"Lucas, do you have any strong Pokémon here? I want to buy one to accompany me on my travels!"
Lucas looked toward the entrance and found a little boy holding his mother's hand, standing at the door and looking at him with expectant eyes.
Lucas stood up and raised an eyebrow at him. "Of course."
"Then I want the most powerful Pokémon! I'm going to challenge Gyms with it, and eventually become the Champion!"
The boy clenched his fists, his fighting spirit high, feeling very confident in himself.
Lucas looked at the boy's mother, and she politely nodded to greet him.
Lucas snapped his fingers and beckoned to him. "Then let's go pick out the Pokémon you like."
Lucas led the mother and son into the incubation room. Seeing the large number of pokémon eggs in the room, the boy couldn't help but exclaim, "Wow!"
"So many... pokémon eggs... I want them all..."
Hearing this, Lucas couldn't help but laugh. "Right?"
When he was young, his favorite thing wasn't any particular Pokémon, but rather pokémon eggs, because he felt that a Pokémon hatching from an egg was full of uncertainty and surprises.
"Is there a Pokémon you want?"
"A strong one."
"If you want a strong one... what about its type? Is there a type you like?"
"A strong type."
"Types all have strengths and weaknesses; there's no such thing as the strongest type," Lucas explained.
"Hmm... is that so? Then I want a stronger type."
Lucas realized that the boy just wanted a relatively strong Pokémon.
"Do you want me to help you choose one?"
The boy nodded. "Yes, because you are a very strong Trainer."
"I'm not a Trainer; I'm a Breeder."
Lucas corrected him, then looked at the boy's mother. "May I ask what your budget is?"
"As long as he likes it."
As long as he likes it? Does that mean... money is no object?
Hearing this, Lucas, who had been heading toward the common pokémon eggs, made a sharp turn and headed toward the rare pokémon eggs.
Although Lucas believed that a Pokémon's strength in battle was also influenced by its Trainer, he had to admit that some Pokémon were simply much stronger than others.
For example, a newborn Dratini is much stronger than a Caterpie.
"How about a Larvitar egg?"
Sister Reese had sent him some rare pokémon eggs last time, including two pseudo-legendary pokémon eggs. One was a Dratini egg, which had already been purchased by Tomoyo, and the other was a Larvitar egg, which was now resting peacefully on the machine in the incubation room.
"Larvitar? What kind of Pokémon is that?"
The boy looked up, curious as he gazed at Lucas.
Lucas snapped his fingers. "Gengar, the tablet."
Gengar floated in with the tablet. Lucas skillfully opened the tablet and pulled up footage of the Desert Tyrant in battle.
"Look, this is the final evolved form of Larvitar, Tyranitar, also known as the Monarch of the Sandstorm. It's a very powerful Pokémon."
The boy watched the screen as Tyranitar took on two opponents at once in a sandstorm, his mouth hanging open.
"So... so cool..."
Then he looked at his mother. "Mom..."
His mother gently stroked his head. "Are you sure?"
The boy nodded vigorously.
"Then we'll take this one."
The boy's mother looked at Lucas and said.
After they made their decision, Lucas remembered the cost of raising a Larvitar. He thought for a moment and said to the mother, "Larvitar is known as a pseudo-legendary Pokémon. It becomes very strong once it evolves into Tyranitar, but there is a very long period of cultivation before that evolution. The cost of raising it during this time will be very high, far exceeding that of other Pokémon."
Hearing this, the boy's mother frowned slightly. She looked at her son's expectant eyes and then whispered to Lucas, "About how much?"
Lucas also whispered back, "Larvitar likes to eat minerals. You just need to feed it minerals. About when it finishes one—"
"Minerals? Are coal mines okay?"
Before Lucas could finish, he heard the boy's mother's question and quickly replied, "Of course. Any mineral is fine—coal mines, iron mines, all of those are okay. Of course, it can also eat soil. Larvitar has a very good digestive system and can easily digest soil or minerals."
"As for coal mines, would a dozen or so coal pits be enough?"
How many?! A dozen? Is his dad a coal tycoon?
"Actually, it doesn't need that much. It only needs to eat a mountain's worth of soil to evolve into Pupitar. After evolving into Pupitar, it doesn't need to eat. If it's mineral-rich in energy, the effect is even better."
"That's fine then. You scared me; I thought the cost would be huge."
The boy's mother breathed a sigh of relief, thinking the cost might be much higher.
Lucas was stunned. Why did it feel like, hearing her say that, the cost of raising a Larvitar really wasn't that high?
— —
"We have over a dozen coal mines at home for it to eat, and if that's not enough, we have iron mines. That should be enough. If he likes it, then we'll take this pokémon egg."
The boy's mother looked at Lucas and said.
So generous...
Lucas nodded. "Okay."
Then he took the stethoscope and checked the health status of the Larvitar egg.
[Larvitar egg]
[Incubation progress: 28/30]
It's about to hatch?
Feeling the image transmitted in his mind, the tiny body inside the egg was fully formed, and it was currently squinting and feeling around inside the egg.
"It's very healthy."
Lucas said, then stood up to pick up the Larvitar egg.
"Can I hold it?"
Lucas paused. "Of course."
After saying that, he crouched down and handed the Larvitar egg to the boy, teaching him the correct way to hold it.
"I have some good news for you: this Larvitar egg is about to hatch."
The boy's eyes widened. "Really?"
"Yes."
Lucas gave the boy instructions on how to care for the pokémon egg and also told him that once the Larvitar hatched, he should take it to the coal mine for a full meal.
"I've got it. Does it not need to eat regular food?"
The boy asked Lucas, and Lucas smiled. "Coal mines are Larvitar's food."
"Okay, thank you, Lucas."
The boy bowed to Lucas while holding the Larvitar egg.
After Lucas stood up, the boy's mother handed him a card. After swiping the card and returning it, Lucas gave the mother a final reminder about the precautions.
"I've noted everything down. Thank you, Lucas."
Lucas shook his head. "It's my duty."
Then he turned to the boy. "I'm entrusting the Larvitar to you. Remember to take good care of it for me."
"I definitely will! And I'll grow up with it to become the strongest Trainer!"
The boy clenched his fist and replied.
After sending the mother and son out of the Breeding House, Lucas returned to the lounge area and sat down. Looking at the message on his phone—a long string of zeros—he felt incredibly happy.
Both of the pseudo-legendary pokémon eggs at the Breeding House had been sold.
The only one left was the Kubfu egg.
Lucas did not intend to put this egg on the sales list. This was a pokémon egg entrusted to him by his Great-Aunt's friend, Master Ma, and he felt he needed to find a Trainer suitable for this Kubfu.
If he couldn't find one, he would just keep it at the Breeding House, or wait until it hatched and let it leave once it met a Trainer it liked.
Anyway, there was no rush right now.
"Lucas."
Officer Jenny's voice came from outside. Immediately after, Officer Jenny walked into the Breeding House, sat down next to Lucas familiarly, and looked at the counter. "Shuana, could you please make me a cup of honey water? Seventy percent sweet, thanks."
Shuana nodded, hopped off the high stool, and ran into the kitchen. Not long after, she came out with a cup of honey water.
Officer Jenny tilted her head back and drank the honey water in one gulp, then let out a comfortable sigh. "I was dying of thirst."
Seeing this familiar behavior, Lucas didn't even need to guess to know it was the Officer Jenny from Twinleaf Town.
"Sister Reese, is there anything you need my help with?"
Officer Jenny, lying back in the chair, heard Lucas and said, "No, this time I'm here to deliver something to you."
"Spring is here, and many beginning Trainers choose to start their journeys now. Over in Sandgem Town, they started adopting their Starter Pokemon a few days ago, and they should be finished in the next two days. However, there will still be many, many Trainers left without a starter Pokémon."
Officer Jenny paused for a moment, then continued, "Since you are the only Breeding House between the two towns, the League has sent you a batch of pokémon eggs."
pokémon eggs?
Lucas's eyes lit up.
"This batch of pokémon eggs is free. Oh, and the League also said that if this batch isn't enough, they will send you a few more batches during this period, all for free."
Lucas was so happy that his eyes squinted.
"However, the League hopes that you can offer a discount on the selling price of this batch of pokémon eggs to those who come to buy them, since not all families can afford them."
After hearing this, Lucas didn't hesitate at all. The League was worried that his Breeding House wouldn't have enough pokémon eggs and had started sending them for free; offering a discount was only right.
"Don't worry, for this period, pokémon eggs at the Breeding House will be sold at half price."
After saying this, Lucas thought for a moment and added, "Rare pokémon eggs will be thirty percent off."
Anyway, most of the people coming to buy were residents of Twinleaf Town and Sandgem Town, so it didn't matter if they were a bit cheaper.
Besides, the League was sending pokémon eggs to his Breeding House for free; it was a guaranteed profit.
"I don't know about that; just do what you think is best. Don't lose money, or if the Breeding House goes out of business, I'll be in trouble."
Officer Jenny joked.
"Well, it's probably hard to go out of business."
Lucas laughed. "I'm even preparing to expand the delivery service to Sandgem Town. After all, spring is here, and the Pokémon in the forest are starting to return to the backyard. They probably won't refuse to help with some work. If I have the residents of Sandgem Town prepare some small snacks for them, the Breeding House can save a lot of money."
"You really know how to make money."
Officer Jenny punched Lucas on the shoulder and said.
Lucas grinned.
All the Pokémon in the Breeding House are going to work for me; none of them are escaping!
He would take half of the delivery money to buy food ingredients, and then make some delicious food for them in exchange for their labor.
By then, the Breeding House's wallet would be ringing non-stop.
Thinking of this, Lucas became even happier.
Spring is great. Spring, I love spring the most. The Pokémon in the forest are all out to play.
And isn't delivering food a form of play? Right?
"Alright, come out and help carry the pokémon eggs."
Officer Jenny picked up her gloves, stood up, and walked toward the outside of the Breeding House.
Lucas followed behind. Seeing the pile of pokémon eggs in front of him, he was shocked. "So many?"
"59 pokémon eggs, all free, but they are all common pokémon eggs."
Officer Jenny stood by the car and said, "As long as you don't mind."
"Mind? I'm overjoyed right now."
Lucas said with a smile.
Then he called out to Gengar, and Female and the others also came out to help move this batch of pokémon eggs.
Looking at the incubation room, which was packed full of pokémon eggs, Lucas almost couldn't believe his eyes.
He never expected that one day his incubation room would be filled with pokémon eggs.
Lucas felt immensely satisfied.
"However, it seems I don't have enough incubators. I need to buy some, and some other things too."
Watching Lucas and Gengar and the others begin to organize the batch of pokémon eggs, she watched for a while, then said goodbye. "Well, you go ahead and get busy. I'm heading back."
"Okay, be careful on the way."
While Lucas was still putting this batch of pokémon eggs into specific areas, he heard Mrs. Fujino calling him from outside. Lucas handed his work over to Gengar and hurried out.
He found a few children sitting in the lounge area, likely there to buy pokémon eggs or adopt Pokémon.
Lucas walked over. Seeing that the work in the incubation room wasn't finished yet, Mr. Fujino said, "I'll go in and help."
Lucas nodded. "Thank you for your hard work."
Seeing Lucas come out, Mr. and Mrs. Fujino went into the incubation room to help.
Lucas then began to ask the children what kind of pokémon eggs they wanted to buy. After getting their answers, he stood up and led them toward the incubation room.
Since Lucas hadn't checked this batch of pokémon eggs yet, he wasn't ready to sell them, and they weren't organized, nor did he know what kind of pokémon eggs they were. So, he led them to the existing pokémon eggs and began to introduce them.
Just as Lucas was introducing them, there was another noise from outside. Lucas had to apologize to the people in front of him and walked out, only to find that a few more guests had arrived.
Lucas let them into the lounge area to sit down, then quickly went to the backyard and called Lilligant in to help entertain the guests.
Watching Lilligant quickly bring tea to the guests, Lucas was just about to step into the incubation room when he saw more guests arriving.
Mime Jr. also ran over.
"Nini."
The Canteen was short-handed.
Lucas: ————
As more and more people arrived, there were already a dozen children in the lounge area of the Breeding House waiting to buy pokémon eggs or adopt Pokémon. With their parents accompanying them, the lounge area of the Breeding House was suddenly overcrowded.
However, choosing pokémon eggs and adopting Pokémon was a very time-consuming matter, so these people would have to wait for quite a while.
Over at the Canteen, things were starting to return to the bustling activity from before winter.
Every available hand at the Breeding House was being put to use.
Even Alcremie sensibly came out of the kitchen to help entertain the guests.
Lucas: ————
Delivery service, the Canteen, buying pokémon eggs or adopting Pokémon ————
Everything was suddenly packed.
Lucas had no choice but to take out his phone. "Gothitelle, are you busy over there? If you're not busy, could you close the Cottage for a bit?"
"Or leave a few Pokémon there to look after the children, and you come back to the Breeding House to help out?"
After sending a few children out of the incubation room, Lucas walked out to prepare to bring in the next batch of children to pick out pokémon eggs, and he saw Gothitelle's busy figure.
Under her and Lilligant's direction, order began to return to the Breeding House and the Canteen.
With Gothitelle, Lilligant, Alcremie, and Zoroark entertaining guests at the Breeding House, it was enough, so all the other Pokémon were arranged to go help in the Canteen.
For example, the Meowstic siblings.
Shauna came back from school and, seeing the long lines at the Canteen and the Breeding House, couldn't help but exclaim, "Wow!"
"Wow, the Breeding House is getting busy again."
After saying this, Shauna nimbly got off her Rapidash and joined in the work.
Lucas's guess was correct.
The Breeding House was completely packed today.
There is nothing that goes better with spring and travel.
The guests at the Breeding House weren't just from Twinleaf Town; people from Sandgem Town also began to arrive at the Breeding House one after another.
The usually quiet Breeding House was bustling with activity!
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