"Yes, it has taken quite a bit of effort," Cain said with a smile, nodding.
No wonder; to prepare Skorupi's food during its infancy stage, he had to specifically buy a Miltank. Although now Miltank has successfully integrated into his team, it can't be denied that he initially bought it solely for Skorupi.
Cain took out a bottle of Miltank milk from his ring, inserted a straw, and placed it next to Skorupi. The latter's eyes turned into crescent moons, and it happily hugged the bottle with its pincers, drinking joyfully on the armrest of the seat.
As for the unfamiliar person across from it, they were obviously not more important than the milk.
Seeing the Miltank milk, Steven's eyes also sparkled. "Miltank milk? Did you buy it in Goldenrod City? I ordered quite a bit myself a few days ago, but I couldn't carry it all; they're going to send it to my house."
At the same time, he understood why Skorupi was so well-developed; Miltank milk was key.
"No, it's not from Goldenrod City. It's produced by my own Miltank. Here, you can try some," Cain said, taking out another bottle of milk and handing it to Steven.
Steven, without any hesitation, took it directly, and after unscrewing the lid, drank half the bottle in one go, then licked his lips and remarked, "Why does this taste better than the milk from the Miltank farm?"
Cain looked at Steven, who had abandoned all his previous elegance and seemed much more approachable.
Cain couldn't help but feel a twitch at his mouth; this was not what one would expect from the heir of an elite family.
"It's different because I make the Pokéblocks for my Miltank myself; the Miltank milk is a bit more nutritious. In fact, they've ordered quite a lot from me, but since I'm the sole producer, they can't fully supply it, which is why this has a unique taste," Cain explained.
For someone like Steven, heir to a great family, his Pokéblocks wouldn't hold any special interest, so there was no problem mentioning it.
However, what was a casual comment for Cain held more significance for Steven, who quickly asked, "You make them yourself? Are you a breeder?"
Cain hesitated a moment, but finally nodded.
Steven took out a Poké Ball and released it inside the train compartment; a Metang appeared within.
"Could you make specific Pokéblocks for my Metang? The price is negotiable," Steven said, stroking Metang.
"..."
Brother, did I mention what kind of Pokéblocks I make? Would you accept a basic-level one?
Steven's position as the heir of an elite family influenced his perception. For someone like him, advanced Pokéblocks were what he knew first, and his Metang always consumed them.
However, Steven had recently noticed that these advanced Pokéblocks were no longer meeting his Metang's needs, which is why he asked Cain for a special blend.
It wasn't that Steven's family couldn't hire a high-level breeder; he simply didn't want standard Pokéblocks. He wanted something customized for his Metang that fit his vision and training approach, allowing for perfect growth.
Only, finding an advanced breeder with that skill wasn't easy, and the costs were considerably high. Originally, he planned to ask his father to help find one after returning home, but upon meeting Cain on the magnetic levitation train, he spontaneously asked.
Seeing Cain's expression, Steven realized he might have spoken too quickly, as Cain didn't seem like someone capable of producing advanced Pokéblocks at his age, which made him feel a bit embarrassed.
"Ah, haha, what I meant was advanced Pokéblocks..."
"It's fine."
"No problem, no problem; with your talent, I'm sure you'll be able to make advanced Pokéblocks someday... What?" Steven was stunned, as if he hadn't heard correctly.
"I said I can do it. Give me your requirements, and I'll give you a price," Cain said bluntly.
"Eh, advanced Pokéblocks?" Steven reconfirmed.
Cain, a bit resigned, nodded again, "I have a mentor who can do it."
Given his age, being able to make advanced Pokéblocks sounded unbelievable, but he didn't want to pass up the chance to connect with Steven.
Steven and Whitney were very different; although both were heirs, Steven's family far surpassed Whitney's.
Moreover, in Whitney's family, her grandfather was still in charge, but in Steven's, only his father held more power than he did.
As the eldest son and heir, the Stone family took a very open approach to his upbringing, not worrying about every friend Steven made, nor about the training pace of his Pokémon.
After all, as long as Steven grew normally, what did it matter if the Pokémon were weak? No problem; they could buy the best Pokémon and use money to train them to an elite level if needed, enough to represent the company.
The Stone family saw Steven as the next president of the company, not as a trainer. After all, for the Devon Corporation, a powerful trainer wasn't truly that impressive.
And Steven became a Champion because he had great natural talent as a trainer, with unique ideas about training and Pokémon battling. With a little help from his family, he became the Champion of the Hoenn region.
That's why, later, Steven handed his Champion title to Wallace; for him, being a Champion was only a hobby.
Yes, for many, a Champion position is something they strive for, but for Steven, being Champion was only a secondary job.
It may sound offensive to many, but it's undeniable: Devon Corporation is that powerful.
Don't you see he requested custom advanced Pokéblocks? Those aren't cheap.
"Oh, so it's your mentor, you startled me. But, considering your age, being able to make basic Pokéblocks is already a huge achievement," Steven said, relieved and sounding impressed.
"..."
Who said I can only make basic Pokéblocks?
Though this misunderstanding wasn't entirely bad, at least it wouldn't attract unwanted attention. At his age, not many could make basic Pokéblocks, although it wasn't impossible.
Many apprentices of master breeders could do it.
Steven probably assumed Cain was an apprentice to a master breeder.
Cain turned his gaze to Steven's Metang, the unevolved form of Hoenn's pseudo-legendary Pokémon, Metagross. This was the first time he had seen it in this life.
(End of chapter)