The current Goldenrod City just highlights one word.
Unstable.
Natsuhiko now only has a Senior Level Beedrill with barely decent strength. The Excellence Level Togepi can mostly only serve as support, and Abra just ended its growth period not long ago, with strength only at the Qualified Level, making the combat power somewhat worrisome.
Buying a Senior Level Shuckle, even if it's the kind bought from the black market with a major personality flaw, can still be used as a means of self-protection during this period.
Moreover, Shuckle's role is more reflected in the creation of Energy Blocks.
Just like that.
Natsuhiko spent a full million Alliance Coins in this black market trip for the first time with a big move.
If it weren't for the subsequent receipt of a hundred thousand commission from Flint and two hundred thousand gratitude from Hilona, he couldn't have supported this expenditure.
Looking back, he was left with just over two hundred thousand a little.
This was still maintaining over two hundred thousand after he sold off all the Pokémon he caught last time.
'The cost of breeding Pokémon is too high. Fortunately, Flint should be able to help me sell the Dark Stone soon, otherwise, given the current situation in Goldenrod City, I wouldn't even be able to go out to earn money…'
Natsuhiko couldn't help but sigh.
This was even under the premise of him only buying some Pokémon food, and he didn't even have the capability to buy some Pokémon-appropriate techniques.
'No, I need to hurry up and publish papers to try to get a few titles first. That way, the remuneration for publishing a paper will also increase a lot.'
Leaving the black market, Natsuhiko sighed in his heart.
He stood still on the spot.
Thinking about what to do next.
"First and foremost, I have to find a place to stay. The previous small inn affected Pokémon training too much. Abra is fine, but Beedrill and Togepi's training progress will be affected. It's now not feasible to go to remote suburbs for training like before…"
"But given the current situation in Goldenrod City, it's probably impossible to find a safe and quiet place…"
Suddenly.
A figure flashed through Natsuhiko's mind.
He hesitated.
After thinking about it, Natsuhiko still dialed a number that was one of the earliest in his phone contacts.
Soon.
The call connected.
"Natsuhiko?"
On the phone, came that not-so-mature voice, but the tone had lost the previous frivolousness.
Hearing this voice, Natsuhiko silently sighed.
"Kenji, it's me."
On the other end of the phone, there was a long silence.
After a long time, Kenji finally spoke: "I thought you were dead."
Natsuhiko suddenly didn't know what to say.
At first, he promised Kenji to find his brother, but who knew his brother Sato Kenta had already teamed up with Tom Rokicki, even helping her complete the final plan.
With Kenji's family connections, knowing these shouldn't be difficult.
But at the end of the day, it was Natsuhiko who failed to fulfill his promise, and there's even a possibility that he would never fulfill it in this lifetime.
If he were to meet Sato Kenta again, their relationship would probably not be very friendly.
"What do you need me to do? About my brother…don't worry about it," Kenji said again, with a somewhat complicated tone.
Natsuhiko pressed his lips together and finally said, "I want a quiet place to live, preferably equipped with a relatively large backyard, the rest of the facilities don't matter."
"No problem." Kenji agreed immediately, and his tone finally had a bit more vitality, "My family doesn't lack houses."
Natsuhiko: "..."
Then, Kenji reported an address, "I'll have someone put the key at the door, you can just go over, I'll come by tonight, we… can have a good talk."
"Okay."
Took a cab to the address Kenji provided.
The location was a high-end neighborhood in Goldenrod City, a standalone luxurious villa presented itself, with considerable spacing between each villa and a backyard even larger than before's.
Took the key, opened the door, and walked in.
But Natsuhiko didn't notice that when he walked in, a pair of eyes on the top floor of the distant adjacent villa was watching him.
But there seemed to be no hostility.
The facilities inside the villa were naturally all available.
But Natsuhiko didn't have rigid requirements for these things.
He went straight to the neatly trimmed backyard, tossed out Pokéballs, and summoned the three Pokémon.
"Abra, check it out."
"Abra—"
Abra nodded, closed its eyes, and its body slowly floated, using its psychic power to slowly wrap and cover the surroundings.
Even if it was a house provided by Kenji, there must be a certain level of vigilance.
A moment later, its psychic power retracted, and it shook its head at Natsuhiko.
"Alright."
Ding-a-ling—
Togepi, wearing a Soothing Bell, ran over with its little short legs, tugging on Natsuhiko's pant leg.
"Togepi?"
Where's my green onion?
Natsuhiko's expression stiffened.
With so many things going on at that time, his mind was chaotic, and he really didn't remember the promise to buy new fresh green onions for Togepi.
Looking up at the sun in the sky.
"On a Sunny Day, Togepi and the bell are a perfect match, you know."
Togepi looked at him with doubt.
"Ahem, the grilled squid I bought for you guys earlier, I forgot."
Natsuhiko could only change the subject, taking out the already cold grilled squid from his bag.
Grilled squid?
Togepi's eyes lit up, immediately forgetting about the green onions, and started gnawing on the squid almost as big as it was.
Soon, the little mouth was covered with thick sauce, but it didn't care.
Beedrill and Abra both sighed in relief upon hearing there would be no green onions.
That's good.
Once all three Pokémon were about done eating, Natsuhiko assigned them their training tasks.
Beedrill's learning of the Direct Charge Drill and Smack Down techniques were already on track, Abra's psychic ability was still its strong point, but control over its psychic power was still lacking, so it required continued strengthening.
Once again, he called Togepi aside alone.
Meanwhile, he also summoned the recently bought Shuckle.
Togepi curiously looked at the small and somewhat dazed eyes of Shuckle.
"Togepi?"
Is this a turtle?
Shuckle: ...
Natsuhiko smiled without explaining.
He took out the Energy Block making tools bought at the black market and a large pile of Tree Fruits, laying them on the ground.
Seeing so many aromatic Tree Fruits, Togepi's eyes immediately shone brightly.
Bang—
Natsuhiko good-naturedly smacked away Togepi's sneaky outstretched hand.
Togepi playfully stuck its little tongue out.
"These are prepared for making you delicious Energy Blocks. You can eat once they're ready."
"Togepi." Togepi's little head bobbed as if mashing garlic.
Turns out they're making something for it to eat, its little eyes curved in a smile.
"But before that, there's one more thing you need to do." Natsuhiko said again.
Thump thump—
Togepi puffed out its little chest.
Bring it on.
"Like this, look at this pile of Tree Fruits, which ones do you think come together the best for you…"
"Togepi?"
Eh?
Bewildered, Togepi looked up.
Natsuhiko thought about it and said, "Or to put it another way, which ones do you think come together to taste the best?"
Oh—
Saying it like that, Togepi understood.
Letting him choose the tasty ones and then make it for him to eat.
Natsuhiko is really good to him.
And Natsuhiko silently squatted on the side, watching as Togepi picked one item after another.
Reflecting on how to best combine these Tree Fruits and materials to bring out the greatest effect in the Energy Blocks.
The first step in creating Energy Blocks is determining the formula, that is, determining the materials.
Natsuhiko already had a certain idea in mind, but he wanted to see if Togepi could bring him a bit of new inspiration.
Isn't that how a Luck Emperor Pokémon is supposed to be used?
Seeing the materials and Tree Fruits Togepi had selected, Natsuhiko's eyes grew brighter and brighter.
It seems…he found a shortcut to success on the pathway of a Breeder.