Before reaching the Top 128, there shouldn’t be too much pressure.
Even upon reaching the Top 128, Cain thought that as long as he didn’t run into those few exceptional rivals, he shouldn’t have too much difficulty.
In any case, knowing how the League worked, it would be rare for them to be matched up so early.
Cain, Steven, Phoebe, and Wallace were the first to leave the private lounge, as they were the four who would start their battles. The others still had to wait.
The battle order clearly reflected the League’s opinion of the Hoenn participants. Steven and Cain were the top contenders, followed by Phoebe and Wallace, while the others were ranked lower in importance.
With his usual experience, Cain went directly to a rental agency in Hearthome City and looked for a large, secluded estate on the outskirts of town. He didn’t bargain for a single Pokédollar; he simply rented it. With Steven there, money was just a number.
Under the astonished gazes of the others, Cain led them straight to the mansion outside the city. Once the rental agent handed over the keys, that vast place became their temporary residence in Hearthome.
"Cain, why did you rent such a big place? Look at all this grass in the back," Phoebe asked, her eyes shining as she observed the massive green area of the estate.
Cain smiled slightly and explained, "According to the tournament schedule, we’ll have to stay here in Hearthome City for quite a while. Don’t you want to make the most of that time? This place is big enough for the four of us."
"But couldn’t we just stay at the Pokémon Center? Renting this place must be really expensive," Phoebe replied, still doubtful.
Wallace spoke up before Cain could answer. "He probably did it for privacy. Right now, the Pokémon Centers are completely packed. Even if we could get rooms, training Pokémon there would be quite difficult."
Steven, who had been inspecting the property, commented with satisfaction, "Don’t worry about the cost, Phoebe. This place is not only more comfortable, but it also allows us to train our Pokémon more freely. Cain was very considerate."
Though it didn’t compare to the Stone family’s properties, the place was more than sufficient for four people.
"There are enough rooms here. Pick one for yourselves. This will be our home for the time being," Cain said as he walked toward the central house of the estate—an enormous and spacious mansion.
After selecting their rooms, everyone went to settle in. Cain chose a corner room on the second floor. It was spacious, with high ceilings, perfect for releasing his Pokémon without worrying about space.
In the privacy of his room, Cain released Honchkrow, Weavile, and Larvitar. These three couldn’t participate in battles for now and also couldn’t train openly, so they would stay in the room for the time being.
Although Cain had initially considered renting a place just for himself, he decided to share it with the others. Steven, Phoebe, and Wallace were key figures in Hoenn’s future, and maintaining good relationships with them was important.
Additionally, Cain had promised Wallace to help him design a training plan for his Pokémon and create specific Pokéblocks for them. Of course, it was also an opportunity for Cain to analyze Wallace’s Pokémon data—something that could be useful if they ended up facing each other later in the tournament.
However, Cain didn’t plan to stay locked up with his Pokémon the whole time. Instead, he used Unown’s abilities to create a dimensional space in the wall of his room—a vast and secure place where his Pokémon could train without restrictions.
This ability, acquired through his bond with Unown, was incredibly practical.
After sealing the entrance to the dimensional space, Cain went down to the backyard and released his main team: Slowking, Drapion, Gengar, Florges, Swampert, and Poliwhirl. These would be his six key Pokémon for the Sinnoh tournament.
Training began with something basic—running around the vast garden. This exercise not only warmed up his Pokémon’s muscles but also strengthened the bond between them and their trainer. Cain ran alongside them, something his Pokémon deeply appreciated.
As Cain trained, Steven, Wallace, and Phoebe gradually came downstairs. Seeing Cain so dedicated, they couldn’t help but admire him before starting their own training.
Steven released his team, which consisted of Metagross, Aggron, Skarmory, Armaldo, Cradily, and—to everyone’s surprise—an Aerodactyl! This rare Pokémon left a strong impression on Cain, but he decided not to ask how Steven had obtained it just yet.
Phoebe, a ghost-type specialist, released her six companions: Mismagius, Banette, Sableye, Dusknoir, Drifblim, and Gengar. Despite her innocent and youthful appearance, Phoebe demonstrated impressive control over her Pokémon, proving she was a trainer who had no fear of ghosts whatsoever.
Wallace, with his characteristic elegance, revealed a team composed of Milotic, Walrein, Gyarados, Whiscash, Luvdisc, and Starmie—clearly reflecting his experience as a future Hoenn Champion.
As training continued, all four trainers focused on perfecting their Pokémon. Despite being competitors, their camaraderie and mutual respect were evident, pushing them to improve together.
The day passed in constant effort, with each one dedicating time to prepare for the battles ahead.
As the sun began to set, Cain and the others returned to the mansion, ready to rest and plan the next day’s training.