After stuffing himself, Luke Rhodes leaned back contentedly into the soft leather sofa in the restaurant. This was comfortably the best meal he had eaten in the sixteen years since he arrived in this Pokémon world.
However, for a titan like Master Silas, or a gifted second-generation prodigy like Chloe, they could eat like this every day if they wanted to. Luke silently noted that the wealth gap in this world wasn't much better than his old one.
As Chloe took her small wallet to the service counter to pay, the two men sat facing each other. Luke had expected an awkward silence, but Silas took advantage of his daughter's absence to drop a heavy question.
"Luke, I heard from Chloe that your Nidorino's venom was specially cultivated. Its toxicity is many times stronger than that of an average individual. As it happens, I have a few Poison-types myself. I wonder if you could share the method with me?"
Luke, still in a food coma, instantly sobered up.
A secret recipe for cultivating Pokémon was one of a Trainer's core secrets. In the Zenith League, there were countless Trainers who had built entire careers or opened private Dojo halls based on one or two unique methods. There was no reason to just give it away.
Moreover, given Silas's status, why would he covet a rookie's method? Luke looked at the man. His eyes were clear; he wasn't trying to bully him. He was genuinely curious.
Luke realized this was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. He had no intention of being stingy—his method was generated by the System, so it cost him nothing to share. He just needed to make sure the trade was fair.
"Master Silas, have you ever dabbled in the subject of General Biology?"
Silas rubbed his chin sheepishly. "Well, Luke, you know... the Verdant Gym is a family legacy. I didn't exactly spend much time in a traditional classroom."
Perfect, Luke thought. He's a field expert, but textbook illiterate.
The world Luke lived in now was different from the games. In the early generations, the Pokédex mentioned real animals—elephants, rhinos, fish. In this reality, those "general creatures" still existed, but they were being pushed to extinction by Pokémon. Schools taught General Biology to help the next generation understand and protect the remaining ecological balance.
Luke used this as his entry point.
"In a library book on General Biology, I saw a venomous snake called the Tiger Keelback. This snake isn't just toxic; it preys on poisonous toads and absorbs their toxins for its own use. I wondered if Pokémon could do the same. So, after I caught Arno, I began adding small doses of other venoms to his diet."
Silas nodded, intrigued. "A sound theory. Ancient records say the Hisuian Qwilfish acquired its Poison-type by feeding on toxic river flora."
"Exactly," Luke continued. "I started with Arbok venom to build his tolerance. Now, his diet includes a blend of five: Ariados spider venom, Toxicroak toad venom, Drapion scorpion venom, and Scolipede centipede venom."
Silas hummed. "The Five Poisons of folklore. It makes sense. But many Trainers try venom-feeding, and they never get results like yours. There's a missing link, isn't there?"
Luke nodded. Silas was too sharp to fall for a simple "grocery list" of poisons.
"You're right. The diet only did so much. The breakthrough happened when I bid on a 'mysterious Poison-type material' at a local auction. It was a petrified organ—a Venom Gland fossil. I didn't know what it was, but Arno was obsessed with it. I fed it to him, and that was the key that caused his venom to undergo a fundamental mutation."
Silas leaned back, a look of realization crossing his face. "A mutation triggered by an ancient catalyst... that explains the potency."
Silas laughed and slapped the table. "Luke, you've got a sharp mind. Tell you what—you give me the ratios of that 'Five Poisons' cocktail, and I'll personally ensure you get a pick of the High-Potential Grass-type eggs from the upcoming distribution. You won't just get a random egg; you'll get to choose."
Luke's heart hammered. "Deal," he said, extending a hand.
As they shook, Chloe returned, looking at her empty wallet. "What are you two whispering about? Luke, did you just sell my dad a list of bug juice for a top-tier egg? You really are a Grand Strategist."