Chris concluded that the bead in his hand must be a Mega Evolution Stone.
He picked up his handheld, and the item appeared in the backpack bar with the name "Steelixite."
"Nice!" Chris clenched his fists in excitement.
There was no doubt about the value of the Mega Evolution Stone. For Pokémon capable of Mega Evolution, this was the key to becoming an ultimate powerhouse.
The rarity of the Mega Evolution Stone couldn't compare to any other treasure-level Pokémon item.
From what Chris had learned, even in the vast and wealthy Dragon Kingdom, fewer than 100 people possessed a Mega Evolution Stone—some Gym Leaders didn't even have one!
And abroad? There were fewer than 1,000 Trainers worldwide who could make their Pokémon Mega Evolve.
Yep, it's that rare!
Now, Chris was one of the lucky few to possess a Mega Evolution Stone!
"It's a pity it's a Steelix Mega Evolution Stone," Chris said, though he knew he could easily sell it for 30 million. Still, he slipped the Mega Evolution Stone into his bag.
Even though he had the stone, Steelix wasn't part of his team yet.
Plus, the bond between him and Onix wasn't strong enough, and he didn't have the crucial item needed to trigger Mega Evolution—the "Key Stone" that matches the Mega Evolution Stone.
For now, the stone would stay in his backpack.
"I'll use it one day," Chris said, putting the Mega Evolution Stone into his handheld.
Looking around the entire Onix Tomb again, Chris couldn't help but feel exhilarated. This wasn't just a tomb—it was his treasure trove!
"I don't know why, but I suddenly feel like exploring deeper into the tomb," Chris thought, wondering whether to light a lamp and venture in.
"Forget it, even if there are ghosts here, they'd just be Ghost-type Pokémon."
Chris had tested a while ago that, along with controlling the strength and color of the light, Flash could also reveal hidden things. The invisibility of Ghost-type Pokémon was useless against it.
So, Chris was actually looking forward to encountering some Ghost Pokémon in the Onix Tomb. After all, this place was so remote.
He continued using the Treasure Machine to search for items.
In half an hour, Chris had found three Hard Stones and three Soft Sands, all treasure-grade items.
He had come to realize that his Treasure Machine only detected treasure-level items. If an item wasn't of that level, it wouldn't even register.
Anything found by the Treasure Machine had to be of considerable value!
This reminded Chris of the Black Glasses he'd picked up at Rusturf Tunnel, which boosted Dark-type moves by 30%.
"This Treasure Machine will be super useful on future trips!" Chris said, packing the items into his bag. Meanwhile, Greninja had finished draining the pond.
The massive Onix Tomb would take Chris a while to explore fully. But that was fine—he still had all day tomorrow, and he could grab whatever he found. He wasn't short on money at the moment, and these Hard Stones were purely for Lairon and Onix.
When they ran out, he could always come back and do another lap during the holidays.
Returning to the edge of the drained pond, Chris saw that even the moisture in the soil had been squeezed out by Greninja, filling forty-two buckets.
It wasn't a huge amount, but given how much Lairon and Onix ate, Chris figured it would last them a long time.
The dried-up pond sank lower, and from its deepest point, Greninja pulled out something strange.
It was a stone horn, with a few red threads winding across its surface. It was quite peculiar and heavy—Chris had to hold it firmly with both hands.
It didn't seem like a natural object, more like something man-made.
"Has someone been here before?" Chris wondered. He couldn't shake the feeling that the khaki-colored liquid in the pond might somehow be connected to the rock horn he now held.
Curious, Chris opened his handheld device to check if the rock horn would show up in his backpack.
If it appeared there, it would mean the horn was connected to Pokémon. If not, he could always take it home as a unique piece of art.
Opening the backpack screen, Chris's heart skipped a beat when he saw it listed under the valuables section.
*Rock Horn*: For Pokémon belonging to the Rock type, all attributes are increased by 25%. When blown, the next Rock-type move's damage is increased by 50%. Using it to play a special tune may summon a terrifying existence.
Chris froze for a moment.
This… where did this treasure come from?
He stared in disbelief at the item in his hands, unable to comprehend it.
How could such a powerful tool exist?
Chris was certain that no such item existed in the anime, manga, or even the games.
Granted, he hadn't played every Pokémon game out there, but he had played most of the main series, and he had never come across something this incredible.
It wasn't just a normal Pokémon item that boosted move power—it increased a Pokémon's attributes by 25%!
That could elevate Aggron's power to rival a pseudo-legendary!
The craziest part? This item wasn't limited to a single Pokémon. As long as you were a Trainer, you could simply place it in your handheld's backpack, and it would work.
With this prop, Chris felt like he was on his way to becoming a Rock-type Elite Trainer.
He even started imagining a dream team of Rock-type Pokémon, with a sandstorm strategy to boot.
Aggron, Steelix, Tyranitar—it was exhilarating just to think about it!
However, the last line of the horn's description gave Chris pause.
"Using it to play a special tune may summon a terrifying existence."
Could that "terrifying existence" refer to a legendary Pokémon?
In this world, legendary Pokémon held the status of gods—beings so powerful they could easily destroy entire countries. First-tier legendaries like Groudon and Kyogre could reshape the earth and seas with ease.
But which Rock-type legendary Pokémon could it be?
Regirock? Terrakion? Diancie?
Those were the first three that came to mind, but none of them were truly "terrifying."
Still, it wasn't something Chris wanted to dwell on too much. The idea of summoning a terrifying existence through a special tune wasn't something he was eager to try anytime soon.
He placed the rock horn into his backpack. Compared to Steelix's Mega Evolution Stone or the strange sugary liquid he'd found earlier, Chris felt that this horn was the biggest find of his entire trip.
Early in the morning on the fourth day of the holiday, Chris was already at the airport in Redwood City.
He turned on his phone, activated parental mode, and locked onto the location of the little genius watch.
Not surprisingly, Delibird had lost his way again.
Chris was sure that if it hadn't been for the college experience that took him all the way to Dragon City after leaving the city gates last time, Delibird would probably be heading for the capital by now.
He glanced at the time—6:00 a.m., and the flight was at 8:00.
"Good thing I got up early." Chris had booked a room at a hotel in Redwood City a day in advance.
After breakfast, he left his room, hailed a taxi, and headed to the location shown on the watch.
When Chris arrived, they were sleeping in an alley, with several cardboard boxes piled up to block the wind, barely serving as a nest.
"Toge toge pii!! (≧▽≦)"
"Dei lee, dei lee~~"
Togepi and Delibird waved excitedly at Chris.
Seeing them so full of energy, Chris let out a relieved sigh. He could easily imagine what their lives had been like before they met him.
"Lost again?" Chris asked Delibird.
Delibird, trying to play it cool, looked away as if nothing had happened.
Chris sighed softly, took out two warm scallion pancakes from his bag, and handed them to the two Pokémon. He had bought them on the way, knowing they must have had a rough time.
"If you can't find your way, don't wander off. You'll both stay with me from now on," Chris said, patting Delibird on the head before leaning down to scoop Togepi into his arms. With that, he turned to leave.
"Let's go. We're heading to the airport. No school today, we're off to somewhere new."
"Toge pii!! (Let's go!)"
Delibird watched as Chris walked away, the early autumn sunlight casting a soft glow around him. The light made Chris's figure seem to blend with another familiar silhouette from Delibird's past.
"Dei li! (Wait for me!)" Delibird hurried to catch up.
"Hurry up, or you'll have to fly on your own!" Chris called back.
Delibird groaned in mock despair, flapping along behind them.
---
Forest City.
Snorlax Hotel Chain.
"This is Senior Colton. He's from Class 16, graduated two years ago, and was a key member of our Berry Club."
"Today, Senior Colton is kind enough to guide us through the Forest of Plenty!"
"No trouble at all. It's my honor to go on a wild adventure with my younger schoolmates."
"Spending time with you youngsters makes me feel like I'm reclaiming the energy and spirit of my youth," Colton added with a smile. "After all, my daily work in the multi-province joint laboratory can get pretty monotonous. Stay in there long enough, and you'll rust."
Though he smiled outwardly, Colton's thoughts were elsewhere: I'm only doing this to impress Mia, the daughter of the famous Berry expert, Professor Leo. I wouldn't leave my lab work behind just for this if it weren't for her. The boss is still waiting for the data. If I mess this up, forget this year's bonus—I won't even last until the end of the year!
But in his mind, catching Mia's eye would be worth it. With Professor Leo as his future father-in-law, Colton believed he'd soon rise to fame in the breeding industry.
That was why he had donned a sharp suit today—anyone who didn't know might think he was headed to an important dinner.
When the younger students heard the words "multi-province joint laboratory," they immediately looked at Colton with admiration. The lab was a key research group comprised of top researchers from several provinces, collaborating on high-level projects.
Despite this, Colton couldn't help but notice that Mia showed no response to his attempt at self-promotion. As expected of Professor Leo's daughter, he thought, admiring her calm demeanor.
"Alright, let's head out," Colton said to the group, before turning to Mia. "Mia, would you like to ride with me? There's still space in my car."
"No, you all go ahead. I'll wait for someone," Mia called out, still standing at the entrance of the hotel.
Colton hesitated, then asked cautiously, "Are you waiting for your boyfriend?"
Mia shot him a quick glance and shook her head slightly. "No, I'm waiting for a junior. He didn't travel with us earlier. His flight arrives at 9:30, so he should be here soon."
Hearing it was just a junior, Colton felt relieved. "Oh, a junior. Well, in that case, why don't I have my friend wait for him here? You should go early, especially since the temperature fluctuates a lot in Forest City. It'll start getting hot by noon."
Colton had even brought a friend along as a wingman for moments like this.
Mia, however, was firm. "No need. He's already on his way from the airport by taxi, and it only takes about ten minutes. I'll wait here myself."
Before Colton could continue, a second-year student asked eagerly, "Sister, are you waiting for Chris? I heard he signed up for this event, but I haven't seen him in the past few days."
Mia nodded. "Yes, I'm waiting for Chris."
The sophomore's eyes lit up, and she quickly moved to Mia's side. "Then I'll wait with you! Last time Chris joined a club activity, I was busy explaining things to the rookies, and by the time I finished, he had already left. It was such a shame!"
Several other students who overheard this conversation suddenly became excited as well and gathered around Mia, eager to wait for Chris.
"Let's wait too!" one of them exclaimed.
Seeing that everyone was waiting, a few more students joined in. Colton stood there, baffled. What's so special about this Chris guy that everyone's willing to wait for him?
"Uh, is Chris really that popular around here?" Colton's wingman asked curiously.
"Popular? I'd say he's the most famous person in the entire school!" a chubby-faced freshman chimed in.
Colton raised an eyebrow. "Man of the Year? What's his story?"
"He's a freshman in the Breeding Department, but he won the military training competition during freshman orientation!" a baby-faced girl from the same department replied, her eyes practically sparkling.
Colton chuckled, masking his irritation. "Winning the military training competition is impressive, sure, but that only shows strength at the start. Some people come from wealthy families, and it's not unusual for them to be ahead early on. But don't lose hope—I'm sure you can still catch up to him, especially those in the Battle Department."
Several freshmen from the Battle Department exchanged glances before shaking their heads. "Catching up? Four years won't be enough," one of them said. "Chris defeated Noah, the sophomore chief, at the orientation party. I don't think any of us, even as juniors, can beat him now."
Colton's smile faltered. What kind of joke is this? How does the sophomore chief lose to a freshman? Pathetic!
He cleared his throat, trying to recover. "Ahem, well, isn't Chris in the Breeding Department? Breeders focus on results, not battles. Sure, I used to be good at fighting, but now it's all about passing breeding exams to enter prestigious labs like the multi-province joint laboratory."
This statement seemed to comfort some of the Breeding Department freshmen, but then another chimed in, "But Chris was recruited into Professor Theodore's lab team during military training."
Colton froze. "Professor Theodore's lab?"
The group nodded.
"That... is indeed impressive," Colton muttered, finally falling silent.
Professor Theodore's lab was a highly prestigious team that even his boss aspired to join but couldn't. Anyone recruited into that lab was almost guaranteed a prominent future in the breeding world.
More than ten minutes later, Chris was holding Togepi in his left hand and the small Wynaut in his right, while Delibird waddled by his feet, clearly overdue.
Seeing a group of people waiting at the door, Chris knew he had kept them waiting too long.
"Sorry, the flight was late," Chris quickly apologized as he stepped forward.
"It's fine, we were just about to leave," Mia waved him over.
"Let me treat everyone to some milk tea," Chris offered cheerfully.
As soon as he rejoined the group, classmates came up to greet him.
"Mr. Chris, are these your Pokémon? That Togepi and little Wynaut are adorable!"
"Chris, can I hug Togepi?"
"I want to hold the little Wynaut, is that okay?"
Togepi and Wynaut didn't mind playing with the girls, and Chris let them hold the two Pokémon.
He glanced down at Delibird.
What about you? Want a hug?
Delibird crossed his arms and turned his head, clearly too cool for hugs!
"Alright, let's get going. Everyone, on the bus. Chris, ride with me!"
"Sure."
One by one, everyone boarded the bus, and Togepi and Wynaut returned to Chris's hands.
Colton stood off to the side, silently. The moment he saw Chris, he felt a pang of jealousy.
Not only did Chris manage to raise two adorable Pokémon, but he was also so handsome?! With Pokémon like Togepi, no wonder he attracted attention!
It wasn't just like God opened a door for him—it was like God lifted the whole ceiling off his house!
Competing with Chris…?
Colton figured it was more practical to head back to the lab and focus on his research, so he wouldn't risk getting kicked out this year.
The Forest of Plenty, once a B-level dangerous zone, had been downgraded to D-level.
It was famous for its rich Pokémon resources and frequent rainfall.
Forest City had been founded because of this once-dangerous area.
Nowadays, due to the influx of Trainers, it had been downgraded, and in less than two years, it was expected to become a spot for casual outings.
Recently, rumors of the rare Enigma Berry appearing in the Forest of Plenty had drawn even more Trainers seeking adventure.
Chris and the others parked their cars at the gate of Forest City. Beyond the gate lay the Forest of Plenty.
"Our goal is to find the Enigma Berry, but it's not limited to just that. Feel free to gather other Berries, but don't take too many—leave some for the wild Pokémon..." Mia rambled on.
A group of four or five people from the academy set off together toward their planned destination. Even though the Forest of Plenty was only a D-level dangerous area, everyone knew it was still important to stay cautious.
Chris and Mia paired up, joined by Colton and his friend Ethan.
Just as they entered the forest, they noticed a group of middle-aged researchers leading a team of young people dressed in miner outfits, heading in the same direction.
"It seems the rumors about ruins in the Forest of Plenty are true," Colton muttered to himself.
"Ruins?" Mia and Chris exchanged curious glances.
"Two days ago, a meteorite fell in the forest, sparking a wildfire. The firefighters put out the blaze, but instead of finding the meteorite, they discovered ancient ruins buried underground," Colton explained, then added, "Of course, if the rumors are true, the Archaeological Association of Forest City would have already gotten involved. We'll probably hear more about it in a few days."
Everyone nodded in understanding. As breeders, archaeology wasn't exactly their field of interest.
"Sis, where does the Enigma Berry grow?" Chris asked while walking.
Information about the Enigma Berry was sparse online, with many conflicting sources claiming it grew in volcanoes, glaciers, or even underwater, making it hard to trust anything.
Chris decided to join Mia and her group from the academy, hoping to learn something useful.
"The Enigma Berry doesn't need sunlight, so it usually grows in dark, damp places," Mia explained, clearly knowledgeable on the subject.
"Sounds like a mushroom," Chris mused.
"Not quite. The Enigma Berry tree is much taller, at least two meters," Mia clarified.
"A dark and humid environment, but it needs to be spacious... That could be hard to find in the wild. We should start near a water source and explore the surroundings to see if we can find anything resembling a cave," she suggested.
Since she was leading the group on this mission, it was clear Mia had done her homework.
"Is that reliable?" Chris asked skeptically.
Colton smirked. "Mia's father is a famous tree fruit expert! She's probably got an Enigma Berry at home."
"A tree fruit expert?!" Chris's eyes widened in surprise. He hadn't expected his senior to be so well-connected.
A tree fruit expert, similar to a breeding master, is a title awarded to breeders who discover rare fruits that haven't yet been cataloged in the Pokédex. Only a few people in the Dragon Kingdom held this prestigious title.
Mia shot a cold glance at Colton but nodded. "I've seen an Enigma Berry tree before, but it was at my father's friend's house."
Chris nodded, reassured that her information was trustworthy.
"What rare fruits has your father researched, Sis?" Chris asked curiously, thinking that if the prices were good, he might buy some to grow himself.
"Kabigo Berry and Pink Peach Berry. That's all I know," Mia answered casually, clearly uninterested in discussing her father's work, and stepped forward.
Chris had never heard of those fruits before. Since they weren't found in the wild, he assumed they were specially bred varieties. Curious, he pulled out his phone to look them up.
The Kabigo Fruit, also known as Snorlax Fruit, was a rare tree fruit used for Snorlax breeding. It provided such a strong sense of satiety that one fruit would keep a Snorlax from eating anything else. Each fruit was priced at around 10,000 yuan.
The Pink Peach Fruit, named for its shape, helped Pokémon enhance their charm and was typically used by Trainers in "Beauty" category contests. It was also a key ingredient in evolving Feebas into Milotic by boosting its beauty stat. Each fruit sold for around 30,000 yuan.
Both fruits were highly valuable. The Kabigo Fruit was essential for anyone raising Snorlax, and the Pink Peach Fruit was a top-tier ingredient for Coordinators aiming to enhance their Pokémon's appeal. Despite being cheaper than some wild fruits, they were in high demand, especially the Pink Peach Fruit.
Chris realized Mia's family was likely very well-off due to their expertise in breeding these fruits. However, since he didn't need either fruit, he quickly lost interest once he saw the prices.
Go deep into the Forest of Plenty.
The Forest City Trainers, who must have heard the news, has already searched the outer region.
Facts supported everyone's thoughts. Chris, Mia, and the others didn't see any fruit along the way. It's likely the same for other small groups.
The trainers who came to explore from Forest City were ruthless—not a single berry was left!
Without the fruit, there were fewer Pokémon around. Most of the Pokémon, like Oddish, Pidgey, and Rattata, weren't interested in staying here to train.
They were also searching for fruit, but unfortunately, they found nothing.
Mia couldn't bear it, so she pulled out snacks from her bag to feed the Pokémon nearby.
"I don't think it'll take two years. In just a few months, the D-level danger zone here will be downgraded to an E-level danger zone" Mia said with a sigh.
"I'm afraid even the two E-level danger zones won't last long," Chris agreed.
When they reached the Forest of Plenty, an open field near the water source presented itself as the perfect picnic spot. This was the designated meeting place set by the Berry Club. Everyone gathered here first, had lunch together, and then split up to search in the afternoon.
"Sister Mia, where's Junior Brother Chris?" a sophomore asked when Mia arrived with Colton and Ethan, noticing that Chris, who had been with them earlier, was gone.
"He headed deeper into the forest as soon as we arrived at camp," Mia replied.
She knew that Chris wasn't very interested in the Berry Club's social activities—he was probably the only one who really wanted to find the Enigma Berry.
Mia didn't stop him. Colton and Ethan also seemed fine with Chris, the "third wheel," leaving.
Deeper in the Forest of Plenty, Chris walked alone, with Delibird at his side and Togepi perched on his head.
"No wonder this place got downgraded from a B-level danger zone to a D-level one. The resources have been picked clean!" Chris muttered to himself.
He was holding a Dowsing Machine, hoping to find Pokémon items or rare berries.(T/N : Dowsing Machine is the treasure machine)
Chris had tested it before—rare berries could be detected by the Dowsing Machine as treasures. So after gathering some information, he left Mia's group and headed deeper into the forest by himself.
But the resources in the Forest of Plenty had been so depleted that after walking for half an hour, the Dowsing Machine still hadn't picked up anything.
"A cave near a water source..." Chris recalled the growth patterns of Enigma Berries, so he decided to follow a small stream nearby, walking upstream.
He walked for another hour or so.
By now, it was lunchtime.
"Walking this long is exhausting," Chris thought, beginning to regret his decision to go searching for the Enigma Berry. Even on a holiday, staying home, watching TV shows, and playing games would've been a better choice.
"If I don't find anything today, I'm heading back to school," Chris decided.
He had Gardevoir open the door to his secret base hidden in a tree by the side of the path.
Inside, he used a microwave to heat up the bento he'd bought earlier that morning and pulled a cold soda from the fridge.
He turned on the LCD TV and selected a comedy sketch that lasted over ten minutes.
Chris released most of his Pokémon, prepared their Pokéblocks, leaned back on the couch, and began eating lunch.
Don't ask me where the electricity for the microwave, fridge, or LCD TV comes from, or how there's a signal to watch comedy shows. The secret base has a computer too—it's a strange bug in the system all by itself.
While having lunch, Chris noticed the research team from the Archaeological Association, the same group he had seen when he first entered the forest. Now, their numbers had grown, but they all seemed stern, not giving off a friendly vibe.
"Are they headed this way too?" Chris muttered, though he wasn't too concerned.
The sounds inside his secret base wouldn't be heard outside, and there was no sound in the video recording from when he first entered the area.
Chris continued to watch his comedy sketch until the team left.
Once they were gone, he cleaned up his trash and resumed his journey into the depths of the Forest of plenty.
After about fifteen minutes of walking, the Dowsing Machine finally gave a signal.
It pointed straight ahead, but the signal was weak.
Chris quickened his pace. There were only two reasons the Dowsing Machine might give a weak response: either the treasure wasn't of high quality, or it was still far away.
Chris assumed it was the latter.
As he moved in the direction indicated by the Dowsing Machine, the signal grew stronger until it led him to a waterfall more than ten meters high.
"In the pond below the waterfall?" Chris guessed. The crashing water made snow-white waves, possibly hiding a valuable Pokémon item.
He threw a Poké Ball.
"Greninja!" Greninja appeared in front of Chris.
"Search the pond," Chris commanded.
Greninja dove into the water to investigate but returned ten minutes later with nothing.
"Not in the pond?" Chris felt puzzled. He had Gardevoir use Confusion to levitate him, allowing him to hover over the pond with the Dowsing Machine to pinpoint the location for Greninja.
But even as Chris got closer to the waterfall, the Dowsing Machine still pointed forward.
"Is there a cave behind the waterfall?" Chris wondered aloud. "Gardevoir, use Confusion on the waterfall!"
"voir!" Gardevoir clasped her hands together, and a wave of Confusion energy shot out. The waterfall, more than ten meters tall, froze in mid-air as if someone had hit the pause button on a movie. Then, the water parted down the middle like a curtain, revealing a dark cave behind it.
"Really!" Chris's eyes lit up.
Greninja immediately leaped in to scout the area ahead.
Chris and Gardevoir followed, illuminating the dark passage with Flash.
As soon as they entered, Chris realized the path had been dug out by humans. There was a flat staircase leading upwards, and on either side, Fire Stones were embedded as makeshift torches.
However, this wasn't the treasure the Dowsing Machine had locked onto.
It was just an ordinary Fire Stone.
"Well, even small rewards are still rewards," Chris thought as he collected the Fire Stone.
He continued deeper into the cave.
Soon, Chris came upon a fast-flowing underground river, and beside it stood a large tree, its branches covered with strange black fruits.
The fruits were bizarre—they resembled targets more than berries, with a white question mark adorning their black surface!
"Enigma Berries?!" Chris recognized them immediately.
So, the treasure the Dowsing Machine had detected was the Enigma Berries!
Pick all the berries from the Enigma Berry tree. Thirty-four in total.
For a great harvest, Chris carefully placed all the fruit in the secret base. He glanced back at the tree, contemplating his next move.
"Do you want to take this tree with you too?" Chris thought aloud. But could Enigma Berry trees even be grown in secret bases?
After a moment of consideration, he decided against it. "I don't need this Enigma Berry anymore," he muttered. "I have no idea how long it took for this tree to grow and bear thirty-four berries, but give me two days, and I can double that!"
Not to mention, even if it were possible to plant it in the secret base, Chris wasn't confident in his skills. "If I try to transplant it, I'm sure I'd kill it," he sighed. "The basic course at school only covers normal fruit trees, not rare ones like this."
So, instead of moving the tree, Chris figured the berries should be handed over to someone better equipped to care for them.
He looked back down the path he had taken. "I haven't found an Enigma Berry tree here for so long," he thought. "I doubt anyone else will stumble across it soon."
As for how the Enigma Berry tree got here, Chris had a theory. He suspected that an underground river next to the tree might have carried ripe berries from another location, depositing them here. It was the only explanation that made sense.
Chris scanned his surroundings, realizing he had reached a dead end. "Was this road built just to plant the Enigma Berry tree?" he wondered. The tree had produced 34 berries, and each one could sell for 100,000. "No, that's too low," he mused. "Let's make it a million! That's 34 million."
It sounded like a fortune, but to Chris, it didn't feel like that much. "Ahem, if it were me picking junk like before, it'd be several years of salary. In my team now, it's more than a month's pay."
For that kind of money, it made sense that someone would create a road just for the tree.
"Hmm, it must be so," Chris decided. But then he pulled out his Dowsing Machine, and his face fell. The arrow was still pointing forward. Bang!
That meant the real treasure wasn't the Enigma Berry tree.
Chris followed the direction indicated by the Dowsing Machine, moving behind the tree. It continued pointing ahead, confirming that the treasure wasn't the tree itself. Instead, there was a rock wall ahead.
"Could there be a hidden passage?" Chris wondered.
He searched the area but found nothing resembling a mechanism. Determined, he prepared to take a more direct approach.
"Gabite, I need your help!" Chris called out.
"Dig!"
Gabite quickly went to work, burrowing into the rock wall. Chris followed close behind, holding the Dowsing Machine to make sure they were headed in the right direction.
As they dug, Chris began to second-guess himself. "Maybe the treasure hunter meant for me to search the mountain on the other side of the waterfall, not dig through it." But no matter—he'd already found the Enigma Berry tree, so the trip wasn't a waste. They might as well finish what they started.
After three minutes of digging, Gabite suddenly broke through. A rock wall gave way, revealing a dark, open space ahead.
Chris asked Gardevoir to send a ball of light into the empty space ahead, illuminating the area. After confirming there was no immediate danger, Chris and Gabite entered one after the other.
The space was vast but empty. As Chris stepped in, a thought crossed his mind—what if he had just dug up another Pokémon cemetery? "If that's the case, I should quit being a breeder and switch to archaeology," he joked to himself. "With my luck, I'd come with my own tomb-finding buff."
However, as he entered, it became clear this wasn't a tomb. There were no signs of remains or gravestones. Instead, the room featured a large platform about the size of a football field. On the left wall, there was a huge mural, while a staircase descended on the right.
Emmm...
Chris realized he had come from the wrong side. Normally, one would enter from below, through the staircase.
He moved closer to the mural, positioning the ball of light for a clearer view. The mural depicted ancient people worshipping a meteor descending from the sky. Strangely, embedded in the meteor was a single eye—yellow with blue pupils—giving it an eerie appearance.
"What kind of worship is this?" Chris muttered, scratching his head. He didn't know much about the legends of Forest City, and he had no idea what kind of Pokémon this could be referring to. One thing was certain: this wasn't a cemetery, but an altar!
"Could this be the relic the Archaeological Association is searching for?" Chris suddenly remembered the group of people he had encountered earlier during lunch.
It was possible, but it didn't concern him—he was here to hunt for treasure, not get involved with archaeology.
As Chris scanned the area, his eyes fell on a stone platform directly in front of the mural. Lying quietly on the platform was a purple crystalline stone.
His Dowsing Machine immediately locked onto it. "This must be it," Chris thought, approaching the stone.
"What is this?" He didn't recognize the item at all. But when in doubt, consult the almighty handheld device!
Reaching out, he picked up the purple crystal and opened his handheld. In the column of valuable items, a new entry appeared: *Cocoon of Sleep*.(T/N : This cocoon of Sleep is the cocoon in which jirachi sleeps in. It has been mentioned as The mysterious cocoon or Jirachi's Cocoon in the anime.)
Cocoon of Sleep: A creature that appears to be in a deep slumber, waking only when the Millennium Comet returns.
Chris's heart skipped a beat. "Cocoon of Sleep? Millennium Comet?" He had heard of this before. This… this had to be related to Jirachi!
Jirachi, the legendary Pokémon! It was said to awaken once every thousand years for just seven days, during which it could grant any wish. Before its awakening, Jirachi protected itself by encasing its body in a hard crystal cocoon—hence the name "Cocoon of Sleep."
Chris could hardly believe his luck. A legendary Pokémon, Jirachi, was right in front of him. Though... it seemed to still be asleep.
"When's the next Millennium Comet?" Chris wondered. He pulled out his phone, ready to search for the comet's next arrival date.
But just as he took out his phone, a loud "boom" echoed from beneath the platform.
Chris peered over the edge, noticing the wall under the stairs had been smashed open by a drilling rig. It was the group from the Archaeological Association!
"Withdraw!" Chris muttered under his breath, realizing he needed to get out of there fast.