Avoiding the monks he entered, Sato, as an outsider, felt somewhat out of p this city.

  However, with the rise of Pokémon trainers as a profession and the existence of Ecruteak Gym, he didn't receive any particur attention.

  Each went about their business without interfering with the other, which suited him just fine.

  However, when a monk with a benevolent fad palms pressed together walked straight toward him, Sato couldn't help but frown.

  "Young man, there is evil in your heart."

  "..."

  Sihis was the monk's home ground, Sato simply stepped aside, avoiding direct frontation, and tioward the Pokémoer.

  Behind him, the monk who had stopped him turo watch, his expression filled with passion as he murmured something softly. However, he did not pursue him further.

  ----

  At the Pokémoer, Sato was warmly weled by Nurse Joy, who eagerly grabbed his hands and bombarded him with questions.

  After all, Sato was the only trainer i years whom the Joy family had openly decred their io support.

  This was not only surprising to the outside world but also to the Joy family itself.

  "This room is reserved for important guests. You're lucky, you know?" The Ecruteak City Nurse Joy, noticeably more lively, led Sato to an luxurious room before cheerfully departing.

  Gazing at the room, which was no less luxurious than a high-end hotel, Sato silently reflected that hierarchy and privilege existed everywhere—even in the seemingly most selfless Pokémoer.

  Still, as a beneficiary of these privileges, he had no qualms about enjoying them.

  After freshening up, Sato went downstairs and received eight Poké Balls from Nurse Joy. After a moment of hesitation, he leaned in and quietly asked her a question.

  "Sis Joy, do you know where the bck market ieak City is?"

  "A kid like you, asking about that?" Nurse Joy's expression darkened immediately. If it were anyone else, she might have called Officer Jenny on the spot.

  "Not to hide anything—I sometimes work as a part-time Pokémon hunter. When I enter rare Pokémon during my travels, I capture them ahem. After all, I'm just a on trairying to get stronger..."

  At the first half of his expnation, Nurse Joy looked furious. However, by the time he finished, she could only sigh helplessly.

  With the number of trainers she ied with daily, she was well aware of the struggles and the dark realities of the world.

  She cked the power to ge the system, but for Sato, she could still offer some help.

  "Hand them over!"

  "Hand over what?" Sato feigned ignorance.

  "Oh, e on. Give me the Pokémon you're… you know, selling." Nurse Joy rolled her eyes, extending her hand.

  "Oh, oh!" Sato quickly handed over the Poké Balls taining Drifblim and Gastly, his expression somewhat uneasy.

  Seeing his rea, Nurse Joy chuckled, and any lingering doubt about him dissipated pletely.

  "Don't worry, I'll hahis through other els. It'll be safer, more reliable, and you'll get more mohan selling them on the bck market!"

  Turning around, Nurse Joy pced the two Poké Balls into a special mae. A moment ter, she rushed back over and pulled Sato into a quiet er.

  "These two Pokémon have excellent potential. It'd be a waste to sell them!"

  Seeing how ed she was for his well-being, Sato felt a rare twinge of guilt.

  Taking a deep breath, he smiled and said, "Don't worry, the ones I keep are eveer. If you don't believe me, you check."

  He handed her Haunter's Poké Ball. With a doubtful look, Nurse Joy sed it—and then stared at him in disbelief.

  "Haunter has the lowest potential in my current team," Sato said softly.

  "Where… where did you find these?"

  "Actually, I…" Sato repeated the same half-truth he had told Wester, revealing just enough to Nurse Joy.

  He had thought long and hard about whether to share part of his secret with the Joy family.

  First, the Joy family had treated him generously and with great care.

  Sed, the moment he left Goldenrod City, he had been targeted for assassination. Clearly, he was under surveilnce, and the urgency to grow stronger was more pressing than ever.

  For a on traio suddenly rise to promi was natural that many would take an i

  . Rather than hiding everything, it was better to reveal a partial truth and gairust of the Joy family, using their support to mask his real abilities—a mutually beneficial arra.

  (TL: Not a big thing, remeber, only works with Dark-Types and the ones with ive emotions like Ghost-Types Pokémon)

  Additionally, his mention of selling captured Pokémon had been a test of their stan the matter.

  He was betting on the Joy family's level of iment in him.

  He was betting on their long-standiation for kindness, justice, and peace.

  He was betting that his ho fession would earn him their fiveness and goodwill.

  He was betting on human nature.

  There was also another reason, with the Joy family's reach, they could easily uncover his past dealings with Wester. If they wao dig deeper, it wouldn't be difficult.

  "Remember, ell anyone about this ability of yours. I'll report it to the leader, and they'll help cover it up. Sato, just focus on growing strorong enough to protect yourself!"

  "Thank you, Sis Joy!"

  "You little trickster, go on now!"

  Watg her leave, Sato ched his fists.

  In his previous life, he had been alone. Even with the strength of a pseudo-Elite Four trainer, he had been nothing more than a tool for killing.

  When he was first reborn, all he had wanted was to escape that fate, find his old panions, and bee stronger for his own sake.

  Now, he wanted more.

  With the Joy family matter temporarily settled, Sato clipped his six remaining Poké Balls onto his belt ahe Pokémoer.

  Following his map, he soon arrived at Ecruteak Gym—his final destination for this journey!

  Knock, knock, knock!

  "This is the batrance of Ecruteak Gym. If you wish to challehe Gym, please register at the front."

  "Hello, I'm Sato, a Pokémon Trainer. I'm here to meet Gym Leader Morty. This is my letter of introdu."

  "Oh, you're here to see the Leader? Please wait a moment!"

  The young man at the door took the letter, his attitude noticeably more polite. After nodding to Sato, he quickly ran inside.

  Two mier, he returned with a smile aured for Sato to follow him inside.

  "Thanks! What's your name?"

  "I'm Kenji, but you call me Ken. I'm just an ordinary student here under Leader Morty."

  "I'm Yuga Sato. Feel free to call me whatever."

  "I actually know about you! The i in Goldenrod City made the news—you were involved in that, right? I didn't reize you at first!" Kenji seemed simple-hearted and straightforward.

  Soon, Sato was led to the main hall, where a middle-aged man with round gsses and a thin beard sat, looking at him kindly.

  "How is Leader Howard doing these days?"

  "The leader is in good health, though he still gets lost every day."

  "Haha, ba the day…"

  Morty seemed to enjoy reminisg about past events and spent a while chatting about the eion.

  Though Morty was actually a geion youhan Howard, they had been Gym Leaders at the same time and had spent years w together, f a solid friendship.

  After a long versation, Morty still hadn't asked about Sato's reason for visiting, and Sato took this as a sign. Without further dey, he retrieved his Poké Ball and released his retly captured Duskull.