Pokémon: Chronicles of Freedom-Chapter 659 - 658: Preparing a Plan

When Cain arrived in Fallarbor Town, it was already the second day.

He had spent two days training Larvitar and Aron on Route 114, focusing on improving their combat skills.

By the time he reached Fallarbor Town, Larvitar had reached level 15, gaining three levels, while Aron, already at level 20, hadn't leveled up further.

For Pokémon, this not only represented a level increase but also an improvement in experience and combat techniques.

No matter how much you train, it's in real battles where combat techniques truly become part of your strength.

Unlike the first group of Pokémon, who faced constant invisible dangers on the Trial Island, forcing them to grow and strengthen quickly to survive, the second group of Pokémon had a much calmer life, allowing them to grow steadily.

...

Fallarbor Town is one of the largest towns in the Hoenn region, similar to Verdanturf Town.

The most important building in Fallarbor Town is the Contest Hall, a venue where the League regularly holds contest competitions. By comparison, the town's gym isn't as well-known.

Fallarbor Town is located on the opposite side of Mt. Chimney. Unlike Verdanturf Town's fresh air, Fallarbor Town is surrounded by volcanic ash floating year-round, giving the place a grayish appearance.

However, these mineral-rich volcanic ashes allow vegetation in Fallarbor Town to grow lushly.

Thanks to this, the town has become one of the most important agricultural centers in Hoenn, producing nearly 50% of the region's food supply.

Although Cain came to Fallarbor Town intending to challenge the gym, his main goal was to visit a famous local figure: Professor Cozmo!

He remembered Professor Cozmo after his encounter with the Team Aqua members in Meteor Falls.

This Professor Cozmo was the one who, while excavating a meteorite in Meteor Falls, unwittingly uncovered what both Team Aqua and Team Magma needed to summon Kyogre and Groudon.

It could be said that this marked the beginning of the entire incident. Although Professor Cozmo hadn't done it on purpose, Cain wanted to ensure he had a backup plan or at least stay one step ahead.

Fallarbor Town isn't very large. Cain headed straight to Professor Cozmo's house after asking a few locals for directions.

He was lucky, as Professor Cozmo was home and hadn't gone out searching for minerals.

"Knock, knock, knock!" Cain knocked on the door.

Moments later, a middle-aged, thin man dressed in an archaeologist's outfit opened the door, showing a curious expression upon seeing Cain.

"Professor Cozmo, nice to meet you. I'm Cain from Leafy Town," Cain introduced himself.

"Cain?" Professor Cozmo didn't seem to recognize him.

"Uh... I'm the new Gym Leader of Leafy Town. I came to pay you a special visit," Cain said, scratching his head with a bit of embarrassment.

There's nothing more awkward than believing you're well-known and realizing the other person doesn't recognize your name.

"Oh, I see! Please, come in!" Professor Cozmo quickly responded, inviting him inside.

Though Professor Cozmo was a researcher specializing in meteorites, he wasn't a famous Pokémon professor, so his status in the Pokémon world wasn't very high.

This was evident in the modest size and layout of his home.

On the other hand, as a Gym Leader, Cain held a much higher position in terms of both power and status.

Thus, receiving a special visit from Cain flattered Professor Cozmo.

Professor Cozmo's full name was Icarus Cozmo, a researcher passionate about meteorites. While he was a Pokémon trainer, he wasn't very strong, as his interests lay elsewhere.

Cain, with his excellent interpersonal skills and superior status, knew how to talk to Professor Cozmo in a way that made him feel comfortable and appreciated.

Despite Cain's youth, if he hadn't declined, Professor Cozmo might have insisted on forming a closer bond with him.

Cain had vast knowledge thanks to his system, which contained a wealth of information not only about Pokémon but also about rarer topics. By sharing some of this knowledge, he quickly connected with Professor Cozmo.

Cain's ability to persuade people was at its peak.

By the end of the visit, the two had exchanged contact information and promised to stay in touch.

Cain asked Professor Cozmo that if, during any future research in Meteor Falls, he came across completely red or blue stones, to let him know immediately, as they might be items Cain had lost.

Professor Cozmo didn't suspect anything, especially since Cain described the objects in great detail and gave a convincing reason: while being chased by Lunatone and Solrock, he had accidentally dropped the items while running. When he returned to search for them, they were gone.

To avoid getting lost, he had decided to postpone the search.

He knew an expert in meteorites lived in Fallarbor Town, so he thought of asking for help during any future exploration of Meteor Falls.

This was the plan Cain had improvised.

It seemed perfect, and any lingering doubts were filled in by Professor Cozmo's imagination. freewёbnoνel.com

For example, why had Cain gone so deep into Meteor Falls?

Professor Cozmo assumed it was part of Cain's Pokémon training.

Perfect!

After leaving Professor Cozmo's house satisfied, Cain headed to the Fallarbor Town Gym.

However, this time he wasn't so lucky. According to the gym staff, the Gym Leader had been absent for some time, and the next challenge day would be next month.

Cain didn't have time to wait for someone unimportant.

Without the Leader present, there was no way to enter.

What a disappointment!

Cain left the Fallarbor Town Gym feeling slightly frustrated.

Of course, Cain wouldn't admit that his true motivation for challenging the gym was to gain recognition and upload battle videos to increase his fame.

That was definitely not his goal.

Seriously.

Cain's objective was to strengthen relations between Fallarbor Town and Leafy Town, promoting friendship between Gym Leaders and contributing to the development of the Hoenn region.

How exactly towns separated by a massive mountain could strengthen their friendship wasn't something Cain needed to worry about.

(End of Chapter)