The spring rain finally ceased in the evening, leaving the air heavy with moisture. Naoki glanced at the old clock on the wall. It was still twenty minutes before five o'clock.
He decided to take Koraidon out for another fishing expedition, hoping to catch more fish for Zack and earn some extra income.
Transparent droplets clung to the blades of grass, glistening in the fading light as they slowly trickled down into the damp earth. Naoki slipped on his rain boots, leaving Caterpie and Cyclizar at home. He didn't want to deal with the hassle of cleaning muddy Pokémon upon their return, so he opted to bring only Koraidon.
Cyclizar watched longingly from the porch as Naoki and Koraidon set off towards the river. Koraidon, on the other hand, was overjoyed at being Naoki's sole companion for this outing, even though Cyclizar was technically its past self.
Unaware of Koraidon's internal monologue, Naoki arrived at the riverbank and turned to the Legendary Pokémon with a grin. "Koraidon, I'm counting on you!"
Rainy days often meant good fishing. The lower air pressure and reduced oxygen in the water drove fish to the surface, making them easier to catch.
Koraidon understood immediately. "Gaa-hi!" it exclaimed, confidently patting its chest. Leave it to me!
With a determined expression, Koraidon's aura intensified. It leaped into the air, its powerful scarlet body transforming into its Sprinting Build form. Its head frills, resembling dragon whiskers, unfurled into wing-like appendages as it crashed into the river with a mighty roar.
BOOM!
The impact sent a massive wave rippling through the water, creating a crater in the surface. The displaced water shot upwards, raining down in a deafening torrent.
Naoki stood stunned, jaw agape, as the spectacle unfolded before his eyes.
Naoki: (⊙_⊙)?
"That move... was that Koraidon's signature move, Collision Course?" Naoki wondered, observing the Pokémon closely. When Koraidon returned to shore in its Battle Form, Naoki's suspicions were confirmed.
It was indeed Collision Course.
In the game, Collision Course was a super-powerful move exclusive to Koraidon, boasting a base power of 100 and perfect accuracy. Its power could be further amplified when hitting an opponent's weak point.
Using Collision Course to catch fish seemed a bit excessive.
Naoki looked out at the river, littered with stunned fish of various sizes. They had certainly borne the brunt of Koraidon's enthusiasm.
Thankfully, Koraidon seemed to have restrained its power. While the display was dramatic, the fish weren't actually harmed, merely rendered unconscious by the shockwave.
"Gaa-gah-gah!" Koraidon chirped, clearly pleased with itself for completing Naoki's task. It gazed at the remaining fish, eagerness shining in its eyes. "Ga-ao?" it asked, tilting its head.
Although Naoki didn't understand the exact words, he grasped the meaning and quickly intervened. "That's enough!" he said firmly.
A responsible rancher had to think long-term and avoid overexploiting resources. They needed to give the fish time to replenish their numbers.
Naoki and Koraidon released the Magikarp and other common Pokémon they had caught, keeping only the ordinary river fish. After ten minutes of diligent work, they had filled the bucket to the brim.
Naoki was overjoyed with their bountiful catch.
Carrying the bucket of fish back to the house, Naoki noticed Cyclizar still waiting expectantly under the eaves. As it caught sight of him, its eyes lit up and it rushed over, its eager demeanor reminding Naoki of a dog excitedly greeting its owner.
"Alright, alright," Naoki chuckled, stroking Cyclizar's head. "I'll make you some grilled fish tonight!" He then selected a few plump, meaty Rainbow trouts from the bucket.
Just as he finished, he heard the familiar sound of a truck engine starting. Looking up, he saw Zack jumping out of his vehicle, clad in rain boots.
"Terrible weather today," Zack complained. "Rained all day. I went to several ranches and found nothing to sell. Just a few baskets of eggs and some milk."
In such weather, most ranchers preferred to stay indoors, enjoying the comforts of home.
"Do you have anything for me?" Zack asked hopefully.
Naoki held up the bucket of fish. "Rainy days are good for fishing," he explained with a smile.
Zack's eyes widened. "So many?!"
Naoki and Koraidon exchanged a knowing glance.
"This is incredible!" Zack exclaimed, quickly sorting and weighing the fish. "The total comes to 5,210 Pokédollars. You've been busy! Here you go." He handed Naoki the payment.
"Thanks for your hard work!" Naoki replied, pocketing the money.
A light drizzle began to fall once more.
Zack looked up at the sky, grabbed his bucket, and said, "I better get going. It's going to pour again!"
"Alright, be safe," Naoki replied.
Zack's truck disappeared into the distance, carrying its load of fresh seafood towards Mesagoza.
Naoki took a deep breath, then helped Koraidon wash the mud from its body. Once clean, Koraidon instinctively shook off the water droplets, then transformed into its Sprinting Build form, playfully pouncing on Naoki and licking his face with affection.
Caught off guard, Naoki stumbled back, sputtering, "What was that for?"
"Gaa~" Koraidon chirped happily.
Naoki chuckled and draped a towel over Koraidon, drying its fur. He then went back inside and added today's earnings to his ledger.
Spring, Year 198, Day 7
Income: Fish +5,210
Expenses: 0
Remaining Funds: 37,700
"I'm only about 10,000 Pokédollars short of repairing the Pokémon House," Naoki mused. "Once that's done, I can start raising Wooloo and Miltank. But I don't know how much they cost, so this might not be enough."
"Perhaps I should consider building a chicken coop first?"
Unlike a Pokémon House, a chicken coop only costs 20,000 Pokédollars. And compared to Miltank and Wooloo, ordinary chickens were much more affordable.
Hens were prolific egg layers, with a healthy hen producing an egg a day. He could sell the eggs, use them to hatch chicks or keep them for cooking. It would be a self-sustaining system, eliminating the need to buy eggs from the market.
While chicken eggs couldn't compare to the rare delicacy of Chansey eggs, raising Chansey was simply beyond his means at the moment.
Raising chickens seemed like a more practical and profitable venture.
With his decision made, Naoki resolved to visit the carpenter's shop when the weather cleared and commission Kora to build a chicken coop. He would officially enter the poultry business.