The next morning.
"Warden, keep your pace steady."
"Warden."
Senmu, enjoying his day off, went for a morning jog through Marigold City with Pawniard.
As they approached the city center, he recalled the Pokémon and retracted Pawniard into its Poké Ball, avoiding any misunderstandings with the busy city crowd.
According to the memories of the body's original owner, this was Senmu's first time in downtown Marigold City.
The layout of the city and major landmarks were similar to the anime, yet the real world was far larger, containing towns and districts never shown on screen.
Compared to the grime and chaos of the slums, downtown Marigold City's streets were clean and orderly. Citizens strolled along with their Pokémon in tow.
On patrol was Officer Jenny, walking her Growlithe as she monitored the area.
Curious onlookers eyed the young man jogging past. His attire was unusual: a faded polo shirt, slightly oversized, giving him an almost fragile appearance despite his handsome features.
Officer Jenny glanced in his direction, sighed, and turned away, seemingly lost in thought, taking her Growlithe to patrol another street.
When Senmu first joined Team Rocket, his clothes were in tatters. Iwama had gifted him a Team Rocket uniform, and he had discarded his old clothes. Since then, he had remained in the black market, never buying new outfits. The polo he wore now was one of Iwama's gifts.
Yet Senmu didn't care. No matter how flashy one's clothes were, without strength, it meant nothing.
Ignoring the crowd's gaze, he continued into the heart of the city, looking up at the towering skyscrapers, feeling slightly overwhelmed.
The downtown area was enormous—Marigold City grew vertically, with the beach separating the ocean from the city center.
Surrounded by towering buildings, Senmu spotted the library sign from a distance but couldn't locate a path leading there.
He wandered for a while, still lost, until he noticed a passerby waiting for a bus. Straightening his shirt, he approached and asked:
"Excuse me, could you tell me how to get to the Marigold City Library?"
The girl he addressed turned around. Pink hair tied into twin ponytails framed her pale, tall, and graceful figure. She wore shorts, revealing long legs, and cradled a Clefairy—a Pokémon nicknamed the "Pink Devil" for its playful tricks.
The girl paused, curious about the oddly dressed, handsome young man. Perhaps sensing Senmu's discomfort, she realized she had been a bit rude.
"Oh! I'm sorry! I just… I didn't mean anything. Are you going to the Marigold City Library? I can take you there—I've lived in this city my whole life."
She quickly shifted the conversation and gestured for Senmu to follow.
There really are good people in the world, Senmu thought as he walked behind her, unaware of the experiences awaiting him.
The girl led him across pedestrian bridges, up staircases—yet, somehow, the route kept bringing them to the wrong places. They passed clothing shops, barbershops, and, most absurdly, she led him into a restaurant kitchen. The staff looked at them in confusion, wondering if they were new chefs.
By the time they returned to the starting point, Senmu began to suspect she might be leading him astray.
"It's fine. My Pokémon knows the city streets," she said quickly, sensing Senmu's suspicion. Her face flushed red, and she hurried to explain.
A strange familiarity stirred in Senmu's mind. Why do I feel like I've seen this person before?
Once she released her other Pokémon, Senmu confirmed her identity.
"Miltank, remember how we got to the Marigold City Library last time? I'm lost again, so I need your help."
"Moo~~"
Miltank looked at its trainer helplessly, signaling her to follow. It could not comprehend how a native of Marigold City could get lost repeatedly and still need guidance.
"But… who's that standing next to you?" Miltank curiously glanced at Senmu behind the girl.
"This is a new friend I just met. He wants to go to the Marigold City Library to read. I completely forgot to introduce myself—I don't even know your name yet."
"My name is Xiao Qian," she said, adding, "I'm a local from Marigold City, born and raised here."
As I expected, Senmu thought. He hadn't anticipated meeting a character from the original story in real life. He wondered where Ash might be now. However, if Xiao Qian hadn't yet become the Marigold City Gym Leader, then Ash was probably still a mischievous kid.
"I'm Iwaki, from the slums of Marigold City. This is my first time downtown, and I want to check out the library." Senmu didn't use his real name—being in a foreign city, one's identity was flexible.
Hearing the word "slums," Xiao Qian paused for a moment before continuing, leading him onward.
Unaware, Senmu had sparked her imagination: picturing him struggling to survive in the slums, enduring hunger and exploitation by cruel bosses, yet still seeking knowledge in the library whenever he could. He's really determined!
"Uh, yes, of course I can!!!" Senmu replied eagerly.
Since this is his first time in the city, I must treat him well, Xiao Qian silently resolved.
"Iwaki, aren't the slums chaotic? I'm not judging—my grandfather always warned me never to go there."
"Your grandfather's right. It is chaotic."
"Iwaki, which side are you standing on…" Xiao Qian's questions seemed endless. Whenever Senmu couldn't answer, she filled in the gaps with her imagination.
Finally, under Xiao Qian's persistent questioning, Senmu, guided by Miltank, arrived at the library building.
Above the entrance, the Marigold City Library logo was a massive Poké Ball—but instead of the central red button, there was a stylized book.
After thanking Xiao Qian, Senmu headed straight into the library; he had urgent matters to attend to today.
"So, Miltank, shall we go in and read too?"
"Moo."
As they entered, a female staff member at the front desk noticed them and approached:
"Hello, sir. May I see your citizen ID, or your Trainer Pokémon Pokédex?"
Senmu froze.
He hadn't realized that Marigold City's library required one of these two items for identification. If he had a city-issued ID, he wouldn't have started his adventure from the slums. Now, with no ID or Pokédex, what could he do? Buy a forged ID from the black market?
Since the library system was linked to the Pokémon League's network, using a fake ID would be immediately detected—a guaranteed death trap.
Seeing Senmu hesitate, without ID or Pokédex, and dressed in peculiar clothes, the woman eyed him warily, fearing he might cause trouble.
"I'm sorry, I don't have my ID today. I'll bring it next time," Senmu said, turning away. He didn't want to engage in a drawn-out argument. After all, his true identity could not withstand public scrutiny.