"Phew, it won't be long before we reach land. I'm really looking forward to the Hoenn Region!"
Sieg sat by the window, flipping through a book.
Recently, perhaps due to the arrival of Spearow, Corphish and Carvanha had been more fired up than ever, training harder each day.
Sieg was, of course, delighted. What he could do was ensure his Pokémon had the support they needed.
"Catch!"
He casually tossed a deep blue Pokéblock, and Corphish's claw shot out and caught it instantly. When it came to catching food, Corphish never missed.
"Burp~"
"Cor Cor!!"
Corphish let out a satisfied burp, waved its claws, and went right back to training.
"I can't slack off either. Time to keep studying new Pokéblock recipes. This one looks good, Beginner Water-type Pokéblock: 'Wave Surge.'"
From the training notes his teacher gave him, Sieg found a recipe for a Pokéblock that could speed up the energy sensing ability of Water-type Pokémon.
In other words, it could help them level up faster.
Sieg had already mastered several basic Pokéblock types. It was time to take on a harder challenge.
He pulled a simple Pokéblock-making machine from the cabinet and assembled a few components before gathering the ingredients.
A fresh Water Fruit, a small broken-off piece of Corsola's coral, and a few common berries.
First, he removed any impurities from the coral piece, keeping only the pure essence. Then, he put all the ingredients into the machine for manual grinding.
Each ingredient had to be added in precise amounts, no more, no less.
The timing and speed of the grinding were also crucial. Because of how meticulous and complex Pokéblock-making was, most breeders produced them slowly.
Finally, the juice was placed into a compressor. Once solidified, it would be dried. During that process, spices could be added to make the block more appealing to Pokémon.
Since Sieg was making the Pokéblock for his own Pokémon, he focused only on getting the flavor right. The aroma didn't need to be too fancy.
Besides, the natural scent of the Pokéblock alone was enough to attract the little gluttons in his team.
"Didn't expect to succeed on the first try... maybe I'm a natural?" Sieg looked at the small, sky-blue Pokéblock and smiled.
But as it turned out, that first success might have just been luck, or maybe he was just in the zone.
His second, third, and even fourth attempts all failed.
"Pfft~"
"I knew that first one was just luck. Still, I'm now getting about one success in every five tries. That's a big improvement."
Sieg comforted himself, then got back to making more Pokéblocks.
For the next half day, Sieg locked himself in his room, working tirelessly. Out of more than 300 attempts, he succeeded over 20 times.
The finished Pokéblocks were sky blue, giving off a faint salty aroma. If held under the sunlight, one could faintly see waves rippling inside them.
"Not bad at all. I should show these to my teacher and ask for feedback," Sieg thought.
No sooner thought than done. After leaving instructions for his Pokémon, he stepped out and headed slowly toward the ship's upper deck.
The summer sea breeze carried a hint of warmth. Under the blazing noon sun, everyone carried sunscreen.
Otherwise, by the afternoon, your skin would clearly show a stark contrast between tanned and untanned areas.
Sieg arrived at the room and gently pushed the door open.
This door was no longer unfamiliar to him. Compared to a year ago, he could now come and go from Metako's room freely.
Gone were the days when he needed to knock and act cautiously. Now, his identity was far from what it used to be.
Over time, Sieg had formed a deep bond with Metako as her student. Their relationship had grown closer.
Sometimes, Sieg would even joke around, making Metako laugh with delight.
With a smile, Sieg approached her and said, "Teacher, I learned a new Pokéblock recipe. I'd like your guidance."
As he spoke, he gently handed her the box he was holding.
However, this time, Metako didn't respond with her usual gentle tone. Instead, she asked in a low voice, "Sieg, what are your plans for the future? Do you really want to be a pirate for the rest of your life?"
There was a mix of concern and hope in her eyes.
Hearing this, Sieg froze mid-motion, the box still suspended in the air. The sudden question caught him completely off guard.
"With your talent, you shouldn't waste your life here. Do you really want to die in some pirate skirmish and have your corpse sink quietly into the sea?"
Metako's words cut deep.
"The Hoenn League is said to be holding a major tournament next year. It's a great chance for young trainers like you to make a name for themselves."
She walked slowly to his side, gazing at him with gentle affection.
At seventeen, Sieg wasn't exactly tall, but after all his training and good nutrition, he had grown to be rather well-built.
Metako's smooth hands softly touched his cheek. She whispered, "You look so much like him."
Sieg tensed and lowered his head, unable to meet her eyes.
"Sieg, you should return to land. That's where you'll shine brightest. The sea was never meant to be your cage."
Metako turned, retrieved an ID card from a safe, and said, "This is a forged ID I prepared. From today on, you're officially a trainer of the League. The back lists all your fabricated experiences over the years. Memorize them and destroy the card afterward."
Sieg hesitated as he took the ID. He turned it over and, just as she said, saw a paper note filled with detailed information.
It contained everything about his new identity.
As he read, a wave of conflicting emotions surged in him.
He had once dreamed of escaping this life, but it always felt out of reach. And now, Metako was offering him that chance.
He felt both excited and unsure of how to respond.
"Teacher... what about you? Are you really going to keep living this dangerous life forever?" Sieg asked, testing the waters.
Metako smiled, swaying gracefully as she approached. She reached out and tapped Sieg's forehead with a slender finger, teasing, "You cheeky little thing, worrying about your teacher now?"
Sieg chuckled awkwardly, then looked at her seriously, waiting for a real answer.
Metako sighed softly, her eyes reflecting a distant longing. "Maybe in a few years, I'll find a peaceful village somewhere and open a small breeding house. Live out the rest of my days in quiet."
Sieg looked at her in astonishment. He had never imagined this ruthless and fearsome pirate captain harbored such a simple, peaceful dream.
"Really, teacher?" he asked.
Metako nodded with a smile, her eyes shimmering. "Yes, my dear. Sometimes, people need to let go of the past and pursue the peace they truly seek."
Sieg quietly reflected on her words, finally understanding that even the strongest people have a soft side.
They too long for a quiet place to call their own, far away from the chaos of the world.