After Black Feather finished dealing with his opponent, he didn't leave the battle arena right away. Instead, he decided to walk around the area, taking in the surroundings. The Pokémon Center was a place where trainers could get both rest and training, so it was important to pay attention to everything.
"Little Lobster," Black Feather began, turning to his loyal partner. "If you want to become stronger, you need more than just experience. You also need to learn from the strengths of other Pokémon. Watching other battles will help you understand different strategies and skills."
"Hey-hey!!" The Lobster Soldier waved its claws excitedly, but Black Feather wasn't sure whether it truly understood his words. Nonetheless, the Lobster Soldier always seemed eager to learn and grow, which was a good sign.
On the other side of the Pokémon Center, Miss Joy was watching Black Feather's recent battle on one of the surveillance screens. She had been keeping an eye on him and his progress, impressed by how quickly he had defeated his opponent. "You defeated him in just two moves," she mused aloud. "Your Lobster Soldier is quite adaptable."
She quickly deduced the reason for the Lobster Soldier's swift victory. While most Lobster Soldiers had characteristics like stronger pincers or harder shells, this particular one lacked those traits. Instead, its hidden ability seemed to be adaptability. This meant that moves with the same type as the Lobster Soldier would be more powerful, giving it an edge in battles.
Black Feather, having finished his stroll around the arena, made his way back to the dining hall to have lunch. The Pokémon Center was truly a place of comfort for trainers. Everything was free: food, accommodation, and even medical care for their Pokémon. For someone like Black Feather, who lived and breathed training, it was the perfect environment.
He dug into his food, a hearty meal of curry meat sauce noodles, savoring every bite. The taste was excellent, and he couldn't help but think how lucky he was to be a direct affiliate of the alliance. His food, housing, and even transportation were all covered, leaving him free to focus entirely on his training and missions.
After lunch, Black Feather walked over to the self-service machine in the lobby of the Pokémon Center. He inserted his ID card and began looking for ways to earn alliance points. It wasn't enough just to train and battle; he also needed to complete tasks set by the alliance to earn the points that would help him level up in his career.
As he scrolled through the available tasks, he saw that there were two main types: some tasks were open to anyone, while others were exclusive to direct trainers like him. The tasks for regular trainers mostly offered alliance coins as rewards, while tasks for direct trainers offered alliance points, which were more valuable.
One task caught Black Feather's eye. It was listed as "Task Number: 56557586565," and it required the collection of toxins, poison sacs, poison threads, and poison needles from various types of poisonous Pokémon. The reward was anywhere between 10,000 to 20,000 alliance coins, with the price negotiable. This task seemed like an excellent opportunity to earn some quick cash.
Another task, labeled "Task Number: 85835883669," asked trainers to find a Proud Swallow with excellent qualifications and at least one genetic move. The reward for this task was substantial: between 150,000 to 200,000 alliance coins, also negotiable.
The final task that interested Black Feather was "Task Number: 55033669523." This task required trainers to protect a fruit farm in the suburbs from wild Pokémon harassment. The reward was either 30,000 alliance coins or fruits of equal value. While not as lucrative as some other tasks, it seemed like an excellent opportunity to gain some field experience.
While reading through the tasks, Black Feather couldn't help but notice the differences between the tasks that offered alliance coins and those that offered points. Tasks requiring alliance points were typically more complex and time-consuming, while those with alliance coins as rewards were simpler and could be completed by almost anyone.
There were some other tasks offering points for longer-term acquisitions, such as collecting evolutionary stones or high-quality Pokémon items, but Black Feather wasn't interested in those at the moment. Instead, he was more focused on tasks that would help him gain useful experience and strengthen his Pokémon, particularly his Lobster Soldier.
He thought for a moment before deciding to take on the task to draw a map of Chenghua Forest, a task that would earn him alliance points. At the same time, he decided to take on a couple of tasks that would give him alliance coins, like collecting toxins and finding a Proud Swallow. These were tasks he could do while training his Pokémon in the field.
Before heading out to start his new tasks, Black Feather decided to buy some wilderness survival gear. He knew from experience that survival in the wild wasn't just about fighting; it required preparation and planning. He couldn't afford to be caught off guard, especially in dangerous areas like Chenghua Forest.
As he made his way through the marketplace, Black Feather realized that many stores weren't interested in buying his energy cubes. He had created these cubes as part of his training, but they were simple energy-replenishing cubes that didn't have any special effects. Most stores already had long-term contracts with other breeders and weren't interested in purchasing them unless they had a more unique effect.
Feeling frustrated but not defeated, Black Feather walked out of the store. He was used to rejection, but this time, it seemed like the only option left was to sell his cubes on the black market. He didn't like dealing with underground markets, but sometimes it was the only way to make a sale.
Meanwhile, Darian Voss, a fellow trainer who had also been trying to sell his energy cubes, found himself in a similar situation. After being turned down by several stores, he too decided to head for the black market.
The black market was dangerous and hidden from plain sight, but there were always ways to find it. One of the easiest methods was to ask street thugs, who often had the best information about where to find illegal or underground deals. Darian found a homeless man who agreed to take him to the black market for 200 alliance coins.
The black market was everything Darian had heard about: chaotic, secretive, and a little unsettling. However, it also had its advantages. The energy cubes he was selling were in high demand, and he was able to get a much better price than he would have at any regular store.
With the money he earned, Darian was able to buy a range of items. He purchased a space backpack, which would allow him to carry more items without weighing himself down, and a multifunctional outdoor survival tent. He also bought a folding bike, which would make traveling long distances in the wilderness easier. All of these items would help him on his next journey.
As Darian walked out of the store, he couldn't help but feel a sense of accomplishment. With over a million alliance coins in his pocket, he was ready to continue his training and face the challenges ahead.
For Black Feather, the day was only just beginning. He had a lot of tasks to complete, and with his Lobster Soldier by his side, he was confident that he could handle whatever came his way. It was time to head out into the wild, sharpen his skills, and complete the tasks that would help him rise to the top.
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