Just as Cain was about to leave the beach with his Slowpoke, several police patrols stopped on the road beside the beach. From the cars stepped out several uniformed Alliance officers, led by a determined and energetic officer: Officer Jenny.
It was clear that everyone wore very serious expressions as they looked toward the distant dark cloud.
Officer Jenny took the vehicle's loudspeaker microphone and positioned herself at the front.
"Attention all beach visitors! The nearby marine area may experience storms and even high waves."
"Please evacuate in an orderly manner and remain calm and safe! I'll repeat: The nearby marine area may experience storms and even high waves. Please evacuate in an orderly manner and remain calm and safe!"
Officer Jenny repeated the message constantly, and tourists, following the police officers' instructions, began leaving the beach in an orderly way.
"Trainers, a Level Two Alliance mission is now issued. Those who help us resist this Pokémon invasion on the beach will receive Alliance points according to their level of contribution." Officer Jenny organized the trainers who initially planned to leave and informed them of the policy that Vermilion City had established to handle this situation.
Alliance missions are designed for Alliance trainers, allowing them to earn mission points by completing tasks. These points can be exchanged for various items or materials useful for Pokémon.
Although any trainer can earn points, the ability to redeem certain valuable items varies according to their status within the Alliance. Core members have unlimited access, while trainers like Cain face restrictions.
However, whether you're an elite member or a regular trainer, Alliance points are extremely valuable because they represent a key resource for a trainer's development. There are things that money alone can't buy, but Alliance points can.
For civilian trainers, earning points can be even more efficient and useful than earning money.
Therefore, when the Level Two mission was announced, many trainers who had planned to leave stayed and joined the police officers in preparing for the storm.
Cain, upon reaching the road, noticed the empty beach and the street filled with patrols, police officers, and trainers.
Cain frowned upon seeing them and, for a moment, thought they were there to arrest him. But, remembering his Alliance identification card and assessing his own strength, he relaxed a little. He chuckled to himself, knowing it wouldn't take such a deployment to catch him.
After a brief moment of hesitation, Cain headed toward the group of police officers and trainers. To leave the beach, he would have to pass through them anyway.
Officer Jenny, seeing Cain approach with his Slowpoke, smiled with interest and walked toward him.
After showing her police ID, Officer Jenny said, "Hello, Trainer. We've issued an emergency Level Two mission to help repel the Pokémon coming with the storm. From what I see, you seem to be a strong trainer. At the end of the mission, points will be distributed according to each person's contribution. Would you help us?"
Cain looked at Officer Jenny calmly. To him, Alliance points weren't particularly necessary. The Team Rocket exchange list didn't impose status restrictions; as long as you had enough mission points, you could exchange for anything.
Compared to this, the Alliance's exchange policies weren't as attractive.
"Can I exchange them for Pokédollars?" Cain asked.
Few people chose Pokédollars over points.
As expected, Officer Jenny was a bit surprised by Cain's request, but then she smiled and said, "No problem."
For her, making an adjustment and exchanging points for Pokédollars wasn't complicated at all. Although most prefer points, she understood that some, like Cain, might need money instead of points.
Cain agreed, and with Officer Jenny's quick approval, he decided not to refuse the offer. Moreover, with so many trainers around, if the Pokémon turned out to be very strong, he could always stay at the end of the line of retreat. And with Slowpoke and his Teleport move, Cain wasn't worried at all.
As he joined the line of trainers, some tried to start a conversation with Cain. They had seen Officer Jenny personally invite him, which meant he must be a strong trainer or have a special connection, especially with a uniquely colored Slowpoke, suggesting a possible member of the Alliance elite.
However, as they approached to greet him, the dark cloud over the sea suddenly sped up, enveloping the beach in moments.
"Roooar!"
With the arrival of the dark cloud, everyone could see why there were waterspouts beneath it: each of those spouts was, in fact, a Gyarados.
Cain counted at least twenty Gyarados under the cloud.
Officer Jenny maintained a serious expression, but with no surprise, clearly aware of the nature of this storm and the number of Gyarados involved. She recruited the trainers because she knew the number of Gyarados could exceed her officers' capabilities.
Many trainers were already aware of the threat, as reflected in their calm and prepared demeanor.
Taking advantage of the little time left before the storm arrived, Cain, curious, turned to a trainer beside him who showed no surprise. "Hey, aren't you surprised at all to see so many Gyarados here?"
The trainer, who had wanted to speak with Cain, smiled and replied, "It seems you're not from around here. This beach is called Gyarados Beach. These Gyarados raid the beach twice a year. Anyone who has lived in Vermilion City for more than six months knows about it because it's their mating season now."
At the mention of the mating season, the trainer gave a sly smile, as if recalling something amusing.
The trainer's words helped Cain understand why he had only caught Magikarp while fishing. Now that he knew it was the Gyarados mating season, it made sense that so many Magikarp were gathering in these waters.
(End of chapter)