Lilycove City, located on the eastern edge of the Hoenn region.
At this point in time, it was still the largest city in Hoenn.
However, a few years later, once Wattson's reconstruction of Mauville City was completed, Lilycove would fall to second place in scale.
As for Hayato, his impression of this city wasn't deep. The only thing that came to mind was that both Team Magma and Team Aqua had bases here.
That night, Hayato stood on the deck of the White Sea Lion, Gengar beside him, as they gazed upon the dazzling lights of this bustling metropolis.
It was his first time coming to Lilycove. The Pokémon Association of Hoenn was headquartered here.
In the games and anime, the concept of a Pokémon Association was rarely mentioned. Hayato himself hadn't known about it—until the old sailor explained it to him.
The Pokémon Association was an official institution of great importance.
Its duties included overseeing the selection of Gym Leaders, distributing Poké Balls, and organizing League Conferences.
Beyond that, it also handled examinations for Breeders' promotions.
Looking at it this way, the city truly was lively.
Lively in the most literal sense.
Here stood the Pokémon Association, Team Magma's base, Team Aqua's base, and even hideouts of Pokémon Hunters. A mixture of righteous factions and villainous organizations all clustered together.
Hayato couldn't help but wonder: didn't they ever clash?
After all, Team Magma and Team Aqua were sworn enemies.
One sought to expand the landmass, while the other wished to let the oceans swallow the continents.
Their goals were completely opposed. To believe they could coexist peacefully was harder than believing a Caterpie would evolve into a Rayquaza.
Still, at this point in time, the two teams probably had no energy to quarrel—they were too busy scouring the world for clues about Groudon and Kyogre.
According to the old sailor, important figures would be attending tomorrow's auction.
Hayato wondered if those "important figures" might be none other than the leaders themselves—Archie of Team Aqua and Maxie of Team Magma.
Come to think of it, since arriving in this world, he had hardly encountered either organization.
Of course, perhaps that was simply because he wasn't the protagonist.
The next morning, Hayato donned a noble's outfit provided by the old sailor, disembarked, and followed him into a towering building. Together, they descended by elevator, slowly sinking underground.
When the doors slid open, an ancient auction hall spread before his eyes, designed like a Roman coliseum.
"This place…"
Hayato was surprised, but kept his composure. He followed the old sailor, verified his identity, and gained access to the inner hall.
Just then, a man entered behind them—a man radiating suffocating pressure.
He was tall and muscular, clad in a black skintight uniform like a soldier's, with a red studded vest thrown loosely over it. A bizarre mask covered his face.
Hayato's eyes instinctively dropped to the man's chest.
There, bold and striking, was the emblematic scarlet letter "R."
The man was no fool. He quickly noticed the boy staring at him.
He lifted his gaze, and upon realizing it was just a ten-year-old brat, his lips curled in disdain.
After his identity check, the man strode past Hayato without another glance, entering with long, unhesitating steps.
"What's wrong?" the old sailor asked, noticing Hayato hadn't followed.
Hayato shook his head. "Nothing. Just saw a strange fellow."
The old sailor glanced over at the man in question and whispered, "That guy's with Team Rocket."
Of course Hayato knew he was from Team Rocket. But beyond that, there was a nagging sense of familiarity.
He thought hard but couldn't place it—until the auction staff's voice rang out:
"Welcome to the Lilycove Auction, Mr. Vicious. Here is your number card, please keep it safe!"
Vicious…
Back in Littleroot, Hayato had carefully recorded all the movie plots and characters he remembered.
And so the moment he heard that name, the man's identity surfaced at once.
Vicious, an executive officer of Team Rocket.
The final antagonist of the movie Pokémon 4Ever: Celebi – Voice of the Forest.
But… wasn't he supposed to be in Johto? Why was he here?
Could he be investigating Celebi?
As Hayato pondered, two more figures approached.
One was a scholarly man with neatly-combed red hair, dressed in a crimson trench coat, black-rimmed glasses perched on his nose. He had the air of a frail researcher.
The other wore a long-sleeved black uniform. His skin was sun-browned, his face rugged, and a deep-blue bandana like the sea itself covered his head. He looked every bit the pirate Hayato had once encountered at sea.
The moment their eyes met, they exchanged smiles—smiles outwardly "harmonious," but laced with invisible hostility.
"Well, well. I didn't expect to see you at this auction," Maxie sneered, his smile cold.
Archie's demeanor was far more boisterous. "And yet, here you are too!"
"Heh." Maxie chuckled softly. "What a coincidence."
Archie rolled his eyes, lips twitching as he turned away, striding into the hall without another word.
Hayato and the old sailor stood watching from a distance.
"…"
Indeed, many important figures had gathered today.
At that moment, Hayato couldn't help but feel curious—what sort of treasure could draw so many bosses together?
The old sailor didn't even spare a glance at Maxie and Archie's bickering.
Hayato quickly realized the outside world likely didn't know what the two leaders truly looked like.
If not for their signature outfits, he himself might not have recognized them.
Staring at their retreating backs, Hayato thought to himself: Things are about to get lively.
Still, he had no intention of changing his own plan.
With Maxie and Archie's arrival, the auction hall soon filled to capacity, the crowd practically overflowing.
Hayato and the old sailor sat in the middle rows. After about ten minutes, the auction finally began.
The noisy hall fell silent.
A single spotlight shone down from above, illuminating the auctioneer's hands as he held aloft an aged parchment scroll.
"Welcome, everyone, to today's auction. Our very first item is… a treasure map leading to an unknown destination!"
With that, he carefully unfurled the map.
The front was a chart; the back, a string of blurred and fragmented words.
To ensure all could see, the staff projected the image onto a massive screen.
[ … June 6thWhoever steps into this place…Should you… once more…I hope it will be a kind-hearted soul…
After writing such a wish here,I left this…
… Knight ]
Hayato narrowed his eyes at the map.
The next second, his ability to Appraise activated. The chart's details flowed directly into his mind.
[Ancient Sea Chart: An aged nautical map recording the route to a distant isle. Following its course will lead one to a small island at the border of the seas.]
(End of Chapter)