By the time Hisoka stepped out of Chunxia Hall, the sky was completely dark. Viridian City was a quiet place, ideal for retirement or vacation, lacking the towering skyscrapers and heavy traffic of major international metropolises.
Most of its permanent residents were elderly, but the thriving medicinal market attracted herb gatherers and bounty hunters, giving the forest-shrouded city a unique, lively atmosphere.
After picking up Lulu's favorite snacks and some daily necessities at a department store, Hisoka rode his bike back to his home on the outskirts of the city a European-style villa with a backyard.
Land was plentiful in Viridian, making property prices a fraction of what they were in the Saffron City metropolis. The price of a small bathroom in Saffron could buy a sprawling villa with a garden in the Viridian suburbs.
After a bath, Hisoka carried Lulu into his study. Once he had settled the little one with her toys, he sat down and opened his laptop. Thanks to his background in mathematics and economics, Hisoka was highly sensitive to numbers, a trait he used to his advantage in training Pokémon.
He opened an encrypted folder and double-clicked a file. A 3D model of Lulu appeared on the screen, alongside a unique six-pointed radar chart of her stats.
*[Ralts]*
HP:* D
Attack:* D
Defense:* D
Special Attack:* B
Special Defense:* C
Speed:* C+
Hisoka had purchased Lulu's egg from a poacher organization two years ago. Eggs from unknown sources were cheaper, but still cost him a year's worth of savings. Fortunately, luck had been on his side. The egg, which could have easily been a dud, hatched into a Ralts a Psychic type that was rare even in its native Hoenn region.
With Lulu's help, Hisoka had become a bounty hunter. He started with simple herb and berry gathering and eventually moved into the dangerous depths of Viridian Forest to find high-value medicinal plants. In just two years, the duo had amassed a significant amount of capital.
In any world, money wasn't everything, but it was impossible to move without it. Money represented resources and economic power. Even a child playing games knew that if your economy was high enough, you could win just by brute-forcing your way through.
Since he had chosen the path of a bounty hunter and the most dangerous kind, a lone wolf he had to be meticulous in his planning, for his own sake and for the innocent child relying on him.
Thinking this, Hisoka looked back at the corner of the study where Lulu was having the time of her life, using her telekinesis to bounce a ball. He smiled and began typing on his keyboard.
A powerful and versatile bounty hunter needed a team of six Pokémon with distinct roles. He couldn't choose them based on looks or simple type advantages like a casual trainer might.
A bounty hunter faced the perils of nature and the threat of wild Pokémon packs. The team had to be a perfectly balanced combat unit.
Hisoka categorized the six roles as follows:
1. *Speedster:* High physical attack and extreme speed, but fragile. Capable of one-shotting enemies but easily defeated if hit.
2. *Tank:* Massive size with incredible physical and special defense. The team's meat shield, though prone to being outmaneuvered.
3. *Cannon:* Possesses terrifying single-target or area-of-effect skills for guaranteed kills.
4. *Scout:* Usually a Flying type, utilizing their natural advantages for reconnaissance.
5. *Support:* Currently filled by Lulu.
6. *Healer:* A Pokémon capable of learning recovery skills. Blissey was his top choice.
This was his vision of the perfect team. Currently, his most urgent need was a Speedster. Without a primary offensive powerhouse, he was unable to take on high-paying, high-risk missions.
Scyther... eliminated. Hisoka deleted an image. The only picture remaining on his screen was a black, cat-like Pokémon with pointed ears and long claws.
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