Chapter 65: Meeting Bill

Read up to 30 advanced chapters exclusively on my Patreon at - patreon.com/LoverrBoy

---------------------------------

Liam raced ahead at full speed, the wind whipping past him, but barely thirty minutes into the ride, he was forced to have Arcanine stop. 

It wasn't that Liam was afraid of the speed; rather, his backside was protesting fiercely.

At first, it was tolerable, but as time passed, Liam felt as though his entire body was falling apart. His backside burned with an intense sting, coupled with some indescribable discomfort. Eventually, he had no choice but to dismount and continue on foot, with Arcanine loyally walking beside him. 

Supporting himself against Arcanine, Liam hobbled forward step by step.

After some time, Liam noticed a signpost by the roadside. Struggling to walk, he approached it. The sign read:

"5 kilometers ahead: Azure Isle."

Liam racked his brain but couldn't recall ever hearing of such a place. However, since there was a sign, and the name sounded appealing, it likely meant people lived there. 

The sky was growing darker, and with no town in sight, Azure Isle might provide a place to rest.

With a decision made, Liam trudged in the direction indicated by the sign. But 5 kilometers felt like an arduous journey in his current condition. 

He glanced at Arcanine's broad back, considering whether he should invest in a riding saddle from Alola to avoid future suffering. Ultimately, he shook his head; doing so felt unfair to Arcanine.

As Liam continued, the sun set, its fiery glow dipping into the vast ocean that had inexplicably appeared before him. The endless coastline stretched out in front of him as he came upon a broken stone marker.

"Azure Isle: The most beautiful coastal sightseeing spot on Azure Coast."

Liam stood silently, his expression blank.

"What happened to the rest area? Where are the crowds of people?" he muttered. Instead of a haven, all he saw was sea, sand, and… wait—off in the distance, a lighthouse perched atop a cliff.

"Maybe I can spend the night there," Liam thought, spotting the dilapidated structure. It wasn't much, but it was better than camping out in the wild.

Spurred by this goal, Liam and Arcanine sprinted toward the lighthouse. The pain in his backside momentarily forgotten, they reached the base of the lighthouse in minutes.

Upon closer inspection, the lighthouse was clearly abandoned. Its light was extinguished, the door broken and collapsed, and the interior pitch black.

Liam pulled out a flashlight from his bag and prepared to enter when—

"Ahhh! It hurts! It's broken!"

A shrill scream echoed from below the cliff.

Alarmed, Liam ignored his aching body, mounted Arcanine, and without needing to give commands, Arcanine leaped down the cliffside. 

In mere moments, they arrived at the source of the cries.

Liam dismounted to find a young boy in a lab coat, his hand caught in the massive claw of a Kingler. Tears and snot streamed down the boy's face as he flailed wildly, trying to shake the Kingler off.

"Arcanine, use Roar!" Liam ordered, unable to bear the sight.

With a mighty roar, visible shockwaves burst from Arcanine's mouth. The Kingler, startled, released the boy and scuttled away, snapping its claws in protest before vanishing.

"Are you alright? Let me see your hand." Liam approached, pulling out a spray for injuries from his bag. He gently sprayed the boy's swollen fingers.

"There, it's just a minor injury. Rest for a few days, and you'll be fine," Liam reassured him with a smile after examining the hand.

The boy stared at Liam in awe, his cheeks flushing. "Th-thank you, big brother…"

Liam chuckled at the boy's shyness, handing him the bottle of spray. "Take this and use it a few times daily. It'll heal faster. It's getting dark; you should head home so your family won't worry."

The boy hesitated, then raised his voice slightly. "I-I'm not leaving! I'm a researcher now! I heard fossils of Kabuto have been found on this coast at dusk. I want to prove to my family that I'm not the dumbest!"

Liam blinked in surprise, then silently wondered what kind of family would consider a researcher the "dumbest." Were they all prodigies?

"You've got ambition. I'll support you," Liam said. "I'll be staying in that abandoned lighthouse tonight. If you get tired, you can join me. What's your name, by the way? You must be famous already, being such a young researcher."

The boy blushed deeper. "I… just got my certification, so I'm not well-known. My name is Bill. What about you, big brother?"

Liam froze. Bill? As in the Bill—the future Pokémon storage system developer? 

He glanced back at the lighthouse, realizing this must be the legendary Bill's Lighthouse.

"Something wrong, big brother?" Bill asked, puzzled by Liam's silence.

Snapping out of it, Liam smiled awkwardly. "No, nothing. My name's Liam, from Pallet Town. I'm traveling to challenge the Indigo League."

"Wow! You must be an amazing trainer! I'm sure you'll become Champion!" Bill's face lit up with admiration.

"Thanks," Liam replied, ruffling Bill's hair.

"Since finding fossils can't be rushed, and you're injured, let's focus on resting. I'll clean up the lighthouse and make us some dinner. Trust me, you'll love my cooking."

"But…" Bill hesitated.

"No buts!" Liam said firmly. "Keep searching if you want, but take Arcanine with you. I'll call you when dinner's ready."

Intimidated by Liam's tone, Bill quickly nodded. "Y-yes, big brother!"

Liam laughed, amused by Bill's nervous reaction.