The moonlight was beautiful—a big, bright moon in a clear night sky. Luo Yuan gave the sight an approving nod.
—
The next morning…
On the road from Mount Moon to Cerulean City.
"Dratini, use Water Gun!"
"Dree—!"
A jet of water shot from Dratini's mouth, striking a tree and leaving a small dent in the bark.
"Well done."
Luo Yuan patted Dratini's head and rewarded it with a Pokéblock.
During their journey, he had been consciously training Dratini, and his efforts were finally bearing fruit.
"Still, raising a Dratini isn't for the faint of heart. No wonder there are so few Dragonite Trainers."
Dratini's growth cycle was far longer than that of most Pokémon.
The exact time varied from one Dratini to another.
For an exceptionally gifted Dratini like Luo Yuan's, evolving into Dragonair would normally take around three to five years of steady training.
If he were an ordinary Trainer, he'd have no choice but to endure those three years patiently.
But for someone with access to limitless funds like Luo Yuan, there was another option—money!
All along the way, he'd been feeding Dratini every nutrient he could get his hands on, going so far as to spend more than he had raising his Charmander.
The daily cost of Dratini's care would be enough to make any average Trainer balk.
But in return, Dratini's strength was growing rapidly, and it was now just a step away from evolution.
"Hurry up and evolve, Dratini."
Luo Yuan rubbed Dratini's head encouragingly.
"Dree—!"
Dratini, now plump and well-fed, bobbed its chubby head with determination.
Watching Luo Yuan's interactions with Dratini, Misty couldn't help but smile.
Together, they continued down the mountain path.
At last, after crossing a small forest, the view opened up before them.
A city awash in shades of blue lay ahead.
"Cerulean City!"
—
Cerulean City was a seaside town in northern Kanto.
A river wound through the city before flowing into the sea, giving it a charm reminiscent of Venice.
Cerulean Gym, located in the northeastern part of the city, had a vibrant exterior resembling an amusement park more than a gym.
Luo Yuan and Misty stood at the entrance to the gym.
Even through the closed doors, they could hear applause and cheers from inside.
Misty stopped at the threshold, hesitating to enter.
"What's wrong? Are you nervous to be back after so long away?" Luo Yuan teased.
Last night, Misty had told Luo Yuan that her family ran the Cerulean Gym.
So, his question was only natural.
"It's not that," Misty sighed. "It's just…thinking about my sisters gives me a headache."
"Oh? From what I can tell, they seem pretty popular."
The sound of cheering continued from inside, and the audience's support for the Cerulean Sisters was so loud it nearly threatened to lift the gym's roof.
In fact, the Cerulean Sisters were popular all across Kanto. Luo Yuan had even read about them in Hoenn newspapers, and their fame had attracted fans to Cerulean City from far and wide, boosting the city's economy.
Practically on par with international celebrities.
"I don't mean their popularity. I'm talking about their skills as Gym Leaders."
A troubled look crossed Misty's face. "I heard rumors from within the League about plans to tighten Gym Leader standards, which is why I set out to find rare Pokémon and improve my skills."
"Oh, I've heard about that."
Although Luo Yuan had been active in Hoenn, he kept a close eye on Team Rocket's stronghold in Kanto.
Team Rocket's sources reported that Lance, Kanto's leading Elite Four member, was aiming to become Champion and intended to make an example of Kanto's increasingly lax Gym system as part of his campaign.
To overhaul the Gyms, he'd have to start by eliminating any unqualified Gyms.
Cerulean Gym, infamous for its lack of strength, was high on the list.
"With the way they're running things, I'm worried the League might move to shut down Cerulean Gym sooner than later." Misty's voice grew tense.
Her family had managed the Cerulean Gym for generations.
Losing its status as a Gym would be devastating.
"Probably not. If the League tries to target Cerulean Gym, this crowd of fans would likely storm the League headquarters."
Luo Yuan grinned.
And his words were more than just a way to comfort Misty.
Cerulean Gym had long been known as the "must-visit destination" for rookie Trainers, and it was said that over ninety percent of Trainers in Kanto owned a Cascade Badge from Cerulean Gym.
If Cerulean Gym hadn't been protected by its fan base, the League might have shut it down already.
Though Lance was rapidly becoming Kanto's most popular figure, taking Cerulean Gym out of commission could be a serious misstep if it turned its fans against him.
To become the Champion, Lance needed public support. He might consider closing Cerulean Gym, but he'd be smart enough to avoid it as his opening move.
If he'd made it this far, Lance clearly wasn't one to make rash decisions.
"I hope you're right."
Misty's tense expression softened a bit.
Indeed.
Although Cerulean Gym was the weakest in Kanto, only Saffron Gym could match it in terms of influence.
It was more likely that Gyms like Cinnabar, whose Leader was notoriously hard to locate, or Pewter, despite Brock's earnest dedication but limited influence, would be targeted as examples.
As the two of them chatted, the cheers from inside finally died down.
The performance was over.
The audience slowly filed out, reluctant to leave.
Luo Yuan and Misty made their way backstage, where they finally met the "famous" Cerulean Sisters.
The eldest sister, Daisy; the second sister, Lily; and the third sister, Violet.
All three were astonished to see Misty walking in with a boy.
"Misty…has a boyfriend?!"
Lily's reaction was exaggerated, as if she were witnessing a miracle.
"Even our ugly little sister found herself such a handsome boyfriend?"
Violet looked Luo Yuan up and down.
Hearing her sisters' jibes, Misty clenched her fists, fuming.
She'd worried so much about the Gym's fate and had even left home to strengthen herself.
Yet here they were, not the least bit appreciative, choosing instead to make her the punchline of a joke.
Seeing Misty's clenched fists and gritted teeth, Luo Yuan stepped forward with a small smile to help her out.
"I'm Luo Yuan, this year's new trainer here to challenge the gym."
---
T/N: I like how our MC actually likes being in Team Rocket! idk if i said that already I actually have pretty bad memory issues