"Luckily, we have Flint's device."
Natsuhiko looked down at his smartphone, which was displaying a sea chart of the surrounding area.
A collaborative project developed by Devon Company and Silver, with the support of the Alliance, this hybrid device's major function, aside from chat and the Pokedex, was its navigation capabilities.
Using satellite positioning, Natsuhiko determined his current location.
"Forty nautical miles east, there should be a small island."
Looking at the map, Natsuhiko made a judgment.
With Sharpedo's swimming speed, forty nautical miles wouldn't take much time.
"However, this positioning might not be completely accurate, since these features are only just developed."
Raindrops fell from the sky, and the dark clouds, like the soft feathers of a black swan, obscured the moonlight.
The sea parted at his feet, layer upon layer, trailing behind.
"Beep-beep—"
As Natsuhiko headed toward the target direction, a private message notification popped up on his smartphone.
It was Sakuragi.
The gist was that, according to Natsuhiko's idea, the Gratitude Technique and "Affinity" conversion ratio had been successfully implemented, and after several days of effort, the initial version of the "Affinity" testing tool was developed.
The next step would be to test whether this tool is practically effective.
If successful, and it is confirmed that the evolution of certain Pokémon is indeed linked to Affinity, then without a doubt, this tool will become indispensable for many Trainers.
As the one who proposed this hypothesis and experiment, Natsuhiko, and Sakuragi, who validated this hypothesis, would certainly make quite a bit of money from this tool.
This was what Sakuragi called one of the "expenses."
Simultaneously, Sakuragi sent Natsuhiko an installation of the tool's software.
It can currently be installed on smartphones.
However, it is currently only an initial version, and relies on some scanning functions of the phone, so there will definitely be significant detection deviations, and it can only be used as a reference.
Smartphones in the Pokemon Realm are, of course, very different from those in Natsuhiko's previous life.
They can carry these tools, but are solely carriers.
"It turns out, I originally just wanted to make some money from Pokémon research, but now Sakuragi has tinkered out an 'Affinity' detection tool, and I can make a lot more from it...."
This was an unexpected delight.
And if handled well, this amount of money might not be small.
But just as Natsuhiko was about to reply to Sakuragi, he found that the phone signal had disappeared.
And his location on the map navigation had also stopped moving.
"No signal?"
It wasn't that surprising.
After all, the signal had also disappeared under the Dark Ruins in Goldenrod City.
Furthermore, given the vastness of the Pokémon Realm's seas, it was expected that some areas wouldn't have coverage.
He put away the smartphone.
"Luckily, the general direction is already determined. Whether or not the Saint Anus gets attacked, I should find an island to take refuge. Even if I stay on the ship, I won't be of much help."
Natsuhiko was very aware of his abilities.
Traveling at sea in the rainy night.
The only relief was that it was a drizzle, not a storm.
Plus, Sharpedo is a notorious Pokémon that often operates in groups, so Natsuhiko didn't encounter any Wild Pokémon attacks along the way, which was fortunate.
Gradually.
In the dim night, the silhouette of an island appeared in sight.
The drizzle seemed to veil the island with a layer of gauze, obscuring the specifics of what the island held.
Sharpedo accelerated once more at Natsuhiko's behest.
As they drew closer, some scenes of the island became clearer.
"This is..."
Natsuhiko was surprised for a moment when he saw the wooden structures and the old-fashioned pier on the island's edge.
He didn't expect to randomly find an island to evade the storm and incredibly find an island with traces of human activity.
He gestured for Sharpedo to approach the wooden pier.
Crunch—
As he stepped onto the slippery wood, his weight caused the dock to emit creaking sounds of strain.
From afar, it wasn't obvious, but as Natsuhiko stepped onto the dock, he discovered the wooden pier was extremely worn, seemingly in disrepair for years, battered by wind and sun, very unstable.
Looking closer, he could see dark green moss covering the wood, made even slicker by the rain, threatening to send him into the water with one misstep.
Cautiously stepping with each step toward the nearest houses from the pier.
"Not just the dock, these houses look aged as well, and seem to have long lost any trace of human activity, could it be an abandoned island?"
Gazing at the dilapidated houses, with weeds and fallen leaves strewn about, Natsuhiko made an initial assessment.
"Saves the trouble of finding a shelter."
Natsuhiko walked the street of the dilapidated town.
The houses were all wooden, their structures appearing not to be modern.
"It seems this town was once quite large, might research information about it when I leave,"
The deeper he went into the town, the more he sensed a chilling vibe, as if it were a ghost town.
He found a house that looked relatively sturdy, and pushed open the door.
Abra followed closely beside Natsuhiko, guarding against any unexpected occurrence.
Squeak—
The old wooden door's hinges twisted and released a piercing, grating noise.
He took out his flashlight.
The orangish light illuminated the scene inside the house, unfolding before his eyes.
Wooden floors, beams, supporting pillars, wooden furniture, all were covered in cobwebs and holes, an overwhelming mustiness struck, causing Natsuhiko to frown.
Every step caused the floorboards to moan.
He arrived at what seemed like a dining area.
Yet, as Natsuhiko saw the dining table, he paused, no longer approaching.
After a long while, he muttered with a complicated expression: "Three dishes and one soup—quite a feast."
As observed.
Bowls and chopsticks were on the table.
The bowls, matted with cobwebs, contained clumped, blackened solids, indiscernible as to what dishes it initially held.
Besides the dish bowls, were three rice bowls: two large, one small, equally blackened, with chopsticks neatly arrayed beside them.
Normally, who would prepare such a bountiful meal and leave the chopsticks untouched before leaving?
Even the chairs beside the table retained the distance as if people had just been sitting in them.
Thus.
The only explanation for this scene is this:
A family of three left without knowing.
As for how, when, or why they left in the first place, remains unknown.
Natsuhiko lingered momentarily before retreating slowly.
This town clearly isn't for staying; he wouldn't feel secure here.
Yet, judging from Abra's reaction, there doesn't seem to be any sign of danger.
To be safe, Natsuhiko headed to the woods outside the town, and found a relatively robust tree, summoning Togepi.
He asked Togepi to use Secret Power to create a secret space within the tree, and Natsuhiko, along with several Pokémon, entered.
This felt much more secure compared to those old structures.
Moreover, the secret space Togepi created was quite roomy, enough for him and the Pokémon.
He prepared a simple dinner for the Pokémon.
"We'll rest for the night first; tomorrow during the day, we can investigate what situation this island has. Judging from the town's streets, it seems there aren't Wild Pokémon activities?"