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Chapter 166: Meeting the Director in the Weather Sanctuary
🕑 Added 2025-08-28 15:26:21 +0000 UTCChapter 166: Meeting the Director in the Weather Sanctuary
Cinnabar Island, located off the eastern coast of the Kanto mainland, is a jewel of the ocean, surrounded by the deep blue sea. It is the place where the first rays of sunlight touch the continent each day.
"Agent Zhou, are we there yet?" Basalt asked, panting as he navigated a narrow, winding mountain path. He wore a fisherman's hat to shield him from the sun. The path was less than a meter wide, with a sheer drop to the jagged rocks and the crashing waves below. The water was a stunning shade of blue, a far cry from the murky waters near the coast. Of course, it would have been even better without the schools of Sharpedo circling below.
"We're here," Zhou said, stopping at the edge of a cliff at the mountain's summit.
"Here?" Basalt looked around. There was nothing but mountains and sea.
Zhou just smiled. As Basalt looked on in confusion, a swirling vortex, about two meters high, suddenly appeared before them.
"Is this a spatial gate? It's incredible," Basalt said, his eyes wide. It was the first time he had ever seen a portal to a Hidden Land.
"Come on, the Director is waiting," Zhou said, pulling him into the vortex.
The world spun, and for a moment, Basalt was blinded. When his vision returned, he found himself in the middle of a dense, primeval jungle. He was surrounded by massive, ancient trees, some so tall they seemed to touch the sky, others with canopies so wide they formed a living ceiling.
The jungle was teeming with Pokémon. Pink Hoppip drifted through the air, Nuzleaf leaped from branch to branch, and Lotad blew bubbles in a small forest pond. On a nearby tree trunk, a green gecko-like Pokémon with a twig in its mouth curiously watched them.
"A Treecko!" Basalt gasped. One of the classic starter Pokémon lived in this forest.
Seeing his surprise, Zhou explained with a smile, "This is the Cinnabar Sanctuary, one of the Hidden Lands controlled by the Weather Bureau. It's a 'Sunny Day' sanctuary. No matter what the weather is like outside, it's always sunny here. And because it's on an island, the air is always humid, making it the perfect environment for Grass-type Pokémon to thrive. This is one of our main breeding and training grounds."
"A 'Sunny Day' sanctuary," Basalt nodded. In this region, Sun and Rain were the dominant weather strategies. Sand and Hail were more niche, as they required specific environmental conditions. A trainer like him, who had forged a path to victory with Sandstorm in a coastal region, was an anomaly.
"By the way, can I catch Pokémon here?" he asked, his eyes gleaming. A Water-type would be a great addition to his team.
"No," Zhou said, rolling his eyes. "You already have three Pokémon, and a fourth is on the way. At your current level, that's more than enough. Instead of being greedy, you should be focusing on reaching the advanced tier."
After winning the regionals, Basalt had been granted a special promotion to "Intermediate Trainer" without having to take the exam. And with his contribution to the "Fossil Revival," Zhou was confident that his Larvitar application was a sure thing. The Director had likely summoned him to discuss that very matter.
"The advanced tier? That's still a long way off," Basalt thought. It had taken him five months to go from a rookie to an intermediate trainer. Getting to the advanced level would take at least half a year.
As they walked, Basalt took in the sights of the Hidden Land, feeling like a tourist in a new world. Soon, they emerged from the jungle and saw a massive, castle-like building. Zhou was clearly a regular here, as the guards at the gate let them pass without so much as a second glance.
In a room deep inside the castle, Basalt finally met the legendary Director of the Weather Bureau, a kindly old man in his late fifties who looked incredibly approachable.
"You must be Basalt," the Director said with a warm smile. "It's true what they say, a hero emerges from the youth. You have no idea how much face you've won for the Weather Bureau with this fossil revival. Every League official I've spoken to has been singing our praises."
The Director was clearly in a good mood. He showered Basalt with compliments, then turned to Zhou and praised him for his excellent eye for talent.
After a few minutes of pleasantries, the Director said, "Basalt, your contribution will be remembered by the Bureau, and you will be well-rewarded. You wanted a Larvitar, correct? I have personally written the application for you. It should be on the council's desk as we speak."
"Really? That's amazing!" Basalt exclaimed, his face lighting up.
"However," the Director continued with a gentle smile, "you must understand, we're talking about a pseudo-legendary, the pinnacle of non-legendary Pokémon. The approval process will be a bit lengthy. I estimate it will take at least a month. So, you'll have to be patient."
"I understand completely, Director. Don't worry," Basalt said, instantly turning into a model of good behavior.
"Also, in light of your outstanding contribution, I am granting you full, official membership in the Weather Bureau. Starting today, you will be entitled to all the benefits and stipends of a full-time agent."
The real prize wasn't the small stipend, but the "benefits." As a member of an important internal League organization, he would be able to purchase supplies at a heavily discounted internal price. That was the big one.
Just then, a butler-like old man knocked on the door. "Director, the people from the Life Energy Bureau have arrived."
"Oh? Already? They seem to be in a hurry," the Director chuckled. He turned to Basalt. "Basalt, although Lileep is your Pokémon, you are a member of the Weather Bureau. So, when our colleagues from the Life Energy Bureau want to conduct some research, we can't refuse. But don't worry, I've already negotiated the terms and secured the best possible benefits for you. And their research will not harm Lileep in any way; in fact, it will be beneficial for it."
"I'll leave everything in your hands, Director," Basalt said with a respectful nod. He already knew about this. The Weather Bureau had scored a massive victory with the fossil revival, while the Life Energy Bureau, who was supposed to be in charge of such research, had been raked over the coals. But after all the praise and criticism, the work still had to be done. The Life Energy Bureau needed to study the Lileep, but now, any discoveries would have to be shared with the Weather Bureau.
Seeing Basalt's cooperative attitude, the Director nodded, then said to the butler, "In that case, show them in."
