Chapter 77: Viridian City

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Viridian City, also known as the Evergreen City, is located to the south of Viridian Forest. Although it's considered a third-tier city in terms of economy and size within the Kanto region, its reputation is surprisingly significant.

The fame of Viridian City is largely due to two of the most well-known figures in the Kanto region. The first is the Dragon Master - Lance, widely regarded as the invincible Dragon Tamer, and the other is Giovanni, the strongest Gym Leader in Kanto and the man who would eventually propel Team Rocket to its peak.

Both of these individuals were born in Viridian City, and coincidentally, both were blessed by the power of Viridian Forest. What saddened the ordinary readers, however, is that their paths diverged drastically—one became a pillar of justice, while the other rose to power as the leader of a criminal empire.

Now, Sato had entered this famed city. It was already 5 p.m. by the time he crossed into Viridian City's borders.

However, it seemed the city's residents weren't very fond of him. As he walked through the streets, many people cast wary glances in his direction, avoiding him and whispering among themselves.

Sato paid no attention to the looks or gossip. After all, he had spent the past week living in the wilderness, battling Pokémon in the wild. Naturally, his limited supply of clothing had long been torn and tattered. On top of that, he had just completed a long trek out of the depths of Viridian Forest. Sato looked like a wild man—his skin was sunburned, his clothes were ragged, and he reeked of sweat. He was the very picture of dishevelment.

Fortunately, the PokéBalls strapped to his belt served as a crucial symbol, and the subtle yet oppressive aura he emitted also contributed to the air of caution around him.

Even though the passersby didn't welcome him, none dared to act aggressively toward Sato, who clearly looked like a formidable Trainer. Some more perceptive individuals even shifted their expressions from disgust to fear or respect and hurried away before Sato could even notice them.

Despite this, the commotion surrounding Sato eventually caught the attention of the local patrolling police. Not long after Sato entered Viridian City, Officer Jenny, accompanied by her Growlithe, arrived on a police motorcycle.

"Please show me your ID, Trainer," Officer Jenny said as she dismounted her bike, eyeing Sato cautiously. Her large, beautiful eyes revealed a hint of wariness, and the Growlithe at her side immediately adopted a defensive stance, ready to attack if necessary.

As an experienced police officer, Officer Jenny was sharp enough not to underestimate Sato despite his rugged appearance. In fact, she treated him with twice the usual caution.

Sato gave off a very different vibe compared to the typical soft and sheltered Trainers who frequented the safer areas of the wild. If they were lambs, then Sato—who had undoubtedly experienced countless life-or-death battles in the dangerous zones—was a wolf, radiating an aura that spoke of his hard-earned survival.

"Of course, Officer Jenny. Here's my ID. I've just returned from a mission in the wild, and I'm really exhausted. I'd appreciate it if I could rest soon," Sato responded cooperatively, pulling out his Trainer ID from his pocket and handing it to her.

The Trainer ID that Team Rocket had arranged for Sato was clearly well-prepared. When Officer Jenny inserted the card into a small ID reader, Sato's detailed profile immediately appeared on the screen.

The information on Sato's profile clearly outlined his place of birth, date of birth, and his clean background. It also detailed his journey from a Bug Catcher to a registered League Trainer. It was a thorough record that would satisfy even the most scrupulous of inspectors.

"No problems here. Thank you for your cooperation, and I hope your journey wasn't too exhausting," Officer Jenny said after carefully reviewing the information displayed on her machine. With no issues found, she visibly relaxed and now looked at Sato with a much friendlier expression.

After handing Sato back his Trainer ID, Officer Jenny mounted her police vehicle and continued patrolling with her Growlithe by her side.

Seeing this, the nearby passersby also softened their gazes toward Sato. They trusted Officer Jenny's judgment; since she didn't cause him any trouble, it was clear he wasn't a bad person.

"Phew... Looks like I passed the test. That League ID is definitely the real deal," Sato thought to himself, breathing a deep sigh of relief as he watched Officer Jenny ride away.

Truthfully, Sato, now a low-ranking member of Team Rocket, felt his heart skip a beat when he first saw Officer Jenny approaching. And when she came straight toward him to check his ID, he silently cursed his bad luck. Fortunately, his mental fortitude held strong, and the League ID that Team Rocket had provided him was genuine, allowing him to avoid any suspicion.

After Officer Jenny's inspection, Sato's journey through the city became much smoother. The pedestrians no longer avoided him as they had before, likely reassured that he wasn't some "dangerous" outsider.

Sato now had quite a few things to take care of. For one, he needed to give himself and his Pokémon a proper rest. He also had to gather supplies for the rest of his journey and figure out how to reach the Hoenn region. But before he could take care of any of that, his disheveled appearance was something he had to deal with. Before buying new clothes and refreshing his image, though, he needed money.

The truth was, Sato was broke—completely penniless. Without money, none of his plans could proceed, so his first priority was finding a way to make some cash quickly.

Using signs along the way, Sato found his way to a Pokémon item shop in Viridian City. Based on his current situation, selling some of the lighter valuables in his possession seemed like the fastest way to get money.

Sato didn't have many valuable items on him. The most valuable and easiest to sell were the wild Beedrill honeycombs he had harvested from a Beedrill nest the day before. These items were highly prized, even within Team Rocket's internal exchange system, so they would undoubtedly fetch a good price here as well.

Upon Sato's entrance, the Trainers inside the shop all turned their attention toward him. Most of the young, well-dressed Trainers immediately displayed looks of disgust, with some female Trainers covering their noses and mouths before hurriedly leaving the store.

However, the shop's owner and the older employees, being much more experienced, didn't immediately dismiss him from his current appearance. They quickly stopped the younger staff members who were about to make the mistake of trying to shoo him away.

"Is there something I can help you with, sir?" A middle-aged male employee stepped forward and politely asked Sato.

"Yes, I'd like to sell something. This—do you buy these here?" Sato nodded and pulled out a beeswax-sealed honeycomb of wild Beedrill honey from his belongings.