"What are you doing, Togepi?" Natsuhiko asked with a sigh.
He had been focused on making Energy Blocks earlier and didn't pay much attention to Togepi.
Unexpectedly, the little one seemed to think what he was doing was fun and started imitating him.
"Cha... chako ee..."
Togepi drooped its head, realizing it might have done something wrong.
It just thought it was fun.
Natsuhiko was preparing these to make food for it, but it ended up causing trouble instead.
"Chako ee!"
Sorry!
Togepi bowed, apologizing very seriously.
Seeing Togepi like this, Natsuhiko couldn't stay serious.
There's no way he could be mad.
He lightly patted its little head, "Alright, just don't do it again next time."
Togepi lifted its head abruptly, raised its hands, and the bell on it jingled crisply.
"Chako ee—"
"Try this Energy Block, you picked all the ingredients yourself."
Natsuhiko shook his head with a smile, handing the Energy Block to Togepi.
"Chako ee!"
Togepi's eyes lit up.
Its little nose twitched, and its eyes shone brighter as it held the Energy Block and plopped down on the ground.
It extended its tongue and cautiously licked it.
"Chako ee!"
Togepi's body trembled slightly, and it nodded at Natsuhiko in surprise, then began eating it bit by bit.
Seeing it so satisfied, Natsuhiko felt relieved.
"Though it's a Basic Energy Block, because it combines enough types of Tree Fruits, it's no worse than a regular Intermediate Energy Block. Compared to other Advanced Energy Blocks, it's probably the best fit for you right now."
Currently, the world doesn't seem to have Energy Blocks suitable for Fairy-type Pokémon; it's the only one of its kind in the world.
Natsuhiko felt a little proud.
Togepi nodded its little head continuously.
Indeed, it was tastier than the Advanced Energy Block Beedrill once shared with it.
While Togepi was eating the Energy Block and Natsuhiko was getting ready to clean up the crumbs,
"Ding!"
The shaping machine sounded, and the lid slowly opened.
With the rising white mist and drifting fragrance, a translucent light pink Energy Block emerged in the mist.
The crystalline look seemed purer than the Energy Block Natsuhiko had made before.
Though the aroma was much lighter, that was a good thing.
It indicated substantial restraint.
"Chako ee?"
Togepi held the half-eaten Energy Block in its hand, looking at the fresh product in the shaping machine, suddenly feeling its own wasn't so enticing anymore.
Natsuhiko's expression stiffened.
He picked one up and held it under the sunlight.
Bright sunshine penetrated the crisp, bright membrane, revealing no impurities inside. The entire Energy Block felt smooth, pure, and complete to him.
"Is this... Advanced quality? Or Intermediate approaching Advanced?"
He looked incredulously at the equally stunned Togepi, its open mouth still had Energy Block crumbs in it.
"Did you make this?"
"Cha... ko ee..."
I... don't know.
Natsuhiko: "..."
He thought he understood Togepi's luck well enough, even letting it use its luck to select ingredients for the Energy Blocks.
He just didn't expect...
It could make it on its own?
This is a Fairy-type Intermediate Energy Block!
The only one of its kind in the world!
His earlier small pride was instantly shattered by Togepi and stomped on several times.
Even though he demonstrated first, so Togepi could follow.
But that made it hurt more, didn't it...
"How about... you give it another try?" Natsuhiko hesitated.
Togepi stared blankly at him.
"Chako ee?"
Seriously?
"Give it a try, at worst we'll just waste some materials, wasn't that the mindset before too?" Natsuhiko said.
Indeed.
Togepi turned its hand, somehow hiding the half-eaten Energy Block.
Anyway, not a bit of food was wasted.
Then, under Natsuhiko's watchful gaze, it demonstrated making an Energy Block once again.
This time, Natsuhiko stared intently at every seemingly random step Togepi took.
After what seemed like a series of random operations,
The second batch of Energy Blocks formed again.
Looking at the even more translucent and clear Energy Blocks forming in the shaping machine.
Natsuhiko was truly speechless.
"Truly favored by the heavens, never to go hungry, even the chance landed in your mouth..."
He shook his head.
Looked skyward.
"If anyone tells me later that Pokémon can make their own Energy Blocks, I'm definitely giving them a thumbs up..."
This second batch had fully reached the level of an Advanced Energy Block.
Togepi was sneakily eating, and Natsuhiko didn't scold it.
Recalling the production process in his mind.
Although it seemed mindless, he remembered some detailed operations.
He pondered over one question.
'If I follow Togepi's procedure and methods, and get some details right, could I replicate these Advanced Energy Blocks?'
Thinking of this, his eyes brightened.
There's hope!
If he could successfully make Advanced Energy Blocks, the benefits for his future achievements in Energy Block-making would be immense.
It's like a teacher demonstrating once and then having a student follow suit. It might not succeed immediately, but with multiple tries, they might slowly learn.
'I once thought it was just a joke, didn't expect to really find a shortcut...'
Natsuhiko had considered finding a skilled breeder to learn from before.
But now...
I have Teacher Poke!
"Name these Energy Blocks, Teacher... ahem, Togepi," Natsuhiko said.
"Koko ee?"
Hearing Natsuhiko's words, Togepi quickly stuffed the whole Energy Block into its mouth, cheeks puffed, its voice changed, yet still pretending with an "I didn't steal a bite" look.
"Forget it, I'll do it myself..."
Letting Togepi name things, who knows what it would come up with.
Shuckle ended up as Turtle-turtle.
"Let's call it the Poke Fairy, Poke Fairy Advanced Energy Block,"
Naming things, Natsuhiko realized he wasn't good at it either.
He packed up these Energy Blocks.
Made about three hundred pieces, and according to the normal price of Advanced Energy Blocks, it's between one hundred fifty to two hundred fifty, a median of two hundred league coins each, making this batch worth sixty thousand league coins.
And producing this batch consumed one-fifth of the raw materials, with a material value of fifty thousand league coins, one-fifth being ten thousand league coins.
Using ten thousand league coins to create a value of sixty thousand league coins.
Moreover, this Energy Block was specially customized according to Togepi's condition.
The normal price for customizing Advanced Energy Blocks would absolutely soar several times.
Even for a breeder as renowned as Master Suzuki, his custom Energy Block prices definitely exceed fifty thousand, possibly more than a hundred thousand.
The intermediate conversion value here is immeasurable.
A highly profitable industry!
Definitely a highly profitable industry!
It's a pity that, with Natsuhiko's current ability, he can't guarantee producing Advanced Energy Blocks.
More regrettably.
Togepi's luck isn't exactly sky-high.
After a few more attempts, there were failures, and there were Basic Energy Blocks, as well as Intermediate ones.
Simply put, it depended on luck.
Of course, the failures happened most often; having a few successes was already pretty absurd.
Luckily.
Natsuhiko recorded some proportions, timing, and heat when he made the one Advanced Energy Block.
With a few more tries, who knows, he might be able to replicate it.
"Next time, when I have money again, I'll save up and see if I can solve the Energy Block issues for Beedrill and Abra and strive for self-sufficiency..."
The sky gradually darkened.