Reading Guide.
"Dialogue"
'Toughts'
[Systems, Special Moves, Special Tags, Special Pokémon, Voice through devices.]
"Telepathy" Italics for telepathy
"Whoaaa!" Bolds instead of CAPS for SHOUTING!
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These bastards could sniff opportunity faster than a Growlithe!
Tetsuya wasn't in a rush to open the door. He kept eating his breakfast at a relaxed pace. Let them knock a little longer.
"Open up! We've got business to discuss!" The people outside were growing impatient.
"I'm not available right now. Wait a bit."
Tetsuya deliberately raised his voice.
After finishing breakfast, he sat for a while longer before finally getting ready to open the door.
He gathered his things and put Ditto on his head.
Tetsuya opened the door and stepped outside, casually closing it behind him.
"…What do you want?"
Facing these three well-dressed "upright citizens," Tetsuya felt nothing but disgust.
"Hello, young man. We're staff from the orphanage! You see, we've learned that you're the only one left in your family, and you're not yet ten years old. According to regulations in the Johto Region, children in your situation must be taken in and cared for by the orphanage. I'd be happy to explain the many benefits our orphanage offers-"
"No need."
Tetsuya cut them off immediately. He already knew where this was going; these three were going to paint the orphanage as paradise on land. Having experienced it once before, Tetsuya couldn't bear to hear another word.
The three were visibly shaken by the "aura" radiating from this child, left awkwardly speechless.
Tetsuya pulled out his Work ID.
"I have a job. I refuse to go to the orphanage. You can leave now."
The three seemed skeptical. "…Please come with us so we can verify the authenticity of this Work ID."
"Pffft! What a joke. You think you have the authority for that? If you want to investigate, go ahead. I have to get to work. Goodbye!"
Tetsuya shot back "angrily" and strode away without looking back.
They weren't going to let this go easily.
---◓---
Riding his Bicycle alone through the streets of Ecruteak City, Tetsuya contemplated his next move.
Right now, the Work ID he held was tied to a Ghost-type Company -shell company-. It would only take about half a month for them to get found out. He couldn't afford to relax yet.
Tetsuya spent another whole day wandering Ecruteak City and quickly realized reality was far more disappointing than he had imagined.
Finding "work" wasn't hard. But getting a job that issued a Work ID required being at least ten years old. Without that, small factories might still use you, but they had nothing to lose.If inspectors showed up, they could just talk their way out of it.
But if they gave you a Work ID, that was solid evidence.
Some even suspected he was sent by the Media or the regulatory bureau to test them, so no one wanted to take that risk.
Which meant his Work ID was practically useless. That shell company would soon be busted for hiring underage workers, and then he'd lose his cover.
Another day passed, and Tetsuya was feeling discouraged.
He wandered the streets, pushing or riding his Bicycle.
He didn't even dare go home early; what if the orphanage staff were waiting there for him?
Wandering aimlessly like a walking corpse…
"Hey, Tetsuya."
It sounded like someone was calling him. Tetsuya flinched and paused. That didn't make sense!
…He didn't have any friends.
The voice called out again behind him.
Tetsuya turned around. "Wait… you're…?"
"It's me, Ryuto, a trainee from Ecruteak Gym. A couple days ago, in front of the Gym, you gave me a hundred Pokédollars!"
A trainee on duty at Ecruteak Gym.
"Oh… What is it?" Tetsuya asked.
"I've been feeling bad for taking that hundred from you and not getting anything done…"
"No need."
Tetsuya declined. He didn't want any ties to someone like this.
"Don't be so quick to cut me off! I've really been thinking about you. So when I heard some good news, I figured I had to come tell you."
Tetsuya found it hard to believe. What kind of good news could he possibly bring?
Before Tetsuya could speak-
"Leader Matsuba, is recruiting Gym Trainees. But there are only two slots, and registration starts tomorrow. The assessment will take place three days after that."
Tetsuya was overjoyed at the news!
Arceus hadn't abandoned him after all…
He had always acted with careful planning, and since he had already visited Ecruteak Gym once, he would never have gone back again without a reason. He had nearly missed out on this incredible opportunity.
Becoming a Gym Trainee would mean securing the backing of Ecruteak Gym. The orphanage staff would never dare lay a hand on him again. Every problem would be instantly resolved.
With that thought, Tetsuya felt completely at ease, his mind clear and refreshed.
As for the assessment… he wasn't worried at all. With sixty years of battle experience from his past life, if they battled with Pokémon of the same level, not even Matsuba himself would necessarily be a match; let alone a bunch of clueless little kids.
So thrilled was he that Tetsuya found himself acting slightly "out of character".
He generously treated Ryuto to dinner. People with a bit of greed were the easiest to manipulate. If Tetsuya managed to join Ecruteak Gym, he'd surely have plenty of use for someone like him.
Besides, it was the best meal he'd had since returning.
Now that the orphanage threat was finally behind him, Tetsuya could start planning the breeding of Ariados and Drapion.
In his previous life, his most successful research on Poison-type Pokémon had centered on these two. He had experimented extensively, failing countless times, practically testing every single Poison-type Pokémon.
In the end, he found that only Ariados and Drapion had the potential to be raised into truly toxic threats. The main reason was that their Egg Groups contained the highest number of Poison-type Pokémon. Of course, achieving success would still require multiple generations of inherited moves.
Within the Bug Egg Group:
Ariados possessed the largest Poison Gland among all Poison-type Pokémon, capable of storing a massive amount of poison.
Drapion had the most poison-secreting organs of any Poison-type Pokémon. Its pincers, "teeth", mouth, and tail could all secrete poison.
Even with that advantage, Ariados and Drapion still needed four full generations of inherited breeding to properly strengthen and stabilize their Poison Glands. Only then would they be capable of safely consuming the Poison Glands of seven other Poison-type Pokémon to produce a Toxic Orb.
These seven were the maternal Pokémon within the Egg Group lineage.
Any Poison-type Pokémon outside these seven would have to be consumed slowly, step by step, to gradually toughen their Poison Glands.
Among all Poison-types, only Salazzle's Poison Gland was untouchable. Its unique corrosive fire-poison was something no Poison-type Pokémon could withstand. Consuming it meant certain death.
In his previous life, Tetsuya had grown overconfident, thinking his bred Ariados and Drapion were unmatched among Poison-types.
But that arrogance cost him dearly. One fully bred Ariados died after consuming a Salazzle's Poison Gland, leading to a massive loss.
Now, however, he clearly didn't have the time or energy to raise such Pokémon himself. It took at least three years to successfully raise one, and during those three years, he would have to live under the protection of Ecruteak Gym.
Tetsuya already had a plan in mind.
His target was Mr. Shellby, the man who had saved his life in a past life and the owner of the Pokémon Daycare in Eggseter.
Tetsuya would entrust him with part of the Egg Group breeding chart. For Shellby, it would be an invisible treasure.
Of course, Tetsuya would retain the key parts of his research for himself…
For now, he needed to visit the Black Market. Two of the maternal Pokémon in the Egg Group weren't native to Johto, so the Black Market was his only chance to find them.