Disclaimer: I do not own Pokémon but I do own my OCs.
My mind went blank as my only two ways of escape were blocked off by a man who had superior Pokémon and another person that could manhandle me. A few laughs came from the group of trainers knowing I was in a trap. The only place to go was down and there was no guarantee that I'd be able to hide or get back up safely. I felt uneasy that they were cool with everything that was going on. For the first time in years, I was completely helpless.
"Before our battle, I promised that you wouldn't get harmed. I will keep that promise. However, you must stay until the end of the night without battling." My stomach was in a giant knot. I had no clue what that meant and had no choice but to wait it out.
"Okay then. Can I take a seat?" I asked sheepishly. He motioned for me to sit while the bodyguard took out a piece of paper. The man stepped forward to address the other trainers.
"The rest of you were invited here because you are some of the top battlers that failed to make it past the first elimination battle of last year's Hoenn League tournament. I thank you for not taking offense to that unlike others that I have asked. I know there is a spot in the company for one of you. Jon Doe will be the referee tonight."
The bodyguard stepped forward. "You were assigned a number from one to eight when you arrived. They were randomly assigned and do not reflect your rank so don't take the matchups personally. Every battle will be a single elimination six on six battle with substitutions. Number one will battle number eight in the first round."
I almost threw up when nobody's real name was used. Even the most brutal back alley fights had people with names. Sometimes they had nicknames like "Mauville Menace" or other street names similar to their real name, but at least they could be identified down the road. What did I get myself into?
Both trainers were all business as they took their places. The first round was fast paced with a Crawdaunt going against a Vigoroth. After Crawdaunt fainted, playtime was over. Aggron was the next choice to take on Vigoroth and when that matchup went Aggron's way, Slaking took the field. Raw power described in a textbook was nothing compared to seeing it on display. Despite my current situation, I enjoyed the battle until the end.
"Congratulations on your victory number eight. As for number one, have a seat and wait until the end of the night. Next up is two versus seven."
From the start of that battle and beyond, only fully evolved Pokémon saw the field. Every trainer had a diverse team in type and utility. Number seven was the eventual winner and he showed no emotion after the announcement. Getting knocked out of the first round must've been a terrible feeling for them when it happened. I could only imagine the strength of the people who beat them.
"We appreciate you for coming out," the ringleader said after gathering everyone together. "We could catch the last ferry back to Mauville, but I have a better alternative. Follow me please."
"Just curious, what about the battle area? We really tore it up," number seven noted as he went to heal his Pokémon one last time.
"From what I gathered, we can leave it as is. The structural integrity is still fine and it is common knowledge that wild Pokémon are very hostile beyond the tourist areas. There are no cameras installed on closed off floors yet so we're fine. Now let's get out of here."
Jon Doe called out an Abra to teleport us on a yacht still docked to the side of the island. We were treated to a nice spread of food before we were called into the captain's quarters one by one. Number seven and I were the only ones left after we saw the others get off. They were surprisingly calm after everything they went through. No grumbling about losing or hanging their head about not getting a spot in the company. Just a stone face.
"Young man, you're next," Jon grunted while motioning to me shortly after another trainer left. He led me to the ringleader and motioned me to sit down across from him.
"My apologies, but I never got your name. You may call me V. Mister V."
I wanted to know more, but I was on his turf now. If anything went bad, I couldn't rely on my Pokémon to bail me out. He was in complete control of the situation so I didn't want to press the name issue.
"Ryan."
"Ah! Excellent! I'd like to offer you a spot in my company, Ryan."
My head slightly tilted. "But I didn't beat you. Hell, my team isn't really that strong compared to everyone else tonight."
He handed me a brochure. "Pokémon Services is a company has many positions for people like you. As the owner, I'd like to offer you a job as a fundraising specialist."
Both men waited for me to finish reading it over. Apparently, the company was expanding into Hoenn from Orre and they specialized in Pokémon medicine. Rehabilitation and specialized surgery seemed to be their two moneymakers but they were also heavy on researching Pokémon like professor Birch. Their pictures ranged from a Lombre doing water therapy to a surgery team working on a Breloom's leg.
"You guys established here yet?"
"We're opening up on the far north side of town when the time is right. The reception area and conference rooms are open for anyone with an appointment. After we bring over some equipment on a cargo ship, we'll be fully operational. I can take you there if you'd like."
"Maybe later. Now what do you want me to do exactly? People who work at fundraisers are so cheerful while I'm not."
He leaned back in his chair. "My sources tell me that a game corner is opening up soon. There will be a battle area for cash prizes inside of it as well; the first one is on opening night. All I want you to do is battle in tournaments and win the prize money." I knew business ethics from certain companies were questionable at times, but hearing that was a surprise. I didn't want to question how or why that made sense for fear of blowing this job opportunity. Still, I was taken aback.
"Let me get this straight for a second. You want me of all people to battle for a cash prize!? Again, my team isn't ready for the big time and I'm not in a good spot in terms of my personal life. I didn't know my Magnemite's attack names!"
"But you're smart," he sincerely noted. "Other trainers in your spot would've been foolish to think they could actually win. I knew you were upset and wanted you to blow off some steam. After you saw Alakazam, you went from being in a blind rage to taking a rational approach."
That compliment felt good to hear although I was confused. "How? I was clearly outmatched from the start. A smart person would've forfeited on the spot."
"True, but you hid that feeling very well. I noticed that you calmed down, but you didn't cower or indicate that you were scared. You also didn't try to overestimate your power. By using Magnemite's sturdy to get off a hit, you turned the battle in your favor for a bit and stayed patient before striking."
This man was putting too much faith in me. "Let's say for the sake of argument that I acted against everything you see in me and tonight was just a fluke. You still hire me and soon I'm terrible at this job. What will happen next? This is honestly a big gamble you're taking. Being in Mauville may make your company thrive, but the business climate is ruthless. You'll have competition coming within a few months."
"Then we will fire you to save costs and you'll be free to go about your business. However, I think you just need the tools to succeed because you're naturally smart and resourceful. I can lend you Pokémon to battle so there's less pressure. They're strong and are responsive to anyone with a company badge."
"Can I bring them to other battles? I know where to make some quick money and this is one of those places. I'm assuming you kicked out the people that usually come here because security is never stationed down here."
He sat up straight and leaned in. "They better come back fully healed," he bluntly stated. "I'd limit the number of outings or at least space them out so people can forget about you over time. Maybe a disguise or two? You better know what you're doing at all times."
"They'll be fine and I can handle myself," I shot back. "But in all honesty, I'm not sure if I want to accept your offer right now. This is a lot to take in."
A snap of his fingers made the guard pull out a card. "This is my gift to you. If you come to the facility and present this to the receptionist, she will know what to do. Are there any questions?"
"One, actually. How long does this offer last?"
"I'd love to hear from you by next week, but I'm not sure if there are a lot of people in your position. You know the area, you know your limits, and you're a young trainer with a lot of potential." I wasn't about to tell him that I technically wasn't a trainer for fear of not getting the job. It's not like he would look me up anyway based on my job description.
"Give me some time and I'll at least tell you my decision."
"Very well. I think it would be in both our interests not to tell anyone exactly what happened tonight or parts of this conversation. Feel free to share this pamphlet since we're ready to send them out. Tell anyone that you got a job offer if you'd like. Before I forget, Magnemite's attacks were Metal Sound which lowers special defense and Mirror Shot which may lower accuracy. I've read up on Hoenn's Pokémon before coming here."
"Fair enough."
He stood up and shook my hand. "Thank you for coming. Jon will escort you back to the city line while I will talk to our champion from tonight. I look forward to hearing your decision at some point." Jon called Abra out to teleport us to the south gate after I explained that I met a group of people that planned on teleporting out. I think he was worried about me but shrugged it off and started his closing routine.
The clocks downtown read 12:15 am so I thought about staying out to enjoy the nightlife. Then again, I wasn't following most dress codes for the bars with just a shirt and shorts. Spending money anywhere would've been a bad idea too since I wasn't sure if I could win a street battle or two. I kept my head high on the way home knowing I had an offer.
A group of four teenagers a few blocks from my house were trying to take advantage of couples trying to go to the heart of downtown. It was a simple demand for money that turned into a verbal berating as the couples ran away or called out their Pokémon to defend themselves. Zangoose was a Pokémon sent out to intimidate the next person to walk by; it was me.
"Come on man! Got some money? We're trying to get some food," the ringleader moaned.
"Fuck off. I already know that's a lie." Zangoose cut me off and started growling.
"You know you want to," a girl behind me urged.
"Nope. Magnemite shut them up," I sighed.
Zangoose's owner came to the forefront. "Crush Claw!" he confidently screamed.
"Looks like someone didn't pay attention in school. Mirror Shot!" Magnemite's reaction time was faster than before; the hit landed before Zangoose got close enough.
"Use Revenge!"
Shit… another fighting type move. "Float away and use Metal Sound!"
It was an easy maneuver to pull off to everyone else's annoyance. The best part was that my partner treated this potentially dangerous situation like play time. As long as it kept landing hits, I didn't care how it acted.
"Jump up and use Crush Claw!" Without the distraction of sound, Zangoose slashed away in the air before falling back to the ground. "Boost up with Hone Claws!"
"Ram into it with Spark!"
"Run around! Try to strike back with Revenge when you're done!"
The two chased each other in circles trying to land a big hit before the other one. Magnemite got rid of the electricity in favor of Mirror Shot. Smaller blasts failed to hit Zangoose so it used an attack where steel balls followed the normal type until they collided with it. It wasn't as strong as I had thought, but dodging wasn't an option anymore.
"Spark!" It wasted no time zapping my opponent's Pokémon unconscious. "New plan! You don't follow me and nobody gets hurt. We cool?" I yelled with my arms outstretched and a smile on my face.
"Damn," the girl mumbled. "Man, fuck you!" she yelled while everyone took off in the other direction.
"That's what I thought!"
I don't know if they got away with some money or what they said beforehand. Frankly, I was surprised nobody battled them beforehand unless everybody they bothered was drunk. If they ganged up on me, then I would've considered attacking them. Handling multiple Pokémon from one person is manageable, but when multiple Pokémon from multiple people are out, it's easier to go for the trainers. Sympathy in street fights? Only if someone was confident they would be able to handle the situation if it turned sour.
Nobody was up when I got back so I went straight to my bedroom. My new job offer sounded too good to turn down and I couldn't stop thinking about it. The main thing to worry about would be how I would get paid. I would make money for them and then what? Would I get a cut of the profits? Could I make it on my own after my suspension was up? If I went tomorrow, I would have a better understanding of how it was going to work. Nobody would have to know until I made my decision.
A building with a fresh coat of royal blue stood out among the boarded-up ones on the north side of the city. Pokémon Services had modest curb appeal with its glass windows showing off the waiting room to anyone walking by. The back half of the building was much bigger so I assumed that's where they did surgeries or rehabilitation. A receptionist was typing away as I walked in.
"Sir, we're only seeing a select few people at this time. You're going to have to wait a little bit before the public can schedule an appointment."
I pulled out the card. "I think this counts as an appointment."
Her eyes went wide and she immediately got up. "Right this way. He should be in his office." The door was open but he was on the phone so she closed it and made me sit with her.
"How's the S.S. Libra doing? Will it be able to sail sometime this week?" I couldn't hear the other person from outside the office, but I heard Mister V's fist slam the table. "Then what are you waiting for!? Load the cargo and get over to Slateport City! We're opening up to the public soon!"
I felt awkward so I tried to make small talk. "Busy man I take it?"
"Absolutely. The hardest part is getting the equipment here," the receptionist sighed. "Once we get everything here, we'll start expanding our customer base." He continued to ask questions until he slammed down the phone in frustration.
"Idiots! All of them! I should've done it myself," he said while rubbing his forehead. "I don't have any appointments either!"
"Sir, a young man presented your card," she responded while going into his office.
"Oh! Bring him in!" The man's attitude changed faster than anyone I've seen.
"You sure you don't want me to come back tomorrow? I got my second job by bothering the boss on his day off but that was a different case."
He started to reorganize his desk. "Not a problem. What can I do for you?"
"I'll take the job if you tell me how I'll get paid. No offense, but I can battle for money any time I want. I can take my time to get stronger too. I want to be a trainer at the end of the day."
"Then why come to me now? Wouldn't you like more time to decide?"
I leaned forward. "I'm not letting this opportunity go to waste by sitting on it." He took out some papers and started to circle a few areas.
"You're going to be on commission."
Keeping a straight face was hard to do with a whirlwind of thoughts. Mom started out with a higher commission rate and hourly wage; she jumped on the chance to have a higher overall salary and lower commission rate. She's seen both sides of the coin and preferred the steady income.
"What's the percentage? What about a salary option and lower rate?"
"No salary option," he bluntly stated. "Your rate will be 20% on everything you bring in with some perks. If you choose to give the company more than 80% of any money earned, it will be noted and you may be rewarded."
My jaw nearly dropped at the offer. Mom wouldn't even sniff that even if she worked at Rydel's for the rest of her life. Game corner payouts weren't going to be cheap and there was no way to track how much I would bring in from the underground scene. There was still a missing piece of the puzzle.
"Define perks."
"Let me ask you a question: do you have any formal attire?"
I put my head down. "Not a lot. Just a few dress shirts and ties. I think I outgrew my suit; I haven't had to wear it in years."
"That will have to change," he said while tapping the desk. "Assuming you want the job, I'll give you 3,000P to get some new clothes for when you go to battling events at the game corner. You'll be taken more seriously by everyone watching. What you wear on the streets is your business. Consider that your first perk with the potential for more."
I was pretty much sold with that line. If he was willing to do all of that for me, there was something he obviously saw in me. Or it could've been the fact that this man was so rich that 3,000P means nothing. Pressure would be constantly placed on me, but I knew I could handle it.
"Where do I sign?"
"Right here on the last page."
I looked over the paperwork in great detail and everything was straightforward. I would be given a personal bank account to use for anything related to Pokémon Services so I wouldn't have to rely solely on coming in to hand off money. The part that worried me the most was that I could lose everything they were willing to give me if I was fired. All company Pokémon were considered rentals although I could buy them for an outrageous price if I loved them that much; not bonding with them would be tough. Anything I caught on my own time was mine. When I got the details through my head, signing my name never felt so good.
"Done. Now what?"
"Let me show you around the facility. I'd like to do at least one productive thing today."
My new boss intended on showing me every square inch of the facility. We went back to the reception area before going through a set of double doors. We were immediately met with a hallway with three large operating rooms that were fully furnished with a fourth one missing most of its equipment. The main hallway split into three more at the end.
Going left took us to the long-term care area. A dozen hospital rooms lined the hallway and all of them had only a bed and a basic medical kit. Vending machines were near another door which led to a small café that guests could order food from. We doubled back to the fork and went down the right hallway.
There were a dozen rehabilitation rooms with each one having different tools for Pokémon to help get their strength back. Dumbbells, resistance bands, yoga balls, and massage tables were haphazardly placed since most of the equipment was still overseas. He explained that the right side was going to be crowded as soon as they would take same day appointments for quick testing. I couldn't hold my thoughts in anymore.
"Not to be rude, but how much did all of this cost? My sister wants to study meteorology and their equipment isn't cheap either. I can't imagine everything here when it gets filled up." His sunglasses prevented me from reading his facial expression until he cracked a small smile.
"A lot. My father made some good investments when he was younger, my brother won prize fights at Realgam Tower, and I scoured the world for clients that would come to do business in Orre. It was a rough start until everything came together at once."
"Does your dad or brother help run this place too?" I asked out of instinct.
His smile quickly turned into a scowl. "They have gone their separate ways. I intend to keep the family business alive. Once everything is set up, the company will turn a profit. Now let me show you the final area," he said while walking back to the fork. "This is where most of the work is done. Welcome to the dome." He opened the door then turned on half of the lights.
Four regulation battlefields were separated by fencing in one corner, an obstacle course sat opposite it, an empty storage room was tucked away to the far right, and the rest of the area was open for personalized training. This was far from an average rehabilitation center.
"How many Pokémon can train in here at once?"
He shrugged his shoulders. "Hopefully we never have to find out. As much as I want to rehabilitate Pokémon, seeing a lot in here would be unsettling. All that matters is that we have the resources to get Pokémon back to fighting shape. Unfortunately, you're going to be in the field more than back here."
"Can I stop by on my own time?"
"I don't see why not. Now let's go to my office and show you a list of potential partners."
Mister V's Pokémon probably had nothing on Birch's starter Pokémon. Although they came with strings attached, they would help me in a tough legal battling environment. I took a few deep breaths realizing that this wasn't about schoolyard dominance or grades; a lot was on the line.
"These are the six Pokémon I trust you with for a battle. Game corner battles are three on three so your lineup may change," he said bluntly while handing me his own list. No moves were listed to save space but I figured they would be useful.
"Okay, let's see who we have here: Swellow, Lairon, Swalot, Camerupt, Manectric, Roserade, Wailmer," I read off with no emotion.
I stared at the sheet in disbelief. Where was Blaziken or Metagross? And Wailmer as the water option? What was he thinking!? Manectric was arguably the best out of the group but everyone else was trash… at least on paper. With a little training or a few TM discs, my Linoone could win against all of them.
"What do you think?"
"I'd like to see the moves on these things. I don't have a Pokédex to help me out."
"You'll get more information before any scheduled event. Until I can fully trust you with them, they are to remain here at the facility."
Years of dealing with people being wary of me paid off because I kept a stone face. But really? He was going to keep me in the dark for that long? There wasn't much I could do aside from using my own Pokémon; no way would I win a single round against someone willing to put up a lot of money for a large legal payout.
"Whatever works. Before I forget, Magnemite used an attack last night that had little balls following a Zangoose. What's that attack called?"
He rubbed his chin. "I honestly don't know. I can look it up later." I sensed some frustration within him.
"Look, I can battle once I get past the learning curve with moves. A Pokédex goes a long way."
"Oh, I know the feeling. As for our Pokémon, they recognize this," he noted while pulling out a neon orange card on a lanyard. "My company has trained these Pokémon to listen to anyone holding this badge; it's so that anyone can use these to spar with recovering Pokémon."
"Cool! Now what?"
"Keep training your Pokémon too in case you need them. There isn't much for you to do with us until the game corner opens. If you need to stop by until then, use the badge up front and someone will be able to answer your questions. When we really get the ball rolling, I won't be here that much so keep that in mind. Any questions?"
"One, actually. Could I tell organizers to deposit the money directly into my professional account? I'm not sure if they would pay me right after the battle or send a check there. I used to work as a janitor in an accounting firm; I've heard stories of how money goes missing in this city."
"Trust your gut," Mister V quickly replied. "As long as the money comes in from legal battles, you're free to battle anywhere else. Don't let underground battling get in the way of your main job."
I stood up. "That's it for me. I'll register when the time comes. Thanks for the job!"
"Excellent!" I was escorted to the front and was given copies of my paperwork by the receptionist.
The afternoon walk home felt different compared to any day at the gym or my janitorial job. For the first time in my life, I felt like I was in total control of my situation. No school to hold me back, no league rules to follow, company rules were lax, I could bring in as much money as I wanted, I could work on own time for the most part, and I didn't need to be an official trainer to do anything.
Dad was shuffling around upstairs when I sat down on the couch. I held a huge grin with a brochure in one hand after I hid the paperwork underneath the cushions. He came down in his pajamas and stared at me.
"You have fun last night?" he asked with fake curiosity.
"I got home a little late but the bars were still open. It was worth it."
"Please tell me you didn't get in trouble and run away," dad said while tilting his head back and closing his eyes.
"The opposite. I got another job."
His head shot forward. "You what!?" I flashed the brochure and he took it. "Pokémon Services, huh? Never heard of them."
I stood up. "They're not open to the public yet. Look for a huge royal blue building on the north side next time you're in that part of town. Very hard to miss for anyone unless they're in a rush." Dad looked over the pictures a second time.
"Medical care? Rehabilitation? You never showed an interest in those things. Ryan, what are you doing for them?"
"Fundraising. I'm a part of a team to bring in money. Sales calls, fundraising, stuff like that," I replied as firmly as possible. Any doubt in my voice was bound to cause problems.
"You said sales. I assume you're on commission?"
"They want me so much that they're willing to give me a 20% rate when I start."
Dad folded his arms and shook his head with a smile. "Lie to your mother. I don't even care if it's true or not, that's crazy. You can tell everyone when they get home. I need some breakfast."
While he was in the kitchen, I took the opportunity to hide any paperwork in my room that stated explicit details about how I would get money; same for my badge. Playing dumb was reasonable since I didn't have any answers except for the ones that I didn't want to give away. I'd do my job, but taking an interest in Pokémon medicine during my down time could help me as a trainer.
My siblings arrived home later than usual while mom got home at her normal time. It felt different being so relaxed with so much ahead of me but I knew that feeling would wear off eventually. Dinner was nothing special with Lucas going over his regimen, Sadie getting her usual praise from her internship, mom telling us that her day was easier than normal, and dad's story of getting a Zigzagoon pack off the road.
"Do anything special today, Ryan? I knew you were upset about everything last night."
"Well, I went to New Mauville to blow off some steam and a few things happened." Dad put his hand over his mouth to hide a smile while mom leaned in. "I got a new Pokémon. Meet Magnemite!"
The newest member of my team floated around mindlessly until it gravitated to Electrike. They hit it off like lost siblings looking to catch up as everyone studied it. Magnemite came back to the table and formally introduced itself while sitting on top of my head.
"Oh… it's a friendly Pokémon by the looks of it," mom said still unsure of how to judge it. Sadie and Lucas were understandably afraid since they didn't know anything about it; dad was intrigued.
"Yeah, it's a little quirky but it's a cool Pokémon. I'm going to leave it out so it can explore the house. But there's more." I showed her the pamphlet. "Job number three right there."
Pokémon Services did a good job of laying everything out for perspective customers. Their colorful visuals and professionally formatted brochure meant they would have a good first impression as an independent business. Mom and pop shops relied on word of mouth while corporations paid millions for an effective marketing plan. Any independent business that wasn't family owned had a tougher road getting its name out to the public.
"Sounds like they're going to do fine based on what I've read," mom said while nodding. "What's your job?"
"Sales and some fundraising. My commission rate is 10% for now," I responded after I figured out how much I wanted to skew the rate. She had a concerned look on her face.
"You're going to get paid based off performance, honey. That's it. Are you sure you can handle that? You could be making less money than at your old jobs if you have a bad week or two."
I kept a straight face. "They liked me enough to hire me even though I have no sales experience. All I need are the tools to succeed and it'll be on me from there."
Lucas playfully tapped the table to get my attention. "You can't be serious all the time when you're talking to people. Even the most serious athletes have a fun side," he noted while smiling.
"They'll train me in customer service if I need it. I have some time to adjust since they're not open yet. Besides, I can train my team there in my spare time if I make an appointment."
Wrecking their fields for my personal gain probably wasn't going to happen but anything to keep them distracted would help. Maybe I could actually stop in and help Pokémon through the last stages of their rehabilitation. All I had to do was show up, win money, keep my ego under control, and not assault my coworkers. I could tell Sadie had mixed feelings about how everything that happened over the past two days. When dad left for work and mom went upstairs to watch her show, she sat me down on the couch.
"Ryan, please tell me you're doing this on your own," she whispered even though Lucas was relaxing in the backyard. "If you took this job because you need money, maybe I can find something at the Weather Institute for you." I took a deep breath.
"Sadie, relax for me. You don't owe me anything, okay? Even the most successful people don't coast through life. Besides, I'm good at thinking on my feet. I'll be fine." She sighed and threw herself against the back of the couch.
"Guess you're right." Magnemite floated over and rested on my head. "Something's up with that Magnemite but I can't explain it."
It wiggled its magnets and happily cried out. "My best guess is that wants to get the battle over with just so it could go back to relaxing or playing. Seriously, it even attacked on its own a few times. Still, it listens to me when it counts and is willing to battle. All I know is that it's happy to be a part of the family."
Lucas came in when Electrike wanted water and decided to stay in for the rest of the night. We sat around watching reruns of Hoenn League battles from a few years ago. Sadie was the first one to go to bed while Lucas struggled to stay awake. He eventually threw in the towel leaving me and Magnemite watching a quarterfinal battle. I called out Linoone so he could watch.
"We'll find a way to get there. I don't have a plan, I don't know how long it will take, but we're going to battle on the biggest stage with the spotlight on us," I mumbled while staring at the television. "We're going to grab that opportunity by the throat and hold on as long as we can." Linoone climbed up the couch to sit in my lap so I rubbed his head.
"I wonder how much work we'll have to do to stand a chance. All I know is that if we lose, we're going down fighting… right?" He rolled over and waited for a belly rub; I gave it to him. "You know all about being scrappy, buddy. Magnemite gets it too even though it's been with us for only a day. Now I just need four more Pokémon along for the ride."
My eyes started to get heavy so I decided to call it a night. With everything set for the near future, my mind was more relaxed than ever before. Tomorrow would be my first official day as a Pokémon Services employee. Although I wasn't required to work, I wanted to get a head start on making some money. The regular back alley battlers probably wouldn't expect too much from me.
They would be wrong.
Have a good day and I will see you next chapter :)
-W4f
