The next day.
Seiichi came over.
This guy only had some external wounds and bruises and recovered after a day's rest. When he entered, he saw Kashiwagi playing catch with Aron using a Poké Ball.
"Huh? You've already gotten so close?" he asked, surprised. He'd seen firsthand how much Aron had resisted Poké Balls earlier.
Kashiwagi didn't respond, silently watching Seiichi smugly open a Poké Ball.
From within the white light…
A Pokémon appeared.
It was a strange creature with a body resembling a black rock sphere. At its center was a pale yellow hexagonal hole, with thin rock projections on its head and stubby stone legs.
This little guy seemed nervous about being in an unfamiliar place, trembling nonstop.
"Roggenrola—it suits you," Kashiwagi remarked.
"Not bad, huh? It's really obedient!" Seiichi grinned and held it up proudly. "Speaking of which, Kashiwagi, when are you planning to pick your Pokémon? If you wait too long, all the good ones will be gone."
"I'm not picking. I'm taking the cash equivalent instead," Kashiwagi said, shaking his head.
Since Aron had already become his partner, he felt it was necessary to help it recover from its malnourished state. He also needed to adapt to the challenges of raising a Pokémon properly.
Training a Pokémon in real life was nothing like the games. Anyone who had owned a pet knew how much effort it required, and turning it into a strong fighter was an even greater challenge.
Many members of Quicksand Team struggled to raise Pokémon effectively. Most would swap them out frequently, never committing to proper training—like buying new magical artifacts in cultivation novels.
This behavior was so common in Pyrite Town and across the Orre Region that powerful Pokémon caught in the wild were incredibly expensive.
Pokémon considered rare but not particularly strong in other regions were less desirable here. Even when priced high, few people bought them.
"Cash, huh… Well, you already have Aron, so that makes sense." Seiichi nodded in understanding before mentioning some news about their comrades.
The three people they'd rescued were seriously injured and might be bedridden for ten days or more. Among the other recruits who hadn't reunited with them on the first day, only one passed the test.
Unfortunately, that person was so badly injured afterward they were essentially out of commission.
On the first day, six people qualified.
This was undoubtedly a big win for their small group.
"Hopefully, the next few days go just as smoothly," Seiichi sighed.
"Yeah," Kashiwagi replied, watching Aron interact with Roggenrola while casually playing with a Poké Ball in his hand.
Last night, he and Aron had shared their troubles. Though the language barrier made communication slow, it had brought them closer. Unfortunately, when the topic of goals came up, Aron hadn't provided a clear answer.
Or maybe it had, but Kashiwagi didn't understand. He hoped to get clarity in the future.
Four days of testing passed in a flash.
Apart from the incident on the first day, the following days were remarkably uneventful, allowing more participants to pass the test.
In Kashiwagi's small group, additional members passed, but he wasn't sure about Shibata's faction.
Ultimately, nearly a hundred people emerged as official members, about a quarter of all participants. While this seemed like a lot, many were people who had failed multiple times before finally passing.
Because of this, Yugo, the current acting leader, wasn't satisfied with the results.
Quicksand Team's formal members numbered only about 2,800. In Pyrite Town, with its population of tens of thousands, they were like a drop in the ocean. Without enough fresh blood, they would remain a second-rate organization, unable to grow further.
But this anxiety didn't affect the joyful atmosphere among those who passed. Becoming an official member was a dream come true for many, representing a major leap forward and the end of their hard days.
They had every reason to celebrate.
On discharge day, Kashiwagi and Aron were packing up their belongings when a sudden knock came at the door.
"You're Kashiwagi, right?"
The visitor met his gaze, sizing him up. "You've got a solid build. You're in. Report to the Sand Division tomorrow. Bring any of your comrades who can make it."
Without waiting for a response, the person turned and left.
"…It's fine," Kashiwagi assured a confused Aron with a shake of his head.
Quicksand Team was rife with internal factions. Even within the combat division, there were three groups under the highest-ranking cadres: Sand, Crystal, and Rock Divisions.
The Sand Division's leader was a towering giant over two meters tall. Known for his straightforward personality and dislike for unnecessary formalities, he was said to be a good leader who genuinely cared for his subordinates.
Kashiwagi could only hope the rumors were true.
He understood he had no choice in the matter. Only members of the Special Operations Division could work independently like James and Jessie, and those positions were reserved for people raised within the organization.
The fact that someone personally came to recruit him already showed some sincerity.
After finishing packing, Kashiwagi and Aron left the hospital and headed straight to Quicksand Team's headquarters to register and receive his official member supplies.
The clerk assisting them seemed surprised to see Aron. It was rare for rookies to already have a Pokémon before picking one from the organization.
Most didn't bother with the standard options.
"Could I exchange my Pokémon reward for financial support instead? That's possible, right?"
"Huh? Oh, yes! Absolutely!"
Snapped out of their daze, the clerk quickly nodded and began processing the request.
After some paperwork, Kashiwagi received 100,000 Poké Yen and left with Aron, satisfied.
The Pokémon offered to new members were usually limited to species like Roggenrola, Geodude, Wooper, and Sandshrew. While there were differences in type, their market prices were roughly the same.
It's worth mentioning that the currency used in the Orre Region, Poké Yen, was equivalent in value to Japanese Yen—a Poké Ball cost 200, and a Fresh Water cost 300.
Most prices were reasonable, but Pokémon prices were disproportionately high due to import costs, especially in Pyrite Town. Prices were slightly lower in coastal Gateon Port and the major city Phenac.
"Well, looks like our grocery budget just went up!" Kashiwagi joked, waving the cash at Aron.
"Goo!" Aron tilted its head back and chirped happily in response.
Copper Spade Street.
This was where Quicksand Team provided apartments for their members. The three-story concrete buildings were worn and dark gray, with little greenery around. The roads were cracked and uneven.
Despite this, the infrastructure—plumbing, drainage, and electrical systems—was far better than the shabby housing on Quincy Street, where Kashiwagi had lived before.
The buildings here could withstand the weight and destruction caused by Pokémon battles, which was a necessity.
Kashiwagi liked it here—not because of the facilities, but because he could see all kinds of Pokémon roaming and playing.
In his old neighborhood, there were only people. It often made him question whether he had really come to the Pokémon world.
"Kashiwagi! Want to go out for dinner tonight? Everyone wants to thank you and celebrate!" Seiichi called out, smiling as he carried large bags.
"Sure. Let me know the place," Kashiwagi replied.
Even in Quicksand Team, where members were higher up in the hierarchy, teamwork and camaraderie were important.
Still, socializing wasn't Kashiwagi's strength.
It seemed deliberately arranged that all the new recruits were housed close together. Seiichi was just a few doors down, and the others were all within walking distance.
Was this planned by the man from earlier?
Maybe Kashiwagi could use this arrangement to gather detailed intel on Shibata—his family, connections, Pokémon, and more.
"All right, let's start setting up the new place!"
"Goo!"
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