At 8:45 a.m., a speedboat tore away from the main pier of Porta Vista, its first stop being the eastern port city of Vermilion City.
The boat had been provided free of charge by the Ocean Grand Hotel as compensation for Kael's three nights' lodging. Once it docked in Vermilion, all he needed to do was make a phone call—the hotel would arrange for someone to retrieve it.
The speedboat was astonishingly fast. A normal passenger liner would take several days to complete the voyage; this one needed only a single day. As night gradually fell, Kael—standing at the helm—could already make out the outline of Vermilion City in the distance.
Celadon City lay in central Kanto, a major metropolis and the second-largest city in the region, surpassed only by the eastern super-metropolis, Saffron City. Its economic strength was equally formidable.
From Vermilion City, traveling to Celadon required passing through Saffron, which possessed the most developed highway system in all of Kanto.
"Good thing I just bought the fully loaded Godbird V motorcycle."
Kael patted the streamlined body of the Godbird V, a look of fascination flashing across his face. He didn't care much for cars—but motorcycles? Those he loved.
One day, when he had enough money, he would collect every top-tier performance motorcycle in the world.
This fully equipped Godbird V had cost him 580,000 Pokédollars. Its top speed reached 380 km/h—completely surpassing Pidgeot's long-distance flying speed.
Several staff members in Ocean Grand Hotel uniforms were helping unload the Godbird V from the speedboat. They had been dispatched through a local travel agency, ensuring the most attentive service for every VIP guest.
Kael intended to travel through the night. After grabbing a quick hot dog from a roadside stand, he swung back onto the bike…
The engine roared to life. Under the gaze of passing pedestrians, a motorcycle black as obsidian shot down the broad avenue at high speed.
...
The highway at night was utterly silent. Aside from the occasional cry of bird-type Pokémon drifting from the forests lining the road, there was hardly a vehicle in sight.
This world had always been vast and sparsely populated. It rivaled the highways of Texas in his previous life—you could drive for three hours without seeing a second car.
"Vrooom… Vrooom…"
In the distance, the engine's growl echoed as the headlights cut through the darkness. Kael glanced at the speedometer—260 km/h. The wind-ripping velocity sent adrenaline surging through his veins. Though it was deep into the night, he felt wide awake, exhilarated.
At this speed, it would still take about six more hours to reach the outskirts of Celadon City. The world was simply too large. The distances between cities often required Trainers to cross mountains and forests. On foot, it could take a full week—or even half a month—to arrive.
During the highway journey, Kael stopped only once—around 2 a.m.—to step into the roadside forest and feed Rhydon and Lulu. After that, he did not pause again.
At last, as the first hint of dawn appeared in the east, a black Godbird motorcycle emerged on the outskirts of Celadon City.
...
Celadon City — Pokémon Center!
As one of Kanto's most developed cities, Celadon's Pokémon Center was astonishing in scale—large enough to rival a football field. Even the Pokémon Center in Saffron City was smaller.
The difference was that Saffron, as an international metropolis, had two Pokémon Centers—one in the suburbs and one in the city center.
The Godbird motorcycle came to a stop outside Celadon's Pokémon Center. Kael removed his black helmet. The sun had just risen; the usually bustling entrance was nearly empty.
"Hey, Kael!"
Kael had just pulled out the key when a figure rushed over from beside the flowerbeds. Upon closer look, it was Cole—wearing a green safety helmet, faint traces of dirt still smudged across his face.
Cole looked excited. Grabbing Kael's hand, he said, "The moment I got your call, I ran over without even eating breakfast. I've already contacted Nurse Joy for you. As long as you pass her assessment, you'll gain the right to raise a Chansey."
"An assessment?" Kael frowned slightly.
Cole quickly explained, "This isn't my doing—it's Nurse Joy's requirement. You know Chansey is extremely rare in Kanto. You won't encounter one in the wild. Only the Joy family has the right to breed them. But in recent years, they've opened up breeding rights. Trainers with good reputations and proven ability can obtain a Chansey—if they pass the assessment."
Lowering his voice, Cole added, "If you only wanted temporary breeding rights, I could've arranged that easily. But I'm guessing you want permanent rights. For that, you'll need an official League recommendation—and you must personally pass Nurse Joy's evaluation. They only issue five permanent quotas per year."
"Take me to her," Kael nodded.
Of course he wanted permanent rights. No one wanted to see a Pokémon they'd painstakingly raised taken back.
....
Nurse Joy leaned forward against the counter, chin resting on her delicate hand, her bright eyes carefully examining Kael. After a long moment, she smiled.
"So you're the Kael Mr. Cole mentioned. Quite the charismatic young man."
Cole nudged Kael's arm and whispered, "Show her."
"Show what?" Kael asked, confused.
"Your certificates! Everything you've earned since childhood—even your elementary school diploma. This is the time for bonus points!"
Understanding immediately, Kael opened his backpack and took out a plastic case filled with certificates.
Level 3 Berry Cultivation License.
Level 4 Herbal Identification License.
Level 4 Pokéblock Production License.
Elite Trainer Certification…
"And this too!" Kael pulled the silver dog tag from around his neck—his Silver Bounty Hunter insignia.
Looking at the neatly arranged certificates spread out before them, Cole raised a thumbs-up.
"Bro, that's insane."