Chapter 69: The Whitebeard Pirate Ship Sets Sail!

Kanaz City.

“Sir, the White Sea Lion you reserved is currently docked at Pier Three. You can reach it through this passage.”

“All right.”

After completing the formalities, Hu Yang slipped the receipt into his backpack, and with Gengar following behind him, entered Passage Three.

On the way, Hu Yang pulled out a newspaper he’d picked up on the street, searching for a particular section.

Gengar asked, “What are you looking at?”

“I’m checking if there’s going to be a typhoon in the next couple of days.”

It would take two and a half days to reach Dewford Town from Kanaz City. Once there, they would dock for half a day to buy some daily necessities in preparation for the unknown journey ahead.

Although he’d signed an insurance agreement with the ferry company, meaning that even if the ship sank in a shipwreck, he wouldn’t be liable for damages, Hu Yang couldn’t help feeling a little uneasy.

None of his Pokémon could carry a person flying or swimming at the moment.

At times like this, the human mind tends to conjure up all sorts of strange worries. Like wondering if a train might derail halfway, or if a plane might crash.

The weather in the Hoenn region was forecasted by the Weather Institute on the western outskirts of Fortree City, and the information was sent to all major cities.

Fortunately, there was no typhoon expected in Kanaz City in the coming days.

With a sigh of relief, Hu Yang and Gengar passed through Passage Three and emerged onto the bright, sunlit pier.

The moist breath of the sea greeted them, and warm sunlight glinted across the boundless blue surface of the ocean.

In the distance, a line of Wingulls and Pelippers skimmed across the sparkling waves.

Amid the melodious sound of ship horns, vessels carrying cargo and tourists left the pier, slowly gliding toward the horizon.

A sleek, white cruise ship was docked at Pier Three.

Seeing it, Hu Yang immediately understood why it was called the White Sea Lion.

Beneath the ship, a group of robust men in blue-and-white sailor uniforms stood in a row. As soon as they saw Hu Yang approaching, they introduced themselves promptly:

“Hello, sir! We are the sailors and crew of the White Sea Lion. During your journey, we will be responsible for your daily needs.”

“Thank you,” Hu Yang replied warmly.

The lead sailor grinned broadly, showing gleaming white teeth. “It’s no trouble at all! Serving you is our honor!”

A million Alliance coins not only rented this cruise ship, but also came with an experienced crew—sailors, electricians for repairs, helmsmen for navigation, chefs, and cleaners.

Once aboard, the crew swiftly set things in motion.

Under their careful operation, the massive White Sea Lion gently began to move.

Kanaz City grew smaller and smaller in the distance until it disappeared altogether.

Hu Yang released all his Pokémon. As he was the ship’s only guest, the crew’s workload was light, giving them ample time to attend to their little passengers’ needs.

Just as Hu Yang was about to find a place to sit, a sailor brought over a lounge chair perfect for sunbathing.

He had barely settled in when another burly man approached with a menu, inquiring about his drink preferences.

Hu Yang thought, “This service is almost too good.”

At noon, gazing at the lavish lunch prepared with top-quality ingredients, he couldn’t help but marvel at such extravagance.

Is this the daily life of the wealthy?

Restrain yourself—don’t let them think you’ve never seen the world.

Hu Yang composed himself and began lunch with Axew and the others.

Axew clutched a drumstick straight out of a pirate cartoon, gnawing with great relish.

Roserade’s table manners remained impeccable.

Dartrix and Magikarp seemed thoroughly satisfied as well.

Gengar observed it all from the sidelines, salivating uncontrollably.

Unable to hold back, Gengar asked, “Is it good?”

Hu Yang replied mischievously, “No, it’s not.”

Gengar, seeing through his expression, snorted, “Liar. I’m not as easy to fool as that silly dragon.”

Hu Yang spread his hands helplessly. “But even if I said it was delicious, you couldn’t eat it right now!”

True enough.

Still, Gengar sulked like a child. “I’m not talking to you anymore.”

Hu Yang found this side of Gengar oddly endearing. “Then I’ll talk to you.”

“I won’t answer you,” Gengar retorted.

“What did you say? I didn’t catch that.”

Gengar repeated, “Even if you talk to me, I won’t respond.”

“Oh?” Hu Yang grinned. “So who are you talking to right now?”

Gengar finally realized he’d been tricked again and, huffing with indignation, floated back into his Poké Ball.

But Gengar wasn’t truly upset—he knew Hu Yang was hurrying away from school to help him regain his body.

Inside the Poké Ball, Gengar tried recalling the past, but found many memories lost to him.

After a while, he floated back out, gazing toward the direction that drew him, worry clouding his eyes.

Hu Yang had just finished eating. Seeing Gengar’s expression, he paused and asked, “What’s wrong?”

Had he really managed to upset him?

Gengar looked at him, hesitating. “Maybe we shouldn’t go that way after all?”

Hu Yang, sensitive to Gengar’s mood, felt a pang of doubt. “Are you afraid?”

Was it homesickness? Did Pokémon feel that too?

Gengar lowered his head. “A little.”

Hu Yang comforted him. “Don’t be afraid. We’ll all be with you.”

“It’s not just you. Actually, a lot of people feel like this when they’re going home.”

“Among us humans, we call it ‘homesick anxiety’.”

…

The White Sea Lion sailed out from Kanaz waters.

After nightfall, unable to sleep, Hu Yang joined the sailors in the ship’s lounge bar for a chat.

Between men, friendship comes easily. Soon, the sailors knew Hu Yang was a traveling Trainer, and Hu Yang, in turn, learned about their daily work and hometowns.

He even heard tales of sea monsters and pirates.

“Ten years ago, when I was at sea, I encountered a massive storm. In the midst of it, I saw a mysterious figure, pitch-black, rise from the ocean and fly into the sky!”

“That creature had eyes like rubies and let out a terrible, piercing roar—it was terrifying!”

An older sailor recounted the tale with an air of mystery.

To set the mood, they even turned off the lights, leaving only the faint glow of a single candle.

“That can’t be true, can it?” a younger sailor challenged, skeptical.

The old sailor’s face, stern in the candlelight, rolled up his right sleeve. “It’s true. This scar is from that very incident. There are still many places in this world humans cannot reach, and many creatures yet to be discovered…”