Ash watched with a sweatdrop as Ryuusuke meticulously groomed himself in front of the full-length mirror.
Every strand of his hair was perfectly combed, and a pair of gold-rimmed glasses rested on his face. Though he wasn't wearing an overly formal suit, the stylish white dress shirt and tailored blazer suited his age perfectly. His shoes were polished to a mirror shine, and in his gloved hand, he held a gentleman's cane—where he had gotten it, Ash had no idea.
Ryuusuke already carried himself with a maturity beyond his years, but now, dressed like this, he looked every bit like a twenty-year-old nobleman's son to Ash's eyes.
For Ryuusuke, altering his demeanor with psychic energy was child's play. Though his natural personality leaned toward cool confidence—even a touch of arrogance—pretending to be a refined gentleman posed no difficulty whatsoever.
"The S.S. Anne caters primarily to the wealthy elite. While trainers occupy a somewhat elevated social standing, those staying in first-class cabins can't afford to embarrass our profession, now can we?"
Ryuusuke adjusted his cuffs with deliberate grace.
Beside him, Pikachu—much like Ash—tugged cautiously at Ryuusuke's pant leg, as if baffled by this dramatic transformation.
"There, this should do. We are investigating a criminal organization involved in Pokémon theft, after all. A disguise is essential. Dressed like this, everyone will assume I'm just another passenger enjoying the cruise—no one would suspect I'm here to uncover a crime syndicate. Though, if the S.S. Anne is connected to the recent thefts, the culprits can only be Team Rocket. No other group in Kanto has the reach or resources."
Straightening his tie, Ryuusuke glanced down at the Master Ball hanging around his neck. Thanks to this world's advanced technology, the ball could shrink and expand within a certain range. After some cosmetic adjustments, it now resembled an elegant pendant.
"So, Ash, aren't you going to change your look? Planning to board dressed like you're still roughing it in the wilderness?"
Ash hastily waved his hands.
"Nah, I'm good like this. I'd suffocate in an outfit like yours. Besides, I'm in second class, not first."
It was only now that Ash realized just how… extra his friend from Pallet Town could be. Worse than Gary, even!
—But also someone who made for a great companion.
Ash had always been perceptive when it came to people and Pokémon, able to sense their intentions. And Ryuusuke, unlike the bumbling "Ash the dunce" from the anime, had always treated him with genuine goodwill.
These protagonists might be a bit hot-blooded, but they were the type to go to hell and back for their friends. Ryuusuke might not need many friends, but that didn't mean he needed none—and whether it was Ash or Gary, they were the kind worth keeping close.
"You go on ahead, Ash. I'll catch up later."
"Huh? You're not coming with me?"
"Don't you think it'd look weird if someone dressed like this showed up with you?"
Ash scratched his head.
"Now that you mention it… yeah, kinda. Alright then, see you on the S.S. Anne!"
With a grin, Ash took his leave.
"Something tells me this cruise is going to be very interesting."
Twirling his cane with practiced ease, Ryuusuke marveled at how seamlessly he could wield psychic abilities after merging consciousness with Mewtwo. Compared to the battle-exclusive "Dragon's Power," telekinesis was downright versatile—letting him accomplish feats that would've been impossible before. Controlling his body like this felt as natural as breathing.
"Time to head out, Mewtwo. Human psychic energy alone can't pull off Teleport—that's your specialty."
[Understood.]
——
As Kanto's most vital port, Vermilion Harbor handled goods traveling between regions and was perpetually bustling. Moored at the deep-water docks today was an unparalleled luxury cruise liner—the S.S. Anne.
The largest cruise ship in the world, with an estimated construction cost of 150 billion yen (by this world's purchasing power), the S.S. Anne boasted 18 decks, a length of 380 meters, a width of 72 meters, 2,800 cabins, a passenger capacity of over 6,000, and a gross tonnage of 227,000.
Onboard amenities included a casino, international restaurants, swimming pools, a rock-climbing wall, a mini-golf course, and even battle arenas for trainers. It was a true playground for the elite.
Here, one might rub shoulders with unimaginably wealthy magnates, high-ranking League officials, or noble heiresses. And in a world ruled by Pokémon, trainers were never in short supply. While weaker trainers could be managed, the truly powerful ones existed in a league of their own—coexisting with the loosely structured Pokémon League only through shared ideals or mutual benefit. Thus, no matter where they went, trainers enjoyed a transcendent social status.
Today marked the S.S. Anne's departure from Vermilion Harbor for another global voyage. The port was lined with luxury cars as impeccably dressed men and women—some bound for Johto, others for Hoenn or Sinnoh—gathered for boarding. For those with time to spare, traveling in style was the only way to go.
Amidst the sea of high-end vehicles, several sharply uniformed sailors stood at the gangway, politely inspecting tickets. Then—
The air rippled.
Like static on an old television, jagged distortions fractured the space before solidifying into a humanoid silhouette stepping through as though crossing a dimensional mirror.
A young man—age indeterminate—emerged, dressed no differently from the surrounding crowd. At his feet trotted a Dratini, a creature so rare in Kanto it was practically a national treasure. Unfazed by the stunned onlookers, he offered a serene smile and handed his ticket to the sailor.
A middle-aged tycoon nearby instinctively stepped aside, gulping.
Only an immensely powerful Psychic-type could execute such a precise Teleport with a human and Pokémon in tow. This was why trainers occupied their untouchable stratum of society.
Those at the pinnacle wielded forces too esoteric and overwhelming for wealth or authority to counter. Money and influence only held weight if those with true power deigned to acknowledge them.
A trained Psychic Pokémon could effortlessly hypnotize hundreds. Humanity was fragile in the face of such might—and the recent viral footage of Legendary Pokémon served as a stark reminder: This world was never ours to rule.
As Ryuusuke and Dratini stepped onto the S.S. Anne, a young woman on deck turned her gaze toward them.
Her long, golden hair streamed like molten sunlight in the sea breeze. At the sight of Ryuusuke, her exquisite features flickered with surprise—and, if one looked closely, delight.
Ryuusuke sensed the weight of her stare and glanced toward the distant railing.
Though it was but a fleeting glimpse, the vision left him breathless.
To be continued…
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