Silas walked leisurely along the forest path maintained by the Pokémon League. The area was quiet, the gentle breeze brushing against his face, making his already good mood even better.
It wasn't surprising that this road, despite being safe, was devoid of trainers. The Pokémon League regularly assigned tasks to clear wild Pokémon from a two-kilometer radius around the route, ensuring smooth travel.
As a result, no Pokémon lingered in the area, meaning there were no opportunities for capture or battle. Trainers venturing into Viridian Forest weren't here for a scenic stroll—they were here to train or earn money.
Besides, there was a well-known saying in the Pokémon world:
"A true Pokémon Trainer is one who carves their own path through the wild."
Thus, it was no surprise that few people took the main road.
Silas, however, had no interest in training today. Enjoying the sunset's glow, he adjusted the strap of his spacious travel bag and quickened his pace toward Viridian City.
Viridian City Pokémon Center
A soft chime rang from his PokeGear.
Silas made his way to the treatment counter and presented his official Pokémon League Trainer ID to Nurse Joy.
"Hello, Trainer Silas. Your Pidgeotto has fully recovered. Please take care of your Pokémon," Nurse Joy said with her usual warm yet professional smile.
Silas gave a sincere nod of gratitude as he took back his Poké Ball.
It wasn't just about basic manners though he did genuinely appreciate Joy's help. More importantly, no one wanted to get on the bad side of the Joy family.
While most members of the Joy lineage were kind-hearted and wouldn't mistreat someone over a small slight, making one of them view you as an unworthy trainer was a different matter entirely.
And if that happened? Well, congratulations you'd be blacklisted from every Pokémon Center in the League's jurisdiction. No healing services, no access to mission boards, no tournament registrations, no official trades nothing.
Of course, in all of Pokémon League history, only a handful of people had been foolish enough to make that mistake.
Silas, now with his Pokémon fully healed, strolled through the bustling city streets, yet deep inside, he felt strangely out of place.
It had been sixteen years since he arrived in this world.
Silas sighed as he reflected on his past.
In his previous life, he had been an ordinary person. But one day, he woke up to find himself reborn into what he had once thought was just an animated world.
And, just like the cliché stories he used to read, he had been abandoned as a baby, left at the doorstep of an orphanage.
The only silver lining was that this world was highly advanced in both technology and social development. Orphan care was exceptionally well-managed under the Pokémon League's governance.
By the age of three, all orphans received basic education funded by the League. After learning to read, they were given the opportunity to attend school, just like any other child.
Once they passed their foundational studies, they could select specialized courses based on their aptitude. The League even subsidized the education of outstanding students, covering up to three subjects, each worth 10,000 Pokedollars.
Silas had qualified for that support and more than earned it.
Perhaps due to his reincarnated soul, he found that his memory and comprehension abilities were astonishingly sharp.
In his previous life, he was by no means a genius. But in this world? He could memorize entire textbooks after reading them once.
As a result, at just seven years old, he had completed the foundational studies that most children finished at ten—an astonishing three-year head start.
And when it came time to choose his specialized courses, his test scores were so outstanding that the League granted him a full exemption from the tuition fees, saving him a total of 30,000 Pokédollars a fortune for a child.
That generosity earned the League a deep sense of gratitude from him. After all, it was thanks to those three advanced subjects that he had been able to survive in this world. His chosen fields?
Pokémon Biology, Medicine and Pharmaceuticals Berry Cultivation
By the time he turned twelve, he had left the orphanage and relied on his knowledge of Pokémon and herbal medicine to carve out a living in Viridian Forest.
If this all sounded too impressive to be true, it was because it was.
Normally, a single advanced subject took four years to master. That was just enough time for a student to pass their final exam.
Yet, in just five years, Silas had excelled in three different subjects—earning the admiration of his instructors, who even suggested that he pursue a career as a Pokémon Professor.
But he knew better.
He was an orphan.
Without wealth, connections, or prestigious backing, his path as a Pokémon Researcher would be an uphill battle with no guarantee of success.
Instead, he chose a job that paid well and fast.
His thoughts came to a halt as he arrived at his destination.
Above the doorway, bold letters spelled out:
"Bounty Hunter Guild"
Silas chuckled to himself and stepped inside.
The Trade Counter
Silas waited in line for a few moments before stepping up to Counter No. 2.
The clerk barely glanced up. "Place your items on the counter."
Without hesitation, Silas unloaded his loot onto the table.
The clerk began processing the materials.
Five Beedrill Stingers → 2,000 Pokédollars each → 10,000 totalArbok Shed Skin → 50 Pokédollars per gram → 620 grams → 31,000 totalBeedrill Honey → 1,000 Pokédollars per gram → 421 grams → 421,000 total
The clerk paused, raising an eyebrow. "Huh. You actually harvested Beedrill Honey? That's gutsy. And lucky. Your total payout is 462,000 Pokédollars."
Even though Silas had roughly estimated the amount beforehand, the sheer profit still made him giddy.
As the funds were transferred to his account, he retrieved his ID card and casually left a five-star rating on the transaction terminal.
Mission Submission
Silas entered the mission hall and approached a machine marked with the Poké Ball insignia.
"Codename: Mercenary. Submitting mission #573677400," he said clearly, inserting his Trainer ID card into the terminal.
A digital screen flickered to life, displaying his registered bounty hunter profile along with mission details.
A soft red light scanned his card.
"Identity confirmed. Codename: Mercenary. Mission #573677400. Please deposit the required items in the designated compartment."
Silas unzipped his bag, pulling out a bundle of herbs—his mission objective: Stargrass.
This medicinal plant grew sporadically in areas densely populated by Grass-type Pokémon.
Harvesting it wasn't too difficult, but the time required made it a hassle. The client had requested a large quantity, making it a lucrative task.
He carefully placed the herbs into the machine's collection bin.
A mechanical voice chimed:
"Processing..."