-053- Journey to the Forest of Green Leaves (1/3)

"This is your White-ranked Adventurer ID card, please keep it safe. You may now accept tasks of C-rank and below at the Quest Pavilion. There is no penalty for failing your first task, but please only take on missions within your abilities. Thank you very much~"
After handing Kirito the white card and an adventurer's manual, the receptionist immediately snapped a photo with him.
Work was important, but so was a picture with the city's Best Newcomer.
The receptionist explained that the C-rank task had already been registered for Kirito, and once he completed it, he simply needed to submit the task next door.
Kirito took the white card and the adventurer's manual.
On the card, the words "White-ranked Adventurer Kirito" were boldly printed.
He skimmed through the manual, learning that adventurers were divided into four ranks:
White, Red, Green, and Purple.
Tasks were categorized as D, C, B, A, and S.
Apart from S-rank tasks, which were custom jobs assigned by the League, the other four ranks depended on the adventurer's level.
White rank, the beginner adventurer, could only accept D and C-rank tasks.
Red rank allowed for B-rank and below.
Green rank was required for A-rank assignments.
S-rank League custom tasks were reserved for certain Purple-ranked adventurers.
After receiving his White-ranked card and accepting his first C-rank mission, Kirito and Jiang Tao wandered around the second floor.
He saw a trainer using a communication machine to evolve his Machoke.
Unlike in the games, where Machoke needs to be traded via link cable to evolve into Machamp, in reality, the Pokémon Association had dedicated communication machines; trainers needn’t trade their Pokémon to trigger evolution.
Kirito's Electabuzz, when it evolves into Electivire, will also require communication to reach its final form.
Kirito gazed at the information panel on the communication machine.
Something felt off.
Why was this Machoke female?
Was the trainer trying to raise a female Machamp?
Kirito kept his thoughts to himself.
Once their applications were finished, Kirito and Jiang Tao each received a permit to enter Verdant Leaf Forest.
The permit was valid for seven days.
That meant they had to leave the forest within seven days.
Otherwise, a warden would come searching for them.
Staying too long beyond the designated time would result in punishment.
Not only would they be fined in League currency, but their Trainer Reputation Points would also be deducted.

If a trainer's reputation suffered, applying to enter Verdant Leaf Forest or any wild Pokémon habitat would become much more troublesome next time.
The permit clearly stated that rookie trainers could capture no more than two Pokémon in Verdant Leaf Forest.
This was quite considerate.
First, it prevented newcomers from recklessly catching too many Pokémon; second, it allowed trainers, who might find a Pokémon they liked after capturing one, to catch a second.
For mission-driven trainers like Kirito, they could capture the required Pokémon for their task and still catch one extra.
But under no circumstances could rookie trainers' first trip to Verdant Leaf Forest result in capturing more than two Pokémon.
Those who did would face a League currency fine, a deduction in reputation points, and an extended observation period as newcomers.
The specific penalties depended on the circumstances.
After leaving the Pokémon Association, Kirito and Jiang Tao hailed two Charizard Flyers.
Had it been Kirito alone, he would never have splurged like this.
Even though his net worth had climbed into the millions, Charizard Flyers were not cheap.
The base fare was twenty thousand League credits.
From the Pokémon Association to the northern entrance of Verdant Leaf Forest in Jiahua City was about thirty kilometers.
Charizard Flyers charged two thousand League credits per kilometer.
Thirty kilometers plus the base fare meant hiring one Charizard Flyer cost eighty thousand League credits.
Two cost one hundred sixty thousand.
Jiang Tao didn't even blink, announcing that Young Master Jiang was treating everyone to a flight—no objections allowed.
Thanks to Jiang Tao’s generosity, Kirito experienced the joy of riding a Charizard Flyer for the first time in his life.
The ride was exceptionally smooth, not a hint of turbulence.
Charizard’s dominance kept all flying-type Pokémon at bay, clearing a path through the skies.
The city below unfolded in a panoramic view, the scenery breathtaking.
Upon arrival near Verdant Leaf Forest, the two Charizard Flyers descended swiftly.
"This is the happiness of the wealthy, isn’t it?"
Kirito couldn't help teasing Jiang Tao.
"Indeed, have you felt it?"
Jiang Tao crossed his arms, chin raised.
His family, after all, was one of Jiahua City's Four Great Houses, and his extravagance had its reasons.
Kirito suspected the Jiang family must regret having such a spendthrift heir.
Joking all the way, they reached the entrance to Verdant Leaf Forest.
Though the forest was wild,

there were fences around parts of it,
to prevent wild Pokémon from wandering out.
Notably, the area surrounding Verdant Leaf Forest was desolate, with no human settlements.
The forest was dominated by bug-type Pokémon, and their incessant chirping was not something everyone could tolerate.
Kirito found the "Hapoo" calls particularly irritating.
The moment they approached the forest, the buzzing reached Kirito's ears.
"So noisy!"
Kirito couldn't help complaining.
"Yes, but isn’t this exactly what a wild forest should feel like?"
Jiang Tao was already brimming with excitement for their adventure.
Like Kirito, it was his first time in Verdant Leaf Forest, and he was thrilled.
Since Verdant Leaf Forest was a Pokémon habitat, only trainers were allowed entry.
At the entrance, after showing their permits, staff opened the gates for them.
One must not underestimate these staff members.
Without at least Gym Leader-level strength, one had no qualifications to work here.
Within Verdant Leaf Forest itself, countless professional trainers patrolled constantly.
Their duty was to safeguard the tranquility of the forest and the safety of all trainers within.
"This is what nature feels like! Even the air smells sweet!"
Jiang Tao spread his arms wide, taking a deep breath.
Having lived in a city of steel and concrete, his first visit to a wild forest made even the air seem fragrant.
"That’s Sweet Scent, isn’t it?"
Kirito couldn’t help teasing Jiang Tao.
While Kirito also felt wonderful in this wild Pokémon habitat,
the aroma was clearly the result of a Pokémon using the Sweet Scent skill.
"Huh? Really?"
Jiang Tao looked around curiously, eager to see what kind of Pokémon they would encounter.
...(To be continued)