverage over him.
Besides, even if he ran, with only a civilian identity, he'd have little room for advancement. On the other hand, staying with Metako might one day give him a shot at becoming a Breeder.
Through a recent study, Sieg had learned that even a Junior Breeder held significant social status.
Sieg strolled through the city alone, feeling the smoky air. The rare sense of relaxation felt like a great weight had been lifted from his shoulders.
On a nearby skyscraper, various advertisements played, new Pokéblocks, new wilderness survival kits.
"Geez, even the most basic version of this space backpack costs 200,000 Pokédollars!"
Such a steep price completely killed any desire Sieg had to buy it.
Eventually, Sieg arrived at a Pokémon Center, planning to rest there for the night.
"Good afternoon, Nurse Joy!"
Sieg, despite being a pirate, didn't feel guilty or shy. Instead, he greeted her confidently.
"Good afternoon, Trainer. How can I assist you today?" The elegantly dressed Nurse Joy wore her professional smile as always.
Her gentle aura felt like a warm breeze.
"Hello, I just arrived in the Kanto Region, so I'd like to register," Sieg said politely.
Not that he was especially courteous, he simply understood the special status of Nurse Joy and the Joy family within the League.
Alongside the Officer Jenny family, they were the two great pillars of the League, one monopolized healthcare, the other law enforcement.
There's no doubt that anyone active in a region would inevitably have to deal with one of the two families.
In fact, your personal data would probably be accessed by them before even hitting the League's official database.
Because of that, these two families could discover talented Trainers before anyone else, using marriage or apprenticeship to recruit them.
"But I suppose that's how things have to be, after all, the Joy and Jenny families only produce daughters."
Due to this unique family structure, countless men dreamed of marrying into one of the families.
Having a wife who looked like Nurse Joy or Officer Jenny was a dream shared by many.
"You're applying for a Kanto Region pass, valid for three years. Don't forget to renew it when it expires."
Nurse Joy's voice remained as gentle as ever.
Even though Sieg wouldn't be staying in Kanto long, it was still inconvenient to travel without a valid pass.
He then spent 200 Pokédollars to rent a room at the Pokémon Center for the night.
"Sigh, I'm still just a regular citizen. If I were a League-registered Trainer, both treatment and lodging here would be free."
Looking at the small room, Sieg collapsed on the bed, lost in thought.
Viridian City ranked only 11th in Kanto, slightly behind ancient cities like Pewter and Cerulean.
Its ranking was propped up almost entirely by its Gym Leader, Giovanni, known for the claim that "as long as he stands on solid ground, he will never lose."
It was his overwhelming presence that drove the city's economy.
It's worth noting that Viridian City is governed jointly by Gym Leader Giovanni and a mayor elected by the people.
Each city in this world is essentially independent. The League only holds advisory and supervisory roles, they have no direct authority to control city affairs.
"That's exactly why local clans, nobles, and elites monopolize all advancement paths and resources," Sieg thought quietly.
It's also worth mentioning that the League's current president, Damalanche, is said to have been born a commoner.
He's regarded as the face of the reformist faction within the League, but due to the current system, reforms are constantly stalled.
The next morning, after breakfast, Sieg left the Pokémon Center and stocked up on supplies before heading out.
He bought his favorite fruit wine and a large number of books to kill time.
Of course, not romance novels, these were all related to Breeder knowledge, such as:
"Comprehensive Berry Encyclopedia"
"Adrift at Sea"
"The Winds and Culture of Kanto"
After a round of shopping, his remaining funds had dropped below 3,000 Pokédollars.