"Wooooooo—!"
As a harbor city, Vermilion City is inseparable from ships.
The moment you step into the city, the blaring whistles of passing vessels can be heard almost nonstop.
Vermilion City is not a place suited for living.
Anyone with light sleep habits would be driven awake all night by the endless, irritating horns.
"After challenging the Vermilion Gym, I'm leaving immediately," Sam muttered to himself.
He really couldn't bring himself to like a city like this.
After entering the Pokémon Center, Sam handed over all of his Poké Balls to Nurse Joy, asking her to run full checkups. He scheduled his Gym Challenge for the following day.
---
Pokémon: Tyranitar
Type: Rock / Dark
Ability: Sand Stream
Template: Shukaku
Strength: High Elite
Potential: Champion
The battle against the colossal Dragonite had been immensely beneficial for Tyranitar.
After that clash, Tyranitar's strength had successfully advanced into the high-level Elite tier.
Even Sam hadn't expected this result.
Reaching the Elite level meant Tyranitar was now only one step away from Champion class.
A pleasant surprise indeed.
---
"Nurse Joy! Nurse Joy! Please save my Rattata!"
The desperate cry interrupted Sam's thoughts.
A boy, no more than ten years old, rushed in while clutching a badly injured Rattata.
The child had clearly never experienced something like this before. Fear overwhelmed him, tears and mucus streaming down his face.
"Chansey, bring the stretcher immediately. This child needs surgery right now."
Seeing Rattata's condition, Nurse Joy felt both heartache and anger.
Rattata was suffering terribly.
She was furious—not only at the trainer for overestimating himself and challenging the Vermilion Gym, but even more at Lt. Surge himself.
As the Gym Leader of Vermilion City, he had dealt such brutal damage to a novice Trainer's Pokémon.
It was infuriating.
Still, this wasn't the time for anger.
Saving Rattata came first.
---
Half an hour later, Nurse Joy emerged from the operating room, exhaustion written all over her face.
She entered the staff lounge, picked up a cup, and took a sip of the coffee prepared earlier.
The bitterness spread across her tongue, gradually forcing her tired mind back into focus.
Nurse Joy frowned.
She hated coffee.
She hated bitter things in general.
But to endure her workload, she had no choice but to consume caffeine every single day.
Only then could she maintain peak condition.
Working at a Pokémon Center was never easy—Joy knew that better than anyone.
Yet no matter how busy other Pokémon Centers were, none compared to Vermilion City's.
The Pokémon Center here was a battlefield every single day.
No rest. No peace.
The nonstop workload had pushed her to the brink.
Joy could barely endure these days any longer.
Frowning deeply, she drained the rest of her coffee.
---
"Trainer No. 212, Trainer No. 212. Your Pokémon inspection is complete. Please proceed to the front desk."
Hearing the announcement, Sam stood up and walked toward the counter to retrieve his Pokémon.
After confirming the Poké Balls were correct, he turned to leave.
"Please wait a moment, Mr. Sam."
Nurse Joy suddenly stopped him.
"What is it, Nurse Joy?" Sam asked, momentarily tense.
Had something gone wrong?
Seeing his concern, Joy smiled gently.
"Don't worry. Your Pokémon are perfectly healthy. There's no problem at all."
Sam let out a breath of relief.
"But," she continued, "I'd like to ask you for a favor."
Sam was slightly surprised.
As Nurse Joy, what could she possibly need help with?
Without any dramatics, Joy spoke calmly.
"Mr. Sam, I believe you've noticed that the workload at the Vermilion City Pokémon Center is far more intense than in other places."
Sam nodded.
Trainers constantly arrived carrying severely injured Pokémon. If his guess was correct, most of these injuries were caused by challenges to the Vermilion Gym.
Joy's voice slowly turned cold.
Sam could almost feel killing intent in the air.
"The Gym Leader of Vermilion City—Lt. Surge—has gone far too far," she said flatly.
"He's completely unfit to be a Gym Leader. He's practically destroying rookie Trainers."
"I hope you'll teach him a lesson."
"A… lesson?" Sam repeated.
"That's right."
Joy's composure finally cracked.
"Does that bastard have any idea how much extra work his reckless behavior dumps on me?!"
"Damn it!!!"
-------------Author---------------
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