After Icarus received the exchange voucher, he immediately walked to the nearest exchange counter and joined the line.
He held the voucher tightly in his hand.
This was the closest he had ever been to obtaining the training manual from the system. He couldn't help feeling both excited and nervous.
"Hand over the exchange voucher and your black ID card."
Soon, Icarus reached the front of the line, and the staff member at the counter began processing his request.
"Alright, here."
He quickly handed over the voucher and the black card.
"This USB drive contains the item you exchanged," the staff member said.
"Since you're a new recruit, these additional items are also issued to you."
He placed several items on the counter.
"This outfit is your rookie uniform.
And this phone card uses the same number as your current phone, but communications between Team Rocket members using it cannot be monitored by the Pokémon League."
After inserting the black card and confirming that Icarus was a new member, the staff member finished the extra procedures and pushed the items toward him together with the USB drive.
"Alright. Thank you."
Icarus quickly accepted them with both hands and packed everything into his backpack.
He turned to leave but suddenly paused and turned back.
"Excuse me, I have another question.
I'm not a permanent member stationed at this base. If I want to check missions or exchange items in the future, do I have to come here every time? Wouldn't that be dangerous?"
Bang!
The staff member immediately placed a cardboard box on the counter.
"A dedicated computer. It bypasses external network monitoring so you can view missions and the exchange list remotely.
Price: 10,000 Pokédollars."
"Alright… I'll take one."
To reduce the number of times he needed to visit the base—and therefore reduce risk—Icarus immediately paid with his bank card.
After all, he also needed a computer.
Once the payment was done, he checked his balance.
Only 12,000 Pokédollars remained.
After finishing everything, Icarus originally planned to find his new boss, Captain Okamoto, to chat and gather more information.
But after scanning the plaza, he realized the captain was nowhere to be found.
"It seems my spy-type position really is quite free."
Shaking his head, he walked toward the exit on his own.
When leaving, there was no password verification required, and he exited smoothly.
"So this really counts as a blessing in disguise," he thought.
"As long as I hide it well enough, I can benefit from both sides. At worst, I'll just be more careful when selling League information."
With that thought in mind, he released his Pokémon.
He was still inside the forest, after all.
"Weepinbell! Pidgey! Come out!"
"Spri~! Sprout! (ω)"
Weepinbell had mostly recovered after receiving treatment earlier. As soon as it came out, it wrapped its vines around Icarus's leg.
This time it wasn't acting spoiled—it was making a promise.
It promised that it would train harder and would never allow Icarus to lose to other trainers again.
It clearly remembered its previous defeats.
The first time, it had lost to a trainer named Ah Shu.
Today, it had lost again to Captain Okamoto.
As Icarus's main Pokémon, it vowed there would never be a third time.
"Pidgey! Pidgey!"
Pidgey, perched on his shoulder, looked even more ashamed.
During the battle with Ah Shu, it had barely contributed anything.
And today, it had been completely ignored.
It chirped determinedly that the energy in its body was full again. It was no longer afraid of pain and would grow stronger just like Beedrill, rising again after hardship.
"Alright, Weepinbell. Pidgey."
Icarus looked at the two Pokémon he had personally raised and listened to their determined cries.
He felt deeply relieved.
He didn't think losing a battle was something shameful.
As long as you were still alive, you could win back your losses someday.
In this world, a single victory or defeat meant nothing.
What mattered most was surviving and living better.
Just like Ah Shu.
So what if Ah Shu had defeated him in a Pokémon battle?
Because Ah Shu had been careless and trusted others too easily, Icarus had still won the first round of life.
After calming Weepinbell and Pidgey, Icarus quickly moved through the forest with them.
Whenever they encountered wild Pokémon, he avoided them whenever possible—either taking detours or using Repel spray.
When a battle couldn't be avoided, the three of them worked together to finish it quickly.
After all, he was currently carrying two stolen space backpacks.
Those backpacks were far more valuable than any wild Pokémon he might encounter.
Right now, all he wanted was to return home safely and check his rewards.
After traveling quickly for some time, Icarus finally exited the forest.
He stayed alert and hid the two space backpacks inside his coat.
Fortunately, as long as a space backpack wasn't completely full, it didn't bulge much.
He tucked them along the inner sides of his coat, though it still looked slightly bulky.
Without removing his helmet, he lowered his head and quickly walked toward the city gate, ignoring the people around him.
A short distance before reaching the gate, he recalled his Pokémon.
Then he took out his prepared League Trainer ID and briefly showed it to the guards.
"Alright, go ahead."
The guards glanced at the certification and immediately let him pass.
"Isn't that guy a bit strange?" one guard muttered.
"He kept his head down the whole time… and he looks kind of bulky."
But after many years guarding the gate, the soldier knew better than to care too much.
As long as the person showed a legitimate ID that passed the automatic surveillance system above the gate, he didn't bother asking questions.
"Whew… that was close," Icarus muttered after entering the city.
"As expected, these veteran guards rarely bother doing their jobs seriously."
He didn't dare linger and hurried straight home.
Only after entering his house and locking the door did he finally relax.
"Come out, Weepinbell! Pidgey!"
Inside the room, he released the two Pokémon again so they could share in the excitement.
"Weepinbell, Pidgey—let's count our money! Hahaha!"
"Spri~ Sprout! (ω)"
"Pidgey! (ω)"
Having lived with Icarus for so long, the two Pokémon also understood the importance of money. Their eyes sparkled with excitement.
"Let's start with Ah Shu's backpack."
Icarus pulled out the space backpack and emptied it onto the floor.
Clatter!
A pile of items spilled out instantly.
"My Golden Finger!"
He immediately spotted the white Pokédex-like device Ah Shu had shown earlier and grabbed it eagerly.
Beep.
He pressed the power button.
As the screen lit up and displayed several functions, a huge smile spread across his face.
"I finally have data vision too!"
"Although it only measures aptitude after capturing a Pokémon, that's still amazing!"
Holding the device, Icarus looked thrilled.
For official League trainers, receiving one of these was normal.
But for someone like him—a poor civilian struggling to survive from nothing—
This device was his long-dreamed Golden Finger.
Finally, he had obtained it.
(End of Chapter 118)
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