Chapter 380:
February 10th
Hayashi Kaede was still agonizing over whether to officially start business operations.
In recent days, the people urging him to reopen were no longer limiting themselves to online comments; they had started showing up offline.
Every day, they would come by to check. Although they didn't ask directly, their intention was crystal clear.
They just wanted to know if the Kaede Breeding House was open yet.
Upon learning it wasn't, they could only leave in disappointment.
However, a new development arose that day.
The research on Pidgeot had yielded results.
It was in the afternoon.
Dr. Lake rushed excitedly to Hayashi Kaede's villa and knocked on the door.
When Hayashi Kaede came out, the Professor exclaimed, "It's out! The research on the giant Dragonite is out!"
Hayashi Kaede was a bit bewildered. What did the giant Dragonite have to do with him?
But after hearing the Dr. Lake out, he was shocked.
The professor carefully chose his words, seemingly trying to express it in a way Hayashi Kaede could understand.
"That giant Dragonite and your Pidgeot appear to be the same type of atavism. This means that in the distant past of this world, perhaps thousands or even tens of thousands of years ago, the tribal leaders of certain Pokémon species possessed incredibly tenacious vitality, often several times that of others of their kind. Furthermore, their growth cycles were prolonged. So, even after evolving, they would still be in their growth phase!"
But what Hayashi Kaede heard was: "Pidgeot is going to keep getting bigger?"
Was he serious?
Could it possibly grow as large as that giant Dragonite?
"So... will it grow as big as the giant Dragonite?" Hayashi Kaede swallowed hard and asked subconsciously.
Although he had the Size Shifting Energy Cubes.
Those things were convenient for shrinking; appetite would also decrease along with size. But enlarging was troublesome, especially during battles, where energy consumption increased almost exponentially.
It bore some resemblance to Dynamaxing, but it didn't change form or alter the appearance of moves.
But if it were natural growth to that size...
Kaede didn't dare to imagine it.
"That's unclear. It requires further research. I need another feather!" Dr. Lake said excitedly.
In fact, he already had a strong hypothesis.
Based on the two feathers Kaede had provided, the vitality in the feather molted during Pidgeot's shedding period was noticeably less potent than the current one. This indicated that even in its final evolved form, Pidgeot's vitality was still increasing, and at a rapid rate. This meant Pidgeot was still in a phase of rapid growth.
In other words, it was like the teenage phase for humans.
"Alright then..."
Kaede went into his room, found Pidgeot, and asked for another feather. After handing it to Dr. Lake, he walked back into the room.
Looking up at Pidgeot, who was now so tall he had to crane his neck.
"Seems like it's gotten a little taller again?"
"Pidgeot?" Pidgeot looked at Kaede, puzzled, in the courtyard.
"Wait there, let me get a tape measure." Kaede told it to stay put, quickly fetched a tape measure from the storage room, used his psychic abilities to levitate, and measured Pidgeot from head to foot.
3.45m.
"..."
Staring at the number, Kaede fell into deep thought.
What was going on!
The Pokémon he raised, especially the group-raised ones, why were they each becoming more unusual?
The incredible luck of Alcremie, Pidgeot growing larger and larger...
Then... Kaede started thinking about his other group-raised Pokémon.
Eevee, Combee, Miltank...
Would they also...?
"Pidgeot?" Pidgeot looked at Kaede, confused.
"It's nothing, nothing. Go on and play." Kaede waved his hand.
"Pidgeot..." A noticeably strange expression appeared on Pidgeot's face.
Kaede went to check on his Combee, Miltank, and Eevee.
The Combee were still nestled in their hive, but they were much more active than before. Seeing him approach, they popped their heads out, asking if the flowers had been planted yet?
Kaede shook his head.
The flowers weren't planted yet; they needed more rest.
The five Combee showed no significant changes in energy level or size.
Next, he went to see the Miltank. The three Miltank were eating Energy Cubes. Seeing him approach, they let out "Miltank" calls.
After finishing the Wild Grass Dumplings, their diet had switched back to Energy Cubes.
"Miltank?"
"The pasture seeds have been sown. You'll have fresh Wild Grass Dumplings to eat soon," Kaede explained.
The three Miltank didn't show any major differences either.
However, the energy level of one Miltank was approaching level 59.
[Pokémon: Miltank]
[Gender: Female]
[Ability: Sap Sipper]
[Aptitude: Red]
[Individual Values: ...]
[Strength: 57-58]
[Moves: Tackle, Milk Drink, Bide, Rollout, Body Slam, Zen Headbutt...]
[Friendship: 94]
"Absurd," Kaede muttered, not knowing what to say.
Having reached nearly Elite Four level without any real battles... his Miltank was probably the first of its kind.
Just as he was pondering what to do next, Rotom flew over.
"Rotom, Rotom~"
"What's up, Rotom?" Kaede was somewhat puzzled.
"The friend request you sent a few days ago was accepted."
"Huh?" Kaede's eyes lit up.
The one from a few days ago... that must be the Psychic-type Elite Four member.
Taking Rotom, he looked at the chat history.
Kaede's mind raced through the information he had gathered these past few days about this Psychic-type Elite Four member.
Her name was Tsukino Hong, and her fans called her Sister Hong.
Aside from the Metagross and Gardevoir she showcased at the Pokémon League Conference, her team included Mr. Rime, Gothitelle, and Meowstic.
During Contests, she typically wore a red cheongsam and a soft, gentle smile, making her extremely popular.
It was precisely this impression that had given Kaede the courage to ask.
Just as Kaede was thinking about how to broach the subject, the other party sent a message first.
[Tsukino: Hayashi Kaede?]
[Kaede: Yes, that's me.]
[Tsukino: You want a Metagross?]
[Kaede: No, no. I wanted to ask if your Metagross has any...]
Hayashi Kaede typed this half-sentence and then suddenly paused.
He remembered that Beldum are produced asexually by Metagross; there are no eggs.
But before he could finish and send his message, the other party sent another one.
[Tsukino: My Metagross currently has no intention of splitting.]
Hearing this, Kaede was somewhat disappointed, but not particularly surprised.
[Kaede: I see. Sorry to bother you then...]
Just as he sent this message and was about to resign himself to starting business normally, the other party quickly sent another message that made Hayashi Kaede's eyes light up.
[Tsukino: But you could try looking in the Kalos region. There's a place where I caught my Metagross.]
Kaede's interest was immediately piqued.
[Kaede: Where exactly?]
[Tsukino: If I recall correctly, it was in the outskirts near Lumiose City? You could try looking around there.]
"Lumiose City?"