"Everyone, make sure you have your fishing gear and bait with you. Do not leave the shallow waters. In three hours, bring your catches back here to gather."
"Is that clear?"
The crowd responded in unison, already itching to sweep the field and show off their skills.
"Alright then! The Fishing Festival begins! Beep beep beep—!"
With the final whistle blowing, this year's fishing competition officially commenced.
Gario and John dashed ahead of Silas toward the small boats docked along the shore.
They had already agreed to fish separately and compare their total catches when the time was up.
Watching the two of them successfully seize a small boat and row off toward other waters, Silas waited until most of the crowd had dispersed before slinging his fishing gear over his shoulder and setting off.
"Minccino, it's our turn to go."
"Min!"
Minccino responded enthusiastically, clenching its tiny fists in determination.
Man and Pokémon boarded a small boat. Silas first looked around carefully.
Noticing several Wingull near a small island, he rowed closer and took out a dish from his storage, French fries.
The Wingull, who had been lazily playing on the beach, were immediately drawn over by the scent. Silas fed them generously.
"Gull~ Gull!"
The Wingull cried out brightly, signaling for Silas to follow them.
Following behind the Wingull, Silas steered away from the crowd and arrived at a quiet bay beside an island.
"Is it here?"
He gazed out over the vast blue sea but couldn't see anything particularly special. Still, he chose to trust the Wingull—and trust the effects of his cooking.
TN: French Fries Dish Effect: "Let's Grab Some Fries at the Dock" (After eating, Wingull will guide you toward schools of fish; Strength increases (Medium)).]
However, just as he cast his line into the water, he noticed a black dot in the distance.
As it drew closer, he saw clearly.
It was the Eighth-Level Fishing Master.
Seeing someone else nearby, the Fishing Master gave a small nod before casting his own line.
"Min…"
Minccino tugged at Silas, indicating that it also wanted to fish.
"You want to try too?"
After a moment's thought, Silas took out a spare fishing line and attached a small artificial lure for it.
Minccino's eyes lit up. Mimicking Silas, it sat at the edge of the boat and gripped the line in its tiny paws before tossing it toward the water.
Unfortunately, its strength was too small. The lure barely touched the water's surface before sinking straight down, making the nearby Wingull cry out in amusement.
Silas laughed and helped it reel the line back in, switching to an even smaller lure—now it could only catch small fish.
Minccino didn't mind at all. It excitedly tossed the line again, watching intently as the bait sank beneath the surface.
The little one sat obediently beside him, occasionally giving the line small tugs.
Just then, the float on the Fishing Master's line suddenly sank sharply.
Without any panic, he raised his rod smoothly. With a subtle flick of his wrist, a silver sea bass broke through the surface, gleaming in the sunlight—at least two pounds in weight.
"Incredible…"
Silas inwardly acknowledged that the man truly deserved the title of Eighth-Level Fishing Master. Not only had he precisely located an active fishing zone, but he had also landed a catch before Silas.
Looks like I need to get serious.
With that thought, Silas pulled out the still-warm seafood risotto from his bag.
TN: Seafood Risotto Special Effect: Blessing of the Sea: When used by humans, Fishing Level +1; when used by Pokémon, swimming speed in the ocean is permanently increased.]
"Want some, Minccino?"
"Min!"
The little one shook its head and instead pulled out a can of MooMoo Milk from the backpack.
After taking a big gulp, it squinted happily in satisfaction.
Silas wiped the milk foam from the corner of Minccino's mouth and quickly finished the seafood risotto. He felt energy surge through his entire body.
Wiping his mouth, he gripped the fishing rod once more.
Sunlight filtered through the clear blue seawater, and faint shadows of fish schools could be seen moving below.
Suddenly, Minccino's fishing line was tugged.
"Min!" it squeaked, hurriedly grabbing the line with both paws and pulling back.
"Got something?"
Silas glanced at Minccino's simple line, then at his own fully equipped rod.
Is this beginner's luck?
Minccino chirped excitedly, pulling with all its might.
Soon, a dark shape emerged beneath the surface. Then a large red claw broke through the water first.
"A red claw! Could it be Kingler?"
Even as the thought crossed his mind, Silas moved swiftly.
With precise timing, he scooped the Pokémon up with a net and lifted it out of the water.
"A Shiny Clauncher!!!"
Seeing the Pokémon struggling in the net, Silas immediately identified it.
Clauncher—and a Shiny one at that.
Normally, Clauncher had a blue body, yellow antennae and eyes, with black stripes on its claw and back half.
The Shiny variant was drastically different and easy to distinguish.
Its body was a vivid crayfish-red. The usual black stripes had turned white, while its eyes and antennae had become blue instead.
A beginner like Minccino catching a Shiny Clauncher, this shocked not only Silas, but even the Eighth-Level Fishing Master's eyes widened dramatically.
With just this one rare Pokémon, Minccino had practically secured the championship.
"This kind of luck…" The Fishing Master lowered his rod and rowed a bit closer, hoping to absorb some of their fortune. His bright eyes were filled with astonishment. "I've fished in Azure Bay for thirty years and caught countless Clauncher. This is the first time I've seen a red one."
Minccino blinked blankly, not quite understanding what was happening, and poked at the Shiny Clauncher.
"Be careful. Its claw is powerful," Silas reminded gently.
"Min!"
Minccino took two cautious steps back upon hearing that. But seeing that the Shiny Clauncher lay still in the net, it gathered its courage and stepped forward again.
It carefully approached and lightly patted it with its tail.
"Min… Min?"
(Why aren't you talking? Are you hungry?)
Clauncher glanced at it wearily.
Minccino thought for a moment, then reluctantly hugged its can of MooMoo Milk and placed it in front of Clauncher.
"Min~"
(Silas prepared this milk for me. I'll share it with you.)
Clauncher: "..."
Minccino looked left and right.
It understood.
The other didn't have hands.
So, with effort, Minccino lifted the bottle and aimed it at Clauncher's mouth, slowly pouring the milk in bit by bit.
After drinking the nutrient-rich MooMoo Milk, Clauncher regained some strength.
It gently waved its blue antennae and lightly tapped Minccino's paw with its large red claw, as if expressing thanks.
Minccino immediately beamed with joy, stuffing the empty bottle back into the bag and taking a small snack from Silas's hand to feed Clauncher.
Silas observed the interaction between the two Pokémon and smiled knowingly.
"Minccino, make sure you get along well with it."
"Min~"
Minccino nodded vigorously, indicating that it would take care of everything.
Who wouldn't want to bring home a rare Shiny Pokémon?
If Minccino bonded with it first, wouldn't bringing it home later be the most natural thing in the world?
Heh heh heh.
Just imagining those big red claws already made Silas drool a little.
At that moment, Silas's fishing rod jerked.
With a flick of his wrist, he reeled in a palm-sized pink Luvdisc hanging from the hook.
"Bringing Minccino along was definitely the right decision."
Though his bite rate wasn't high, every catch so far had been a Pokémon.
Even the Eighth-Level Fishing Master, who had settled nearby, managed to hook a Qwilfish shortly after.
And so, for the rest of the time, the two of them continued landing catches one after another.
(End of Chapter)