"Drake...? Are you the Elite Four Drake?!" Cain said, trying hard to show an expression of surprise.
"If there's no other Elite Four named Drake, then the one you're talking about must be me, hahaha!" Drake mimicked Cain's words, laughing with satisfaction.
As one of the senior members of the Elite Four, Drake, like others of his age who care about the League's development, pays close attention to the talents of the next generation.
For this reason, in the future, when Ash meets Drake and asks for a battle, Drake won't refuse. Although Ash isn't very well-known at the top levels of the League, he has the support of Professor Oak, which has given him some notoriety.
Drake, curious to see Ash's level and skills, won't hesitate to face him to gauge his potential.
Similarly, Cain is much more famous now than Ash will be at that time. Therefore, it was only natural for Drake to want to do something to acknowledge him.
Moreover, Cain has a significant advantage over Ash: he also owns Dragon-type Pokémon, which means he could gain valuable training advice from Drake.
"Come on! Let's not talk on the deck; let's head into the cabin. I want to show you my captain's quarters," said Drake, with his cigar in hand, clearly pleased, as he led Cain inside.
Although Drake spends much of his time at sea and rarely attends Hoenn League meetings, he is well-informed about their contents.
However, he is not someone with lofty ambitions for power; even after becoming a member of the Elite Four, he dislikes getting involved in managing things.
As a man of the sea, he enjoys the freedom of sailing and rarely returns to the League. So Cain's visit was something special to him.
Cain followed him through the ship's corridor.
The ship was a large wooden sailing vessel. Despite being made of wood, the materials and techniques used were so advanced that the vessel could withstand even the strongest storms without issue.
In fact, combined with the captain's and sailors' skills, the ship was much safer than some made of metal.
The ship's interior was imbued with a strong masculine aroma. Unsurprisingly, there were few women aboard, as the smell of sweat was almost unbearable for anyone unaccustomed to such an environment.
Nonetheless, the wandering life at sea seemed quite appealing, as long as one had enough power to face any dangerous situation that might arise.
Sudden storms or powerful Pokémon could appear at any moment, and one had to be prepared to face them.
When they arrived at the captain's quarters, Cain noticed that the space was quite large and, thankfully, did not have the overwhelming stench of sweat. Instead, there was a strong smell of tobacco and alcohol. It seemed Drake had a considerable fondness for both.
The atmosphere was far more comfortable than Cain's previous missions, so he showed no sign of discomfort, which made Drake appreciate him even more.
After sitting together on the sofa, they began to chat casually.
However, they didn't talk about Dragon-type Pokémon but rather about everyday topics in Cain's life, like his master Matsuda Takashi and his close friend Steven.
Eventually, Drake offered Cain a cleaner room to spend the night, suggesting they talk more in the morning, reasoning that young people should go to bed early.
With no other option, Cain went to sleep. The bed was much more comfortable than sleeping outdoors.
Cain understood what Drake wanted but didn't mention it, letting himself drift into slumber while Gengar, hidden in the shadows, kept watch to ensure his safety through the night.
After Cain left, a sailor entered Drake's quarters. Unlike the other sailors on deck, this one had a far more intimidating presence.
"Captain, what are your orders?" the sailor asked in a deep voice.
"I want you to verify the identity of the young man who just boarded the ship. Find out if he's the famous Cain people have been talking about recently," Drake said, exhaling a puff of smoke.
"Yes, sir!" the sailor responded firmly before leaving.
Drake stared at the spot where Cain had sat moments earlier, deep in thought.
Although he dislikes getting involved in League matters, as an Elite Four member, he is cautious. He wasn't going to trust Cain's words without prior investigation.
Half an hour later, the burly sailor returned with a report.
Drake reviewed the report on Cain. The description matched the person he had seen, and Cain's signature Pokémon, Slowking, was also present. Drake confirmed that this Cain was indeed one of the rising talents in the Hoenn region.
Feeling reassured, Drake decided he could pass on some of his knowledge.
After all, he was aging. Though still full of energy, he preferred to leave behind a legacy rather than take it to the grave.
Drake was a strong man, but the sea was always full of dangers.
It wasn't as if he was destined to become the King of the Pirates.
...
The Next Morning.
After a night of rest, Cain woke up early.
To his surprise, the ship's sailors were already awake. Everyone seemed busy with their tasks, and fortunately, the ship was still anchored at the same spot where Cain had boarded. It would've been quite awkward if they had departed while he was asleep.
Drake was at the ship's bow, looking toward the nearby cliff and the forest above it.
Some resilient plants grew on the cliff. Although small and weak, they struggled to survive.
"You're awake already, Cain? You're up early. Young people should maintain good habits; otherwise, when they get old, they'll feel like their bodies are rusted," Drake said as he noticed Cain stepping onto the deck.
"But you woke up even earlier, Uncle Drake!" Cain replied with a smile as he approached the bow to enjoy the fresh sea breeze.
"Hahaha, old folks don't sleep much. Since you're awake, how about a battle? I think it could be quite interesting," Drake proposed.
Now that he had confirmed Cain's identity, Drake no longer held back.
He was eager to see the level of the young talents of this generation. Cain and Steven were the leaders of Hoenn's new generation, and testing Cain's skills was practically evaluating the level of the region's youth.
Drake was very interested in that.
Hearing his proposal, Cain's eyes lit up with excitement.
A battle against the Elite Four Drake?
There was no doubt that Drake's power was immense. However, if he used his main team, the battle wouldn't make much sense, as Cain wouldn't stand a chance even with all his Pokémon combined.
"Of course!" Cain replied without hesitation.
(End of Chapter)