Mount Silver was located in the northeastern part of Johto. From Bckthorn City, it took only about a week to reach the base of the mountain, where Silver Town was situated.

  After leaving Bckthorn City, Sato traveled directly to Silver Town. Along the way, he entered quite a few skilled trainers.

  Upoering Silver Town, he immediately noticed the dense crowds, most of whom were engaged in Pokémon battles.

  The town was brimming with a strong battling atmosphere, something that took Sato slightly by surprise.

  A traveler like him, arriving dust-covered from the road, ractically challeo a battle the mome foot in Silver Town!

  Sato sent out his Carvanha, whose ability to hover midair as a fish-like Pokémon immediately drew a lot of attention.

  His oppo released a Vileplume, which had a type advantage over Carvanha. However, after a few rounds of ferocious bites from Carvanha's sharp jaws, Vileplume was too scared to tihe fight.

  A wave of sighs and murmurs followed. Sato recalled his Carvanha, who was clearly basking in the appuse.

  He then politely deed further battle invitations and headed straight to the Pokémoer.

  Silver Town was much like Mahogany Town. Although cssified as a town, it was in no way inferior to an actual city.

  If Mahogany Town had risen to fame due to its e to two former Elite Four members, Silver Town had gradually flourished due to its strategic location.

  With the rising popurity of Pokémon training, expl the wild and capturing powerful Pokémon had bee a trend.

  Being situated at the foot of Mount Silver, Silver Town naturally became a major hub for adventurous trainers.

  Especially after the Pokémon League had ied signifit resources to establish a branch offiear Mount Silver, Silver Town had no choice but to thrive.

  Due to the sheer number of trainers, Silver Town's Pokémoer was signifitly rger than those in other locations.

  The main hall alone had three Nurse Joys taking shifts at the reception ter.

  Trainers came a in a near-endless stream. Those fident enough to explore Mount Silver were all skilled individuals—fully evolved Pokémon were everywhere.

  After depositing his Pokémon for treatment, Sato left his belongings in a single-room dorm aured out to explore Silver Town.

  "An Adventurer's Guild?"

  Not long after stepping out of the Pokémoer, Sato came across an iiablishment. The building was grand and majestic, resembling a pace.

  More trainers were entering and leaving tha the Pokémoer. Most trainers gathered in small groups, chattiedly, their faces full of enthusiasm.

  Sato had a vague idea of what this pce was, but he preferred seeing it with his own eyes. So, he walked in.

  The momeepped inside, a wave of noise filled his ears. The massive hall acked with trainers. On three of the walls were numerous small service ters, each with a long queue in front of it.

  At the ter stood a giant circur reception desk, also surrounded by a crowd. As Sato moved closer, bits of versation naturally reached his ears.

  "Teaming up? Exploration? Missions? Rewards?"

  After eavesdropping for a while, Sato quickly figured out the fun of the Adventurer's Guild.

  It served as a pce where trainers could take on missioher alone or in teams, to explore Mount Silver and plete various tasks in exge for rewards.

  The rewards came in three forms: cash, physical items, and points. The first two were self-expnatory, but the third—points—was uo the guild.

  These points could be exged for any item, including pseudo-legendary Pokémon eggs. As long as a trainer had enough points, they could get anything they wanted.

  Additionally, there were various battle items, potions, specialty Poké Balls, and high-grade Pokémon food avaible for redemption.

  As he browsed through the list, Sato came across a familiar item—Potential Activation Serum.

  The Pokémon League was behind the Adventurer's Guild! Only the Pokémon League would dare to openly put such rare and valuable items up for sale.

  However, at the moment, the serum was only effective on Pokémon at or below the Elite level. Sato's eeam had at least pseudo-Elite Four potential her.

  It was useless to him.

  Evolution Stones, Big Roots, Razor Fangs—many rare items were also listed, and it seemed they were stantly beiocked. The iory was absurdly abundant!

  Strangely, quests cash rewards were not in high demand. Instead, missions that awarded points were highly sought after.

  New quests would barely be up for a few moments before someone accepted them, and the mission board was refreshed at an incredible rate.

  Sato quickly made up his mind. Teaming up? That was never an option.

  But being a lone adventurer, making money while training, now that was something he could work with.

  After all, he was supp a family of seven—and every single one of them could eat, especially his now evolved Pupitar. That thing ractically a bottomless pit.

  However, when Satht his identification card to the receptioo apply, he quickly realized things weren't so simple.

  "Since you currently have zero pleted missions and your rank points are at the beginner level, you only accept beginner-level missions."

  The receptionist handed back the card with both hands, maintaining a perfectly professional demeanor, leaving Sato with no reason to pin.

  "Is there any way to accept higher-ranked missions directly?"

  After being informed that missions were cssified into beginner, intermediate, advanced, and top-tier levels, Sato wasn't satisfied. He didn't have the time to start from basic rookie missions.

  "Form a team!" The receptionist smiled without the slightest hint of impatience. "As long as at least half of your team members are advanced adventurers, you'll be eligible to take on advanced missions."

  Sato left the reception desk and remained silent for a while before deg—he o form a team.

  F a team wasn't difficult. Around the Adventurers' Guild, there were tless boards dispying recruitment notices—ranging from beginner-level to evee-level team invitations.

  Although it wasn't explicitly stated, Sato noticed that adventurer ranks roughly correspoo trainer levels—Newer (Rookie), Official, Elite, and Pseudo-Elite Four.

  However, there were still distins. As he walked around, Sato realized most recruitment notices prioritized adventurer rank rather than trainer rank.

  After all, while raw strength certainly pyed a role in exploration, experien the wild was even more crucial—something Sato deeply uood.

  "Sorry, we're looking for someoh more field experience."

  After beied for the third time, Sato cluded that experience could only be built over time.

  Strength! Strength should be the most important factor!

  Naturally unsociable and disliking dealing with strangers, Sato turned around and headed back. He figured these people simply didn't have good judgment in pig teammates.

  "Miss Joy, I'd like to ask…"

  While retrieving his fully restored Pokémon from the ste ter, Sato shamelessly decided to take a shortcut.

  "That's simple! I know quite a few teams that are still short on members. I'm familiar with them, so I ask on your behalf."

  Miss Joy spoke while pig up the phoo tae trainers.

  Not long after, a red-haired young man ran over, panting slightly, heading straight for Joy with an expet look in his eyes.

  If he had a tail, he'd probably be wagging it.

  "Wataru, could you do me a favor?"

  Miss Joy pressed her palms together and asked sincerely.

  "Wa…taru! Lance?!"

  Sato's eyes widened in shock, uo hide his surprise!