Half an hour later, Ethan found himself uncuffed and sitting in the police station, clutching a cup of hot tea. Although he was an unregistered resident, such individuals were common in this world. In a place like the Pokémon world, where extraordinary powers exist, resources are inevitably controlled by the elite, leaving the lower classes with little strength to resist.
While this situation couldn't be completely eliminated, the Alliance managed to maintain some control. Thanks to various Grass and Water-type Pokémon using moves like Grassy Terrain and Rain Dance, food crops yield abundantly, making food quite affordable. Even those without registration wouldn't starve; odd jobs could sustain a family of three.
The most lucrative enterprises in this world revolve around Pokémon resources and training. Ordinary food doesn't provide the necessary nutrients for Pokémon growth, only specialized berries do. To formally register, one must own property, have a job that can be recorded, capture at least one Pokémon, and pass an evaluation to gain formal Alliance identity.
Starter Pokémon require an annual tax of 100,000 Alliance currency for ten years for children to be eligible for one. Ethan understood the reasoning—starter Pokémon are costly to breed and maintain. The ones provided by the Alliance are excellent, docile, and well-suited for novice Trainers. Even a sub-par starter commands over two million Alliance currency on the black market; the Alliance's price is subsidized.
Major families would prefer to keep Pokémon resources exclusive, reinforcing a class system that secures their status indefinitely. Training Pokémon requires funds, so it's wiser to give starter Pokémon to middle-class families with assets to ensure a good home for them.
Since Ethan was well-dressed, young, and free of labor marks, he fabricated a story about losing his belongings in a storm, which Officer Jenny believed. His clean appearance suggested a pampered upbringing, unlikely to be involved in illegal activities. After confirming Ethan had no criminal record, Jenny released him, unconcerned about his registration status.
"I'm sorry for the inconvenience. Due to Team Aqua's recent activities, security has been tight," Jenny said, offering him tea as an apology.
"It's fine. As citizens, cooperating with law enforcement is our duty. May I leave now?" Ethan asked, feeling uneasy in the police station for the first time.
Fortunately, Officer Jenny was polite and released him after a brief statement. Walking outside, Ethan focused on the system in his mind and the panel only he could see. Despite calling out to the system many times, only the panel appeared, with no tasks or responses—a typical unresponsive system.
The system had a single feature: it could provide one item from the Pokémon world each day, including rare items like Master Balls and Rare Candies. However, Ethan noted the absence of legendary Pokémon-related items, like Plates or Wings, which slightly disappointed him.
"But really, if the system could mass-produce items like Plates, that would be terrifying," he mused. Ethan decided against using a Master Ball to catch his first Pokémon, as this wasn't a turn-based game where every throw was guaranteed. Even a Master Ball required accuracy, and some Pokémon might evade it. He recalled the giant Whiscash in Hoenn that swallowed a Master Ball whole.
As for legendary Pokémon, capturing them improperly could provoke wrath, and Ethan didn't want to risk such peril. Many Trainers perish due to Pokémon, especially novices. For an unregistered resident like him, capturing a Pokémon through friendship was the safest method. Starter Pokémon, even if mistreated, rarely attack their Trainers.
The system shop surprised Ethan with mega stones, Key Stones, Z-Crystals, Dynamax Bands, and Tera Orbs, ensuring he'd have no resource worries when capturing future Pokémon.
Ethan needed a temporary place to eat and sleep, as well as to understand this world's basics. He exchanged a Big Nugget, sold it at a legitimate Alliance shop, and received 200,000 Alliance currency, which he used to buy essentials, Pokémon training guides, and magazines to understand the timeline.
Alliance shops offered quality assurance and clear pricing, unlike the risky black market. Until he had self-preservation skills, Ethan avoided it. Pokémon resources were costly—regular Poké Balls cost 2,000 currency, and even low-grade Energy Cubes were sold individually.
Without identification, Ethan couldn't stay at the Pokémon Center, so he rented a small house nearby, preparing to learn about the current timeline.