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Unlike the quiet area by the berths, the section of the docks closer to the city was still bustling with activity. Groups of sailors gathered in threes and fives, loudly reveling in the taverns along the dock.
Sato continued walking with a calm expression. As he exited the secluded area by the berths and entered the city-facing part of the docks, the unsettling feeling of being watched finally dissipated.
Golbat, perched on his shoulder, gave a small wing movement and nodded, putting Sato's mind at ease.
"Damn it, I think I stumbled into something I shouldn't have seen," Sato thought, relieved. He had chosen the quiet spot simply for fishing convenience; who could have anticipated all this?
Fortunately, with Golbat as his mobile radar, he withdrew just in time, sparing himself an unnecessary and meaningless confrontation.
"Are we really letting that kid just walk off? He might have picked up on something. With our combined strength, we could have easily taken him down," whispered one of the black-clad figures lurking nearby to a gruff sailor beside him.
"That kid knew when to leave and didn't interfere. Don't be fooled by his age—he's no weakling. He took down that bratty Sasaki girl's Charmeleon in broad fucking daylight. Even if we both fought him, it would take a while to secure him, and if things got loud, we'd risk compromising the deal," the sailor replied, shaking his head.
He still recalled the scene of Golbat's swift Air Cutter cleanly defeating Charmeleon earlier. None of his Pokémon could pull off something like that.
"Oh, it's him? Yeah, I see your point," the black-clad figure's eyes glinted. "Alright, if he didn't see anything, we'll let him go. The deal is too important. Keep a sharp eye out—don't let anyone else slip in." With that, he turned and disappeared.
The gruff sailor nodded and signaled with his hand. Seven or eight towering sailors emerged from the shadows, and at his nod, they swiftly dispersed.
Meanwhile, the white mist had completely enshrouded the remote fishing area where Sato had been earlier, along with the nearby sections of the dock.
Large crates were being unloaded from the massive containers and carried to giant freight containers under the dim dock lights by groups of muscular sailors.
In the nearby sea, Tentacruel, with red, glowing head gems, worked in synchronized order under the guidance of their mysterious divers, methodically placing crate after crate along the dock's edge before slipping back into the water.
Overseeing all this, a stern blond man in military uniform stood atop one of the massive containers, his gaze fixed on the bustling sailors below. His temper was fierce, and he would bark out reprimands at anyone who even seemed to slack off.
Those sailors, already on edge, would glance at the Magneton and Magnemite units emerging from the shadows, their red eyes gleaming as they monitored everyone. Pale faced, they immediately redoubled their efforts, hastily loading crates into the containers without daring to cut corners.
This dock area, now thickly veiled in mist, was surrounded by numerous Magnemite and Magneton, which were tirelessly patrolling.
These Pokémon seemed specially trained, able to establish an electromagnetic field within the area, relaying signals to one another. Any disturbance would trigger an instant and united response.
"Sir, the cargo delivered by the Tentacruel has arrived in full. Which vessel should we load it onto?"
A bald man in a sailor officer's uniform climbed the ladder onto the container, bowing his head respectfully to the blond man.
"Send everything over to the S.S. Anne," the blond man said, expressionless. "The typhoons in Hoenn have ruined business, and they've been pushing hard for more supplies. The faster, the better. If space gets tight, you know what to do."
"Understood, sir. Should I or you be escorting this time?" the bald man asked, still bowing.
"The typhoons just passed, so those Hoenn folks are ready for action. This shipment is too valuable to risk—I'll escort it myself. Remember, nothing can go wrong here." The blond man paused, then smirked as if amused by a thought.
"Yes, sir. I'll make sure everything at the dock goes smoothly." The bald man's eyes flashed with satisfaction at this response. He gave a deep bow before retreating.
Meanwhile, Sato had already returned to the streets of Vermilion City, making his way slowly toward the nearest Pokémon Center.
Since he'd just arrived, he was unfamiliar with the city's layout and didn't know the location of Vermilion's black market.
After witnessing the scene in Saffron's Pokémon Market District—and given his current shortage of PokeDollars—he'd lost any notion of getting a Water-type Pokémon from the black market.
Out of necessity, he'd taken to fishing to try and catch one himself. After finally finding a quiet spot close to the port, he'd been interrupted by the so-called "mist monster."
"If I'm right, there wasn't any monster there; instead, it's a heavily controlled area that even the Elite Four can't penetrate," he thought, annoyed. The night's fishing plan was, without a doubt, ruined.
Sato suspected the docks were likely on lockdown, turning into a dangerous zone where his earlier escape wouldn't be easily repeated.
"No, I can't leave empty-handed. I have to find a way to get a Water-type Pokémon. If something goes wrong at sea, relying on just a few lifeboats and Ditto transformed into a Lapras would be a death sentence."
At the thought of this potential danger, Sato stopped in his tracks, looking around for any possible solutions. After some thought, he strode purposefully into a silent, empty alley nearby.
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