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Sato didn't have much time to entertain everyone. From the stack of invitations, he ultimately chose only three: the Slateport Shipping Security Company, the Slateport Pokémon Enthusiasts Club, and the Sasaki Security Company. Conveniently, their meeting times did not overlap.
He first went to meet with the representatives from the Slateport Shipping Security Company. However, he was disappointed. The person they sent was merely an ordinary department manager, and the terms offered were extremely harsh.
The most unacceptable condition was the restriction on his personal freedom. Once he signed the contract, he would be required to remain in Slateport City at all times until it expired—unless under special circumstances—and be on call whenever needed.
Faced with such insincere and demanding terms, Sato naturally refused. However, he didn't lose his temper on the spot. Instead, he politely declined under the pretext of needing a few more days to consider.
As for the meeting with the Slateport Pokémon Enthusiasts Club, Sato was fairly satisfied. Although their representative was not the main chairman, Susaki, they still sent a branch president, which showed sufficient respect. The terms were also relatively relaxed.
They did not attempt to restrict his personal freedom. The only condition was that whenever the club needed him, he must provide support unconditionally.
However, such lenient terms came with weaker compensation. The club only promised an annual "potential investment" of 5 million PokeDollars.
Of course, if Sato achieved high placements in events such as League tournaments, Battle Frontier challenges, or competitions held by other major organizations, the investment could increase accordingly.
Just like buying goods requires comparing options, Sato was essentially "selling himself" this time. Naturally, he was being extremely cautious. He did not immediately agree to the club's offer, deciding instead to wait for the final—and most important—meeting.
"The Sasaki family really does have deep pockets. Even the place they chose to host this dinner is far superior to the other two. Looks like I'm in for a treat tonight."
At 7 p.m., Sato arrived on time at the Slateport International Hotel. Looking at its resplendent, golden exterior, he couldn't help but marvel at the Sasaki family's wealth.
He knew this hotel well—it was the most luxurious in Slateport City, and the cuisine inside was among the finest available.
The people who came here were either wealthy or powerful. Without connections, it was nearly impossible to dine here, as private rooms were usually booked days in advance.
What pleased Sato was that the staff here did not judge people by appearance. Despite his plain clothing, the doorman still politely asked whether he had a reservation.
After presenting his invitation, a beautiful waitress led him inside and brought him to the private room Alice had reserved.
Inside, aside from Sato, only Alice and Sonoko were present. As for Pokémon, there was a single Gallade, standing upright at Alice's right side like a meticulous bodyguard—proud and powerful.
"Welcome, Mr. Tyler. Please, have a seat."
The moment Sato entered, Alice stood up and greeted him with a bright smile.
Tonight, she was clearly dressed with great care. Wearing an elegant moon-white gown, her hair styled neatly, combined with her delicate features, graceful figure, and innate noble aura, she resembled a blooming white peony—luxurious and dignified.
Even with Sato's strong composure, he couldn't help but feel momentarily stunned by her beauty.
In contrast, Sato, dressed as usual, appeared somewhat plain. However, his mental fortitude was strong—he felt neither awkward nor inferior, and calmly took a seat opposite Alice.
"Hmph, what a country bumpkin. No manners at all."
At that moment, Sonoko—dressed in a sharp women's suit—looked at Sato through her sunglasses with undisguised disdain as he sat directly across from Alice.
Still, despite her dissatisfaction, she didn't dare disobey Alice. After Sato sat down, she quickly stepped forward and arranged an exquisite set of tableware for him.
Because of Gallade's presence, Sato refrained from using his psychic detection to secretly observe Alice and Sonoko. However, his perception was far beyond ordinary people.
Even though Sonoko said nothing, he could clearly sense her hostility toward him, which left him somewhat puzzled.
Still, she was merely Alice's attendant. Since he could feel Alice's goodwill, he quickly ignored Sonoko's attitude.
"If I'm not mistaken, this beautiful lady must be Miss Alice. I watched your performance at the Slateport Grand Contest—you raised your Charizard exceptionally well. You must be a very powerful Trainer."
Sato wasn't inexperienced. Instead of jumping straight to business, he offered sincere praise.
Women naturally enjoy compliments, and Alice was no exception. Especially since Sato's words touched on what she was most proud of—her performance and her Pokémon—her smile grew even brighter.
"You flatter me, Mr. Tyler. You're the truly remarkable one. Winning eighteen consecutive battles at the Slateport Battle Arena last night—your performance amazed everyone. If your nineteenth opponent hadn't taken advantage of you, your winning streak would surely have continued."
Alice knew Sato was flattering her, so she returned the courtesy, praising his performance at the arena.
After this exchange of mutual compliments, the atmosphere quickly became pleasant. Neither rushed to discuss cooperation, instead chatting about various topics.
Alice, born into a noble family, had traveled the world since childhood. Her knowledge and experience far surpassed ordinary people, and with her elite education, she seemed to have endless topics to talk about.
Sato, however, was playing the role of Tyler. Naturally, he couldn't reveal his true experiences, so he mostly listened.
But whenever the topic turned to Pokémon, he demonstrated the solid knowledge expected of a top student from Goldenrod Academy, further convincing Alice that "Mr. Tyler" possessed tremendous investment potential.
As they chatted, dishes were gradually served. Before long, the two seemed like old friends, even releasing their Pokémon to share the seafood feast together.
At last, as the pleasant dinner neared its end, Alice finally brought up the true purpose of the evening:
"Has Mr. Tyler considered his future? As your Pokémon grow stronger and your team expands, the resources you require will only increase. It's extremely difficult to sustain that alone."
"I know you've already joined the League, but while the League is vast, it supports countless people, and its internal factions are complex. Advancing on your own is extremely difficult."
"My Sasaki family may not compare to the League, but we still have some influence in the Kanto region. If you don't mind, we are willing to provide the resources you'll need to raise your Pokémon in the future."