Pokémon cross over into the real world

The Gambutem City Diocese has recruited 30 new saints. Most of them are local farmers and fishermen, struggling to make ends meet with meager incomes. They heard that being recruited by the Elven Cult would offer them a stable job and a stable income. If they performed well, they might even be assigned an elf, significantly improving their families' lives. So, they signed up. Initially, hundreds of people showed up, but the illiterate, the physically challenged, and the elderly were rejected, leaving only these 30.

Of the 30, only Wang Qiyi and Wang Lingqi were trainers, and upon joining, they were promoted to intermediate holy warriors, which made the other members of the sect envious. However, seeing that Wang Qiyi and Wang Lingqi had brought their own Pokémon into the sect, they must have been from wealthy families in the city, and they, the lowly people, certainly could not compare to them.

Although Wang Qiyi and Wang Lingqi were higher level than the others upon joining, they were still forced to attend classes in the church for three consecutive days, chanting scriptures like everyone else. I can't believe this cult has its own scripture. Was it written by Mewtwo? Or was it some psychopath who plagiarized a little from the Bible, a little from the Buddhist scriptures, and indeed included some of Mewtwo's philosophical musings, cobbled together to create this cult scripture.

Wang Qiyi hadn't listened to a single word of the three-day brainwashing session; he'd been meditating, rarely finding the time to cultivate his own wave power. Jiang Zining's wave power might have already surpassed his master's, and if he didn't work hard, he'd be crushed by his apprentice. Wang Lingqi, on the other hand, was fascinated by Mewtwo's philosophical speculations and had taken up studying the Pokémon Scriptures.

Seeing that the new Saints were nearly brainwashed, Robin began assigning them tasks and responsibilities. Some would participate in training, learning to ride Flying-type Pokémon. This was because the battlefield required transport personnel. The Pokemon Cult's frontline combat method was to load powerful Pokéballs under Mewtwo's command, and have these transport personnel drop the Pokéballs onto the battlefield. Their Pokémon army required no trainers at all, and humans merely served as transport tools.

As mid-level holy warriors, Wang Qiyi and Wang Lingqi were assigned other tasks: to collect taxes from the towns below, essentially acting as tax collectors. In the past, taxes from the people here were collected by the local alliance, but now that the alliance was gone, taxes had become the responsibility of the elven cult. Of course, they didn't call it taxes, but tribute.

The Elven Cult also requires a significant amount of money to manage and operate. Any organization cannot do without money. The larger the scope of control, the greater the expenses. For the powerful elves at the top to continue to grow in strength, they also need the support of natural treasures and high-level resources. Therefore, the Elven Cult's management is also constantly demanding money. This money must then be extorted from the people and believers.

Gambutmu City is close to the sea and has three towns under its jurisdiction, namely Pingyang Town, Krut Town and Tugawu Town. 70% of the people living here are fishermen, and only a few farmers with land can grow crops and fruits to earn income. Farmers with land can be said to be considered the rich class.

Fishermen's livelihoods depend largely on luck. Their catch during a trip depends entirely on luck. A good catch might yield a few large fish, securing their meals for the day. Even better luck might lead to Pokémon being captured and sold to local breeders. Of course, these are usually defenseless Pokémon like Magikarp and Smelt. If they encounter a powerful Water Pokémon, the outcome is unpredictable. On the other hand, bad luck could lead to not only no fish, but also the possibility of being stranded in the Dead Sea without even returning. This is a common occurrence.

Having Pokémon help you catch fish is a dream. Ordinary fishermen are not qualified to use Poké Balls. They couldn't afford them back then, and now, in the age of Pokémon Education, it's even more impossible. Without Poké Balls, you can't control Pokémon unless you can obtain Poké Eggs and raise them from a young age. If fishermen without trainer qualifications secretly raise Pokémon, it is illegal and they will be fined if caught.

When Wang Qiyi and Wang Lingqi saw the lives of ordinary fishermen here, they were also shocked. He had grown up in the modern city of Dragon Country, his family was modest, and he worked for Jia Wencheng's family. But compared to the people here, it was like heaven. He felt that the common people in Southeast Asia were living in ancient times, with no sense of modernity at all. No wonder the teachings of the Elven Religion were so easily accepted in this area, because they originally lived in a pre-modern era.

Even these impoverished fishermen were exploited by local landlords. Wang Qiyi learned that a local organization called the Green Gang, a local tyrant, had been rampant in the area for decades. Their livelihoods primarily involved running brothels, renting fishing boats, and gambling cruises.

Fishing boat rentals were available to civilians. Fishermen without boats could rent fishing boats from their Qinghai company. Initially, the rent was split 30% to 70% of the fishermen's earnings. As the Qing Gang expanded the Qinghai company and absorbed other nearby fishing boat rental companies, the rent gradually increased to 40% to 60%.

Cai Chengwang, leader of the Qinghai Gang, went even further. He commanded nearly a hundred trainers, similar to the Shark Gang of Nanyue, and the majority of their Pokémon were Water-type. He had his Pokémon lurk in fishing areas, sabotaging fishermen's boats, some even sinking them. Any fishing vessel not affiliated with the Qinghai Company was at great risk of not returning. The Pokémon at sea were known to be extremely aggressive and would attack non-Qinghai Company fishing vessels.

The people knew what was going on, but they dared not speak out. Anyone who complained to the alliance would be killed the next day by a shipwreck. Ultimately, the Qinghai Company completely dominated the region, monopolizing the fishing industry. Of course, the local alliance was complicit, as the alliance president also held shares in the Qinghai Company and received substantial dividends each year.

When the Spirit Cult arrived, the local fishermen, believing they were their saviors, flocked to support them and overthrew the Alliance. However, Cai Chengwang, the leader of the Green Gang, was quick to react and immediately joined the Spirit Cult, helping to destroy the Alliance and even giving the Spirit Cult his share of the profits from the Alliance.

The Elven Cult, having just arrived, needed local forces to stabilize the situation. To put it bluntly, it needed local assistance in management. The Green Gang became their tool. The Elven Cult was indifferent to the Green Gang's exploitation of the locals, as long as they paid the money. Because the Elven Cult's mission was to prevent civilization from modernizing, such a backward management model would certainly not be modernized, so Bishop Robin turned a blind eye.

But now that the war on the front lines was intense, the Elven Cult's financial expenses had increased, requiring the localities to pay more tribute to the central government. Robin was troubled by this matter. He also knew that the local people were no longer able to make much money, as the money was in the hands of the Green Gang. Although Wang Qiyi's two gold bars were a huge sum, it was only a drop in the bucket compared to the tribute paid by the entire region.

This time he sent Wang Qiyi and Wang Lingqi just to squeeze some more money out of the Qing Gang. As for how the Qing Gang exploited the people, he had no control over it.

"Damn it!" After learning about the living conditions of the local people, Wang Qiyi punched the corner of the alley. "We can only keep 60% of the daily income, and we have to pay tribute every quarter. This is leaving no way for the people to survive!"

An aristocrat living in paradise could never understand the suffering of the common people. Wang Qiyi once spent 5 dragon coins a night at the St. Sophia Hotel in Shanghai, which translates to over 1 million Indonesian rupiah—enough for a local civilian to maintain basic living standards for 10 years. He himself hadn't imagined the world's wealth gap could be so wide.

He looked at two children sitting in the corner of the alley with wide eyes. They were dark-skinned and thin, one about 4 years old, the other about 6. The adults must be out fishing to make money, and the children were begging on the street, hoping to get some food from kind people.

Wang Qiyi couldn't help but feel compassionate and went to a nearby stall to buy some steamed buns for the two children. He had never experienced hunger, but he knew it was uncomfortable.