Alex had no idea about the Alliance's plan. All he knew was that the bounty money from the Alliance headquarters had been transferred into his account.
In the world of bounty hunters, there was a strict rule: although outsiders might know a little, the true identity of each hunter was always kept absolutely secret. They were only known by a number, and no one was allowed to reveal their personal information.
Because bounty hunters were different from Pokémon trainers, they made a living by completing missions and earning rewards. If their identities were exposed, it would easily stir the greed of others and lead to unwanted trouble. Of course, if someone voluntarily revealed their identity, that was another matter.
Now, Alex was lying comfortably on a beautiful beach in Slateport City, enjoying the cool breeze from the vast ocean.
The recent trip to the Rock Cave had been quite rewarding. When you've earned money, the first thing to do is to enjoy and take care of yourself.
Slateport was a bustling port city connecting many major regions like Kanto, Johto, Hoenn, Sinnoh, and more. It was famous for its stunning beaches and fresh air.
Having rented a private beach on the southern side of the city, Alex was ready to spend a truly relaxing vacation.
"Ding Ling—Ding Ling~"
The phone rang under the sunshade. Alex, shirtless and showing off his toned abs, calmly answered.
"Good morning, Mr. Alex. This is Keiko, the VIP customer service representative from Blue Sky Auction Company."
"The batch of Fire Stones you consigned to our auction has been sold out."
"After deducting fees, 1,203 Alliance credits have been transferred into your registered account."
"Please check."
Alex opened his laptop and quickly verified the procedures. The balance was correct; the money had arrived.
"Alright, I've received it," he said with a smile, feeling very relaxed.
"Thank you, Blue Sky Auction Company. I look forward to cooperating with you again."
"It's our pleasure to serve you, Mr. Alex. Keiko wishes you a wonderful day. Goodbye."
After hanging up, Alex leaned back in his chair, took out the huge pearl gifted by Lairon, and quietly fiddled with it in his palm.
His eyes gradually became dreamy.
Meanwhile, Kirlia was soaking her smooth, white feet in the cool seawater, gently picking up beautifully colored seashells along the shore.
"This harvest really turned out well," Alex whispered.
"Now there's over 1,300 Alliance credits in the account. Buying those Skill Machines won't be a problem anymore."
"I can also take the time to fix up things, without worrying about living expenses."
Alex looked up at the sky, basking in the gentle sunshine, feeling peaceful.
Most Pokémon could only learn basic moves by leveling up.
To make Pokémon more resilient in battles, trainers needed to buy Skill Machines produced by Silph Co., which expanded the range of moves a Pokémon could learn.
Of course, Skill Machines were not magical — most Pokémon could only learn moves that didn't conflict with their own types.
However, there were some special exceptions.
For example, signature Fire-type moves like Flamethrower; some Water-type Pokémon like Slowpoke, Gyarados, and Octillery could learn them through Skill Machines.
After taking a sip of cold water, Alex looked up at the sky and saw a flock of Wingull flying by.
"It's about time to visit Professor Oak in Kanto."
"By the way, I'll continue to capture new Pokémon to expand my team."
"Luca~ Luca~"
While pondering his future plans, Alex suddenly heard Lucario's call.
Looking out, Lucario was struggling on his surfboard.
He was awkwardly trying to surf the waves, struggling to keep balance as the board rocked, then suddenly got thrown into the shore by a big wave.
Kirlia, standing nearby, covered her mouth, giggling at the funny scene.
Alex pushed his thoughts aside, stood up holding a surfboard, and smiled warmly as he approached.
"Rocky, let me teach you how to surf."
He joined the ranks of those who loved this sport.
"Rocky, your talent is really good," Alex praised, giving a thumbs-up to Lucario.
"You learn quickly."
Before his journey, Alex grew up by the seaside and was no stranger to waves and the ocean.
Surfing was one of his favorite pastimes.
"Alright, you've got the theory down. Now, let's start practicing." Alex stood on the board, waiting for the wave with Lucario.
Blah~ Blah~ Blah~
A tidal wave rolled in.
As soon as Alex stepped on the board, he glided skillfully and smoothly like a professional surfer.
Although Lucario understood the theory, he was still clumsy and nervous facing the crashing waves.
He tried to stand on the board but soon fell off due to loss of balance.
"Luca~" came the encouraging call.
Despite falling, Lucario wasn't discouraged but even more excited.
Thanks to Alex's guidance, he gradually improved and seemed to find the crucial balance point.
Alex surfed while teaching, "Lean slightly forward and keep your weight on your back foot."
"Don't fight against the power of the wave, first adapt to the sea's strength, then conquer it."
"Luca!"
This time, Lucario stood firmly on the surfboard.
Another smaller wave rolled in, and Alex gently pushed Lucario forward.
At last, he found his balance and started surfing on the sea like a true athlete.
"Nice! That's it!" Alex couldn't hide his admiration.
Slowly, Lucario started to get the rhythm and really enjoy riding the waves.
Surfing was both a game and practice.
Training surfing helped Lucario improve his balance, allowing him to dodge important enemy attacks more easily.
Moreover, surfing also built courage. Facing rolling waves could easily cause fear.
The key was to overcome that fear.
That way, you'd gain the courage to move forward when facing future hardships.
After taking care of Lucario, Alex moved toward Kirlia.
He playfully splashed water at her and started to play around.
Kirlia, shy but not wanting to lose, responded with her own "mischievous" moves.
Her small white hands held plenty of seashells, so the "damage" was minimal.
Trying to avoid Alex, Kirlia kept stepping back.
Unluckily, she stumbled and almost fell.
With quick reflexes, Alex immediately caught her in a flip.
Feeling the warmth from his chest, Kirlia's small face quickly flushed bright red.