Pokemon: The Legendary Trainer

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The plane departed at 5:30 AM, and by nearly 9 PM, it began its descent. Finally, at 9:10 PM, the aircraft Sato was on landed at the Saffron City Pokémon League Airline Airport.

Sato descended the temporary staircase from the plane to the ground. Looking up at the moon peeking out from the clouds, he felt that the moon over his homeland appeared rounder and brighter than in foreign lands.

During the flight, aside from repeatedly reading through the Lilycove Compendium and The Grimoire of Dark Spirits, Sato's only activity had been sleeping.

Unlike the passengers in economy and standard class, he was full of energy and showed no signs of fatigue.

Saffron City, the heart of Kanto and a renowned international metropolis, was at its most vibrant and lively at night.

Sato could barely resist the urge to explore the bustling streets of the city.

Having already dined on the plane along with his Pokémon, Sato politely declined the offers of numerous female promoters handing out flyers for various delicacies in the airport's passenger exit area.

He followed the signs and headed directly out of the airport.

As Sato exited the airport gates, several taxis stationed nearby scrambled to reach him. Ultimately, an experienced driver closest to the gate managed to pull up first and courteously invited Sato into the cab.

"Sir, where to?"

The seasoned driver immediately noticed Sato's elite trainer attire, a clear indication of his affluent status.

Having successfully ushered Sato into the cab, the driver eagerly asked for his destination.

"Take me to 21 Saffron Road," Sato replied after a brief moment of thought.

This address was the only Rocket Team contact point he currently knew, and it was also the entrance to the underground black market he had visited before.

Sato was well aware of Saffron City's dual nature. While the surface bustled with prosperity, its underground market thrived just as vibrantly.

However, it had been a long time since his last visit, which lasted less than a day due to a League crackdown forcing him to flee.

He had no idea how the current power dynamics of Saffron's underground forces had shifted.

Saffron City, steeped in immense interests, was a hub of hidden dangers and formidable trainers. The League and various factions engaged in overt and covert struggles here.

Without caution, Sato knew his current strength might not suffice to ensure his survival.

To play it safe, Sato decided to gather intelligence first. As a Rocket Team member, his best bet was to reconnect with his organization and obtain information through them.

Sato firmly believed that with Sabrina acting as an insider for the League, Rocket Team had not only survived the last crackdown but might have even reaped some benefits from it.

The seasoned driver, living up to his reputation, instantly recognized the address and confidently set off with a cheerful "Got it!"

Within moments, the cab sped away from the airport, heading toward the city center.

About ten minutes later, Sato arrived at a somewhat familiar location. Following his memory, he turned a corner and walked down a narrow alleyway, eventually arriving at the entrance of a general store he had visited before.

The store was still open, as were a few neighboring shops. Sato's arrival drew the attention of several people who peered out from their shops, warily observing him.

Previously, Sato might have felt a tinge of danger from the older shopkeepers in the vicinity. But now, they were hardly a concern.

He could easily handle the Pokémon these shopkeepers relied on.

Clearly, the elderly proprietors realized Sato was no ordinary trainer. As they debated whether to call for reinforcements, Sato raised his right hand, revealing a black wristwatch on his wrist.

The tense atmosphere immediately eased.

Recognizing Sato as one of their own, the shopkeepers visibly relaxed and quietly returned to their shops to keep watch.

"Sir, how may I assist you?"

As soon as Sato entered the general store, an elderly woman emerged with a warm smile and greeted him with exceptional respect.

The woman seemed to have forgotten or failed to recognize Sato, who had previously been a rookie grunt with a much humbler appearance.

Now, seeing his elite trainer attire, she assumed he was a high-ranking Rocket Team member and treated him with the utmost deference.

"Take me to the underground black market's entrance," Sato stated, getting straight to the point.

"Sir, here is your mask and cloak."

Without hesitation, the elderly woman led Sato to the entrance of the black market and handed him the necessary attire for entering. She was too intimidated to ask for payment.

"You've been stationed here all day—it must be tough. Take this and treat yourself to something nice," Sato said, handing her five 1,000 PokeDollar bills before donning the mask and cloak to enter the dimly lit passage.

"Thank you, sir! Safe travels!"

The elderly woman beamed with gratitude as she accepted the bills, bowing deeply in thanks as Sato disappeared into the passage.

The tunnel remained much the same as before. Sato navigated the long underground staircase, passed through a wide corridor teeming with Zuabtt and Golbat, and finally arrived at the transit station brimming with Psychic-type Pokémon.

Familiar with the rules here, Sato bribed a Rocket Team member with 30,000 PokeDollars to acquire a black token labeled "No. 2," allowing him to bypass the long queues.

With the help of a Level 41 Alakazam's Teleport, Sato experienced a brief disorienting shift before arriving at the Rocket Team's base in Saffron City's underground black market.

However, upon entering his designated room, Sato noticed a significant change in the map detailing the power distribution within the black market.

Previously, Rocket Team's red areas occupied about 60% of the map. Now, nearly the entire map was drenched in red.

The once-prominent yellow zones, representing Saffron's local gang, the Golden Gang, had completely vanished.

Meanwhile, the green zones indicating Pokémon hunter groups had slightly expanded.

"It seems the entire underground black market of Saffron City has fallen under Rocket Team's control. As expected, during the League's last crackdown, Rocket Team survived unscathed, while the Golden Gang was sacrificed as an example," Sato thought, narrowing his eyes as he studied the map.