"What should I do?"
In the room, Taishi Utsunomiya's voice rang out slowly, yet it was filled with a deep sense of frustration.
"Continue as you are. Ideally, let Gu Yuan keep stealing the spotlight just as he did in the Hoenn League. This is the only way to numb his senses and make him careless. When we finally strike, it will be much easier to clear any suspicion."
"I will notify you when it is time for you to act."
The person on the other end of the line seemed completely unsurprised by the contact and quickly outlined the general plan.
"Yes, I understand."
Hanging up the phone, Taishi Utsunomiya lay on the bed, looking lost and dejected. This was the first time since leaving the Kanto region that he had spent an entire day without training while having nothing else to do.
In the early morning, Gu Yuan slowly opened his eyes. Despite not sleeping all night, he remained high-spirited. Having broken through to become an Intermediate Psychic, he could now use meditation to replace sleep. This not only prevented fatigue but also allowed for better rest while strengthening his psychic powers—killing several birds with one stone.
After a quick wash, Gu Yuan waited patiently in the lobby of the Pokémon Center. Soon, the Kanto delegation assembled; today marked the day they would set out once more.
Back on the vast ocean, as expected, Gu Yuan quickly grew tired of the scenery and retreated to the training room. Now he truly understood why Dar had said their strength would improve significantly during the Regional Battle Tournament. Anyone facing the endless sea would eventually choose training to pass the time.
As if sensing their boredom, a pirate ship suddenly set its sights on the group. Before the enemy could even get close, Gu Yuan and the others were already battle-ready.
One couldn't really blame the pirates for being shortsighted; the ship the delegation was traveling on was simply too inviting. Its modest size suggested a small crew, making it the perfect target for pirates who usually operated with a single vessel. Furthermore, the ship's exterior was expensive and high-end, a detail that wouldn't escape those who made a living on the sea. Such a ship meant wealthy passengers and, combined with seemingly weak defenses, it was as if the words "fat sheep" were carved onto the hull.
"Boom! Boom! Boom!"
Before closing in, the pirates initiated a bombardment with cannons. This was a form of probing. By gauging the strength of the resistance, they would decide whether to continue the attack or retreat—the typical wisdom of pirates.
Unfortunately, the captain of this ship was Dar, a man who had clawed his way up from the bottom to reach his current position. Whether in land or sea battles, Dar possessed immense experience and saw through the pirates' intentions immediately.
Commands were issued, and several Senior and Intermediate Rank Pokémon began intercepting the cannon fire. This was a calculated display of strength by Dar. Being too weak would look fake, but being too strong might scare the pirates off too soon. Of course, if they didn't even dare to challenge Intermediate Rank opponents, Dar would simply take the initiative to destroy the pirate ship himself.
"Looks like we've hooked a big fish! Accelerate and keep up the suppressing fire!"
On the deck, the pirate captain barked orders excitedly, and the ship began to pick up speed.
"Feign a retreat. Maintain a steady pace so they can get closer," Dar commanded. Like a spider weaving its web, he waited for the prey to deliver itself.
"Now! Go, boys!"
At the pirate captain's command, over a dozen Pokémon plunged into the sea. Ice-type moves were released, rapidly freezing the surface of the water along with the ship ahead.
"Finish them!"
Charging onto the ice, the pirate captain released his strongest Pokémon, intending to tear through the enemy's defensive line.
"A Leader Rank. In that case, I'll leave this to you," Dar said, suddenly acting like a total "salted fish" (slacker).
"Fine," Gu Yuan replied. He had Alakazam use Teleport to transport him instantly from his position.
Only after Gu Yuan moved to engage the captain did Taishi Utsunomiya unhurriedly release his own Pokémon to deal with the Ace Rank pirates. Dar's gaze turned solemn as he watched Taishi. It wouldn't be an issue if Taishi was still his old self, constantly trying to outshine Gu Yuan. The fear was that Taishi had suddenly become calm. This growth was a change Dar did not want to see given the boy's current stance. Especially at a time like this, it might put Gu Yuan in danger.
Even before arriving in the Sinnoh region, Dar felt a headache coming on.
Meanwhile, Gu Yuan's Charizard easily gained the upper hand. Since arriving in the Hoenn region, Gu Yuan had encountered many Crawdaunt and knew exactly how to handle them. Even though Charizard was at a type disadvantage, its superior strength was more than enough to compensate.
The battle became even simpler as the opponent began to lose the will to fight. Pirates weren't fools; seeing that the opponents could stop their assault and even take the lead with just a few young trainers was enough to prove their power. Whether it was a bluff or genuine strength, it was clear this ship wouldn't be taken easily. Realizing this, the pirates naturally wanted to retreat.
"Alakazam, Annihilape, go intercept him and cut off their retreat!"
"Sylveon, use Helping Hand on Charizard, then use Calm Mind and Baton Pass to boost its power."
"Ditto, transform into Alakazam and stay vigilant."
A flurry of commands followed. Utilizing the trickery of Teleport and Phantom Force, Alakazam and Annihilape appeared beside the pirate captain in the blink of an eye. Even before entering the fray, Annihilape's Rage Fist had been charged to its limit. With the Leader Rank Crawdaunt suppressed by Charizard, the captain's Ace Rank Pokémon stood no chance against a single punch from Annihilape.
Seizing the opportunity, Alakazam successfully restrained the captain. A hint of curiosity flashed in Alakazam's eyes as it used its psychic powers to pull a parchment scroll from the captain's coat. It featured strange patterns. After a careful look, Alakazam recognized it as what humans called a treasure map and planned to give it to Gu Yuan for confirmation later.
On the main battlefield, Charizard launched its final assault. Using Dragon Rush, Charizard slammed directly into Crawdaunt while its sharp Dragon Claw pierced through the opponent's chest. The battle was over.