Logan had no idea why Team Rocket chose to attack Vermilion City. Then again, it seemed like fate had tethered him to them—no matter where he went, they always found a way to reappear. Even if he didn't go looking for Team Rocket, he had a strong feeling they'd come looking for him.

After Misty flew off toward Vermilion for rescue efforts, Logan didn't plan to linger in Cerulean either. His travels had no fixed goal. He journeyed not for fame or badges, but to grow stronger—together with his Pokémon. Gym battles were merely tools to that end, nothing more. As someone not native to this world, Logan found no excitement in the so-called "entertainment" of this world—Gyms, badges, all of it meant little to him.

Despite being in Cerulean for some time now, he'd barely explored it. On the first day he arrived, Misty had dragged him into the Team Rocket conflict, and afterward, he was immediately roped into the Gym challenge. Now that he finally had a free moment, Logan decided he might as well take a proper look at this city—often called the "Venice of Kanto".

Clear water flowed gently through stone-lined canals. He walked across a small arched bridge, passing willows drooping over the river's edge. The cobblestone streets were narrow, flanked by quaint specialty shops with unique styles, their charm pulling in passing tourists like a gentle breeze.

He found a cozy outdoor café, ordered coffee and a slice of cake, and leaned back in his chair, watching the slow river flow. The peaceful scene felt like something straight out of a southern water town—tranquil and dreamlike. Tamed Pokémon, long accustomed to city life, perched on tree branches, adding a gentle liveliness to the lazy afternoon.

This part of Cerulean was a bit north of the city center. There were no skyscrapers here, only charming little shops and small houses. Like any city with its hidden alleys and old streets waiting for discovery, this was Cerulean's hidden food alley.

On either side of the river, vendors sold small trinkets and crafts. Children clustered around stalls, gazing longingly at toys, clearly hoping their parents would cave in and buy them something.

"Hmm?"

Logan had just taken a bite of cake when he noticed a crowd gathered not far ahead. Curious, as any human would be, he quickly polished off his cake and downed the last of his coffee in one gulp. After settling the bill, he made his way toward the crowd.

"Come take a look, come see for yourself! These are the real deal—I'd never lie to you!"

"Use these on your Pokémon, and their strength will skyrocket!"

"You've heard of that guy Logan, right? The one who fought Misty at the Gym Challenge a few days ago? Ever wonder why his dragons aren't afraid of ice-type moves? It's because of these items!"

"Too expensive? Not interested? Well, have a look at these instead! Big discount sale—affordable Pokémon supplements! Feed these to your Pokémon, and you'll boost their potential instantly!"

"A lot of people dream of becoming Trainers, right? But not everyone knows there's a shortcut! Just try it—buy a little, take it home, and you'll see results~"

"What, think I'm lying? No way! Look at my ear—see this badge? You can only earn that by winning a Gym challenge. Don't let my looks fool you—I'm a pretty skilled Trainer myself. What kind of Trainer would risk their reputation scamming people in public, huh?"

The voice drifting through the crowd was delicate and sweet, like the call of a lark over a quiet spring morning. It was soft as mist and honeyed like syrup, a voice that instantly evoked warmth. Yet beneath that softness, there was a coyness—a flirtatious charm that could make any man's imagination run wild.

And Logan… recognized that voice.

It tickled something in his memory—something recent, something important. What made him almost laugh, though, was that she was using his name to trick people. He wondered what her face would look like when the real Logan stepped into her scam.

And now he was even more curious.

If her voice was that enticing, what did she look like? Hopefully she wouldn't be a disappointment—a "voice assassin," beautiful in sound but not in sight.

Looking around, Logan noticed that the crowd was mostly men. Many wore skeptical expressions but still lingered, eyes glued to the booth like moths to a flame. Some even began pulling out their wallets, convinced by the honeyed words.

Logan sighed inwardly. Everyone loves a good shortcut. But if you could just buy your way into being a great Trainer with a few trinkets and snacks, what was the point of the entire profession? It was an insult to every Trainer who had risked their life growing stronger with their Pokémon.

The crowd was thick—three, maybe four layers deep. Logan couldn't push through.

So he waved his hand lightly, and a shimmer pulsed outward. His psychic powers carved a clean path through the wall of people. Gasps and scowls erupted around him, but when some caught sight of his face, their expressions shifted—surprise, recognition, maybe even awe.

Meanwhile, the girl at the center of the stall was still weaving her web, unaware of the commotion. Her sugary-sweet sales pitch continued, beguiling and full of fake warmth. Logan stepped through the gap and finally laid eyes on the girl behind the voice.

She knelt on the ground, elegant as a lotus, her long, chestnut hair cascading like a waterfall. Her ears sparkled with earrings made from real Gym badges. Her pale legs shimmered in the sunlight, and her knees, pressed to the stone pavement, were tinged with red—delicate to the point of fragility.

She wore a flowing aqua-blue dress, and though her frame was slender, her figure was… strikingly disproportionate. Her chest alone could make someone wonder if she was smuggling watermelons under that dress. She looked soft, demure—and entirely too alluring for someone running a street scam.

Her face… her face matched her voice perfectly. Unlike Sabrina's icy beauty, this girl's charm was warm and inviting—almost intoxicating. But her most dangerous feature was her eyes—large, sparkling, and full of unspoken emotion. Just meeting her gaze made Logan's heart skip a beat.

He had seen her before.

Slowly, Logan reached into his pocket and pulled out a photograph—one he'd received from Professor Oak. It showed the security footage from three months ago, capturing the thief who had stolen a Squirtle from the lab.

Side by side, the resemblance was unmistakable.

"A beauty, and yet a thief," Logan said, shaking his head with a sigh.

"Stealing wasn't enough for you? Now you've moved on to scamming too?"

His voice was calm, almost amused.

The girl's charming expression froze.

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T/N:

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