Early in the m, Sato finished getting ready and headed downstairs to the dining area.

  White had already prepared a nutritious and delicious breakfast. By the time Sato arrived, everyone except Cir was already eating.

  Half an hour ter, Cir followed behind the group, holding a sandwich White had set aside for her as they made their way to Mount Silver.

  Mount Silver covered a vast area and was divided into outer and inner regions. The Johto League headquarters was established ier se.

  The Pokémon here were not much different from those in regur forests, although they were more densely poputed.

  The inner region, however, was an adventurer's paradise!

  Sato recalled that a few years ter, the League ducted a survey on the Pokémon inhabiting Mount Silver. Traces of nearly two hundred species were discovered there.

  Most of the missions issued by the Adventurer's Guild involved Pokémoher capturing specifies or obtaining their associated items.

  Capturing Pokémon for points was pletely legal here! This was because Mount Silver had experienced several violent outbreaks in the past, causing catastrophic damage to nearby towns.

  To trol the Pokémon popution, the League established its headquarters here and formed the Adventurer's Guild.

  Leaving Silver Town, the group released their ride Pokémon: Rapidash, Girafarig, Meganium, Tauros, and Sato's Houndoom. Cir and Rose Joy sat atop Meganium, but there was still plenty of room.

  With Pokémon as mounts, they quickly passed through the outer se of Mount Silver.

  -----

  When Sato noticed a warning sign, he realized they had officially ehe inner region, where adventurers were most active.

  "Will, where's our first mission?" Lance, leading the group, slowed his pad turo their intelligence officer.

  "Around two kilometers southwest in the forest. The Beedrill swarm's honey should be ready for colle again."

  "Alright, let's go!" Lance replied, releasing a Pidgeotto.

  The others also sent out nimble Pokémon, mostly Flying-types, ensuring they could quickly respond to any ued situations.

  After some thought, Sato released his Gengar. Hiding in the shadows, it could effortlessly keep pace with the group.

  Slightly ahead, Will's Natu was leading the way. Despite its small size, it was incredibly fast and clearly adept at navigation.

  "Thud!"

  Suddenly, a Victreebel leaped out from the bushes, its sturdy vines shing out at the leading Natu!

  "Aerial Ace!"

  Lance reacted instantly. In a moment, Pidgeotto khe Victreebel off their path before swiftly returning to Natu's side, without engaging further.

  Sato g the others, who remained pletely unfazed. He couldn't help but click his toer all, that was ae-level Victreebel they had just casually ignored.

  Maybe his only job really was to sit bad cheer.

  Even in the dense forest, c two kilometers on Pokémon mounts took less than ten mihey soon arrived at their mission site.

  Hundreds, if not thousands, of Beedrill swarmed around them, densely packed yet hesitant to attack.

  "They're old friends. We'll just take half and leave!" Lance called out loudly.

  Sato's lips twitched. Immediately, a furious roar erupted from within the swarm, and the Beedrill charged at them like a releide.

  "Tch, they never learn! Charizard, Dragonair—Fmethrower!"

  "Akazam, Psychic! Mr. Mime, Teeter Dance!"

  "Houndoom, Fmethrower! Pupitar, Rock Slide!"

  "Seadra, Hydro Pump! Dratini, Twister!"

  White and Rose Joy stayed in the ter, not participating directly. White had a Jolteon standing by, fully charged and ready. Rose had her standard Blissey, prepared to assist at any moment.

  The remaining four each sent out two Pokémon, including three pseudo-Legendary Pokémon—an incredibly powerful lineup. However, given their backgrounds, Sato wasn't surprised.

  Though Lance spoke casually, he didn't hold ba battle. His dominant Charizard held baearly half of the Beedrill swarm.

  Will focused entirely on support. Both Psychid Teeter Dance were extremely effective at suppressing the Beedrill.

  With Will deliberately assisting Sato and Cir, Pupitar's up efficy skyrocketed!

  Its small but precise Rock Slide erfect for dealing with the fragile Beedrill. In fact, it was knog them out even faster than Lance's Charizard!.....Ten mier, all the Beedrill had been cleared out. Pupitar stopped its Rock Slide, staring bnkly at the pile of defeated Beedrill in disbelief.

  I'm... so violent!

  pared to Pupitar, Houndoom had also done well, but it was still slightly behind Charizard and Pupitar. If it could lear Wave or Overheat, it might perform eveer.

  Not just Pupitar—on the surface, Sato showed little emotion, but internally, he was just as shocked. Several hundred Beedrill had been wiped out just like that.

  Looking back, while the attackers had strong offensive power, the true deg factor was Akazam and Mr. Mime's terrifying crowd trol abilities.

  While White ehe Beedrill hive to collect honey, Sato used his Dark Energy to s and evaluate the Pokémon's potential. All the Pokémon he could check beloo Will.

  Akazam's Psychic-type potential: Elite-level.

  Natu and Girafarig's Psychic-type potential: Pseudo-Elite Four level.

  Mr. Mime's Psychic-type potential: Elite Four level, Fairy-type potential: Pseudo-Elite Four level

  Sato pursed his lips. Luckily, he possessed Dark Energy, which helped bridge the massive gap between himself and trainers like Will and Lance, who had strong backgrounds and natural talent.

  Otherwise, his dream of being ae Four level trainer—or even a Champion—would be nothing but a distant fantasy.

  "Hmm?"

  Sato suddenly turo the pile of unscious Beedrill. One of them was radiating an unusually strong Dark Energy rea!

  "Gengar, use Psychic to scatter those Beedrill!"

  Gengar emerged from the shadows, grinning as it followed Sato's instrus, lifting the Beedrill one by one.

  "That's the one!"

  Sato threoké Ball, capturing an ordinary-looking Beedrill.

  "Beedrill are weak and have short lifespans. Even if one has special abilities, it's not worth raising,"

  Cir ented offhandedly, clearly curious about why Sato was digging through what looked like trash to find a specific Beedrill.

  "It has good potential. I sell it food price."

  "You evaluate Pokémon potential? Wow, teach me how!" Cir's eyes lit up as she eagerly grabbed Sato's arm.

  "My ability is like the Dragon Aura of your . I 't teach it."

  Cir froze for a moment before relutly letting go.

  "You actually have an ability like that? Then our pns might o ge."

  Will adjusted his gsses and, for the first time, gave Sato a genuine smile.

  Romeloff