Read up to 30 advanced chapters exclusively on my Patreon at - patreon.com/LoverrBoy
---------------------------------
The Wealthy Town wasn't far from Grampa Canyon, so Liam arrived there in less than half a day. The town was indeed small, with only a dozen or so households.
However… despite their small number, these households occupied the entire town.
Each resident of this town lived in a private mansion. From a distance, these buildings resembled palaces, but up close, they were entirely hidden behind fortress-like walls.
While one could glimpse the grand estates from afar, standing at the foot of these high walls revealed nothing but the outer surface.
The mansions themselves didn't take up too much space—it was the massive private estates that did. Liam glanced around and estimated that each household's walled-off property covered at least several square kilometers.
With estates this vast, if a thief ever sneaked in, they might not even be able to find their way back out.
As he marveled at the extravagant surroundings, Liam arrived at the Pokémon Center in the Wealthy Town. Well… calling it a Pokémon Center might be a bit of a stretch.
Liam had never seen such a luxurious Pokémon Center before. The towering structure stood dozens of stories tall, radiating an air of prestige.
If not for the distinct Pokémon Center insignia at the top, Liam might have thought he had arrived at the Indigo Plateau.
Expressionless, he stepped inside, only to be greeted by sheer opulence. Thankfully, he had mentally prepared himself; otherwise, he might have been blinded by the excessive grandeur.
The interior was just as lavish, adorned with decorations so rare and valuable that Liam couldn't even identify what they were made of.
Judging by their extravagant designs, he figured that if he accidentally broke one, he'd be paying off the debt for the rest of his life.
Liam stood dumbfounded at the entrance, staring at the spotless carpet beneath his feet. It was so pristine that he hesitated to step on it.
At that moment, a well-dressed lady elegantly walked over. She wore a luxurious pink fur coat, with a delicate nurse's cap perched atop her head.
Though her jewelry wasn't excessive, each piece exuded an air of refined wealth, giving her a graceful and approachable aura.
Liam squinted at her for a long time before finally recognizing who she was. He couldn't help but exclaim in shock,
"Nurse Joy?!"
That's right—the woman before him was none other than the ever-present Nurse Joy found in every Pokémon Center.
However, this particular Joy seemed slightly older, likely in her mid-to-late twenties. Then again, Liam wasn't entirely sure—she wore makeup, and who knew how much it concealed?
"Hello, I'm Joy. How can I assist you today?"
Nurse Joy (or at least, that's who she claimed to be) greeted him with a warm smile, her expression radiating kindness and approachability.
"Uh… hello. I'm here to heal my Pokémon. Also, if possible, I'd like to stay overnight. Do you have any vacant rooms? Here's my Trainer ID."
Liam quickly snapped out of his daze and handed over his ID card.
"Oh my, Liam! That's such an adorable name. You must be doing gym challenges? Traveling alone at such a young age must be difficult, isn't it?"
Glancing at the ID, Nurse Joy smiled warmly, a touch of maternal affection in her gaze.
Liam was taken aback. How did she know he was doing gym challenges? But he didn't dwell on it and instead scratched his head, a little embarrassed by the compliment.
"Oh, not at all. Honestly, traveling alone is pretty fun—it's not that tough."
Nurse Joy chuckled softly, returning his ID before turning around and calling out.
A Chansey soon approached, carrying a small tray. The tray itself appeared to be crafted from precious metals and was encrusted with multi-colored gemstones.
Even the Pokémon Center's serviceware was luxurious beyond belief.
"Here, Liam, please hand your Pokémon to Chansey. I'll take you to your room."
Nurse Joy beamed warmly.
Liam: "…"
Well, at this point, he had given up on being surprised. "Thank you, Nurse Joy. And you too, Chansey." Though all this still felt a bit weird, he decided to just go along with it.
"Chansey~"
Liam handed over his PokéBalls but kept the ancient Pokémon PokéBalls in his bag.
Given their significance, it was best not to reveal them so easily. As for any injuries they had sustained, he would take care of those himself.
Nurse Joy's eyes briefly flickered with surprise as she took in the eight PokéBalls Liam had handed over. However, she quickly concealed her reaction, smiling as she gestured for him to follow.
They took the elevator up to the tenth floor. Inside, Liam couldn't help but ask,
"Nurse Joy, how did you know I was doing gym challenges? I don't recall mentioning it."
Nurse Joy smiled knowingly. "Most people passing through this town around this time are Trainers preparing for the Pokémon League. They're either heading to Cinnabar Island or Fuchsia City. So, it was just a guess—nothing too extraordinary."
Liam nodded, satisfied with the explanation.
Soon, Nurse Joy led him to a guest room, producing a key card from somewhere and swiping it against the door. The lock beeped, and the door automatically swung open. She then handed the key card to Liam with a smile.
"Liam, this is your room. Feel free to use anything inside. Once your Pokémon have recovered, I'll have Chansey bring them to you. I hope you find the accommodations to your liking."
Liam accepted the key card and quickly expressed his gratitude before stepping inside. Just as he was about to close the door, Nurse Joy suddenly blocked it with a radiant smile.
"Nurse Joy… is there something else?"
He gulped and instinctively pulled his coat tighter. Was she about to… make a move on him? If so, should he resist.. or? This was a serious dilemma…
"Oh, nothing much," Nurse Joy said with a soft chuckle. "I just wanted to remind you that while you're free to use anything in the room, please don't take anything with you. Otherwise, I'd be very troubled. Ohohohoho~"
With that, she turned and gracefully walked away.
Liam: "…"
A vein twitched on his forehead. Did she think he was some petty thief? Someone who would casually pocket expensive items? How insulting!
Mildly irritated, Liam shut the door behind him, switched on the lights—and was instantly stunned speechless.
For a moment, he almost understood Nurse Joy's concern.
In the past, the rooms he stayed in at Pokémon Centers resembled college dormitories—small and plain. But this…
A spacious living room, lavish furniture, elegant decor, and a massive crystal chandelier hanging from the ceiling, casting a dazzling glow throughout the room.
It wasn't just a bedroom—it had a full suite: a bedroom, a kitchen, a bathroom, and a separate restroom. This was more akin to a five-star hotel… and a very high-end one at that.
Liam suddenly thought… maybe living here permanently wouldn't be such a bad idea?
Shaking his head, he quickly banished the dangerous thought.
Afterward, he indulged in a hot bath. The bathtub was so massive he could practically swim in it. The warm water was incredibly relaxing, and he ended up soaking for longer than he intended.
A knock on the door snapped him back to reality. Wrapping himself in a bathrobe, he answered the door to find Chansey, who had come to return his PokéBalls.
After thanking the Pokémon and retrieving his seven PokéBalls and a Safari Ball, Liam shut the door and turned around.
"Come out, Garchomp, Arbok."
As soon as he was back inside, he released his two Pokémon. Then, he carefully took out the ancient Pokémon he had captured earlier, wary of them causing trouble.
Having Garchomp and Arbok around made him feel more at ease.
First, he released the Kabuto and Omanyte. They appeared but remained motionless, still in deep slumber. Then he released Omastar and Kabutops—also unconscious.
It seemed that after sleeping for so long, they hadn't fully adjusted yet. It would take some time.
Deciding against releasing Aerodactyl—it was too volatile—Liam figured it was best to let it rest a little longer.
Once he left the town, he would have a proper conversation with it.