Pokemon: Rising From The Dark

In the previous battle, Aoki had witnessed the intense confrontation between Team Rocket and the League. At that time, Lance was still the Dragon-type Trainer of the Kanto region, but his strength was already overwhelming.

In recent decades, the League's prestige and control over the regions have steadily declined. As a result, the League has promoted individuals they have carefully cultivated to maintain their influence. Lance is one of the prominent leaders among this new generation of Trainers fully supported by the League.

This decline in the League's authority over the regions was foreseen by its higher-ups, prompting them to relax restrictions on civilian Trainers.

As the League's control weakened, they focused on fostering Trainers who were loyal to the organization. By controlling these Trainers, they aimed to maintain their hold over the regions.

Initially, when the League was established through the unification of various factions, becoming a Trainer was a privilege reserved for the elite. Civilians had no resources or rights to pursue this career.

However, with the arrival of peace, fewer battles occurred, and the power accumulated by various factions grew stronger. The League's control diminished further.

To counter this, the League opened the Trainer profession to civilians, establishing local support networks and Pokémon Centers to provide basic resources. Over generations, this approach increased the League's membership significantly.

At the same time, this strategy curbed dissent and stabilized society as a whole.

Despite this, it remained much more difficult for civilians to become Trainers compared to those born into League-affiliated families, as they had to abide by the League's strict rules and systems.

So, are members of League-affiliated families always superior?

Not entirely. While Trainers are categorized as family or non-family members, the distinction is nuanced.

Non-family members are Trainers who register with the League through civilian channels. They often acquire their first Pokémon through various means, meet the League's criteria, and ultimately become official Trainers. Most non-family members are civilians.

Aoki's Trainer ID also designates him as a non-family member.

Family members, on the other hand, receive starter Pokémon—usually top-tier options like the regional starters—along with Pokédexes symbolizing their status. They also enjoy numerous privileges, such as free treatment at Pokémon Centers, free lodging, and other benefits.

Generally, a Trainer's status as family or non-family is determined at birth. However, non-family members can ascend to family status by making significant contributions to the League and completing its specialized assessments. Their descendants would then inherit this family status.

Of course, this is a rare achievement, reserved for true prodigies who excel beyond the ordinary and change their lives through sheer talent and determination.

But excelling as a Trainer isn't the only path. Non-family members can also attain family status by making contributions in other fields. For instance, becoming a renowned Pokémon doctor or achieving advanced certification as a breeder or researcher could earn them family status.

Still, only a small fraction of individuals succeed in overcoming these odds, while most remain trapped in their struggles.

This is one of the reasons so many people choose to join Team Rocket. While the organization is ruthless, it offers a higher chance of success for those willing to take extreme measures and bet everything on their ambitions.

"Attention: The shuttle bus to Saffron City is about to depart. Passengers who have not yet boarded, please proceed to Gate A3!"

The announcement interrupted Aoki's thoughts as he read the newspaper. He hadn't realized how quickly time had passed.

Folding the newspaper, he walked to the gate, swiped his Trainer ID card, and boarded the shuttle bus to Saffron City.

With few passengers onboard, seating was unassigned. Aoki chose a spot by the window.

As the bus started moving, he gazed out at the city fading into the distance.

"Pokémon world... I'm back," he thought to himself, resting his head against his hand.

Perhaps due to the existence of Pokémon, which simplify travel, the world's transportation infrastructure isn't as advanced as one might expect.

It took almost three hours for Aoki to reach Saffron City—the most developed city in the Kanto region.

Saffron City is located at the crossroads of several major locations: Cerulean City, Celadon City, Vermillion City, and Lavender Town. It is the largest and busiest city in Kanto, renowned even in other regions.

The imposing Silph Co. headquarters stands at the heart of the city, and two iconic Gyms occupy its northeast corner.

As the central hub of Kanto, Saffron City is home to vital infrastructure, including the Maglev Train Station that connects Kanto to Johto, and an airport providing access to other regions.

Unsurprisingly, the League places great importance on Saffron City.

However, its wealth of resources also attracts other factions. Besides the League, Team Rocket wields significant influence in the city. One of Team Rocket's three top executives, Sabrina—dubbed the "Psychic Queen"—operates here.

Saffron City's development also draws Trainers from across regions, making it a vibrant melting pot of cultures and Pokémon.

Trainers from Hoenn, Sinnoh, Unova, and beyond frequent the city, creating a lively atmosphere.

With so many Trainers, battles are inevitable. Saffron City is also the largest battleground in Kanto, with designated battle zones scattered throughout, allowing Trainers and their Pokémon to clash in fierce competition.

Residents of Saffron City are accustomed to seeing spectacular battles daily and are unfazed by the presence of rare Pokémon from distant regions.

Alongside its legitimate battle zones, Saffron also harbors a thriving underground scene. Hidden arenas and illegal battlefields provide opportunities for some to earn League Coins or indulge their darker desires.

This duality of light and shadow makes Saffron City a place of unbridled ambition and conflict.

Aoki has his own name for it: the Capital of Desire.