Chương 102: Taro's Decision
Taro, a trainer from Fortree City, had just turned twenty years old this year. It had been a decade since he received his first Pokémon.
Ten years ago, he had witnessed a battle between the Gym Leader and a challenger at the Fortree Gym. That experience ignited his dream of becoming a trainer.
His first Pokémon was a Volbeat, a common species in the vicinity of Fortree City. He had captured it with his father back then.
However, being a wild-caught Pokémon, even after careful selection by him and his father, the Volbeat's aptitude remained average at best.
After ten years of his journey as a trainer, his initial Volbeat had long fallen behind his progress and was no longer part of his main team. It now resided at home, keeping his parents company.
The fierce competition among countless trainers was something Taro understood all too well. Over the past decade, he had traveled to various places: participating in the Kanto Quartz League, the Johto Silver Conference, and multiple other tournaments, including the Hoenn Mirage Conference. However, his best achievement in these competitions had been reaching the top 16.
Throughout the years, he had captured several Pokémon: in Hoenn, it was Whismur, Taillow, and Shroomish; in Kanto, it was Geodude, Pidgey, and Zubat; and in Johto, he captured Spinarak, Hoothoot, and Hoppip, among others.
These Pokémon had all evolved into their final forms and accompanied him on journeys across different regions. Yet, their potential and power were insufficient, hindering his success in battles.
Five years ago, with all his savings amounting to 350,000, he purchased his first high-quality Pokémon: a cute Phanpy with green aptitude, a significant milestone in his life.
Two years ago, thanks to his evolved Donphan, he achieved his best result in the Hoenn Mirage Conference, entering the top 16 of the league tournament for the first time.
This experience made him realize the importance of having a well-aptituded Pokémon, one that could serve as an ace.
With his progress recently stagnating, Taro decided to once again buy a Pokémon from a Pokémon Day Care. However, his funds were limited, and he wasn't sure when he could afford another purchase. Therefore, he invested a great deal of thought into this selection, but he struggled to find a satisfactory option.
While major Pokémon Day Care certainly had high-quality Pokémon, most of them were common species in the Hoenn region, such as Taillow, Zigzagoon, or Shroomish.
After much contemplation, he eventually narrowed down his options to a Makuhita and a Corphish. Both had green aptitudes, and their evolved forms, Hariyama and Crawdaunt, were strong contenders. However, he hesitated.
At that moment, he noticed a change in the icon of a certain Pokémon Day Care on various websites.
All officially registered Pokémon Day Care were listed in the Pokémon League's designated navigation section for Pokémon Day Care. Trainers could access this section to view icons representing the different Pokémon Day Care and easily visit their websites.
These icons resembled smartphone app icons and were accompanied by the names of the Pokémon Day Care. Clicking on an icon led to the respective daycare's homepage.
The League implemented this system to help trainers quickly access information about Pokémon Day Care. After all, the development of Pokémon Pokémon Day Care had a significant impact on the growth of trainers in the Pokémon world.
This navigation included icons from all six regions: Kanto, Johto, Hoenn, Sinnoh, Unova, and Kalos. The icons were categorized by region, making it easy for trainers to find daycares in their desired area.
However, Alola was not included in this navigation since it had only recently become part of the Pokémon League. Their practices had yet to fully align with the current League standards, and they didn't have Pokémon Day Care.
As Taro contemplated this, he noticed that the icon of YoYo Day Care had changed. It was a coincidence that this change occurred just as YoYo Day Care was updating its homepage and adding new Pokémon information.
Originally, YoYo Day Care's icon had featured a simple design of a Stantler with magnificent antlers. But after Windy modified it, the icon now depicted a cheerful and happy Floette.
Seeing this change, Taro's memory of the Pokémon Day Care faded. Nonetheless, driven by curiosity, he clicked on the icon to enter the daycare's website.
Upon entering the homepage, he was greeted by three prominent photos: a Gligar and two Trapinch.
"Gligar and Trapinch!"
Taro's excitement surged as he carefully reviewed the page. Whether it was the Gligar or the Trapinch, they seemed to suit him better than the Makuhita or Corphish he had been considering.
After scrutinizing the basic information about these three Pokémon listed beneath their photos, Taro felt even more satisfied.
However, the prices gave him pause: 400,000 for the Gligar, and 500,000 each for the Trapinch pair.
Although reasonable for Pokémon like Gligar and Trapinch, the prices still exceeded his expectations. Despite this, Taro decided to take the plunge and buy one. He was aware that these types of Pokémon were highly sought after, and he needed to act quickly to secure one for himself.
With his decision made, Taro contacted the Pokémon Day Care through their website.
"Hello, I'd like to purchase a Pokémon."
Soon, he received a reply.
"Hello, which one are you interested in?"
"I'm interested in the male Trapinch. Is it still available?"
"It's still available. If it's sold, we'll update the website. If you're serious about buying, please leave your name and contact information. You can then visit our Pokémon Day Care for the purchase. You're aware that our policy requires trainers to buy Pokémon in person from our daycare, right?"
"I'm aware, and that's not a problem for me."
Taro found it odd that YoYo Day Care had this policy. Why did trainers have to physically go to the daycare to purchase Pokémon? Wouldn't it be more convenient to teleport directly using a transportation device?
He didn't dwell on this question for long, though. He wasn't from another region, so traveling from Fortree City to Verdanturf Town to purchase a high-quality Trapinch was worth the effort.
Taro wasn't concerned about being deceived. Only officially recognized Pokémon Day Care were featured in the navigation, and they were all accredited by the League. Even if something went wrong, the League would ensure justice was served.
With determination, Taro provided his name and contact details, along with the time he planned to visit. The Pokémon Day Care assured him they would reserve the Trapinch for a specific period. If he didn't arrive within the allotted time, they would make it available to other customers.
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