With the help of Lapras and Sharpedo, the three of them quickly reached the western landmass of Mt. Pyre.
This tiny settlent barely even counted as a village, with only seven or eight small two- or three-story buildings standing.
Once ashore, at what could barely be considered the public road of the settlent, only two households had their doors open.
In front of one ho was a small stand filled with funeral items like wreaths and candles.
The other stand displayed gravestones in black, gray, and white; despite the limited palette, they sohow looked varied and dazzling. This household sold gravestones.
"What are you here for?"
Suddenly, a voice ca from behind them. The three turned and saw an old woman leaning on a cane slowly approaching.
What stood out most was the lifelessness in her eyes... she was blind.
"Uh, we're Pokémon Trainers here to train at Mt. Pyre. May we ask your na?"
Normally, Joseph was the one who handled these conversations. Mark was too unpredictable, and Sato wasn't much of a talker, both unsuited for this.
"Ah, more reckless kids like you, with no real strength, always dreaming about adventure," the old woman croaked, her tone filled with regret.
Mark was just about to fire back, but the old woman had already turned away. "Co to my house. It's the only place around here offering lodging."
Mark and Joseph exchanged glances, then looked to Sato, clearly unsure whether to follow.
Mainly, it was the remote location and the eerie tone of the old woman that made them uncomfortable... it didn't feel welcoming.
"Let's go."
Sato thought it over and decided to follow. For so reason, although the woman's attitude wasn't exactly pleasant, he didn't sense any malice from her.
The woman naturally didn't walk fast. The three of them quickly caught up.
"Hmph, at least you're obedient. You can call Madam Kaori," she said without turning her head, walking steadily with her cane toward a three-story house.
"You can choose any room upstairs. The kitchen's yours to use freely, and there's a vegetable garden out back; take as much as you like, just don't waste anything."
"Thank you! By the way, Madam Kaori, how much is the lodging fee?" Joseph asked politely. Perhaps it was true what they said: won care about how they're addressed.
"How much? Pay whatever you think it's worth." Madam Kaori waved her hand dismissively, then headed straight into her first-floor room.
The three were taken aback. Pay what they wanted? That kind of casualness actually made them a little uneasy... was the place that bad, or was there so hidden agenda?
---
Upstairs, Mark opened the nearest room.
The clean and tidy setup surprised them all. Who would've thought such a remote place had such comfortable lodging?
"This one's mine! Call when it's ti to eat!" Mark shouted like he was declaring territory, slamming the door as if afraid soone might snatch it from him.
Sato and Joseph ignored him and each picked a room. They opened their doors to find the sa clean and well-kept interiors.
With no staff in sight and only Madam Kaori managing the whole place, it was honestly hard to believe.
"Gengar!"
Gengar floated lightly out of the shadow, the Hypnosis Pendulum still wrapped around its hand. When idle, it was obviously still studying the thing.
"Can you use it now?"
"Geng~!" Gengar nodded confidently and began swaying the pendulum, gesturing to Sato as if asking if he'd like to test it.
"Weavile, help us out. Let's test Gengar's hypnosis!" Sato called out the most alert Pokémon in his team, who was notoriously difficult to put to sleep.
Three seconds later, Weavile was lying on the carpet, snoring peacefully with drool trickling from its mouth.
Sato patted his own face, just catching a weak glimpse of the hypnosis had made him incredibly sleepy.
Three seconds. Nothing to be ashad of.
After slapping himself awake, the way Sato looked at the Hypnosis Pendulum in Gengar's hand changed. Hypnosis was practically foolproof in low-tier battles; reliable and easy to use.
But as opponents grew stronger, their Pokémon also had stronger ntal and "spiritual" resistance. Hypnosis often beca useless, even turning into a weakness.
Now, simply holding the Hypnosis Pendulum had drastically enhanced Gengar's hypnotic powers.
Moreover, this Hypnosis Pendulum was likely far more powerful than it appeared. Just rembering the Hypno ghost was proof of that.
"Study it more."
"Geng Gengar" Gengar nodded and, without hesitation, placed the Hypnosis Pendulum on its head. It fit perfectly.
Looking at Gengar now, paired with his newfound specialty in hypnotic control, a word suddenly popped into Sato's mind.
Gengar the Mystic.
After a short rest, it was soon dinner ti. Sato and Mark, urged by Chansey, hurried downstairs to the dining room.
When they arrived, they were surprised to see Joseph and Madam Kaori chatting quite cheerfully.
"I'll teach you how to make Indigo Pokéblocks later if we have ti. You two eat first."
Madam Kaori's hearing was sharp. The mont she sensed their arrival, she imdiately stopped talking, withdrew her smile, and steadily returned to her room.
"You two already hit it off?" Mark looked stunned. Just two or three hours, and they were already this close?
"When I first ca to the Hoenn Region, I heard a rumor in the breeder circles about a top breeder nad Madam Kaori who suddenly disappeared one day," Joseph said as he served them soup.
"No way, are you saying... top breeder?" Mark pointed toward Madam Kaori's room, his face full of disbelief.
"Yeah, I wasn't sure at first, just thought the na sounded familiar. But I checked so information just now, it's definitely her!" Joseph's eyes sparkled with excitent. It was rare for him to be this thrilled over sothing.
"And just like that, you guys got to talking?" Mark was stunned, quickly sipping his soup to calm himself.
"I asked her a few questions earlier. She cleared up all my confusion in just a few sentences. Don't be fooled by her appearance. Madam Kaori is actually a really kind person."
Joseph had fully beco a fan. He enthusiastically tried to convince Sato and Mark.
They watched him carefully portion out so of each dish, neatly packing it into a lunchbox, and happily trotting off with it.
Mark stared in disbelief as his favorite chicken wings were snatched away without hesitation. He wanted to protest, but seeing Joseph's glowing, passionate eyes...
Nope, not ssing with that.
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