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Ever since humans invented tools to tame Pokémon, the profession of Trainer emerged. Along with Trainers, another profession, driven by profit—Pokémon Hunters—also arose.
To official forces like the Pokémon League, Pokémon Hunters are seen as a group of outlaws who disrupt world order and damage the bond between humans and Pokémon, a group of evil Trainers that must be apprehended.
However, to non-official forces like Team Rocket, Pokémon Hunters are often collaborators. Hunters provide a safe supply of Pokémon to these dark forces, which in turn strengthens them.
Of course, at times, Pokémon Hunters can also be enemies of dark organizations. Always driven by greed, they may seek to steal the results of the dark forces' efforts at the last moment.
For many poor civilian Trainers, Pokémon Hunters are seen as "benefactors" who help them acquire their first Pokémon. At the same time, becoming a Pokémon Hunter may be a career they themselves are forced to consider due to various circumstances in the future.
As the name implies, Pokémon Hunters are people who make a living by hunting and selling Pokémon. In their eyes, Pokémon are nothing more than commodities to be sold for profit. Whether the Pokémon are wild or belong to someone else, as long as the buyer is willing to pay the price, these hunters will stop at nothing to capture them.
It is this cold and ruthless attitude that has earned Pokémon Hunters the hatred and scorn of the general public. Most Pokémon Hunters are solitary figures, and having abandoned certain things in their lives, they often become extremely cold-hearted.
However, when it comes to money, Pokémon Hunters are always greedy. To maximize their profits, they strive to keep the Pokémon they sell in the best condition possible.
As a result, the environment in the Pokémon Special Zone of the black market is not as bloodstained and filthy as ordinary civilians might imagine from the reports they hear on TV, radio, or in newspapers.
On the contrary, the entire Pokémon Special Zone is exceptionally clean and orderly. The Pokémon, kept in cages, are not subjected to inhumane treatment and are all alive and well.
The only thing unsettling about the Special Zone is the pervasive atmosphere of hopelessness that hangs over it.
A heavy sense of despair fills the air, weighing on the hearts of anyone who steps inside. Ordinary people who stay here too long might even develop depression.
While the Pokémon Hunters do not physically harm the Pokémon, they do imprison them in special cages, robbing them of their freedom forever.
After being caged for extended periods and treated as merchandise, combined with the hunters' harsh taming methods, the Pokémon that once fiercely resisted gradually become numb and indifferent.
Like slaves that have been broken, these Pokémon close off their minds and mindlessly follow the commands of the Trainers who own their PokéBalls.
Those Pokémon that have been successfully tamed by the hunters accept their fate, submitting entirely to their captors' orders, becoming nothing more than "slaves" for sale.
Because they have chosen to close their hearts, the light has faded from their eyes, and their entire beings exude a deathly stillness. These Pokémon have clearly lost their will to live. The prolonged loss of freedom has left them feeling hopeless, with no light at the end of their tunnel.
As Sato walked through the Pokémon Special Zone, from the moment he entered, his once-calm heart had been in turmoil. Everything around him filled him with a deep sense of anger and sadness.
"Sigh… this must be the darkest corner of the Pokémon world. These Pokémon's spirits are so damaged, they might never trust humans again." Looking at the many Pokémon locked in cages, their eyes dull and lifeless, Sato felt a deep sorrow but could do nothing but helplessly reflect on the situation.
Sato knew that he was still too weak—so weak that he couldn't even lend a hand to save the Pokémon in front of him. If he attempted to act, not only would he fail to rescue them, but he would also be swallowed whole by the darkness around him.
What he was witnessing was only a small glimpse of the world's greater darkness. The trade of Pokémon has existed in every era, and as long as injustice and the pursuit of profit remain in the world, these practices of exploiting Pokémon for massive profits cannot be eradicated.
His conscience kept urging him to intervene, but Sato eventually let out a deep sigh, reluctantly shifting his gaze away from the emotionally numb Pokémon in front of him.
He wasn't a savior. Right now, he was nothing more than a weakling struggling to survive in the Pokémon world. He had already become deeply entangled with Team Rocket, and getting out in the future would not be an easy task.
However, after witnessing the deep darkness here, Sato made a quiet resolution. He couldn't simply turn a blind eye as if nothing had happened. While he might not be able to save these "victims" now, perhaps one day in the future, he could rescue others like them.
Why was he choosing to take on something that had nothing to do with his own interests? Sato wasn't entirely sure, but he knew this decision would allow him to live without regret.
As a Pokémon enthusiast and now a real Trainer, Sato knew one thing for certain: he truly loved Pokémon. This was a fact, and it was because of this love that the four Pokémon he had chosen to trust him.
From his interactions with his four Pokémon, Sato understood that Pokémon were living, breathing creatures with emotions. They felt joy, anger, sorrow, and happiness. They were nothing like the cold, emotionless tools the world sometimes saw them as.
Sato believed that those who only viewed Pokémon as tools were unworthy of being called Trainers.
Just as he had risked his life the night before to save that little girl, now, having witnessed the suffering around him, he couldn't just stand by and do nothing. Unless he could completely erase his humanity, his conscience would haunt him with regret for the rest of his life.
Sato's goal in this life was to live fully and without regret. A life filled with constant remorse was something he could never accept.
"I'm sorry… I'm too weak right now. I can't save you, but I promise, when I gain the strength, I'll do everything in my power to help the Pokémon who share your tragic fate. I won't turn a blind eye." Sato thought to himself. His previously sorrowful eyes regained their usual calm as his heart finally settled.
No, Sato wasn't a savior, but he knew he could still act within his current limits, exercising whatever small power he had. He understood that his efforts would only be a drop in the ocean, far from changing the world's current state, but it was better than doing nothing at all.
As Sato's heart calmed once more, the four PokéBalls on his belt, which had been gently shaking ever since he entered the Pokémon Special Zone, simultaneously became still.
Sato didn't realize it, but his internal struggle and decision had brought him even closer to the four Pokémon who could sense his emotions.
With his heart at peace again, Sato resumed walking, heading towards a new shop in search of the Ditto he was looking for, continuing his search in this hellish environment.
Having lost everything before, Sato understood that to protect what is important, one must have great power. Sometimes, the means of obtaining that power could be distressing, but until he grew stronger, he would have to accept the harsh rules of gaining power.
Although Sato wished he didn't have to remain in this place filled with the sadness and despair of the Pokémon, he knew he had to find a partner here that would help him continue moving forward.