The S.S. Anne cruise ship cut through the waves of the vast ocean. As a maritime behemoth of tens of thousands of tons capable of carrying thousands of tourists, it stood as the pride of human technology, seemingly immune to any storm or shipwreck.
In reality, technology was not the dominant force in this mysterious world. It was simply that most powerful oceanic Pokémon preferred the depths of the sea. As long as humans did not provoke them, they naturally saw no reason to attack.
Hisoka stood on the highest point of the deck, leaning against the railing with his eyes narrowed as he enjoyed the oncoming sea breeze. The weather was pleasant today, the wind gentle and comfortable, brushing against his skin like a soft veil.
"Hmm?"
A pair of figures caught Hisoka's attention. Just around the corner of the deck, the woman in leatherwho had seemed quite enthusiastic when they applied for their jobs togetherappeared to be in a quiet conversation with a large, bald man. Both were calm, making it impossible to discern the nature of their relationship at a glance.
Hisoka didn't recognize the bald man with the neck tattoo, but he remembered the sultry woman in leather was named Lisa. He was curious as to when these two had linked up.
Though they looked calm, they were clearly keeping a close watch on their surroundings. The moment they spotted a familiar figure on the deck nearby, they immediately ceased their exchange.
The bald man seemed to give a few final instructions before glancing at Hisoka and striding away from the third-level deck. Lisa let a flirtatious smile play across her lips as she swayed her voluptuous body toward Hisoka.
"Little brother, I didn't expect to see you again so soon. We really must be fated!" Her voice arrived before she did. Lisa reached out a delicate hand, intending to rest it on Hisoka's shoulder, but he dodged with a slight straightening of his back.
Hisoka snapped out of his thoughts and replied with a smile, "I just came up here to see the view and get some fresh air. I didn't expect to run into you either, Sister Lisa. By the way, who was that bald guy? You seemed to know him."
Lisa didn't show any panic at being seen. Still smiling radiantly, she said, "His name is Mundo. I met him during a previous bounty mission. Since we both happened to be hired for this escort, we decided to have a little chat..."
She shifted the topic then, staring at Hisoka's handsome, sun-kissed profile with shimmering eyes. "Hisoka, dear, I have quite a good impression of you. Other men are always so crude, but I like handsome young men like you the most. What do you say? Interested in coming to my room for a drink? I could teach you some skills every man needs to learn!"
"Skills every man needs to learn?"
A sudden shout broke the flirtatious atmosphere. A greasy young man wearing plain glasses appeared out of nowhere.
He ran excitedly to Lisa's side. "Sister Lisa, I'm interested! I want to learn too..."
"Idiot!"
Lisa rolled her eyes and ignored him completely, her black high-heeled boots clicking against the deck as she walked away.
Hisoka adjusted his cap, glanced at the greasy youth's leering expression, and prepared to leave as well.
"Hey kid, wait a second!"
The youth's tone was no longer wretched and annoying; his voice had become steady and powerful in an instant.
Hisoka looked back to find the guy leaning against the railing with his arms crossed, head lowered in a pose resembling "The Thinker."
"Allow me to introduce myself." The greasy youth pushed up his glasses and said in a deep voice, "My name is Kurama. Being a Bounty Hunter is just my side gig. My true identity is an Elite League Investigator."
"Oh," Hisoka nodded.
"Aren't you even a little surprised?" Seeing Hisoka's flat reaction, Kurama's steady facade crumbled, and his previous sneaky expression returned.
"So, Mr. Investigator, do you need something from me?" Hisoka stretched and looked at him. "If not, I'm going back to my room to rest."
Kurama looked around to ensure they were alone before leaning in and whispering, "Kid, I'm warning you: stay away from that woman, Lisa. According to my investigation, none of the teammates she's worked with on bounty missions have come to a good end. They either vanish mysteriously or end up dead in a hospital from 'severe injuries.'"
He lowered his voice further, looking mysterious. "I've also discovered that she's involved in some shady business. She has significant ties to Team Rocket, the dark organization in Kanto."
Hisoka looked at him thoughtfully. "If that's the case, that bald guy she was talking to is likely with Team Rocket too."
"Exactly!" Kurama nodded firmly. "We received intel long ago that Team Rocket is planning a terrorist operation on the S.S. Anne. There are probably many of their members already hiding on this ship."
"And why are you telling me this? Aren't you afraid I might be Team Rocket too and sell you out?" Hisoka found it somewhat amusing.
"Heh, young man, that's where the gap in our life experience shows!" Kurama said self-importantly. "I'm very confident in my ability to judge character. You look like a fine youth of the new century, a rising star of the Pokémon League. If you work hard, there will definitely be a seat for you among the Elite Four in the future."
Hisoka turned to leave immediately.
"Alright, alright, I'll tell the truth..." Kurama grabbed Hisoka's arm, looking pitiful. "The truth is this mission was thrown together too quickly. The League didn't assign enough personnel, so our boss told us to privately contact high-level Trainers. We want them to act as reinforcements when Team Rocket makes their move."
"Good idea," Hisoka said, calmly brushing Kurama's hands off. "But unfortunately, I am a Bounty Hunter. Why should I help you for nothing?"
Kurama choked on his words, his face flushing with anger. "Hey, you brat! Don't you have any basic morality as a citizen of the League? Assisting an investigator in fighting crime is every citizen's duty!"
🚨 Note: Consider supporting this story on Patreon.com/kleinmoretti to access 100+ advance chapters and 2 new chapters daily! (Full story bundles also available without a subscription).