The Eros Milotic lay anchored in a stretch of sea fifteen nautical miles off the coast of Gateon Port.
While it was unclear why it remained so far out, the vessel lived up to its reputation as the fourth-largest luxury liner in the Pokémon world. Just approaching it was enough to be awestruck by its massive, pure-white hull.
At first glance, it looked like a floating city.
According to the data Kashiwagi had researched, the ship boasted twenty-two decks. Twenty of those were open to tourists, meaning he could roam almost anywhere. The interior was fully equipped with everything from a Pokémon Center to theaters and cinemas; there was even an exquisitely beautiful botanical ecological park.
Furthermore, with Trainer passengers in mind, one entire deck had been converted into a Pokémon Battle Arena. It featured the latest protective shielding, allowing Trainers to battle to their hearts' content. As long as the energy output remained within the system's tolerance, they could go all out without a care in the world.
It was truly a godsend for Trainers.
-----
After the speedboat delivered Kashiwagi to the ship, the Eros Milotic arranged for a steward to receive him. Following the ticket details, the steward led him to a high-end guest room located on the 18th floor.
The room featured three-meter-high ceilings and over a hundred square meters of space, complete with a small balcony and two lounge chairs.
"This is your room key card. If you have any questions or needs, please dial the hotline on the wall. We wish you a pleasant journey."
The steward bowed and took his leave.
Kashiwagi scanned the room's environment, let out a long breath, and released his team.
Aggron landed with a heavy thud and immediately headed for the balcony. Looking down and seeing that the dark expanse below wasn't solid earth but the ocean, it quickly pulled its head back.
"Aggron!"
It sounded a bit disgruntled.
Equally displeased was Mawile, who was annoyed at the lack of a princess-style bed. It decisively claimed the soft sofa and tapped on the coffee table. "Maw-maw!"
Clearly, it was in desperate need of a cup of black tea to soothe its soul.
Chansey and Deino weren't nearly as demanding. The former was slightly disappointed not to find a kitchen, but upon hearing Mawile's cry, it proactively stepped up to help brew the tea.
As for Deino...
Deino was busy gnawing on his hand.
"You silly thing," Kashiwagi watched it helplessly, wondering if he really needed to correct this habit. However, Deino never seemed to turn around and bite its hand in the middle of a battle, so he decided to let it slide for now.
Naturally, Steelix was not among the Pokémon released.
Its size was simply too exaggerated. There was rarely enough space inside a cruise ship for it to move freely, let alone in this relatively small guest room. Until they reached their destination, it likely wouldn't get a chance to come out for fresh air.
To ensure its mental and physical well-being, Kashiwagi used the high-tech Pokémon Box system to transfer it back to Pyrite Town at any time. It was currently under N's care and would be brought back once they reached the Hoenn Region.
Because of its ability to move flexibly between Kashiwagi and Pyrite Town, Steelix had been entrusted with a heavy responsibility by Aggron—guarding the turf and using Bulldoze.
When the move Bulldoze is used in conjunction with fertilizer, it can rapidly increase soil fertility, providing a massive boost to crop growth. In Yamamino's five-year plan, the goal of food self-sufficiency relied heavily on Pokémon using moves like Bulldoze.
Steelix didn't mind. While staying in a Poké Ball was comfortable enough, nothing beat the feeling of soaring through the sky or tunneling through the earth.
After taking some time to adjust to the new surroundings:
"It's getting late. Everyone should get some rest; we'll talk about everything else tomorrow," Kashiwagi said to his team, checking the time on his phone.
"Maw-wile~"
"Roar~"
Mawile and Aggron raised their hands simultaneously. One felt that a bed that wasn't a "princess bed" wasn't worth lying on, and the other—despite being able to swim—had no love for the salty seawater. Both expressed their desire to sleep in their Poké Balls.
Kashiwagi had no choice but to comply. After a quick wash, he fell asleep holding Chansey and Deino.
-----
The Next Day
Kashiwagi pushed Deino off his chest; the deathly sensation of suffocation in his dreams instantly vanished.
However, it was immediately replaced by a slight wave of dizziness.
Kashiwagi hadn't expected to get seasick in the Pokémon world. Fortunately, it wasn't severe; as long as he distracted himself, it wasn't an issue.
In contrast, his Pokémon were doing fine. Even Aggron, who hated the sea, didn't seem affected. It appeared Kashiwagi was the only one who had succumbed.
"Lucky~"
Chansey rubbed its eyes and looked at him.
"It's okay, go back to sleep. I'll order some breakfast," Kashiwagi patted its head, picked up the bedside phone to order breakfast, and inquired about the Fishing Tournament.
The customer service representative informed him that he could sign up at the front desk on the 8th floor. The event would take place in three days, when the Eros Milotic would anchor in a sea area near the Lental Region.
The Lental Region?
Kashiwagi didn't immediately recognize the name. He checked the world map and searched online, discovering that Lental was an undeveloped archipelago consisting of many islands with distinct natural landscapes—
The setting of New Pokémon Snap!
Since that game was released after Sword & Shield, the region even featured Pokémon from the eighth generation.
Holding a fishing tournament near there might yield some unexpected gains.
Could it be that my Ghost-type Pokémon is actually going to be fished up?
With that thought, Kashiwagi finished his breakfast and headed to the 8th floor to register. One of the perks of Orre's liberation was that he now possessed a perfectly legal identity.
He was no longer a fugitive "stowaway."
"I see here that you are registered as a Rookie Trainer. I suggest you head to the Pokémon Center on the 10th floor to collect your Pokédex," the receptionist said, handing back his Trainer Card.
"Me? A Rookie Trainer?" Kashiwagi pointed to himself, somewhat confused.
"Yes, that is how you are registered in the computer. If the registration is incorrect, please proceed to the Pokémon Center to update your information," the receptionist replied with a professional smile.
He nodded. "Alright... thank you."
"We wish you a pleasant journey."
Leaving the perfectly polite receptionist, Kashiwagi took the elevator to the Pokémon Center, but he didn't see Nurse Joy anywhere.
I guess Nurse Joys aren't so common that they're literally everywhere, he thought.
After speaking with the staff at the counter, he soon received a black Pokédex Phone.
There were many types of Pokédexes popular on the market. The most trendy was the square, card-like style—the XY version. The Pokédex Phone was a prototype; according to the staff, an inventor in Lumiose City was currently researching a Pokédex that could house a Rotom.
Even the Rotom Phone is still in the development stage...
Kashiwagi searched for news regarding Lysandre and saw that he was still intact and hadn't yet fallen into disgrace. He then checked the results of last year's Unova League.
He guessed that the current timeline was likely around the time Ash had just arrived in the Kalos Region, or had not long since set out.
Of course, this wasn't particularly important. He wasn't going to Kalos to hang out with Ash; he had his own business to attend to.
"This is actually pretty interesting."
He played with the Pokédex Phone for a while, finding it much more intriguing than he had imagined. However, the operating difficulty was slightly complex. Even as a rookie trainer, it was easy to see why this would eventually lose out to the more intuitive and intelligent Rotom Phone.