Upon observing the third marked location on the map, he saw that it was the farthest from Goldenrod City. On the map, it showed a lake surrounded by a large forest, where some Nidoran likely lived.
Originally, Cain's plan was to first inspect the two closest locations. If he managed to find and capture a Nidoran, he could return to Goldenrod City the same day, deliver the mission at the Hunter's Guild, and then continue on his journey.
However, if he didn't find a Nidoran in the first two locations, he would have to head to the third and farthest spot, which would not allow him to return the same day. In that case, he would choose to camp outdoors and then continue north, crossing several forests until reaching Ecruteak City.
He carefully stored the map in his ring and, without hesitation, headed to the last search location.
After all, when they were on Judgment Island, Cain and his Murkrow regularly camped outdoors, and the conditions there were much harsher than here, so he felt no pressure.
For trainers who have just started their journeys, or those who have been traveling for only a year or two, survival in the wild is their greatest enemy.
Every year, many young trainers lose their lives while camping outdoors, but that doesn't stop those who keep trying. The Pokémon League not only doesn't discourage these practices but actively promotes them. With such a large population, they're not concerned.
Those with true talent or who are of interest to the League will have no trouble overcoming these challenges, and if they fail, it just means they weren't well-prepared enough.
That's why the League sees these journeys as a filter for beginner trainers, weeding out the less capable ones.
Those who manage to become intermediate-level trainers have already passed certain trials, and basic survival in the wild is no longer a challenge for them. These trainers form the backbone of the League, being the most numerous group after beginner trainers.
Becoming an advanced-level trainer isn't easy, and survival in the wild becomes routine.
The number of advanced-level trainers is an indicator of an organization's strength.
...
Four hours later, Cain, along with a Murkrow and a fully energized Slowpoke, finally arrived at the lake marked on the map.
As they ventured further, signs of human activity disappeared, finding themselves in a true Pokémon paradise.
The Pokémon levels also increased. Near the lake, the average level had already reached level 20.
Looking at the enormous lake, almost blending with the sky, Cain couldn't help but feel a bit frustrated.
The location marked on the map was this lake, but on the map, the lake didn't seem so large. However, the lake before him was impressively sized, and circling it would take about two hours.
Moreover, the Pokémon wouldn't just live near the lake, as the large number of Pokémon coming to drink water could cause many issues. Therefore, most Pokémon set up their homes about two or three kilometers from the lake, further expanding the search area. If luck wasn't on his side, he might need to search for another day.
"Those damned information sellers... In such a large activity area, any kind of Pokémon could show up!" Cain cursed silently.
He had guessed correctly. The information sellers almost always marked this lake in their Pokémon tracking reports. After all, with such a large ecosystem, who knows what could appear?
In fact, the information provided by these sellers wasn't always accurate, only offering a slight advantage over blind searching.
Today, Cain had traveled a long way, from Goldenrod City to the first location, the hill where Arbok was found, then to the second marked place on the map, without finding anything. Finally, he reached this lake.
Since before the sun had risen until now, when it was beginning to set, Murkrow and Slowpoke had experienced a day full of intense battles.
It seemed like they wouldn't find anything today, so Cain decided not to push it. He found a scenic spot by the lake and prepared to camp.
The setting sun painted the sky a deep red, reflected on the lake's surface, which looked like a fiery painting.
Cain took out a tent he had prepared in Goldenrod City, and with Slowpoke's psychic power, quickly set it up.
He used some stones from the lake to build an improvised fire pit, then filled a pot with lake water, added some purification tablets, and set it to boil.
Although he had brought some purified water from Goldenrod City, as outdoor life would continue for a while, he decided to save it for emergencies.
The water from this lake was very clear, and with the help of purification tablets, it was safe to drink. Additionally, natural lake water contained trace elements and minerals that were more beneficial than purified water.
When conditions allowed, Cain always preferred to boil the water before drinking it. Although Pokémon could drink directly, Cain, as a human, didn't have the same resistance, and an illness could be dangerous.
In the worst case, he could be temporarily weakened, or he could experience nausea, dizziness, and even fainting.
After all, nobody knew what bacteria might be in the lake water, but boiling it would kill 99% of germs, and with the help of purification tablets, the water would be safe to drink.
He let a portion of the boiled water cool down and stored the rest in his ring for later use.
While waiting for the water to boil, he sent Murkrow to catch today's dinner. Every time it returned, it brought back some rabbits and wild birds.
Slowpoke also enjoyed a bath in the lake, occasionally encountering Magikarp, Goldeen, and Poliwag, but without incident.
During his free time, Slowpoke also used his psychic powers to catch some fish, adding them to tonight's dinner menu.
However, just as Cain and Miltank were preparing dinner, Murkrow returned flying quickly from afar, cawing excitedly.
Upon reaching Cain, it began circling in the air, trying to express something.
Cain had been training Murkrow for a long time, and their understanding was the best among all his Pokémon.
He immediately understood the reason for Murkrow's excitement.
"Did you see a Nidoran?" Cain asked.
"Caw, Caw!" Murkrow nodded frantically.
It knew that its trainer had been searching for something all day without success, and now, while hunting for dinner, it had come across the Pokémon they were looking for.
(End of chapter)