Chapter 83

"Huo La, you're already sick like this, do you really have to go to Porta Vista?" Beside the gangway of the inter-city ferry, Brock carefully supported the swaying Huo La, his brows knitted so tightly they could crush a mosquito, his tone filled with undisguisable worry.

Huo La sniffed his red nose, his voice carrying a heavy nasal tone, and he couldn't help but sneeze as soon as he opened his mouth: "I guess I caught a cold from the wind and rain at sea yesterday. But it's fine, it's just a minor ailment, it doesn't matter." He rubbed his cold hands and forced himself to stand a little straighter.

"What do you mean it doesn't matter?" Brock sighed helplessly, half-supporting and half-carrying him toward the cabin. "Can't you just rest for two days at the Pokémon Center and wait until the cold is completely gone before setting off? Do you have to be in such a hurry to leave today?"

Huo La showed a wry smile, but his mental calculations were clicking away—it wasn't that he didn't want to rest!

Calculating the calendar, the "Beauty and the Beach" beauty contest in Porta Vista was in these two days, and he didn't want to miss such a lively scene.

More importantly, he could see that although Brock hadn't mentioned it, ever since the Saint Tenu sank, the fact that they hadn't been able to save Ash had always been like a thorn in his heart, and there was always an lingering self-blame hidden in his eyes.

Rather than letting Brock remain trapped in this emotion, it would be better to take him to Porta Vista—with Ash's heaven-defying luck, he would likely arrive soon, and letting Brock see the safe and sound "Child of Luck" with his own eyes was the most direct way to untie his knot.

And the most urgent point was that his wallet was almost bottoming out.

He was determined to get the one million bounty from Granny at the port, otherwise he would only be able to travel while working.

But just thinking about working made him feel itchy all over.

Having been a beast of burden for a lifetime in his previous life, he really didn't want to touch the life of a beast of burden again in this life; he didn't want to touch it at all.

Of course, if he could catch a Tentacool or Tentacruel along the way, that would also be good; as for that giant Tentacruel that occupied the near shore... Huo La subconsciously shook his head; that thing was not something he could touch right now, let alone think about.

He couldn't tell Brock about these thoughts, so Huo La could only respond vaguely, and was supported by Brock to a window seat in the cabin.

The ferry slowly pulled away from the pier, and the sea breeze carrying a salty and damp scent blew in through the window, brushing against his feverish cheeks, actually producing a hint of coolness.

Huo La wrapped his coat around himself and leaned against the cool glass window; the exhaustion of the past few days and the dizziness of the cold surged up, his eyelids grew heavier and heavier, and before long, he fell into a deep sleep accompanied by the light sound of waves hitting the ship's hull.

Brock looked at his slightly furrowed brows even while he was sleeping, shook his head helplessly, and silently took out a dry towel from his backpack and covered him with it gently.

Porta Vista was a small beach town embedded by the sea; fine golden sand spread along the coastline, the salty and damp sea breeze was mixed with the fragrance of coconuts, and tourists coming and going shuttled between shops holding ice cream; even the air was filled with a leisurely atmosphere—it was undoubtedly a tourist city with excellent scenery.

Just off the ferry, Huo La took a deep breath of the air carrying water vapor, and his head, which had been dizzy from the cold, felt much clearer, and his steps were steady, no longer needing Brock's half-support.

On the distant coast, workers and a group of Pokémon like Machop and Machoke were busy setting up the gilded stage frame, and ribbons and balloons had already been hung for the most part, clearly preparing for the upcoming beauty contest.

Huo La took Brock for a slow stroll, his gaze occasionally sweeping over the Pokémon on the roadside: round Lickitung were sunbathing on the beach, a group of Exeggcute were peeking around under the coconut trees, and there were even starter Pokémon from other regions.

"What a great place." Brock opened his arms to meet the sea breeze, his face full of yearning, "When I get old, I really want to open a breeding house here and accompany Pokémon to watch the sea every day."

Huo La patted him on the shoulder, his tone carrying the firmness of a young man: "Why wait until you're old? When I become the World Champion, I'll directly sponsor you to open the most impressive one!"

Brock turned to look at him, his eyes shining with a smile, and he nodded vigorously: "It's a deal! When the time comes, I'll have to reserve an exclusive lounge for your champion Pokémon!"

The two walked along the coastline for about a quarter of an hour when Huo La's steps suddenly stopped in front of a shop.

The shop faced the beach, a gleaming white yacht was moored at the entrance, and the three large characters "Sea House" on the wooden sign were shining with a warm luster under the sun.

Brock didn't think much of it, just assuming Huo La was hungry from walking, and followed him in with a smile.

As soon as they entered, they saw an old man with a white beard and a straw hat, looking exactly like the legendary Master Roshi, sitting by the window staring blankly at the yacht at the entrance, not even noticing that someone had entered the shop.

It wasn't until Brock walked up and greeted him softly that the old man turned his head slowly, revealing a kind smile—it was the owner of this shop, Old Man Pook.

After ordering two servings of the signature fried noodles, Old Man Pook turned and went into the kitchen to get busy.

Huo La specifically chose a window seat facing the yacht, his fingertips tapping the table unconsciously, his gaze falling on the brand-new yacht, and he couldn't help but mutter in his heart: whether in his previous life or this world, people's obsession with "yacht world travel" seemed to be particularly deep.

However, the difference was quite large—the price of yachts in this life was still quite affordable, and ordinary people could always save enough money after working hard for half a lifetime, and even have a surplus to pay for travel expenses; what about his previous life? He was afraid that even if he worked until retirement, he might not be able to afford a corner of a yacht.

"That one million bounty from Granny..." Huo La was calculating secretly when his peripheral vision suddenly caught the yacht outside the window actually moving! The hull, which had been moored properly on the shore, actually began to advance toward the sea.

"You've got to be kidding? Coming so fast? The noodles haven't even been served yet..." Huo La sighed softly, holding his forehead.

But it was just a sigh; after all, he didn't want to work with Ash and the others to pay for the yacht's repair costs.

Things went exactly as Huo La expected; not long after, Old Man Pook's slightly stern reprimand came from the shore.

The two poked their heads out to look, only to see Ash, Misty, and Lilian standing on the beach with their heads hanging, listening to the lecture in a well-behaved manner, and the Pikachu on Ash's shoulder also had its ears drooping, looking like it had done something wrong.

Brock looked at this scene, and the heart he had been holding all the way finally fell to the ground; the gloom on his face instantly dissipated, and he picked up his chopsticks and devoured the fried noodles in front of him, clearing most of the bowl in a few mouthfuls: "Great, Ash and the others are really fine!"

"Not just fine, they are still as noisy and reckless as ever."

Huo La was picking at his noodles in a leisurely manner, his gaze sweeping over the shore—sure enough, Old Man Pook's yacht was parked crookedly in the shallow water area, and a piece of paint had been scraped off the hull.

Soon, Old Man Pook walked into the Sea House angrily, bringing the three dejected people with him.

As soon as they entered, Ash's eyes lit up, and he spotted Huo La and Brock by the window at a glance, immediately forgetting his frustration, waving enthusiastically and shouting: "Huo La! Brock! What a coincidence, are you eating fried noodles here too?"

This shout instantly drew Old Man Pook's gaze over, and the old man narrowed his eyes, looking Huo La and Brock up and down, his eyes carrying obvious scrutiny.

Huo La's heart skipped a beat, and he quickly raised his hands and spread them, his tone deliberately distant: "Don't shout blindly, we're not very familiar with you."

Brock also quickly lowered his head, pretending to focus on the noodles in his bowl, wishing he could bury his face in the bowl—he didn't want to be treated as an "accomplice" either.

Ash looked at Huo La and Brock, who were "drawing a line," and then at Old Man Pook, whose face was still not very good, his shoulders instantly slumped, and he let out a long sigh.

The Pikachu on his shoulder also let out two low cries: "Pika~ Pika~", its voice filled with grievance and helplessness.