Time seemed to flow by quickly. In the castle's rear garden, Aven sat before a long wooden table, carefully studying the strange-looking stone that lay upon it.
After a thorough round of observation and research, he still could not determine what kind of stone it was. Yet, since it had been discovered by his Poipole in the poisonous swamp, it was unlikely to be an ordinary rock.
After a brief moment of contemplation, Aven reached into his bag and retrieved a small wooden box. Opening it, he revealed several peculiar items within—each one radiating a faint, mysterious aura.
There was the Mystic Water symbolizing Manaphy's recognition, the strange crystal he had found when he subdued the Muk, and now this newly discovered stone. Three items in total—each one unique, each one extraordinary.
"Rrrroar…"
Rhydon beside him gave a couple of deep, low grunts as it watched Aven close the box.
Rhydon had always had a peculiar obsession with rocks. Seeing the mysterious stone being sealed away, it couldn't help but think—if Aven didn't know what it was, maybe it could… eat it?
"Poi~"
The Shiny Poipole sitting on the wooden table glared sharply at Rhydon, puffing out its small body in warning.
Although it didn't know the stone's true purpose either, it could somehow feel that the object was deeply connected to itself, and thus very important.
Rhydon gave an embarrassed laugh and shifted its gaze toward Aven instead. It hadn't come here to quarrel with Poipole anyway—it had been sent to summon Aven.
Its main purpose in coming this time was to summon Aven to the blacksmith shop; Master Makin needed to speak with him.
"Got it. I'll head there right away." Aven nodded, rising from his chair.
He picked up Poipole and held it in his arms, then motioned for Lilligant, Froslass, and Kirlia to follow. Together, they walked behind Rhydon toward the northern district of Fairhaven Town.
That part of town, now known as the industrial district, was bustling with activity. Large factories had already been built—most notably the Poké Food Processing Plant and the Fertilizer Factory. Both were still tirelessly operating, continuously producing vast quantities of Poké Food and fertilizer to fuel the rapid development of the territory.
The Apothecary Guild Association was also headquartered here. Each day, countless ingredients were delivered to the association, refined into potions of all kinds, and distributed throughout the territory—especially to Aspiration City.
Ever since the founding of the Pokémon League, every territory had begun constructing Pokémon breeding houses. As a result, food, fertilizer, and potions from the Pokémon Domain would soon be shipped far and wide beyond its borders.
At this point, the northern district of Fairhaven Town had become the beating industrial heart of the city. During work hours, one could see throngs of workers streaming in from the southern residential district—each with hopeful smiles on their faces.
They had found stable employment here, earning steady income and improving their lives day by day.
The newly established schools had also resolved a major concern for families—childcare. Many women who once had to stay home to care for their children were now able to work.
Every morning, they would send their children to the local schools within the residential zone, head to the factories for work, and in the evening, pick their children up on their way home.
With more members contributing to household income, families quickly became more prosperous. And as people grew wealthier, consumption increased—further stimulating trade and economic growth within the territory.
At the same time, the profession of Trainer had become the most popular career in the entire realm. Many civilians were diligently saving money, hoping to one day become Trainers themselves.
After all, being a Trainer was no longer limited to battling—Pokémon could assist in all sorts of jobs. Those who managed to raise specific Pokémon could even see their wages multiply several times over.
And with their current income levels, raising a Pokémon was no longer difficult. Breeding a powerful one might be challenging, but simply keeping and training one was well within reach.
Now, the Pokémon Domain had entered a golden era where nearly everyone owned Pokémon. Humans and Pokémon coexisted harmoniously—Pokémon had already become an indispensable part of everyday human life.
"It seems… the time has finally come to promote Poké Balls," Aven murmured, walking along the busy streets. The prosperity of Fairhaven Town filled him with deep satisfaction.
After crossing several blocks, he stopped at the border between the eastern Training District and the northern Industrial Zone, where a newly built, towering facility stood proudly.
"Your Highness Aven, you're finally here!"
At the entrance stood Master Makin, beaming with excitement.
Ever since he had come to the Pokémon Domain, his life had felt like a dream. Not only had he discovered the secret of turning base metal into gold, but he had also been introduced to the incredible invention known as the Poké Ball—a device capable of sealing a Pokémon within it!
Taking a deep breath, Makin knelt on one knee before Aven and said solemnly, "Your Highness, I have fulfilled your command. The steelworks you requested has been completed!"
"Rhyyy!"
Rhydon growled proudly, clearly demanding its share of the credit.
Aven chuckled. "You've both done wonderfully, Makin—and you too, Rhydon."
Under Makin's lead, Aven entered the steelworks. The sight that greeted him was a grand one—massive furnaces lined the hall, blazing with heat. These were the forges the blacksmiths would use for crafting weapons and tools.
Compared to the bowl-shaped furnace Aven had originally built, these new forges were far more advanced, perfectly meeting the needs of large-scale production.
Their primary fuel came from trees harvested in the Black Coast Forest. Aside from the lumber used for construction, most of the cut trees were transported here and burned.
Given how lush the forests of this world were, there was no shortage of fuel. With Grass-type Pokémon helping replant trees, the forests would quickly regrow, ensuring a sustainable cycle.
"Your Highness," Makin began explaining as they walked, "the outermost section here is for basic iron forging. We've already recruited many common blacksmiths who will forge weapons and tools for everyday use."
The workshop design was similar to traditional forges but on a much larger scale, divided into numerous smithing rooms.
Countless tools and implements would soon roll out from this place—providing the citizens of the Pokémon Domain with quality iron equipment that would make labor far more efficient.
"Further inside," Makin continued, "is where precision instruments will be crafted. The artisans will forge intricate components—especially the parts required for Poké Ball construction."
His eyes sparkled with anticipation. "We'll divide the plant into more than ten sections based on the specific parts needed for different Poké Balls. They'll be produced alongside other equipment to maintain secrecy."
Poké Ball manufacturing was a closely guarded secret. Makin had originally considered assembling them in private, but since mass production was necessary, a small hidden workshop simply wouldn't suffice.
"Your Highness," he asked hesitantly, "are you sure about spreading Poké Balls among the public? Wouldn't it be safer if only we controlled them?"
Aven smiled faintly. "I've already thought this through. To make more people into Trainers, Poké Balls are indispensable."
"I'll be forming a special department to oversee their management. Only licensed Trainers will be allowed to purchase them, and only through authorized Breeding Houses."
He paused briefly before continuing, "Besides, Poké Balls have a limited lifespan. Ordinary ones made from Apricorns only last a few years before needing replacement."
"Each ball can contain only one Pokémon and can't be reused. If the Pokémon struggles violently, it might even damage or destroy the ball."
"So even if someone tried to misuse them, the risk would remain limited and manageable. And once Poké Balls become common, they'll likely replace the older beast-binding gear altogether."
Taking a deep breath, Aven's eyes gleamed with conviction. History had long proven the significance of Poké Balls—they were the cornerstone of the Trainer-Pokémon bond.
Makin nodded firmly. "Understood, Your Highness. If you've already planned this far, then everything will surely go smoothly."
They continued deeper into the factory until they reached its core—the forging chamber for Apricorn shells. This was the most crucial step in Poké Ball production.
Here too, the internal network device—the mesh structure that bound the Pokémon's essence—would be crafted.
Each Apricorn shell would be forged here, then sent to Makin and his craftsmen for final assembly and high-temperature reforging.
This process ensured maximum secrecy—even if someone managed to get hold of a Poké Ball, disassembling it wouldn't reveal much useful information.
In fact, even in the far future, the method for crafting Poké Balls remained one of the most tightly kept secrets in the world.
"Your Highness," Makin asked curiously, rubbing his hands, "that Poké Ball we made earlier… did it really seal Darkrai?"
Aven smiled. "Yes—it truly did. But that was only because Darkrai didn't resist. If it had fought back with its full power, even our specially made Poké Ball might not have held it."
He took out the Poké Ball—a sleek, black sphere that seemed to absorb light. The darkness of its shell wasn't its natural color; it came from the monster-metal alloy infused during its forging.
By merging beast gear metal into the Apricorn during the smelting process, the ball's hardness had been greatly increased. The mesh inside had also been forged from the same metal, resulting in a Poké Ball strong enough to seal a Legendary.
Makin's eyes gleamed. "Even so, it's an incredible creation! If we used such a ball on ordinary Pokémon, it would be nearly impossible for them to break free."
"Indeed," Aven said, his expression turning serious. "Which is why production of this special variant must be strictly controlled. Overly powerful Poké Balls could disrupt the natural relationship between Trainers and Pokémon."
"The essence of capturing lies not only in containment—but in battle and mutual recognition. Without the Pokémon's acknowledgment, a true bond cannot be formed."
This principle also applied to Trainer certification. Without a Pokémon's genuine acceptance, capturing it was meaningless.
Aven knew well from his previous life how powerful Poké Balls could become—some, like the Master Ball, could guarantee capture with 100% success. But such devices had eventually been banned by the League, restricted to emergency use only.
He would not allow history to repeat itself here.
"I understand, Your Highness," Makin replied earnestly. As a master blacksmith, he had no interest in catching Pokémon himself. His passion lay solely in crafting—and now, in perfecting the Poké Ball.
Aven smiled warmly. "Good. I trust you'll complete this work—one that will be recorded in history forever."
Then he continued, "Now that everything is in place, we'll need to recruit more blacksmiths and craftsmen. I'll handle recruitment, but I also want you to help me train new artisans—especially those skilled at making Poké Ball components. Many commoners could learn the craft."
He paused, recalling images from his past life's Poké Ball factories—massive production lines where machines churned out Poké Balls at astonishing speed.
Though he didn't know enough about machining to recreate those assembly lines, he could still design molds and tools that would make manual production far more efficient.
And with the help of Pokémon—Steel-types, Fighting-types, and Fire-types—the work could progress even faster.
"I understand, Your Highness!" Makin said excitedly, feeling an electrifying surge of motivation.
"Oh, and when spring arrives," Makin added, "we can travel to Meteor City. I have some friends there—skilled artisans. I could invite them to join us here."
"That would be perfect," Aven nodded. "I plan to visit Meteor City myself. There are Fire-type Pokémon there that we need."
Now that the Pokémon League had been established in Aspiration City, Aven's next goal was to expand its influence across the other cities—uniting the regions under one growing banner.
(End of Chapter)