Sieg stood upon the Grasslands, one of the most expansive and renowned prairies in the entire Hoenn region.
Within its vast boundaries lay not only endless plains, but also small forests, wetlands, and even swamps, the terrain here was complex and ever-changing.
This diversity had birthed an astonishing number of Pokémon species. Among them some were especially rare and coveted by many trainers.
Sieg trekked across the grasslands on foot, passing several small groups of Trainers traveling together. For safety's sake, both sides merely exchanged distant glances, choosing not to approach.
After all, in the wild, any Trainer with a bit of experience knew better than to recklessly interact with strangers.
Of course, there were exceptions, many rookie Trainers would arrange meetups online, banding together to enter dangerous wild zones for mutual protection.
As a result, certain places grew really crowded.
Just ahead, Sieg spotted one such spot, a large campsite.
From a distance, dozens of tents stood across the flat ground, each in different colors, making for a striking sight.
Flashes of light and bursts of sound from Pokémon training shimmered in the air. Up close, Trainers sat in circles, chatting about raising their Pokémon and trading unusual stories.
Sieg's arrival drew a few curious looks, but most quickly lost interest. This campsite was well-known online, any Trainer heading to the Grasslands ends up passing through here. It had become a supply station for the many who ventured into the wilds.
A quick scan told Sieg that the Pokémon here were low-level. The majority were rookies, with few barely above level 30.
Because of that, he decided not to release Crawdaunt. A Pokémon that strong would only draw unnecessary attention and potential trouble.
"Anyway, I'm just here to restock and leave quickly."
His compressed biscuits and emergency supplies had been nearly depleted during his time at Mt. Chimney, so finding this camp was like a pillow arriving when drowsiness sets in.
He quickly bought everything he needed. Since most people here were League Trainers, there was no black-market trickery or inflated pricing to worry about.
With supplies in hand, Sieg pitched his tent, intending to stay just for the night.
"Come out, Umbreon."
He might not be looking for trouble, but showing a measure of strength was always wise.
At over level 20, Umbreon was considered a capable fighter within this camp.
As night fell, Trainers retreated into their tents, Sieg included. He left the tent window open just wide enough for a Pokémon to slip through.
Before long, a shadow swept inside, Murkrow had returned from its patrol.
By now, Sieg's travel routine was well established: Murkrow scouted from the air under the cover of the night, while Umbreon guarded him by staying close.
"How's it looking, Murkrow? Any danger nearby?"
He removed the night-vision recorder from Murkrow's chest, detached the small camera, and plugged it into his Pokédex to review the footage.
Recon reports from Murkrow's flights allowed him to accurately map the terrain, especially hazardous areas like swamps that were impassable to humans.
Flying scouts truly shone in this kind of work.
Once Sieg had finished mapping the camp's surroundings, he began plotting tomorrow's route.
The Grasslands weren't enormous, but they weren't small either.
On foot, it would take at least two days and a night to cross. With a mountain bike, it could be done in just over half a day.
"The key is to avoid the territories of wild Pokémon, especially those of powerful ones. Out here, their territorial instincts are always strong."
He had read enough online reports to know that each year, some Trainers strayed into the wrong area and were attacked, or even killed, by wild Pokémon.
"Umbreon, you take the first half of the night watch. Murkrow, you handle the second."
With their shifts assigned, Sieg climbed into his sleeping bag. Perhaps from exhaustion, he fell into a deep, dreamless sleep.
It wasn't until the next morning, when the sounds of a battle echoed outside his tent, that he awoke, only to realize it was already late.
"Tch, these League Trainers really are hot-blooded."
He spotted a crowd gathered around a battle and decided to join them.
However, his interest quickly faded. It was just two mid-teen level Pokémon clashing, their Trainers giving clumsy, poorly thought-out commands with no strategy to speak of.
Shaking his head in disappointment, Sieg returned to pack up his tent and gear.
"Murkrow, stick to my rear and keep scouting from the shadows."
Before departing, he found a hidden corner to release Murkrow, then set off with Umbreon.
HE used his bike most of the time, but when the terrain got difficult, he marched on.
After a winding detour, he passed through a small wetland.
By midday, the sun blazed overhead, and after more than two hours of travel, Sieg finally stopped to rest.
Ahead lay a patch of sandy terrain. He paused, debating whether to cross it directly or detour around.
He was about to send Murkrow ahead to scout when a sense of unease washed over him.
A year adrift at sea had sharpened his instincts to a razor's edge, his body tensed, eyes sweeping the surroundings.
Expressionless, he addressed two withered trees nearby. "Come out."
Even as he spoke, he had already released Crawdaunt, yet the area remained silent.
Sieg let out a cold, mocking laugh. "What's wrong? You've been lurking here all this time, just to wait for prey heading into the desert, haven't you?"
At those words, the two withered trees shifted, and from behind them stepped a tall, turbaned man and a beautiful woman, though her expression was as cold as ice as she stared at Sieg.