"It really is over."
Shelly sighed for a long time. She leaned against the railing and looked at the white clouds. She felt many different things in her heart.
"Thanks to you, we are all safe now. Our official status has been separated from Team Magma and Team Aqua. We've been redefined as your subordinates, which means we have completely cut our ties with them."
She looked over at Courtney. Courtney nodded. It meant her situation was the same as Shelly's.
"Did Anabel mention what will happen to Maxie and Archie?" Natsui asked.
Shelly shrugged her shoulders.
"What else could happen? They will definitely be sent back to the mainland to stand trial. I expect those two will spend the rest of their lives locked away forever with the most dangerous criminals."
Natsui was not surprised. There was no death penalty in this world. Being in prison forever was the biggest punishment. They would be in a small room until they died of old age.
"That's good then. So, what are your plans for the future?"
Shelly looked at him and smiled a little.
"What plans could we have? Didn't that woman just tell you to supervise us? We are in a probation period now, so what else can we do? It seems like we are firmly tied to your side, both officially and privately."
"No one is taking away your freedom."
Natsui shook his head. The supervision was just a rule on paper. He had to continue his journey. He could not keep them with him all the time. He was sure Anabel knew this. She made him the supervisor because she wanted it to be this way.
After thinking for a moment, he said more.
"How about this? Just like I mentioned to you before, you both should go to Kanto. I have an investment there, and there are some idle people gathered there who aren't exactly liked by society. It would be a perfect place for you to go."
Shelly and Courtney could tell he had a deeper reason.
Courtney asked softly, "Is there a problem with those people?"
"Not exactly a problem." Natsui shrugged. "Originally, that investment was just something small that I didn't pay much attention to. But to be honest, their numbers are growing, and I'm starting to feel a bit uneasy. I'm worried they might start causing trouble using my name. That's why I want you two to go and keep an eye on them for me."
"So that's how it is." Courtney agreed immediately. "I understand. Since it's your request, I will go to Kanto."
Shelly rolled her eyes because Courtney spoke first. However, she could only agree.
"As you wish, Mr. Supervisor."
"Are you teasing me?" Natsui looked at her. "This is a necessary step for you to clear your names!"
"You don't want to hear that?" Shelly asked and looked at him in a funny way. "In that case, I can only call you 'Boss.' Or perhaps, would you prefer us to call you 'Master'?"
Natsui almost choked!
He saw that Shelly was very bold. She knew how to tease him.
She was a leader in an evil group, so she knew how to talk.
However, he could not join the joke. It would be okay if they were alone, but Misty was right there. It would cause a big misunderstanding.
But the title "Boss" was not great either. People would think he started an evil group like Team Aqua.
But then he remembered the bikers called him that too. The name had already spread. Natsui could only sigh.
He decided they could call him whatever they wanted.
Archie and Maxie had to go to headquarters in a different direction. So, Natsui and Misty got off the boat at Gange Island.
They wanted to find a boat to the Hoenn mainland. Shelly and Courtney had to stay with Anabel. They had to give more statements at the International Police headquarters. Then they would fly to Kanto.
They said goodbye at the dock. They waved to Shelly and Courtney as the police boat left.
When the boat was gone, they looked at the island.
They got off the boat suddenly, so they knew nothing about the island.
Gange Island was small but unique. It had a ring of forest and a quiet town. In the middle, there were two large rocks. They looked like a strong arm flexing its muscles.
There were no other boats at the dock. There was not even one person.
"That's strange..." Misty looked around. She was confused. "Where are the residents?"
Natsui also frowned. It was three or four in the afternoon. It was not dinner time yet. The streets should not be empty.
The lack of boats was a big problem. How could they go back to the Hoenn mainland?
He did not want to ride Dragonite for hours. The wind was too strong and it was not comfortable for his body.
"Let's find someone to ask about the situation first. But looking at the size and location of this island, I guest boats rarely come here. It looks like we'll have to stay on this island for the night."
They left the harbor and walked. The town was not totally empty. They saw an old grandmother in a store. She was organizing some products.
They wanted to ask her a question. But then they heard shouting from a forest park.
The sounds were like people exercising. The shouting was very loud and full of energy.
They were curious, so they walked toward the park.
They went around some trees and saw a large clearing. About thirty or forty people were exercising. Some were young, and some were older. They wore sports clothes. Some had no shirts, and some wore hats or glasses. They were doing squats, punching, and lifting weights. They looked like professional athletes.
"This..." Misty was surprised. "This is... quite a sight..."
It was scary to see so many people exercising. The park smelled like sweat.
Natsui saw a person he knew.
In a corner, a girl with gray hair was exercising. She wore a white and black sports top and shorts.
"Eh? Isn't that Bea?"
Misty was shocked. She looked at where Natsui was pointing. She saw Bea.
"It really is her! But why is she here? And why is she exercising with these people!?"
"I don't know, but we'll find out if we go ask."
They walked up to Bea. She was focused and did not see them. Misty spoke to her, and Bea turned around.
"It's you!?"
She did not expect to see them again.
"Miss Bea, we meet again," Misty said with a smile. "What are you doing here?"
"I am exercising my muscles with these people so that I can become stronger."
"Exercising muscles?" Natsui looked around. "The logic is sound, but can this method really make you stronger? Or rather, is it actually useful for you?"
Bea was very strong. She could fight a Pokémon with her own body. She was a great talent from the Galar region. The people in the park were only doing basic training. It was too easy for her.
Bea was serious.
"The supervisor here told me that as long as I follow his method, I will definitely become stronger."
Natsui and Misty looked at each other.
Misty asked, "Um... is it possible that you've been tricked?"
"?"
Bea looked confused.
Natsui said, "Well... does that supervisor even know how strong you actually are?"
"What do you mean by that?" Bea asked.
She only knew about training. She did not know much about the world.
"What I mean is, that supervisor might not know exactly how powerful you are. He probably just sees that you're young and treats you like an ordinary person. Obviously, this method is just a waste of time for someone like you."
Bea finally understood. She thought about it.
"I see. No wonder I felt like my body wasn't changing at all."
Natsui: "..."
Misty: "..."
They were speechless. She was very slow to notice.
Then, a young man walked over.
He was about twenty-seven years old. His skin was tan, and his body was fit. He wore a sports tank top. He had reddish-brown hair and was handsome.
He looked at Bea, then at Natsui and Misty.
"Good afternoon. Is this your first time on this island?"
He gave them a big smile. His teeth were very white.
He was the supervisor.
He seemed like a cheerful person.
Natsui nodded. "It is indeed our first time here. We planned to take a boat back to the Hoenn mainland, but we didn't see any boats at the harbor. Oh, right, I wanted to ask—why does it look like there are so few people in town, and why isn't there a single boat at the dock?"
"That," the man laughed. "It's because there were warnings that the sea in this area would be very rough these past few days. So, this morning, everyone took their boats and fled to the big cities for safety. What? You didn't receive the evacuation notice before you came?"
Natsui understood. The man meant the battle with Groudon and Kyogre.
The town was empty because of the battle he was in.
Misty asked, "Since the people in town went to seek safety, why are you all still here?"
The man moved his hand. "How could mere waves and storms break our will? As trainers, we should temper ourselves in such extreme weather!"
They were very tough. Most trainers today were not like this. They would hide in a Pokémon Center if it rained.
But the storm would not come. Natsui had already fixed the problem.
Natsui knew no boats would come today. They had to stay for the night.
The man looked at them and smiled.
"You two look like trainers as well. How about it? Do you want to exercise with us? You should know that the secret to Pokémon battles lies in the trainer's muscles. Without a body tempered a thousand times over, it is impossible to win in a battle!"
Only Fighting-type trainers said things like that. Natsui did not agree. He thought tactics were important too. But he did not argue.
"That won't be necessary," he said. "We are friends with her. we just saw her here and came over to say hello."
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