Evergreen City lived up to its name—lush, vivid, and forever green.
Located beside the sprawling Viridian Forest, the city thrived on nature. Flowers bloomed year-round, and visitors filled its streets in every season. The forest's endless green canopy held rare plants and exotic Pokémon, attracting adventurers from all over the Kanto region.
Together with the Karan Caves and Mt. Tsukimi, Viridian Forest was considered one of Kanto's three great adventure destinations.
Its reputation alone explained Evergreen City's prosperity.
Even without considering those who illegally captured rare Pokémon, the forest's medicinal herbs and natural resources were valuable enough to tempt countless fortune seekers.
---
On Route 1, a woman and a boy walked side by side.
The woman—elegant, calm, and composed—was Mrs. Meta, and the boy was Evan Crowe, her newly taken apprentice.
"Mrs. Meta… with my identity status, is it really okay for me to walk freely in the city?" Evan asked, voice uneasy.
He wasn't a registered resident, and Evergreen City was no quiet village.
He'd heard horror stories about the Officer Jenny family enforcing the law here.
Mrs. Meta glanced at the Swellow circling above them, keeping watch.
"Relax, Evan. As my apprentice, I'll take care of everything."
Her tone was unshakably confident.
Instead of entering Evergreen City through the main gate, she led him through several hidden paths, eventually stepping into the forest.
Evan frowned as she unfolded two small black cubes—then realized they were compressed robes.
Black, hooded robes.
"Change," she said simply.
Evan slipped into the robe without question and followed her deeper into the woods.
Soon, a giant hollow tree loomed before them. After stepping inside, they walked through a pitch-black tunnel that gradually expanded—
—and then the world burst into noise.
Smoke, shouting, bargaining, the smell of roasted meat, flashing lights—
A black market.
Not the kind sold in rumors, but the real thing.
Illegal. Hidden. Alive.
---
The League strictly forbade the sale of Pokémon or Pokémon eggs. Only League-certified breeding centers were allowed to sell them.
But in a world where huge profits tempted the desperate, the dark market thrived under the surface.
Over time, the black market grew into an entire underground economy.
The League pretended to crack down on it, but everyone knew the truth:
Some officials were profiting from this place.
And so, the black market existed in the shadows—discreetly tolerated.
"Listen carefully," Mrs. Meta whispered as they walked. "Speak as little as possible. Everyone here is cunning. One careless sentence, and you'll expose a weakness you didn't know you had."
She guided him forward like a seasoned mentor.
The black market was divided into two areas:
—the stall district: noisy, chaotic, full of robed figures like themselves
—the commercial district: quieter, cleaner, where elite trainers shopped
Most people wore black robes, hiding their identities, but their Pokémon were visible beside them—glinting eyes, low growls, sharp claws.
No one walked here without a Pokémon. That was an invitation to get robbed.
Ahead, Evan saw a muscular man mocking someone without a partner Pokémon.
Before anyone could react, the victim released a Nidoking—
—and the taunter died instantly.
Powerful. Brutal. Efficient.
As expected, the black market's law enforcement arrived and escorted the killer away. He didn't resist.
Evan frowned. "What will they do to him?"
"He'll pay the fine and walk free," Mrs. Meta said. "The black market has rules, but profit always comes first."
---
A vendor's shout rang through the crowd:
"Pokémon eggs! Only 50,000 each!"
Evan looked to Mrs. Meta; she nodded.
He squeezed toward the booth. More than thirty identical eggs sat neatly arranged, glowing faintly.
"What species?" someone asked.
"Spearow. Fixed price. No bargaining."
Evan stepped back quickly—crowds made him uncomfortable.
Mrs. Meta explained, "Spearow are common, but they evolve fast and make good flying mounts. People buy them even at high prices."
Evan watched dozens of buyers eagerly hand over money.
He couldn't hide the envy in his eyes.
Flying had always been humanity's dream—and his.
"You want one?" Mrs. Meta asked casually.
Evan froze. He only had about 10,000 League Coins saved.
She chuckled. "Go pick one. I'll pay."
His heart surged with gratitude.
She leaned close and whispered, "You're my apprentice. I won't treat you unfairly."
Evan nodded quickly and selected an egg, adding 5,000 of his own coins for a basic incubator.
---
They continued browsing until they reached the quieter commercial street where stronger trainers shopped.
Mrs. Meta led him into a dusty, nearly abandoned store.
The old man reclining at the counter didn't even open his eyes.
"Take what you want. Prices are marked."
Mrs. Meta smiled politely.
"Take me to the second floor."
The old man jerked awake, instantly terrified, and hurriedly guided them upstairs.
When they came back down, Evan held a new identity card.
"I didn't think it would be this easy…" he muttered.
Mrs. Meta said calmly, "Many Alliance officials do business here. The owner of this shop is likely high-ranking in the population department."
She added gently, "This identity will let you move around normally… but it won't fool Gym leaders or elite investigators."
Evan took a steady breath. Even so, it was enough.
---
They sold most of the water-type Pokémon they'd captured at sea, along with rare herbs from Hoenn. The profit gap between Kanto and Hoenn was enormous—perfect for trade.
Before leaving, Mrs. Meta bought Evan a Pokédex from a different vendor.
"It's not the latest model, but the Gen-3 version still has everything you need."
Evan bowed gratefully.
---
A New Beginning in Evergreen City
Once back in the city, Evan wandered alone.
"Mrs. Meta really trusts me this much? She's not afraid I'll just run?"
But he never considered escaping. She knew too much about him, and following her offered opportunities he'd never get as an ordinary citizen.
Even a junior Breeder held high social status.
Evergreen City felt warm and full of life.
Skyscrapers blazed with holographic ads—new energy cubes, wilderness packs, high-tech backpacks.
"Two hundred thousand coins for the cheapest space backpack? Yeah… no thanks."
He eventually stopped at a Pokémon Center.
"Good afternoon, Nurse Joy!"
He greeted her with confidence—no signs of piracy or nervousness.
"Good afternoon, Trainer. How may I assist you?" Joy asked with her signature gentle smile.
"I'd like to register as a resident of the Kanto region."
Joy processed his papers efficiently.
"This pass is valid for three years. Please renew it before expiration."
Evan paid 200 coins for a night's stay.
"Still just an ordinary resident…" he sighed. "League-registered trainers stay free."
His room was small, but warm enough.
Evergreen City ranked eleventh in Kanto—behind ancient cities like Pewter and Cerulean—but its fame was largely due to its Gym Leader:
Giovanni, the Earth King, the man rumored to be unbeatable while standing on solid ground.
Cities in this world were independent.
The League only advised and supervised—they didn't command.
That was why local elites controlled mobility and resources so tightly.
Evan recalled hearing that even the League Chairman, Charles Damarenchi, came from a commoner background—and had struggled to push reforms through the entrenched system.
---
The next morning, Evan left the Center after breakfast, buying various supplies:
Fruit wine.
Study materials.
Books for Breeders.
By the time he finished, his balance had dropped to 3,000 coins.
But for the first time in a long while…
he felt like a normal person living a normal life.