Chapter 161: The Fossil is Secured
"Basalt, what on earth do you want a Pokémon fossil for? You can't eat it, you can't use it. How could it possibly be better than a Pokémon descended from a Master's?" the Chancellor of South River University sputtered, clearly agitated. I'm counting on you to win tournaments for my university, and you're getting sidetracked with this useless nonsense? Don't tell me you have a secret passion for research...
"He's right, Basalt. What's the fossil for?" the League President asked, equally baffled. Even with all his years of experience, he couldn't figure out Basalt's angle.
"Well..." Basalt blinked, then sighed dramatically. "I have a friend. He's an expert in fossil research, but due to... some issues... he's had to go independent. He needs a Pokémon fossil. He needs it very, very badly..."
"Even if he needs it, that's no excuse!" the Chancellor said, his spittle flying as he tried to reason with him. "Basalt, do you have any idea how much a Pokémon descended from a Master will help your future career? There are plenty of ways to help a friend. Why must you choose this one?"
"He... saved my life," Basalt said, his face a mask of solemn determination, his eyes unwavering. The story, of course, was complete nonsense. "I have to help him. It's my greatest wish right now."
"This..." The Chancellor was speechless. A life-debt? He couldn't argue with that.
"Mr. President, Chancellor, please grant me this request," Basalt said, his eyes wide and earnest. His performance was so convincing that both men were visibly moved. This young man knows the meaning of gratitude, they thought.
The League President's stern expression softened. "Basalt, are you absolutely certain you want to exchange your opportunity in the Jiangnan Hidden Land for a Pokémon fossil? There are no do-overs in this world."
"I'm certain," Basalt nodded firmly.
Before his trip abroad, he had contacted Dr. Martin to get an update on his 'friend's' project, and had carefully reviewed the theories and schematics of the revival machine. Though he didn't understand the inner workings, the principles and the device itself were almost identical to what he'd seen Professor Fennel use in the anime. It used the Dream Mist from a Musharna to turn the imagined genetic data from the past into a reality. There was still a chance of failure, but Basalt was willing to take the risk. He was a rich man now; he could afford to buy a high-quality Pokémon if he had to. And the Weather Bureau would surely provide him with other opportunities in the future. But the chance to revive a Fossil Pokémon? This felt like a once-in-a-lifetime shot. If he failed, he could live with it. He was willing to gamble.
"Very well," the League President said, finally agreeing. The nation had a decent supply of fossils, and with the revival research still in its infancy, he didn't see the harm.
"Really? That's great!" Basalt exclaimed. "Mr. President, I'd like the Root Fossil of a Lileep. Preferably one with a thick stem!"
From his conversations with Lucas, he had learned that the Old Amber was incredibly rare, so he had to settle for his second choice.
"A thick stem? What does that mean?" The shrewd old President's eyes narrowed, sensing there was more to this than met the eye.
"Oh, nothing, nothing! Just a... small request," Basalt said with a nervous laugh, scratching his head.
Lileep had two possible abilities: Suction Cups and Storm Drain. If he had a choice, he would much prefer Storm Drain. And according to his game experience, a Root Fossil with a thicker stem had a higher chance of yielding that ability.
"Alright, I understand. I will... do my best to accommodate your request," the President said, giving him a long, meaningful look.
"Thank you, Mr. President, thank you so much!" Basalt was ecstatic. If this worked, it would be legendary.
With the fossil settled, they moved on to the other prizes.
For the high-grade type-enhancing item, Basalt chose a Metal Coat. It was versatile, and both Excadrill and Bronzor could benefit from it. These items were graded, from standard to high-grade, master-grade, and even legendary. The Soft Sand he had won before, though worth a million, was just a standard-grade item. A high-grade one was worth tens of millions. Only the regional league had the resources to offer such a prize.
The set of rare berries was straightforward: a Liechi Berry for attack, a Ganlon Berry for defense, a Salac Berry for speed, a Petaya Berry for special attack, an Apicot Berry for special defense, and a Lansat Berry for critical hits. A cocktail like that could turn any ordinary Pokémon into a powerhouse.
Next, it was time to choose a Tutor Manual.
"Do you have one for Swords Dance?" Basalt asked eagerly. It was the one move he had been dreaming of.
"Swords Dance? We do, but for a top-tier status move like that, just learning it is extremely difficult. The manual we have in our vault is very basic; it only covers the fundamentals," the President said, then advised, "Honestly, Basalt, I wouldn't recommend it. It's not suitable for you at your current stage."
"Stat-boosting moves are a shortcut. They don't come from the Pokémon's own power. While they can make you stronger in the short term, overusing them will deplete your Pokémon's life potential..." he explained. "You should be focusing on increasing your Pokémon's base strength right now. You can worry about stat-boosting moves once you reach the professional level."
"A Pokémon's life potential?" Basalt thought, frowning. He knew that power didn't come from nowhere. But his Excadrill was a prodigy in both of those areas. He wasn't worried. The only issue was that the Swords Dance manual was too basic. It would be a waste.
"Then, Mr. President, do you have any recommendations?"
The President suggested several other well-developed and cost-effective manuals that would suit Basalt. After careful consideration, Basalt chose Substitute. A master of this technique could create a substitute that was a perfect replica of the user, not only difficult to distinguish but also capable of using energy and attacking. And most importantly, almost any Pokémon could learn it.
"This is the best choice for maximizing value," he thought, nodding in satisfaction. While it wasn't the Swords Dance he had dreamed of, Substitute was an excellent move, especially for a Pokémon like Excadrill that knew Dig, or a Bronzor that knew Flash.
With all the prizes decided, a quiet tension fell over the room. It was time for the main event: Basalt's future.
The President sighed, shaking his head. He had only known Basalt for a short time, but he could already tell the kid was a sly fox. Getting him to commit to staying in the Jiangnan region without offering a hefty price would be impossible. It was all up to the Chancellor's sincerity now.
The Chancellor cleared his throat and got straight to the point. "Basalt, as the Chancellor of South River University, I would like to formally invite you to join our institution."
"Chancellor, I... I'll have to think about it," Basalt said with a slow, deliberate smile.
It was time to play the market. There were only so many regions in the country. As a regional champion with massive potential, even the top universities in the capital would be vying for him. He would have to "think" very carefully about his decision. Besides, he really did need to discuss it with Agent Zhou and get his input.
But there was no harm in hearing what South River University had to offer first.8
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