After returning to the Pewter City base,
Yingcai said to the three of them: "I'll take the Gyarados. Besides this time's payment, I'll also give each of you an extra 50,000."
"As for Nobunaga, I can additionally give you an Ekans, how about it?"
The three immediately agreed; after all, the main force was still Yingcai's Crobat.
Nobunaga had even less objection; after all, his Koffing had already broken through to elite, and it was time to look for a third Pokémon. And the Ekans the captain gave also suited his wishes.
After the handover was completed, the four split up. Nobunaga went to the trade market to buy food for Ekans.
At this time, at a stall he saw a secret manual and directly asked the stall owner: "How much is this advanced cultivation of Koffing and Weezing?"
The seller didn't beat around the bush; he opened with 200,000.
Nobunaga asked: "Then can I take a look?"
"The one in front of you—there's only one-tenth of the content on it, count it as letting you read for free."
After saying that, the stall owner started chatting with the buyer next to him.
Nobunaga picked up the secret manual and began flipping through it. Inside was knowledge he knew, and also some small tricks he didn't know.
"Alright, I'll buy it!" As Nobunaga's voice fell, the stall owner immediately happily took out the full copy and handed it to him.
After Nobunaga paid, he sat to the side and kept reading, staring without blinking as if there were beauties inside.
After reading through it, Nobunaga benefited a lot, and bought many resources for raising Koffing according to what was written in the book.
Back in the room, looking at Koffing and Zubat, he released Ekans.
After Ekans came out and saw Nobunaga, it didn't resist, as if it knew he was its Trainer, coiling at the bedside.
As night approached, Nobunaga began matching food for the three small Pokémon.
Koffing's wet garbage, concentrated gas, and the Fire Stone fragments recorded in the secret manual, and spicy Cheri Berries.
Zubat's was a basin of Miltank cow blood.
Ekans's food was fresh meat, fresh Tauros thigh meat.
After the few small Pokémon finished eating, Nobunaga took the three Pokémon to the training ground.
Koffing still floated at his side, Zubat sat on his shoulder, and Ekans wrapped around Nobunaga's body.
After arriving at the training ground, Menyan and Stone were also here.
The three chatted about what had happened in recent missions, and also talked about their own situations.
At this time, Menyan pushed up his glasses and said: "I have a feeling that a storm is coming. Recently the base's material transfers have been a bit much, and several big shots have come over."
Stone hurriedly said: "Our captain found that recently many missions are related to Mt. Moon. It's possible a big move will happen at Mt. Moon; recently the missions he's been taking us on are all Mt. Moon missions."
Nobunaga: "No matter what, our own strength is the best guarantee. Let's start training."
Sweat poured down like rain. By evening, the three took their respective Pokémon back to their rooms.
After Nobunaga washed up, with a "dong," a burst of knocking sounded.
Nobunaga got up and opened the door, and Yingcai outside immediately walked into the room.
After the two sat down, Yingcai then spoke: "Because of some private matters I have to go out for a while. You three should try not to go out recently."
Then he hesitated for a moment and said: "Because I'm not here, you can't take the base's missions. If you want to take missions, it's still okay to take some private missions next to the hall."
Seeing Nobunaga indicate he understood, Yingcai got up and left.
The next day, the three members of Squad Nine met. They all knew about the captain going out; it seemed everyone had received the notice yesterday.
Nobunaga asked: "Are you preparing to take missions?"
Both of them said they wanted to rest for a while and settle their experience. Seeing this, Nobunaga alone took an exit permit and left by himself.
The secret manual recorded that in the places where Grimer live, there is a kind of symbiotic sludge,
which is very effective for Koffing's "Sludge Attack" and "Grimer Bomb," therefore Nobunaga prepared to go to Grimer's gathering place. Nothing happened along the way, and by noon he had already arrived at Grimer's gathering place.
Nobunaga passed through a passageway covered in garbage and entered a garbage mountain.
On the mountain wall of the garbage mountain there was a layer of oily, shiny sludge everywhere. Nobunaga took out a white bag and began scraping.
At this time, a Grimer noticed Nobunaga. It didn't do anything, it just stood there blankly and watched him.
Only after Nobunaga finished scraping the sludge did he notice this Grimer. Seeing that Grimer also had no intention to attack, he prepared to leave.
Seeing Nobunaga was leaving, Grimer quietly followed behind.
After walking out of the garbage mountain, Nobunaga let out a breath; after all, this place was full of stench. When he turned his head, he discovered that Grimer was still following behind him.
Seeing that the Koffing and Zubat beside him had no reaction, Nobunaga knew this Grimer had no ill intent toward him.
"Why are you following behind me?" Nobunaga asked Grimer.
Grimer walked in front of Nobunaga, stretched out its hand, and pointed at the Poké Ball.
Nobunaga was a bit puzzled: "Do you want to become my Pokémon?" After saying that, he took out an empty Poké Ball and placed it in front of Grimer.
Seeing this, Grimer did not hesitate and pressed the Poké Ball's switch.
With a burst of flashing, the Poké Ball stopped. And Grimer successfully joined Nobunaga's team.
Inside the Poké Ball: "I've long heard that as long as you're captured by a human Trainer you can eat well and drink well. I didn't expect today I'd catch a Trainer who looks very strong!"
And Nobunaga also revealed a smile. He had only come out to collect some resources and could run into a Grimer that took the initiative to follow—did this count as being the chosen son of heaven?
It was getting late, and one person and four pets were again on the road back.