Pokémon: Pirates of the Aqua Realm

Qianli held Xiaoyao gently in his arms, patting her back soothingly as he spoke. "Miss Junsha, do you know this young man?" His gaze shifted to Darian Voss, guarded but curious.

Miss Junsha studied Darian briefly before replying, "Yes, I remember him. He came to our station once, wanting to join the cleanup mission. A shy and good boy, as I recall. We've met only once."

Qianli nodded, relaxing slightly. Her words softened his cautious stance toward Darian.

Not far away, Darian overheard the exchange. A shy and good boy? The thought almost made him laugh. If only they knew the truth—his hands had once been stained with blood, both human and Pokémon, and he had lived as a pirate. But those dark days were long buried, thanks to Mrs. Sanju's help. Now, he was an upright young man, a perfect recruit for the alliance. Or so he convinced himself. Self-deception, after all, was the first step in deceiving others.

Darian stepped forward with a smile. "Miss Junsha, we meet again. Are you on a mission to deal with the spinytail worm infestation?" His eyes wandered curiously over the group of officers and trainers.

Miss Junsha didn't seem surprised by the question. "Yes," she replied. "We were clearing out the Pokémon on the outskirts of Chenghua Forest when Mr. Qianli's daughter wandered off. We shifted focus to find her."

Her candid response brought a satisfied smile to Darian's face. The innocent persona he worked so hard to project was paying off. Lowering people's guard was key to his plans.

"I'd like to join the mission," Darian said sincerely. "It'll be a good opportunity to train my Pokémon. And I don't expect any payment."

Miss Junsha hesitated briefly before agreeing. "Alright, but be cautious. Just assist and stay safe."

"Thank you, Miss Junsha!" Darian's eyes lit up with excitement, his expression radiating sincerity. To the others, he appeared as a kind and eager young trainer. Who wouldn't trust someone like that?

Darian released two Pokémon—Lobster Soldier and Toothfish—to assist with the mission. Together with the other trainers and officers, they began clearing out the spinytail group. Most of the Pokémon here were weaker ones that had lost their territorial battles.

"Wind Speed Dog, use Jet Flames!" Miss Junsha commanded. Her powerful Arcanine leapt forward, releasing a stream of intense flames that incinerated the strongest insects—a Venomoth and a Beautifly.

Darian watched in awe, envy flickering in his heart. Arcanine, with its legendary status and high stats, was a Pokémon he could only dream of owning. However, wild Growlithe were almost nonexistent, as the Junsha family had exclusive control over them. Taming one meant catching the attention of the Junsha clan, and most trainers either married into the family or found themselves conveniently recruited by the alliance—often meeting untimely ends in dangerous missions if they refused.

"Hyperactive Ape, use Dynamic Punch!" Qianli's Vigoroth swiftly dispatched the remaining Pokémon, marking the end of the mission.

As the team regrouped, Miss Junsha distributed proof of task completion to the trainers. When she handed one to Darian, she said warmly, "You contributed a lot to this mission. Consider this a small personal reward from me."

Darian accepted it with a grateful smile. "Thank you, Miss Junsha. I'll do my best to live up to your trust." His humble demeanor earned him more goodwill from the group.

With the task successfully completed, Qianli approached, Xiaoyao still nestled in his arms. "Miss Junsha, this young man saved my daughter. I'd like to invite him to the gym's completion ceremony," he said firmly, leaving little room for refusal.

Miss Junsha smiled. "Of course, Mr. Qianli. The decision is yours."

Turning to Darian, Qianli asked, "Would you be willing to join us, young man?"

Before Darian could respond, Xiaoyao looked up from Qianli's arms, her big, innocent eyes shining. "Big brother, join! Join! Join!" she exclaimed, her voice filled with excitement.

Darian chuckled and bowed politely. "It would be an honor. Thank you, Mr. Qianli."

Xiaoyao cheered, waving her tiny hands happily. The group shared a moment of lighthearted laughter, charmed by her innocence.

As they returned to the city, Darian took the opportunity to ask about the gym. "Miss Junsha, could you tell me more about Mr. Qianli's role here?"

"Mr. Qianli was invited by the vice chairman of the Hoenn Region to lead the gym in Petalburg City," she explained. "He came all the way from Johto to take on this responsibility."

Darian nodded, filing the information away. The more he learned, the better he could navigate this new phase of his life.

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