The conflict between Mai and Betty was, in fact, a reflection of the broader disputes within the Pokémon breeding and hatching community. With so many schools of thought, arguments over breeding and incubation methods were nothing new.
Professionals often viewed hobbyists as unreliable. Meanwhile, hobbyists who managed to earn official breeder certification thought they could avoid such disputes, only to discover that once certified, they'd just entered a new battleground full of ideological clashes.
To Luther, the whole scene felt like a martial arts world gone wrong; everyone claimed their lineage was the true orthodoxy. They wouldn't show up when it came time to battle real threats, but when it came to infighting over who was "number one," they were relentless.
Mai mentioned that, in recent years, such disputes have actually become less frequent. Thanks to a growing body of literature backed by real-world breeder experience and Pokémon Professors' research, qualified breeders now had a clear understanding of the critical aspects of raising and hatching Pokémon. The current issue wasn't a lack of knowledge; it was the variation in practical experience among breeders.
Based on her own hands-on experience, Mai believed that Pomelo Berries were ideal. They helped Pokémon like Poliwag, freshly hatched and with low stamina, recover quickly.
For a Pokémon in Poliwag's condition, the first three days after hatching were the most critical observation period. If not for the fact that Poliwag appeared relatively stable, and Claire had insisted on taking him home so her family could see him before returning him to the Day Care, Mai would never have allowed the transfer in the first place.
Betty, however, disagreed entirely with Mai's approach. She believed that Ink Pecha Berries were far more suitable for weak and difficult-to-hatch Pokémon like Poliwag. Their sharp, spicy flavor could stimulate the Pokémon and make them more alert and energetic.
From Luther's point of view, both Mai and Betty had logical arguments, but Betty's attitude was the real issue. Her way of doing things felt disrespectful and patronizing.
When Betty forcibly replaced the food Mai had prepared, it came across as dismissive, as if she were saying, "You don't know what you're doing, let me show you how it's done."
But then Mai slammed her hand on the table and said something that gave Luther a whole new perspective.
"Ink Pecha Berries do work, I admit that. For Pokémon that struggle to hatch, they can help get them through the most dangerous early period. But Betty, don't forget, raising a Pokémon means adapting to their specific needs. There's no one-size-fits-all approach. Ever heard of 'treating the illness with the right medicine'?"
"Claire's Poliwag didn't just have trouble hatching, it's also malnourished. It's smaller and skinnier than average Poliwag. That makes him extremely weak and in desperate need of rest!"
Mai slammed a clipboard full of hatching data onto Betty's desk, fuming.
"Sleeping right after hatching, getting drowsy right after eating, those are signs that his body is overdrawn. If you force-feed him Ink Pecha Berries just to keep him stimulated and awake, you'll kill him!"
This was the first time Luther had ever seen Mai lose her temper. She looked nothing like her usual sweet, mild self, she was furious.
The Day Care's manager had to push past the crowd gathered near the office to reach Luther's side.
But Mai's anger hadn't subsided. When Betty tried to retort, saying that this was "the wisdom of the elders," She was immediately drowned out by Mai's raised voice.
"The experience of the elders is meant to guide us in emergencies, not to be followed blindly, without question! Pokémon breeding has evolved. As our understanding of Pokémon grows, our methods must grow too. Are we just supposed to cling to the past? Ignore new experiences? Pretend they don't exist?"
Betty, now being publicly scolded and surrounded by colleagues, had lost all face. Furious, she slammed the table and stood up.
"You can't prove that Ink Pecha Berries are harmful to Poliwag. Everything you've said is just speculation."
Mai stared at her in shock.
That sentence, was she seriously suggesting they experiment on Poliwag to find out?
Wasn't it the responsibility of a breeder to assume the worst-case scenario and then choose the gentlest, safest method to avoid that outcome?
Mai's clenched fists were suddenly covered by two hands.
Luther gently pressed down on Mai's hands and shook his head at her.
There's no need. Really, there's just no need.
By this point, it wasn't even a debate anymore. It had turned into shameless posturing.
If Mai really wanted to prove she was right, she would have to feed the Ink Pecha Berry to Poliwag and see what happened. But come on, how could she possibly do that?
That's exactly what Betty was counting on. She knew Mai wouldn't take such a risk, so that one sentence gave her a false sense of invincibility. Now she berated Mai with full confidence, feeling completely in the right.
"Forget it," Luther said with a smile. "Let's go eat something good tonight. I'll do the barbecue myself. If your heart's unsettled, nothing's going to taste good anyway."
"But…"
Mai wanted to say more, but after seeing Luther's expression, she swallowed it back down.
After a moment, she took a deep breath, eyes firm as she turned to the Day Care's owner.
"Thank you for taking care of things lately. The remaining Pokémon egg in the incubator is about to hatch. The data logs are all in the room. Please arrange for someone, anyone but Betty, to take over."
She placed the Day Care room key on the desk.
"I resign."
Luther stared at Mai in a daze. He really hadn't expected her to make this decision.
"Mai, there's no need for this," said one of the staff. "We actually support your methods. After you explained them to me, I had my Whismur dance around our egg every day. I don't know if it worked, but your approach isn't wrong!"
"It's just a difference in opinion, no need to, ouch!" The speaker was cut off mid-sentence by another colleague pinching them.
"Please stay. Just the other day we were talking about asking the boss to offer you a full-time position this month."
A wave of surprise rippled through the room, and several coworkers began urging her to stay.
"Thank you, everyone," Mai said sincerely. "But I only came to Hearthome City for a short stay and a temporary job. Once Luther has recovered a bit more, we'll resume our journey."
She paused and added, "I think if it's just a part-time job, then my peace of mind matters most. I simply can't accept working with someone like Betty!"
"I may not be a certified professional breeder, but Betty is. Maybe that's what makes professionals 'different,' huh? They can spout shameless nonsense with such righteous flair."
Mai bowed to her coworkers, pushed through the crowd, and left with Eevee.
Luther sighed and looked at the Day Care owner.
"You're the manager here, right?"
The boss sighed too. "Mr. Luther, could you help me persuade Mai? What Betty said was indeed out of line, but can't they both take a step back?"
"I don't think she can take a step back. Some things are negotiable, Mai has always been flexible. But it looks like this was her bottom line. And you can't just walk all over someone's bottom line and then expect them to bend it for your convenience."
"Anyway, thank you all for taking care of Mai these past few days. Really appreciate it. Oh, and boss, can you settle her wages?"
Mai was far too unreliable, quitting like that without even collecting her pay. Someone had to make sure she got it. They had barbecue plans, after all.
As Luther finished settling the paycheck and walked past Betty, he said blandly:
"Truly worthy of the title 'professional.' What an eye-opening experience."
(End of Chapter)
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