Wille threw an arm around Adrian's shoulders and said warmly, "Brother, I swear, if you weren't sworn off romance right now, I'd introduce you to my little sister. And I'm not bragging—she's drop-dead gorgeous—"
"Gorgeous? Pass!"
Adrian shook his head with a laugh.
For some reason, the word "gorgeous" always conjured the mental image of a bearded man in drag.
Seeing Adrian fall silent, Wille remembered his background—an orphan, poor kid.
He slapped Adrian's back. "Buddy, I know you're strapped for cash. The bait's on me."
"Seriously?"
Adrian's face lit up.
This fat cat was loaded.
"Why would I lie? It's just bait."
Wille thumped his chest. "Marry my sister and I'll bankroll your bait for life—"
"Wille, you're my brother from another mother!"
Touched, Adrian handed over the formula, smiling. "I'll buy the main ingredient, but the extras are on you."
"Now you're insulting me. Do I look like I care about materials?"
Wille snatched the scroll, unrolled it—and his hands began to shake, his lip twitching.
This was bait?
More like ingredients for some top-secret ultimate move.
Wille cursed inwardly; even the resources for his pokémon's Dragon Dance Secret Technique were cheaper.
Thinking of his drained bank account, he forced a calm smile. "Hold this, I need to tie my shoe."
"Sure!"
Wille shoved the scroll back; Adrian caught it automatically.
Then Adrian noticed—Wille wore boots. No laces.
He swallowed. "About that bait—"
"Bait? What bait?"
Wille played dumb. "I don't fish. Gorgeous day, though—time for special training!"
He sprinted off.
Adrian: "@#$%&—"
Night passed in silence.
At dawn, Adrian rose early and, with Clair escorting him, set off for Kanto.
After crossing perilous Mt. Silver, Kanto lay ahead.
Mid-air, Clair called to Adrian on Gyarados: "From here you're on your own. Farewell!"
"Thanks for the escort, Miss Clair."
Adrian cupped his hands. "Till we meet again!"
Clair wheeled her Flygon and flew back toward Blackthorn City.
Soon she vanished into the clouds.
Adrian pictured the map. "A month in Johto—let's speed through Kanto. First stop: Vermilion City!"
Vermilion, a major port at the southern inlet, serviced ships like the S.S. Anne.
The harbor hosted several routes: the S.S. Anne returned annually; the Aqua Shuttle ran to Olivine City; the Rapidash Ferry sailed to the Sevii Islands.
Long, fish-rich coastlines made the city every fisherman's dream.
"This Pier is jellyfish heaven; with luck I'll hook Horsea or Staryu."
The more he thought, the more excited he grew.
Another reason: Vermilion Gym.
Leader Lt. Surge's ace was Pichu's final form—Raichu.
Adrian already had a plan.
Gyarados roared and rode the wind eastward.
Two hours later Vermilion loomed.
A glowing lighthouse caught his eye.
"Bill's Lighthouse?"
He remembered the anime episode—Bill waiting for a Mythical Pokémon.
With Ash's arrival, a titanic silhouette had appeared, only to be driven off by Team Rocket before it could be identified.
Everyone assumed it was an enormous Dragonite—possibly Dynamaxed.
Whatever it was, the Dragonite was extraordinary.
Seeing no one around, Adrian ordered, "Gyarados, land by that lighthouse."
Gyarados's flying was still secret; best stay low-profile.
He wasn't strong enough to fend off every villain.
Even Dratini would stay hidden—it was a pseudo-legendary baby.
If Team Rocket noticed, trouble followed; Kanto was their headquarters.
The trio were jokes, but other agents were dangerous.
Gyarados descended and touched down behind the tower.
Adrian climbed the structure.
By day the light was off, the door locked, everything silent.
From the top he saw scores of Krabby and Kingler on the shore.
"When in Rome—let's crab-fish!"
He grinned, pulling out rod and bait.
He'd caught them before; no bonus rewards, but numbers meant profit.
Before casting he released Dratini, making sure no one was near.
"Dratini, go play with Gyarados—first time seeing the sea, right?"
He patted its head; the little dragon squealed in delight.
Raised in Dragon's Den, it had never seen an ocean.
"If humans appear, hide."
With that, he watched Dratini dive beneath the waves, then baited up for Krabby.