Chapter 483:

Kaede didn’t actually shout out a warning.

The reason his pupils contracted was simple.

This was a Gabite.

Judging by the Pokémon next to Megumi, if this Gabite approached, it would likely only end up being captured.

That was strange. A Pokémon living in deep wilderness areas should at least be able to assess the situation, right?

On her side, the auras of Blastoise, Noivern, and Meowscarada were nothing to scoff at.

A Gabite... which had not even evolved to it final evolution yet can’t do anything to Megumi...

The camera shook a few times and fell to the ground—clearly, a battle had started.

Although he was aware of the power gap, Kaede couldn’t help but feel nervous.

Listening to the sounds of fighting and the girl’s clear commands from the other side, he figured it should be fine.

Three minutes later.

The phone that had been dropped on the ground was picked up again. Megumi, wearing a beige short-sleeved shirt now dustier, with some stray weeds in her hair, retrieved the phone.

Kaede felt relieved.

"Whoa, whoa, a Gabite popped out of nowhere... I beat it..."

Sure enough, once the camera was righted again, a Gabite was pinned under Blastoise, with Meowscarada watching it intently nearby.

It wasn’t knocked out, but it clearly couldn’t cause any trouble in that state.

"Unbelievable."

Looking at the pinned Gabite, Kaede didn’t even know where to start with his questions.

"Ask it what’s going on."

"Alrighty~"

Megumi was also excited. For her, this was the meaning of the journey—you never knew what would happen next. Just like capturing Farfetch’d earlier today, and now a Gabite showing up—something she never expected.

She didn’t have Aura abilities to communicate with Gabite, but Blastoise did. In such situations, Blastoise usually asked first and then relayed the information to her.

It had to be said, ever since Blastoise learned Aura abilities, the help it provided on her journey was simply immense.

It solved many communication issues with wild Pokémon.

Though she had no idea how Blastoise learned Aura abilities in the first place.

Blastoise, holding Gible down, asked it a bunch of questions, then reported back to Megumi, who finally explained to Kaede.

She grinned widely, showing her teeth. "Haha, it was attracted by your Energy Cubes! The ones you specifically mentioned—the ones that enhance a Pokémon’s elemental energy!"

Her already tanned skin made her teeth look even whiter.

Seems her personality hasn’t changed much.

"Elemental Energy Cubes? Did you capture a new Pokémon today?" Kaede inquired.

Elemental Energy Cubes, of course, referred to the Petaya Berry Energy Cubes Kaede had made earlier, SSS-grade, which could enhance elemental energy. Last year, Salamence ate a lot of them to heal its old injuries.

Quite a few were left afterwards, and most Pokémon in the Breeding House had already tried them.

Eating more didn’t have much effect.

Since there were still some left, and they’d just sit around anyway—not easy to sell—he gave a portion to Megumi when she set out. The idea was, since they were just sitting there at home and might spoil if forgotten, and he couldn’t sell them at the Breeding House, he might as well let her take them.

If she captured a new Pokémon, she could feed it one.

Its dish effects, aside from boosting elemental energy, had two other useful ones:

Effect 2 — The first time a Dragon-type Pokémon consumes it, the boost from stat-raising moves is significantly increased!

Effect 3 — The first time a Fire-type Pokémon with the Blaze ability consumes it, when its HP is low and its fighting spirit is strong, the Blaze effect will be three times its normal potency.

One greatly increased the boost from Dragon-type stat-raising moves.

The other enhanced the effect of the Blaze ability when triggered.

The former was a pure enhancement. The latter was different.

The latter boosted the Blaze ability.

Meaning, it temporarily amplified the power of a Pokémon’s Blaze ability.

But during that period, the Pokémon’s stamina consumption would also sharply increase.

The Blaze ability itself only triggers when HP is low or the Pokémon is severely injured.

This effect intensified that further.

It could only be described as pushing explosive power to the extreme, leaving no room for retreat.

But clearly, this Gabite wasn’t attracted by that dish effect.

It was attracted by the previous Effect 2.

But you’re a Gabite...

He remembered that neither Gabite nor its evolution, Garchomp, could learn Dragon Dance.

...If it can’t learn Dragon Dance, what use is this for you?

Ah well, forget it. We’ll see if there’s a Dragon Dance TM later and slap it on.

"What do you plan to do?"

Though internally puzzled, Kaede still asked Megumi what is her plan.

"Hehe..."

Megumi grinned again, looking at the Gabite. She took out an Energy Cube—the very elemental one—and gave the Gabite a sly smile. "Want to eat it? This is an Energy Cube from Kaede. Eat it, and you’ll get stronger."

"Gabite!" The Gabite nodded vigorously.

Sure enough, under Kaede’s watchful eye, the girl uttered that classic line: "If you want to eat it, come with me. There’ll be endless delicious food from now on."

...So she really wants to capture it.

But Pokémon born and raised in deep wilderness areas like this, even if willing to follow a human, usually have various issues.

For example, different living habits, different understandings of diet and battling.

The Trainer would need to spend considerable time correcting these, and it’s necessary.

After all, Trainers live in human-populated areas. 𝒻𝓇𝑒𝘦𝘸𝑒𝒷𝓃ℴ𝑣𝘦𝑙.𝒸ℴ𝘮

If Megumi really captured this Gabite, she’d have her work cut out for her.

Clearly, the Gabite initially showed some "reserve," but Megumi clearly had a strategy. She directly took out various Energy Cubes made by Kaede and laid them out one by one before the Gabite, proving her promise wasn’t an empty one.

And then it was captured in a Poké Ball.

"Hehe, Kaede, I caught a Gabite!"

"...That’s good." Having witnessed the whole process, Kaede didn’t have much to say about it.

She’s old enough now to make her own decisions about such things.

He just asked, "By the way, besides telling me about the Zoroark, was there anything else you called for?"

Megumi pouted, not even bothering to tidy her hair messed up from the battle. "Can’t I just call because I miss you?"

"Don’t talk nonsense. If there’s nothing else, I’m hanging up."

"No, no! It’s just... Blastoise and the others are running out of food. I wanted to ask if a Pidgeot could deliver some. I’ll pay..."

"Now that’s more like it, getting straight to the point..."