Pokémon: Trainers Start as Bounty Hunters.

"After a hundred years, I realized that my master was no longer alive, so I made up my mind to leave this place."

However, I found myself unable to do it; it was as if I were bound by some kind of force.

It was somewhat confused.

If the person in the photo provided by the human really does exist, what should it do?

To leave or to follow?

Tetsuya thought for a moment. Two hundred years ago, according to world history, the Poké Balls at that time were more about "sealing" rather than simply binding.

Let alone the Nine-Tails, which has lived for over 200 years and is at the Elite Four level, even the more powerful ancient Pokémon couldn't break free.

The Masterball developed by the Siluff Group is the best example.

It's not that modern Poké Balls can force a 100% capture rate for Pokémon; it's just that, after hundreds or thousands of years of development, people prefer to communicate with Pokémon through their own feelings.

The Poké Ball merely serves as a link to speed up and simplify the process.

Zhe didn't recall his Ampharos and Blaziken: "How about this, take me to your house for a visit?"

Nine-Tails thought for a moment and nodded.

Luo Ke bowed slightly: "Please follow me."

As he spoke, the umbrella in his hand transformed into a lantern, dispelling the thick fog in the vicinity.

"An illusion that affects reality? What a strange power."

Tetsuya asked Blaziken, and it said it didn't have any superpower fluctuations, which amazed him.

That's why the power of spirits remains an unsolved mystery; despite so much research, humanity still doesn't know much about them.

Led by Nine-Tailed Fox and Loke, the three spirits and one person quickly arrived at the entrance of a huge manor.

"Well, I guess I don't need the illusion."

Looking at the brand-new walls and rooms of the manor, Tetsuya said helplessly.

"Miu"

The Nine-Tails raised its head slightly, and the red light in its eyes surged once more.

The once pristine manor suddenly appeared quite dilapidated.

Collapsed walls, broken houses, and scattered solid wood plants.

Luo Ke said, "I have tried my best to keep this place as it is, but unfortunately, I am still not strong enough."

It didn't possess such power simply because it disappeared; rather, it only recently broke through the Heavenly King level and gained the ability to create illusions within the last fifty years.

Before this, the fire-type Nine-Tails could only barely prevent excessive collapses by relying on its unique superpowers.

Tetsuya led the curious Blaziken and Ampharos inside.

"This is where the master used to stay; it was my former residence."

But for the past two hundred years, I haven't been able to get in.

Nine-Tailed Fox and Loke led them to a small room with portraits hanging on the walls.

The man in the portrait does indeed look very much like Xiao Gang; it's hard to tell the difference without careful observation. He is holding a nine-tailed fox in his arms.

"An old-fashioned Poké Ball?" Tetsuya picked up the "former dwelling" that Ninetales had mentioned and examined it closely.

Compared to modern Poké Balls, this old-fashioned Poké Ball is larger and more brightly colored. The lower half is likely made of wood, while the upper half has a multi-layered circular structure.

"If I'm not mistaken, you need to capture the Pokémon first before you can release this thing," Tetsuya recalled what he knew.

Luckily, he's read a lot of books; otherwise, most people's first reaction would probably be to smash this old-fashioned Poké Ball.

This way, you can still release them, but it's such a waste.

As an antique over two hundred years old, this old-fashioned Poké Ball still has considerable collectible value.

Tetsuya looked at Kurama: "Then, Kurama, come back."

He raised the Poké Ball and aimed it at the opponent.

A silence.

"Down"

Blaziken reached out a claw and poked the old Poké Ball. Is this thing broken?

Nine-Tailed Fox also looked completely bewildered.

“That’s how Master used to let me in,” Luo Ke quickly said to Tetsuya.

So the question is, why not now?

Could it be that it has some kind of identity verification feature?

Tetsuya held the old-fashioned Poké Ball in his hand and shook it. He didn't think that such an old Poké Ball could have such advanced technology.

Nine-Tailed Fox sat obediently in the room, its nine fluffy tails waving wildly.

Tetsuya tried many more methods.

This includes, but is not limited to, directly touching the Nine-Tails, or changing your posture and shouting back at the Nine-Tails.

Without exception, none of them succeeded.

"This is really strange." He couldn't figure it out at all.

As his gaze swept over the hanging portrait, a sudden flash of inspiration struck Tetsuya.

"Could it be..."

He put down the old Poké Ball and turned on his wristwatch.

Fortunately, although we were in the wilderness, there was still a faint signal, and the watch could send and receive messages.

"Come here within half a day for a big prize! (Location information attached)"

Tetsuya immediately sent a message to Tsuyoshi, who was far away in Nibi.

Or rather, it's not too far.

Nibi is located in the western part of the Kanto region, very close to the city.

In terms of straight-line distance alone, it's at most about one-third the size of the Kanto region.

Sitting still, one could easily spend half a day comparing oneself to an eagle.

"Half a day??? Are you crazy???"

Xiao Gang quickly replied to Tetsuya, but his words revealed disbelief.

He has neither a Pokémon like Dragonite that can fly at high speeds, nor a Psychic-type Pokémon to ensure his safety while flying at high speeds.

To think that one could cross regions and reach Tetsuya's location in half a day is simply wishful thinking.

"There's a homeless, King-level Nine-Tails waiting for you, and this guy has also developed some special superpowers."

Tetsuya casually sent a string of words.

No further explanation is needed; that's enough.

"..."

"You're ruthless. Just wait, I'll be there in three hours."

After sending those two messages, Xiao Gang went silent and didn't even reply to Zhe Ye's subsequent questions.

Nine-Tails blinked its eyes.

Tetsuya stretched his stiff neck: "I've brought the person in the photo over now. Do you mind waiting a bit?"

The nine-tailed fox's tail, which had been waving in the air, suddenly tightened.

“This…this…” Its phantom, “Loke,” stammered.

"Don't be nervous." Tetsuya patted Kurama's soft fur. "You'll understand when you see them; they're not the same person after all."

He ruthlessly interrupted the Nine-Tails' fantasy.

Tetsuya expressed his admiration for Kurama's loyalty to its former master, but even spirits have to live their lives, don't they?

Kurama (the Nine-Tails) said that he wanted to leave a hundred years ago, but he just couldn't.

Finding a new trainer might be a better option than spending the rest of one's life in the wild.

Nine-Tails' tail drooped down immediately.

It didn't say much, but simply removed Loke's illusion and lay on the ground, its red eyes staring straight out the door.

Just like it has been doing for over a hundred years.

Time passed little by little.

Tetsuya leisurely started a fire and cooked a meal in the open space of the manor.

"Electric Dragon, come and charge your batteries."

He casually pulled out a converter and pointed it at the electric dragon.

What if there's no electricity in the middle of nowhere? Don't worry, with an electric-type Pokémon around, it's the perfect power bank.

"Boom!"

A violent tremor suddenly occurred, and the converter in his hand lost its balance and fell to the ground.

"It seems he's arrived."

Wearing an apron and holding a spoon in its paw, the blazing chicken raised its head and said this to Tetsuya.

It sensed a familiar waveguide.

Tetsuya picked up the converter, his ears twitching: "Ah, I heard that too."

"squeak"

The dilapidated door was slowly pushed open.

A familiar voice rang out: "Is this the place?"

A squinty-eyed, dark-skinned man walked in.

"It's so similar, it's really too similar." Nine-Tails stood up, and a phantom of Loke appeared beside him.

She covered her mouth, her eyes seemingly glistening with tears.

Tetsuya waved: "Hey, Tsuyoshi, I'm here!"

He was in a very good mood after seeing his good friend whom he hadn't seen in a long time.

“Beautiful lady, I wonder if I am fortunate enough to meet you. It is truly my good fortune to meet you here.”

Xiao Gang ignored Zheye completely and walked towards Luo Ke with hearts in his eyes.

Tetsuya was full of question marks.

No, he remembered that when he talked to Nurse Joy at the Pokémon Center in Pewter City, Brock's condition wasn't this serious.

"Let's ask Jiro later what kind of special training his grandfather gave Xiaogang."

Tetsuya expressed that he was quite curious about this.

Must trainers pay such a price to become stronger?

But before that, let's get down to business. Tetsuya pointed at Brock: "Blizzard, wake him up."

"Down"

The flaming chicken put down its spoon and nodded.

It was radiating blue energy, ready to greet Xiaogang.

"Do"

A cry that rang out from within stopped Blaziken from moving.

An orange, round Pokémon appeared behind Brock.

It has eight yellow rock spikes protruding from the sides of its body, and vertical patterns formed by many small yellow stones on the front and back of its body.

There are two stone mounds on the back, next to the stone ring pattern.