Note: Renamed Twin Dragon City to Opelucid City
...
"This is for everyone's sake."
Jenny Ray's gaze slowly swept across the familiar faces before her before she spoke again, her voice calm yet resolute.
"The gang model is no longer suitable for the kingdom ruled by His Majesty Lucien."
"Pokémon Centers, Police Stations, Trainers, Pokémon flying taxis, Gyms spread across the land…"
She paused briefly.
"I believe it's not just me, you all feel it too. His Majesty is creating a completely new era."
"The Joys of the Joy family have already stepped forward. They've integrated into society, and through their work, the world has begun to change how it views them."
"But we, the Jennys, are still trapped in the past."
"When I first founded the Thunder Gang, it was simply to give everyone a place to survive, to stand firm in a hostile world."
"Now, we have a better choice."
"In the nation built by His Majesty Lucien, no one will despise us, no one will treat us as harbingers of misfortune."
She looked at them gently.
"On ordinary days, you all call me Big Sister. So now, as your Big Sister… I truly hope that each of you can live openly here, just like the Joys."
The Jennys' eyes trembled.
"Big Sister…"
They felt it clearly, Jenny Ray's sincerity, her concern, her hope for them.
Soon, one Jenny stepped forward and nodded firmly.
"We'll listen to Big Sister."
"That's right!" another Jenny added quickly. "This way, Big Sister won't have to shoulder everything alone anymore!"
"And even if we're scattered across the kingdom, it's not like we'll never meet again," someone said with a grin.
"With flying Pokémon taxis, we can reunite anytime we want!"
The tension in the room slowly dissolved.
Light returned to their eyes.
"Then," one Jenny suddenly reached out her hand, "to celebrate everyone's new life..."
Without hesitation, more hands stacked on top.
One by one.
The Jennys looked at each other, then shouted together:
"From now on, we'll work even harder and prove ourselves to Big Sister!"
"Yes!"
Kingdom Calendar, Year 151 - Early May
The Jenny family officially joined the Kingdom of Eindoak and began serving under Lucien.
After completing professional training in Lucien City, they departed with their assigned Growlithe partners, heading to cities across the Unova region to assume their roles as police officers.
The Jenny lineage possessed a natural sense of justice.
Within just half a month, public security across the region improved dramatically.
When Lucien received the reports, he wasn't surprised.
After all, there was a reason the Leagues in later eras entrusted the Jenny family with law enforcement everywhere.
But to the people of this time, it was nothing short of astonishing.
"Your Majesty, your foresight is truly extraordinary," Elif said, reviewing the reports sent by various city mayors, his voice filled with admiration.
Lucien: "…"
He didn't respond, but Elif wasn't wrong.
With Officer Jennys stationed across the land, public security was no longer a concern.
Now, the framework was complete.
Friendly Stores for supplies. Pokémon Centers for medical care.
Police Stations for order. Gyms to test strength.
The Trainer profession could now develop naturally.
What mattered next… was infrastructure.
Lucien set down one report and picked up another.
"Reporting to Your Majesty: the railway tracks connecting Lucien City to Opelucid City, Kagome Village, and Undella Town have been completed. Awaiting your instructions."
Another report followed, sent by Lucien City's mayor, Sharen.
"Your Majesty, the station in Opelucid City has been completed according to the blueprints and is ready for use."
All three lines, finished?
Lucien was genuinely surprised.
That meant people could now travel freely between Lucien City, Opelucid City, Undella Town, and Kagome Village by steam train.
It was exhilarating.
But Lucien quickly steadied himself.
This was only the beginning.
Many more towns still awaited connection.
Unlike flying Pokémon taxis, which could carry only a handful of passengers at a time, steam trains could transport people and goods in massive quantities.
Coal, Ore, Clothing, Industrial materials.
This would fundamentally reshape the kingdom's economy.
"Elif," Lucien asked, "what's the current status of the steam train itself?"
"Reporting to Your Majesty, the steam train has entered the trial operation phase."
"Oh?" Lucien's eyes brightened.
He had only provided blueprints, yet the craftsmen had already brought it to life.
Human ingenuity truly knew no bounds.
"Take me to see it."
"Yes, Your Majesty."
They left the castle together and soon arrived at Lucien City Station, now designated a restricted zone.
Unauthorized entry was forbidden.
Inside, over a dozen craftsmen surrounded a colossal machine, making final adjustments.
Before Lucien stood a pitch-black steel behemoth.
Its body was forged from countless precisely fitted components. A towering chimney rose from its core, while massive driving wheels lined its underside.
Behind the locomotive, two carriages were firmly connected by sturdy Janney couplers.
When the craftsmen saw Lucien arrive, they immediately stepped forward and saluted.
"Your Majesty Lucien!"
Lucien nodded in acknowledgment and fixed his gaze on the steel giant before him.
The very first steam train ever born in this world.
"How is it?" he asked. "Can it operate normally?"
"Reporting to Your Majesty," a craftsman replied excitedly, "the steam train has entered its final debugging stage. If no issues arise, it can be mass-produced and officially put into use!"
He turned back toward the group behind him and raised his arm.
"Everyone, show His Majesty Lucian the results of our work!"
"Yes!" the craftsmen responded in unison.
Several of them climbed onto the locomotive and ignited the furnace.
In the next instant, a deep, thunderous rumble echoed through the station.
"Choo!"
Thick white steam burst from the chimney atop the locomotive, billowing into the air. Inside the steel body, the machinery roared to life. Power surged through the engine, and the massive wheels beneath began to turn with a steady, rhythmic clatter.
Under Lucien's watchful eyes and the craftsmen's eager gazes, the steam train slowly began to move.
It rolled forward along the steel-laid tracks, stable and powerful.
The tremendous noise drew the attention of nearby Pokémon. One by one, they emerged from the forest and roadside bushes, stopping to stare curiously at this advancing steel behemoth.
"Success!"
The craftsmen erupted in cheers.
"Your Majesty, we succeeded!"
Lucien watched the scene quietly, then nodded with a faint smile.
"You have all worked hard," he said. "Your efforts will not go unrewarded. I hereby announce that everyone involved in this project will receive a special bonus from the kingdom."
The craftsmen's eyes lit up instantly.
They laughed, exchanged excited looks, and celebrated with high-fives.
Lucien watched them with satisfaction.
He knew that a new era had begun.
With the steam train as its artery, the cities, towns, and villages of the Unova region would be bound together more closely than ever before.
Unova.
A land where many peoples and many Pokémon lived together as part of a single, vast ecosystem.
All becoming one.
It was a name that perfectly echoed the birth of the Divine Dragon Kyurem.
From this moment onward, it was no longer merely the Kingdom of Eindoak.
It was the Unova Kingdom.
The Unova region.
Kingdom Calendar, Year 151, mid-May.
Two major announcements spread across the land.
First, His Majesty Lucian of Lucien City formally declared that the Kingdom of Eindoak would henceforth be renamed the Unova Kingdom.
The name signified unity. A nation where all people, all Pokémon, and all cultures lived together, regardless of origin, status, class, or gender.
Second came the celebration of the steam train's successful development and the official opening of railway routes connecting Lucien City, Opelucid City, Undella Town, Kagome Village, and other locations.
From this day forward, residents of these places could travel freely using a brand-new form of transportation: the steam train.
As for cities whose routes had not yet opened, there was no need for concern. Railway construction was already underway across the region.
The announcements were printed in newspapers and delivered by messengers to every corner of Unova.
Soon, the entire kingdom was abuzz.
Regarding the renaming of the kingdom, most people reacted calmly. Their daily lives remained unchanged, and many simply felt that the new name sounded better than the old one.
The steam train, however, caused a far greater stir.
In cities like Castelia City and Striaton City, where railway lines had not yet been completed, residents were filled with curiosity about this new invention.
Meanwhile, in Opelucid City and Undella Town, people experienced it firsthand.
They quickly discovered something remarkable.
Traveling from Opelucid City to Lucien City by steam train was astonishingly fast and convenient.
The ticket prices were far lower than those of flying Pokémon taxis, and for those who feared heights, the train felt far safer than soaring through the sky.
Soon, crowds poured into the stations.
Some traveled to visit relatives and friends. Others came to tour Lucien City, the capital of the Unova Kingdom. Many sought new job opportunities in distant cities.
Population movement increased rapidly.
Merchants, too, sensed opportunity.
Transporting goods by steam train was faster, safer, and more reliable than the old caravan routes that relied on Bouffalant and pack Pokémon.
One by one, trading caravans were phased out.
Commerce across Unova began to grow at a breathtaking pace.
In just one month, the City Halls of Opelucid City, Undella Town, and several other regions, along with their major commercial districts, were already reaping enormous profits.
Butler Kran stood before Mayor Sharon, his face flushed with excitement as he delivered the financial report.
"Lord Sharon, ever since the steam train began operating, our city's financial revenue this month has increased tenfold compared to before!"
"Not only that, but local shops and vendors have also made a fortune thanks to the influx of tourists and merchants from other regions."
"My lord, we've struck gold!" Kran said excitedly. "If this momentum continues, Opelucid City becoming the second-largest metropolis in the Unova Kingdom is only a matter of time!"
Hearing this, Sharon calmly took a sip of the freshly delivered Moomoo Milk from Lucien City, a satisfied smile curling at the corner of his lips.
As expected.
He had known all along that following in His Majesty Lucien's footsteps was the correct choice.
After all, that was the man chosen by the Divine Dragon.
But more than the profit itself, what Sharon truly cared about was how the other lords no, the other city mayors would react when they heard this news.
"Let's go, Kran," Sharon suddenly said, rising from his seat.
Kran froze for a moment. "My lord?"
"To Lucien City, of course." Sharon stretched leisurely. "Now that we're making this much money, it's only right that I enjoy life properly."
He paused, then added with interest, "Besides, I heard the Pokémon battle events at the Grand Arena there are extremely popular these days."
Naturally, there was another reason he did not bother saying aloud.
He wanted to see what new things His Majesty Lucien had created this time, especially delicacies like sweet honey and Moomoo Milk.
"Yes, my lord!" Kran quickly stood as well.
After a moment of thought, Sharon added casually, "Invest all of this phase's financial revenue into Opelucid City's infrastructure."
"My lord?" Kran was taken aback.
Sharen smiled. "Only when the city becomes better can we continue attracting people from other regions. And only then can we keep making more money."
Kran's eyes shone. "My lord truly has great foresight!"
"Enough talking," Sharon waved him off. "Go buy me a first-class ticket. I hear quite a few major aristocrats have been running around lately. If we go late, there won't be any left."
"Yes, my lord!"
Meanwhile, inside the castle of Lucien City.
Lucien stared at the stack of letters that had arrived early that morning, feeling a bit at a loss for words.
They were from Castelia City, Striaton City, Black City, Virbank City, and several other regions.
Although there were many letters, the contents were astonishingly consistent.
"Your Majesty, we're starving. Please give us food."
Without a doubt, these fellows had grown jealous after seeing how much Opelucid City had earned.
...
Support me on P@reon and read upto 15 chapters ahead @Keepsmiling 818 p@reon