After spending a full day exploring the underground river, Silas finally returned to the point where he had first entered the cave.
He crouched by the entrance, moving several heavy stones into place.
"Crawdaunt, use your claws to smooth the edges-make it look natural."
"Craw~!"
The crustacean's pincers glowed faintly as he struck, chipping and polishing the rocks with precise movements. Within minutes, the cave mouth looked as though it had been untouched for centuries.
Silas dusted off his gloves and smiled faintly.
"From now on… this will be my secret base."
He stepped back, admiring the handiwork.
The underground river wasn't long-he'd spent nearly a day and night tracing its full length. Hardly any wild Pokémon lived there.
That made it perfect.
Quiet. Hidden. Untouched.
"And it's got that red-and-blue airflow…" he murmured, eyes gleaming with thought.
Sitting on a smoothed rock inside the cavern, Silas opened his backpack and laid out a small array of tools-test tubes, seals, and note tags.
He unfastened one of the vials he'd filled earlier, letting the colored mist swirl in the faint lamplight.
"Let's see what you really are."
Hours passed as he experimented, recording data and testing reactions. With Castform assisting-absorbing and releasing tiny traces of vapor-he finally understood its purpose.
"This energy…" he whispered, jotting in his logbook. "It strengthens a Pokémon's connection to the sky-enhancing their comprehension of weather skills, particularly Rain Dance and Sunny Day."
He leaned back, satisfied.
"The world's first discovery of this kind… guess I'll name you—'The Sunny Rain Rhythm.'"
He smiled at the sound of it.
It was poetic, and fitting.
Once he had the chance, he planned to visit the Breeders' Guild to officially register the material under that name.
"It's not rare enough to be legendary," he mused, "but niche items can make big money if handled right."
As a former trader and now a breeder, Silas knew exactly how to exploit scarcity.
He'd release small quantities at a time, build curiosity among breeders, and slowly drive the price sky-high.
He chuckled under his breath. "Supply and control–same game, different world."
Still, a part of him hesitated. 'I should keep most of it for myself for now. Besides, even if I tried to monopolize it, someone stronger would catch on soon enough.'
If he wanted to build a true business empire, he'd eventually need powerful allies–like the Joy family, who ran most Pokémon Centers, or perhaps Petalburg Gym, whose influence stretched through the region.
He shook the thought away and rose to his feet.
"Business later. Civilization first."
.....
By afternoon, Silas reached Lavaridge Town, nestled at the base of Mt. Chimney-a land famous for its open-air hot springs and gentle plumes of steam drifting through the streets.
Elderly locals moved leisurely about, and the air carried a faint mineral warmth.
After checking into the Pokémon Center, Silas immediately collapsed onto the bed, sleeping straight through the afternoon.
Wilderness survival wasn't for everyone–it was exhausting both mentally and physically.
By the time evening fell, hunger drove him to the restaurant downstairs.
After eating, he headed to the League's public terminal area-the mission board.
"Let's see…" he muttered, scrolling through requests. "Any listings for Ludicolo?"
There were a few. Most paid in Pokédollars, but some offered League Points as bonuses-especially those requesting specific traits like Swift Swim or Rain Dish, or those wanting special inherited moves.
Silas rubbed his chin thoughtfully.
'Hmm… mine's got Own Tempo and Sweet Scent. Rare combo, but not what they're asking for.'
He closed the listing tab.
'Forget it. I'll hold onto him for now. The scent might come in handy later.'
Besides, he wasn't short on cash.
....
He stepped outside into the cooling night air, stretching.
"Well then… might as well reward myself."
A faint smirk crossed his lips. "Time for a proper bath. Let's see what these hot springs are all about."
He pedaled down the lantern-lit road on his bicycle, passing trainers with towels draped around their necks and workers heading home from the Pokéblocks factory.
Soon, he arrived at the grand entrance of the Kama-En Onsen—Lavaridge's most famous open-air hot spring resort.
A sultry woman in a short kimono greeted him at the front desk.
"Good evening, welcome to Kama-En Onsen~" she sang sweetly, gesturing toward neatly arranged bottles of creamy white Moomoo Milk on the counter.
Silas chuckled. "Heh. Even the milk here's for show."
He paid 2,000 Pokédollars for the luxury package and was handed a dozen bottles of Moomoo Milk as part of the deal.
"Milk's real white, huh," he murmured, amused.
Though the hostess was undeniably attractive, she still couldn't compare to the refined beauty of a certain Nurse Joy he'd met before.
Silas's standards had… evolved.
Under the gentle guidance of a staff member, he stepped into the enclosed wooden structure that led to the open-air baths.
The moment he entered, warmth enveloped him-thick, soothing, and fragrant.
"Ahh… that's the stuff," he sighed, slowly sinking into the steaming water.
Ripples spread outward as he leaned back, letting the heat melt away days of fatigue.
Only his shoulders and head remained above water, mist rising around him like a veil.
Through it, a faint, satisfied smile crossed his face.
"They weren't kidding about this place curing exhaustion," he muttered. The faint herbal aroma in the air made him feel lighter already.
Beside him, Eevee dog-paddled through the water, fur drenched and clumping together, her expression full of royal disapproval.
"Heh, you don't like baths, huh?" Silas teased. "Alright, alright,Crawdaunt, give her a rinse."
"Craw!"
Crawdaunt raised a claw toward the steam. Vapors gathered at the tip, condensing into a small dark cloud overhead.
Within seconds, soft rain began to fall–a perfect Rain Dance miniature.
The gentle drizzle soon thickened into a steady shower, washing over Eevee, who squeaked in protest.
"Vee~!"
Silas chuckled. "Good job. Controlled and steady-your Rain Dance's getting faster."
Crawdaunt had recently consumed a small vial of the Sunny Rain Rhythm, and combined with Castform's weather lessons, his progress was remarkable.
It wasn't as natural as Castform's effortless weather shifts, but the growth was undeniable.
"If I can refine this material into a Pokéblock," Silas mused, tapping his temple, "one that enhances a Pokémon's learning of Rain Dance or Sunny Day…"
He grinned. "That'd be worth more than any raw ingredient."
Even if others tried to analyze his blocks, reverse-engineering the ingredients would be useless without the Sunny Rain Rhythm itself.
"Monopoly secured," he murmured with quiet pride. "Even the best breeder alive couldn't imitate it without the source."
Steam curled lazily around him, the patter of rain soft against the hot spring water.
For once, Silas allowed himself to truly relax.
Warmth, water, and quiet ambition–all blending together beneath the night sky.
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(End of chapter)