章 81: Chapter 81
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Upon discovering Giratina, Dak's mind overflowed with plans for the Pokémon League, particularly with the VIP benefits for the Pokémon Pokédex which he began conceptualizing and researching immediately.
About five days later, after intense efforts by Dak and Monet working overtime, the Pokémon Pokédex v1.0 was finally completed.
The prototype, coded as "001," was a red Pokémon Pokédex owned by Bon.
Apart from the basic Pokémon data, it included special VIP benefits, accessible via a "VIP Benefits" icon on the Pokédex's homepage.
1. Eligibility to participate in the Mystery Hatchery House auctions.
2. The privilege to bring up to ten people for a tour of Pokémon Island annually, except during special periods.
3. Priority booking for hotels and seating at events on Pokémon Island, with access to the island three days before other guests.
4. Lifetime free access to Pokémon recovery services at Pokémon Centers worldwide.
5. Free admission to Pokémon School and complimentary educational materials.
[Further benefits to be updated free of charge]
These five benefits constitute the VIP treatment exclusive to Pokémon Pokédex owners.
With these services added, the total cost of manufacturing one Pokédex came to 1,000 Magical Coins, equivalent to ten million Belly.
Dak planned to sell each unit for one hundred million Belly, a tenfold markup.
This price was considered reasonable given the lifetime benefits it offered, with potential for additional perks in the future.
Ongoing updates and upgrades for the Pokédex would be covered by the Hatchery House, a cost taken on by the business which, although minor, could accumulate significantly over decades.
To prevent future losses, Dak removed a proposed benefit—"10% off all services at the Hatchery House"—from the list.
Dak was careful to ensure these VIP benefits wouldn't create an unfair advantage by turning members into "pay-to-win" players, distancing them significantly from others.
Instead, these benefits were designed to enhance their experience and prestige, making them feel special and more willing to invest in the Pokédex.
"Sigh, we finally completed the development."
Dak and Monet, in the workshop, looked at the Pokémon Pokédex they held, relieved.
Especially Monet.
An ordinary girl, she had been working from early morning till late at night alongside Dak, and dark circles had formed under her eyes from exhaustion.
She was truly determined to assist Dak.
"So, we can start selling the Pokédex now, right?"
Monet slumped on a chair, her long green hair disheveled.
"Emmm, not yet. Let's wait a couple of weeks until the four hundred Pokémon eggs from the Navy are about to hatch. By then, they'll likely need the Pokédex urgently. I need to check on the Pokémon in the meantime."
Dak still had a few concerns.
For instance, the disposition of the upcoming Giratina.
In the Pokémon world, Giratina was known to be temperamental and not easy to deal with, possessing a strong territorial instinct. Anyone who wandered into its Distortion World would likely get a rough welcome.
If this Giratina shared the same traits, it could be problematic.
While it might allow Dak into the newly formed world due to their natural affinity, it might not welcome other beings.
Dak considered ways to persuade Giratina.
He could force Giratina to obey through system constraints, but he preferred not to do that.
Respecting the will of Pokémon was essential to earn their genuine loyalty and cooperation.
Even if Giratina allowed others into its realm, the exact nature of that world was uncertain. If it was a complete replica of the Distortion World from the Pokémon universe, significant alterations might be needed.
"Dak."
Monet looked at Dak, hesitating slightly.
"Monet, if calling me by my name makes you uncomfortable, feel free to use a different title. I just don't want there to be a sense of distance between us, which is why I asked you to use my name."
Dak sensed Monet's difficulty in addressing him directly.
Each person has their unique traits, like Bon Clay's loyalty and Bellamy's admiration. For Monet, it was her profound respect and extreme loyalty to her leader.
In the original narrative, Monet always addressed Doflamingo with respect as 'Young Master,' and she was the first executive willing to die for him, likely due to Doflamingo saving her and Sugar in their original timeline.
Now that Dak has taken on the hero's role, Monet sees no reason to treat him differently.
However, it was this respect that made it difficult for her to call Dak by his name directly, similar to Bellamy's excessive admiration and indebtedness, placing themselves beneath Dak.
"Um," Monet pondered, unable to decide on a suitable title.
"Bell calls me 'Boss.' Maybe you could do the same? I don't like being called 'manager' or 'boss.'"
Dak suggested an alternative for Monet.
"That doesn't sound good."
Unexpectedly, Monet rejected the suggestion. Dak had thought of her as compliant, someone who would accept whatever was said.
"What would you like to call me, then?"
"Leader?"
Monet recalled the recent meeting Dak had led, then proposed a title.
The head of the Pokémon League would be the Leader.
"Isn't that a bit too grand?"
Dak was slightly embarrassed but couldn't suppress a smile.
"Of course not, Leader-sama~"
Monet quickly picked up on Dak's fondness for the title.
"Hehehe, let's keep it low-key."
Dak quickly waved his hand and then fled the workshop.
With the Pokémon Pokédex issue resolved, he could now focus on training Pokémon, a task that had fallen on Robin these past few days.
Dak didn't favor one over the others; he held high hopes for each Pokémon in the shop.
"Robin, how's the branch coming along?"
While watching the little ones practice, Dak also asked Robin, who had been handling communications with Bon and Iceberg while he was preoccupied.
"It's going smoothly, we should be open in about two days. People in Water 7 have noticed the developments at the North Shore, and the crowd there is growing, awaiting the Hatchery House's opening. It's getting rather chaotic."
Robin, wearing glasses that added to her intellectual appearance, reported, "But the Navy has stepped in to maintain order. Occasionally, Sceptile takes a stroll outside and drags a Sea King from the nearby sea, which quiets everyone down significantly."
Dak nodded.
Sceptile wasn't the sharpest tool in the shed, so this tactic likely came from Bon's advice.
At that moment, the shop door opened, and a regular customer walked in.
"Mihawk? It's been a while since I last saw you. What brings you here today?"
Dak greeted the newcomer with a smile, also noticing the Psyduck in Mihawk's arms.
The old Mihawk wouldn't casually carry anything around, let alone a plump duck. It seemed Mihawk and Psyduck had grown quite close.
"Dak, it seems Psyduck is sick."
Mihawk, always stoic, cradled the Psyduck without any coldness in his actions.
He didn't even glance at the Pokémon eggs scattered across the lawn but went straight to Dak, presenting the Psyduck.
"Ah?"
Dak was surprised.
He hadn't expected a Pokémon to fall ill so soon, given the current small number of Pokémon.
"Let me have a look."
Robin put down her Pokédex and removed her glasses to come over.
Sugar, who had been training with the Pokémon, also paused to look at the Psyduck in Mihawk's arms.
"Quack."
Psyduck noticed its surroundings and weakly waved a chubby hand, greeting everyone.
Its voice was hoarse, and a bit of mucus dripped from its nostrils, quickly sucked back in.
The reflex to snort mucus back was quite rapid.
Or rather.
It didn't require mental effort, being more of a bodily instinct.
"Common cold."
It wasn't a serious issue and was easy to resolve. Dak could quickly tell, "How long has it been?"
"First day."
"Uh, no big problem."
Dak nodded, impressed by Mihawk's sensitivity in noticing Psyduck's discomfort on the first day.
Honestly, had Mihawk not mentioned Psyduck's illness, Dak might not have noticed right away, as the little duck always seemed so oblivious, making it hard to spot any issues.
Unfortunately, though not serious, a cold can't be treated with a recovery device.
[Recovery Device: Performs strong physical recovery for Pokémon, quickly repairing physical injuries sustained in battle, an essential machine in Pokémon Centers.]
That was the specific function when the recovery device first appeared.
The device could restore the energy Psyduck lost due to the cold, temporarily improving its condition, but it wasn't a permanent solution.
This was why, despite having recovery devices, Pokémon Centers still needed Nurse Joys, Chanseys, and some surgeons. It was also why Dak was eager to recruit medical staff.
Now, Dak had to handle it himself.
Treating simple illnesses was part of a breeder's essential skills, and the common cold fell into that category, so Dak could manage it.
(End of Chapter)
章 82: Chapter 82
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Dak rummaged through the studio for some Berries he had previously extracted from a "Berry Gift Pack." He also found a medicinal herb from the "Magical Shop," which had been used by Iris and Dent in the original story to treat an injury of a Pokémon.
He crushed these ingredients into a paste and handed it to Mihawk.
"Is this medicine?"
Mihawk looked at the small bowl of deep green paste, sniffed it without detecting any foul smell.
It smelled tart and sweet, probably not bad-tasting.
Mihawk made this judgment based on his sense of smell.
He then took a small spoon, intending to feed Psyduck, but the Pokémon seemed resistant, pushing the spoon away and turning its head.
"The medicine actually doesn't taste very good. Pokémon have a more sensitive sense of smell, and they can detect it," Dak explained to a puzzled Mihawk.
The medicine was indeed not very palatable. In the original story, after eating it, the Pokémon's already grim expression worsened, although the medication was effective and quickly made it feel much better.
"Eat."
Mihawk was succinct, gently patting Psyduck's belly. Reluctantly, the little one opened its beak.
"Quack~"
After swallowing a spoonful, Psyduck visibly grimaced, clutching its head in discomfort.
"Bear with it."
Mihawk continued feeding.
"Here, this might help."
Sugar, standing nearby, pulled a candy from her pocket and handed it to Mihawk. "My sister always uses these when she gives me medicine."
Good idea.
Mihawk nodded, taking the candy from Sugar. He learned yet another trick for child care—a skill that was utterly useless to his former self but now proved valuable.
After Psyduck reluctantly finished the medicine, Mihawk turned back to Dak.
"Pokémon are quite robust; usually, one dose of medicine is enough for recovery. It should feel better by tomorrow."
Although Mihawk didn't speak, Dak understood what he meant.
Perhaps due to their improved relationship and newfound understanding, Dak could now guess Mihawk's thoughts easily; the man was surprisingly straightforward.
"Alright, how much do I owe you?"
"Um, 50 Belly."
Dak paused.
He hadn't yet planned a pricing structure for medical services at the 'Pokémon Center.'
But Mihawk's question prompted Dak to start thinking. In the realm of medical care, Dak decided not to profit.
Future use of Pokémon Center recovery machines would only charge a nominal fee for electricity, 500 Belly.
Equivalent to the price of two years ago for a Chopper, or a cotton candy.
For other illnesses, only the cost of materials would be charged; all other fees would be waived.
"Okay."
Mihawk nodded. However, he didn't hurry away but instead turned to look around the shop.
At that moment, he noticed the plethora of eggs suddenly filling the store.
It was a dizzying sight.
"How about it? Want to buy an egg?"
Dak nudged Mihawk, inquiring if he was interested.
"Maybe in a few days, after Psyduck gets better," Mihawk indeed contemplated getting another Pokémon.
Not to train a swordmaster capable of defeating him, as before, but because he didn't want Psyduck to be lonely.
Mihawk often practiced intense swordplay, and Psyduck would just sit there, staring blankly. Mihawk wondered if Psyduck felt bored.
"Where have you been staying recently? Pokémon usually have strong constitutions and shouldn't fall ill so easily unless there's been a significant environmental change."
Dak voiced another of his lingering questions.
"Uh"
"I'll come with you."
Seeing Mihawk hesitate, Dak decided to accompany him to check things out.
"Alright."
Mihawk nodded.
Having Dak come along might help determine the cause of Psyduck's illness.
As Dak left the shop with Mihawk, he shivered the moment he stepped outside.
The sky was snowing.
They were in a small town blanketed in snow, where Mihawk resided in one of the houses.
It was hard to tell whose unlucky pirate's house it was.
"Where is this?"
"Somewhere on the Grand Line's winter islands, not sure exactly."
Mihawk shrugged, never one to keep track of his locations.
"Psyduck might have gotten cold."
Dak rubbed his forehead and looked at Psyduck.
Although Psyduck seemed oblivious, his body had already reacted.
As a Water-type Pokémon, Psyduck had a high tolerance for cold, so even if it felt chilly, it wouldn't show obvious discomfort.
The only way to tell if Psyduck felt cold was to check its palms.
Since Psyduck always held its head, its palms didn't touch the outside world, making them sensitive to temperature changes.
Dak grabbed Psyduck's hand, holding its head, and saw a faint redness in the palm—it wasn't obvious, but it was there.
He explained Psyduck's condition to Mihawk, who gained new insight.
"If you're cold, how could Psyduck not be, especially since it's not an Ice-type Pokémon?"
Dak pulled off the scarf around Mihawk's neck and wrapped it around Psyduck's neck.
The little one didn't respond much, but its expression clearly showed it felt more comfortable.
"I see."
Mihawk, looking at Psyduck, nodded. "Thanks."
"No problem, just be more careful next time. I need to go back."
Dak, feeling frozen, headed back to the shop.
But as soon as he returned, Sugar came running up, her big eyes looking up at him imploringly.
She was smart, using her cuteness and youth to charm the adults.
"Dak."
"What's up?"
"I want to go out and play in the snow."
Sugar looked at Dak pitifully; she had been inside the shop for many days.
"Dedenne."
"Eevee~"
"Smooch!"
The other little ones followed Sugar, showing various expressions to Dak.
Dak suddenly realized that the little ones hadn't been out for a while.
For those who had experienced the outside world, staying in all the time must be tough.
"Come to think of it, none of you have seen snow before. So today, let's have a snowball fight!"
Dak smacked his forehead, regretting his oversight, but quickly waved his hand, planning to take everyone out. "Sugar, go call your sister. Robin, help me get Bon, Iceberg, and Sceptile back. Everyone's off today, let's all go out and play."
"Boss is right!!!"
Bellamy's voice came first, followed by his appearance.
Bellamy had been training in the men's dormitory, but his voice carried through the door before he burst out.
About ten minutes later.
Mihawk, who had stayed to watch Psyduck build a snowman, turned his head to see Dak leading a group towards him.
Whack.
Before Mihawk could see clearly who was approaching, a soft snowball hit him.
He could dodge, but that would mean letting Psyduck get hit.
Mihawk just watched as the snowball hit his hat, and the little girl next to Dak flashed a mischievous smile.
Mihawk turned back to the diligently snowman-building Psyduck, thinking it was much cuter.
Arriving on the snowy ground, Dak didn't need to give any orders; the Pokémon spontaneously started frolicking.
Some were having snowball fights, others building snowmen, and some chased each other around in the snow.
Iceberg and Sceptile were stunned.
They thought they were called for something urgent, but it turned out just to be for fun.
Now, one preoccupied with the sea train and the other wanting to sleep in the small forest inside the branch.
Iceberg massaged his temples, but then he smiled, deciding to join in the fun since he was already there—it had been a long time since he'd played so freely.
As for Sceptile.
After getting hit by a stray snowball, he cursed and walked off; he hated the cold weather.
After a day of activities, everyone returned to their tasks.
It was on the third morning that Bon brought news.
The Water 7 branch was completed.
So was the Navy's base.
Water 7's North Shore was overflowing with people, and all the major shipyards and shops were closed as a huge crowd planned to buy a Pokémon.
Dak knew they were eager, but he couldn't rush things.
He had to settle his business with the Navy first and get those two billion Belly.
Not just for Giratina and the special ability seeds but also because he didn't have enough Magical Coins to purchase the large number of Pokémon eggs needed to sell to the people of Water 7.
"Robin, have Bon organize a pre-order event at the North Shore before opening the shop. Record how many people want to buy Pokémon eggs, and make sure to ask whether they want a family companion or a helper, and get an idea of their price expectations."
Dak gave his instructions.
He needed a clear inventory of how many and what quality of Pokémon eggs to buy from the Magical Shop.
In the days to come.
Their Mystery Hatchery House might earn money quickly.
But spending it would be just as fast.
Especially on Pokémon Island, no matter the situation, it was expected to require significant investment from Dak.
Housing the Pokémon species there would cost Magical Coins.
Building various facilities there would cost Belly to hire workers.
And who knows what else might need funding.
Dak resolved to save where he could, not skimp on necessary expenses, and absolutely not waste a penny where it wasn't needed.
(End of Chapter)
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