Chapter 112:

"All done. Your Pokemon have been matched and submitted. With these missions, you've accumulated 900,000 points. And, with the earlier mission you completed, you've got a total of 1.1 million points! Consider yourself officially promoted to a two-star hunter," the receptionist beamed.

Her hands moved gracefully, retrieving a golden star with the phrase 'two-star' engraved in the metal. She slid it through the window to Cain, a symbol of his newest rank.

Although the valuation of the Pokemon weren't as high as he might have hoped, it was typical of the Guild's market. After all, they were the go-to for all things Pokemon.

Sure, Cain could have sold his Pokemon elsewhere, perhaps for more. But time was of the essence. Plus, by handing his conquests over to the Guild, he could rack up valuable Guild points, earning him even more.

The Guild rewarded him with a whopping 1.1 million Pokédollars and 1.1 million Hunter's Guild points on his ID card.

Cain had no immediate use for his hard-earned points. With five Pokemon already in his care, he knew he had to allocate his resources wisely. For Pokemon, quality outweighed quantity, and he wouldn't risk compromising on that.

Instead, he would focus on nurturing and stabilizing his current team, before even considering adding to it. Once they were in top form, he might think about acquiring more Pokemon from the Hunter's Guild, but for now, he had other priorities.

Cain made his way to an empty computer terminal and swiped his Hunter ID card. The two-star mission list came alive on the screen before him, each mission reward more enticing than the last.

Given his destination of Mahogany Town, Cain needed to be selective. The number of two-star missions was fewer than the zero-star missions, but that only meant the rewards were higher.

After some consideration, he settled on two missions: one to catch a Swinub and another to catch an Onix. Mahogany Town was surrounded by majestic mountains, a few of which were permanently iced over. This made it the perfect habitat for ice-type Pokemon, like the Swinub.

As for the Onix, a towering rock-type Pokemon, it was known to roam the mountainous terrain, and its huge size would make it easier to spot.

With his Hunter's Guild errands complete, Cain's attention turned to restocking his supplies. As an experienced wilderness explorer, he knew the importance of being prepared for anything.

Having used many Pokeballs, he needed to replenish his stock. Plus, a few healing sprays would be a good idea, given his upcoming trek. With a healthy sum of 2,400,000 Pokédollars in his pocket, he headed to an items shop.

After spending 10,000 Pokédollars there, he made his way to an information broker, where he hoped to learn about the mysterious Meditation Bead.

Despite the shop's expertise in all things Pokemon-related, they were unable to shed any light on the elusive bead. Cain's suspicions deepened. If even the information shop didn't know about it, was it a figment of his imagination?

Cain exited the shop and found himself back in the familiar confines of Team Rocket's teleportation formation. Once again, he emerged in the small black room. Seeing no one around, Cain slipped back into his Association training clothes and donned his Association mask.

Under the moon's hazy light, Cain made his way through the quiet streets towards the luxurious hotel he had booked.

Despite the late hour, the hotel was a beacon of light on the quiet street. Cain was warmly greeted by the reception staff, who offered their assistance.

Once in his room, Cain released all his Pokemon. He preferred giving them the freedom to explore and stretch their legs, as long as it was safe to do so. It also strengthened their bond and mutual understanding, a crucial aspect of their relationship.

Although a Great Ball offered ample space, Cain knew there was still a sense of confinement that could weigh on his Pokemon. With no night training scheduled, it was the perfect opportunity for them to unwind and relax.

The recent wilderness excursion had left them all on edge, with the constant threat of wild Pokemon attacks looming over their heads. Sleep was elusive, as they remained ever-vigilant.

Even the presence of Gastly had failed to ease their anxiety. The slightest rustle could trigger a response, leaving them on high alert.

So today, Cain decided to give his Pokemon a well-deserved break from training. Instead, he used his expertise to give each of his beloved companions a soothing massage.

As Cain worked his magic, he noticed the sleeping Skorupi stir awake. The little creature's two beady blue eyes opened, and it clambered down Cain's arm and onto the backs of his other Pokemon.

Worried they might inadvertently hurt the tiny Skorupi, the other Pokemon remained motionless, paralyzed with concern.

Thankfully, Miltank, the only female in the group, knew exactly what to do. She gently removed Skorupi from Slowpoke's back and offered it a bottle of fresh milk. The little one's eyes lit up as it happily suckled on the nourishing drink, comforted and content.

In this harmonious atmosphere, a peaceful night passed by, full of warmth and affection. It was moments like these that made Cain grateful for the strong bond he shared with his Pokemon.