Chapter 143. Pewter City

Words : 1624 Updated : Sep 17th, 2025

It was decided that Celise would work on Alex's farm to help manage operations. She didn't want to risk being exposed or, worse, forced to continue working for the human supremacists. With that in mind, she chose the isolated safety of the farm over a job in the city. Staying out of the spotlight was her best chance at survival. To be cautious, Alex assigned Metagross to watch over her and monitor for any suspicious behavior. With both Metagross and Nyx's Rotom monitoring the network around the clock, he didn't have to worry about potential leaks. Putting her in charge of the farm's business operations was also a test of character. One mistake, and Alex would turn her over to the League along with a recording of her confession. From there, she would have to face the consequences on her own. Her recovery was progressing well. At this rate, she would likely be eating solid food by the end of the week. Celise couldn't relay the exact location directly without triggering a mental fail-safe, so she handed over her phone where the coordinates were stored. Aside from the two locations she mentioned, the only other information found was a reference to another base in Vermilion City. It seemed low-profile and largely peaceful, offering little of value for Alex to pursue. Johto was out of reach for now due to the distance. Pewter City, however, was a different matter. If the base there had not been abandoned, Alex might be able to secure even more ammunition than before, especially since it was neither submerged nor recently attacked. To reach it, he could teleport to Viridian City and travel north, or head west from Cerulean City. Either route would take a few days on Hydreigon, but Viridian Forest offered the shorter trip. Flying over Mt. Moon was not ideal. The skies were crowded with flying Pokémon nests, and the hazardous terrain below made travel dangerous. The caves could not be flown through and would take days to cross on foot. In the end, Alex chose Viridian Forest. It had a secure trail for trainers and offered a much safer and faster route than braving the mountain pass. That afternoon, he left on Arcanine with a now empty space bag and teleported to Viridian City. He rode north on Arcanine, taking the opportunity to memorize new locations along the way. Flying over the forest was discouraged, as flying Pokémon from the western wilds and the northern mountain range were known to attack anything that entered their airspace, which extended over parts of Viridian Forest. As Alex sped through the winding trail of Viridian Forest atop Arcanine, the dense canopy above filtered the sunlight into shifting green patterns across the mossy ground. Wild Pokémon scattered at the sound of their approach, mostly Bug-types startled by the sudden rush of wind and flame. The air was thick with the scent of damp earth and leaves, and the occasional call of Pidgeotto echoed from above. Trainers trekking gave him curious glances as he passed by but made no move to stop him, likely sensing the overwhelming Elite ranked aura. Although the narrow, twisting paths slowed them compared to Hydreigon's flight, Arcanine moved with practiced grace, weaving around roots and low branches as they pressed toward Pewter City. There were a few Pokémon that popped out looking for trouble, but Alex wasn't in the mood, so he simply shot them with Thunder Waves, leaving their fate to the forest. It took two days for Alex to travel from Viridian City to Pewter City on Arcanine through Viridian Forest, but he eventually arrived. Pewter City was modest by Kanto's standards. Urbanization had reached its borders, but only just. The city had few tall buildings, and most of its structures were low and utilitarian with plain facades and little ornamentation. Side streets were quiet and worn, with cracked pavement and overgrown lots scattered between aging homes and simple shops. It was not run-down, just underdeveloped, a place that had not kept pace with the rapid growth seen in cities like Saffron or Cerulean. The northern and western wall stood damaged and largely ignored. People kept to themselves, polite but distant, and there was a sense that life here moved slower. Pewter lacked the energy and shine of Kanto's major hubs, but it remained functional. It had its own rhythm, quiet and steady, and perhaps a little overlooked. Alex stood slightly bewildered at the sight. He had expected the same level of progress as the other cities he had visited, but this was clearly a case of poor development. "You look like you expected better," an old man said as Alex looked around. "Can't exactly blame you. The nearby nests haven't let up in years, so we've hardly been able to improve the city." "What about the passing trainers or the League?" Alex asked. "They tried to help at first, but it turned into a money sink. The nests have been coming from the north and west non-stop for nearly a decade. Management's been doing their best, but they keep going over budget until the League stopped increasing their funding. Trainers need to eat too, so they left for better pay elsewhere." "What about the Gym Leader?" "Brock? He's doing what he can, fending off the big ones, but terror doesn't care about threats. The nests just ignore him. Still, none of the stronger ones ever manage to get past him and his team." "Sounds tough. Any idea why it started a decade ago?" "It was around the time the human supremacists started openly campaigning in the city. They've gathered quite the following since then, especially with more people dying in the attacks." "That sounds a little too convenient," Alex said dubiously. "That's what I said but people hardly care when they've lost loved ones. The mind becomes less rational when passion is that strong." "Thanks for the information. Anything I can help you with?" Alex asked. At this point, the conversation felt just as convenient as the nests attacking around the same time the human supremacist movement began, and Alex started having doubts. He had a firm philosophy when it came to old people. Never underestimate them, especially when training and consuming Pokémon could extend their lifespans. "You're sharp, at least," the old man chuckled before inviting Alex into his run-down noodle shop. Alex followed him inside as the old man disappeared into the back. A few moments later, he returned and placed a bowl of noodles on the counter. Alex took a seat and stared at it, wondering if he should take the risk. "On the house." Alex gave in and took a sip of the broth. To his surprise, it was quite delicious. "Old family recipe," the old man said. "Been making them since I was a child." Alex finished the bowl and set it on the counter, his expression shifting to a more serious one. "Now, what can I do for you?" "You have a task." "Details?" Without another word, the old man placed a book on the table and left Alex to read it on his own. Standard Umbraline operating procedures. Target Profile: Lirien Faenel Pokémon: Vileplume, Amoonguss, Lilligant, Venusaur, Eldegoss, Tsareena Threat Level: Elite Rank Contract Value: 20 million Pokédollars Status: Kill on Sight Lirien Faenel, female, 39 years old, stands at 5'9" with a lean build, pale green eyes, and long ivy-colored hair often braided with flora. A distinctive vine-shaped tattoo resembling the letter "H" is located on her left wrist. She is the known leader of the Pewter City–based Human Advocacy Group, an anti-Pokémon organization operating under the guise of orphan care, outreach centers, and protest coordination. Publicly, she directs three registered orphanages and manages multiple advocacy centers, but field agents have traced her influence to over a decade of city-wide destabilization events. Surveillance and battle recon confirm her use of Grass-type Pokémon, notably those capable of deploying Rage Powder in mass quantities. Through repeated manipulation of territorial instincts in northern and western wild nests, she has triggered over a hundred documented Pokémon nest attacks against Pewter City over an 8-year span. Data logs show consistent deployment patterns aligned with her movement through designated wilderness zones. Her presence is typically accompanied by up to two armed handlers embedded within her facilities under volunteer credentials. Several escape tunnels have been mapped beneath her orphanage compound, leading into the outer sewage network of Pewter City. Advised to expect civilian interference, aggressive environmental manipulation, and resistance from trained subordinates. Alex checked his phone and saw that Lirien didn't have a bounty, which meant she was clean for the most part. He continued reading the book and found a network of businesses and an extensive operation spread throughout the city. Everything was operating within legal bounds, which meant he couldn't count on the police. It was all clean and above board. He considered letting it go and focusing on the base outside the city when he reached the last page. It offered him 10 million on top of the existing 20 million assassination fee to dismantle the entire network, along with a list of names marked for assassination. It was a low price for the effort, considering Alex's usual rate. It was also highly illegal given the circumstances. Still, there was a strong argument that Lirien not only deserved a bounty but that her entire operation needed to be shut down. The question was whether Alex would take the offer or come up with something better. ----- Support me on Patreon patreon/babywrath

Chapter 143. Pewter City

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