The Pokémon rental business will still be very popular in the future, and rental prices are within what ordinary people can afford.
These people are not displaced residents, nor are they second-generation rich. They want to experience the feeling of being a trainer, so the Pokémon rental business naturally arose.
Of course, some trainers will also rent some relatively strong Pokémon to subdue some new Pokémon.
Before the Alliance launched the Alliance System policy, most families borrowed their father's or mother's Pokémon to subdue their first Pokémon in life.
Qingwu didn't bother with the four men who had been shocked by the electric attack. She lifted her leg and walked to the stern of the boat, feeling the sea breeze. The cool sea breeze blew, and she felt her mood improve.
The crew also ignored the four men lying on the boat. Anyway, as long as they were delivered to the cruise ship, it didn't matter what they said, as long as they didn't damage the cruise ship.
The crew's standards were very low: just don't damage the cruise ship.
Two hours later, the cruise ship docked as scheduled beside a giant Ferris wheel. This cruise ship was called the St. Annes, and it was a special cruise ship used by Snake Head for smuggling.
The St. Annes was the largest cruise ship in the Pokémon world, roughly the same size as the St. Peter and St. Anne.
This St. Annes sailed from the Chengdu region, to the junction of the Chengdu region and the Hoenn region, to observe the natural wonder of the Gyarados spraying water.
It would stay in this sea area for one day, and then return to the Chengdu region.
Snake Head used the cruise ship's docking point to open a gray trade.
In a secluded corner of the St. Annes, Snake Head put down a soft ladder. Everyone climbed up the soft ladder to the St. Annes. The cruise ship was driven away by another shift of sailors.
Snake Head was a short old man in a noble's attire, about sixty years old, wearing a wig, and with two rows of neatly trimmed mustache.
Snake Head was originally a famous bounty hunter in the Chengdu region. He controlled a gang with ruthless methods. Later, when he got older, he transformed into Snake Head, specially responsible for the smuggling route from the Hoenn region to the Chengdu region.
Don't look at Snake Head's current smiling appearance. When he was ruthless and cruel, you didn't even know where he was drinking coffee.
"What's going on?" Snake Head suddenly raised his eyebrows, pointing at the four men who had been electrocuted and charred.
"Lord Snake Head, you must seek justice for us!" The four men from Gyarados cried out, kneeling down. Seeing this, Snake Head's expression turned cold.
Qingwu secretly chuckled in her heart. This Snake Head preaches rules and etiquette the most, yet both of you are standing aside.
It was good that they didn't complain. Complaining would only bring them trouble.
The sailor recounted what had happened on the ship to Snake Head.
"You really are good, aren't you? You want to steal on my territory? Are you trying to steal from me too?!" Snake Head puffed out his beard and glared, saying.
"Huh?! Misunderstanding, Lord Snake Head!" The four men from Gyarados were instantly dumbfounded by Snake Head's sudden fury.
"Someone! Lock them up below! When we reach the Chengdu region, throw them into the black market factory to work!" Snake Head was not a benevolent king. Every person he targeted would suffer a fate worse than death.
Snake Head's attitude made everyone who had smuggled themselves over tremble with fear, afraid that they themselves would be targeted.
"Everyone, don't be nervous. I only teach lessons to arrogant and rude fellows who don't follow the rules. You will all safely reach the Chengdu region." Snake Head immediately put on a different face, revealing what he considered a benevolent expression.
"Your cabin location has been arranged. It's a third-class cabin for six people. Sailor, just take them there. Later, others will come. Don't block the way here."
"Six people in one room, this won't do." Six people in one room would reveal many of Qingwu's secrets. Qingwu frowned.
Just as Snake Head was about to hold his walking stick and walk to the front deck to enjoy the scenery, Qingwu suddenly whispered, and Snake Head stopped.
"Could you upgrade my cabin?"
Qingwu took out a yellow magnetic card from her bracelet. It was a card worth 10,000 Alliance Coins.
"No problem, no problem," Snake Head said with a smile after being given a magnetic card.
"Gong Jiu, take this guest to the first-class cabin." Snake Head immediately upgraded Qingwu's cabin by two levels.
"Guest, with this price, you can only get a first-class cabin. If you want to upgrade to a special cabin, the price would have to double, and it's not even guaranteed. You should know that many nobles on this ship have their own rules," Snake Head hastily explained.
"I understand," Qingwu said, indicating she understood.
Gong Jiu was a middle-aged man in his forties, with a round face and a two-inch mustache. He had been working on ships for many years, giving him a healthy, wheat-colored complexion, and a somewhat shrewd look.
"Guest, we will arrive in Port Vista in one day. I will remind you when we do." Gong Jiu said respectfully to Qingwu. "This old man is truly rich and generous."
"I know," Qingwu was led to the upper deck of the cabin. Gong Jiu skillfully used his staff card to open the door to her room.
The room was luxuriously decorated, with a 2*2 meter bed. The quilt on it was a soft, wool blanket.
The pillow was made of swan down. Lying in such a comfortable environment, listening to the sound of the waves was incredibly pleasant, and the room even had a small balcony.
Qingwu pushed open the glass door leading to the balcony.
Qingwu saw the boundless ocean. Waves rolled in from the horizon. They crashed onto the exposed coral, and the spray shattered like jade.
The rising spray, from a distance, looked like clusters of white plum blossoms, falling like fine rain onto the sea.
Flocks of large-mouthed seagulls chased wave after wave of spray. In the distance, some diligent fishermen were fishing on the exposed coral reefs.
"Guest, if you need anything, just press this red button. We will deliver three meals a day directly to your room. We hope you will not walk around casually, to avoid disturbing other distinguished guests." Gong Jiu warned Qingwu.
Gong Jiu meant that it was best for Qingwu to stay put, because she was a stowaway. If she affected their business by being seen by other guests, it wouldn't be good.
"Okay, I'll stay in my room. Also, I brought my own food. If there's no special situation, please don't enter my room. Unless I actively call you, otherwise, if you enter, you might not come out." Qingwu warned.
Gong Jiu smiled in response, but inwardly he was complaining about Qingwu's grandstanding. If she was really that powerful, she wouldn't choose to stow away.
However, sometimes some important figures would indeed choose to travel by stowing away to other regions in order to conceal their identity.
But this situation was extremely rare.
Gong Jiu respectfully retreated.
Qingwu directly took out a Signal Jammer from her bracelet. This jammer could block all signals in the room.
If there were pinhole cameras in the room, they would directly generate signal interference, blurring the captured images. Qingwu confirmed that after the signal light of this jammer turned from red to green, she took off her black robe, tossed it aside with a look of disdain, and ignored it.
"Head, the pinhole camera in that room is blurry. Should we…" Gong Jiu made a wiping motion towards Snake Head's neck.
"No need. We have enough manpower. Including the people who snuck in later, we'll sell all of them to the black market factory. We don't want to offend people with unknown backgrounds."
"I can sense a Celestial King's aura on him. A Celestial King trainer, that's a rare existence in the Pokémon world, isn't it?" Snake Head said with emotion. This Snake Head was once ruthless and venomous in his early years, but in his old age, he had changed a lot, becoming extremely conservative.
"Gong Jiu, don't underestimate this world. Our organization seems strong, but in others' eyes, it's just a small cockroach. Why would an insignificant cockroach want to kill me?"
"Originally, there were quite a few pirates and hunters more famous than me. Do you see any of them alive now? It's not that I'm rash; perhaps the Ghost Tower in the Chengdu region has my tombstone now," Snake Head said with emotion.
"Alright, that's enough. This person no longer needs our management. We shouldn't actively provoke him," Snake Head said to Gong Jiu again.
Qingwu tidied herself up thoroughly in the room, then saw the hidden signal of Team Rocket on the ship.
"Could it be that this ship also belongs to Team Rocket?" Qingwu secretly wondered.
She was surprised that Team Rocket knew about her presence in the Chengdu region. Qingwu wasn't afraid, after all, she had provided complete information, saying that she was worried about Team Rocket and wanted to go to the Chengdu region to observe. This reason was plausible.
After Qingwu had sorted out her plan, it was already evening.
A whirring steam engine sound came from the St. Annes. The cruise ship floated on the calm sea, leaving circles of ripples on the water, sailing towards the Chengdu region.
🚨 Note: Consider supporting this story on Patreon.com/Flokixy to access 400+ advance chapters and 2 new chapters daily! (Full story bundles also available without a subscription).