Of course, trainers as sharp as Silas were rare.
Most Alliance trainers simply defeated the wild Pokémon and left them floating unconscious on the sea without bothering to capture them.
Watching the scene unfold, Silas couldn't help scoffing inwardly.
Idiots.
A chance like this was practically raining Pokédollars from the sky, yet they were still worried about appearances instead of taking advantage of it. Whether they kept the Pokémon for themselves or sold them later, either option would bring massive profit.
That was one of the reasons Silas looked down on many ordinary Alliance trainers.
At the beginner and intermediate levels, most League trainers were still far too naïve. If this had been Team Rocket operatives or trainers who survived in the gray underworld, people would already be fighting each other over these Pokémon.
After all, obtaining so many powerful Pokémon at once was enough to make anyone rich overnight.
Silas shook his head and stopped paying attention to the others. Instead, he continued scanning the sea for worthwhile targets.
As Gyarados retreated back into the ocean, the massive schools of wild Pokémon also began diving beneath the waves. Within only a few minutes, the violent sea gradually calmed once more.
The dark storm clouds overhead slowly dispersed as well without Gyarados maintaining them.
Perhaps because of the earlier rain, a small rainbow appeared near the horizon, its colorful glow drawing countless gazes.
Only then did the owner of the cruise liner, Madam Joy Shizuka, finally make her "late" appearance.
"Everyone, on behalf of the Alliance and the Joy family, thank you for your efforts in repelling the wild Pokémon attack!"
"The Sea Rescue Division has already been contacted, so there is no need for anyone to worry further!"
The moment those words were spoken, the tense atmosphere on deck relaxed considerably.
The Joy family name still carried enormous influence. At the very least, no one openly voiced dissatisfaction.
Soon, medical personnel hurried onto the deck as injured Pokémon began receiving treatment.
Silas also handed over Honchkrow's Poké Ball so Nurse Joy's staff could perform a quick full-body examination.
As he did, his sharp eyes noticed Cynthia standing quietly nearby. After a brief hesitation, Silas walked over.
"Here. Don't catch a cold."
Without waiting for a response, he removed his large coat and gently draped it over her shoulders.
At the same time, his cold gaze swept across the surrounding men who had been secretly staring at her soaked figure.
After witnessing her battle earlier, many passengers had already recognized Cynthia's identity.
Naturally, she had become the center of attention.
Cynthia snapped out of her thoughts and finally realized how drenched her black dress still was. The wet fabric clung tightly to her graceful figure, outlining every curve beneath the dim deck lights.
Pulling Silas's coat tighter around herself, she lowered her voice.
"Thank you."
Silas smiled faintly.
"It's nothing. Any decent man would do the same."
The surrounding men immediately looked away awkwardly after hearing that.
Several female companions beside them even dragged their embarrassed partners away from the deck altogether.
After thanking Silas once more, Cynthia walked toward Joy Shizuka.
Unlike what many believed, Cynthia wasn't simply battle-obsessed and reckless. She was extremely intelligent And the more she thought about today's events, the stranger everything felt.
A near-Elite Four level Gyarados suddenly attacking the Joy family's cruise ship ,Madam Joy Shizuka arriving suspiciously late,Combined with the warnings she'd received from her elders about the darker side of human nature, Cynthia had already begun piecing together certain possibilities.
Meanwhile, Silas wisely chose not to continue talking with her.
He understood moderation well. Push too hard, and good impressions could easily become annoyance.
After retrieving Honchkrow's Poké Ball from the medical staff, Silas noticed Cynthia seemingly arguing with Madam Joy Shizuka from afar.
Unfortunately, he was too far away to hear what was being said.
Checking the time, Silas realized it was already past noon.
In only a few more hours, the cruise liner would arrive at Slateport City's harbor.
...
Back inside his room, mentally and physically exhausted, Silas collapsed onto the bed and immediately fell asleep.
He didn't wake again until nearly four in the afternoon.
The first thing he noticed upon waking was the sticky discomfort left behind by dried seawater and sweat.
Frowning slightly, he headed straight for the shower.
After changing clothes and preparing to leave, he noticed over a dozen unread messages on his Pokédex communicator.
Opening them, Silas chuckled softly.
Every single message had been sent by Lia. Most were simply asking whether he was injured or safe.
Silas patiently replied to each one. However, one particular message caught his attention.
After making sure he hadn't forgotten anything in the room, Silas headed toward the top-floor conference hall.
The moment he entered, he saw dozens of people already gathered inside.
• Joy Shizuka.
• Captain Yamamoto.
• Cynthia.
• And several wealthy young trainers invited for interviews.
The moment Lia spotted Silas entering, her eyes brightened immediately as she hurried over.
"Silas!"
"Because of the attack earlier, lots of media companies are waiting at the harbor for interviews. Originally they only planned to interview a few representatives…"
"But Grandma said this is a good chance to increase your reputation, so I added your name too."
Lia leaned close and whispered into his ear softly.
Nearby, Elder Joy Shizuka remained expressionless, though the faint dissatisfaction in her eyes toward Silas still hadn't disappeared completely.
Lia's intimate behavior immediately drew countless different reactions from the room. Many of the wealthy young heirs looked both shocked and jealous.
After all, in their eyes, Lia was practically a perfect woman.
Beautiful.
Gentle.
Highly educated.
Backed by the prestigious Joy family. She was the dream partner countless men wished for. More importantly, many of them had exchanged favors or benefits just to secure a chance at this interview opportunity.
Meanwhile, Silas had received it completely for free.
Cynthia also glanced over in surprise. Then, noticing the coat still resting beside her carrying Silas's scent, she silently removed it and placed it neatly on a nearby chair.
Almost as though she didn't want Lia to misunderstand anything. Soon afterward, everyone began discussing interview details together.
More specifically, they coordinated their stories carefully so reporters wouldn't twist facts or discover inconsistencies about the battle earlier.
During this time, Lia even took out a small mirror and quietly reapplied her makeup. Silas also tidied himself slightly, especially his still damp black hair.
Fortunately, despite the Gyarados attack earlier, the crew of the S.S. Blissey proved highly professional.
The ship still arrived at Slateport City Harbor precisely at five in the evening.
However The moment Silas stepped off the cruise liner, flashing lights instantly exploded around him.
Reporters carrying microphones and cameras surged forward from every direction.
Several microphones were practically shoved into his face before he could even react. And compared to him…Cynthia's side was even more terrifying.
She had been completely surrounded.
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(End of chapter)