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Sato didn't stop making PokeBlocks despite Wallace watching from the side. Instead, he continued placing ingredients into the Berry Mixer.
The only difference was that Sato decided to stop using the wild Beedrill honey, an ingredient that clearly enhanced the quality of the PokeBlocks. He stuck to the basics this time, using three Oran Berries and one Pecha Berry.
Without the wild Beedrill honey, there were no further unexpected results. The PokeBlocks produced turned out exactly as planned, maintaining a consistent peak mid-quality standard with each batch.
After about half an hour, Sato had used up 30,000 PokéDollars, 150 Oran Berries, and 30 Pecha Berries to create over 600 peak mid-quality PokeBlocks (with an average output of 22 per batch).
As Sato wrapped up the PokeBlock-making process, Wallace, who had been observing from the beginning, was utterly stunned. The fact that Sato could repeatedly craft PokeBlocks at peak mid-quality without a single failure left Wallace in a state of disbelief.
"Oh my gosh, not a single failure, and every batch is mid-quality. This is incredible!" Wallace thought, astonished by how effortlessly Sato produced these PokeBlocks.
As a rookie in PokeBlock-making, Wallace was well aware of the difficulty involved. So far, he knew of only a handful of people who could make mid-quality PokeBlocks, and none capable of producing high-quality ones. To see someone like Sato maintain a 100% success rate over 30 consecutive batches was beyond anything Wallace had witnessed.
Wallace also realized something else from watching Sato's earlier attempt at making high-quality PokeBlocks and his current ease with mid-quality ones. Sato was holding back. Wallace was convinced that, if Sato wanted to, he could definitely produce top-quality PokeBlocks.
As a Coordinator, Wallace knew how valuable PokeBlocks were. Beyond quickly restoring a pokemon's stamina, they had great cosmetic effects as well. Long-term consumption of high-quality PokeBlocks that suited a pokemon's taste could enhance its appearance, giving it a natural, radiant glow. (Note: Mid-quality PokeBlocks fall under the category of high-quality PokeBlocks in this context).
In the world of Contests, where Coordinators strived to showcase their pokemon's beauty, it was clear that a pokemon fed high-quality PokeBlocks over time would have a significant advantage in competitions, greatly increasing its chances of victory.
Now, standing before Wallace was someone who could consistently make high-quality PokeBlocks—and very likely even high-tier ones. For someone like Wallace, who aspired to become a top-tier Coordinator, this was an extraordinary stroke of luck.
With Sato's help, Wallace believed that the path to becoming a top Coordinator would be much smoother.
Additionally, it's worth noting that Wallace had a bit of an obsessive-compulsive streak, particularly when it came to the beauty of his pokemon. His fixation on achieving perfect beauty was akin to Steven's obsession with stones.
"Amazing, truly amazing. May I ask your name? Please, you must tell me," Wallace said with a broad smile as he approached Sato after he finished making the PokeBlocks.
Sato was fully aware of what was going through Wallace's mind. This future Champion, who was equally devoted to the path of becoming a top-tier Coordinator, had clearly taken an interest in Sato's ability to make PokeBlocks.
Being able to consistently produce high-quality PokeBlocks was Sato's greatest strength in his journey to becoming stronger, and also his biggest secret.
Sato knew that if this secret ever got out, it would be a disaster for someone like him, who was still relatively weak. The possibility of being captured by a powerful organization and forced to be a lifelong "money-printing machine" was a very real threat.
Of course, Sato also understood that as he began to sell his PokeBlocks, it would only be a matter of time before someone with the means and intent would trace it back to him. The secret wouldn't remain hidden for long.
He just hadn't expected it to leak so soon. Even though it was purely accidental, the fact remained that his secret was out.
Fortunately, the person who accidentally learned his secret seemed to be both kind and reasonable. Moreover, Wallace didn't seem interested in exploiting him as a human cash cow.
Judging from the way Wallace was being polite and showing no signs of threatening him to make PokeBlocks, it was clear that he had no intention of forcing Sato into hard labor. On the contrary, Wallace seemed to want to form a friendly connection.
In fact, Wallace came from an old, established Trainer family that controlled most of the shipping operations in the Hoenn region. He was also the direct heir to his family's current head and the strongest candidate to become the next leader. (Note: This is a fan-created detail).
As someone born with a silver spoon, Wallace never considered money to be of much importance. His attitude toward wealth was indifferent, and his family's earning potential was hundreds of times greater than Sato's modest income from making PokeBlocks. Wallace had no interest in turning Sato into a laborer.
For Wallace, it was Sato's ability to make high-quality PokeBlocks that he valued, not his ability to generate money. His current objective was simple: to find a way to get Sato to help him produce PokeBlocks.
And not just once. Wallace needed Sato to help him make high-quality PokeBlocks whenever necessary in the future.
"My name is Sato. Do you need something from me? I'm in a bit of a rush since I have to catch the only bus from Viridian City to Saffron City today," Sato said directly, cutting through any formalities as he noticed they were still the only two around. He leaned in and spoke in a low voice.
"Alright, I'll be straightforward then, Mr. Sato. I'd like to ask for your help in making some PokeBlocks like the ones you made the first time. Not too many—just three or four hundred will do. Of course, I'm willing to pay for them. How about 3 million PokéDollars? Does that sound fair?" Wallace's eyes lit up as he saw Sato's approach. He quickly understood and responded with a smile, keeping his voice low as well.
To be honest, Wallace hated beating around the bush, but he had gotten used to dealing with other wealthy heirs, which had taught him the formal way of negotiating. However, Sato's straightforwardness was refreshing and suited him perfectly.
"Forget the money, I don't need it. What I do need is a Sun Stone for my Gloom to evolve into Bellossom. If you can get me that evolution stone right now, I'll make as many PokeBlocks as you need," Sato replied, trying to keep a neutral expression, though the large sum Wallace offered had made his heart skip a beat for a moment. After a brief pause, he continued, in his usual calm manner.